The Head Gardener’s fingertips, tipped with metal petals, dropped into his tea. The liquid instantly boiled, steaming not with heat, but with a swarm of miniature Executor Drones. They assembled in the air to form the face of Professor Lin, his synthesized voice icy and grating:
[Abnormal emotional variables detected.]
[Executing pruning protocol.]
Jane’s crystalline heart erupted in blue light, forming a protective barrier around the three of them. The impact of the drone swarm sent ripples across the shield’s surface, and at every point of collision, images from past eras flickered into view—
Chapter 63