Free Killswitch by Victoria Buck Page B

“I’ll go find Switchblade and apologize.”
    He left her for the largest area of dorms. Passing his own room, he headed for the door with the switchblade carved on it. What were those artists thinking when they transformed the cavern into an underground campus with enough bedrooms for a hundred people? Apocalypse—that was the word Switchblade had used. Not so far from the truth. The world was falling apart and Chase was hiding in a bunker. A massive, elaborate hiding place never used by the people who built it. Almost seemed like God planned it in advance for the Underground Church.
    He knocked on Switchblade’s door, softer this time. He didn’t mean to insinuate the man might be a mole. A thug, yes. And arrogant. Not very likable. But his dedication to these people was obvious.
    Switchblade didn’t open the door. Chase turned up his hearing enhancer. No sound inside the room. Surely the guy wouldn’t go up after Amos told him it was forbidden.
    “What am I thinking?” Chase said. “Of course he’d go up.”
    The dark tunnel that led to the back exit was past the dorm area. Chase slipped through unnoticed, climbed the rickety stairs, and headed that direction. A hundred yards in, long before the hidden panel, he found Switchblade sitting in the dark on the cold floor.
    “Did you go up?” Chase asked.
    “What’re you doing here, you freak? You traitor.” He lifted himself up and powered a small laserlight.
    “Look, I didn’t mean—”
    Switchblade let the light drop to the ground and jumped Chase, pushing him backward until they were both on the ground. The big man roared as he balled his fist and punched Chase in the left temple.
    But the man was no match for a transhuman.
    Chase flipped him over and pinned him tight, pushing his shoulder into the floor and pressed down hard on his throat. “You may be bigger, but you aren’t stronger. And don’t forget it. This thing inside seems determined to keep me alive. If you threaten me, I can’t be held responsible for what might happen.” Chase stood and brushed his hands down his sleeves. “Now get up and let me apologize,” he yelled.

15
    Switchblade stumbled as he grabbed the laserlight off the floor. He eased up in front of Chase, cleared his throat, and rubbed his neck.
    “Did I hurt you?” Chase asked.
    “No. Hah, you got some ego thinking you could.” He straightened his collar and flexed his arms. “Don’t tell me I didn’t hurt you ?”
    Chase rubbed the side of his head. “The human part stings a little.”
    “Yeah. Sorry.”
    “You have a way of making that word sound pitifully sorrowless.”
    “You could’ve strangled me with that hold. I can’t believe a little guy like you has all that power.”
    “I’m a perfectly normal-sized man,” Chase said. “ You’re a giant.” He headed back toward the compound and Switchblade followed. “You don’t want to know what happened to the last guy who threatened me, and he was an armed cop. Of course, he had a NP in his ear. I didn’t mean to kill him.”
    “You killed a cop? What’s an NP?”
    “Neuroprosthesis. WR is planting the device in people to control them. The exoself blew up the thing. Killed the guy instantly.”
    “Got new respect for you, Charlie. Cop killer—who’d a thought?”
    “I didn’t do it on purpose. He had just killed somebody I cared about—a man you remind me of, as a matter of fact. I would have been next. So the exoself took care of the problem.” Chase stopped and faced Switchblade. “Seems odd a Bible-carrying believer would respect a cop killer.”
    “By respect, I mean I will think twice about messing with you again.” He stretched his shoulder and let out a groan. “This pain in my arm will make me think twice too.”
    “I’m sorry about that. And about what I said earlier. I don’t think you’d do anything to endanger these people.”
    “Yeah, well I started it. I’m sorry too.”
    This time, the apology seemed genuine. “Can