CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“What? No!” Nik tried to control the fear-tinged fury running through him.
Nera turned to face him, her face calm. “Someone competent needs to go out there. I’m volunteering before you do.”
She was trying to keep him safe…again. “One of the security team can go. They have experience?—”
“I said competent, Niklas.” She lowered her voice. “The driver can’t go, and the others are petrified to go out there.”
He gritted his teeth. Yeah, he’d seen the way the young agents were sweating.
“We both know if any of them head out, they’ll end up zombie fodder, or worse. I want us out of here.” She let her firm gaze connect with his. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll go,” Galen said.
Nera didn’t even look at the other man. “You’re injured.”
A muscle ticked in Nik’s jaw. “Fine. But I’ll provide cover fire from the top hatch.”
Avril stirred. “We can’t leave the top hatch open. That leaves us all at risk?—”
“The windscreen has a damn hole in it, Avril. We’re at risk anyway.” Nik grabbed a laser rifle that Solomon held out forhim, checked it. “And she’s going out there, taking the biggest risk of all, to save all our asses. I’m going to cover her.”
Avril drew in a shaky breath and fell back in her seat, silent.
Nera looked on, faintly amused. Galen held something out to her.
“Think you’ll need these,” the agent said.
She took the set of new gloves with a nod and yanked them on. Then she held out a hand to the driver. “The repair patch.”
The reptilian man slapped it into her palm. “Just wrap it around the damaged area. It’ll turn green when it’s repaired the damage and the cable is active again.” He held out another of the slim, black patches. “Here’s a second one, just in case. And a multi-tool, just?—”
“In case. Got it.” She took the patches and the tool, and shoved them onto her belt. Then she reached up and opened the top hatch. After she climbed through, Nik followed. He jammed his boots onto the backs of the chairs below, his upper body poking up through the hatch. He lifted the rifle and looked through the scope. The dark walls of the jungle came into focus.
“Nera?”
She paused, perched on the roof.
“Be careful. I have plans that involve those long legs of yours wrapped around my waist. Come back in one piece.”
She looked like she was trying not to smile. “Same goes, Phoenix.” She turned and skidded down the hood.
Nik waited until she was crouched over the huge burn hole in the metal before turning back to the jungle.
He heard the zombies coming, crashing through the trees and vines. Their moans raised the hair on the back of his neck. “Nera. Incoming.”
“I need more time.” She didn’t even lift her head.
He scanned the trees. As soon as the first zombie came into view, he blew its head off. He kept working, taking them down one after another.
But more kept coming. “Nera!”
“Almost…there.” Her hands were still working inside the engine.
“Phoenix!” Solomon shouted from below. “More coming from the eastern side.”
Nik swiveled and saw another small mob pushing out of the trees. He took down as many as he could before he switched back to the first group. “Nera. You’re out of time. Get back in here!”
