On a CIA jet flying west over a dark ocean, Scott Kerble feels exhausted and walks to the rear of the aircraft to make a final check. Sasha Vesna is asleep, now freed from handcuffs and held only by a single ankle restraint attached to her chair. Kerble has also released Sasha’s Siamese cats, Harry and Sally, from their travel crate; they sleep curled together on the seat beside her.

Back at his seat, Kerble removes his jacket and takes out the encrypted hard drive he is carrying, wondering what information gives Ambassador Heide Nagel such leverage. Remembering the instructions for the sixteen-character passkey—“the first letter of each word in your favorite Kissinger quote”—Kerble uses his phone to ask ChatGPT whether CIA Director Gregory Judd has publicly quoted Henry Kissinger.

Kerble learns Judd repeatedly uses the same sixteen-word quote and mentally derives the corresponding initials. Although Kerble realizes he could now unlock the drive and view its contents, he decides not to betray the ambassador’s trust, stows the drive in his duffel for delivery, and falls asleep, thinking “Semper Fidelis.”

In the darkened cabin, Sasha’s Golěm emerges from the shadows while she sleeps and looks out at the void of ocean below, framing America as Sasha’s fresh start and second chance. Confident Sasha will be safe under the ambassador’s protection, the Golěm nonetheless resolves to remain with Sasha for now, gradually retreating until he is only a quiet whisper—an instinct or helpful nudge—like a guardian angel.

Content and melancholy at the thought of letting go, the Golěm closes his eyes, whispers “Spokoynoy nochi, milaya,” and drifts into deep sleep. As he does, his left hand moves on its own to gently stroke the two purring Siamese cats beside him.