Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Christian’s grip was firm, his voice edged with panic. “Stay with me. Whatever happens, don’t leave my side.”
Her pulse surged. She planted her hand on his chest, forcing him to look at her. “No, I’m not running. Not this time.”
“Gem—”
“I know what I am now. This is what I was reborn to do.” Violet light shimmered along the lines etched into her skin. “I won’t let the Systems tear through this camp while I hide behind you. Not when I can protect them.”
Outside, a blast shook the basin. Metal shrieked as voices rose in alarm.
Christian’s jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fear and pride all at once. “If you stay—”
“I stay until they’re safe.” She nodded toward the flap, toward the frightened cries rising from the camp. “We buy them time to evacuate, then we go. Together.”
Imara’s voice barked from outside their tent. “Move your asses. We don’t have time for debate!”
Christian closed his eyes for the briefest moment, like he wanted to argue. But when he opened his eyes again, he pressed a rough kiss to her forehead. “All right. But if you fall, I fall with you.”
Gemma’s lips curved into the faintest, fiercest smile. “Then let’s make sure neither of us does.”
They emerged into organized chaos. Fighters grabbed weapons and donned gear.
Polly hauled her medbag over her shoulder like she’d rehearsed this one hundred times.
Some Dissenters herded groups toward what looked like an overflow pipe’s hatch, their voices clipped and sharp.
Others ran to the command tent where stacks of maps and records had been stored.
The tables were set on fire. The flames scaled quickly, smoke curling toward the ceiling.
Electronics were smashed. Supplies were flung into backsacks. And Nadine stood at the center of Tent City, a blaze of calm command in the storm.
Her voice carried, loud and controlled. “Shut it down! Every trace of our work burns. If you’re not on a combat team, move through the pipe in groups of six. Don’t stop once you’re inside, and don’t look back!”
People obeyed, their boots slamming against stone as they shouldered backsacks and rifles. The first groups vanished into the pipe, their footfalls echoing hollowly as they scrambled down the slick interior.
Gemma ran to her sister. “What can I do?”
“Get the fuck out of here.” Nadine pointed to where Polly led the next group into the pipe.
“Not happening. Now, how can you use me?”
Nadine’s jaw flexed. “Fine. Buy me time.”
Gemma’s tattoos flared. “Done.”
Nadine nodded to where other fighters congregated near the mouth of the pipe. They were armed to the teeth and wore painted-brown basaltweave vests over their clothes, the orange symbol of the Dissent blazing from the center—the letter “d” in old American sign language.
Christian grabbed Gemma’s arm. “Let’s go.”
They sprinted to where soldiers stood and donned their own vests. Christian fixed Gemma with a rifle, handgun, and dual blades just in case. Then he planted himself at the front line beside Hawk and Imara, their shoulders nearly touching.
“You good?” Hawk asked Gemma.
She nodded and replied, “better than ever,” before taking position behind all the fighters, drawing power into her veins.
Gemma flexed her hands, and violet light sparked into existence, her luminous tattoos spreading up through her chest and into her face like liquid fire.
Nadine strode toward them, her expression fierce.
For one heartbeat, her eyes softened at Gemma, but then her tone was all revarium steel.
“Hold the line. Don’t let a single Systems bastard even get near that pipe.
” She threw on her own vest and strapped herself with as many weapons as she could carry.
Karma zipped out from beside Imara’s leg, sweeping Tent City—
Charges flung down the rope rig and detonated, sending shrapnel and debris flying. Gemma lifted her hands, and her shield unfurled, a wall of violet energy sweeping through the line of fighters to protect them.
The first wave of Systems soldiers spilled into Tent City, their rifles leveled. Sparks danced along the surface of Gemma’s shield as the first volley of bullets struck, sizzling into nothing. The camp’s fighters roared in defiance as the last of the evacuees vanished into the pipe.
Gemma’s shield pulsed brighter as round after round slammed into it. Each impact reverberated through her arms, her chest. She clenched her teeth, pouring more strength into the shield as it groaned under the constant barrage. Sweat slicked down her spine; her tattoos flared.
“Let’s move!” Nadine yelled, calling for their full retreat.
Then a sharp thunk echoed from just outside the shield.
A wave of static tore through Gemma like fire as a device ignited. Her shield fractured, splitting like cracked ice. Pain shrieked through every nerve, sending her to one knee with a shout.
Karma sparked once in midair, let out a pitiful chirp, and crashed to the ground in a shower of static. Imara swore, yanking her sidearm free and pivoting back from the line. Hawk staggered, clutching the side of his head before ripping out the earpiece Claude had fashioned for him.
Christian jumped in front of Gemma as her shield buckled. She forced power through her veins, pouring strength into the cracks, but whatever device they had ignited left her ability unstable. The fractures in her shield spread wider until the cracks became holes.
Through the gaps, black-armored soldiers surged forward.
“For freedom!” Nadine yelled, leaping into action, her fighters on her heels.
“Shields!” one of the Systems soldiers yelled, and their uniforms shimmered blue.
Hawk ran into the fray, swinging his blades in vicious arcs and using his towering strength to force soldiers off their feet.
From next to Gemma, Imara’s shots were sharp and precise, each muzzle flare lighting her profile as she covered the opening to the pipe, and at Gemma’s three-o-clock, Christian’s rifle flicked from soldier to soldier, each of his bullets finding their mark.
Nostrils flaring, Gemma thrust her palms out. Power roared from her hands, slamming against the Systems soldiers—
Their uniforms flared blue, and the blow snapped back like a whip. Agony ricocheted up her arms, throwing her onto her back with a loud cry. Her glow sputtered violently, streaks of purple sparking from her tattoos.
“She’s down!” someone yelled.
And the full fury of the Systems’ strike team unleashed.