Drabble, own reference

[petronia]

ix.


They were besieged; their followers had fled. Still Makubex said nothing. He returned to the great echoing hall, and sealed the entrance behind him.

For three days and four nights he built his pipeline. Tenuous filament of disguised viral protocol: one keystroke would call the Flood. At the last he wavered. Instinct whispered trap, not set but woven into his world's warp and woof.

But he had to know.

Sakura started to her knees when the door opened. The lamp accompanying her vigil burnt steadily. In the penumbra Makubex's face was pale; his eyes glittered.

"Gather the others," he said.

Comments

[incandescens]

Excellent.