Her words were muffled, but he could make out a good deal of it. Worry still marred her face, but she stood straight and tall and expression neutral as she waited for Veta's answer.
"I've searched Freya's suite, and there are minimal clues. I double-checked the security as well and found that she had been working on something in the system--something that involved her broach--"
"The broach?" Eleanor stroked her head, where her little shiny jeweled thing was in her hair.
Veta nodded. "I don't know what exactly, because she managed to cover all her results. But a couple of hours ago, she and Kian left. It looked like they headed out to do something, but I cannot find any evidence of where they went or what they were doing. If they're in this complex, I couldn't find it."
"Neither could I," Wrathin said.
Eleanor shook her head. "That makes no sense. Where would they go? What were they doing?"
"Freya, computer genius that she is, hid most of what she was doing. The only thing I could get was that she was--"
Jedriek got a command from Master System.
Master System requirescommunication with Imperial Princess Eleanor.
He blinked. "Yes, Master System."
"And the status of Bianca?" Eleanor asked.
"She's well. Her internal injuries, while some were intense, are being treated. There were several shards of glass that had worked their way into her body. While tedious, the Rhimodians are working to remove each one."
"She will--"
Master System requirescommunication with Imperial Princess Eleanor.
Jedriek nodded."Yes, Master System. In a moment."
A sharp pain echoed in his head.
Jedriek almost went down to his knees.
Almost.
Wrathin saw him crumble and grabbed his arm.
"Jedriek?"
He panted as the pain radiated through him.
"Jedriek, what is it?" Eleanor asked.
He looked at her, at those beautiful eyes, and opened his mouth to speak. Then the pain hit him again.
"Yes, Master System," he whispered. "Yes."
The pain stopped.
Though his whole body felt weak. It took him a few breaths to return to himself. Had he not just experienced it, he would never have believed that Master System would be angry with him. That's what it was. Anger. A burst of outrage from the system that controlled and commanded them. His emotions were understandable. He had organics in him. Old Rhimodian parts still responded, regardless of the control from the cybernetics.
Cybernetics, however, should not be emotional.
"Jedriek?" Eleanor said and put her hand on his arm. "Are you well? What happened?"
He stroked her cheek. "Master System requires to speak to you."
Eleanor blinked. "What?"
