“Couldn’t stay in Idaho when there’s work to do, Apollo,” Sean replied. “Where do youwantme?”
“Check in with Viper and Reaper. We’re getting ready to transport the prisoners and the more eyes on them, thebetter.”
Sean had no idea where they were keeping the prisoners, but Alexei seemed to know. He snapped off a salute in Jamie’s direction before waving at Sean to follow him out of the command tent. A couple of aides hustled out of their way, giving them a clear path backoutside.
“We managed not to kill everyone?” Sean asked as Alexei headed in the direction of VitaeNeurotherapeutics.
“Some surrendered. Most didn’t. Tried to incapacitate when we could, but hard to do when getshotat.”
“They seemed uninterested in surrendering when I ran through thefacility.”
“Yes. Loyalty to Wolcott and Hayes, not tocountry.”
Alexei sounded annoyed by that, but Sean knew loyalty wasn’t always easily categorized into black and white. Anything from propaganda to promises could change what a person would be willing todiefor.
Sean saw countless men and women in lightweight jackets and shirts with their affiliated agency letterings on the back. The FBI and ATF were taking orders from the MDF when it came to processing this particular crime scene due to the risk from Splice. Only those in positive pressure personnel suits were allowed past a certain marked-off point. Sean saw quite a few of them the closer they got to the midpoint area between the biotech lab and what remained of Declan’scompany.
Heavily armed Strike Force operatives and six MDF metahumans stood guard over fifty or so prisoners who sat on the dry grass in rows of five. Their hands were restrained behind their backs, and a good dozen or so sported bandages from non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the battle. Sean caught sight of Faraday cages on three of the prisoners who were separated from the main group and being watched over by Kyle andKatie.
“Give you trouble?” Alexei asked when they got within speakingrange.
Kyle never took his attention off the trio of terrorist metahumans. “Not if they want a bullet through theirheads.”
“The director would probably like them to remain alive,”Seansaid.
Kyle shrugged indifferently, his expression hidden behind his tactical goggles and filtration mask. His uniform was filthy, as if he’d been crawling through dirt for hours on end. Considering his role as a sniper last night, that was a distinct possibility. His .50 caliber Barrett M293A sniper rifle was slung over his shoulder, resting at an angle across his back. In his hands, he carried an AKR-75 assault rifle and had a tactical handgun strapped to each thigh. If anyone tried anything, Kyle had a weapon for every conceivablerange.
Not that anyone would get very far with Katie monitoring everyone’s minds. The Telepathy Warrant was still in effect and she had clear authority to read the prisoners’ thoughts in order to keep everyone else safe. Katie would know their intentions before they even subconsciously made anydecision.
The metahuman sitting cross-legged in the middle of the small group glared at them with his one good eye, the left one swollen shut. Someone had fashioned a strip of synthfabric into a makeshift gag to keep him quiet. The edges were cutting into the corner of the man’s mouth hard enough to tear the skin. Whoever had tied it hadn’t been gentle. Sean found he didn’t particularly care about theircomfort.
“When do we transport?” Alexeiasked.
“Humans will go by secured prison transport on the road. We’re just waiting for D.C. to clear a flight plan for these three,” Katie said, tilting her head in the direction of the threemetahumans.
Sean eyed the slumped over men and women sitting on the ground, waiting to be officially processed into federal custody. The FBI’s closest office was in New Chicago, a megacity more than capable of handling the group. Sean had a feeling quite a few judges would be working overtime once they got everyonetransportedeast.
The three metahumans wouldn’t be going with the other fighters. The MDF was the only agency capable of keeping metahumans safely secured and contained. Those three would be transported to Washington, D.C., for their initial arraignment before ending up in an MDF-monitoredprisoncell.
Sean looked up at the big blue sky, thin wisps of clouds drifting high above. It would be a long, long time before any of these people saw the sky again as free men andwomen.
“Who’s going to ride with them?” heasked.
“Delta Team drew the short straw, but they’ll have company. A few Strike Force operatives will tag along,”Katiesaid.
Alexei nodded. “Is good to havebackup.”
“Crazy backup,” Seanmused.
“Won’t argue that,” a voice behindthemsaid.
Sean half-turned, watching as Matthew strolled up to them, holding his weapon against his chest with one hand. The Strike Force captain held a cup of synthcaf in his other hand, the smell making Sean’s nosetwitch.
“Where’d you get that?” Kyle wantedtoknow.
“Some nice folks from the FBI set up a drinks table near command. I got some before the rabbledescended.”
“And you didn’t bringusany?”
