Lightning Bringer: (Lighting Seeker Book 2)

And Counting

Vale's plan had changed. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Kebar had played her. Had done so irritatingly, heartbreakingly well. And now, she was racing through the castle, trying to find Sky. Desperate to have him tell her that his grandfather had lied. That he was fine. Untethered. Free to leave. But she knew better. It put painful pieces into the puzzle, creating a tapestry of his decisions so clear that Vale could hardly breathe.

It was no longer a question of whether she would live. But whether she would lose her heart. Because she couldn't make a decision that destroyed everyone else's life. She couldn't be selfish. ...But Sky... her heart breathed out in pain.

She checked the map and found a large bedroom nearby. The second largest on the ship. One small light blinked inside of it. Far from all the other angry lights that were searching for her. Racing towards it, Vale threw the door to the room open and ran inside.

Sky stood at the window, his back to her. "Sky." He didn't turn around. "Sky. I can't stay. I have to go. Now. And I want you to go with me. I'm taking down the AI system and getting us both out." She saw him sigh and continued. "Kebar told me why you won't go."

He turned around. I'm sorry Vale.

That wasn't what she wanted to hear. She wanted Sky to tell her his grandfather was lying. That it was another twisted part of his game. But his eyes filled with a level of despair she had never seen before. It broke her. Made her ache so deeply that she would be swallowed by it if she didn't find a way to pull them both out.

"I'm getting us both out," she repeated.

Sky shook his head. There is no out for me.

Vale shook her head angrily. "Bullshit!" Her hands shook as she pulled out her screen. With shaky fingers she typed out another set of commands and shoved it back into her bag, growing desperate. "I refuse to believe that we've made it this far, only to die here."

You aren't going to die. Sky tucked a strand of Vale's hair behind her ear. You are going to live a long life. You are going to go into that control room, plant the solution to the AI virus and leave.

Vale blinked back tears. "I can't... Please don't make me leave you here."

Sky kissed her forehead. I'll lead you there. I'll watch your back one last time. Then you run and never look back.

Vale shook her head. Sky leveled her with a determined stare. Promise me.

"I can't promise that," Vale whispered.

Sky placed his hands on her shoulders, his fingers warm and steady. He waited for her to promise the impossible. "Just come with me." Vale tugged him towards the door. "One step at a time."

Sky led the way, moving faster than she had ever seen, suddenly coming to life under the urgency of Vale's request. I'm not letting you die Sky. I'll find a way to save us both.

They wove through a long set of narrow servant's quarters, down three sets of stairs, and reached a large gleaming copper door. Vale pressed a small mechanism next to the door and was instantly met with a hand prick. She yanked her hand away but was surprised when the doors swung open, the only cost, a small bit of her blood. How did it know me?

The massive room hummed with energy. Screens filled the walls from floor to ceiling, twenty feet high. At the very center was a large touch screen panel. Sky stayed at the door while Vale moved to the screen. Transforming her arm, she adjusted her plates and pulled out a small memory stick. The solution that would end everything.

Vale slid the memory stick into place and watched the screens around the room freeze. The screens flickered back into action a second later with a set of large identical green numbers on each set blinking to life. They began to count down.

two minutes... and counting...

Filled the screens. Vale turned to look at Sky with a smile. But it died the moment she saw what waited right outside the door. Sky was struggling against a dozen AI's. Before she could reach him, Sky was dragged from the room.

Vale ran to the door, but Sky yanked himself free long enough to ram his shoulder against the door panel. It short-circuited and slammed closed between them, locking her in, assuring the download would finish saving the world, but keeping Vale from saving him. 

one minute... and counting...

One of the AI's had stumbled into the room before the door shut, purple eyes on Vale. Vale dodged the AI, jumping to the side. But it was not going for her. It moved towards the screens, eyes on the memory stick. 

"Nooooo!" Vale screamed and slammed into the AI, hurling it to the ground. Vale slammed her first towards its face but it dodged, shoving her off. Stumbling Vale growled and launched again. The AI dodged and scrambled for the memory stick again. This AI was unusually fast. Reflexes that were beyond any she had encountered.

thirty seconds... and counting...

Vale yanked the AI back and sliced off its left arm, swinging her sword arm wildly. Electricity sparked from the open wound, like blood. Vale kicked it to the ground, ramming her fist into the open wires, yanking several out in a wild rage. 

The AI picked up its broken arm and swung it, cracking it against Vale's side. She stumbled, the air knocked from her lungs, and hit the ground. 

twenty seconds... and counting...

The AI reached towards the memory stick with its one arm, its metal fingers brushing the edge. Vale fought to get air into her lungs as she scrambled towards the AI. Yanking it back, she punched the AI in the torso. As a reward, the AI punched Vale in the face, filling her vision with stars. 

ten seconds... and counting...

A strange whirring sound filled the room as Vale blinked away the pain. Stumbling blindly to her feet, Vale tried to bring her world into focus. 

five seconds... and counting...

She staggered towards the AI, but it was too late. The AI yanked the memory stick from the control panel and crushed it in its hand, grinding Plan A into heartbreakingly beautiful bits of dust. Vale watched their best chance die before her eyes.