Jax Benassi's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The white beam swept the open sand, and Jax froze flat against a low ridge. The dune field stretched wide around him, pale and bright, with no cover for fifty paces. Behind him the fence still hummed. Ahead, the tower's white light marked him as something to be found. He counted breaths. Patrols would come from the north, where their beacons stood on tall metal legs to mark each sweep line. He had seen one glinting earlier, its crystal head catching the beam. If he ran for it, he could crouch in its shadow and let the light pass him by. Jax moved low and fast across the soft sand. His boots slid, his lungs burned, and the white beam swung back toward him. He dropped behind the patrol marker just as the light crossed the ridge. The crystal above him glowed faint pink under the sweep. Voices came. Two patrol members, close. Jax pulled the worn credential from his jacket and held it loose in his hand. The stamped date was old but still readable. He stood slowly, shoulders bent like a tired worker, and stepped into view. He lifted the card. "Maintenance check on the marker," he said. "Beam threw a fault." The lead patrol took the card, looked at the serial line, and grunted. The other one scanned the dune behind him. Jax kept his hands still. His heart did not. The lead handed the card back. "Be quick. Tower's hot tonight." They moved on. Jax waited until their steps faded, then slipped past the marker into the deeper dunes. He was through. But they had his face now, and a name on a card that was not quite his.