Page 195 of Black Reign

“We want what you took.”

“I take many things.”

“Then this will take a long time.”

He walks toward the door.

I call after him.

“Who hired you?”

He looks back.

I smile despite the blood drying at the corner of my mouth.

“Worth trying.”

His expression remains empty.

Then the door shuts.

Lock.

Silence.

I wait.

Count.

Listen.

Nothing for a while.

Then distant voices.

Two.

Maybe three.

I close my eyes.

Think.

My devices are gone.

They found everything I expected them to find.

Everything except NULL.

Because NULL isn't stored in any one machine.

Ghost and I designed it that way.

The room can exist anywhere if I can reach enough of the architecture and authenticate myself.

Which currently presents one small problem.

I am tied to a chair.