Descension

CHAPTER 27

Joaquin and Dannika gaze down at the port of Rio below them from a rusted spire, scrutinizing the layout between shipping containers and cranes. With binoculars in his right hand, Joaquin trails his vision back to where Khenan, Ben, and Zeline stand shrouded under tattered makeshift awnings.

Joaquin lowers his binoculars and taps into his comm, "K, do you copy?"

A short crackle sizzles over the comm, then Khenan's voice follows, "I copy."

"I've tallied 40 pairs of guards. There's no path where you won't make contact, but I've laid out the schematic for the path of least resistance." Joaquin's eyes flicker as he transfers the map to Khenan, "Got it?"

"I do."

"There's two pairs that patroll each major intersection, of which there's only two. You'll meet another two pairs at the checkpoint, then be clear for the Minor Square, where there's a final pair, making ten guards all together." Joaquin places red dots on the schematic at each of the locations he lists, "You see the markers?"

"I do. We're ready to move out on your call; over."

"Copy that, K, over," Joaquin releases his fingers from his temple and focuses his pupils, then turns around to Dannika.

She's sitting on the platform of the spire, resting her arms atop her knees, which are tucked up to her chest. The wind blows her hair over her face and into her eyes, and she tucks the offending locks behind her ear. Joaquin kneels beside her with a kiss to her cheek; she smiles, flushing a bright red in response.

Joaquin motions to the ground below, "Just waiting for that pair to restart their loop." He looks over at her. "That gives us a few minutes to talk."

"Or make out 400 feet up on a cell tower that's ready to snap if the wind blows any harder," she only half-jests.

Joaquin snorts, jolting forward with laughter, the sound blown away in the breeze. Light drops of rain begin to freckle their skin, the ones that land on their face making their noses scrunch. Joaquin twines both of his hands with Dannika's and gazes into her eyes: under the cover of cloud, he could see the violet reflection behind her pupil, the glow so subtle you can only see it if you're looking for it; even then, in the wrong lighting, it remains invisible. They stay silent for a long moment, wishing for the minute to last hours, allowing them the quiet comfort of their own presences. Joaquin loops their pinkies together.

Dannika is first to speak up, "I don't regret any of this." She gestures to her arms. "I'm not afraid like I was before."

Joaquin's brows knit. "Are you sure?"

She nods immediately. "Yes. Absolutely." She squeezes his hand. "And you did what you had to... to save me. Joaquin, you saved my life," she whispers, raising a hand to cup his cheek.

He closes his eyes and nestles his face into her touch. He kisses the inside of her wrist, then leans down to her lips.

"Joaquin?" Khenan's voice crackles through his comm.

Joaquin begrudgingly pulls away from Dannika. "I copy you, K. Be ready in about a minute."

"Copy that."

Joaquin stands up and leans over the edge of the cell tower, scouring the ground with his binoculars.

He watches the pair of Ordership soldiers until they finish their loop, then pages in Khenan, "You're clear to go!"

Down on the ground, the group turns around as a single unit at Khenan's signal, Zeline leading the charge. Her gleaming chrome plates diffuse any suspicion. Ben adjusts his face covering, fidgeting with the hem between his fingers. At the first pair of guards they pass, the soldiers freeze and salute to Zeline.