Nori grimaced. “We’re not sure. We asked those questions as well, but Alzigo, that’s the alien who owns the space station, claims he doesn’t know. According to him, Infused worlds go through a slow transition period that allows the natives to adjust. Nothing like what we’ve been through. The only good thing about the Warped is that killing them is a great way of gaining Tec and leveling up. You need to be at least level one to operate the simplest technologies. You can also extract piTec from dead Warped, which can be Infused to gain more Tec, but it's much more efficient to use it as currency. Apparently, everyone in the galaxy uses it for that purpose. You might want to keep that bit to yourself though, people might start acting up if they knew how valuable it is.”

Diamond closed his eyes, and for a moment, Nori feared the elderly man was about to faint. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and smiled bitterly at her. “Aliens, space stations, galactic currency … I’m too old for this shit. I’m starting to understand why Bulco defers to you. Young people adjust more easily to new situations. You’re talking like you’ve been born to this reality.”

Nori shrugged. “I do what I need to survive. And to help out.” She gave the older man a pointed look. “Which is why we’re here.”

He sighed. “I sense we’re getting to the core of the matter. Lay it on me gently, girl.”

“The Warped destroyed Lou’s Yard,” she said. “There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of them inside the walls now.”

Diamond’s hands shook. “I thought I asked you to lay it on me gently.” He got up. “This is a disaster. I can’t believe it; their walls were stronger than ours.”

“You better believe it,” Bulco said in his thick voice. “There’s a giant mother-Warped out there now, and the others are feeding it, making it grow even larger. Once they’re done with the place, they’re probably going to turn their attention to the rest of us … and then everyone will be having a really bad day.”

“What can we do?” Diamond looked at Nori intently. “You said that alien weapons can harm them, right? Any chance to get more of them?”

“That’s why we’re here,” Nori said. “We have a plan. Sort of. Show him the ammo.”

Bulco took out one of the alien-made cartridges he had made.

Diamond frowned. “Warped Buster? Sounds like it was named by a bad sci-fi author.”

“Hey, I came up with that name!” Bulco put his hands on his waist in annoyance.

The shelter leader shook his head. “Stick at busting heads and fixing cars. You suck at naming things.”