Page 56 of Blazing Reactions

“Note to self,” she muttered, wriggling past a particularly tight bend. “Submit strongly worded feedback about accessibility standards in evil lairs. Possibly write a paper on ergonomic considerations in villainous architecture.”

Her powers sparked erratically in the confined space, casting weird shadows on metal walls. The neural shield hummed against her chest, working overtime to mask her energy signature. She monitored Talon and Levi’s progress - already encountering resistance two levels down.

“All right, evil junction box of doom,” she muttered, reaching the central hub. “Let’s see what kind of chaos we can create with a little applied science.”

Her tablet connected to the system, screens filling with data streams. More pain lanced through her shoulder as she typed, making her fingers stumble.Not now,she thought fiercely.We have work to do.

She sensed Talon’s immediate concern.I’m fine,she sent quickly.Just negotiating with some uncooperative infrastructure.

The dragon wants to come get you.

The dragon needs to focus on not getting shot while I commit various acts of scientific terrorism.She smiled despite the pain.Besides, I’m about to make things very interesting for everyone.

Her fingers typed, electricity occasionally arcing between her and the controls. The facility’s systems were sophisticated but ultimately predictable. Like most things in her experience,they yielded to proper application of scientific principles. And creative reprogramming.

“Let’s see how your security handles simultaneous failures in the ventilation system, fire suppression protocols, and - because I’m feeling petty - the coffee machines.”

Alarms blared as systems began failing in carefully calculated patterns. Through surveillance feeds on her tablet, she watched guards scrambling to respond to multiple crises. Her smile held zero humor as she triggered another wave of malfunctions.

“That’s for taking my best friend, you quantum nightmares.”

A noise behind her made her spin, tablet raised defensively. A fierce-looking guy in camo stood blocking the shaft entrance, his cold eyes narrowing at the sight of her.

“Miss Andrews,” he drawled. “How convenient of you to come for a visit.”

He moved with inhuman speed, but her training with Talon’s security team paid off. She ducked his first strike, electricity crackling along her arms as defensive instincts kicked in.

Asher!Talon’s alarm pounded into her mind.We’re coming-

Stay on mission,she sent back, dodging another attack.I can handle one overgrown lizard with delusions of adequacy.

To prove her point, she sent a surge of power through her tablet into the junction box. Sparks exploded outward as systems overloaded, momentarily blinding the shifter. She took advantage of his distraction to slam her neural shield into his chest, the quantum frequencies disrupting his dragon energy.

“That’s for underestimating scientists,” she muttered, slipping past him into the corridor. Her shoulder burned with cold fire, powers fluctuating wildly, but her mind remained sharp as ever. “Now, let’s test your adaptation to rapidly changing circumstances.”

FIFTY-THREE

Asher triggered every emergency protocol she’d reprogrammed, transforming the facility into beautiful chaos. Sprinklers activated in specific sections, creating barriers of cold iron-infused water. Ventilation fans reversed, spreading confusion through dragon senses. Security doors opened and closed in apparently random patterns that actually followed prime number sequences.

Show-off,he sent, even as he and Levi used the chaos to advance.

You love it,she thought back, running calculations for her next move.Besides, someone has to add style to this operation. Your solution to everything is ‘hit it harder.’

It’s a valid tactical approach.His amusement colored the words despite the situation.

So is applied chaos theory.She smiled grimly as more alarms joined the symphony of disruption.Speaking of which...

She reached the central lab just as a soldier caught up to her. This time she was ready. The neural shield’s frequency shifted precisely as she’d calculated, sending out a pulse that dropped him to his knees.

“Fun fact about dragon physiology,” she said, backing toward the room’s main computer console. “Your enhanced senses make you particularly vulnerable to certain quantum resonances. I have charts. And graphs. And absolutely no patience left for amateur megalomaniacs.”

Asher’s fingers pounded across the console, initiating the system’s shutdown sequence while keeping the soldier at bay with targeted energy pulses. Her powers flickered dangerously - each burst weaker than the last.

“Your hybrid abilities are failing,” the man taunted, circling closer. “You can feel it, can’t you? The dragon part of you dying?”

“Bold of you to assume I need dragon powers to kick your ass.” She triggered another pulse, but this time barely a spark emerged. “I have science. And spite. Mostly spite, right now.”

The console beeped as the shutdown reached its critical phase. Just a few more sequences and-

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