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"Why?" Elise said. "Why are you doing this?"

Nezka's stare went right through her as he bent his head. "You know why."

An awful, brilliant ache cut right across Elise’s chest. She went to take a step toward him when the shouts of men brought her back.

"Elise!" Meg called.

She felt her throat tighten. Her vision blurred. She wanted to say something, but she had no time to find the right words, so, instead she turned from him. Meg and Lo were already inside the vent. She shot over and crawled inside after them just as the heavy sounds of the Red Blades’ footsteps were coming down the passage. She wanted to look back and see Nezka, but Meg and Lo were already far into the vents, their light fading. Cursing, Elise followed.

They made good time crawling their way back up. Once they were past the central airway, Lo took a separate turn away from their hidden room. When she eventually stopped, she looked around and made gestures at Meg.

"She says just up ahead is an empty room leading out to the passage that will take us to where the others are being held. She's going to pop the bomb off from there. Once power is out, the doors should unlock. After that, though, we are on our own. Make like hell and get out."

"No," Elise said. "Make for the ships. That's what Nezka said."

"You trust his word?"

Elise thought for a moment then nodded her head slowly. "It's a sound plan. The warehouse also has weapons we might be able to use. Worse case, there is a secret entrance just beyond which can be used if in dire need. The warehouse is our best option."

Meg looked to Lo, who nodded her head in agreement and made a quick gesture with her hands.

"Your call then," Meg said.

They continued on down the ventway until Lo stopped at the end and kicked the grate. They each slid out into the empty room then crouched by the door. The voices of the Red Blades and their heavy steps running down the passage could be heard on the other side.

Lo took out her small tablet and looked to Elise and Meg.

"Here's hoping," Meg said.

Lo brought up the charge and tapped the screen.

There wasn't a bang. Just the slow whine of the reactor shutting off and the hiss and pop of whatever lights or machines just died. They heard the Red Blades shouting nearby along with the loud buzz of some alarm far away.

"Fuck me sideways, it worked!" Meg hissed.

Lo opened the door and beamed her light out into the passage. All was dark. Not even backup lights lit the way.

"Let's go," Elise said.

They raced down the passage. Elise tried to slow so that they could keep up, but all she could think of was her team. As she got closer to where they were being held, she began to fling doors open, first to see if they really were unlocked and to see if anyone was inside. They all lay empty until she got farther down and saw a small group of Red Blades near all the doors with lights and guns aimed at any who dared tried to open them.

"Don't try to escape, or we will shoot!" one yelled.

Elise clicked off her light. With baton still in hand, a surge of energy overtook her. She sprinted toward the men and leaped into one not expecting to be attacked from the passageway. She kicked him hard, sending him into another, making them fall to the ground. As they went down, she swung on another, his head hitting the wall. One man turned to fire on her when the door behind him flung open and a group of drogin leapt on him, bringing him down.

One by one, the doors flung open, and the drogin soldiers attacked with fists and teeth. Elise forced her way past them to the final room, only to be blocked by another set of guards coming from the other direction.

"She's human!" one shouted. "Immobilize!"

They shot toward her feet, and Elise stumbled back. They’d started for her when someone yelped in surprise, and the group of men swerved around, only to be attacked from behind. Elise saw Vijnn in the fray, cutting into each one. She shot forward and attacked, forcing the men back.

The door to the room ahead opened. Both Bruce and Reese came barreling out, tackling some of the last men standing. Behind them came the rest of Elise's team.

"Elise!" Helen shouted.

Elise jumped over a fallen guard and nearly knocked into Amy and Tom. They grabbed her shoulders to steady her. Helen closed the distance, and they quickly embraced.

"We have to get to the warehouse," Elise said, pulling away. The drogin soldiers were beginning to make their way down the passage to them, along with Meg and Lo. Out of the room where Elise and the others had been kept came the rest of the Grayhart team.