My hands shot out and I pulled both detonators from the C-4, like sticks coming free from particularly stubborn clay. Just as I did, the air on the far side of the room darkened and a gate appeared in front of the tinted windows. One of the detonators was far enough out and the ward didn’t trigger, but the other did, and I swore I saw the flash of an electric spark as the explosive missed going off by less than a second.
Rachel stepped through the gateway and turned towards me with a look of death on her face.
chapter 7
All the alarms I’d so carefully avoided went off at once. Red lights flashed, magical and electrical warnings went flying out, and Rachel sent a disintegration beam at my chest.
I dropped, the ray passing overhead and taking out a chunk of wall. The table with the housing hid me briefly and I heard Rachel’s footfalls as she closed in. She’d have me in sight in seconds.
When you can’t run, attack. I came up in a lunge, my knife searching for her heart. Rachel’s shield flared and the blade glanced off. She tried another disintegrate spell, but I was inside her range and knocked her arm away; the beam went high, destroying a patch of ceiling.
Mr. Verus! November sounded panicky. The alarms—
I know! I snarled. I drove Rachel back, kicks and slashes keeping her briefly off balance, but I couldn’t get through her shield. Rachel recovered and cast some spell I’d never seen. A sea-green whip of darkly glowing light formed at her hand and I threw myself backward; the snaking whip caught my knife and a table leg, cutting both in half. The table went down with a crash, sending computer banks tumbling to the floor, and I dived behind it, rolling out of sight.
Rachel’s footsteps started up again as she continued her approach. I looked from side to side, my thoughts racing. The toolbox didn’t hold anything that could break Rachel’s shield. My dispel focus could, but trying to use that against someone as fast as Rachel was suicide. There was the computer case holding November’s core, with the blocks of plastic explosive, one detonator that was triggered . . .
. . . and one that wasn’t. I grabbed one of the blocks of C-4, shoved in the detonator, then stood and threw it in a single motion.
Rachel saw the block coming and strengthened her shield. The ward on the detonator registered the magical energy of the spell and triggered instantly.
Light and sound hammered me with a roar. I’d seen what was coming and dived for cover, but in the confined space of the data centre the explosion was horrendous. The shock wave battered my body and sent every piece of furniture in the room flying. A table crashed down on top of me, then all of a sudden everything was silent but for the ringing in my ears.
Somehow I managed to get to my feet. Daylight was streaming in: the windows along the far side of the room had blown out. The room was filled with smoke, and I coughed as I kicked aside the table and staggered over to November’s housing. The housing was scrap, but in the fraction of a second I’d had to spare, I’d managed to nudge the explosion in the direction I’d wanted, and November’s core had survived largely undamaged. That was extremely unnerving, November said. Mr. Verus? Are you still there?
Yes. I’d lost track of my toolbox, but not the backpack. I started to pull cables out of November’s case.
I thought you were going to kill me.
I said I’d get you out, didn’t I? Now shut up and let me concentrate.
One of the cables was refusing to come free. I kept yanking at it for a good five seconds before I registered that it was held in by screws. I spun them loose, still dazed from the explosion. I’d lost track of Rachel, but I knew she’d be back.
The last screw came out. I heaved up November’s case; my left hand slipped but the right held steady and I got it into the backpack. I shrugged on the straps as I stood up and started feeling my way towards the exit.
Mr. Verus? November said. I know you said not to bother you, but we may have a problem.
I’d already sensed it. Gate magic was being used outside the data centre, both the steady signature of a gate and the briefer flashes of the more specialised teleportation spell that I’d only ever seen used by space mages. I’d made it back into the main corridor, but I knew that as soon as I stepped out onto the roof, it was going to start a fight. I slumped against the wall, my legs still shaky. Starbreeze? I asked, reaching out through the dreamstone. I could really use a lift right about now.
Come watch the fire man, Starbreeze said brightly.
Maybe later. I really need to get out of here.
I’m busy.
Starbreeze!
No answer. I looked ahead to see what would happen if I opened the front door.
There were four people out on the rooftop, and all of them were looking straight at where I’d appear. One I’d seen before. He was short and slight, with English looks, and was dressed like a civil servant who’d just stepped out of the office. His name was Barrayar, and he was Levistus’s personal assistant and troubleshooter. I’d never fought him, but I knew he was more dangerous than he looked.
The other three were strangers. There was a black guy, and a man and a woman who looked Japanese. All were wearing matte-black combat gear with low-level magical enhancement that looked like a weaker version of my own combat armour. I’d glimpsed them in my path-walking, enough to have a vague idea of what they could do, but not in detail. November? Give me a report on those three.
November answered instantly, the thoughts and information flashing into my mind. Coleman Ward, aka Crash. Elemental adept, ranked near-mage level. Force magic: enhanced strength, speed, toughness, mobility, personal range only. Ito Ryuunosuke, aka Jumper. Universal adept, ranked mage level. Space magic: personal and touch-range teleportation. Ito Midori, aka Stickleback. Elemental adept, ranked near-mage level. Force magic: creation of circular force planes, offensive and defensive utility. Group status: limited affiliation with Light Councils of North America, Japan, and Korea; outlaw status in China. Employment status: long-term retainer contract with Levistus. Primary duties: personal security of Levistus and two designated priority locations, of which this is one.
I didn’t like the sound of that. Adept mercenaries don’t live long enough to make a name for themselves unless they’re good. I scanned the futures, looking for ways out.
There weren’t any. I couldn’t reach any exits from the data centre apart from this one, and the wards prevented me from gating. Worse, Rachel was on her feet and heading for me. She’d appear at the end of the corridor in less than fifteen seconds.
Okay, time to go back to thinking like an underdog.
Rachel was less than five seconds away. My supply of one-shots was low, but I still had a few that I’d saved for a rainy day. I pulled a condenser from my pocket and waited. Rachel came around the corner thirty feet away. I let her get a glimpse of me, then as her hand came up I threw the condenser to shatter at my feet and kicked open the door.