I nodded. “You have one left in your backpack. Do the honors,” I replied.
“How many left?” Uriel asked.
“I think three, without this one,” Angelica said.
“We’re on track, so far, with the big ones,” I added. “Araquiel is doing his part with the small ones.”
“Good, so there won’t be any delays on our part,” Uriel concluded.
“There shouldn’t be. As you can see, we’re practically invisible here,” I replied, tempted to smile as a couple dozen Perfects stormed past us. “Who wants to bet they’re headed to the southwest entrance?”
Uriel chuckled. “Herakles must be riling them up really good if they need backup.”
“With pulverizer weapons and a sturdy supply of pellets? You bet,” Araquiel muttered behind us. “I’ve got four more charges,” he added. “I will go ahead and plant them, then I will catch up with you.”
“Sure. Be careful,” I breathed.
I couldn’t wear my red garnet lens to see him without arousing the curiosity of the hostiles around us, but I did pay attention to the sound of footsteps. Araquiel was the only one I couldn’t see. However, I heard him walking away.
Just in time, too, since shortly after he went ahead, two guards came into the hallway, carrying one of the thermal scanners and checking the entire section.
“I’ll be right back,” Deena murmured, then separated from the group and slipped into the storage room we’d marked on our blueprint.
As the thermal scanner went past us, I felt the corner of my mouth twitching. This was definitely one of the better ideas I’d had since I’d regained my consciousness and free will. It might’ve come at the cost of a head, but, in the long run, it was worth it. I no longer had Ta’Zan’s poison clouding my judgment.
Cassiel appeared in front of us, almost out of nowhere. I’d been so busy watching the thermal scanner head down behind us, that I hadn’t even noticed the Arch-Perfect turning the corner. I came to a sudden halt. Angelica and Uriel both froze behind me. This was unexpected.
“What are you three doing?” Cassiel asked, his tone clipped and his brow furrowed.
My pulse was racing, but I couldn’t let my reaction, or Cassiel, for that matter, jeopardize our mission. The universe was at stake, and I had zero tolerance for anyone who so willfully supported Ta’Zan. Cassiel was clearly more complex and independent than the other Perfects. His actions were not the result of doctrine; that much I knew for a fact, based on what I knew about him.
“Our rounds, as usual,” I replied, banking on my old memories. Thank the stars for Phoenix, who’d converted them into video files, straight from our memory chips. We had enough inside knowledge not to stir any suspicion.
“You’re aware that there’s a group of Faulties currently laying siege on the southwest entrance, right?” Cassiel said, clearly irritated.
There was something odd about him. His pulse was elevated. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples. He seemed on edge, and it couldn’t be because of a handful of raucous Faulties, for sure. I had a feeling he knew what this was, and he was trying to weigh his options before turning against GASP or against Ta’Zan. His duplicitous nature wasn’t a game. It was literally a part of who he was.
“And why are you so nervous?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “They’re Faulties. Easy to take down, with so many of us.”
“They have pulverizer weapons!” Cassiel retorted.
“So do we, from the looks of it,” Uriel said, crossing his arms.
Cassiel let out a frustrated sigh. “They’re not great shots, unfortunately. Or the Faulties are really good, by contrast. I’m not sure, but our people are getting blown to smithereens out there,” he replied. “You three should go help. I see you have weapons of your own.”
His voice trailed off as he frowned and got a better look at my pulverizer. My heart stopped for a moment. This was it. The second that would define Cassiel, going forward.
“These aren’t issued by us,” he added, then glowered at me. “Where’d you get this from? What are your names?”
I took a deep breath and decided to gamble with Cassiel’s duality. Every note I had on him verified my theory: he could be reasoned with, but not through any stammering or pleading. No, I had to be blunt. Painfully blunt.
“How do you think all this will end, Cassiel?” I asked, my voice low. “Looking around, seeing how resourceful Ben and Rose’s people have been so far. What do you think the outcome will be?”
Cassiel blinked several times, as if trying to process my question. He measured each of us from head to toe, then smirked. “You’re with the outsiders.”
“I never said that,” I said. “Answer my question, Arch-Perfect.”
“Why do you even want to know what I think?” he asked with a shrug. “You’ve clearly picked your side.”
“But you haven’t. I’d like to know when and how that will happen. So, what do you think this will all end with?” I replied, my lips stretching into a confident smile.
Uriel and Angelica trusted my judgment and didn’t say a word. I knew Cassiel wouldn’t attack us. Not yet, anyway. He’d let Elonora’s crew escape during their last infiltration. He was flirting with the idea of turning against Ta’Zan, but he definitely needed additional coaxing. He must be extraordinarily intelligent and devious, since Ta’Zan didn’t suspect anything. Cassiel was still his right hand, his most trusted after losing Raphael and Araquiel.
“I’m not sure,” Cassiel finally replied. “I think the outsiders have some spunk, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to take Ta’Zan down. Then again, they’ve surprised us before. They may still have some aces up their sleeves.”
“And for how long will you sit back and do nothing, like a coward?” I replied. “Until you feel it’s safe enough to betray your maker?”
“Watch your mouth, Perfect,” Cassiel hissed.
“For a Perfect, I clearly have better judgment than you,” I said. “At least I know where I’m standing. As for you, Arch-Perfect, I’m genuinely impressed. You serve Ta’Zan, yet you helped Elonora and Raphael take down the comms blockers. You let her walk out with bags filled with devil-vipers, the very source of the pulverizer toxin. You pretend to be by your maker’s side, but your actions lately have been in the rebels’ favor.”
“You wouldn’t have helped them if you didn’t believe in them,” Uriel continued. “Why are you still clinging on to this relationship with Ta’Zan? You know damn well you’re no more than a simple tool for him.”
Cassiel took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply.
“You three, on the other hand, had no trouble betraying him, I see,” he said.
“Then what’s holding you back, Cassiel?” I asked again.
