Take A Street Northeast,Katie said into Alexei’s mind.The Supreme Court Building is under heavy defenses, but I trust you and Killjoy’s team can make it through in time.
Is where enemy command stay?Alexei asked.
Their telepath is keeping that area heavily shielded but the director and I believe that it’s where Blanchett is located. Be advised the nullification field is still active. You’ll lose your power in three blocks, Inferno.
No power, no problem.
“We’ll take her out and support Apollo,” Matthew promised.
I know you will.
Her mental presence disappeared in Alexei’s mind. He was glad Katie was still out of range of Blanchett’s null power to keep him in the loop. Alexei glanced at Matthew as they ran, the both of them sharing a grim smile.
“Take overwatch with Davis outside the nullification line,” Matthew ordered. “Cover us while we take out their defenses. If the line shifts and you lose your power, relay that through Davis.”
“Da.”
Alexei had no problem following Matthew into battle. Urban warfare was a grinding fight of high-angled shots, close-quarters combat, and incremental gains measured one street at a time. Throw in complications with civilians trapped inside the battle zones, collapsing infrastructure, and Splice chemical bombs, and Alexei knew it was going to be a hard fight to break through the enemy’s defense.
The Sons of Adam and Declan’s loyal fighters didn’t care about the civilian population. Whatever their endgame was—death of the president, death of Jamie’s family, sheer terror just for the hell of it—the MDF and every other alphabet soup agency and military branch couldn’t let them win.
Wouldn’tlet them win, no matter the cost.
Some of the streetlights on A Street NE had been shot out from earlier fighting. The patches of darkness helped hide their approach, but coverage wouldn’t last for long. At the intersection with Third Street NE, Alexei signaled to Matthew he was breaking off. The rest of the Strike Force operatives continued down the street while Alexei and Davis, the sniper who had replaced Kyle on the team years ago, diverted to the nearest building.
The pair scaled the residential home using a grappling line in Davis’ arsenal. In the central zone of the Washington, D.C. megacity, zoning restrictions on a building’s height kept homes low-level and close to the ground so the view of the National Mall with its singular monuments remained unobstructed. The smaller buildings made it easier for them to gain the high ground. Keeping it was a different problem altogether.
“In position,” Davis muttered over his comms after he’d found a spot at the corner of the building facing west and got situated.
Alexei crouched next to him, squinting down the street. He ignored the ache in his body from bruises protesting the position, intent on figuring out what threats existed up ahead. Listening to Davis describe the number of men and women holding a defensive line behind armored SUVs and another MRAP made Alexei scowl.
You’ll have one chance to use your power before Blanchett picks up on your location, if she hasn’t already,Katie warned him.Make it count.
“Tell Killjoy hold position, attack when fire go out,” Alexei said quietly.
“Affirmative, Inferno,” Davis replied.
Alexei only half-listened as Davis relayed the message, nodding slightly when he got confirmation through the other man that Matthew had received it and was holding position. He snapped the fingers of his left hand, creating a spark that he duplicated in the distance, pushing his power outward to meet where he saw it in his mind.
Flames twisted into life on the street, a fireball that rapidly spun itself into a column that twisted toward the sky. Alexei made a slashing motion with his hand, guiding his pyrokinesis into something larger, pouring his power into the shape he needed. Sweat broke out across his brow, beading against the edges of his tactical goggles. A dull throb started up in the back of his head but it bled into the background aches of his body, easily ignored.
The fire column abruptly expanded, twisting higher and wider into the sky. Alexei ground his teeth as he concentrated on keeping the fire tornado under control. Its base moved from side to side as he sent that devastating manifestation of his pyrokinesis whirling toward the Sons of Adam’s position. Trees on either side of the street burst into flames, becoming huge columns of heat and light as Alexei used the wood to fuel his power.
“Killjoy says try not to burn them to a crisp,” Davis said offhandedly.
“Tell Killjoy fuck off and get moving,” Alexei growled.
Alexei pushed the fire tornado faster, moving it down the street with lethal intent. He’d just managed to reach the defensive line and widen the base of the fire tornado even more to hit as many of the fuckers as possible when he lost his connection with his power. A coolness rapidly washed through his body even as a hard shiver jerked at his bones. Alexei reached for his pyrokinesis in vain, swearing violently when the heat he’d become so accustomed to over the past few years no longer pushed at his awareness.
“Tell Killjoy nullification field moved. Am without power,” Alexei said.
“Fuck,” Davis muttered. “Relaying.”
Alexei brought his weapon up as the sound of gunfire filled the street up ahead. Matthew and his team had closely followed the fire tornado to monitor areas for cover. They’d gotten as close as they could and were picking off what enemy they could find. Half a dozen fighters were still on fire, and their frantic flailing to put out the flames made them easy targets. When Davis started shooting, the loud sound of his heavy caliber sniper rifle going off was music to Alexei’s ears.
Unfortunately, his own weapon didn’t have Davis’ reach and Alexei couldn’t stay on the roof forever now that his power was nullified.
“Need to move,” he said.
