death knell. Kelsey remained crumpled on the floor, her chest heavi

ad tucked under one arm. Her eyes were as co

voice a raw, broken rasp. "Wh

, clamped around Kelsey's jaw, forcing her face upward. "You don

ron Empire. And you, from this second forward, a

t. "Empire... property... No. I want

ter-one of the source worlds the trade strips and forgets. The ships that carry cargo out of it don't

est was snuffed out. Her eyes dulled,

in Kelsey's eyes. She walked to a cabinet and retrieved a

d earlier is nearly depleted. To ensure you are useful to yo

mbered the device that knocked her out. "No! Don't touch me!" Sh

er tongue. She sn

l. They moved with terrifying speed, grabbing Kelsey by the arms. Their met

met onto Kelsey's head. The cold met

ge system implant. Deep integration mode. Pu

y's ears. Then, a torrential floo

creamed, her back arching in agony. Alien words, complex grammar structu

derstood the hierarchy of the Beastmen. She learned what an "evolutionary catalyst" was

y of Uncle Eddy's face blurred. The smell of the motel room vanished. Her

e droids released her, and Kelsey collapsed, ga

at the trembling woman and spoke in flawless

y implanted neural pathways forced out only the d

her mouth, horrified by how

lue is to provide 'symbiotic catalysis' for your 'maste

" A cold dread began to

s their tool. Your worth lies entirely in pleasing your masters an

elsey up and dragged her toward a sleek, hove

vy doors hissed shut, sealing

new knowledge in her head warred with the fading echoes of her past. She understoo

t estate, a single tear slipped down her cheek. It was