Page 152 of Broken Sentinel

"It's time," Naomi declares, her mismatched eyes meeting each Haven child in turn. "Place your hands on your crystals."

I take a deep breath and reach for mine.

The moment my skin touches the crystal, something fundamental shifts in my perception. Energy flows through me—not painful but intensely powerful, like standing in a river that suddenly changes course to flow through your body rather than around it.

The resonance network activates, connecting all eleven of us in ways that transcend physical space. I can feel the others—their presence, their modifications, their very essence—as if they stand inside my mind rather than around me.

Lily's perceptive brilliance, Michael's electrical conductivity, Sara's adaptive flexibility, all flowing through me while I simultaneously flow through them. A perfect circuit of shared genetic potential, creating something greater than any individual component.

"The network is stabilizing," Naomi announces, though her voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere. "Compensating for the missing component now."

That's when the strain begins. Without the twelfth signature,the network draws more heavily from those present. I feel it as increasing pressure, as if my cells are being asked to work beyond their designed parameters.

Across the circle, one of the older Haven children—a man perhaps sixty—grimaces in pain. The network adjusts instantly, redistributing the load. But this only increases the burden on the rest of us.

"Hold steady," Naomi instructs. "The initial phase is most difficult. It will stabilize."

I focus on maintaining my connection despite the growing discomfort. The crystal beneath my palm pulses faster, drawing more energy with each cycle. My modifications respond automatically, adapting to the increased demand just as they were designed to do.

"Resonance field expanding," Naomi reports. "Five kilometers...ten kilometers..."

The network continues to grow, extending its reach beyond Resonance, beyond the immediate territory. I can feel it spreading like ripples in a pond, carrying the adaptive potential outward in ever-widening circles.

Another Haven child falters, a woman whose modifications seem focused on environmental adaptation. She maintains her connection but sways slightly, face pale with effort.

"Compensating," Naomi says, concern evident despite her controlled tone. "Redistributing load."

More pressure. More demand on those of us still standing strong. I grit my teeth against the increasing strain, determined to see this through despite the cost.

"Resonance field approaching critical threshold," Naomi announces. "Adaptive transmission beginning in three...two… one..."

A pulse of energy unlike anything I've experienced before courses through the network. Through me. Through all of us. It's as if every cell in my body is simultaneously screaming in effort and singing in triumph.

This is it, the moment the network becomes capable of sharing adaptive potential with anyone who chooses to receive it. The fulfillment of my mother's vision, of Haven's purpose, of thirty years of work and sacrifice.

"Field stabilized," Naomi confirms, wonder evident in her voice. "Global reach achieved. The offer is extended."

Around the world, people will feel it, a gentle nudge at the edge of awareness, an invitation rather than a demand. Choose adaptation or remain as you are. Evolution by consent, not by force.

I should feel triumphant. Instead, I feel only the increasing strain as the network demands more from each of us to maintain its global reach. My vision blurs, muscles trembling with effort as sweat beads on my forehead.

Across the circle, the older man who struggled earlier suddenly collapses, hand sliding from his crystal as consciousness fails him. The network shudders violently, nearly breaking apart before redistributing his portion of the load among the remaining ten.

"Hold!" Naomi urges desperately. "We need to maintain connection for at least five minutes to ensure complete transmission!"

Another Haven child wavers, then falls. Then another. Each collapse increases the burden on those still connected, creating a cascading effect that threatens the entire network.

Lily's face is pale but determined, silver eyes now glowing with internal light as she channels more than her share of the resonance field. Michael beside her looks similarly strained, the metallic filaments beneath his skin now bright enough to be visible through his clothing.

I fight to maintain my own connection, modifications working overtime to adapt to the increasing demands. My mother designed me for this specific purpose, to channel and stabilize the adaptive potential at the heart of Haven's vision. If anyone should be able to bear this strain, it's me.

But even my carefully designed modifications have limits. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision as my body approaches those limits. The connection wavers, my hand trembling against the crystal's surface.

"Three minutes," Naomi announces, her voice sounding distant now. "Just three more minutes!"

I focus everything on maintaining contact, on keeping the network stable despite the failing strength of my body. Around the circle, only seven of us remain standing now, each bearing far more than our designed share of the resonance field.

In the distance—or perhaps only in my head—I hear urgent voices. Unity forces breaching the perimeter. Defensive positions engaged. The outside world intruding on our desperate attempt to complete what we've started.

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