Page 101 of Seer Prophet

Something I couldn’t see.

“Gods,” he whispered. “Daddy.”

“Feigran––”

“Meeting over.” He motioned sharply in a cutting off motion, mouth firm. “We’ll do lunch. Exchange pleasantries. Next time, have him tie your legs apart, dearest. It’s much more aesthetically pleasing.”

Feeling my face flush in anger, I opened my mouth.

Before I could make a sound, there was an oddpop.

…and Feigran vanished.

Chapter21

Compromising Position

The power came back up around me.

The floor lights rose. The monitor switched on.

I flinched at the volume, then spoke out a command to silence the speakers.

I’d barely turned towards the door of the tank compartment when the light over the opening switched from blue to red. There wasn’t a lot I could do, given my current position, but I tugged my feet further under the sheet, my un-cuffed arm wrapped around the sheet over my chest. Otherwise I just sat there, half-leaning against the wall.

Truthfully, by then I figured it was Revik. The two hours had to be almost up.

Anyway, someone must have told him by now.

When I saw Balidor enter through the open hatch, followed by Chandre, Pagoj, Chinja, and Jorag, I must have given them a deer-in-headlights look.

“My gods, Alyson!”

Balidor walked swiftly towards me, holstering his gun. He gave Chinja a bare glance, motioning for the others to check the room.

He turned back to me, frowning.

“What did he do to you? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” When he didn’t slow his steps, I raised my voice, and my hand, indicating for him to stop. “‘Dori, I’m fine. It’s okay.”

“You said it was virtual,” Balidor said. “How did he lock you to the wall? Did he take control of the organics in the room?”

“He didn’t do this,” I blurted.

Balidor froze. He stopped in mid-motion where he’d begun reaching for my cuffed wrist.

I just sat there, at a loss as I realized what he’d assumed, what they’d all assumed, seeing me locked to the wall after a security breach event. As my disjointed thoughts caught up with theirs, something else occurred to me.

I couldn’t get out of this one.

I couldn’t get out of explaining this part of what happened.

I shrugged with my free hand, then gripped the sheet around me.

“It’s all right. Really, ‘Dor… I’m okay.” I stripped my voice of emotion when I added, “Like I said, I’m still not sure he breached the actualconstruct,or if he was able to mimic analeimicbreach via the electronic one. He must have piggybacked the signal. That’s how he got to the alarms and the electricity, too, I’m guessing.”

I pursed my lips, fighting to keep my voice businesslike.

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