The fragments should have been harmless.
That was the first assumption Lysarra had made.
Predator residue typically degraded within minutes once separated from the primary organism. The Constellation Network's natural harmonic fields dissolved hostile structures quickly, reducing them to inert energy that the stars could safely recycle.
But these fragments…
Were different.
They drifted slowly through the outer perimeter of the newborn node's gravity well, glinting like shards of frozen night.
Lysarra hovered among them, hands moving carefully through the void.
Thin filaments of silver analysis-light extended from her fingertips, connecting to the fragments one by one as she began mapping their structure.
Each shard pulsed faintly.
Alive in a way residue shouldn't be.
Behind her, Ethan floated near the edge of the observation field, watching the process with growing unease.
"How long have they been doing that?" he asked.
Lysarra didn't turn.
