Ethan Hyt must have excellent reflexes, because the moment Pamela called out, he did something, and the man closest to him went down hard and the other blinked as Ethan’s laz was suddenly in his face.
Pamela strode forward, and Velda trailed behind her, impressed with them both.
She had been a member of the Protection Unit in Demeter at the start of her career, joining straight out of university, but had ended up moving to the Department of Defense when an opening had come up which needed her technological skill set after only a year. She’d moved again, ever upward, into a high-level strategic role, still in Defense, and then her three years of government service had come due.
It never failed to amaze her that the only role that was available at the time which had suited her skill set was the Head of Planetary Defense, no less. She’d taken a long look at the responsibilities, finally agreed, and at the age of 25, she’d stepped into the role. Three years later, she didn’t regret it.
Unlike the two men currently in restraints. They had a lot of regrets, if she was any judge.
“So, what’s the story?” she asked as she came to a stop beside Ethan. “Cores thugs?”
One of the men on the ground turned his head to look at her, face comically twisted into an expression of outrage.
“Seems not,” Pamela Ingot said, staring down at him. “Are you both Aponi?”
“Yes.” The man’s reply was stiff.
“But, to be clear, they are not part of the Protection Unit?” Ethan asked.
“No.” Pamela Ingot crouched beside them, tugged at the badge on the uniform. “Where did you get these?” she asked. “They’re the real deal.”
“We were told it was a prank,” the one who’d shot Velda an outraged look said. “They said to delay you while they set up a surprise in your apartment.”
“Shit.” Pamela stood and lifted her comm unit. “Possible ambush or explosive,” she said, giving the address.
“Who’s ‘they’?” Ed crouched beside the men. “Are they still in the apartment?”
“It was only one person. We met him at the door,” the other man said. “He paid us, then sent us down. He might have gone out another way while we waited down here, but he told us he was setting up a surprise and went back inside when we left.”
“How long ago was this?” Velda asked.
“About thirty minutes.” The man who’d seemed insulted by the Cores thug comment seemed to be coming to a clear realization that he’d been duped.
“Let’s get out of the building.” Ethan was already lifting one of the men as he spoke, and Pamela hauled the other one to his feet.
“The explosives unit will meet us outside.” Pamela pushed the man toward the door and Velda got ahead of them and opened it for them to go through.
Ethan pushed his man in front of him, and then turned to her. “We need to get back a bit more,” he said. “We’re still too close.”
She nodded, following after Pamela, but looking around for anyone paying them too much attention.
A few bystanders were looking their way, but given the two restrained men, Velda guessed that was normal.
As they cleared the small garden in front of the entrance, an explosion cracked through the air.
It came from above, the boom rattling windows down the street.
Velda felt it in her bones, and then pieces of glass and wall began to rain down on them all.
Ethan shoved the man he’d restrained at Pamela and grabbed her, tucking her against him and bending over her so that his body shielded her own.
“Ethan.” She twisted in his hold to look up at him. “You’re not my bodyguard.” And she didn’t see why he should be hurt instead of her.
His eyes met hers, held there for a moment, and then he blinked and let her go.
The explosives unit chose that moment to arrive, and Velda stood to one side, watching with interest as they leaped from the hover and spread out, looking upward.
She walked toward them, turning to see what damage had been done.
