Russ fires instantly—
—but Wu shoots first.
The round slams into the reactor terminal.
Sparks explode everywhere.
Gabriel dives sideways as the console erupts in smoke.
The portable drives skid across the floor.
Wu lunges for them.
“No!” Gabriel shouts.
I move before thought catches up.
Pure instinct.
Pure rage.
I slam into Wu hard enough both of us crash across the reactor platform again.
The pistol skids away into the steam.
Wu punches hard toward my throat.
Trained.
Efficient.
But weaker now.
Dying.
I catch his wrist and drive him backward into the cracked reactor railing.
The unstable metal groans beneath us.
Wu snarls through blood:
“You think exposure changes anything?”
I slam him harder.
“Yes.”
“People will deny it.”
Another impact.
“Not this time.”
“They’ll bury the children in institutions.”
Another.
“They won’t be alone.”
