Chapter 63: Pip At Large

His wings carry him silently as he glides through the quiet air of the elevator shaft, spiraling downward toward the opening he's been hunting for. They search for him but he's a clever crow, that Pip, his cyber systems granting him the kind of invisibility poor Didi can't muster. A simple peck at a control panel granted him access ages ago to the internal workings of the Oasis. While they search he hops, swoops and dives toward his objective, his enhanced brain stuttering between nervous anxiety, worry for his creator and the casual arrogance inherent in his kind.

He knows one thing for certain, though. He needs an ally. Certainly, a brilliant corbie like himself can manage much. But he finds he misses Bo Rylen, despite the young thief's lack of focus and loyalty outside what he can earn or wheedle from his relationships. He reminds Pip of the crow family he used to long for back on Trash Heaven.