Kellen tapped one of the maps on the wall. "No, scholar, I mean useful. Different thing."

He tapped one of the maps on the wall, then another tucked beneath it.

"Archive spine is watched. Main channels are death, sweep, or intake. Side maintenance veins shift by day because half the doors don't answer the same key strips twice. I have a route that gets close. Not clean. Not safe. Close. Price is this." He held up fingers one by one. "All the wire. The matchbox. First claim on any portable old-tech you pull that still works. Copy of any record you recover, full copy, no edits. And if this time box of yours exists and moves, I get one future favor named later."

Elias stared at him. "That is absurd."

Kellen shrugged. "Then die with your principles. Plenty do."

Elias said, "A future favor? You have no idea what you're asking."

"Exactly why it's worth asking." Kellen's tone stayed light, but his eyes did not. "You want a path into a place crews vanish around. I want not to be the stupidest person in the room."

Mara pushed off the wall. "Lose the favor. Keep the rest."

Kellen looked at her. "You paying his way?"

Mara folded her arms and said, "No. I'm making your greed less theatrical."

He tipped his head side to side, considering. "Fine. Replace the favor with leverage I can use before next week. He tells me where the crash site is and what guards it."

Elias said nothing.

Kellen smiled without warmth. "See? There he is. Thought so. Scholar's got one secret he still thinks is his."