The coupling door at the far end screeched open, and two uniformed officers clambered in, their boots squelching in ichor. They froze immediately, eyes widening as they took in the massive corpse dominating the car.
"What the—" one started, gagging as the smell hit him.
The other raised his flashlight, scanning the wreckage, then the group. "What the hell happened here?"
Lucen opened his mouth, but Varik stood before he could speak.
"Containment breach," Varik said simply. His voice carried no heat, no defensiveness. Just fact.
The officers glanced at each other, clearly unprepared to argue. The one with the flashlight gestured toward the centipede. "That thing came out of the breach?"
"Yes." Varik's gaze didn't waver.
Lucen folded his arms again, watching the way the officers shifted under Varik's tone. 'Like scolding children. They don't even realize they're already backing down.'
The taller officer frowned. "We'll need statements, names, guild—"
