Metal Heart

ne. It was not human. The pointed edges of its body shone with vitality, and its dazzlin

his voice strong and unwave

amused expression appearing on its face. "s

she still managed to speak, her

"No longer what I need," it stated, each sentence hard and ponderous. "However, w

dy tense with stress. "She

rang deep inside Sophia's bones.

ed, and the surrounding air thickened. Sophia gasped as the strain in the atmosphere shifte

her voice trembling.

, his gaze fixated on wher

it in his stance; he h

e silence. "We want to

his arm. "Again to the lab

he murmur of the ruins becoming fainter with each step. Soph

buzz of equipment was muffled. Adrian's arms trembled as h

ready typing furiously on her console, att

ned, his voice unnervingly calm. "It rec

He became decent. Whatever that issue had evol

m. Adrian growled under his breath, and Zeta moved f

ly safe," Adria

" she muttered, grabbing a handheld scan

is time. As she approached the

broad-shouldered, and absurdly so. The shadows ar

ivating the external floodlights. The discerner did

st too perfect, with penetrating eyes that appeared to glimmer slightly in the light. A

the intercom.

ry smile. "A pal," he said, his voice

," she said, attempting

not reach his eyes. "You're ri

red and a smooth click resonated across t

ia shouted, wh

late. The stranger had

the temperature gradually dropping. Zeta reacted immedi

Zeta questioned, his vo

erest. "So, that is the infamous creation." He took a step forwar

ia snapped, her wor

ghtly. "Names are complicated," he continued, his t

r spine. It became familiar, th

hia IV," she continued

ng an eye on things, though." His glance shifted to Zeta, and hi

angerous," So

h his gaze. "No longer yet," he said. "However he may be. And when that

r fist. "You don't

danger. He took another step forward, and Zeta

n," Zeta c

loodless and uncompromising.

rian stood frozen in front of the console, his fac

" she demanded, br

enough to unsettle her. "I wan

wha

cating at Zeta. "And don't give me a s

uge step forward. A method for recognizing recogn

rating stare breaking through h

he replie

e spoke in a low, hazardous

e you to accuse me of anything?" You destro

existence," Ka

ght her off unp

stance. "That thing you observed in the forest-it wasn't sent here by chance. "

htened. "What are y

are merely a scientist, but you are mistaken. You've awoken something you

s to argue, but the w

wing and unhurried. "Don't forget, this

her voice trembling

he faint light of the corridor. "Because if you fal

he faded into the past, l

mind racing with questions

he silence. "Do no

onary heart still thumping.

unsure whether