The mission's tension tightened his breath. Guards walked predictable routes, but AI reacted when a door slammed or a light spilled into shadow. Rahul learned to time his moves, pressing the virtual crouch under the rhythm of patrols. He felt the old puzzle-solve pleasure when a hacked terminal blinked open and a gated door gave way. When a firefight erupted, the mobile controls held up: tap to aim, slide to strafe, a careful blend of reflex and planning. He completed the insertion with a sliver of success — a whispered "exfil secured" and an adrenaline high he hadn't felt since college LAN nights.