Terminal Point Read Free Page B

everyone else. His empathic power was newfound, but nowhere near Kristen’s level. The younger girl graced him with a teeth-baring grin. Her dark blue eyes had lost some of their sick silver sheen with the dubious onset of borrowed sanity.
    â€œIs that admiration you’re feeling?” Kristen asked.
    â€œHardly.”
    Jason eyed Kristen contemplatively. “If we can get her inside, she’ll get everyone else outside for us. We can handle the quads and Warhounds better if we can see them rather than wondering if they’re trying to call for reinforcements. It’ll be a bloodbath, and we can’t let the fight get drawn out, but the odds are in our favor if we keep the element of surprise.”
    â€œThey’re in our favor even if we don’t,” Lucas said. “We aren’t failing here.”
    â€œDo we know how many targets there are?” Threnody said, scratching at peeling skin on the underside of her jaw. She couldn’t seem to sit still. “Any previous reconnaissance records to extrapolate off of?”
    â€œThe World Court posts five quads up here at any given shift,” Samantha said. “Regular check-in happens at oh six hundred every day.”
    â€œSo we hit them ten minutes after. Plenty of leeway for them to finish checking in, and we’ve got hours after that to break into the seed bank. What’s the terrain like?”
    â€œThe ruins are overrun with sparse vegetation, but there are a few buildings that the government has taken care of. It’ll be a clearer line of sight than what we had when we fought in the bunkers,” Lucas said. “The mountain isn’t habitable and they’ve got a weapons system surrounding it for defense. It’ll be cold, but no major radiation risk.”
    Threnody nodded, brow furrowed. “Our best bet is to drop down right on top of them. We’ll have to go in shooting, so to speak.”
    â€œThat’s a brilliant way to die,” Samantha said. “We’re all burned-out. How do you expect us to function when our range is so limited?”
    â€œDo you have a better idea? No? Then shut up until you can give us something useful.”
    Samantha glared at Lucas. “Are you going to let her talk to me like that?”
    â€œYes” came his calm reply. “I am. You’ve never organized a plan of attack on this scale. You only led them on Nathan’s orders. Threnody is better at this than you are.”
    Samantha abruptly stood and went to the only place for privacy in the shuttle—the head. The door closed behind her with a faint hiss and she locked it. Leaning against the sink, she took in a deep breath and struggled to calm her nerves. With slightly shaking hands, she turned the cold water on and used a little to wash her face and ease her dry eyes.
    Her skin itched everywhere the acid rain had touched it back in Buffalo. That annoyance would fade, given time. The swirling nausea in her gut would probably stay with her for a little while longer. Pressing a fist to her middle, Samantha stared at herself in the tiny mirror above the sink and gave her reflection a smile that was more snarl than anything else.
    The door to the head slid open.
    â€œThat was locked,” Samantha said flatly.
    â€œI know the override,” Lucas said. “Are you regretting your decision already?”
    â€œSercas don’t do regrets.”
    â€œGlad to see you’ve kept the arrogance.” Lucas stepped inside and let the door slide shut. His presence made the space feel even smaller.
    Samantha turned her head fractionally to keep him in her sights. “What else did you let me keep?” she demanded, voice harsh. “Sanity, obviously, but you function like Nathan at your most basic level, Lucas. You use people the same way he does. You’re just better at rationing our lives.”
    Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes half-lidded as he gazed at her.