Chapter 38

MAD PEEKED AROUND a corner, a fresh magazine in her rifle. The Sovereignty resistance inside the building had been minimal; most of their forces were lying dead and already half-buried under snow outside.

Still, Mad refused to let herself relax. A single man hiding in a doorway with a knife could end her before she even knew what was happening, and the idea of dying when she had come so far really pissed her off. Leandro Tick brought up the rear, scanning the hallway and staying quiet, surprisingly.

"Control room ahead," said Mad, spotting a red door with a valve lock. "Stay frosty."

Mad and Tick braced themselves against either side of the door, and Mad saw it was slightly ajar. She counted down from three with her fingers and pushed the door open with the butt of her rifle, dashing in with the barrel raised and ready to fire.