"We’ll leave a message," Zarek said, his voice flat and final.He climbed back into the SUV, the heavy door thudding shut against the howling wasteland wind. Shaw was already pulling up the holographic map, his eyes scanning the topographical data for the ravine path the guard had mentioned."A background check by execution," Shaw muttered, shifting the car into gear. "And here I was thinking the corporate snakes in the city were cold-blooded. At least they try to bribe you before they let you die.""The city hides its teeth behind contracts, Shaw. Out here, the teeth are just bare." Zarek kept his gaze fixed on the flickering blue light of the console. "Take the west turnout. Let’s see if this ravine is a sanctuary or just a different kind of grave."Shaw cut the steering wheel hard to the left. The tires crunched over the jagged rim of the highway as the vehicle lurched, transitioning from smooth blacktop to the uneven, rocky descent into the gorge. He toggled the lights to 'Bla

"The Maces were soft because they thought money was a shield," Zarek said.He stood up slowly, empty hands relaxed at his sides. His loose, predatory posture was far more unnerving than if he were leveling a weapon. "You're arrogant because you think those suits make you strong. Let's find out where the machinery ends, and the man begins."The lead Weaver didn't flinch. "Kill the driver. Take the Boss alive.""Try it," Zarek whispered, a cold smile touching his lips. "And I'll make sure the tree isn't the only thing with roots in the dirt tonight."The Weaver lunged. His hydraulic servos hissed as he threw a punch with enough force to shatter a brick wall. Zarek dipped his head by a fraction of an inch, the massive gauntlet whistling past his ear, and countered with a palm strike to the giant’s throat-seal. The armored man wheezed, stumbling back as internal oxygen sensors flared crimson."Shaw! Get back!" Zarek barked, stepping over his lieutenant to intercept a second Weaver sw

As the second guard reached for his sidearm, Zarek gripped the man’s armored wrist, twisting it until the suit's mechanical joint hissed and buckled. A quick strike to the base of the skull, and the second man was down.Zarek checked the cab, empty. He whistled low, a sharp, melodic note that pierced the mechanical hum of the yard.Shaw emerged from the shadows, stumbling slightly as he made his way toward the vehicle. He looked at the two unconscious guards and then at the idling beast of a truck."Nice ride," Shaw wheezed, his face still pale but his spirit unbroken. "Does it come with seat warmers? My arms are starting to feel like they're made of ice.""It comes with a full medical kit and a clear path to the Weavers' main gate," Zarek said, hauling Shaw into the passenger seat before climbing into the driver’s side. He slammed the transport into gear, the heavy tires churning the gravel as he swung the vehicle around. He didn't look back at the wreckage of their SUV or the me

The roar of the six-wheeled beast was the only warning the first outpost received.Situated in a narrow pass between two jagged cliffs, the checkpoint was a fortress of reinforced concrete and heavy iron gates. Two Weaver guards, encased in their humming exoskeletons, stood lazily by the barrier, clutching long-range rifles. They saw the familiar shape of their own transport kicking up a massive plume of dust and iron-rich dirt."Is that Unit Four?" one guard asked, squinting against the morning sun. "They weren't supposed to be back until—""He isn't slowing down," the other noted, his voice rising in alarm. "Hey! Unit Four, status! Drop your speed or we’ll—"Zarek didn't touch the brakes. He didn't even flinch. He slammed his foot to the floor, the turbochargers screaming as the transport hit eighty miles per hour."Shaw, brace your neck!" Zarek commanded."Already on it!" Shaw grunted, pressing his head back against the armored seat, his eyes wide with a mix of pain and adrenali

A dozen searchlights swept the valley, their beams cutting through the haze to reveal a line of heavy-combat exoskeletons. The Weavers' elite Iron-Clad unit stood waiting in a perfect phalanx, their heavy plating gleaming under the artificial glare."They're waiting for us," Shaw whispered."No," Zarek said, a dark smirk touching his lips. "They're waiting for a miracle. They aren't going to get one."He slammed the transport into high gear, the engine roaring its final, defiant song as they charged the mountain.The mountain air screamed as the engine pushed past its redline, the cabin vibrating with such force that the dashboard screen began to crack. Ahead, the Iron-Clad line didn't budge. They raised heavy, tower-sized shields, interlocking them to form a wall of reinforced tungsten."They're bracing for a head-on!" Shaw yelled over the roar. "Boss, that's a dead stop! You hit that wall, and the engine comes through the seats!""I'm not hitting the wall," Zarek said, his eyes t