There was a fine tremor that was the only motion that could break through his stiff, slightly arched frame. Even his teeth were clenched hard; his face strained under the mask of blood.

Whatever the red-haired woman was doing, he had snippets of thought through the static. Memories of nearly identical pain during the implantation coming in white hot flashes. He could hear distant echoes of the conversation around him, but couldn't make out enough to know what was happening.