Nix lowered his binoculars. "Another team stationed near the junction. What’s that, the seventh?"

"Eighth," replied Bolt.

Two days earlier, the Peacemakers, Survivalists and Creators had all begun to notice small Army teams on the move around San Lazaro. The groups were typically composed of five medics protected by around 10 soldiers and one or two Agency operatives. They seemed to be setting up at strategic locations across the city. Drone reconnaissance by Flyboy and Flash revealed that the entropic disruptor was being temporarily lowered to let each team through.

"Not much daylight left," said Nix, looking out from their perch on the roof of a gas station. The pair had volunteered to carry out scouting ahead of the bridge operation, which was already being called Breakout.

"We’ve still got time to check what we need to," said Bolt, picking up her rifle. "Let’s move."

By the time they’d covered the assigned area, the sun was close to the horizon. Nix and Bolt had been out for 10 hours and both had admitted they were weary — and that was how they almost walked straight into the Army team.

Bolt cursed quietly in Russian as they ducked down behind a dumpster. "Sorry, my fault."

"Mine, too," replied Nix. "At least we got away with it.

He peered around the dumpster. The squad had set themselves up inside an abandoned store, with four men on sentry duty. Nix noted that they were armed to the teeth, with 50-shot mags on assault rifles also fitted with grenade launchers.

"What’s the best way around them?" asked Bolt. "I guess we could try …"

Nix didn’t hear the rest of what she said, because a fifth man had emerged from the store and was now talking to the soldiers. He was not clad in camouflage, but in gray fatigues, and his face was one Nix knew very well.

*****

"Mike. My partner. You’ll remember, he helped us out before?"

Buck nodded. He was glad to have the two scouts back; and very interested to hear what they’d learned.

"He risked a lot for us," added Bolt. "When we showed ourselves, the soldiers were about ready to shoot us. Fortunately, Mike was in charge. He took us aside and laid it on the line."

"I’m not surprised they sent him in," added Nix. "There can’t be many others who’d know more about what’s happened to SL"

"Can we cut to the chase?" asked an impatient Pai, who was with Buck, Flash, Lance and Ranger in the station’s briefing room.

"Sure," said Nix. "And I’ll be quick. Because, then, we need to tell all the others."

*****

Cyborg received the call from Buck twenty minutes later and called the Creators into the kitchen, which had become their preferred hangout. Dr. Altmann was there too, enjoying the contents of the mansion’s well-stocked freezer.

"We’re lucky that Nix and Bolt ran into this guy Mike, because it’s given us a crucial update on the timeline. On Wednesday, the army teams will leave with their CyMS samples — apparently, that’s why they’re here — but the disruptor will remain active, trapping the population."

Everyone in the kitchen was listening carefully as Cyborg continued.

"At 3 a.m. on Thursday, they will execute the Omicron Protocol."

"Only two days away," said Plate, to no one in particular.

"Let’s hope none of us are on the wrong side of the disruptor when it happens," said Threads.

Plate nodded. "Otherwise, we get ‘euthanized.’"

"Our chances have improved greatly," replied Cyborg. "Mike also briefed Nix and Bolt on a couple of other things: First, how to evade the tamper alarm on the bridge disruptor. Second, how to get past the patrols on the other side."

"Those two did well," remarked Hiko.

"Very well," said Cyborg. "Apparently, this guy Mike even offered to get them out, but they refused. They knew how crucial the info is — for all of us."

*****

"Thursday morning, then," said Gadget.

"Yep," replied Lucky, watching as Thug and Sergiy sorted through their provisions. They would be taking a few bits of food for Breakout — who knew what would happen even if they got across the Aureus Gate Bridge?

"Are you going to come with me to the 8th Street Camp?" added Lucky.

Gadget had feared this conversation. He knew the idealistic young man would struggle with this terrible dilemma. "Lucky, think about it — there are hundreds of people there. If we try and move them en masse, we’re going to attract CyMS. A massive group like that stands no chance of getting over the bridge — more likely, we’ll all be killed."

Lucky’s eyes showed his anger. "So, what, we just leave them here until the government wipes them out?"

Gadget had seen him in this state before. He knew the only way to calm him was to explain his side reasonably.

"We didn’t cause this crisis, Lucky. And we’re not responsible for Omicron. Who knows — maybe, once we’re out, we can do something to stop it."

"Yeah, right."

"I’ve been thinking," continued Gadget. "Taking hundreds of people is impossible. Taking 20 is feasible."

"St. Mary’s?"

Gadget nodded. "You’re still in touch with Mr. Latimer, right?"

"Right," said Lucky, his face brightening.

"Maybe we can get over there, at least make sure Charlie and the other Group Home kids get out?"

"We?"

"Sure," said Gadget. "I’ll come with you. But we can’t tell them the whole truth. Not until we’re close to getting out. Come on, we can take my truck. We’re going to swing by Denny’s, too. No way I’m leaving him and his family in the Pothandle!"

