“From the inside. Easier to manage the motion of the vehicle that way,”Trevorsaid.
“Do it. They’reclosingin.”
Most of the civilians had pulled over to the slower lanes, clearing the way once they realized crazy people were on the road. Sean hoped the NSPD had issued a warning alert about thehighway.
A motorcycle cut between two cars, coming their way. Sean saw the rider weave from side to side, drifting in and out of the SUV’s mirrors as it came up on them. It leaned to the left, coming around with a burst of speed on the driver’s side. Automatic fire sprayed against the side of the SUV as the rider tried to overtake them. Sean’s family screamed, most of them ducking down low, not aware that Trevor’s telekinetic shield would keep them safe. Still, Sean didn’t appreciate the asshole rider’s attempt atmurder.
“Bones, think you can do something about the fucker on our left?”Seansaid.
“Keep driving,” Trevor replied. “Igotthis.”
In the rearview mirror, Sean watched as Trevor made a flicking motion with his fingers. The motorcycle flipped high into the air, as if it had hit debris in the road, sending its rider flying, only to crash into the ground up ahead, sprawled across both lanes. The crash happened way too fast for Sean to swerve in time. The SUV plowed over the rider with a heavy thump, everyone bouncing hard intheirseat.
“Ten points,” Madison said, sounding sweetlyvenomous.
Sean barked out a surprised laugh, amused at her viciousness in an odd sort of way, despite the situation. “You’reunreal.”
“She was worse in the desert,” Trevortoldhim.
“I’dbelieveit.”
The highway had cleared ahead of them. Every civilian vehicle had pulled off to the far right lanes and the shoulder, leaving two lanes open for them to maneuver through. People were getting off at every exit they passed, which meant it would be impossible for them to exit the highway in the event theyneededto.
Madison twisted around in her seat, peering between everyone to look out the rear window. “They’re trying to box us in. Can we go anyfaster?”
Sean grimaced. “Tryingto.”
In the rearview mirror, a black car gunned its engine and sped forward, a hole opening up on the hood of the car. Sean’s eyes widened as he watched a mounted machine gun rise up and lock intoplace.
“Bones!” he shouted inwarning.
The torrent of bullets that slammed into the rear of the SUV were armor-piercing rounds that managed to shatter the window. Sean’s brothers and parents screamed louder and didn’t stop as Trevor held up a telekinetic shield between everyone and certain death. Sean jerked the wheel to the right, trying to get clear, but the carfollowed.
Madison yanked open the glove compartment and came up with both a smoke canister and a signal flare gun. She slammed her hand against the control screen on the dash, shouting, “Nova to Apollo! Calling for close air support! Targets are north of bluesmoke!”
“Wraith, you need to phase her,” Trevor said, most of his attention ontheirsix.
“What about the civilians?” Seanasked.
“Viper will make sure they don’ttargetany.”
Sean grabbed Madison by the shirt over her stomach as she got a leg beneath her, pressing his clenched fingers against her body to phase her and help keep her steady. She raised both arms over her head and stuck her hands through the roof. The loud sound of the signal flare gun going off was followed by the clatter of the empty gun on the roof as she tossed it aside. Seconds later, a billowing cloud of blue smoke cascaded behind them, blocking the view of oncoming threats. Up in the sky, a trio of bright red lights exploded and burned their way back down to earth. He caught a glimpse of a couple of news helicopters that were following the chase. Sean only hoped they didn’t have high-resolution cameras pointedatthem.
The SUV juddered hard as the second rear tire exploded from a direct hit. Trevor leaned forward between the seats and activated the emergency traction for that wheel on the dash. Sean’s teeth knocked together a couple more times before the traction kicked in and smoothed out theirpassage.
The smoke wasn’t enough to hide the enemy for long. With two tires gone, their speed started to drop. Sean swore as Madison sank back down in her seat, one arm still raised, blue smoke following in their wake. Behind them on the highway, a car cut to the right, getting free of the smoke. A man stood up through the sunroof, an RPG perched on his shoulder, aiming ittheirway.
“Bones!” Sean called out inwarning.
“I see them!”Trevorsaid.
The man launched the RPG, the flare of the release a bright halo around his head. The crackingboomof the grenade exploding in mid-air before it even reached them was drowned out by the roar of an X-17 Hermes combat jet as it flew overhead so close Sean’s ears popped. It arced in a barrel roll that looked stomach-churning before coming back around to target several of the vehicles behind them, strafing them and only them with ruthless precision. Two cars exploded before crashing into the highway barriers, coming to a hard stop. The burning vehicles got smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror as Sean put distancebetweenthem.
“Fuckingright!” Madison whooped, tossing the smoke canister away and drawing her arm back into the car. Sean released his power from her and put both hands back on thewheel.
“Icarus to ground squad, get ready to board. Apollo will catch you,” Annabelle said over the SUV’scomms.
Even as she spoke, she was flying the combat jet low to the ground in front of them, wings almost skimming the top of the cars lined up along the lanes on either side of the highway. The ramp was already opening, the edge of it sending up sparks that turned into miniature streaks of fire as the metal edge dug furrows into the asphalt. Annabelle kept the combat jet as steady as she could. Sean could make out Jamie standing braced in the back of the jet while Katie stood at the opening, pressed against the side of the jet to stay out oftheway.
