“Do you realize,” he asked softly, “how much damage the Partial Failsafe could do in the open at this point? To the Preserve, to East Meadow, to the entire world?”

“Please,” said Kira, “think about what you’re doing—” But it was the wrong thing to say, and Kira knew the instant the words were out of her mouth that a plea was as good as a confession. Vale spun around, diving for the table behind him, and Kira didn’t even wait to see what he was reaching for. She turned and ran, sprinting as fast as she could from the room. A gunshot rang out behind her, and sparks flew from the door frame just inches from her head. She ducked around the corner and hurtled toward the end of the hall.

There were more shots behind her, but she was faster than he was, and already too far away for his unpracticed aim. She stumbled around each corner, barely slowing to change direction, racing back to the elevator shaft she’d come down through. Only when she reached it did she realize she’d left her computer handle back in the lab, plugged into Vale’s computer. “No time,” she muttered, leaping onto the ladder and hauling herself up. “I’ll come back for it later.” She might be able to take Vale—she might, depending on his gene mods—but he could have sounded an alarm by now, and called for backup, and she couldn’t face the entire Preserve. Her only hope was to get to Samm and carry him out, before anyone on the outside knew what was going on.

But how far would she have to take him before they escaped the sedative’s influence? And how long before the dose in his system wore off?