Chapter 19

Sera Westbrook's POV

Today's breakfast was compressed biscuits and heated stewed beans.

Jax held up a biscuit, turned it over, turned it back, and sighed. "This stuff tastes like cardboard."

Vera didn't even look up. "It's fine. Once we find new supplies, we'll improve your diet."

Cole was off to the side counting ammunition, pushing bullets back into the bandolier one by one, his hands never stopping.

Taylor was crouched in the corner changing the drone's filter cartridge, goggles hanging around his neck, a screwdriver clamped in his mouth, muttering something no one could make out.

Dorian's voice came through the channel, in that lab-report tone of his. "Sera's observation period has one day left. She shouldn't take part in the operation today—the inhibitor concentration in her body hasn't stabilized yet. Don't worry. Once her numbers stabilize, she can go out and wreak havoc again."

Kyle fastened the clasp on his glove. "Taylor stays in the vehicle for remote support. Dorian handles the data. The rest of you come out with me."

With that, he turned to me. "You stick with me today. Don't get separated."

After yesterday, my resistance to Kyle's need to control everything had shifted a little.

Of course I knew how harmful testing a drug on a body could be—especially since Dorian had never developed an inhibitor before, and everything was unknown. I hadn't expected Kyle to do something like that for me.

At the same time, I realized I'd become a little too independent, to the point of neglecting the feelings of the people around me—especially Kyle's.

Kyle was worried about me. He also knew Dorian was working on an inhibitor, so he hoped I wouldn't use my ability freely for now—at least not until the inhibitor was successfully developed.

I wanted to apologize to Kyle, but no matter what, I couldn't find the chance. Kyle seemed unwilling to talk to me.

We set off again. After walking for half an hour, we found a water station that was still running.

The water station was an old municipal facility: a two-story concrete building surrounded by chain-link fencing. Two modified pickups were parked at the gate, their beds covered with canvas. A machine was running in the yard—from dozens of meters away you could already hear the low hum of the old machinery, the sound of water moving through pipes.

We really were short on uncontaminated clean water lately.

We walked into the water station, and Jax stepped forward to negotiate with the people inside.

Jax said, "Hello. We need clean water. We can trade goods for it."

Before long, two men came out of the water station. Their faces were a little tired, but very wary, guns slung over their shoulders, short blades at their waists. "What do you want?"

As they came out, we realized they weren't Sequencers—they were ordinary people.

Ordinary people holding a water station—that was something we hadn't expected.

Kyle stood beside me and said in a low voice, "Be careful. There may be other Sequencers backing them."

Jax nodded. "Clean water. What do you need?"

The two men exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We need inhibitors."

At those words, my heart sank. It seemed Kyle was right—there really were Sequencers behind them.

Jax turned back to look at Kyle, and Kyle gave his approval. "Fine."

Jax turned to the two men. "My captain agrees. How many inhibitors do you need? We need a thousand gallons of clean water."

The man shook his head. "That's too much. Seven hundred gallons. We need four inhibitors."

Jax frowned and turned to look at us, asking for our opinion.

Kyle thought about it. "Give it to them."

Inhibitors could be made again, but clean water was hard to come by.

We struck that expensive deal.

The man opposite us walked over and held out his right hand. "Marshall."

Jax shook it. "Jax."

After a brief introduction, we started loading water, and Vera went back to the Titan to fetch the inhibitors.

Watching the clean water pour into the Titan's reserve tanks, I turned to Kyle and sighed. "Kyle."

Kyle asked, "What is it?"

I hesitated for a few seconds, arranging my words in my head. "Thank you for what you did. I really didn't expect you to test the drug for me…"

I couldn't help feeling a little awkward, and I apologized a bit sheepishly. "I understand your worry. I know you want me to use my ability only when it's extremely safe."

Kyle looked at me quietly.

I felt uneasy. "Are you… angry with me?"

Kyle held out his hand to me. I froze for a moment, then put my hand in his. Kyle tightened his grip. "Your heart rate is very fast right now."

Kyle let go and patted the back of my hand. "I really am very worried about you. But I've also reflected on myself—my attitude toward you was too high-handed. I shouldn't have ordered you around from above."

With that, we both fell a little silent.

Honestly, I didn't know what capacity to relate to Kyle in.

We used to be partners. Then we broke up and didn't see each other for seven years. Now, it seemed, we were captain and team member, and nothing more.

I nodded. "Mm. Then let's each take a step back."

The topic came to an end. I turned away hurriedly and went back to checking the water transfer pipes.

After a while, the Titan's reserve tanks were almost full, but there was still some space, and there was storage space on the deck as well.

Marshall was very happy to get the inhibitors. "There's a second water station to the south. If you need it, you can go take a look. As I recall, the second water station doesn't have an owner."

Jax agreed. "All right. We'll go take a look."

Back on the Titan, Taylor pulled out the map and sent out drones ahead to scout. "There really is a second water station to the south, but there seem to be a lot of Eroded there. Can't be sure whether the water source is contaminated."

Vera said thoughtfully, "We've sorted out our living water, but the water for the vegetable farm… seems far from enough."

Kyle decided on the spot. "Then let's go take a look. Take the gamble."

Taylor suddenly looked up. "Wait—there's a supply station nearby. We can go to the supply station first, then the second water station."