e obeying Alex's command. Everyone on the boat stared at him in disbelie

ght of incredulity. "You-you can talk to drones now? I

r command network. If I can replicate the signal controlling the drones, I might be able to-"

as another explosion sent water cascading over the boat. "I

, Amira saw something rare: frustration. "Their ne

e drone fired again. The blast narrowly missed t

he turned to Luis. "C

. "Maybe, but I'd need to get closer to whatever's tr

rowly avoiding a boulder jutting out of the water. "Good to kn

t finally scored a hit. Smoke billowed from the rear engine, and Jonah cu

alizingly close, but between the rising waves and the drone's

d stuffing his device into a waterproof pouch. His expression was

into shark-infested waters while under

m, her gaze fierce. "Do

matically. "Fine. But if I di

I'm in, too. But if we make it to

hesitating. Amira followed close behind, the cold water shocking her system but fueling her ad

y swam furiously toward the shore. Amira's arms burned with exertion,

nder Amira's palms as she dragged herself ashore, gasping for breath

ooking more irritated than scared. "Well, that

laser focus. His soaked shirt clung to him, but he d

the mechanical menace was nowhere to

lized we're not worth the ammo. Can we

nah held up a hand. "Hold on.

he jungle came a faint, rhythmic humming-mechanical and unnat

giant killer drone wasn't bad enough.

off her pants. "That's the sour

hatever's controlling t

chete from his gear pack. "Into the creepy ju

he dense undergrowth. She glanced at Luis, who looked thoroughly unimpressed with their cu

fering him a hand. "We didn't c

. "You know, this better end with saving th

he dense foliage closed around them like a living wall, and the air g

h step. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set Amira on edge, her senses hyper-aware.

it just me," he whispered, "or does this place feel... w

st you. This place is definitely bad news. I'd bet my

is muttered. "That'

in Amira's chest like the bassline of a terrible symphon

aid softly, p

he ground, its surface glowing faintly with red energy. It was both alien

don't know what I was exp

guessing that's not a p

t the structure. "This is it. This

tightening. "Then w

ugh the jungle, followed by the unmistakable sound

ree humanoid drones stepping out from the shad

roaned. "Do these guy

g with an ominous hum. Jonah tightened his grip

Alex s

the drone fired-and the j