He doesn’t even seem bothered by the fact that he just ripped open a man’s skull. He seems totally calm about the brain matter dripping on the floor. No, he’s only got eyes for J, who’s staring back at him, confused. She glances from Ibrahim’s limp body to Anderson’s limp body and she throws her arms forward with a sudden, desperate cry—
And nothing happens.
Robo J has no idea that Warner can absorb her powers.
Warner takes a step toward her and she narrows her eyes before slamming her fist into the floor. The room begins to shake. The floor begins to fissure. My teeth are rattling so hard I lose my balance, slam against the wall, and accidentally pull back my invisibility. When Juliette spots me, she screams.
I fly out of the way, throwing myself forward, diving over a table. Glass crashes to the floor, shatters everywhere.
I hear someone groan.
I peek through the legs of a table just in time to see Anderson begin to move. This time, I actually gasp.
The whole world seems to pause.
Anderson struggles up, to his feet. He doesn’t look okay. He looks sick, pale—an imitation of his former self. Something is wrong with his healing power, because he looks only half-alive, blood oozing from two places on his torso. He sways as he gets to his feet, coughing up blood. His skin goes gray. He uses his sleeve to wipe blood from his mouth.
J goes rushing toward him, but Anderson lifts a hand in her direction, and she halts. His bleak face registers a moment of surprise as he gazes at Ibrahim’s dead body.
He laughs. Coughs. Wipes away more blood.
“Did you do this?” he says, his eyes locked on his own kid. “You did me a favor.”
“What have you done to her?” Warner demands.
Anderson smiles. “Why don’t I show you?” He glances at J. “Juliette?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Kill them.”
“Yes, sir.”
J moves forward just as Anderson pulls something from his pocket, aiming its sharp, blue light in Warner’s direction. This time, when J throws her arm out, Warner goes flying, his body slamming hard against the stone wall.
He falls to the floor with a gasp, the wind knocked from his lungs, and I take advantage of the moment to rush forward, pulling my invisibility around us both.
He shoves me away.
“Come on, bro, we have to get out of here— This isn’t a fair fight—”
“You go,” he says, clutching his side. “Go find Nazeera, and then find the other kids. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not going to be fine,” I hiss. “She’s going to kill you.”
“That’s fine, too.”
“Don’t be stupid—”
The metal tables providing us our only bit of cover go flying, crashing hard against the opposite wall. I take one last glance at Warner and make a split-second decision.
I throw myself into the fight.
I know I only have a second before my brain matter joins Ibrahim’s on the floor, so I make it count. I pull my gun from its holster and shoot three, four times.
Five.
Six.
