I snapped up, Flux flaring to my fingertips, ready to fight with whatever I had left—even as my pinky shook.
And then I saw him.
Cy.
Dripping from the rain, hands shoved in his pockets, expression unreadable.
He took one look at Taos, then at me, and sighed.
“You dumb bitch.” It was more exasperation than venom.
“Cy, what the fuck? Did you follow me?”
“Of course I followed you. You’re a wanted criminal. It’s literally my job—”
“Shut up and help me!” I dragged Taos over to him.
“I should arrest you both! Not that this one’s going to make it long enough—”
“Cy! Please!” My voice cracked, and I saw him flinch. “Help me get her to a MedClinic.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a long, suffering sigh before he finally caved. “God fucking damnit.”
He grabbed Taos under her other shoulder, and we lifted her between us. “Not the MedClinic. My place is closer. I’ve got a military-grade kit.”
We hobbled down the alley without another word, the only sounds our ragged breaths and Taos’ labored wheezing.
By the time we reached his building, even our panting had joined the city’s chorus of sirens and rain. He kicked the elevator button with his foot, and we nearly collapsed inside.
“Welcome home, Cyanos,” the elevator chimed as the doors slid shut.
“Warning: Low Heart Rate Detected,” my Vysor intoned as red lights blinked. Taos’ body slacked even more between us.
“Cy…”
“Almost there.” He didn’t look at me. His face was ice cold, his eyes glowing. The enforcer, the assassin.
A few moments later, we dragged Taos into Cy’s apartment.
“On my bed,” he said. I didn’t question him. As we set Taos down, she cried out weakly, the burns on her skin oozing freely, plasma soaking into the sheets. Cy flung open his closet, and I heard him rooting around as I held Taos’ hand.
“You’re gonna be okay.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and I saw her chest shake with silent sobs.
“I would say don’t lie to her, but…” Cy knelt down beside me, setting a stack of long packages sealed in autoclave sleeves down on the bed.
“Help me.” He pulled out a knife and cut away her burned shirt and pants. He peeled one open, and a white gauze strip with a semitranslucent green gel adhered to one side lay inside.He unceremoniously slapped it across one of Taos’ burns and she cried out.
“Careful!”
“You want her alive? Move.”
I didn’t argue. My Vysor was flashing more warnings about Taos’ low heart rate. I copied him, opening the strips andgentlyplacing them on her. Once her front was covered, I helped roll her on her side so Cy could add more to her back. She sobbed harder.
“Almost done, I promise.”
Cy just pressed his lips flat and worked. I laid her back down and let my Vysor do a scan. Already her heart rate was stabilizing, and her face had relaxed.
