Chapter 64

In the circular control room back on the island, Kurt avoided another slashing attack and ended up with his back against the wall. Vaughn lunged, trying to stab him in the gut, but Kurt contorted his body to the side and grabbed Vaughn once more. This time he raised Vaughn’s arm up, hyperextending his elbow and snapping some ligaments.

Vaughn screamed in pain and tumbled back, his arm hanging sickeningly like a straw broken in the middle. Kurt pressed the attack, thrusting forward and driving a knee into Vaughn’s midsection.

Vaughn doubled over, looked as if he might collapse, and then got up and rushed at Kurt one more time.

Kurt was surprised the man had any fight left in him, but he came on with a deranged look that suggested he would never give up. The one-armed charge reached Kurt and took him backward into the central pool. They plunged into the churning yellow liquid, landing between two of TAU’s victims.

Kurt felt his shoulders hit the bottom of the tank. He rolled and twisted his body, pulling Vaughn over and reversing their positions. Vaughn managed to claw his way back to the surface, only to glance past Kurt with a look of fear in his eyes.

A shadow passed over them and Kurt dove out of the way. The large turntable arm had reacted to their presence, dropping downward and reaching for them with outstretched rods. It grasped Vaughn, wrapping its arms around him.

Vaughn grunted and cursed. “TAU!” he shouted. “Release me.”

But TAU was otherwise occupied, and the arm was working off its standard program. It swung Vaughn around to an open spot in the pool and pushed him down into the liquid. “No,” Vaughn shouted, flailing. “No!”

His last cry ended with a gurgle as he went under, inhaling a mouthful of the yellow water. Without a mask and breathing tube, he began to drown in the high-density mixture. He kicked and flailed, but the arm held him in place until his body went still.

Kurt wasted no more time on Vaughn. Finding the knife, he waded across the pool to the base of the robotic arm. Cutting through hydraulic lines and exposed wiring put it out of action. From there he made his way to Gamay.

Unstrapping her mask, he pulled it back, gently drawing the feeding tube and the oxygen line from her throat. She never flinched, appearing peaceful, asleep.

Gathering the array of wires that were connected to her head, he bunched them in one hand and brought the knife to bear. For all Kurt knew, disconnecting her like this would kill her, but in ninety seconds the explosives he’d placed in the cooling tunnel would detonate. And that would bring the house down.

Gripping the knife, he pulled hard, slicing the wires in one stroke.

Gamay screamed and tilted her head back, kicking hard and flailing her arms about. Kurt held her like one might try to hold a seizure patient. But she thrashed about almost uncontrollably. Her eyes opened, filled with terror and confusion.

“Just breathe,” he said. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”

She pushed away from him, almost slipping beneath the fluid, and then grasping the side.

“It’s okay,” Kurt said again, holding out a hand. “You’re okay.”

She shook her head and began coughing. Then leaned over and retched. She tried to stand, and then stumbled to the side of the pool like a person with vertigo. Kurt helped her up onto the platform, and she seemed to recognize him.

“I have to get Priya,” Kurt said.

Gamay was still trying to breathe. “Priya?”

“I’m not leaving her.”

Kurt rushed across the pool and dropped down beside Priya. He didn’t know where to start, so he began with the lines that went into her stomach. She twitched as he cut them, but otherwise didn’t react. Rolling her on her side, he cut the wires from her back. Her legs never moved, but her arms retracted toward her chest as if she’d experienced a sudden chill.

He pulled the mask off her face and brought the knife up to the bundle of wires connected to her scalp. He tensed to slice through them, then paused as Priya opened her eyes.