[i]“My patience is wearing thin, Agent. This is the second time you’ve failed us.”[/i] The Director-General spoke directly into 595’s head. She was curled up in Freyr’s office, cross-legged in her chair. Rows of symbols flashed on a nearby monitor as she stroked the interface pad. [i]“Your inability to control the powers we’ve invested in you will be drawing even more attention to us...Do we need to replace you?”[/i]

[i]“No, Master. I’ve meditated on it now. All the signs point to my Sublimation having begun already. I will exercise more restraint from now on, like you taught me. I will keep an eye on the other Humans too, in case they show any signs of change. The Rothian Datius may prove a bit trickier…”[/i]

[i]“Don’t attempt anything until we’ve extracted the Navigator from Rothian space. Just run interference on any further investigation. We have to assume the entity interpreted our handshake as we intended...We have a team examining the sample data you sent. If you hear anything from CRD about the location of the other artifacts, you report back immediately. Understand?”[/i]

[i]“Yes, Master.”[/i] 595 wanted to ask about the situation at home, about the fight raging inside the Cradle. But she knew the Director-General wouldn’t answer. He chimed in again. [i]"And try to drive a wedge between Dr Lang and this...Vreta'Sori. We'll deal with him properly when the time comes."[/i] 595 spotted Freyr entering the lab space outside the office windows. [i]“Of course. I have to sign off now - Dr Lang has risen.”[/i]

[i]“Don’t let me down. We are watching you closely.”[/i] The connection to Outremer ceased. 595 quickly uncurled from her comfy position on the seat and padded out of the office.