Terminal Point Read Free Page A

strange.
    It always would.

 
    TWO
    AUGUST 2379
SVEAGRUVA, NORWAY
    â€œThe seed bank is going to be difficult to get into,” Lucas said. He studied the map on his datapad that showed the surrounding terrain of Longyearbyen and the airfield a kilometer away. A bright red dot identified where the Svalbard Global Seed and Gene Bank was located. “It’s going to have layers of security, and the first layer we’re going to have to take down is the one that breathes.”
    â€œDistraction? Make it a two-group feint, but only one group goes in and the rest draws their fire?” Threnody said, rubbing at her mouth and scratching at her skin. “Everyone’s going to have to pull their weight and we’re all in crap condition, but we could try a head-on attack. Or maybe something more subtle might work?”
    â€œWe don’t have time for subtle.”
    Quinton prodded at his teeth with his tongue. They weren’t broken. Neither were the bones in his face or the ones in his arms. The scattered burns on his hands resulting from his being a Class III pyrokinetic were gone, as were the biotubes. All he felt was their absence when he pressed his fingers down over skin and muscle. The tips of his middle fingers and thumbs no longer had the thin plating of metal needed to spark natural gas into fire. For the first time since being extracted from a cartel drug lord’s training camp as a child by Strykers, Quinton’s arms were wholly flesh and bone.
    â€œI’m going to need something more than a lighter if you’re hoping to work my power into your plan,” Quinton said, raising his head to look at Lucas. “I’d do better with a gun.”
    â€œWe’ve got grenades if you need to make fire,” Matron said, staring down at a list of supplies on her datapad. “Otherwise, I’ve got guns, but they won’t be military grade. Lost most of those when the rest of my shuttles blew getting out of Buffalo. You’ll be shooting with bullets, not energy darts.”
    â€œI can work with that.”
    Everyone in Alpha shuttle was awake and huddled in the cargo bay, pretending the chrono wasn’t ticking away seconds that they needed. Lucas rubbed at his forehead, unable to get rid of the ache building there. “I don’t care which weapon you use. This part is going to be a straightforward hit-and-run.”
    â€œYou can’t have my scavengers for your suicide run,” Matron said. “I only have enough left to pilot the shuttles and you need them for that.”
    Lucas waved aside her worries. “When we arrive in Longyearbyen, we’ll need to make sure none of the quads manage to send out a signal for help. I wouldn’t put it past Nathan to have Warhounds up there.”
    â€œHe placed two teams there last month,” Samantha said. “We’ll be dealing with both psions and humans.”
    â€œAnd none of us can even stand up straight,” Threnody said. “Great planning, Lucas.”
    â€œI kept you alive,” he reminded her.
    Threnody shrugged, the motion a little stiff. She was wearing an insulated skinsuit beneath her clothes now like everyone else, but still looked as if a good wind would knock her over. Ten hours since landing and Jason had already worked on her twice more. She was healing at a pace that outstripped the regular cellular rate, but was on par with a biotank. It was a tiring process, for both her and Jason.
    â€œI won’t be any good at shielding,” Kerr said, his teal eyes bloodshot. He cleared his throat, words riding a heavy Scottish accent. “You’d do better to put me on offense. I can handle a few quick and dirty strikes. I can’t hold up any shields right now but my own.”
    â€œWhat about your empathy?” Jason asked.
    â€œIf you want an empath, use Kristen.”
    Kerr was a dual psion with Class II telepathy and Class IX empathy and was worn down like