“If we survive to make use of that testimony,” Sidney said.
Rebecca didn’t blink. “Yes, if we survive. Which is why we need to finalize our approach. Eric sent me updated reconnaissance information about twenty minutes ago. DAPI has forces positioned around the portal site. Not a full perimeter, but enough to make a direct approach difficult.”
She reached into her field jacket, brought out her tablet, and turned it so they could both see what she was talking about. The map showed the portal’s location marked in red, with multiple blue dots scattered in a rough semicircle to the north and east. Ben counted at least fifteen positions, and there were probably more that weren’t showing on the basic tactical display.
“They’re expecting us,” Rebecca went on. “This is an ambush formation, not a defensive perimeter. Rosenthal knows we need the portal to complete the ritual, and she’s betting you’ll go there despite the risk.” She paused, then zoomed in further and highlighted a gap in the formation to the southwest. “Luckily for us, she can’t cover every approach. This route follows a ravine system that’s too narrow for vehicle access. If we move fast and quiet, we should be able to reach the portal before they realize we’ve slipped through.”
Ben examined the route and narrowed his eyes. “Our route will be exposed for the last hundred yards. Once we clear the ravine, we’ll be visible from at least three of those positions.”
“Which is where the diversion comes in.” Rebecca pulled up another file, this one showing the schematics of the DAPI facility. “Eric will trigger a catastrophic failure in the artificial portal’s containment systems. It won’t be enough to destroy the equipment, but it’ll still be sufficient to require an immediate response from most of Rosenthal’s teams.”
“When?” Sidney asked, frowning as she studied the tablet.
“Whenever we’re ready. He’s standing by, waiting for my signal.” Rebecca closed the file. Her expression had turned more serious. “But we’ll only get one shot at this. The moment Eric triggers the failure, Rosenthal will know someone’s sabotaging her operation from the inside. She’ll lock down the facility and start searching for the leak. He’ll have maybe thirty minutes before they find him.”
Sidney repeated the words, her tone thoughtful. “Thirty minutes.” She looked at the phoenix, its breathing shallow and labored, and gave a small nod. “That should be enough. If we’re in position when the diversion starts, we can reach the portal and begin the ritual before DAPI responds.”
Ben wanted to argue, wanted to point out all the ways this plan could fall apart. The exposed approach and the ambush positions were bad enough. Add to that Sidney’s depleted state and her complete vulnerability once she started the merge, and the odds weren’t good.
But they didn’t have any better options.
“What about the extraction?” he asked instead. “After the ritual, I mean. Assuming Sidney survives the merge and we complete the rebirth, how do we get out of there with DAPI forces converging on our position?”
Rebecca Morse was quiet for a moment, her expression troubled. “I don’t have a good answer for that. The ritual will create an energy surge that should overload the artificial portal’s systems. That’s the whole point. But that surge will also draw every DAPI agent within five miles directly to your location.”
“So we’ll complete the ritual and then run like hell,” Sidney said. “We just have to hope that destroying the artificial portal will create enough chaos for us to slip away in the confusion.”
“That’s being a little optimistic, don’t you think?” Ben asked.
She crossed her arms and met his gaze. “Do you have a better plan? If you do, I’m all ears.”
He didn’t, and that was the problem. Every scenario he’d run through in his head since they’d left the cabin ended the same way. Sidney vulnerable during the merge, DAPI forces closing in, and him trying to protect her with nothing but his determination and his electromagnetic compatibility with her abilities.
Those weren’t great odds.
“We should keep moving,” he said at last. “The longer we delay, the less time the phoenix has.”
Sidney sent him a knowing look but said nothing. Instead, she only nodded.
Ben and Rebecca lifted the stretcher and resumed their previous positions while Sidney walked next to them with her hand on the phoenix’s side. Its eyes were barely open now, its fire flickering weakly. Through his connection to Sidney, Ben could feel the creature’s pain as though it were his own…along with its desperate hope that they would reach the portal in time.
The forest grew denser as they moved deeper into Silver Hollow’s protected territory. Ancient trees with trunks wide enough to hide behind rose around them, and thick undergrowth muffled their footsteps. He estimated they had about two more miles to the ravine system, then another half mile through the ravine before they reached the portal site.
Close. So very close.
But not close enough.
Sidney stumbled, and Ben caught her elbow before she could fall. “Easy. When was the last time you drank any water?”
She made an impatient movement with one hand. “I’m fine.”
“That’s not what I asked.” He pulled out his water bottle and pressed it into her hands. “Drink. The last thing we need is you dehydrated on top of everything else.”
Something in his tone must have gotten through. She drank deeply from the bottle, although her hands shook enough that water sloshed down her chin. The dimensional burns on her arms caught the light as she moved, and he set his jaw.
Those burns were his fault.
“Stop that.” Sidney didn’t raise her voice, but he heard the anger beneath the words.
