Chapter 16 · The Bleeding Deck

"Get behind me, Jesse. Now." Valerie shoved him back as the black firing port under the incubator snapped open.

"That sounded less like a request and more like a terrible plan."

"Good. You understood it."

The gun inside the port charged with a sharp electric whine. Jesse grabbed Valerie around the waist and dragged her sideways just as a white bolt tore through the space where her head had been.

It struck the blast door behind them. Metal screamed. The fused mark on Jesse's wrist flared hot enough to make his teeth clamp together.

Valerie slammed an elbow into his ribs. "Let go."

"You can shoot me after we stop getting shot at."

"You don't get to decide when I shoot you."

"Funny. You keep saying that like I haven't saved your life twice tonight."

"You pulled me into the line of fire."

"And you're alive. Try gratitude."

The terminal answered for her.

A heavy impact hit the upper catwalk. Then another. Bolts shook loose from the ceiling and clattered onto the platform. Something big dragged itself across the metal above them, each step bending the grating.

Valerie raised her pistol toward the noise. The weapon's barrel trembled once.