They were on the top landing, and ready to make the assault into the hallway that would lead them to loading dock number four. It was the closest dock to the front entrance, which Sandman reported as under assault by troops who looked like they were military. At the very least, they had equipment that bespoke a bigger budget than anybody but Lone Star could bring to bear.

Nobody knew exactly what was going on, but at the moment the attack came, the resistance to their departure had all but evaporated. Small pockets of vampires, usually just two or three at a time, still plagued them, but they weren’t of the deadly caliber that they’d first encountered. Most of were small and lightly cybered, nor had they encountered any with magical abilities for almost five minutes of climbing.

As Rachel gained the top landing, she looked around at the rest of the runners. Flak stood tall and silent, the Vindicator cradled in his arms like a child. He was breathing easily, despite the blood running from four separate wounds on his arms and chest.

Truxa had done what she could for him, but she’d also been wounded. Her left arm was broken and although she’d healed herself, the bone wasn’t completely mended and the wound hampered her magical ability. She’d been forced to take the fall-back position. Wielding Sinunu’s crossbow, she was in charge of making sure that whatever the rest of the team knocked down stayed down.

Sinunu had pulled up her balaclava hood to reveal a blooded mouth, missing two teeth where a dying vampire had smashed her face-first into the wall, seconds before de Vries had broken the thing’s spine. She was also walking with a limp, favoring her right hip. From the fire in her eyes, though, Rachel guessed Sinunu was riding on a killing wave and didn’t notice any pain.

Rachel found herself smiling. Even though she’d gotten hit couple of times, the bullet that had grazed her thigh had been a ricochet. She put a hand to her left shoulder and felt blood there. Evidently, the fat woman had managed to get her licks in before Rachel had shot the back of her head off. Still, Rachel didn’t feel it either. Her body was humming with intense excitement. Part of her was angry and scared, angry that they hadn’t found Warren, and afraid for what might have been done to him. That was a small part, however. She was alive. Truly alive for the first time in her life, It was as if everything had come down to this, fighting alongside people who trusted you with their lives, and knowing that you would kill or die to not let them down. Dancing that razor’s edge.

She looked around again and a huge swelling of pride filled her. This small team was going up against incredible odds, against some of the darkest creatures the Sixth World had ever seen. They’d been bloodied, but were unbowed. They were hurt, but they were still deadly, and any vampire who crossed their path would find out just how deadly.

The only one who remained uninjured was de Vries. He was a whirlwind of destruction, and seemed to take a perverse glee in killing vampires that had made Rachel queasy the first few times. Now, she understood his reaction. The only time de Vries had seemed sad since the fighting had begun was when he’d been forced to hurl the still unconscious body of the decoy at the vampires approaching from below. And though it had bought their escape, she’d heard him muttering, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Talk to me, Sandman We’re almost out of ammo, and I don’t think we can take too many more hits.” Flak’s voice sounded calm over the tacticom, but Rachel thought she could detect a hint of strain, maybe even fear.

“There’s not much I can tell you,” came Sandman’s voice in her ear. “The fighting outside is pretty hot. Whoever these guys are, they’re kicking hoop and taking no prisoners. At first, the vamps were getting back up again, but these guys are pros, and they’ve changed their tactics. Not so many vampires are getting up anymore.”

Flak grunted. “So the military-type boys are winning?”

There was a pause. “Yes and no. They’re taking down vampires fast and furious, but somebody tripped something in the system about five minutes ago, and some more vampires just showed up out of nowhere.”

“Damn,” muttered Flak. “Any way to slip out in the confusion?”

Sandman’s voice came over the com again. “Probably not, but you’ve only got one more corridor, and then you’re back the fresh air. Give me about a minute to double-check everything, then be ready to hit it when I give you the signal. You still packing those shaped charges?”

“Affirmative,” said Flak.

“Well, you’re probably gonna need them. The doors at the end of the hall are locked tighter than Lofwyr’s vaults, and there’s not one thing I can do. I’ve been shut out of that area of the system.”

“Check,” said Flak. He turned to the rest of team and said, “You heard the man! One minute, and we’re out of here. Get your drek together, and make sure you’ve got enough ammo.”

Suddenly the unreality of all that had happened that night hit Rachel. She looked around at the bloodied crew, then down at the guns in her hands.

She let out a small laugh. “Hey, guys, just twenty-four hours ago, I was wondering if I was gonna make the rent and whether to splurge on another pair of heels for work.”

Sinunu responded with a low chuckle. “Under the circumstances, you’ve done pretty fragging well.” She looked over at de Vries, who was standing near the door. “Next time you want to bring someone else along for the ride, vampire man, they better have as much on the ball as your girl here.”

De Vries smiled at her. “Is that your oblique way of apologizing?”

Sinunu looked at him for a moment, and Rachel thought she was angry, but then Sinunu shrugged. “I guess it is.”

Dc Vries’ smile grew into a toothy grin that somehow didn’t remind Rachel of the vampires they’d been killing for the last half an hour. “Apology accepted.”

The tacticom crackled. “Heads up, people. This is about as good as it gets.” Sandman’s voice was staticky over the com. We’re rolling again. There’s some fighting out by the front gate, and we’re going to try slipping past it. The corridor is clear, and you’ve got about a twenty-second window to make the loading dock. If you can, meet us at the front gate. Be careful. There’s a lead storm flying out here, and the good guys are on the defensive now.”

“Roger, Sandman,” said Flak. “We’re outta here.”

The rest of them got into position.

Rachel took up her new place, the position Truxa had held before getting injured. How strange that only two hours ago, she’d felt like a lost outsider with these people. Now, she was at home. She knew her role, and knew she was trusted to carry it out. She had proven something to herself as well, though she wasn’t quite sure what that was yet. All she knew was that she’d gotten back on her feet, her wounds were distant things, and that razor’s edge was calling to her.

“Okay, everybody,” said Flak, from up near the door, “this is it. One last dance, then hopefully we can get the hell off the dance floor. Everybody hang tight, conserve ammo, and if I give the signal, run. Don’t look back.”

With that, he opened the door, and they began to move quickly down the long hallway leading to a door at the far end, the exit sign gleaming like a promise.

24

The cyberware is implanted prior to infection and remains fully functional after vampirism takes hold. But there are some drawbacks, the foremost being that if the cyberware is damaged in any way, the subject dies. The other hurdle to be overcome is the loss of some of the vampire’s capabilities with the introduction of cyberware.

– 

Dr. Oslo Wake, laboratory notes. Test series OV13652, 02 November 2058