Page 58 of The Fall

“More Chem addicted rejects held together with old tech and spare parts. You’d lose and you know it.” Dimitri locked eyes with Cinder for a moment before trying a different tack. “You’re right, though. We don’t want to spare the men. So, ping us the coords of the biggest objectors the next time you send them out.”

Cinder sat stone still for an uncomfortable amount of time. “The DocPod first. I’m not doing anything without guarantees.”

Dimitri reached out his hand, but Cinder didn’t take it. “You’re not betraying anyone. You’re saving them.” His Opti flashed and Dimitri looked off into space. “It’ll be in a white lorry, number 341 at the docks.”

“I can’t order anyone anywhere until the waiting period is up.” Cinder seemed to be questioning his decision already, but it had already been made.

“Then send me a list of objectors. They’ll be welcomed into the harem.” Dimitri smiled sickeningly. “At least the ones too Chem-soaked to do anything else will be useful to you now.”

Cinder stood, steeling his resolve. He’d crossed his Rubicon. Now, he would commit, or die. It was him who held his hand out this time. “Useful to us.”

Kerr watched Lusa reel. One hand at the hilt of her kukri, the other anchoring her stomach. “What are you doing?” she hissed, but Lusa didn’t respond.

“The DocPod is already loaded and on the way.” Dimitri took his hand. “Send your men to collect it the day after next.”

Cinder laughed and squeezed as he shook Dimitri’s hand. “You don’t get to tell me what to do on my turf. And after this merger, you’ll still be under me, you snivelling shite.”

Dimitri chuckled. “Power looks good on you, Cinder.

Along with his smaller associate, Dimitri left the office. Kerr caught the flash of a blade just before it sprouted from Dimitri’s throat.

“Fuck, Lusa!” Kerr slammed the steel door shut, trapping Cinder and his two men in the office. When she turned around, the other Styx lay dead on the concrete. Wherever his arm was, it was no longer attached. “What did you do that for?”

Lusa stared, shocked. “Didn’t you hear what they were going to do to you?”

Of course she’d heard. But why would Lusa care? She knew where Pinga was. Kerr was a means to an end. At least, she thought she was, until this stunning woman came out of nowhere and murdered two men before she’d had a chance to think about how to get out of here.

Kerr’s heart threatened to burst through her sternum, and for a brief moment, her mind flashed suggestions of taking Lusa right then and there. The steel door to her face took care of those thoughts, knocking the back of her head against the wall.

Kerr’s Opti flashed static and the connection severed. A third blow to the side of her head landed as she fell to the wet concrete floor, three figures converging on Lusa before everything went dark.

Hell Is Empty And All The Devils Are Here

Kerr may be incapacitated, but thankfully, she was safe. Their attention on her, Cinder and his two goons didn’t appear to notice they’d hit Kerr with the door. Surveying the damage, she straightened her spine. Dimitri and the other Styx were dead, but it was still three-on-one.

The one with the mismatched arms pointed his gun at Lusa. “I know her!” It was ten years ago, but parading through the Cars with an arm wouldn’t easily be forgotten.

The one with the metal jaw threw himself at her. Lusa sliced through his shoulder. Muscle rent, but her blade stopped short. He grinned as much as he was able and tore the kukri from her hand.

“Titanium plating on the bones,” Mismatched Arms laughed. “Can’t do that anymore without proper DocPods, but he’s had them for a while. Metal Jaw looked like he laughed, but he made no sound.

“Shut the fuck up.” Cinder picked up the kukri. Metal Jaw pinned Lusa’s arms behind her back. Knives still lined her waistband, but she would need to be calm to think through this strategically.

“Why are the Adlets here?” Cinder pointed Lusa’s kukri at her.

“Why are the Chargers trafficking with the Styx?” Lusa spat, but she didn’t struggle. If Metal Jaw tightened his grip, it would make any surprise movements more difficult.

Cinder ignored her and turned to Mismatched Arms. “Just fucking shoot her. I’ll arrange a meet-up and you two can smooth this over later.” He gestured to the mess of Styx bodies at their feet. Lusa kept her face neutral. Mismatched Arms drew his pistol, grinning wickedly in the electric whine of the targeting system. Lusa readied her most defiant face.

Kerr roused herself, but any hope of help from that direction died with a gunshot, the ping of hot powder resonating loudly off the bare walls.

Bursting from the muzzle in a flash of superheated air, the SmartCartridge sped toward Lusa. And then, adjusted its course by a fraction of a degree.

Metal Jaw’s titanium plating could not withstand a direct hit to the forehead. Gore sprouted across Lusa’s shoulder and coated the side of her face. Wiping would be a waste of time.

Blinking through her blooded masque, Lusa kicked off the falling body, propelling herself forward. Stepping up the wall, bullets splintered concrete, having nothing to lock onto. Mismatched Arms firing wide did little but provide the tempo to Lusa’s danse macabre.

Had he bothered to think with something other than his gun, he might have been able to dodge the small karambit that tore open his throat. Alas, he did not.