The Shard of Glass did not exist in the traditional maps of the Peripheral Network. It was a "Speculative Shard," a place where the Authors once tested alternate endings and "What If" scenarios. As The Echo of Wood approached, the ship’s hull was bombarded by millions of tiny, glinting particles—not dust, but microscopic shards of discarded possibilities.
The Shard itself looked like a massive, multi-faceted prism suspended in a void of liquid mercury. Every surface of the planet reflected a different version of the sky. In one facet, the sky was a burning crimson; in another, it was a peaceful green; in a third, it was a void of binary code.
"Variable 91: Solitude," Han reminded himself, his hand trembling slightly on the controls. "I am invisible to the Editors. But am I invisible to m
