Page 273 of Scars of Fate

ARMED.

Hawk moved quickly.

“I’m reversing the warming cycle.”

He entered the command.

Nothing happened.

“Why isn’t it responding?” Adam asked.

“Physical override required.”

“Where?”

Hawk pointed beneath the core unit.

A narrow maintenance space separated it from the floor.

Barely large enough for one person to crawl inside.

“I’ll do it,” I said.

“No,” Wynn answered. “You can’t fit.”

“I’ll make myself fit.”

“Your shoulders are too broad.”

“I’ll remove them.”

Wynn almost laughed.

“I’m smaller.”

“You’re injured.”

“So are your apparently removable shoulders.”

The clock reached ten minutes.

Wynn was right.

I hated it.

Hawk handed her a small tool.

“You’ll see two switches. Both must turn simultaneously.”

“What happens if I only turn one?”

“Don’t.”

“Comforting.”

She lowered herself beside the unit.

I caught her wrist.