Spirits of the Earth: The Complete Series: (A Post-Apocalyptic Series Box Set: Books 1-3) by Milo Fowler (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📕

The North American Sectors? "But how does it get inside Eurasia?"

He shrugs. "Same way anything illicit enters a highly guarded, civilized society—or totalitarian regime. Smugglers."

"They would have to be in the military." No one else is allowed to work on those freighters or gain entry into Dome 10 from the sea. "Or criminals posing as military personnel."

He gives me a wink. "Now you're catching on."

"The survivors you mentioned—that's how they're getting into Eurasia."

"Are you sure you're not an interrogator? You might want to ask for a promotion, Enforcer Chen."

I shake my head and look out the window. "Still doesn't explain how you know all of this. Unless you're some type of subversive yourself."

"Oh, I am all types of subversive." He follows my gaze to the vacant street below. Quiet, with no one in sight. Local law enforcement must be elsewhere, bringing peace to Dome 1. "Unless I'm mistaken, that's a maglev entrance."

I nod absently. "No trains are running." Due to the current lockdown.

"Perfect."

He stands up and hits the emergency release. The door to the passenger compartment shudders as it rises, buffeted by the wind.

"What the hell are you doing?" I point a rifle at his head. "Return to your seat, citizen!"

With one arm, he braces himself against the upper lip of the doorframe. His hair thrashes wildly as he leans out.

"I can't go to jail, Sera," he shouts. "I have too much work to do."

"Shut the door!" I yell at the clone.

It remains focused on piloting the craft. "I am unable to override an emergency—"

"There's no way you'll survive this jump, Erik. I don't care how talented you are!"

Another shrug and dashing smile. "You wanted me to show you."

"I saw enough last night! Please, return to your seat, or…" My aim wavers.

"You'll shoot me? Then we'll be the Nineteen. Nobody wants that!" He gives me a crisp salute. "See you around, Enforcer Chen."

He falls sideways out the open doorway like he's the class clown, toppling into a swimming pool at a rowdy party. I lunge forward, the rifles swinging from my shoulders, the wind blasting against my face as I peer out after him. We're 400 meters up in the air with nothing but plasteel and plasticon below, streets and sidewalks and buildings with mirrored glass reflecting his fall. He doesn't wave his arms or flounder. He looks very composed as he plummets to his death.

So much for sticking with me.

"Follow him!" I order the clone and hold onto the handgrips mounted beside the open doorway. The door itself continues to shake. It won't close until we land, emergency protocols being what they are.

I squint into the wind as the aerocar makes its descent. Hard to believe, but Erik has landed on his feet half a block from the maglev train entrance. He takes a moment to steady himself against the wall of a nearby restaurant, closed for the day. Then, with a glance up in my direction, he staggers onward, moving slower than is customary for him. If I had to guess, I'd say he sprained something during that impossible touchdown.

All the better for me to catch him.

The aerocar sets down in the middle of the deserted street fifty meters from the maglev entrance. The gates are locked, and no one appears to be on duty. Even the automatic kiosks are dim, not welcoming any commuters today. The dark tunnels beyond are far from inviting, but Erik doesn't seem to mind. Despite whatever minor injuries he sustained after throwing himself from a moving aerocar, he manages to scale the three-meter-tall gate with minimal effort—half leaping, half scrambling over it. I can't see where he's headed on the other side, but I have a feeling he's planning to take a tunnel to one of the outlying domes. On foot.

"Contact Commander Bishop at HQ. Tell her I am in pursuit of a suspect." I step out of the passenger compartment and into the street. The aerocar kicks up a torrent of air like a miniature windstorm emanating from underneath the vehicle.

"Enforcer Chen, according to the Chancellor's records, you are not authorized to pursue suspects. Nor are you authorized to wield lethal ordnance." The clone swivels in its seat to face me. "Additionally, it appears that your augments are offline. You will not be able to see inside that tunnel. All things considered, I should accompany you."

I remove the magazine from the rifle I'm leaving behind, tossed onto my seat. Slipping the spare mag into one of the pockets along my pant leg, I point at the gate, choosing to ignore everything the clone said. "Open that for me."

The clone exits the vehicle, leaving it idling, and approaches the train station. Taking a moment to size up the locking apparatus, it reaches with both hands and grips hold of the ironwork. The armored suit whines as it powers up, and the clone trembles in place like a strongman at the circus lifting weights just a bit too heavy for him. But the gate doesn't stand a chance. With a metallic crack, it swings open.

"Secure this position." I head straight for the nearest tunnel, leading to Dome 2.

"Yes, Enforcer Chen."

I activate the tactical flashlight mounted on the assault rifle and sweep the powerful beam side to side, cutting a white swath of light through the darkness. There's a walkway along the right side of the maglev track, and I leap onto it, not bothering to keep my boots quiet as I run. No idea how long I can maintain this pace without an exo-suit to provide that extra boost. But unless Erik's a fast healer, I should overtake him in a matter of minutes.

"Erik Paine, halt!" My voice echoes with confident-sounding authority. I hear only my own footfalls, not his. So either he didn't take this tunnel, or he's in stealth mode.

If I had Wink and Blink with me, I could send them to scout ahead and relay back everything they see. If my augments were functioning, I could call