"It reacts to stimuli," he says sourly. "That in and of itself is hardly indicative of life, let alone awareness."

Particularly if they are imposing the Rift as some sort of metric upon this nameless entity or cosmic force, as the idea of the Rift being gradable on any sort of curve is beyond laughable.

The dog barks again, to which Rush responds with low hiss of, "quiet," pinning it with a pointed look. The dog whines.

It becomes clear to him that the dog is no longer looking at the debatably empty space with which Asadi has been interacting.

He follows the line of its gaze.

Rush's eyes shut in an overly long blink as he pinches the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.

"Fucksake," he says.