Chapter 10 · The Judas Deal

"Don't touch that door."

Valerie's hand froze two inches from the emergency latch.

Behind them, the damaged retrieval shell dragged itself through the poison fog. Bone plates scraped over concrete. Its split core spat sparks and Board code in a broken loop.

JESSE VANCE. VALERIE VOSS. UNAUTHORIZED RESONANCE. EXECUTION PENDING.

Jesse pressed his good hand over the hole in his shoulder. Blood ran between his fingers. The bone spike was still buried through him, and every breath shoved pain up into his teeth.

Valerie glanced at the spike. "You're dripping on my boots."

"Buy cheaper boots."

"I would, if you hadn't stolen my escape route."

"I didn't steal it. The door is trapped."

She looked at him. "You can tell that from here?"

"I can hear the charge ticking."

Her mouth tightened. She stepped back.

The shell slammed into a support pillar. Metal screamed. A cloud of green vapor rolled across the floor toward them.

Valerie raised the empty pistol anyway. "How long?"

"Until it reaches us? Ten seconds. Until the door blows? Seven."

"You sound very calm."

"I'm not calm. I'm busy bleeding."

She grabbed the front of his coat and hauled him toward the opposite tunnel.