Xavier's eyes narrowed. "Then what is it."
Alvin swallowed. "Pure energy."
Daniel stiffened. "Pure."
"Yes," Alvin said. "Uncorrupted. Opposite in nature to the corruption zombies carry."
Xavier stared at the core. "That's impossible."
Daniel frowned deeply. "Then how."
Alvin closed the case gently and sat down again, but the tension remained coiled in his posture.
"Zombies are driven by corrupted life force," Alvin explained. "Distorted survival instinct. This energy…"
He hesitated.
"This energy stabilizes," Alvin finished. "It resists mutation."
Daniel's mind raced. "That would explain why awakeners can't absorb it. Their powers are already altered."
"Yes," Alvin said. "Their systems reject anything that tries to normalize them."
Xavier's jaw tightened. "Then this core could be—"
"A key," Alvin interrupted. "Or a warning."
Daniel asked quietly, "A warning of what."
Alvin leaned back, eyes unfocused. "That something in this world is trying to correct itself."
