Page 182 of Remnants: Disruption
“I didn’t know they had this kind of tech,” I say, turning to Azazel.
“Even if you had not met with Damien Roberts, they would have found a reason to use force,” they say, and I can feel the anger radiating off them—even if their words are monotone.
“Alright,” I say, turning my focus on the rest of the vehicle. “I thought we’d have more time to plan. It seems like we’re going right into it.”
All eyes are on me as I let out a slow breath. I don’t know how I became a leader, but this is what Marla and Trish had meant. What Cass had seen.
“I don’t know all of your names yet, and that makes me sick. But I do know that each and every one of you understands what’s at stake. If we let them move in on our communities, they will kill us all.”
I blow out another breath.
“They chose this war—not us. Make sure they regret fucking with us.”
There’s a short round of grunted agreements before the driver taps me again.
“They’re flagging us down.”
I nod and look to Azazel.
“Ready for war?”
Azazel rubs their gloved hands together, and the image is downright terrifying as a red hue begins to glow from their body.
“Always and forever.”
The vehicle stops and I move to the closed doors.
“If you die, make sure you take a few with you,” I say before kicking the armored doors open.
My feet hit the pavement, and I take in the dreary surroundings. There are dozens of people along the street, each looking harried and terrified. RISE agents seem to be filling in by the truck load and it’s hardly difficult to tell why.
This is the hub for Remnants in New Chicago.
They came right for our heart.
“Hey, asshole,” I say, rounding the truck and approaching the man who’d just signaled to our driver.
He turns to me, his just visible eyes crinkling in confusion before widening.
“Stop—” he begins, but the spike of darkness shreds through his helmet and projects through his mouth.
He topples over and hits the ground hard.
I hear the footsteps of the others and point towards the elevators to the main mega-building.
“Azazel and I will move towards the central area and begin clearing them out. When we’ve got this one, we can set up a base here. Let the other trucks know that we’re at this building.”
One of the women from the group nods and gives me a small salute before turning towards the groups of RISE agents on the ground level behind us.
“This is natural for you,” Azazel says, falling into step beside me. “Leadership.”
I look around Azazel at the four mutilated guards that had manned the checkpoint before refocusing on their white mask.
“I’m freaked out but also pissed. I think it’s working.”
We begin towards the elevator as a dozen more RISE agents spill out of the large entryway.
“Stop!” another one says and they level raise various weapons at us.
