“An attack?” Father rose from his chair as his duo of guards barged in.

“Lockdown protocol’s in effect.” One guard grabbed Father’s sleeve while the other keyed open a hidden wall panel behind the desk.

“Very well.” Father dragged his gaze away from the plume as if it was more hassle than credible threat. “Come along, Altair.”

The guard stepped between us. “No unauthorized persons.”

“Fine,” Father said as he ducked through the panel, already writing me off. “Get yourself to safety.”

The dismissal of me—and my life—didn’t sting anymore. I said a silent farewell as the guards hustled him out and the panel suctioned closed behind them.

Whatever happened next, I doubted we’d meet again and I wasn’t terribly broken up about it.

An alarm sounded through the building, and I sat in Father’s chair, confident no one would be coming for me. A second boom sounded. The Seligo have too much else to worry about.

I cracked my knuckles and got to work, uploading Cipher’s program and keying in the missing strokes. As soon as it was fully executed, I hustled outside.

Father’s office was already empty. I slipped into the hall where a steady stream of workers fled to the lifts and stairways under the watchful gazes of Black Helix guards, whose raised weapons and steely eyes said this was very much a live threat. One guard gave me a hard look, but his gaze slid away after finding me weaponless, with my Green Helix out in clear view. Not for the first time, I was glad I hadn’t pursued a dual tattoo. Now I could slip into the background as a harmless scientist.

I flowed with the rest of the workers as I made my way to the security checkpoint, keeping careful count of the passing seconds. Just before I rounded the corner, I kicked into a jog. Soon.

The power cut as I reached the desk. I hopped it, invisible in the moment before backup power kicked on. As the civilians shrieked and started to panic, the last guard abandoned the desk and I grabbed my duffel without being noticed.

Everything according to plan.

Working fast, I dug out my weapons and strapped guns to their holsters, knives to their sheathes, and my swords to my back. It had been a few years since the Academy, but I’d kept my skills sharp.

I looked like the threat I was as I stepped into the staff corridor.

And straight into a quad of Black Helixes. A burst of adrenaline shot through me and there was only time to react.

I ducked and rolled as their weapons came up.

My reaction was faster.

They went down in a patter of bullets that rang in my ears long after they hit the ground. A deep graze scored across my shoulder, but I barely felt it while my focus was up.

Quanta.