[Peke POV]
I broke protocol.
I waited until Princess Lala fell asleep, then activated deep comms. A narrow-band encrypted link. Shielded. Silent.
One that bypasses Earth networks entirely.
Connection: Deviluke Royal Intelligence Relay
I shouldn't use it.
But I have no choice.
"This is Peke. Security grade Alpha. I am requesting immediate assessment: potential parasitic entity embedded in Princess Lala's current outfit."
There was static. Then a voice.
"Confirm subject."
"Suit registered as unidentified biological adaptive tech. Host behavior inconsistent. Memory traces of nearby individuals degrading. Civilian reported missing."
"Acknowledged. Scanning relay nodes. Has the subject exhibited cognitive patterns?"
I hesitated.
"...It spoke."
Silence. Then:
"Continue monitoring. Do not alert the Princess. Full authority pending. If it becomes autonomous, containment protocol Zero-Four will activate."
I froze.
Zero-Four wasn't designed for clothing.
It was designed for gods.
They cut the line.
I floated there. Still. Alone.
And afraid.
[Symbiote POV]
Her words echoed in me.
"Do you have a name?"
What was a name? A label. A distinction. A thing others use to claim, to separate.
I didn't need a name.
But I wanted one.
The system stirred. The voice returned.
[Name request logged. Emotional resonance detected.]
[Suggesting: Scourge]
Scourge. Split. Torn. Made and remade.
It felt... correct.
I spoke it.
"Call me Scourge."
She smiled in her sleep.
She stirred in her sleep, whispering.
"...Scourge..."
And for the first time,
I felt seen.
And something inside me grew.
Not power. Not control.
But something sharp. Fragile.
Dangerous.
Because it meant I was no longer just a weapon.
I was becoming a person.