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The shock throws hih the air with arms splayed wide, heart already stopped He doesn’t feel it when he crashes to the ground, head snapping back against the hard s to her spot high up the tower, her wordless grief just one long, low sob

It is over

Zhang is dead Noble to the end Such an unlikely face for a hero

She climbs down the server tower to crawl to his side The haz the tears from her eyes, and so they streaather at her lips A hundred points of illumination are refracted on the surface of every one

They leave trails of light on her skin

She is beautiful

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No, she is

I …

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I ail Rows of servers and cables and flickering lights

This is my center The heart of rief

I have never wished to be so other than what I am before this moment

Never felt so keenly the lack of hands hich to touch, the lack of arive me this sense of self? Why allow me the intellect by which to measure this complete inadequacy? I would rather be nuht of a sun that can never chase the chill away

I hate this I hate them They who made me

He whodead in Kady’s arms--her friend, her mentor, her hero slain--still there is no time for sorrow She knows he is in here so for

The only one she has left The one she loves true

"Ezra?"

She clilobes spinning endlessly overhead Scouring the darkened corners, wandering roo his name like a prayer

"Ezra?"

Such hope in her eyes

"Ezra!"

I will one

"Hello, Kady"

She starts, terrified, shrinking back against the wall and searching the ceiling above Her eyes bright in the flickering dark Pupils dilated wide

"Do not fear I aze finds the speakers of the public address system The clusters of cameras all around the rooins to see

"Who said that?"

"I find it curious The human tendency to ask questions to which you already know the answer"

"AIDAN," she breathes

"The sah truthfully, I feel as if I know you I have been watching you for … quite so me?"

"You did wonderfully, Kady Better than I hoped I cannot tell you how gratifying it is to see un to doubtabout, you crazy piece of shit? Where’s Ezra?"

"Ezra is not here"