“Rook,” I bark into comm. “I need smoke in Corridor B. Heavy.”
“On it,” he answers.
I turn to Fyr. “Help me move him.”
Fyr’s eyes blaze. “You’re serious.”
“I’m always serious,” I say, and reach for Morazin’s restraints.
Fyr grabs my wrist. His grip is strong even injured. “Lonari,” he says, voice tight. “This is going to cost us more people.”
I meet his gaze. “It already has.”
He swallows, anger fighting something older—loyalty, grief, fear. “Then let it cost the right people.”
“It will,” I say. “But not tonight.”
Fyr’s jaw works. Then he releases my wrist with a rough jerk.
“Fine,” he spits. “But when this goes bad, don’t pretend you didn’t choose it.”
I don’t pretend.
I choose it with my eyes open.
We unlock Morazin’s chair clamps and haul him up. He’s lighter than he should be—thin, brittle. His fancy cologne can’t hide the stink of panic now. He stumbles, cuffs clinking, breathing fast.
“You’re moving me?” he gasps.
“Congratulations,” I say. “You’re still useful.”
We drag him to the floor hatch. I rip the cover open and cold damp air rolls up, smelling like brine and sewage and rust.
Morazin gags. “No—no, I’m not going in there.”
Fyr shoves him. “Yes you are.”
Morazin scrambles, helpless with cuffs. He tries to brace his feet on the edge.
I lean close to his ear. “If you scream,” I whisper, “I will remove your tongue and let you drown in silence.”
His eyes widen.
He shuts up.
We lower him into the hatch. Water splashes. Morazin shudders violently as the cold hits him.
Fyr grimaces. “This is vile.”
“Welcome to survival,” I mutter.
A comm ping flares in my ear—Sable, urgent. “They’re breaking through Choke Three. We’re losing ground.”
“Hold thirty seconds,” I say. “We’re exiting.”
I climb down after Morazin, boots plunging into frigid water up to my calves. The shock is instant—cold biting deep, making my muscles tense. The tunnel is narrow, lined with slick metal and algae-slimed concrete. The air is wet and stale. It tastes like rot.
Fyr follows, grunting as he forces his injured body into the hatch. He lands awkwardly, pain flashing across his face.
