It hadn’t taken Yeger long to find the ladder and climb to the roof. Now he stood on the roof by the window closest to the signal operator furthest from the door. He pulled the grappling pistol from its holster on his waist and aimed it at the concrete roof, about a foot from the edge—far enough it wouldn’t shatter the concrete in front of it when it pulled him to a stop.

  Another minute for them to get in place. Then he’d drop.

  He counted the seconds until he reached fifty, then he turned, his back to the edge.

  Fifty-nine. Sixty.

  Yeger squeezed the trigger.

  Bang!

  The grappling bolt buried itself in the concrete as Yeger threw himself backwards off the roof.

  The world around him ground to a crawl as reflex kicked in. Two things immediately screamed for his attention. The first that several towers below, a white light flickered slowly on and off. An incoming signal from the factory.

  Second, a signal from the light tower by the mine far above also flared to life.

  What timing…

  With a resigned sigh as he continued to fall slowly, he flicked the catch on the grappling pistol to grip the cord and waited.

  To his perception, about five seconds later the cord snapped taught and pulled him on a tight curve towards the window. Five heads turned at a glacial pace towards him, all missing the door crawling open behind them.

  To the operator just beyond the glass? Empty sky suddenly filled with a giant.

  Yeger smiled—

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  —and exploded through the glass. He let go of the grappling pistol and landed on his feet within reach of the operator.

  The world sped up.

  The operator’s hand blurred as he reached for the signal panel. But not fast enough.

  Yeger slammed into him, lifting him off his seat.

  Yells split the air and out of the corner of his eye, Yeger saw two soldiers converge on him.

  With a sudden jar, the world jerked to a crawl as reflex triggered. Uncertain exactly what his body had detected, Yeger continued carrying the operator forward—straight to the window on the opposite side of the panel.

  They slammed into it, glass shattering as Yeger shouldered the man through. His scream as he tumbled into the night was a distorted mess to Yeger’s reflex triggered senses.

  Pain flared in Yeger’s back. There it is. He spun as the world sped up. One soldier had already reached him, his lips twisted in a snarl as he swung his knife again at Yeger, the blade a blur. Trinity!

  Again Yeger’s perception slowed as he sidestepped to avoid the blow and retrieved the blade from his own belt.

  The two boosted men circled each other, wary, respectful.

  Yeger studied his opponent. The man matched him in breadth of shoulder, but was maybe a little lighter. Short black hair crowned his head, while a thick black moustache hung over his sneering lips. The glint in his brown eyes spoke of a love of killing.

  The soldier charged, knife up.

  Yeger’s back was to the broken window and reflex triggered. He slipped forwards, his own knife low and hidden by the bulk of his body and his flowing coat.

  The soldier’s blade slammed into Yeger’s shoulder and Yeger howled as it pierced his skin and bit into hardened muscle, coming to a jarring halt as the two slammed into each other, faces inches apart.

  The world sped up. Delight sparked in the soldier’s eyes as he threw his weight down on the blade, burying it deeper.

  Yeger gritted his teeth. Then winked at the soldier, enjoying the confusion that created.

  The soldier never saw Yeger’s blade as he brought it up with a smooth, speed-boosted movement and slammed it into the soldier’s ribcage.

  Bones shattered as it plunged through the thin muscle.

  Yeger planted one foot behind him and leaned back from the soldier and pivoted. The motion threw the big soldier off balance. A split second later they had switched positions, the soldier now backed up against the broken window.

  Completely off balance and coughing up blood, the man hit the waist high frame and tipped back. Reflex triggered, and he caught the frame with both hands.

  But Yeger was still moving. He stepped forwards and brought his right leg up in a powerful front kick aimed at the man’s sternum.

  The kick connected.

  The soldier didn’t even scream as he fell. Yeger could respect that.