Sunshine caught it against her chest, her breath hitching. The device didn't explode. Instead, it continued its low, mechanical whirring. The outer plates slid with oily precision, shifting from its original oval shape into a perfect, sharp-edged triangle. But it wasn't solid; gaps appeared in the metal, revealing a glowing core.
She glared at Nine in disbelief. "For someone that called us friends, you sure have a funny way of expressing that friendship. If this bomb was to explode, my brains would be all over this room right now."
Nine was exasperated. "Ha! I should be the one saying that to you. You handed it to me without a warning. Just because we are friends does not mean that you are permitted to blow me into little pieces."
There was a click which silenced them both. Then, the text appeared on the device. Etched in glowing, jagged letters on each of the three sides was a single word: XYLOS.
