The Architect considers that.
Then shakes his head.
“No.”
The operator looks confused.
“Why not?”
The Architect smiles faintly.
“Because by the time they realize what’s happening…”
“…they’ll already be working for me.”
The timer continues counting down.
4:02:18
Outside—
The convoy races through the Nevada desert.
Inside—
The system prepares to activate.
And somewhere behind them—
A helicopter cuts through the storm.
Carrying the only people who might stop it.
30
Boone
The helicopter vibrates as we push south through the storm.
Clouds slam into the windshield in thick gray waves.
The rotor blades thunder overhead.
Logan keeps one hand steady on the controls, the other adjusting the collective as the wind shoves us sideways.
“Turbulence is getting worse,” he says through the headset.
Russ leans back in his seat.
“Well this is relaxing.”
Adam ignores him.
“How far now?”
Logan glances at the navigation screen.
“Thirty minutes to the projected intercept.”
