Page 97 of Rupture

Finn vaulted from the jeep and stalked toward the rest of his team, surveying the plateau.

Rose took a deep breath as the men gathered. Finn anchored the center, broad shoulders solid against Liev and Nik’s, while Ethan raised a placating hand toward Luca’s emphatic gestures.

If anyone could stop the swarm, it was Finn’s team. They had already tackled impossible odds.

But even the Wolves looked insignificant against the endless waves of red dunes rolling toward the horizon, ancient riverbeds carved deep into the earth like scars. Behind them, the cave mouth gaped—a perfect black void, smooth-edged as if carved by some ancient force.

A perfect sanctuary for the swarm.

Rose climbed out of the jeep, the chunky tablet tucked under her arm. The tracking program was still running, mapping the swarm’s movements deep within the cave system.

Luca’s voice carried to her on the wind, whetted with frustration. “We are talking about a fucking swarm of flying dust.”

“A swarm that’s multiplying exponentially.” She moved toward the jeep where Finn and Ethan had started carefully unloading equipment. She balanced her tablet in one hand while reaching for a canvas bag with the other.

“Signal’s still degrading fast?” Ethan studied her, his eyes blue flints.

She nodded. “They’re merging in the cave system. Movement patterns suggest they’re advancing.”

As if they sense we are here.

Finn grunted, passing her a lighter bag while taking the heavier one from her grip. His fingers brushed hers, sending a spark through her skin, warmth softening his eyes for just a moment. “The clock is ticking. We work with what we have.”

Liev climbed in the back of the jeep and passed several canvas bags to Luca, who stalked away, arms full. “And what exactly do we have?”

Ethan took a knee and unzipped a bag. A dull metal box gleamed inside. “TNT. Neodymium magnets.”

Finn dropped from the vehicle. “Not elegant, but we don’t need elegant. We need effective.” With a sharp tug, he unzipped the canvas bag and pulled out one of the dive magnets. He rolled it in his palm. “The strongest rare earth magnets in the world.”

Luca sucked air through his teeth, rubbing his ribs. “Fucking painful when you blasted them out.”

“The neodymium will force convergence. They’re still part machine.” Ethan’s voice hardened. “Slaves to the laws of physics, whether or not they like it.”

Rose pulled up a thermal map on her tablet, squinting against the harsh desert glare. “Density readings peak thirty feet in.” She swiped through data, setting up the grid. “I can track the swarm’s movement. One escaped cluster—” She locked eyes with Finn. “That’s all it takes.”

He rapped his knuckles on the metal case marked with red lettering. “Enough science. Time to blow the bastards up.”

55

Finn methodically pressedthe last primed box of TNT against the rear wall of the jeep, sweat trickling down his temples.

Behind him, copper-colored clouds massed on the horizon, their edges tinged an unnatural purple in the settling dusk. The early evening heat was heavy against his skin as he threaded several loops of rope through the metal frame, securing the explosive in place. His fingers worked the knots twice over—there was no room for error. Two of their three vehicles now stood loaded with enough firepower to collapse a small mountain.

The preparation had consumed precious time they couldn’t afford to waste. Rose’s analysis of the cave system had revealed a labyrinth of intersecting chambers and parallel tunnels, forcing them to adapt their strategy and split up.

He checked the schematic Rose had pulled up on her tablet one last time. Two entrances. Liev, Nik, and Ethan would take the first jeep to the secondary entrance while he and Luca would drive the other vehicle—loaded withexplosives and the electromagnetic array—deep into the main chamber. Once the secondary exit was sealed, the magnets would funnel the swarm back toward the first entrance. Finn and Luca would leave the primed jeep in the cave, exit, and then detonate it before making their escape in the remaining jeep.

“We’re good to go,” Ethan called out, jumping down from his position and brushing reddish dirt from his cargo pants. Liev was already behind the wheel, fingers drumming an uneven rhythm on the steering wheel.

“Timeline’s tight.” Liev checked his watch. “Those schematics solid, Rose?”

“The swarm will follow the path of least resistance.” Her voice was steady, but Finn caught the tremor in her hands as she gripped her tablet. “My calculations are exact.”

“Good enough for me.” Nik nodded as he climbed into the jeep’s bed. “Let’s do this clean and fast.”

Finn caught Rose’s eye. She gave him a tight smile that didn’t quite mask her worry.

“Look.” She pointed to the horizon.

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