"It's never too late," she said.
Jupiter looked at the screen. Seventy-five percent transfer. The last of the information she needed… Crucial in reshaping the Verse, the security systems around the Heart of the Earth, was done. Corrupted within its sheeve. But data she could work with. The rest- the rest she would have to live without until she got her hands on the official documents of her Holdings. One point to you, Balem. She unplugged the sheeves, lamenting the access to all of the information for a fraction of a second, and then stuffed the sheeves into the canvas bag. She thrust it towards Grey, who automatically put it over their shoulder.
"I pass swift and sure. My wings are a perfect gleam, their fire, and gale everlasting, and I shall hold my brood within my golden claws. They are whole and perfect, eternally beneath me. I am a whisper. I am a roar. I am silent. I am heard. I am but the wind," she said, loudly, hurriedly.
"Priority Override. House Primary Access. Queen Seraphi of House Abrasax, the Mind of the Earth is at your command. Secondary function as Planetary Core is at your command."
"Command- Purge the system. Reset to default system."
"This will cause all standing orders, security protocols, and all records, including surveillance, to be deleted. Reset to the original system will keep standard functions such as gravitational fields and the care for the Earth's environment to become a priority, all of which standing orders have changed. Will you proceed, your Grace?"
"Confirm command- Purge the system. Reset to the default system."
"Command accepted, Queen Seraphi. System Purge Commencing. Total system erasure will be done in ten minutes. System reset will take five hours. I apologize for the delay. Have a wonderful departure."
"We need to go."
She turned to Grey, and without another word, the Keeper swung Jupiter onto their back and picked up her crutch. Grey started to run, quickly, in the opposite direction of the Lift they had entered, no doubt searching for the nearest one.
"Turn right, five-hundred meters that way. We need to access the Emergency Lift."
"What is-"
"It's exactly what it sounds like. All other Planetary Lift will be searched as the Planetary Core has been breached. The only problem is that I doubt this one has been maintained."
"So it will be rough."
Jupiter nodded, hands tight around Grey's neck.
"Yes."
"It is our only chance."