“Shi-shi,” Awak and Kizi said sharply in reply. The Intellect didn’t try to translate it, but Caleb understood the intention.

  For the second time in a few hours, Caleb stripped out of his clothes to don the Intellect Skin. He couldn’t help but spare a glance at the Inahri as they undressed, as curious to get a look at the build beneath their uniforms as they had been to examine him. Despite their petite frames and lack of body fat, they also didn’t have much by way of visible muscle. There was no definition on their stomachs, arms, or legs. No bulges, no hard tissue, no rippling. Their bodies were smooth and unblemished, and nearly free of hair. While Tsi’s face was distinctly feminine in structure and feature, her chest was hardly different than Kizi or Awak’s, save for the larger protrusion of her nipples from their base. Conversely, the male Inahri’s genitals were much smaller and nearly vanished completely once they were in their Skins. It was as if the Inahri were deep in the process of losing their gender differentiation and becoming more homogenous across the board.

  Caleb also managed to get a quick look at Riley as she changed. The marks on her face were kind compared to the rest of her body. The skin of her arms and legs was flaky and hard, reforming in dark brown, leathery splotches. Her entire back was nearly converted to thicker skin, and the muscles across her stomach were larger and bulkier, suggesting her strength was increasing as her humanness decreased.

  The sight of it sickened him, but it also brought back a measure of compassion for her situation. He didn’t agree with most of the decisions she had made or who she was as a person. He also didn’t think anyone deserved to turn into a literal monster, knowing they were changing and having no way to stop it. He wasn’t sure what he would have done in her shoes. Probably handled it as long as he could while making sure Washington was ready to end it when it became more than he could control.

  The team was outfitted and ready within twenty minutes. Sergeant Tsi took command, lining them up in a single row and quickly examining their equipment.

  “Sergeant, I think Riley and I could use a quick primer on the sidearm,” Caleb said.

  “Of course,” Tsi replied. “The weapon is a standard ion blaster. It’s a balanced weapon, useful against both machine and organic targets. It can pierce battle armor at close range, and also temporarily scramble Intellect nodes.”

  “Downsides?”

  “You will have only fifty shots. The weapon cannot be reloaded, but is discarded after completed use.”

  “Sergeant, it sounds great, but aren’t we missing something?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is lethal,” Caleb said, tapping on the sidearm. He motioned to the blade. “So is this. What if we have to disable instead of kill?”

  “I don’t recommend disabling the Relyeh.”

  “I’m not referring to the Relyeh. What about the people of Metro? They might try to stop us. I didn’t mention it earlier, but I’m a wanted man there.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The Governor set us up to take the blame for the lies his family told the population,” Riley said. “Card is right. We might have to defend ourselves from our own people.”

  Tsi looked confused. “This is out of the ordinary. I will need to consult with General Goi.”

  “There’s no time for that,” Caleb said. He didn’t want the General to change his mind about sending them. But he didn’t want to risk hurting anyone in Metro either. “I know you have stun weapons.”

  Tsi turned to Lito. They exchanged a few sentences, and then the Weapons-master left the room through a door into the armory proper. Caleb watched her walk down one of the aisles, stopping at a rack and withdrawing a pair of alternate guns.

  “She will retrieve stunners for you and Doctor Riley,” Tsi said.

  “What about you?” Caleb asked.

  “If your people attack us, we will defend ourselves.”

  “You don’t need to kill them.”

  “We might. I’m not risking the safety of my team.”

  Caleb couldn’t bring himself to argue. He probably would have done the same thing.

  Lito returned with the two guns already holstered. She handed one to Caleb and one to Riley. “You must travel light, so no recharge. If you need to use more than twenty rounds, you’ve done something very wrong.”

  Caleb nodded as he took the offered gun. “Agreed.” He moved it to his side, where the holster grabbed onto the belt. He adjusted the positioning slightly. “I’m ready.”

  “What about the blade?” Riley asked, taking her stunner.

  “Made of Skrilline,” Tsi said. “A crystalline alloy that is lighter and stronger than the standard Axetiron, the alloy your arm is made from, as well as our city-ships. It is very rare and difficult to work, but it will pierce nearly anything. Also, be aware that the offensive systems of the Skin are enabled for this mission. Also be aware that all of the equipment we have, our opposition possesses too.”

  “Speaking of opposition, do we know what we’re walking into?” Caleb asked.

  “Our Dancers report a single platoon is responsible for the attack on your ship. Nine to fifteen Inahri soldiers in full battle armor. Our goal is to circumvent them, not get into a drawn-out firefight that would put others at risk.”

  “Agreed,” Caleb said.

  “What about that thing?” Riley asked, pointing to the Intellect. “Is it coming with us?”

  “No,” Tsi replied. “The Skins will translate between us in near-real time.”

  “Nice trick.”

  “A reminder to all of you. I am in charge of this mission. You will follow my orders. Do not dishonor yourselves or me with non-compliance. Sergeant Caleb, Doctor Riley, I am relying on you to help us navigate the interior of the craft without being seen.”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” Caleb said.

