Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,157

angular contraption that Marcellus had prayed he’d never have to see again.

Maximilienne stepped in front of the newly built exécuteur, addressing her comrades in red. “We will not allow the Regime to kill any more innocent people like my sister with this cruel device,” she said, her fierce eyes blazing beneath her hood. “Regimes who misuse their weapons must lose those weapons.”

Then the screen went black.

Marcellus dropped the TéléCom onto the counter like it had burned him.

“Wait a minute,” Gabriel said. “That was the Blade wasn’t it?”

Marcellus nodded and glanced toward Alouette. Her eyes were brimming with apprehension.

“What … What do you think the Red Scar are planning to do with that?” Cerise asked.

“Hopefully destroy it,” Marcellus muttered with a shiver. “Just like the last one. No one should ever be put under that thing.”

For a long time, no one spoke. Marcellus stared numbly at the blackened screen, trying to wrap his mind around this latest Red Scar threat. And it was a threat, right? Or was Maximilienne simply taunting the Ministère? Demonstrating what they were capable of?

Then, suddenly, the TéléCom was no longer dark. It lit up as a man’s face flashed onto the screen. Marcellus leaned in closer, confusion and fear ebbing through him. The face was familiar but he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why it was currently flashing on his TéléCom.

“Incoming AirLink request pending from Jolras Epernay,” the device announced through Marcellus’s audio patch.

“Who is that?” Gabriel asked, squinting at the screen.

“It’s Maximilienne’s brother,” Marcellus replied numbly, his eyes still locked on the TéléCom. “He’s another member of the Red Scar.”

Alouette’s eyes widened. “Why is he contacting you?”

Marcellus shook his head. “I have no idea. But I’m pretty sure he recognized me back at the Jondrette.”

Cerise snatched the TéléCom out from under Marcellus and promptly dismissed the AirLink.

“What are you doing?” Marcellus asked.

“I’m sorry,” Cerise replied sarcastically. “Did you want to answer an AirLink from a known terrorist?”

The screen flashed again as a second request came through.

“Incoming AirLink request pending from Jolras Epernay.”

Cerise went to dismiss it again, but Marcellus stopped her with a look. “Can I please have my TéléCom back?”

Reluctantly, Cerise handed it back. “Don’t accept that.”

“Why not?” Gabriel asked. “What if it’s important?”

Cerise huffed. “Trust me, whatever that man wants, it can’t be good. Don’t accept it.”

“I think you should find out what this mec has to say,” Gabriel argued.

“Incoming AirLink request pending from Jolras Epernay.”

Marcellus stared down at the screen, into the young man’s mysterious pale eyes. What could a member of the Red Scar possibly want with him?

His fingertip hovered indecisively above the screen. Part of him was terrified to accept the AirLink, while the other part was just plain curious. He could feel everyone’s eyes watching him.

“It’s ready,” Dr. Collins said, slicing through the thick tension in the air.

Everyone turned to see the scientist standing in the doorway of the kitchen, holding a sleek silver canister. Marcellus felt a rush of relief.

The inhibitor.

He’d become so distracted by all this commotion from the Red Scar, he’d momentarily lost sight of the reason they’d risked their lives to come to this planet.

“Incoming AirLink request pending—”

Marcellus plunged his fingertip onto the screen of the TéléCom, dismissing the request and silencing the voice in his head.

The scientist delicately unscrewed the lid of the silver canister, and a gust of frosty steam hissed into the air. Inside, a round barrel held twelve glowing vials. “There is one dose for each of the water treatment centers on Laterre and one extra, just in case. The serum is designed to self-propagate. Which means once it’s in the water supply, it will reproduce on its own.”

Marcellus looked down at the canister and then back at the silver-

haired man in front of him, a lump of gratitude forming in his throat. “Your work is going to save many lives. Your daughter would be proud.”

Dr. Collins flashed him a kind smile. “Thank you. Or as I believe you say, merci.” He carefully resealed the canister and handed it to Marcellus. “Try to keep it level, and make sure it doesn’t undergo any jolts or serious vibrations. The inhibitor has to be stored in glass because it’s less porous, which means the vials are very fragile.”

Marcellus hooked his arms tightly around the canister, feeling the massive weight of such a small container. “We’ll take care of it.”

“Good,” said Dr. Collins. “Now for the tricky part. I’ve managed to track down your ship. It’s been impounded and moved to