Calamity (Reckoners, #3)(66)

I leaned against my table, suddenly feeling as if I’d been punched in the gut.

Prof had put together a team.

It made sense. Prof had years of practice organizing and leading teams of Reckoners, and he was very good at hunting Epics. But hearing him talk to these people like he’d once talked to us…it was heartbreaking. How easily he’d replaced his friends and freedom fighters with a team of tyrants and murderers.

“We’re at the next corner,” Abraham whispered through my earpiece. “Tia’s maps show hidden cameras here.”

“Yeah, I spot ’em,” Mizzy said. “Conspicuous pictures hung on the wall, to hide a hollowed-out section of saltstone. Hold this one until we give word.”

“Roger,” Megan said. “Dimming on Cody’s mark.”

“Proceed,” Cody said.

The lights flickered, dimmed, and went out.

“Again?” Prof demanded.

“Engineers must have messed up the installation,” one of the Epics said. “Could be grinding against the old salt gears and machinery.”

“Through,” Abraham said.

Megan let go of the button and the lights returned. Prof stood up, seeming dissatisfied.

“My lord Limelight,” said a young female Epic. “I can find Larcener. Just give me leave.”

Prof turned to study her, then settled back down in his chair. “You were slow to come to my service.”

“Those quick to give allegiance are quick to change it, my lord.”

Do I recognize her? “Cody,” I whispered, “is there anything in my notes about a female Epic in Ildithia with blonde hair? Wears it in a braid. She may be twenty to twenty-five years old.”

“Let me see,” Cody said.

“And what would you do,” Prof said to the woman, “if you found him?”

“I’d kill him for you, my lord.”

Prof snorted. “And in so doing, destroy everything I’m working toward. Fool woman.”

She blushed.

Prof reached into his pocket, taking something out and setting it on the table. A small cylindrical device, perhaps the size of an old battery.

I recognized it. I had one in my own pocket; Knighthawk had given it to me. I reached in and felt it, to reassure myself it was still there. A tissue sample incubator.

“You have my leave to hunt him,” Prof said, “but if you do find him, do not kill him. Get me some of his blood or skin in this. He dies only after I know that the sample is good. If anyone kills him before that, I will destroy them.”

I shivered.

“You there,” he said louder.

I jumped, looking to find that he was pointing right at me.

He waved me over. I checked behind me, then looked back at him. He was looking at me.

Calamity!

He waved again, more impatiently, expression darkening.

“Guys, this could be bad,” I whispered, rounding my table and walking toward Prof.

“What are you doing?” Megan demanded. She’d set up nearby, leaning against a railing and sipping at a drink.

“He called for me.”

“We’re at Tia’s door,” Abraham said. “Two guards. We’re going to have to engage them.”

“Prepare for another blackout,” Cody said. “David, what’s your status?”

“Crapping my pants,” I whispered, then stepped up to Prof’s table.

He gave me a brief glance, then pointed at my hand. I frowned and looked down. Only then did I realize that I was still holding the uneaten cupcake. I blinked, then handed it over.

Prof took it, then dismissed me with a wave.

I was all too happy to obey. I scuttled back, then leaned against the table, trying to relax my strained nerves.

“Situation stable,” Megan said, sounding relieved. “False alarm. Abraham, you ready?”

“Yes. I’ll give a mark.”

“Proceed,” Cody whispered.

The lights went out again, causing Prof to curse. I closed my eyes. This was the moment. Would Tia be behind those doors?

“We’re in,” Abraham said. “Both guards are down. Dead, I’m afraid.”

I breathed out softly as Megan restored the lights. Two dead guards. Reckoner protocol was to minimize such things, as Prof had always said we wouldn’t get far killing our own. The guards weren’t innocent; they implicitly condoned Tia’s capture, and likely her torture. But in the end, two normal people—just trying to survive in the new, terrible world—were dead because of us.

Let the prize be worth the cost.

“Tia?” I whispered.

“She’s here,” Mizzy said. “Abraham’s freeing her from her bonds right now. Doesn’t look too bad.”

A short time later, a familiar female voice spoke over the line. “Huh. You slontzes actually did it.”

“How are you?” I asked, sharing a relieved look with Megan.

“He said that some members of his team were ‘growing impatient’ and had me tied up to think about my answers. But he didn’t hurt me.” She paused. “There’s still a lot of Jon there. I wouldn’t have assumed…I mean…”

“I know,” I said, turning to watch Prof interact with his Epics, though I wasn’t angled right to catch what he was saying.