Page 15

“Oh, God,” Lisa cried, pressing a hand to her mouth. Her brown braid whipped around her slim shoulders.

Kiaan’s face crumpled. He was several years older than me and our hydroelectric expert.

I ushered them both toward the door. As we stepped inside the dam base, Lisa grabbed my arm.

“Wait, Frankie and Jordan were locking down the exo-suits.”

My chest squeezed. “They’re still out there?”

Lisa nodded.

“Okay.” I blew out a breath. Frankie was a good friend. I tried not to let my fear overwhelm me. “You two stay in here and keep the rest of the workers calm. I’ll get them.” I quickly pulled outmy communicator. I needed to make a call before I went to find Frankie and Jordan. I stabbed at the screen.

“Hey, Greer,” a deep voice said. “I thought you were calling later.”

The familiar rumble of Jameson’s voice felt like a calm in the storm. I turned on the video.

His rugged face appeared on the screen, then he frowned. “You okay? You’re all wet.”

“No, I’m not okay. Jameson…I need Hunter Squad. I need you.”

Jameson

The wind buffeted the Talon.

I gripped the handhold above my head to keep my balance.

“This storm is bad,” Zeke muttered.

The others were sitting, but I couldn’t. I was standing, fighting to keep my balance and staring out at the rain-drenched darkness that we were flying over.

Greer was in trouble.

My fingers flexed on the handhold. I had to get to her.

“What did Greer say about this monster?” Kai asked.

“Not much. It was in the water and it had tentacles.” I gritted my teeth. “It took two of her people.”

“Hell,” North said.

I prayed that Greer was inside and safe.

“I have a visual,” Colbie yelled from the cockpit. “But the visibility is crap in this rain.”

A huge gust of wind hit us, and the Talon shuddered.

The squad was tense but ready. I hated that we were a soldier down. I needed to replace Scott, but we couldn’t stop helping people when they needed it.

“Oh, God,” Colbie said.

Not much rattled my pilot. I shoved forward and leaned into the cockpit. I barely paid any attention to Colbie as she worked the controls. She could handle the bad weather.

She was the daughter of two pilots. Finn had been Hell Squad’s Hawk pilot. Hawks were the quadcopter model that came before the Talons. Finn still trained new pilots, and Lia, Colbie’s mother, was still in charge of the drone pilots, like she had been during the alien invasion. Now, the drones delivered goods to communities all around the area, rather than dropping bombs.

Colbie was the best pilot I knew. If anyone could handle this storm, it was her.

I looked ahead. The gray dam wall stood out in the darkness. Then I cursed.