False Horizon - Alex Archer [85]
“So why did you stop?”
Tuk pointed at the computer. “This thing. The red flashing screen drew my attention.”
“As well it should have,” Mike said. “This place is entering critical condition.”
Tuk frowned. “So, if that’s the case, then where is everyone? What happened to all of the people who were here with us yesterday? The parade, the feast? Where are they?”
Mike frowned. “You don’t want to know.”
“I most certainly do.”
Mike sighed. “Get out of the way.” He pushed Tuk aside and sat down at the computer. He tapped a few keys on the keyboard and then shoved his chair back away from the screen and pointed.
“There.”
Tuk leaned in close, at first unsure of what he was seeing. But then he recoiled in abject horror as the truth became apparent. Scores of bodies piled atop one another lay in a huge pile somewhere.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Mike nodded. “She killed them all. Witnesses, I guess. She kept just enough of her closest, trusted men alive to help her see it through. And then she had all of the bodies disposed of down in those waste tanks underneath this place.”
“She dumped them into the nuclear waste?”
“Yeah, the installation is well-shielded—hence, the reason we can stay here and not get infected. But she dumped the bodies down into those tanks for another reason altogether.”
“What reason is that?”
Mike’s frown only deepened. “Isn’t it obvious? Those corpses will upset the balance of the facility. It wasn’t designed to handle bodies, only sludge. Those hundreds of dead bodies have thrown off the installation and it’s now approaching a disaster.”
“You mean?”
Mike nodded. “This entire installation is going to explode in about thirty minutes.”
32
Annja smiled at Vanya. “You know as well as I do that I cannot give up and surrender myself to you.”
Vanya frowned. “You’re breaking your word? You promised you would surrender if we let the little man go.”
“Yeah,” Annja said. “I lied about that.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Vanya said. She gave a scarcely perceptible nod and Hsu Xiao immediately stepped forward.
Annja had the sword in her hand a split second later. She grinned at Vanya. “Are you sure you’re comfortable with the idea of me killing your best and brightest here? Once I’m done with her, there’s not going to be anyone left who will be able to stop me from killing you.”
Vanya sniffed. “As if it will even get to that point. Hsu Xiao will make quick work of you. I trained her myself.”
Annja frowned. Did that mean that Vanya was an elite killer as well?
There was no time to think about it because Hsu Xiao didn’t wait. She launched her offensive immediately, rushing in at Annja, trying to close down the distance between them.
Annja knew the tactic. With her sword, her optimal range was greater than Hsu Xiao’s. The Chinese assassin needed to be in close to wreak havoc with her claws. And Annja needed to keep her at least six feet away.
Annja dodged the initial attack and cut backward as Hsu Xiao’s body shot past. But Hsu Xiao knew what to expect and used her claws to block the sword cut. Then she swept the sword blade up and slashed in at Annja’s exposed right shoulder.
Annja felt the claws cut deep into her flesh and grunted back the pain. She felt hot blood cascade down her shoulder. A little deeper, she thought, and those damned claws would have severed muscle.
And that’s exactly what Hsu Xiao seemed to be hoping for. If she could take away Annja’s ability to hold the sword she wouldn’t have to worry about it.
Hsu Xiao launched a series of kicks at Annja’s midsection.
Annja stabbed straight out and the point of her sword nicked a line along Hsu Xiao’s lead leg, ripping the assassin’s pants and shredding the top of her thigh. Hsu Xiao let no sound escape her lips and retracted her leg out of range.
But Annja pressed the attack; coming up and lifting the blade high into the air, she chopped down at Hsu Xiao. She saw the momentary spark of fear in her eyes and Annja drove in hard, cutting down.
But then Hsu Xiao rolled away, got to her feet