“No, no.” Blackburn shook his head. “That didn’t quite pan out the last time. Neutralizing him gave someone a chance to reactivate him. I’m taking a different approach. You all have dumped Sysevich in my lap and you’ve fought every effort I’ve made to toss him out of it, so from this day forward, I’m going to use him against Obsidian Corp. I’m thinking of showing his processor off to some of your disgruntled ex-employees, rounding up some expert witnesses. They’ll take one look at the data on his processor and they’ll be able to honestly testify before the Defense Committee that Obsidian Corp. was manipulating Sysevich’s processor right around the time the breaches occurred. Sysevich is going to be my proof Obsidian Corp. backstabbed us.”

Tom saw Yuri straighten, growing rigid. “That won’t be allowed.”

Blackburn’s eyes gleamed. “It’s not your choice. There’s enough hard data in his processor to incontrovertibly prove Obsidian Corp.’s involvement.” He let that sit there a long moment, then added, “Unless someone, somehow, removed his processor from the Pentagonal Spire. Unless Sysevich no longer was in my lap, because someone finally decided his time was up and nothing was going to be gained by forcing his presence here.”

Tom’s mind processed the implications of what Blackburn was saying. He felt a pang of remorse, realizing it: Blackburn was forcing Vengerov to withdraw Yuri from the Spire. Vengerov would probably agree. Tom’s head pulsed, his insides stinging with the unfairness of it. Yuri didn’t deserve any of this.

For his part, Yuri—or the person controlling him—remained perfectly still and silent, listening to Blackburn set the terms.

Blackburn seemed to grow impatient with the silence. “Well?” He spread his hands. “The choice is yours. Leave Sysevich here and give me a weapon, or take him out of here and get his processor away from me.”

Yuri’s empty-eyed gaze slid over them and settled on Blackburn’s. A slow smile curled his lips, and something about it made Tom’s skin crawl.

“Very well. The issue is conceded. His processor will no longer threaten the integrity of the Pentagonal Spire. This asset will be removed from your custody, Lieutenant Blackburn.”

And suddenly, Yuri seemed to catch his balance, almost like he’d been nodding off while sitting in class or something. He straightened up, his face cloudy, perplexed, but it was him. It was actually him.

“How . . . how did I get over here?” Yuri blinked in some confusion. He looked from Wyatt’s downcast eyes to Vik’s stormy face to Tom, then settled on Blackburn’s coldly satisfied expression. “Sir!” He straightened to attention.

Blackburn let out a slow breath. “I have bad news for you, Sysevich. . . .”