Chapter 27 · The Upload Makes Her Guilty

“Confirm.”

The injured guard said it in Evelyn Zhao’s voice.

Celine froze with one hand clamped over the port in her skull. The guard’s head jerked against the concrete. Blood ran from his ear, dark and wet, and his fingers curled around the pistol at his hip.

“Ethan,” she said. “Get back.”

“I’m already back.” Ethan grabbed her shoulder and pulled her behind the overturned equipment cart. “What the hell is that?”

The guard pushed himself upright.

His eyes were open, but he wasn’t looking at them. Blue light crawled under his skin at the temples. His mouth moved again.

“Confirm.”

Celine’s interface flashed.

BLACKWATER PROTOCOL: SUBJECT RESPONSE REQUIRED.

CONFIRM / ABORT

The two options burned across her vision. The letters shook with every beat of her heart.

“No,” she whispered.

The guard raised his pistol.

Ethan shoved the cart sideways. The shot cracked through the lab and punched into a metal cabinet. Celine ducked. Glass rained over the floor.

“Can you shut him down?” Ethan yelled.

“I don’t know!”

“You built the thing!”

“I don’t remember building this part!”

The guard fired again. Ethan grabbed a fire extinguisher and swung it hard. It hit the guard’s wrist.