I practically leapt out of my skin, when my Imparter emitted a loud beeping sound. I had been studying English, trying to read a text. It was like a complicated cipher, and its words had felt like they were sliding around the page. It was indescribably exasperating. When the Imparter sounded the tip of my nose about an inch from the script, and the strange runes were swirling around in my head, trying to put themselves in order. Despite valiant attempts, I was pretty sure it was going to take either a miracle, or a lifetime, for me to learn the human languages.

   Ever since Sophie and I were kidnapped into the Forbidden Cities, I've been attempting to study the human languages, and started working on learning them. I had found some texts using a gadget modelled off of Sophie's iPod. After printing them on paper, I was now quizzing myself. Just at the critical part of the text, I hadn't expected a message.

   But what really surprised me, was that the fact that I was even getting a message on my Imparter, in the first place. It took a complicated process of typing to write a message on an Imparter, figuring as they had no space for typing pads, like human devices. You had to select the right screw, while holding the... unless you are a Technopath, it's really hard to understand the technical side of Imparters. It's easiest to say, making written messages on Imparters is far more difficult than just talking into it, by hailing.

   The only other times I'd received worded messages on my Imparter was from Lady Gisela (not a great memory to reminisce upon), from the Black Swan, and quite frequently: Tinker. As far as I was concerned, only skilled Technopaths, or people directed by Technopaths could make Imparters send words, instead of hailing face-to-face.

   I picked up my Imparter, and touched the screen. It made another beeping sound, and showed the message. I had to focus for a moment, before the tiny writing came into focus.

   It read:

   To: Mr. Dizznee

   We hope this message will not disrupt your work. We are sending this notice to you, in hopes that you will join us at the entrance to Loanmore at precisely five minutes to midnight, tonight. We wish that you will not notify your father, or siblings, as this may cause them alarm. We will be sending a similar message to your friends. Though it is not required, it would be highly appreciated if you would notify them in the case that they do not receive this message, due to technical errors, or their disregard of our messages.

   Sincerely,

   The Collective:

   Mr. Forkle, Granite, Blur, Squall, and Wraith

   Something felt weird about the message, but I shrugged off my wariness. Swiping my finger across the screen, I dismissed the message from the Black Swan. I proceeded to hail Sophie. The second I hailed, she declined it, so I was told she must have be on the other end. I hailed Biana, Tam, Lihn, and—very reluctantly—Fitz. No one answered. The full twenty-five seconds waiting period went through, but none of them picked up. Either they were busy, or just ignoring me. I hoped that they wouldn't ignore the Black Swan's messages, as they had my hail.

   I was about to try calling Stina, but I hesitated, and decided to try Marella, to put calling Stina off.

   "Show me Marella Redek," I muttered to the metal square. It vibrated, accepting my request.

   For a moment, the screen was blank grey. I started to feel down. No one was answering? There was another buzzing vibration, then there was her smiling face.

   "Dex?" she asked, though it was fairly obvious who I was.

   "Hey, Marella." I felt a twinge of relief that at least someone had replied to me.

   "What's up?" she inquired.

   "I just got a message from the Collective, telling me to head to the entrance of Loanmore, around midnight. Did you get it too? I was asked to hail everyone else in case they hadn't gotten it."

   "Yep, I did too. I tried hailing everyone, but no one came back to me. I was just about to contact Stina, when you hailed," she explained. I felt even more comfort, knowing that the rest of our group hadn't just ignored me because they disliked me.

   "Me too. I got no response from anyone."

   "Should I try Stina now?" she wondered.

   "Sounds good, I'll meet you at the entrance of Loanmore in four hours. I'll see if I can think of anyone else to contact."

   "Cool," she announced, finishing our conversation. "See you."

   "Bye."

   I laid back on my bed, and rubbed my head wearily. My English text sat forgotten on my desk, as I closed my eyes, and sighed.