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Kat kept her face neutral,her chin tilted up, while her mind raced through options. “I was reassigned this week. Interim coverage.”

The guard frowned at her name badge as he approached. “Hughes left earlier. Family emergency.”

The crowd was thinning, most personnel filing out through the double doors, chatter still echoing in the corridor. But a few lingered, throwing less than casual glances in her direction. And Garner remained on the stage, watching like a hawk that never blinked.

Shit.

She risked a glance at Leo.

A second guard slid in behind the first. The first was already two steps too close.

Kat snapped forward, slamming the heel of her hand into the lead guard’s throat. His eyes bulged as his throat collapsed under the precision strike, oxygen cut off in an instant. He crumpled with a wet gagging noise, one hand pressed to his injured throat.

Leo caught the second guard’s wrist mid-draw, wrenched it sideways.He screamed, then fell to his knees as Leo dropped him with a brutal elbow to the chest.

Kat unholstered her weapon.

Garner’s shout cut in like a scalpel. “Security breach—briefing room, level four—” She hit a red alarm panel on the wall, which shrieked instantly.

Leo crouched, yanked the guard’s access badge from his lanyard, and shoved it into her hand. “Move!”

They sprinted for the exit as Garner barked over the intercom. “Shut down exits. Full lockdown!”

The door crashed behind them, and they were running, shoving their way through startled scientists.

Ahead, black clad security barreled toward them.

“Left,” Kat snapped, tracking the layout Eli had provided.

Leo followed, boots pounding. Red lights blinked above doors as they sprinted past.

Locking down.

She rounded a corner hard, nearly losing her footing, her heart in her throat. Her Glock came up instinctively.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Sh?—

Ahead. Double doors.Secure Disposal. Authorized techs only.

She swiped the stolen badge through the card reader.

Green.

The door hissed open with a pneumatic wheeze. She ducked inside, Leo on her heels.

The door sealed behind them.

Leo smashed the locking interface with the butt of his gun.

Muffled shouts came from the far side, but the door didn’t budge.

The space was cavernous and dim, cluttered with rolling carts, sealed bins, and motorized track systems used to movewaste containers. The air stank of chemical cleaner and old metal—sterile, but undercut with rot.

“Kat.” Leo pointed to a hatch at the far end.

Dock Eject