Darahil clasped his hands behind his back. "Champion, if I had brought it to the point of risk of failure, I would have presented a broader timeframe. Perhaps ten minutes or more. I could not ethically present that option for so important a mission."

Once again, the attention of the group was drawn to Sabine. She stared at the inactive automaton and mulled over what Ahnasha said. When she turned her eyes to Ahnasha, she kept her hands together, but held her eyes with determination. "I can do it," she said. "I can activate them at the right time."