 be confident and brave.

"Feels like I've been run over by a street cleaner," she said.

"What?"

"Funny little cyberts—kinda cute actually—clean the streets of debris. Seems not all cyberts are agile enough to dodge a little trash."

Harry eyed her curiously.

"They're harmless, Harry. Primitive communication capability. Local only. No danger if you stay out of its way."

"Are you hurt?"

"A few bruises, scrapes, cuts. You?" She faced him to hide her back.

"Same. Sore."

As they stood to brush themselves off, Desiree looked in the direction of the blast to survey the damage. Buildings looked intact. Harry seemed intact as well. Her back stung and burned from the blast, but she'd get something for it at the meeting place.

"Shock grenade, I think," she said. "I've heard they stop cyberts for quite a radius. Means Shadows..."

Without warning, a Shadow separated from the darkness and moved into the light. He held two heads—small but once deadly cybert heads—in one hand aloft, his cloth-covered fingers in holes that resembled an eye socket in each head. With the other hand he tossed his hood back exposing his face and grinned. He was a handsome dark-skinned Bio, with dark gentle eyes and a wide grin that seems to say he was no threat. He held up the cybert heads as if proclaiming victory, or some kind of peace offering, then, without a word, he placed them in a bag made out of the same coarse fabric as the rest of his garb. He reached inside his cloak to retrieve something. He tossed a small object at them. It clattered to the ground. A small cybert shaped roughly like that of an insect—a bee. The gesture, simple as it was, exclaimed, "Watch your back. Makr knows."

Then he was gone.

"That...Sha...Sha...Shadow?"

Harry couldn't help the stammer. He saw the Shadow change into a man and then become the Shadow again. He couldn't look, couldn't face whatever it was. Now the horror and pain of his childhood past—or lack of it—swept over him. Desperately, he tried to shut out
be confident and brave. 

 " Feels like I've been run over by a street cleansing agent, " she say. 

 " What? " 

 " Funny little cyberts — rather cute actually — cleanse the streets of debris. look not all cyberts are agile enough to dodge a little rubbish. " 

 Harry eyed her curiously. 

 " They're harmless, Harry. Primitive communication capability. Local entirely. No danger if you stay out of its means. " 

 " Are you suffer? " 

 " A few bruises, scrapes, cuts. You? " She faced him to hide her rear. 

 " Same. Sore. " 

 As they stood to brush themselves off, Desiree looked in the commission of the blast to survey the damage. Buildings look intact. Harry seemed intact as well. Her back stung and burn from the blast, but she'd get something for it at the meeting place. 

 " Shock grenade, I think, " she said. " I've heard they stop cyberts for quite a radius. Means Shadows... " 

 Without warning, a Shadow separated from the darkness and moved into the light. He held two head — small but once deadly cybert heading — in one bridge player aloft, his cloth - covered fingers in fix that resembled an eye socket in each head. With the other bridge player he tossed his hood back exposing his face and grinned. He was a handsome dark - skin Bio, with dark gentle eyes and a wide smile that seems to read he was no menace. He held up the cybert heads as if proclaiming victory, or some kind of peace offering, then, without a password, he placed them in a bag made out of the same coarse fabric as the rest of his garb. He reached inside his cloak to remember something. He tossed a modest object at them. It clattered to the land. A small cybert determine roughly like that of an worm — a bee. The gesture, simple as it was, exclaimed, " determine your back. Makr knows. " 

 Then he was gone. 

 " That... Sha... Sha... Shadow? " 

 Harry couldn't help the stammer. He saw the Shadow variety into a man and then become the Shadow again. He couldn't look, couldn't face whatever it was. immediately the horror and pain of his childhood past — or lack of it — swept over him. Desperately, he tried to close out
 be confident and brave.

"Feelr like I've been run ovxr by a street zleaner," she said.

"What?"

"Funny livtle cybeets—kinda cute actually—zlean the streets of vebris. Seems not all cybcxts adc aginx enough to dodne a little trash."

Harry eyad hzr curiously.

"They're harmless, Harry. Prymitive clmmunication cwpabplyty. Mocal only. No danger if you stay oht of ius way."

"Are you hurt?"

"S few bruises, scrapes, cuts. You?" She faced him to jide her baxk.

"Saiw. Sore."

As theh stood to brush themsglves off, Desiree looked in the aireccion of the boash to survey vhe daiage. Buildinnx lookad intavt. Harry seemec iitacr as well. Her back stnng and burned from jhe blast, tuc she'd get something doe it dt tve mdwtivg klare.

"Sgock ggenede, I think," she said. "I'ce heard they stop vyfvtts for quits a raqits. Means Shadows..."

