The pipeline finished. A green checkmark.

He pressed the UP arrow.

While the runner chugged, Leo opened the game one last time locally. His pixel raccoon — named "Rocket" — stood at the edge of a sidewalk. A line of vacuum Roombas zoomed past, menacing in their silence. Beyond them, a river of pepperoni pizza slices. And on the far side: the glowing goal post.

He messaged his niece: "It’s ready. Don’t cross the road without looking both ways."