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“Where is ÆON?!” you sign.

Zeta glances away from you. “Admin Crypta...she has the root device.”

“No!” you sign. “After all this, we didn’t recover ÆON?!”

“She ordered me, in person...what can I do against an Admin’s order? I already physically assaulted one Admin today...” Zeta signs. “But she said she was only going to hold onto it while you were unconscious, and wouldn’t attempt to decrypt it or do any harm to it. Synth said we can trust her...but Akiko said we need it in writing, so I got a contract, enforceable by Cybernautics.”

“Oh, well done, then.” You feel a great relief--the power of a contract.

“She wants to see you when you’re up,” Zeta signs.

“At least ÆON is safe,” you sign. “Vanitas never got the key, we did it...”

“How did you defeat NULL?” Akiko signs.

“We couldn’t see anything from outside,” Zeta signs.

“I don’t know if I could even explain it...” You try to grasp the details of that strange ætherwalk. You recall the broad strokes, but trying to look deeper only unfocuses your mind--especially where it concerns your synchronization.

Your thoughts wander to the subject of 5. Like any sync experience, you’re left with a sense of longing, incompleteness without your sync partner. You wonder if you’ll ever get used to that. Otherwise, you feel okay--serene, incapable of anxiety--lingering effects of the ketamine you injected yourself with.

A knock at the door. It slides open--a familiar face. “Hello Aydan,” Ana says.

“Hey...” you sign. “Is 7 okay?”

“She’s resting, and wants to be alone,” Ana signs, matching your JSL. “She was inconsolable until we brought her exopath back, but she’s stable now.”

“Good, they’ve been reunited...” you sign.

You feel it probing your synthovaries’ biosensors. You give it access to the data.

“You’re doing fine, too, biologically,” Ana signs. “I just wanted to run a diagnostic to make sure. Unfortunately, your ND-implant is fried. Nothing I can do, it’s going to need maintenance from your surgeon.”

“I’ll deal with that when I hit the ground, then,” you sign.

“It’s for the best, you should stay surfaceside for a while after an experience like that,” Ana signs. “You’re otherwise healthy. I’m clearing you to leave when you feel ready.”

“Admin Crypta wants to see us, you said?” you sign to Zeta.

“She only asked for you,” it signs. “I’ll come with you if you want, she’s kinda scary...”

“Me too, just sign the word,” Akiko signs.