Page 57 of Sixth
Voss’s remaining flesh twisted into a grin. “You cannot kill what has already replaced itself.”
He twisted, claws raking across Apex’s bicep. Metal scraped flesh. Blood splattered the floor. The Valenmark on Apex’s arm flared white-hot. Emmy gasped. Pain seared through her wrist, sharp enough to steal her breath.
“Apex!”
He turned his head slightly, enough for her to see the gleam in his eyes. “Stay down.”
Voss lunged again. Apex caught him mid-motion, driving his elbow into the slaver’s chest. Metal dented under the force. He pivoted and threw Voss across the chamber. The impact sent a wave of blue fire through the glass wall. Cracks spidered outward, glowing.
“Warning,”Core said, voice rising.“Containment field destabilizing. Magnetic structure will collapse in one hundred and twenty units.”
Emmy’s mind reeled. “We have to get out of here.”
Apex didn’t answer. He stalked forward, movements fluid and lethal. Voss dragged himself upright, chest plating shattered. “Run if you wish,” Voss hissed. “You cannot save them all.”
Apex’s voice came calm and low. “I will save who I must.”
He drove his fist into Voss’s midsection, the blow landing with a thunderous crack that echoed through the chamber. The scent of scorched metal filled the air, mixing with blood and ozone. Heat radiated from the reactor core behind them, washing over Apex’s skin in waves as his knuckles connected with armor andbone.
Sparks flew, searing the floor. The shock vibrated up his arm, aburst of sensation that blurred pain and fury together. In a blindingly swift move, Apex lifted Voss and sent him crashing through the final containment pillar. The reactor core beyond it flared, lightning crawling up the walls. Energy licked the ceiling, igniting the storm overhead. The planet roared.
“Core,” Emmy shouted, “map a path to the ship!”
“Exit vector east by northeast. Seismic instability rising.”
She pulled Hannah up, shouting for Locus. “Move! Now!”
Apex turned once, blood streaking his arm. His gaze met hers through the storm. “Go.”
“No! Not without you!”
“Go!” The word cracked like thunder.
She obeyed because the alternative was dying where she stood.
The vault collapsed in stages, beams giving way, cables snapping. Emmy hauled Hannah toward the passage, Core guiding every step. Locus and Jo’Nay followed, half-carrying Winn. Behind them came the sound of something enormous tearing loose.
She risked one look back. Apex and Voss were locked together in the heart of the storm, lightning crawling across both bodies, sparks haloing them in blue and white. For a momentthey looked almost the same—two titans made of light and fury. Then Apex broke free, driving Voss backward into the reactor core. The explosion lit the canyon likedawn.
Emmy was thrown forward, hitting the tunnel floor. The shockwave followed, slamming into her back. She screamed for Core, for Apex, for anything that might still answer.
“Continue to the ship. Iwill locate Apex.”
She staggered up, dragging her sister. Locus helped while the tunnel shook. The world was ending behindthem.
They burst out into the open air just as the vault imploded. The sky above Varnoss IX went white. The floating continents trembled, their silver tethers flaring in violent arcs. Glass and ash raineddown.
The ship waited on the ridge, engines cycling, hull glowing with energy discharge. Locus stumbled inside with Winn and Hannah. Jo’Nay and Emmy followed, lungs burning. “Core, find Apex!”
“Confirmed. Launching.”
“No, not without Apex!”
Ignoring her, the ship lurched skyward. The blast hit seconds later, turning the canyon into molten light. Emmy fell against the console, gasping.
“Core! Where’s Apex?”
“Detecting life signature,”Core replied.“Coordinates ahead.”
