The warning crackled again, colder this time.
“Asset Mercer.
You are entering US airspace.
Turn back or be shot down.”
I didn’t answer.
I just pushed the throttle further.
The jet surged.
Rhea gripped her seat.
“They’ll shoot us.”
“Maybe,” I said.
“But they won’t.”
She looked at me.
“Why not?”
“Because they need you alive,” I said.
“And because I’m the only one who can fly this thing.”
She didn’t argue.
She just held on tighter.
The radar pinged
Two blips.
Closing fast
“Fighters,” I said.
“Flank speed.”
I banked left.
The jet groaned.
The blips followed.
“Kael,” Rhea said.
“They’re locking on.”
I checked the instruments.
Missile lock.
Two.
“Flares,” I said.
“Now.”
I hit the switch.
Flares erupted from the wings.
Heat.
Light.
The missiles veered.
Exploded harmlessly in the distance.
“Again,” Rhea said.
I nodded.
The radar pinged.
Four blips this time.
“They’re serious,” she whispered.
I didn’t answer.
I just flew.
Lower.
Faster.
Into the clouds.
The blips followed.
Then the voice returned.
“Asset Mercer.
You have ten seconds to comply. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
I didn’t speak
I just flew.
Into the storm.
Into the dark.
Into the unknown
Seattle appeared through the clouds.
Rain.
Smoke.
Fire.
I descended.
The blips stayed above.
“They’re not following,” Rhea said.
“Because they know where we’re landing,” I said.
“And because they want us to.”
I touched down.
Smooth.
Quiet.
The jet rolled to a stop.
I killed the engine.
Silence.
Then the door opened.
Cold air rushed in.
Rain.
Smoke.
Blood.
We stepped out.
The city was dead.
Buildings burned.
Bodies littered the streets.
The infected wandered, aimless, hungry.
Rhea gripped my arm.
“This is where it started.”
I nodded.
“And where it ends.”
We moved.
Fast.
Low.
Using the rain as cover.
Toward Elliott Bay.
Toward Alpha.
Toward the end.
The terminal was a fortress.
Floodlights.
Guards.
Cameras.
I killed the lights.
“Park in the shadows,” I said.
Rhea did.
We got out.
I pulled the suppressed pistol from my jacket.
Rhea checked her mag.
“Plan?” she asked.
“You walk me in.
I do the rest.”
She nodded.
We moved.
Low.
Fast.
Using the rain as cover.
The gate guard saw us too late.
Rhea flashed her badge.
“Asset Sato.
Contingency clearance.”
He hesitated.
I put the pistol to his spine.
“Open.”
He opened.
We slipped inside.
The terminal was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Vault’s on the mezzanine,” Rhea whispered.
“Kill-switch terminal is hardwired to the mainframe.”
I nodded.
We moved.
Fast.
Toward the stairs.
Toward the light.
Toward the end
Cliffhanger: At the top of the stairs, a single figure waited.
Ije.
Pistol in hand.
Eyes sharp.
“About time,” she said.
“I was getting bored.”
I raised the pistol.
“Where’s Vogel?”
She smiled.
It wasn’t happy.
“Dead.
But the board isn’t.
She gestured to the vault
“They’re inside.
Waiting.”
I looked at Rhea.
She met my eyes.
And I knew.
There was only one way to end this.
I grabbed her hand.
“Come on,” I said.
And we walked.
Into the vault.
Into the light.
Into the end.