The word didn't appear on a board, not on a display, not in a mouth.
It fell into me.
> Iteration Six begins. Subject: Lina.
No sound – yet the world vibrated. The tower took one deep breath, the metal struts groaning as if they contained tendons. Below us, the golden Network glowed, above it the new, barely visible vein of violet. Two pulses that were no longer opponents, but not yet a unity.
"Lina?" Alaric's voice, raspy from lack of sleep. His hand on my neck. Grounding.
"I'm here." I heard myself speak and knew at the same time: That was only half the sentence. The other half spoke elsewhere. Through me. With me.
Rhea leaned over the Terminal, fingers flat on the frame as if she could feel the current. "The Field tension is jumping. Not high, not dangerous – but autonomous. It's setting priorities."
"Which ones?" Eiko stood behind her, hair tips still damp from the rain, eyes red from blinking.
"Two axes." Rhea swallowed. "Will and dignity."
