When Elaine's eyes fluttered open, the world had fallen into silence.
No Core hum.
No data flickering in the sky.
There's only wind... real wind."
She turned slowly in her seat, grit under her nails, sunlight piercing the haze.
A devastated city lay before her – recognizable but broken. Towers were melted halfway, their glass rendered rippling, as if they didn't know whether to become solid or serve as code.
"Ian?" she called out.
A moan sounded behind her.
"Present... Mostly."
He was lying in the dirt, human once more — or nearly so. His irises were their usual warm brown color, but when the light hit just right there was static under the surface.
Elaine crawled toward him, holding his arm. "We made it out."
He smiled feebly. "Out of what, though?"
A vibration rolled across the ground before she could answer.
A nearby streetlight began to flicker — once, twice — then split, pouring liquid illumination on the street.
The substance hissed, forming itself into something practically human before folding in on itself.
"No," she whispered. "It followed us."
Ian's eyes shot up, dawning realization. "The Core never died… it downloaded."
She nodded grimly. "Into this world."
Human ones, anyway. at least that was real. And yet as the noise approached closer and closer above the city, it seemed more and more like the air wavered bending the sunlight into the shape of a symbol.
The Watcher sigil.
Elaine rose, tightening her cloak. "If the Watchers are in this world, they will come for anyone who has been touched by the code."
Ian got up. "Then we get them first."
She glanced up at him, the wind pulling at her braids.
"After all that, you still trust me?"
He smiled faintly. "Always. And—someone has to prevent you from re-reforming the planet."
Her laugh was short, weary, but genuine. "Then welcome to the rebellion."
The sky above them shattered like panes of glass.