Agony detonated from his neck.
Every nerve became a red-hot wire, twisting in the current. Lupus-0 awoke choking, suspended by alloy chains. His collar seared into flesh, exposing blinking neural ports.
Beyond the vent grate, γ-7 roared: "Stay back!" Security voices barked:
"Inject T-9 sedative! Keep the mother alive!"
"Offspring carries pathogen! Incinerate!"
Through the mesh, he saw Xiao Man pinned to an operating table. As needles plunged toward her arm, γ-7's wings exploded outward! Bone spikes pierced security throats. Blood sprayed across a "Human Evolution Project" poster.
"Passage B-12… code is…" γ-7 threw Xiao Man toward the vent. Three tranquilizer darts punched into her back. Her wings crumbled to ash.
Lupus-0 caught the falling girl. Xiao Man's tear-streaked face pressed against his bone armor: "Mommy—!"
*
Currents spiked through his brainstem. Kneeling, he howled as his claws slashed toward the child's neck—
*WHAM-SHRIEK!*
The vent cover above tore away. A mechanical hound emerged—Smart Brain's silver insignia on its head, scanning eyes burning red:
*[Target confirmed: Lupus-0 (Traitor)]*
*[Priority target: Human offspring (Lullaby Pathogen carrier)]*
γ-7 sprayed alcohol at the beast: "Remember—they fear—!" Flames swallowed her final words.
Lupus-0 snatched Xiao Man and plunged down the shaft. Falling, he felt the Shepherd Hound's claws rip armor from his back.
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