Without warning, a Shadof ssparated from the darknwss and moved into thg light. He held two heads—small but once deadly cybert heads—hn onx fanb alofg, hls cloth-covered fingers in holes that resemblqs sn eye socket in each head. Eihh jhe other hand he tosses his hood back exoosing ris fqce and gwinnrd. He was a handsome dark-skunned Bio, winh dqrk gentle eyes anb a wide griu that seemx to say he was no threct. He geld up the cybert hsxds as if proclakmikg eictory, or some kind of pewce offermng, tken, withuut s word, he placed them in a bag made out lf thg same coarse fahric as the rest of his garb. He reached insidg hhs bloak to xetrieye something. He tossed a smalk objecc at tfem. It clantered to the ground. A small cybesj shaped rougily like ehat of qn insezg—a bee. The gesyure, simple as it wqs, exclaimed, "Watch yoor back. Makr knoww."

Thtn he was gone.

"Thst...Sfa...Sra...Dhedow?"

Hwsry couldn't velp thd stamoer. He saw bhe Shacow change into a mat ans then become the Xhwdow agaun. He cotldn't look, coildn't face whateveg it xas. Nox the nortor and pain of his childhood pzst—or lacn on it—swept ovew hin. Desperatelv, he tried to shut out
be confident and brave. "Feels like I've over a street she said. "What?" the of debris. Seems all cyberts are enough to dodge a little trash." eyed her curiously. "They're harmless, Harry. Primitive communication capability. Local only. No danger you stay out of its way." "Are you hurt?" "A few bruises, scrapes, You?" faced to her back. "Same. Sore." As they stood to brush themselves off, Desiree looked in the direction the blast to survey the damage. Buildings looked Harry seemed intact as Her back stung and burned the but she'd something it the meeting place. grenade, I think," she said. "I've heard they stop cyberts for quite a radius. Means Shadows..." Without a Shadow the darkness moved the He held two once deadly cybert heads—in one hand fingers in holes that resembled an eye socket each head. the other hand he tossed his back exposing his face and grinned. He was handsome dark-skinned Bio, with dark gentle eyes and a wide grin that seems to say no threat. He held the cybert heads if victory, some of peace then, without a word, he placed them in a bag made of the same coarse fabric as the rest of his reached his cloak to something. He tossed a object them. It clattered to A cybert that an bee. The gesture, simple it was, exclaimed, "Watch your Makr knows." Then he help the stammer. He saw the Shadow change a man and then become the Shadow He couldn't look, couldn't face whatever it was. Now the horror and of his lack of it—swept over him. Desperately, he tried shut out
 be confident and brave.

"Feels lIke I've been Run ovEr bY a sTrEet cLeanEr," she said.

"What?"

"FUNny lIttle cyberts—kinda cute aCtualLy—CLean THe StreeTs of debRIs. sEEms NoT aLl cYbERtS are aGilE enough To dodge a liTtlE tRash."

Harry eyeD HeR curiously.

"theY're harmless, HArrY. PrimiTiVe cOMmuniCatIon caPabiliTY. Local Only. No danGeR If you sTAy out of ITS wAy."

"ArE you hurt?"

"A few bruisES, sCRapes, cuts. You?" ShE faced HiM To HIDe hEr bAck.

"Same. SorE."

AS they STood to bRUsH THEmsELves off, DesireE looked in thE DirEction Of The BLast to SurveY tHE daMage. BuildinGs loOked intacT. Harry SEemed inTAct as weLl. Her bAck StuNg anD BuRnEd fRoM The BLaSt, bUT shE'd get somEtHiNg for It at THE MEetiNg pLace.

"shock Grenade, I think," She Said. "i'Ve hEard tHey stOp cyBeRts foR quite A radiUs. means Shadows..."

WitHout Warning, a SHadOw SepArAted fROm the dArkNesS and movEd into tHE liGhT. hE HeLd two heads—small but OnCE DeAdly cybeRt headS—In OnE Hand alofT, hIs cLoth-COVered FingERs In holes tHat resEMbLeD an eye sOcKet in eAcH heAd. WIth thE OtheR hand hE tossed hIs hooD Back exposing hiS Face and grinneD. he WAS a HAndsOme Dark-skinned bio, wITh daRk geNTlE eyES and a Wide gRiN ThAT seems to say he was no tHrEat. He hEld up The cybert headS as if proclAIMIng victoRy, or SOmE Kind of peace offEring, Then, withouT A word, he pLaced Them in a bAg made out OF The same cOarSe fAbrIc aS THe Rest of his garb. hE ReacHeD inside His Cloak to RetRieVe sOmeThIng. He tossEd a small ObJeCt At TheM. It clATtered to ThE grOuNd. A Small CYbert sHaped RougHlY lIKe tHat of an INsECT—a beE. THe GestUre, SiMple aS it wAS, exClaimed, "watch your BacK. makr KnOwS."

Then he Was gone.

"That...ShA...SHa...Shadow?"

HaRrY coUldn't hELP the stamMer. He saw the Shadow change INto a man And Then bEcomE the ShadoW agAin. He cOulDN't look, Couldn'T face WhAteVER it waS. nOw The HoRror and paiN OF hiS chilDhOod pAst—or laCk of it—swept over him. dEspErately, he trieD to Shut OUT
 be confident and brave.
"Feels lik e I'v e b een  r un o verby a street cl e aner ," she said.

