Page 26 of Rupture

Rose gave a soft grunt. “The system learns from each failed attempt, adapting its algorithms to prevent future breaches. It’s not just a simple matter of inputting the correct code—we need to bypass the system entirely.” She held the tip of the screwdriver over the circuitry like a surgeon’s scalpel. “If we can disrupt the flow of electricity to the panel, even for a fraction of a second, it might give us a window to override the lock.”

“Oxygen levels at four percent,” the woman in Finn’s helmet intoned.

His breath fogged his faceplate, the air increasingly stifling, his lungs straining to extract precious oxygen from the dwindling supply. All while MARV swam slow circles around them, observing their struggle with dispassionate detachment. Goosebumps pricked the back of his neck and sweat dampened his spine.

We’re running out of time.

14

“Reconnect with life support systems immediately,"the automated voice in Finn's helmet announced. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the implied message beneath its clinical tone:You will die soon and I don't give a shit.

“Can someone shut up the damn alert?” Rose muttered. She levered another panel off the wall. The metal came free with a screech, revealing a bundle of wires attached to a microchip board that sprang from the opening like the guts of some alien creature.

"Sorry. No can do." Liev shook his head.

"Typical." Rose sighed and thrust a hand at Finn. "Take my glove off."

No."Rose, the water is freezing. We're talking negative temperatures here."

"Finn. I can't fix this with the damn glove on."

Fuck.Seconds ticked by like a physical weight on his chest.Fucking fuck. Finn yanked her fingers free of the glove, flinching as her skin immediately blanched in the brutal cold.

Her fingers bare, Rose prodded at the microchip boardwith the tip of the electronic screwdriver. Black smoke curled up from the board, contorting in the silty water.

“Reconnect with life support systems immediately.” The woman in their headsets was on a roll.

Was it his imagination or was the air in his tanks becoming soupy, harder to pull into his lungs?

Rose looked up. “Try it again.”

Luca positioned himself in front of the panel and retyped in the code.

The damn light flashed green.Access granted.

“Fuck yeah!” Luca yelled as the access door slid open. Light from above filtered down into the water, illuminating Rose in a halo of radiance. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

Finn surged forward, working in tandem with Rose to collect the spew of wires and ram the guts back into the wall. She thrust the panel back into place. A hasty patch job would have to suffice.

“Oxygen levels two percent. Advise immediate reconnection to life support systems.”

Jesus. We get the point, lady.

Finn kicked upward, his lungs struggling as he swam toward the light. He pulled Rose with him, guiding her onto the grid floor of the access lift and locked her tanks to the lift mechanism. MARV orbited the Io just on the edge of the pool of light, its tail flicking in controlled figure eights. They’d collect her robot snake later.

“Engaging lift.” Ethan held a small remote control he’d retrieved from a clip on the lift frame.

Power surged and seconds later, metal connected with the soles of Finn’s feet, and the platform rose, lifting the entire team clear of the water. Gravity took hold once more, pulling Finn downward as water sluiced from his body. Thehydraulics shuddered as cool, oxygenated air bathed his face.Fuck, that’s good.

“Locks engaged. Welcome to the Io habitat.”

A different woman this time. Her voice was reminiscent of Remy, the AI they’d encountered on a previous mission, deep under Lake Baikal.

Water streamed from his faceplate to reveal a clinically white dive room. Could Remy be here? Months ago, there had been one message from Remy to Eva Petrova, Liev’s woman, but then nothing.

“Okay.” Ethan’s voice rasped in his ears. “How are we doing, Duke?”

Duke removed a small device from the slim pack strapped to his chest. He turned a slow circle, elevating a probe into the air and then moving it down in a slow sweep. “Air’s clear.”

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