Kaine had transformed 1,847 predators over three years when she encountered the anomaly.
She'd developed patterns. Expectations. Understanding of how predators typically responded to transformation offers. Roughly 60% accepted integration. Roughly 40% refused initially. Some refused-initially later accepted after observing successful transformations. The patterns held consistent across hundreds of missions.
Until Sector Phoranth-9.
Single predator. Ancient—190 million years old. Massive dead zone—870 billion unconscious beings. Largest individual dead zone Kaine had encountered. Largest single predator she'd attempted.
Should have been straightforward despite scale. Larger predators often accepted integration more readily—they'd existed long enough to feel the exhaustion of maintaining distribution. They were tired. They wanted rest. They wanted wholeness.
This one was different.
