Chapter 107

Chapter One Hundred Seven

On Yemi’s third walkthrough of the Badger’s controls, Connor finally got the feel of things. It wasn’t the sort of simple design he was used to: pedals, steering wheel. Everything was controlled through a couple joysticks and a stick mounted to the floor.

There was a uniform charcoal gray about the vehicle, except for the seat covers, which were a faded black. The thing had seen service and carried scars: dents, scrapes, and scuffs that exposed the ceramic and metal shell.

Any slight movement was enough to send fasteners and hooks rattling, louder than the squeaking seats.

It even smelled old, like rust, piss, and vomit.

The team had left its own signature on it, as had the scorpions. Their poison was a sharp, rotten sulfuric tang beneath the layers of sweat.

Yemi patted the console. “Connor watches the dials on the dashboard.”

“Right. Speed, bearing, battery power, proximity alerts, tire pressure.”