  “The quantum dimensional modulator is the only objective. Once we have control of it, we will leave immediately and bring it back here for safekeeping until we have word that the Seeker is ours. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” Caleb and Riley said.

  “Chi Za,” Kizi and Awak said in unison.

  “Very good. We will meet Captain Ulia on the Bochun for immediate departure. A moment of prayer for safe returns.”

  The Inahri bowed their heads, so Caleb did the same. Riley remained fixed, an expression of amusement crossing her face. Caleb glanced over at her when the Inahri raised their heads again, questioning the reaction.

  She sidled up to him as they exited the armory, crossing the open circle toward the lines of vehicles closer to the mouth of the cavern. “They were given access to technology we can only dream of. They understand the vastness of the universe and the multitudes of intelligent life in it. And they still believe in prayer.“

  “Maybe to them, a deeper understanding of the universe is a deeper understanding of God,” Caleb offered.

  “Oh please, Card. Don’t tell me you buy that bullshit.”

  “What do you believe in, Riley?”

  “Myself.”

  “Maybe that’s your whole problem.”

  “Or maybe that’s why I’m going to come out of this alive.”

  “How can you be so sure? Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

  “Funny, Card.”

  “What’s your motive here, Riley? And don’t tell me it’s anything benevolent because I wouldn’t believe you. Maybe you have the Inahri snowed, but I’ve got your number.”

  “That may or may not be true, but it won’t help you either way. I’m going to do what’s best for me. Maybe that will coincide with what’s best for you and these Inahri. Maybe it won’t. It should be fun to find out.”

  Her smile was raw and almost feral and sent a shiver down Caleb’s spine. Riley sped up, moving ahead of him to join the others, angling toward a transport where a gloved and goggled Inahri pilot was waiting.

  Caleb had a feeling this was going to get ugly.

  Very ugly.

  Chapter 27

  Joe slumped against the back of the control box, his knees drawn up and head bowed into the crook of his arm. His tears flowed freely, soaking his shirt. He didn’t dare make a sound, sobbing in silence to overcome the mass of grief frozen in his chest and clogging his throat.

  He had met Carol in engineering school when they were both eighteen. She was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen, and apparently she was just as enamored with him as he was with her. Their relationship gathered momentum in a hurry. Engineers marrying one another was a dream for the Governor, as it typically meant raising the next generation of mechanically inclined citizens to keep the city from falling apart. They had the blessing of Governor Jason Stone before they had the blessing of their parents, which had come quickly enough.

  Six weeks after their first date, they were married and assigned to a cube in Block Two. It was on the third floor, a similar cube to the one they had shared on the thirtieth floor, only it wasn’t a corner unit like their latest place. Just as they’d had to earn their way up the ladder to their positions as lead engineers, they’d had to work their way up the building too. It was a challenge Joe had been happy to take on with his new bride.

  They had been married for forty years. A long time, especially where Metro was concerned. They had never succeeded in having children. Sometimes, things like that just didn’t work out. Sometimes there was another plan for some couples.

  This wasn’t supposed to be part of theirs.

  He wiped his eyes on his sleeve, trying to calm himself. He knew he couldn’t continue to linger here. The governor and Law would know to check the control boxes sprinkled throughout the splits, and it wouldn’t do to still be sitting in it when they did. He couldn’t afford to get caught, not with the energy unit still in his possession. He knew where he wanted to hide it, but his grief had slowed him down, left him here, overcome with grief.

  With Sheriff Zane’s badge in his possession, he could hear all the communications between the governor and Law officials Governor Stone had sent most of Law after him. They would find him soon if he didn’t move.

  He struggled to his feet, wiping his eyes and nose again. He picked up the energy unit, holding it under his arm. He held the VP-5 in his hand, hoping beyond hope they wouldn’t force him to use it. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he couldn’t let the power source fall into the enemy’s possession. That would lead to everyone’s death. He was sure of it.

  He moved to the door to the control box and tapped in the control pad code. The door slid open, revealing the split beyond. It was dim in the alley between the blocks, the lighting above only partially functional. It offered him some protection from being seen, but not nearly enough. It would take a bit of luck for him to make it to his destination. His final hiding place.

  He moved out of the control box, turning left and jogging to the end of the split. He peered out into the strand, scanning for Law. He saw an officer further away, heading in the other direction. Otherwise, the coast was clear.

  He ran across the strand to the opposite split, stopping there and turning around, heart racing as he waited for someone to call in an alarm. The call never came. He heaved a sigh of relief and crossed the split, coming out almost back where he started. He crouched in shadow near the end of the split, staring across it at the back of the Law Office.

  It was dark and deserted. There was no access to the Office from the rear. At least, there hadn’t been for years. The transports and drones Law used to have at their disposal were gone now, broken down for parts to fix more critical components. The motor yard was abandoned, emptied out and left to history.

  Joe wasn’t interested in the motor yard. What he was after was inside the office, accessible from the rear through a locked and rusted roll-up metal door. He was taking a huge gamble that he could open the door to get inside without being seen or heard. The door wasn’t exactly smooth as silk on its runners.