*****

Little Jenny’s two worlds had just come together, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. She had collected her Aunt Grace and sister, Eve. The relatives were currently occupying an apartment opposite Rose’s nightclub base.

Aunt Grace was still carrying her holdall as she looked out at the street. "What are those cars for?"

"Er … Lady Rose has some crucial … equipment that she needs to take with us."

"Equipment — yeah, sure!" said Eve cynically, shaking her head as she foraged for food in the apartment. "I can’t believe we have to rely on these people."

"Believe me, it’s better than the alternative," said Jenny. "Anyone who doesn’t get out of SL tomorrow is never getting out."

"You still haven’t told us where you got that information," said Eve.

"We have to trust that Jenny’s looking out for us," said Aunt Grace, at last setting down her bag. "I don’t care who we have to rely on — I just want to get out of this city."

"Not long now," said Jenny, joining her aunt at the window. She was again struck by the strangeness of having her family so close to her fellow gang members. The following day they would be even closer — united in their quest for freedom.

Below, several armed men — plus Gudu — guarded four SUVs. Jenny had spent the morning assisting with loading the vehicles. The “equipment” was, in fact, mostly rare and valuable tech, cash, gold, weaponry and narcotics. Jenny wasn’t that good with numbers, but she reckoned that the crisis had allowed Lady Rose to increase the wealth of the Red Dragons tenfold. But, to Jenny, people always mattered more than things. Eve and Aunt Grace had to get out, and her beloved Lady Rose, too.

*****

Goddess awoke early to ensure everything went to plan. Under the guidance of Crimson — and with security provided by Beater and Zephyr — the few remaining Cynfo employees were guided into the company limousine and Zephyr’s jeep. One of those employees was named Vitaly Kuznetsov, the senior engineer who had taken on Winner’s CTO role. He had been asking some awkward questions, and had apparently been in constant contact with Winner until his "disappearance." Goddess had only told Crimson of his true fate.

Also within the vehicles were DNA drives and key pieces of tech taken from the Cynfo vaults. Once sure that everyone was ready to leave, Goddess returned to the building alone.

Ryder had made no attempt to stop her accessing the vaults, largely because he hadn’t been out of the ground-floor laboratory in days. Goddess was not the only one to have heard loud sounds coming from the lab. That morning, something very powerful had actually shaken the building.

Goddess had borrowed a small pistol from Crimson, which she now placed in the pocket of her silk suit. Once inside, she ventured close to the lab’s door, which was slightly ajar. She could hear noises that sounded alarmingly like a drill and a saw.

Ryder suddenly walked past and glimpsed her. When she saw his unkempt hair and the manic expression on his face, she halted. Even his beloved vest was covered with grime and oil.

"Have you come to see The Project?" he asked with an odd smile.

Goddess had no intention of going inside the lab. She just wondered if there was still some chance her former lover might come with her.

"What is The Project, Ryder?"

"Like all the best things, it has to be seen to be believed! Come on!" He stomped away without another word.

Though she still felt something for him, Goddess knew then with utter certainty that Ryder was beyond help. Wiping away a single tear, she turned away and headed outside. On her way, she consulted the Cynfo database using her data implant. She found no mention of “The Project,” but decided to ask Kuznetsov, the acting CTO, to dig through the files and see if he could find something that might resemble what Ryder mentioned.

Goddess was glad, at least, that Ryder would be occupied when the Omicron Protocol was executed later that day. She hoped he wouldn’t suffer.

When she reached the street, everyone was in the vehicles except Crimson.

"You had me worried there," said the head of security, before gesturing towards Goddess’ convertible. "You want to drive?"

"Sure."

Crimson signaled to the others waiting in the limo and the truck that they were leaving. She then ran around the back of the convertible and climbed into the passenger seat. "I guess we could have chosen something more practical for this occasion."

"We’re joining forces with the Red Dragons," replied Goddess. "This is perfect. Got to make a big entrance."

She turned the key, gunned the engine and blasted away down the street.

*****

The driveway at the mansion was full of vehicles. Hiko had been busy for most of the morning, but now realized that all the Survivalists and the Peacemakers had joined the Creators. There was only an hour to go before they were all due to leave for Aureus Bridge. Hiko was greatly relieved that her three transportation platforms were ready. They were now hovering above the mansion’s lawn beside the driveway.

"Here they come now," said Dr. Altmann, who had been helping her with some fine-tuning.

Hiko looked down towards the gate and saw Cyborg leading a group toward the mansion, assisted by Threads and Kuklacı. Those with them were a group of vulnerable people from the surrounding area, including some elderly and ill folk. They would occupy the transporters, which had already been loaded with some key supplies and weaponry.

Over the last 24 hours, Cyborg had also rounded up another 40 able-bodied locals he wanted to get across the bridge. Many of these had their own vehicles and were lined up on the street.

"This is quite an enterprise," said Dr. Altmann.

"It is," said Hiko. And there’s so much that can go wrong. "I just hope it all goes right."

Next Story: 95. The Big Escape - The Ultimate Hack