Page 56 of Rupture

“Ethan Carter. Diagnostics indicate secured exits have not stopped the progress of movement toward this lab. Movement continues. I strongly suggest evasive action.”

Finn’s fingers dug into her shoulder briefly before he joined Ethan and Liev at Remy’s console. “Remy, how is that possible?”

“It isn’t.” Luca’s voice was harsh. “I’m telling you the fuckery down here is off the scale?—”

“Luca.” Ethan’s voice hardened with command. “Upper lab. Eyes up. Keep comms hot. Pulse rifle stun mode only.”

Luca bared his teeth briefly, then gave a curt nod. “Boss.” He scaled the ladder in seconds, disappearing over the lip back into the upper lab.

Rose rolled her neck, the recycled air soupy in her lungs. Luca might be competent, but his comments scraped at her shredded nerves.

“Remy. We need answersnow.” Ethan paced a circuit of the room, the butt of his pulse rifle settled in the tactical groove between shoulder and arm.

“Movement has reached the command center and continues to advance. Assessing.”

“How is this possible? Nothing should be able to breach those sealed exits.”Unless?—

Rose wiped her forehead with her sleeve, the realization hitting her like a physical blow. They’d been so blind. Thea had achieved exactly what she’d been striving for. “It’s the nanobots.”

“What?” Finn swung around with the rest of his team, his weapon ready. But conventional firepower would be useless against an atomic-scale enemy.

“The biohybrid assemblies they’ve been engineering down here. They’re molecular-level robots. They can infiltrate micro-fissures between door seals, penetrate electrical conduits. Nothing short of a hermetic seal can contain them. The habitat’s exterior is airtight to keep them from escaping into the lake, but internally?” She shook her head. “They have free rein.”

“That’s not possible. They’re all still contained in the suspension column.” Finn jabbed his thumb toward the luminescent cylinder. Was it her imagination, or did the light pulse brighter than before?

“This has to be another swarm. From before. Probably the one that interfaced with the crew.”

“One that left them all unconscious for days?”

She spread her hands, feeling helpless. “Perhaps.”

“And it’s just been dormant? Waiting?”

“Remy mentioned an EMP blast. Perhaps it was disorientated?”

“The hermetically sealed doors of the biome.” Liev blew out a breath as the connections formed in their minds, pieces clicking into horrible place.

“I can confirm that Rose Wyndham is correct. Sensors confirm bio-hybrids proceeding rapidly down the primary access corridor. I recommend you evacuate immediately.”

“Like hell.” Luca hollered from the upper lab. “Wolves don’t evacuate. We stand our ground. What about another EMP blast?”

“Not possible,” Remy responded. “The first blast drained the Io’s auxiliary power cells. The main reactor is running at capacity just to maintain life support. We don’t have enough power to generate the electromagnetic field strength required for effective containment.”

Rose turned her attention to Ethan. “Remy is correct. We should evacuate. We have no idea what their mission directive is.”

Above, Luca cursed and slid down the ladder to rejoin them. “Brilliant plan. Evacuate to where exactly? Our half-fixed shuttle that’s about as travel-worthy as a brick? And let’s not forget your sister’s little think tank in med bay. We taking them?” He clicked his tongue. “Unless anyone’s got a teleporter they’ve been keeping secret, we’re fresh out of options.”

“Luca’s right.” Ethan’s eyes creased. “Remy, do you have any sugg?—”

“Oh, my God.” Rose staggered back, her hand clamping over her mouth. She raised a trembling finger toward the steel-reinforced walls designed to keep everything else out and the lab’s contents in.

Except this.

Thea’s work.

A dark mist seeped through the panel seals, threading its way into the room like smoke made of shadows. The mist coalesced from dozens of whisper-thin tendrils, merging into a single mass that rose above their heads. Motion thrummed in the air, andlike a malicious storm cloud it mushroomed above them. Waiting.

“It’s a swarm.” A large hand grasped hers. Rose lookedup, finding anchor in Finn’s worried eyes as guilt and fear threatened to overwhelm her thoughts.

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