She could hear the guard breathing loudly. He had to know someone was there.

She listened. Just silence. But surely he must have heard . . . ?

She forced herself to take her hand from her mouth and, gripping the crowbar with both hands, risked another glimpse towards where the guard had been standing.

He was gone.

Get up, said a voice from immediately behind her. And drop that fucking

She turned, swinging wildly. His rifle was aimed straight at her head, but the crowbar caught him hard in the knee, and he collapsed against the truck treads with a howl of pain.

She stood up and swung the crowbar again and again. He slipped to the ground, limbs twitching. She struck again . . .

And again.

When he finally stopped moving, she let the crowbar clatter to the ground. Then she turned away and vomited.

It hadnt felt like killing Thijs or the rest of them back on the Grand Barge. It had been different. And worse.

She wiped her mouth clean and forced herself to pick up the dead mans rifle before continuing on her way.

The buildings seemed deserted, and yet her machine-senses drew her inside one of them and along a corridor, before stopping at one specific door. It felt . . . right.

As the door slid open at her touch, she peered inside and recognized the woman who had caused Tarrant so much consternation. Slumped on the floor, with bandages visible beneath her shirt, she stared up at Gabrielle in utter disbelief.

How the hell did you get in here? the woman demanded weakly.

I . . . I dont know, replied Gabrielle helplessly. Youre Megan, I think? Bash told me to get you out of here. My names Gabrielle, and I

I know who you are, she declared, then dragged herself upright and came closer. But what was that you just said about Bash?

He . . . he told me to hurry. That we didnt have much time.

Megans face creased in blank astonishment. She pushed past Gabrielle and made her way back along the corridor and out into the main cavern. Gabrielle followed, unsure what she was supposed to do next.

That rifle Megan suddenly turned back to her where did you get it?

From a guard.

The woman cocked her head. And what happened to him?

I . . . hes dead.

The womans eyes narrowed, as if re-evaluating her. You shot him with that thing?

Gabrielle swallowed. No, I . . . hit him with something.

Thats a heck of a thing for anyone to do, let alone . . .

The woman halted mid-speech. Let alone a girl like you, Gabrielle knew she had meant to say.

I didnt have any choice, said Gabrielle, her voice rising. He was going to kill me. I . . .

Okay, said Megan, putting a hand on Gabrielles arm, her voice soothing. Okay. I get it. She gestured to the rifle. Tell me do you know how to use that thing?

Gabrielle swallowed. No, not really.