The blast wave hit the bay like a storm.
Metal crates flew.
Pipes tore loose.
The entire floor shook as if something huge had punched straight through it.
Asher and the Knight dove behind a broken support pillar just in time.
The shockwave slammed into it, cracking the metal, but the pillar held long enough for the blast to pass.
Asher coughed, waving away the smoke.
"Okay… that's new."
The Knight pressed a hand against the wall, steadying himself.
"It's not just stronger… it's covering the whole room."
Asher peered around the edge of the pillar.
The Prime Warden was still standing in the middle of the bay, unmoving—smoke rolling off its arms, the four ports still glowing faint orange from the attack.
It was waiting.
Watching.
Scanning for movement.
Asher whispered, "It knows we're hiding."
The Knight nodded. "And it's giving us time to panic."
Asher made a face. "I don't like that it understands psychology."
