AARON It did not take long before Blackstone International Terminal came into view. Smoke still hung low over the city, and traffic was almost gone. The only road that looked even remotely open in this entire metro was the Interlink Highway. We eased along the Residential Lanes until we found an on ramp. Hope flickered for a second. That hope died fast. A state trooper had parked his patrol vehicle sideways across the entrance, blocking it completely. The Mobile Hauler rolled to a stop several yards back. The trooper stepped away from his car and walked toward us. One hand rested on the grip of his service pistol, secured in a thigh holster. A semi automatic rifle hung across his back. Nathan and I moved toward the door as it opened. "Where are you folks headed?" the officer asked. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes. "Ravenport," I said. He started to say something else, then turned his head and looked past us toward Westhaven, back the way we came. "You coming out of the Westhaven area?" "Yeah. Barely made it out," Nathan muttered. The trooper let out a breath. "What the hell is going on over there?" My head shook on its own. "You would not believe us if we told you." He gave a short laugh. "Last couple days have been a complete mess. You would be surprised what I am willing to believe." Nathan and I exchanged a look. He shrugged once. "My brothers and my sister in law were almost killed by an army of robots. They attacked the Westhaven Unity Dome."Silence settled between us. The trooper exhaled slowly. "Damn it. I was hoping that rumor was wrong." "You heard about the dome?" I asked. "Not the dome. The robots. Just talk going around." His head tilted as he tried to see into the Mobile Hauler. He caught sight of Elliot stretched across the front couch. The trooper froze. "Did you say the Unity Dome was attacked?" "Yes," Nathan said. "Jesus," he whispered. "I need to pass that up the chain as soon as I can." His face turned serious. "Were you there too?" "We stayed in the Mobile Hauler while they scouted ahead," I said. Nathan lowered his head slightly. "Family in there? I would like to ask them a few questions." "His family and mine," I answered. "They are hurt," Nathan added. "You can come inside and talk to them, but they cannot stand long enough to come out here." The trooper took one step forward, then stopped. His hand stayed on his pistol. I could see the thoughts working through his head. We looked normal. Decent. Still, stepping inside meant losing control of the situation. One bad move and he could be overwhelmed. That same math was running through my mind. I had already mapped out where I would stand inside the Mobile Hauler. Close enough to reach one of the guns if this went sideways. "I will take your word for it," he finally said. "People at the Unity Dome might still be alive," I said. Hope pushed into my voice before I could stop it. "If any government is left, they are going to need help." The trooper dipped his head. "I wish I could do something. There are only a few of us covering this stretch. Orders came straight from the Governor. Keep the roads to the terminal open. Supplies are coming in that way. That is all we have." "If the Unity Dome is gone, what good are supplies here?" I asked. "That decision is above my pay grade," he said calmly. "I follow orders until I am told otherwise." I felt irritation rise in my chest. I had worked around people like this when I was in Senator Jonah's office. Good people. Honest. Still, they waited to be told what to do while everything burned around them. "Can you radio your supervisor?" Nathan asked. "We do not use radios anymore," the trooper said. "Digital comms were compromised. Whoever is behind this started using our own systems to bait us. We lost people learning that lesson." "Social media too," I said. "Same tricks." Nathan glanced back toward the rear of the Mobile Hauler, then returned his focus to the trooper. "No disrespect, sir, but my brothers need a doctor. Are there any at the terminal?" He shook his head. "No. But there was an army field hospital at Tri City Airport near Kingsport. At least there was twelve hours ago." Nathan turned and typed the location into the navigation screen. "That is not the shortest route to Ravenport." "It is the only route," the trooper said flatly.