Page 146 of Coldwire
“Hello?” Nik calls out. He’s switched tactics, going for niceties rather than sneaking up to the house. He’s noticed the door too.
He prods the door open with his shoe, not touching anything. It’s silent inside. Gaining more assurance, Nik enters properly. He hasn’t been herebefore, I observe. Though he didn’t admit it outright, I got the impression that Nik was somewhat familiar with the data centers of our previous locations, but here he’s taking everything in with new eyes. He calls, “Hello?” once again.
Nothing.
Nik hurries down the hall without a further word. I make a slower route forward. Turn into the living room. The fur throw on the couch still has the imprint of being recently used. A prickle creeps along my spine. I should go and lock the front door, warn Nik that someone may come in at any moment. Whatever happened here was interrupted.
I poke my head through the kitchen, scanning the table, the overturned chair, the oven mitt left on the counter.
“Soldier. Come here for a second.”
I drag my attention away from the kitchen, following the sound of Nik’s voice down the hall. He’s in the office, rummaging through the desk when I enter. There’s a large whiteboard fixed to the wall, scribbled with a variety of calculations.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Headquarters,” Nik answers shortly.
I frown. A jacket has been discarded on the floor, its sleeves turned inside out.
“This looks like someone’s house.”
“It can be both.”
Nik’s gaze is distant. It’s strange to see him doing this without his glasses in front of him, but even without the visual cue, I know that he’s flipping rapidly through something on his avatar’s display. I’ve never witnessed him in virtual until this moment, yet that gesture feels glaringly easy to read. My understanding is almost innate, as silly to explain as why I’d assign red for heat and blue for cool.
“I’ve got it,” he announces.
“Already?” I exclaim. I thought it would have been harder. He did saythat Kunlun’s file was out in the open, but with that speed, I was entirely useless up here. Nik could have come alone.
“I’m asking Blare to connect the pieces now,” Nik says. “They’ve got it ready to go.”
My eyes flit around the office. I frown.
“We can’t log out first?” I ask. “We’re still sitting in that server room.”
“I know,” Nik says plainly.
And with that response, I understand there must be more to it than simply fetching the file piece and sending it off to Blare.
“Nik,” I press. “What’s going on?”
Nik blinks out of his display. He’s finished with his transfer.
“I’m sorry for the pretense,” he says. “But I needed to get you under a Claw so we could transmit into you.” He turns slightly, speaking to a line he must have opened. “Now, Blare.”
“What—”
I can’t move.
I can’t move.
“Don’t panic. We’re going to do the merge. You’ll be just fine, Lia.”
What are you talking about—
The house implodes. I am aware only of all-consuming heat, eating into my limbs, my eyes, my guts.
Then there is nothing at all.
