23: Deva
Deva
They didn’t run, but Chiron set a fast walking pace as he led them along a corridor Deva swore hadn’t been there when they’d been brought in.
“How serious is this?” Keelin asked. “Can you defend?”
“We’ve always suspected the company know we’re here.” Chiron led them to a stairwell, started to climb. “We’ve got contingencies in place.”
“What about this launcher?” Deva asked. “Standard? No—retro, right? Physical controls. No lattice interface.”
“Still has one,” Lise said, “but we’ve reconfigured it. I don’t know the details.”
Of course she didn’t. She was only a lackey, wasn’t mech. Or tech. Just followed Chiron around, did whatever he wanted.
Chiron led them through a door, into bright sunshine. Deva sniffed, caught the stink of fuel beneath the aromas of the forest.
