He shifted his stance slightly. "In the anti, we’ll start prepping your entry into Vardency. You’ll go in as a refugee—low profile. Trade package included."
"Oh?" Elias asked. "And what’s that going to be?"
Geras smirked. "Sothing small groups always forget when they’re trying to expand and conquer. Sothing you happen to be good at."
He paused just enough to let it land. "Food."
Kikaru blinked. "Huh? Food? You think that’s gonna win them over?"
Elias gave a short laugh. "Made you nicer when I cooked for you."
"Well... yeah, but that’s—whatever."
"Then it’s settled," Geras said. "Head back to Block A. Finish out the day. Run the obstacle course a few tis. Be ready for tonight."
"Elias. Stay back for a few minutes."
The other two left without question, leaving him alone in the room with Geras.
"So," Geras said, leaning back slightly. "How’ve you been holding up? All the reports I’ve seen are flying colors."
"Good," Elias said. "But I’m struggling with a few things, I guess."
"Fire away."
"It’s not morality. I’m fine there. It’s the logistics. Like... if so users went rogue. Or if the facility gets found. I don’t an to be rude, but the Federation feels like it’s had its head up its ass lately. Especially with the whole Elara outfit ss—and everything that’s happened since."
He paused. "And there’s all these parties popping up, fighting against the military. If that keeps going, the public’s going to turn too."
Geras gave a low chuckle and nodded. "For soone the system flagged with low perception, you’ve got a decent read. That’s sothing we’ve already been talking about."
He pushed off the console and stood straight again.
"Right now, we’re in reaction mode. Watching the field and doing what we can to stay ahead. But we do have counterasures in motion—so aid at pulling attention off us before it lands too hard."
His expression settled.
"Reality is, we’re the only ones dumb or brave enough to try building sothing fair. Sothing that might leave us with a planet when this is all over."
But; I also wanted to keep you updated on thing’s we’ve been creating and working toward,
It becos harder once people get new shards or they shrink and grow; but we’re going to have a custom fitted Biosuit for you based off your asurents stocked and ready at one of the bases that will likely fall within the weeks; you’ll be the only one who can access it.
Elias nodded. "I’ve got more questions than answers on that... but if that’s everything, I’ll head back, grab so food, and get prepped."
"There is one more thing." Geras opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a small vial. "Do you mind if I test sothing?"
Elias raised an eyebrow as Dots hovered above his head.
"...What is that?"
He shrugged. "No idea," he thought.
"What’s it for?" he asked finally.
"It’s experintal. One of the doctors has been working on sothing that might let humans perceive the Ikonas directly—by syncing with the soul energy that runs through the blood. It’s unstable. Only microdoses have been approved."
Geras held the vial steady. "I’d like to try it. Say hi to your Ikona."
Elias’s eyes widened. "And what if the damn thing kills you and it looks like I murdered a Warden? Didn’t one just die? I’d rather not have that pinned on ."
Geras chuckled. "There’s nothing to worry about. Like I said—small dose. And if I did kick the bucket, they’d just say an old man ran out of ti."
Elias stared at him. "You could’ve tested this on soone else. Or in a lab. Why ?"
He shrugged. "So things are better seen in a relaxed setting."
He pricked his shoulder through the sleeve and pushed the liquid in.
Elias stood still as Dots floated gently, her glow softening.
A faint blue hue crept into Geras’s eyes. His skin took on a pale tint—cool, translucent—then slowly faded back to normal.
"I take it you’re Dots," he said, eyes fixed just above Elias’s head.
Dots hovered, eyes wide. "Whoa... you can actually see ? And hear ?! That’s so cool!"
"It is, isn’t it," Geras said, still focused on her.
He winced, coughed once, and brought a hand to his temple. The blue in his eyes was already starting to fade.
Dots flickered, her glow thinning.
"Sha," he muttered. "Would’ve liked to ask a few things."
She didn’t respond.
A few seconds later, she vanished.
Still holding his head, Geras spoke through his teeth. "Last thing, really. You’ll be working with Colby in a few days. Stay ready."
Elias hesitated, wanted to ask more—but the tension in Geras’s posture said enough. He gave a faint smile instead. "Glad to hear he’s doing that well. Just... don’t go dying on ."
"Of course," Geras said. "Just working through the withdrawal."
Elias gave a short nod and stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Geras didn’t move for a mont. Then he lowered himself into the chair with a slow exhale, reached into the bottom drawer, and pulled out a small photo fra.
He looked at it in silence. The light on the screen caught along the edge of the glass.
His hand didn’t move. Neither did the picture.
-anwhile-
The overhead light buzzed. Steady. Focused.
A tube clicked into place at the base of Vincent’s collar. One nurse adjusted the angle while the other pressed her palm against the chest pad.
"Respiratory’s holding. Bleed hasn’t slowed."
"Pressure still falling," the surgeon muttered.
He stood at Vincent’s side, gloves slick to the wrists. "Clamp down. Get the valve under the abdominal tear."
"On it," said Nurse Daya, sliding past with forceps. "Kid’s lucky we got him here when we did."
"Lucky’s not the word I’d use."
Another nurse wiped the sweat off the surgeon’s temple without being asked.
Vincent lay still—what was left of him.
His right side had been stitched up through cauterized muscle. The left arm was gone above the elbow. The chest bore fresh trauma—blunt and uneven. His leg, once marked with a shard, now showed no trace.
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