Chapter 13 - The Iron Sanctuary
Mount Rainier rose before them like a jagged black tooth against the star-strewn sky. Halfway up its western slope, carved directly into the basalt granite, was the entrance to Node Prime: a massive bunker reinforced with titanium plates and protected by automated sentry turrets mounted on concrete pillboxes.
The road ahead was blocked by an automated security gate, its yellow lights sweeping back and forth across the frozen mud.
""We can't drive any closer,"" Marcus said, shifting the van into park behind a thick cluster of hemlock trees. ""Those sentry turrets will shred the vehicle in three seconds.""
""They won't fire on a carrier carrying a verified root key,"" Sarah said, unbuckling her seatbelt. She looked back at Leo, who was watching her with solemn, quiet focus. ""Marcus, you stay here with him. If I’m not back in forty minutes, take the mountain pass into Canada. There are communities there that completely operate off the grid.""
""No!"" Leo cried, lunging forward and wrapping his arms around her waist with surprising strength. ""Mama, don't go! Don't leave me!""
Sarah’s resolve cracked for a split second, but she forced herself to remain calm. She knelt down, unwrapping the red scarf from her neck and gently winding it around Leo's shoulders.
""Take this,"" she whispered, looking into his tearful eyes. ""This carries my smell, Leo. When you hold it, it means I’m right beside you. I have to turn off the machine so it never chases us again. Do you understand?""
Leo snuffled, clutching the red wool to his chin. ""Promise you'll come back?""
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""I promise,"" she said, kissing both of his wet cheeks.
Turning to Marcus, she handed him a small signal transmitter. ""If the sky turns red, drive.""
