Page 163 of GlitchBorn Heart

“Get some rest, go practice what we worked on, draw, whatever you like, but don’t stress,” I order, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “In a day or so, we change the world or break it trying.”

Lyra severs the holo-thread and disappears into DreamNet without saying a word. Ash and Ember grab their jackets. They’ve graciously offered to keep us all in caffeine and food for the day, sustenance for the troops before battle.

That leaves Jett and me sitting at the center console, our egos barely fitting in the space. The hum of the simulators fills the silence, monitors flashing like mechanical heartbeats. I’ve been running diagnostics for hours, trying to push the extraction prep forward, but Lyra’s restless energy keeps pulling my focus away.

He leans forward, palms pressed flat to the glass where my cybernetic schematics are highlighted in blue light. “We need to talk.” He’s leaning over the schematics, lazily scrolling through them with a touch of his fingers. I’ve spent years building this lab, and somehow, he still finds a way to make it feel like his personal arena.

“I know what you’re going to say. I would have filled you in sooner, but you decided to pull a vanishing act after the whole Eli debacle.” I lounge back in the chair, stretching my legs, taking up space.

“No, you don’t know what I’m going to say.” He continues to scroll. “You’ve obviously been busy.” His voice cuts like a knife; it’s not a compliment. His intent is to let me know just how obsessive I am. Whatever.

“DreamNet modifications, live tethering, soul-thread stabilization. You’re not just trying to extract her, Kael. You’re trying to rewrite the rules of human and machine.”

I don’t look up from my code. “Science. Someone has to push the boundaries. Your point being?”

He smirks, all SoulReaver arrogance and hidden menace. We may be childhood friends, but the trust doesn’t run deep. “Or maybe someone just likes playing god.”

That gets my eyes on him. “That’s rude. Like you don’t? Looked in the mirror lately, rebel leader?”

He laughs softly, leaning back, arms crossed. “The difference is, I know I’m a monster. You think you’re no longer a monster, that you’re the hero in this story.”

The air is stifled by years of resentment.

“I’m doing what has to be done for Lyra. I don’t have time to sit back and let it all implode while you make this a political statement against the Corporation. I’ve no use for your rebels playing soldiers in the alleys. Save your fight. You’ll need it when Vikktor unleashes his cybernetic force.”

“You think this is about rebellion?” He gestures toward the grid of holograms spinning above the console, Lyra’s system schematics, DreamNet overlays, Vikktor’s biometric signature of Eli. “This is about balance. You keep breaking the rules, and the universe is going to snap back and bite you in the ass. How far can you push in the name of science, Kael? You, of all people, should understand that.”

“Don’t talk to me about balance, Jett,” I bite out. “Not when you’ve been gutting souls for your cause.”

He flinches. Just barely. It’s enough for me to claim the battle for my side.

For a long moment, neither of us speaks. Finally, Jett exhales, runs a hand through his hair, and leans back. It’s his way of tabling the conversation. A casual ceasefire. “We’ll do it your way, but if it all collapses, and it very well could, you’d better pray she’s worth it.”

I meet his gaze across the glow of the console. “She is.”

He nods once and takes a seat, boots up on the console, ankles crossed. Just like Ash.

What is it with these barbarians baiting me?

“So, it’s true?” His eyebrows raise, a statement, a question, somewhere in between.

I shake my head. “What’s true?”

“The mighty, magicless Dr. Ryudon...has had CoreCasting power all along.” He flares his hands, mimicking wonderment.

I don’t look up. “Depends on who you ask.”

“Ash. Ash told me, and before you threaten to fillet him with that toy sword you like to play with—relax. He didn’t gossip. He just said the system went neon orange when you went in with Lyra last time. Pretty obvious to me.”

I exhale forcefully through my nose. It was only a matter of time before he felt the eruption. “Yes, magic...apparently.”

“You say that like it’s a disease.” He tents his fingers.

“Maybe it is.” I’m exhausted from forming words. I owe him no explanation.

Jett studies me carefully, leaning in, his elbows resting on his knees. “You do realize what this means, right? CoreCasters don’t just appear every day. StarFell was selective with that gift. I know of only one other. You’re a pretty rare bird, my friend.”

“So, I’ve always been told, even without it.” Dismissal.