He stares at the pictures for onetwothreefourfive seconds too long. How is he still in one piece?
Turns. The machine hasn't detonated; the pulse hasn't streaked through the sky. Nothing's fixed. Still wrong.
"No no no no no," under his breath, panicked. He moves forward, drops to his knees.
How? Connections can't be wrong. Alpha doesn't make mistakes. It's not the theory. Not Bennett. Not Echo.
Is it him? His execution? Must be. Only variable left. Check the connections, rethink, find the problem, bring back the world. Quickly.
Ghosts staring down from the wall, and he doesn't have time. Adelle outside. EchoPriyaTonyT inside. Wait too long, someone will come check. Could get caught in the blast. One more day, one more life. Don't want to waste.
He fumbles for a wire, moves it, waits for the reaction. Wonderful, perfect sound as the machine whirrs to life again.
Is that it? Will it work? Have to stay close and see.
Hold for onetwothree.
The sound stops.