The gunshot shattered the laboratory.Thiago reacted instantly.He dropped behind a reinforced workstation as a second bullet tore through the glass panel above his head."Down!" Adrian shouted.More gunfire erupted.The laboratory filled with the sharp crack of bullets and the sound of breaking glass.Thiago glanced toward Adrian."How many?""At least ten.""Armed?""Very."Thiago almost laughed.After surviving zombies and floods in his previous life, ordinary gunmen didn't frighten him.But they created a problem.He couldn't allow anyone to discover his ring.Adrian crawled toward another control panel."There's a service tunnel beneath the laboratory.""Where does it lead?""Outside the western perimeter.""Then we're leaving."Adrian shook his head."Not yet."He pointed toward the computers."The research data."Thiago stared at the screens.The gunmen were closing in."You have thirty seconds."Adrian quickly connected a portable drive."Twenty.""Done."He ripped the drive f

The explosion shook the unfinished villa.Concrete dust rained from the ceiling.Thiago didn't retreat.He simply stared through the broken entrance as the first wave of armed men rushed inside."Adrian, stay behind me."Adrian immediately shook his head. "I'm a scientist, not a coward.""Then stay alive."Thiago reached into his pocket.The ring flashed.A compact steel case appeared in his hand.Adrian stared."You had that inside the ring?""Among other things."Thiago opened the case.Inside were several tactical flash devices and protective equipment he had purchased earlier.He tossed a pair of protective goggles to Adrian."Put them on.""Why?""Because you're about to see why I bought them."Three armed men entered the living room.Thiago activated the first device.A blinding flash filled the room.The attackers stumbled.Thiago moved instantly.He struck the first man's weapon aside, drove his shoulder into the man's chest, and sent him crashing into a stack of construction