"It worked, didn't it?" Blue asked with excitement.
"Why did you phrase that as a question?" Kira asked.
"Ah. That." Blue laughed awkwardly. "The science isn't exactly field tested."
Raider's inhale was a near growl. "Blue!"
"Sorry. Sorry. But there wasn't much time to plan," Blue said, defending herself. "It was tricky to figure out the frequencies in the beginning, but once I understood the mechanics behind it, it was simple enough."
"You first or me?" Raider signed at Kira, resuming radio silence.
She tapped her chest to show she'd go first. Raider moved aside as Kira stepped up to the threshold of their energy door. Here's hoping her insides stayed where they were supposed to.
Before she could question the wisdom of it, Kira dove forward. It was like trying to move through something thicker than water but less dense than a physical wall. The resistance slowed her progress.
Then she was through to the other side.
Kira checked the inner courtyard. No signs of any oshota that she could see. Then again, they were a notoriously tricky lot.
She waved Raider through anyway. His expression was grumpy after passing through the disrupter field. His displeasure over breaking the laws of physics clear.
"Location," Kira asked in a near soundless voice.
The comm she had embedded in her ear canal would pick up the vibrations in her jaw and transmit her words no matter how softly she spoke.
"Checking," Blue answered.
Kira made a gesture toward the Hold. Lightning cracked, highlighting the gothic-looking monstrosity that could have featured in a holo-vid starring Dracula. No wonder Eurus was in charge. His vibe let him fit right in.
Raider took the lead across the grounds.
Kira didn't worry about the patrol spotting them. Nobody would expect someone to be crazy enough to breach the inquisitors' defenses. Their focus would be on the perimeter. Not what was happening within their walls.
Just in case, though, Kira and Raider stuck to the shadows as they made their way toward a second floor balcony and the window access Blue had scouted hours before.
Raider cracked the door open, waiting a second before slipping inside.
"Got the location," Blue announced.
Kira ignored the feel of rain running down her face and neck as Raider scanned the room. A second later he gave her the all clear.
"Jin's spawn are picking up heat signatures on a floor below ground level," Blue announced as Kira stepped inside. "Given the lack of movement, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume they're guarding something."
Water puddled under Kira's feet, soaking into the carpet.
Raider shook himself, sending droplets flying before rubbing his face and head to sluice off any excess. "How many?"
"Four outside the room. At least half a dozen patrolling the halls on the same level."
"Looks like they learned from last time and aren't planning to take any chances." Raider glanced at Kira. "This is going to be tricky."
"It always is," Kira said, feeling grim.
Raider set a hand on his hip as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How are we going to get in without laying a finger on the guards?"
"I'm still working on that."
It wasn't going to be easy. That was for sure.
