The sound of Madison’s weapon going off, set to fully automatic, rang in Sean’s ears as they hurtled down the street. Someone in the New Seattle Police Department must have gotten out a public warning, because he was seeing noticeably fewer people on the road in theirvicinity.
Which meant Declan’s people had more room to maneuver thantheydid.
The vehicles coming up behind them split and began to weave over the lanes, making it harder for Madison to target them. He could hear her swearing before the gun went silent. She sank back into the car, thrusting the rifle at Trevor and let it go. The gun, free from Sean’s phase field, solidified and landed with a heavy smack in Trevor’shands.
“We need more firepower,”Madisonsaid.
Madison popped back up to a standing position. Seconds later, an explosion erupted behind them on the street, causing two vehicles to skid wildly out of the way. Sean could hear Madison cackling in glee even through the thick plating oftheSUV.
“That’s right, motherfuckers! Get ready to play!” sheyelled.
“Is she always like this?” Sean asked as he tried to keep them on the road while Madison lobbed energy bombs from her hands at the enemy. The explosions were all he could see in the rearviewmirror.
“Sometimes she’s worse,” Trevorconfessed.
Madison bought them enough time that Sean could get around the next corner without taking bullets to the side of the vehicle. She sank back down into the car and Trevor removed his arm so Sean could return her tosolidity.
“Your power is pretty cool, but mine’s a lot more fun,” Madison said with a teeth-baringsmile.
The smell of heat and chemical fire made Sean’s nose twitch. “So glad youthinkso.”
They were coming up on the onramp now, where about five cop cars were blocking the entrance to thehighway.
“Bones,” Seangrittedout.
“I see them,” Trevor said as he leaned forward, gripping the edge of the seat. “Keep going. I’ll makeahole.”
Sean kept his foot on the gas, trusting in Trevor to clear the way. Seconds later, the squad cars ahead were all lifted into the air and shunted to the side, clearing the way to the onramp. He was dimly aware of the sound the rear rim made as he pushed the SUV to go just a little faster. They shot up the onramp, coming up on the highway and needing to merge. Sean cut between two cars while Madison accessed the commsagain.
“Nova to Alpha Team, ETA?” shedemanded.
“Five minutes,” was Jamie’s calmanswer.
Several cars exited the onramp some distance behind them. Sean snapped his gaze back to the road ahead when Bones leaned forward, pointing in the distance at the elevated highway coming up fast that crossed overtheirs.
“Better hurry the fuck up,” Trevorbarkedout.
“Is that an RPG?” Madison said, leaningforward.
“Can you shield against that kind of weapon?” Seanasked.
Trevor grimaced. “Yeah, sodon’tstop.”
Sean obeyed and kept driving even though his hindbrain was sayingget out of the fucking way. Trevor braced himself against the front seats, never taking his eyes off the incoming threat. The small burst of fire lit up the shooter from behind as the rocket-propelled grenade streaked through the air, heading rightforthem.
His family screamed when the grenade slammed into the invisible barrier of Trevor’s telekinetic shield meters ahead of them in the air. Roiling red fire and black smoke from the explosion spread through the air above the lanes of the highway, kept at bay by telekinesis. They drove underneath the blanket of fire, the surreal blast blocking out thesummersky.
“Get me up again,” Madison said, pointing attheroof.
Sean grabbed her belt again and pushed his phase power through her. Madison stood up on the seat, bracing one foot against the dash. He couldn’t see her, but they saw the results of her efforts as they got closer to the overpass. The glittering arc of an energy bomb cut through the sky, her aim just as good as Kyle’s this close to thetarget.
Her energy bomb hit the parked vehicle up above, right as they drove under the overpass. An explosion echoed through the air as they came out on the other side, more smoke rising into the sky. Gunfire slammed into the rear of the SUV, the reinforced window becoming cloudy from impact dents. Declan’s people and members of the Sons of Adam terrorist group were still on their tail, no sign they were willing to give up thechase.
Sean hauled Madison back into the car, ignoring the faint ache beginning in the back of his head. He wasn’t close to overusing his power, but his head was definitely not happy with the number of people he’d phased today in such a short timeframe. Phasing himself was as easy as breathing. Phasing other people required a lot moreeffort.
The highway up ahead looked like a stretch of straight road through an urban valley of buildings. Sean didn’t know how much longer they could keep going with one tire lost. Declan’s people were still coming up from behind, not stopping, and getting closer with every second thatpassed.
“Bones? Can you reinforce the frame of the SUV?” Seanasked.
