My cyberear caught the explosion. It was small and muffled, a mere popping noise that was difficult to hear against the drone of the VTOL engines. Suddenly Vargas’ eyes rolled back and a trickle of red began to leak from the back of his head. Fede gasped and Rafael jerked his hand back, in the process inadvertently turning Vargas’ head to the side. A wisp of smoke escaped from a hole in the back of the priest’s skull. A small, steaming puddle of brains lay on the carpeted aisle of the VTOL.