Page 65 of Sixth
Lume shot into the bay in a streak of white. She circled both of them with frantic beating wings, chirping in a tight high register that sounded like the warning of a small alarm bell. She darted to the console and tapped the surface with both paws. Her eyes went wide and bright.
“Core,” Apex said, louder. “Status.”
Static scratched across the overhead speakers. Athin voice cut in and out, then steadied.“Diagnostics... corrupted...”
Every muscle in his body went still. “Say that again.”
The voice came again, clearer and unmistakably afraid.“He is in me—”
The bay lights blazed to white, hard enough to blind. The sound that followed rode on top of Core’s voice and under it at the same time, acolder tone, an iron face put over a familiar one. It spoke into every speaker on theship.
“I am here.”
The words cut the air. They cut right throughbone.
