Chapter 21 · Untitled Chapter

"Webb?" Vera jerked her pistol toward the server-room door. "If that's your idea of a rescue, you suck at timing."

The thing outside hit the door again. Steel shrieked. Vera's wounded shoulder flared, and her grip slipped.

"Webb, answer me!"

Nothing.

Another impact bent the door inward. Dust peppered her hair. Every server behind her was dead, their black screens reflecting her pale face and the blood soaking through her shirt.

Her phone buzzed once.

NO SIGNAL.

"Great. Just great."

The door split down the middle.

Vera fired three rounds through the gap.

The muzzle flash showed her a crouched shape with too many joints. It wasn't a crystal bug. It wasn't human. Long, thin arms ended in hooked metal fingers, and a red light blinked inside its open mouth.

The bullets punched into its chest.

It didn't fall.

"Oh, come on."

The creature shoved through the broken door.

Vera grabbed the nearest server rack and pulled. The rack toppled in a shower of sparks, blocking the entrance for half a second.

She ran.

"Exit. Open!" she shouted at the emergency panel.

The panel stayed dark.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Metal scraped behind her.