Page 72 of The Monster's Daughter

The walls ripple with nanite projections. Machine glyphs float like smoke. In the center—suspended by grav-beams and neural tethers—is a containment sphere.

Inside it is Natalie.

Floating.

Her hair fans around her like dark silk in zero-G. Her little body slack but breathing. Her skin is pale. The glow at her sternum pulses with too-perfect rhythm.

Kage growls.

I take one step.

The cultists appear.

Not armored. Not aggressive.

Justwaiting.

Their robes are grey, skin implanted with chrome lattices, fingers long and glistening with neural ports. They bow when they see us.

One speaks.

“You are blessed to witness the Interface Ascension.”

I raise my gun. “I’ll bless your fucking spine with a bullet.”

The nearest cultist tilts his head, unbothered.

“Flesh and code united. Her purity is your gift to the future.”

“She’s achild!”

“Children become gods.”

Kage steps forward, voice like thunder. “You let her go. Now.”

Natalie’s eyes flutter open.

And theyglow.

Not fully silver. Not fully human.

Halfway.

“Mama?” she whispers.

I run to her—but the field stops me. A static shield that bites.

“Mama, I’m scared,” she says, voice tiny and real and hers.

Overlay.

Same mouth. Same voice.

But mechanical.

“The vessel is ready.”

My knees go out.