The maintenance bots swarmed the corridor, their limbs hissing and twitching as they began scrubbing the blood and shattered plating off the walls and floor.
The two Kaels stood on opposite sides of the hallway, both staring at Max.
Max didn't move.
His gaze flicked between them—calm, calculating, but something in his expression had hardened. Rage. Not loud or chaotic. A silent kind of fury, deep and waiting to burn.
Kael, who was nearest to him stepped forward, arms slightly raised in a gesture that didn't reach his eyes.
"Max, I'm glad you're here. I should've listened. I know that. But come on, just look at him. You can see it in his eye. The way it flickers. I'm the real one."
The clone's jaw clenched. His fists shook.
"You idiot. Listen to yourself. Look in a mirror before you talk. You're the one with the black eye, not me."
Kael turned to Max again, breathing sharply.
