Shard Dangersense 1

"Ah, so it's instinct," Tristan said, "But even with instinct, there are different kinds. For a parahuman, there's the instinct that comes from you, and there's the instinct that comes from the connection between you and power. Or you and agent."

"I like that a lot," I said. "You could say there's an instinct that comes straight from the agent."

- From Within 16.5

***

But I was aware I was part of a partnership. And I'd be damned if I entertained even the notion that Amy was overcoming her own partner's pressures, while succumbing to my own.

Nudges, intuitions, feelings.

Influences. I was aware I was acting different, since the connection had come back up. That I had hints, I had benefits. A kind of security. A new kind of vulnerability.

For now, I just had to ensure I remained better than her. That meant saving the world, staying on course, maintaining my own balance.

Thank you, fragile one, I thought to myself. For the hints and the nudges. I'll pretend they're from you, because I can't keep fighting and hating you. I'm spent.

Short break, and then we have more to do.

- Sundown 17.8