  If he got caught in the open, Law would kill him sooner than later. He had no doubt about that. Even if Stone didn’t want to execute him, the enemy wouldn’t give him a choice.

  He scanned the area again and then ran across the split to the back of the office, planting his hands on the low wall and vaulting over it into the motor yard. He landed awkwardly, thinking himself more agile than he was. His ankle turned and he collapsed, stifling a cry as he hit the floor. He sat there for a few seconds, rubbing his ankle and staring at the camera in the corner, wondering if it was still active.

  He didn’t think so. The cameras were as much a victim of their years in space as anything else in Metro, and they didn’t hold enough value to bother repairing.

  Joe crossed the yard to the door, crouching low in front of it. He dug his fingers under it and tried to lift it.

  Locked.

  He expected it would be. Reaching into a pocket in his overalls, he withdrew his laser cutter and positioned it against the door. Judging the position of the lock inside the mechanism, he activated the device. A tight beam of light began digging into the door, making quick work of the lock behind it. Joe knew he was through when he heard the metallic clank on the other side. He reached under the door again, pulling it up. It gave way this time, and he slowly lifted it until it was high enough for him to slide beneath.

  Hopefully, he wouldn’t crawl right into the waiting feet of a sheriff.

  He pulled himself through, rolling onto his back when he cleared the entrance, allowing the rolling door to fall back into place. He scrambled to his feet, aiming the VP-5 toward the inner door. The door was closed, the room empty save for a few small stacks of debris strewn across the cold metal floor.

  The armory laid below. He had only been in it once. He knew where it was supposed to be but it was hidden at the moment, the floor sealed.

  That was about to change.

  He moved the debris away from the access panel, unscrewed the metal from the wall and quickly joined the two detached wires. Then he put everything back in place before heading over to the control panel.

  Joe froze when he heard a voice in the hallway outside. He glanced through the small window and saw a Law Officer coming toward the room. Damn it. He found a taller stack of garbage in the corner and ducked behind it, holding the VP-5 close to his chest. He had never fired a weapon before. He didn’t want to start now.

  The officer came to the door and pushed it open. Joe ducked further down behind the junk as the deputy surveyed the room. His heart thumped hard in his chest, which was already tight with grief. He held his breath as if he could wish the officer away.

  A moment later, she left, closing the door and heading back the way she had come.

  Joe exhaled sharply before rushing to the control panel. He activated the lift, crouching on it as it dropped into the darkness. It took almost two minutes for it to descend.

  Two minutes that left him completely vulnerable and utterly terrified.

  He made it down without incident, jumping off the lift and heading to the terminal that would send it back up. He tapped on the controls, backing away while the platform began to return to its resting position. Then he ran to one of the vehicles still in the massive room, ducking behind it and counting.

  Two minutes. Then he would be safe.

  Joe counted one hundred twenty seconds. He heard the platform lock into place. Then he smiled. He had made it.

  He turned and slumped against the back of the APC. His legs gave way again, his exhaustion returning. He wasn’t going to cry again. He couldn’t cry for the rest of his life.

  Or maybe he could.

  Forty years was a long time. It was seventy percent of his life. And now she was gone, just like that. They had always dreamed about escaping the confines of Metro. Of going outside and enjoying the real sun, fresh air, and all the open space they could ever want.

  Carol would never see that dream brought to reality. He had to survive. He had to make it outside, even if only for a minute.

  For her.

  The decision helped him calm himself. His pulse began to slow, his head began to clear. He was safe down here.

  For now.

  How long would it take for Governor Stone to decide to look here? Probably a while. The Governor didn’t want the enemy to know the armory existed.

  He lifted the energy unit and carefully opened the containment box. The sphere of energy pulsed within the box, arcing out into the metal as though it were desperate for a connection.

  He snapped the box closed. He could imagine a million reasons why the enemy wanted the power source, and none of them were good.

  He put it down beside him and leaned his head back against the APC’s large, studded wheel. Closing his eyes, he brought up a vision of Carol from his memory. Their wedding was simple. Vows in front of the Governor. A small cake. His parents. Her parents. It had been more than enough.

  He started to doze, his head lolling to the side as he drifted off...

  A soft hiss caught his attention, and his eyes snapped open. He sat up. Where had the sound come from? No one was supposed to be down here.

  Joe picked up the energy unit in one hand and the VP-5 in the other. He scanned the area ahead of him.

  A soft tick to his right drew his attention. He swung the gun toward it. Nothing. He heard another on his right. He spun around. Again nothing. But was that a shadow he had caught from the corner of his eye?

  He swallowed hard, his breathing becoming short and ragged. He heard more small clicks nearby, but again, when he turned to face them there was nothing there.

  But something...someone...was there. Something was making those sounds. He began to slide along the side of the APC, trying to get to the back, to the hatch there. He could hide inside the vehicle. Nothing could get to him in there.

  How could something get to him in here?

  He came to the corner of the vehicle, leaning to look around it.

  A dark face greeted him, mouth opening to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. A soft hiss escaped the thing’s mouth.

  And everything went dark.