"Leave me alone." The words are more pronounced this time, fury coiled behind the syllables. Whatever else he's talking about, she doesn't know, but to engage with them is likely to engage in distraction from Lesedi, and as a result, to open herself to attack.

Because that's all this place really is -- somewhere in her mind, maybe, while her body remains locked under the weight of Lesedi control, or somewhere she's been placed. Somewhere where she can be trapped, toyed with, tortured.

This is what Lesedi does. She's already done similarly to hosts of others. It's the only thing that makes sense.

The water clone's attack comes swift and sudden: Not constrained by muscle and bone, its arm shoots forward, still connected to the trunk, its hand aimed for Peter's face. If it lands, it will envelop his head, cut off his air.