In this scene, Tornahdo enters the chamber with seven other ghosts, having been given orders different from the others. Fighting Pietas with only seven others — what advantage can that possibly offer?
The world shifts to slow-mo
As ordered, Tornahdo illuminated the beacon on his chest. Not smart. Pietas would know from the level of brightness how many had entered the unlit room, but there was no sense saying so. Ghosts did what they were told.
Maybe the next team would subdue the Ultra after Tornahdo's crew exhausted him. Assuming there were ghosts left who hadn't been shot by their own leaders.
Inside, as instructed, he stayed near the back. Two of the eight ghosts closed in on the pod.
Pietas lay on the floor behind it. His body showed, not his face.
Tornahdo tingled with a fighter's high. The mix of anxiety and excitement kept his instincts on maximum alert.
Beside Pietas, a ghost stooped. The change in lighting angle showed the Ultra, limp on the floor. When turned, the body flopped. The ghost pressed two fingers against the throat.
With a jerk, Pietas yanked the man down while thrusting a hand up.
A pierce of mindless fear stabbed Tornahdo. He'd faced that snap of terror before. It meant two things. First, the Ultra was controlling their emotions. Second, the chip was worthless.
Pietas tripped the next ghost, jabbed an elbow into his neck.
Another spurt of fear and confusion.
All that training. Days of suffering, learning control. For nothing.
Pietas flashed into speed mode.
Tornahdo's world moved in slow motion.
A blur showed where the Ultra had been. Pietas halted, braced both hands on a pod and kicked a pair of ghosts behind him.
They flew backward. Slow.
Momentum carried the Ultra straight toward Tornahdo.
Stumbling out of the way, Tornahdo went down in a tumble, taking out the ghost beside him, who knocked down the last two.
Tornahdo rolled to his feet, out of range of those long arms and carbon-hard fists. But for how long?
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