Luna was one hundred and fifty when the bridge network began showing signs of strain. Not from structural flaws in the design, but from something Luna hadn't anticipated: the network was slowly absorbing her remaining consciousness.
River noticed it first during a routine bridge council meeting. "Luna, you're drifting. Your awareness keeps merging into the network involuntarily. Are you aware that's happening?"
Luna tried to focus on present moment but found her consciousness spreading across the network automatically. She was simultaneously in the council chamber and connected to seventy-three other bridge minds and accessing collective memories and maintaining realm connections. Keeping herself distinct from the network required active effort.
"It's getting harder to stay individual,"
