The corrupted Charlie appeared from the shadows, like a nightmare come true. Her steps left crystalline imprints that spread corruption across the concrete floor. The real Charlie clasped Elena's palm harder, her crystal pulsating in response to its dark counterpart.
"Find shelter," Elena told Charlie, moving him closer to Mara. "Now!"
The warped baby tilted her head, scrutinizing them through void-black eyes. "You generally defend others, Elena. However, who shields you from reality?
Dr. Mayfield burst out of his lab, clutching a gadget that hummed with ordinary energy. "Anybody again!" "The temporal readings are destabilizing the entire sector!"
The two Charlies met eyes across the chamber. The facts radiated among them like heat waves off scorching asphalt. The corrupted form smiled, showing teeth composed of crystal shards.
"Tell them, physician," she murmured. "Tell them what you discovered in the army archives. about assignment Threshold."
