Heretic stared at the display. "So, what are we waiting for?"
"The hotel is crawling with RCE units. Mechs, shock troopers, Enforcers. They've completely sealed off the building. We'd be fighting an army if we tried to get inside."
Heretic's hands glowed red, humming with mysterious energy. "They won't be enough."
Spitfire shook her head. "You seven-thirty, yo. Trying to get us all bodied."
Vigil shut the display down. "We're not at war with the RCE. It's Diabolis we're after."
"I won't let the police get in the way of the hunt."
"You won't have to." Vigil picked up his Charon rifle and slung it over his shoulder. "If we can't get through, Janus can't either. He'll have to find another way in. And I think I know exactly which route he's going to use."
Incognito buzzed back over. "If you're going deep into the Underbelly again, just remember that I'll probably lose your signal again. I won't be able to back you up."
"Not to worry, Incog. This time, I have backup."
First, there was pain.
Every breath was torture, fanning needles into Ronnie's lungs. Her chest was an agonizing slab of meat, flaring with every movement. She groaned through grated teeth, wincing when her fingers brushed against the tube inserted between her ribs. Her mind went to work, distracting from the pain and focusing on an initial prognosis.
Collapsed lung from the impact of the close-quarter gunshot. Her fingers traced across her abdomen, fingering the bandages. Two non-critical gunshot wounds from rounds that penetrated the vest. Several cracked or broken ribs. She touched the bandage wrapping around her head. Possible minor concussion from the crash. Collection of bruises and contusions. She heaved a sigh of relief.
Nothing she hadn't dealt with before.
There wasn't enough in the hospital room to identify where she was. Probably King's County, which was the closest to where the transport was hit. It was only a matter of time before Isaac dropped by and—
Isaac.
The memory flashed sharp and bright — his leap at the incoming LAV, enabling his arm cannon, the blast the erupted with him taking the full brunt of the shockwave.
He can take a hit like that and keep ticking. He's stronger than that.
The sound of voices sidetracked her concerns. Someone approached, shouting at the doctors who tried to prevent him from entering. The voice was instantly recognizable, belonging to possibly the last person she wanted to hear from.
Commissioner Miller swept into the room like a hurricane, soaking the room with vindictive anger. His eyes glimmered with triumphant fires, staring at her as if a vampire about to glut on her veins.
"I'll make this quick, Veronica. You're suspended immediately, pending an official investigation. The investigation will be only a formality, of course. After that, you can look forward to being stripped of rank, terminated from the force, and possibly convicted and arrested if I have my way."
"What?" She angrily sat up, ignoring the terrible flash of agony that flared across her midsection. "Under what charges?"
He ticked the points off on his fingers. "Illegally interfering with a prison transfer, for one. Secondly, insubordination…"
"Insubordination?"
"You were given specific orders to head up the AVD, but not only did you immediately abandon your assignment while the ink was still drying, but you also assumed command of three squads of shock troopers without permission. Then what did you do? Get most of them blown to bits on an unauthorized mission that nearly destroyed a historic building, then let the firefight spill out into the streets, where thirty-three people were injured in vehicular damages related to your recklessness."
"I had a shot at taking out Janus, Commissioner. Not to mention the Helmer of the Grim Reaper Posse. I regret the collateral damage, but we were being attacked by military-styled assailants. Us, the good guys. Are you telling me you wouldn't immediately authorize a mission if you had the same intel on the guy?"
His eyes widened in mock confusion. "Who?"
"Janus. One of the top leaders in the Diabolis syndicate."
"Never heard of him."
Her face scalded with unchecked anger. "That's because you wouldn't know real police work if it slapped you in the face. Or you're just another bought badge on the Diabolis payroll."
He threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, that's clever. Hope you can think of more zingers like that when you're sitting in a cell waiting to be gutted by an entire prison full of friendly inmates. I gotta tell you, I've been waiting for this a long time, Veronica. I can finally be rid of your judgmental, holier-than-though, envelope-pushing routine. Always playing the lone wolf and the black sheep at the same time. Always the martyr. Well, I have you where I want you now, and you have only yourself to blame."
She smirked. "Gee, don't hold back, okay?"
He glowered. "You won't be joking for long, Veronica. Looks like your robot buddy is scrap metal, and without any friends on the force, no one's going to lift a finger to help you." He glanced at the holoband on his wrist. "I'm late for a meeting with the mayor."
"Give him my regards."
A humorless grin was her answer. "Oh, I definitely will. Don't get too comfortable here, Veronica. As soon as you're stable, it's an orange jumpsuit and a jail cell for you. I have guards posted at the door. Androids, so don't bother trying to talk your way out of here. I'll see you at your public hearing."
He turned and exited the room, where she saw the dark glint of the armored guards outside before the door shut. Settling back against the pillows, she grimaced in pain. Frustrated tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at the ceiling.
Isaac. I'm so sorry….
She ruthlessly crushed the thought. Miller was lying. Isaac could still be out there. He was built stronger than last time. He can take the damage. You have to worry about getting out of this jam.
She'd have to get a top-notch lawyer, that was certain. Good thing she knew a few who owed her favors. Going against Miller was going to be tough, but she knew a few loopholes that would work in her—
A loud racket interrupted her thoughts — heavy bodies hitting the floor right outside her door. It opened, admitting a man in medical scrubs and a surgical mask concealing his face.
She clenched her fists, trying to summon enough strength to make her last fight a good one. "Well, I'm not surprised Diabolis wants me dead. Just didn't think you'd move so fast."
The stranger cocked his head. "What?"
She frowned. "Who the hell are you?"
"Me?" He straightened to his tallest and puffed out his chest. "You can call me Rook."
"Rook? Like the chess piece?"
"Yeah. Do you play?"
She hesitated. "Is this what we're talking about right now?"
He blinked rapidly. "Oh, yeah — I gotta get you out of here, Captain Banks. And we gotta move. I used EMP devices on the guards, but their systems will reboot in two minutes. And that's not the worst. Hitters from the Grim Reaper Posse are in the building right now. Not hard to guess who they're on the way to take out."
Her eyes narrowed. "I might be desperate, but I'm not just gonna let a stranger wheel me out of here. How do I know you're not setting me up? You could be one of Miller's boys for all I know."