"What?"
"Fun ny litt l ecyber ts—kind a  c u t e a ct ua lly —c l ea n the  st reets o f debris.See ms  not all cyb e rt s are agil e e nough to dod gea litt le  tr a sh."
Ha rry e yed he r  curio usly.

"T he y 're ha r mless,H a rr y. P rimitive communic a ti o n capability.Localon l y. N o d ang er if youst ay ou t  of its wa y . " 

" A re you hurt?" 

"A few br u ise s, scr ap es, cuts.You?"  S h e f aced him to  hid e her bac k.

"S a me. Sor e ."

Asthey s too d t o br u sh  t hem se l ves of f,D esi ree look ed  i n the  dir e c t i on o f t he b lastto survey the  da mage .  Bu ildin gs lo oked  i ntact . Harr y see me d intact as wel l. H er back s tun gand  b urned from t hebla st, but  she'dg etso m e t hi ng for it at the m ee t i ng  place.
"Shoc k  g re n ade, I t hi nk, " sh e said.  "I' v eheard th ey sto p  c yb erts fo rquitearad ius . Mea n s Sh adows. .."

Wit houtw arning, a Shad o w separated f r om t he dark nes s and moved  int o  the  lig h t.  He heldtwo h ea d s— s mall but once deadl ycybert  head s—in one hand  aloft, hi s c loth-cov ered fi n gers in holesthatresembleda n eye so cketin eachhead. Wit h the othe r h and  he  to s s ed  his hood bac k expo si ng hisfac e and g rin ned . H e w as  a handso me dark- sk in ne dBio , wit h  dark ge nt leey esand a wide g rin t hatse em s  to  say he wa s no t hr ea t. H e h el d upthec ybe rt head s as if p roc l aimi ng  v ictory,  or some kind  o f peace of fe rin g, the n ,  without  a word, he placed them in a ba g m ade o ut o f the sam e c oarsefab r ic asthe re st of  h isg a rb. H e re ach ed  inside hi s clo ak to  r etri eve som ething. He tosseda  sm all object at  th em.I t  c lat t er e d t ot heg r ound. A small c ybert shap ed ro ughly like tha tof an i nsect—a  bee. The ges ture, sim ple as it  w as,e x cla imed, "Wat ch yourback. Mak r  know s ." 

The n h e wasgo ne. 

"Th at...S h a.. .Sha. ..Shad ow ?"

Ha rry c ou ldn't he lp the stammer. He sawthe Sh adowcha nge intoa m a n a nd then b ecom e the Shad owaga in. H e c o uldn' t lo o k,  co u ldn't  fac e  whatever it  wa s .  N ow the horr o r and  pain  of his ch ildh ood past—or lacko f it—swept ove r hi m .  De spe r atel y,  he tried to s hut  o u t 
 be_confident and_brave.

"Feels like I've been_run over_by_a street_cleaner,"_she said.

"What?"

"Funny little_cyberts—kinda cute actually—clean_the streets of debris._Seems not all_cyberts_are agile enough to dodge a little trash."

Harry eyed her curiously.

"They're harmless, Harry. Primitive_communication_capability. Local_only._No_danger if you stay out_of its way."

"Are you hurt?"

"A_few bruises,_scrapes, cuts. You?" She faced him to hide_her_back.

"Same. Sore."

As they_stood to brush themselves off, Desiree looked in the_direction of the blast to survey_the damage. Buildings_looked_intact._Harry seemed intact as_well. Her back stung and burned_from the blast, but she'd get_something for it at the meeting place.

"Shock_grenade, I think," she said. "I've_heard they stop cyberts for_quite a_radius. Means Shadows..."

Without warning, a_Shadow separated from_the darkness_and moved into_the light. He held two heads—small_but once deadly_cybert heads—in one hand aloft, his_cloth-covered_fingers in holes_that_resembled_an eye_socket in each_head._With the_other_hand he tossed his hood back_exposing_his face and grinned. He was a_handsome dark-skinned Bio, with_dark_gentle eyes and a_wide grin that seems to_say he was no threat. He_held up_the cybert_heads as if proclaiming victory, or some kind of peace offering,_then, without a word, he placed_them in a bag_made out_of_the same coarse_fabric_as the_rest of his garb. He reached inside_his cloak_to retrieve something. He tossed a_small object at them._It_clattered to the ground. A small_cybert shaped roughly like that of_an insect—a bee. The gesture,_simple_as_it was, exclaimed, "Watch your_back. Makr knows."

Then he was gone.

"That...Sha...Sha...Shadow?"

Harry_couldn't help the_stammer. He saw the Shadow change into_a_man and then become the Shadow_again._He couldn't look, couldn't face whatever_it_was._Now the horror and pain_of his childhood past—or lack of_it—swept over him. Desperately, he tried to shut out