Page 268 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Back through the industrial space, Riley has an arm around Blaire’s waist as a clear compromise over carrying her. Kade still has Kestrel, but not much else.

Riley faces the storage room, angling his head to hear better.

‘Four heartbeats, plus additional units not far behind.’

‘Stay together,’ Lachlan says. ‘I’ll be right back.’

From above, people are descending, yelling in Russian.

‘For fuck’s sake, be careful,’ Kade snaps after him.

‘Heard.’

Blaire winces as she adjusts her stance to look up.

Kade asks, ‘What are you thinking?’

‘I am thinking how to save as many lives as I can. The Resets were people once, men with free will. The Resonyx will not leave their systems for days, sometimes weeks, but a strong Vox could distort the order.’

‘None of that made sense to me, just so you know.’

Riley looks at Blaire. ‘That’s what it’s called?’

‘Yes.’

Kade makes a face. ‘What’s what called?’

‘Resonyx is the compound delivered through the cuffs. Helixx’s synthetic imitation of a true Vox, making obedient, mindless soldiers of men.’

‘Only men?’

‘Women are more inherently resistant to external hierarchy in any form, biological or otherwise. We need to move back.’

‘Why?’

‘I can tell Vasily’s people not to shoot before they—’

Something beneath them detonates violently.

The floor kicks upwards.

Kade stumbles into the wall as a deep, brutal roar tears through the foundations, swallowing every other sound. Lights flicker, dust trickles down from the ceiling and the enormity of the collapse is such that, even from above, Kade feels it through his boots.

‘Lachlan!’

No answer.

‘Kade,’ Riley warns.

Men are streaming down the broad staircase above. Armed, armoured, shouting over one another in Russian as they flood the industrial level and find Blaire with two strangers standing beneath them.

Every rifle rises.

Blaire pulls free of Riley.

‘Ne strelyat’! Oni so mnoy! Oni spasli menya! Oruzhiye opustit’!’

Her voice breaks through the confusion, but not all of it.