Allegiance is never asked for directly.
It's tested.
The morning arrived with paperwork.
Not forms—not officially. Just conversations that ended with phrases like "we'll need that confirmed" and "we should document this properly." People were asked the same questions twice, then again by someone else. Each time, the answer was noted.
Where do you usually work?Who do you coordinate with?Which channel do you prefer?
Preferences had become declarations.
Arjun felt it before he understood it."They're not asking what we do," he said."They're asking who we belong to."
"Yes," I replied."And they already know the answers they want."
✦
The sanctioned side moved with new confidence.
Badges appeared—not mandatory, just helpful. Clipboards were replaced by tablets. Names were displayed openly, affiliations clear.
Visibility had become currency.
✦
On the unsanctioned side, people learned to move without names. Tasks rotated. Voices stayed low. Help flowed sideways, not upward.
