Zunoder's question stayed on the table with the new custody slip, asking where the body belonged.
Ty heard the trap in belongs. Soft words made better handles.
Omina rested her pen beside the new slip.
"Open original body custody review. Identity ownership remains outside scope."
The mark held its color.
Zunoder saw it too. He placed Ty's old hand on the table, palm down, like he was submitting the body itself as a witness.
"The returned body has custody weight through possession, records, protection, and continuity of care."
Heissman took out another stained rule card.
"Possession is the ugliest word in that sentence, and it still has a job."
JJ pointed her pencil at the card.
"Make the job smaller before it starts wearing boots."
Omina wrote under the slip.
"Define custody by duty, care, and answerable handling before ownership touches it."
The paper took the words, then dragged the mark through them as if testing the cut.
Ty's wrist answered with a dull pull.
