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Granite raised an eyebrow; a strange mix of surprise and the urge to laugh crossed his stone face.
— So you enchanted him? Like in a fairy tale? — he scratched the back of his head with his free hand. — Then why are you… like, worried about him too?
Flora froze in midair. Her wings trembled, the green light dimmed to almost nothing, nearly fading out. She slowly turned toward Granite; her big blue eyes widened, and her cheeks beneath the thin skin burned with a bright blush, visible even in the red flicker of the basement.
— I… — she started and immediately cut herself off. Her voice broke into a high, almost childlike squeak. She wrapped her arms around her waist, as if trying to hold that heat inside. — Let’s not talk about this… I think… I think it’s temporary.
Granite watched her for another second or two, then slowly nodded, understanding that jokes would definitely be out of place right now.
— Alright, — he said quietly, trying not to add “my precious” and to look serious. — Temporary means temporary. We’ll sort it out at base.
He turned to Rico.
— Get up. Hands on your head. One step left, one step right — and you’re considered to be trying to escape.
Rico lifted his eyes to Flora, not moving, looking at her as if waiting for her personal permission rather than the order of this massive Granite, who could cripple him with one little finger. His hands were still resting on his knees, his sweaty face showing complete submission.
Flora met his gaze and felt the heat inside stir again. She swallowed and gave a short, almost imperceptible nod.
— Get up, — she said quietly but firmly. — Do what he said.
Only then did Rico rise, slowly and carefully, put his hands behind his head, and stand straight. He didn’t say a word, but there was such sincere faith in his eyes—almost gratitude—that Flora immediately turned away, pretending to inspect the breach in the wall.
Granite snorted with satisfaction and stepped toward the exit, still holding the “boss” under his arm.
— Let’s go. Backup’s already here.
Indeed, the first beams of powerful flashlights appeared in the breach, and right after them silhouettes in hazmat suits emerged. Heavy boots thundered against the concrete.
The squad captain, wearing a helmet with a visor and an eagle patch on his shoulder, entered first, instantly assessed the situation, and nodded to Granite.
— Granite, Flora. Brief report.
— Farm neutralized, — Granite rumbled, handing the unconscious “boss” over to two agents. — Twelve containers with colonies, one damaged. One detainee surrendering voluntarily, — he nodded toward Rico. — Biohazard team required and immediate extraction to base. Flora has… a newly manifested ability. Psycho-emotional class.
The captain looked up to where Flora hovered near the ceiling, trying to stay in the shadows. Her green light was dimmed to the minimum.
— Confirmed, — she said, descending lower and trying to sound professional. — Initial reconnaissance was conducted by me. And I ask that with him— uh, — she jerked her head to pull herself together, — more precisely, I recommend handling the second detainee with caution. He is cooperative. And possesses abilities that require study.
The captain nodded without asking unnecessary questions and issued orders over the radio. Agents in suits began moving toward the boxes, setting up containers, scanning the air.
Rico was led outside under guard. He walked without looking back, but she knew he felt her gaze.
Granite approached the exit and glanced at Flora, then at his massive shoulder.
— So, shall we go? Or do you prefer to fly? — he said simply.
Flora hovered beside him for a moment, then settled onto his shoulder. She had no strength left to fly. Her body was spent, and her head was a complete chaos of unclear emotions, feelings, and contradictions.
— Let’s go, — she repeated quietly, staring somewhere into the distance and wishing she could just sink into the ground, imagining how she would report all of this to her superiors.