Page 102 of Rebirth

“Tell me what you’re doing,” I whisper, energy so low, my voice is a whisper. “Maybe I can help you.”

“Adaptation,” He’rox says. “I cannot remove the network, but I can make you adapt to it. I am positive. Humanity has adapted to its changing world. Your species adapted to the ba’clan. You adapted to become mates for my kind. And when the Gryken created this network, they adapted to control your species. If I can reverse that adaptation…”

I watch him work, unable to take my eyes away as he desperately tries to find a winning combination that could save me.

His technology. His knowledge. It’s all so advanced, I am in awe even as my consciousness wanes once more.

“I’m drifting,” I whisper.

“Stay with me, Sophie,” he says.

“Leucochloridium paradoxum,” I whisper.

“What?” Adira says.

“Parasite,” I whisper. “Flatworm. Infects snails.” I force my lungs to move. “Or…ophiocordyceps unilateralis. Fungus. Makes. Zombie ants. Both alter behavior.” My tired gaze flicks to He’rox. “Maybe the key to beating this thing is here, on Earth.”

He’rox pauses, gazing at me but not really seeing me. The inner workings of his mind going too fast for him to even speak.

“Or perhaps,” he suddenly says, “it comes from Edooria.”

My head lolls, turning to the side as my consciousness wanes once more.

Outside the room, I can hear the others trying to get in and I wonder if they will blast in here like before. Only, He’rox doesn’t seem concerned.

His fingers are flying through the matrix once more as a tray exits the wall above my body. Samples of my blood spread out in tubes, all being mixed with different compounds.

“A new parasite,” He’rox suddenly says.

“What?” Adira says, eyes wide. “No. No, we can’t do this.”

“I am not asking for your permission.”

I nod at her, letting her know it’s okay. I wasn’t lying when I told her I trusted him, because I do. With all of my being, I trust him.

He’rox’s gaze locks with mine as soon as one of the vials turns blue, lighting up in the center of the tray.

“Soh’fee,” he says. “Forgive me for the pain.” His voice almost breaks and it’s the only sign I get that his warning is really and truly to be heeded. Because the moment he stretches his hand over me and the white ink of his ba’clan flood back toward him, pain lances through me, making my back arch on the table.

“Fuck, He’rox!” Adira screams.

“I need some of yours too,” he turns to her and she fumbles as she stretches her hand to him, black ink running from her skin to pool in his palm. The black ink rises and shivers as if being so close to him is painful and He’rox deposits it on a tray along with the entirety of his ba’clan.

The tray disappears in the wall as He’rox’s fingers fly through the matrix, lighting up his dark eyes with a white light that makes him look unreal.

Pain shoots through my being, not easing up even as I grit my teeth. My eyes widen and open, my mouth gasping for air that won’t reach my lungs as I feel the pain searing through my veins.

All across my body, I feel the network spreading, no longer inhibited by the ba’clan.

“Hold on, Sophie, just a little more.”

“I…I don’t know if I can.”

With each passing moment, the pain feels like it is burning me from within, even as I try to keep my hold on reality.

In the corner of my vision, Adira paces…and further beyond her, all I see are the twin eyes of the Gryken floating in the tube.

They remain locked with mine as if it had been watching me all along. And I don’t know how I know it, but I know the creature is livid.

---