Kawan forced himself to stay in position, listening to the conversation playing out in Lorre's office. Every instinct screamed at him to move, to get to Lark before whatever trap they'd walked into could spring completely. But he needed intelligence first. Needed to understand what they were dealing with.
"Thor," Kawan said quietly. "You getting this?"
"Copy. This whole thing's been a setup from the beginning—but we already knew that. This is just the confirmation we needed, and now, thanks to Specs, it’s been recorded.”
"… unfortunately, you two are going to have an accident. Now, follow us, please,”Wes said.
The communication link went dead.
"Shit," Kawan muttered. "They're moving them."
“Pipe, Brick, you guys got any eyes on the hallways with your system?” Thor asked.
“Sure do,” Brick said. “Back staircase. Headed toward the east end of the building.”
“That’s where our van is,” Tonka said.
"Sloan," Thor's voice cut through the silence. "You still have eyes on the vehicle bay?"
"Affirmative. Two figures just came out of the rear exit, escorting two others. They're loading them into a black sedan."
"That's them," Kawan said, already moving. "We need to follow."
"Negative," Thor replied. "We can't risk a high-speed chase through military housing. Moose, can you get a tail on that vehicle without being spotted?"
"On it," Moose confirmed. "I'll keep my distance, track where they're going. You all pack up and ease on down the road. Once you’re out, you can hightail it to my location.”
Kawan reached the parking lot just in time to see the black sedan pulling out onto the main road. His hands clenched into fists as he watched it disappear around a corner, taking Lark and Specs with it.
"This is fucked," Jupiter said, appearing beside him. "We just lost them."
"Thor, we need to move. Now," Kawan said into his mic.
"Easy. Moose will track them. We'll regroup and follow. Going in hot and stupid will just get everyone killed."
"They could be taking them anywhere," Kawan argued. "Every second we wait?—"
"Is a second we use to plan this right," Thor interrupted. "Brick, Pipe, Tonka—exfil now. Meet at rally point two."
"What about Lorre?" Pipe asked.
"Gone," came Dustin's voice. "Office is empty—no sign of him anywhere. But thanks to Specs, I’ve got enough to lock down this base. I’m doing it now, so get out. If he’s still not here, we’ll get him. I promise.”
Minutes later, Kawan jumped into the back of an SUV. “Let’s go.”
“Moose pinged his location,” Thor said. “Following now.” He eased off the base and onto the main road, putting the pedal to the metal.
Kawan kept looking between his watch and Jupiter, who did the exact same thing. “You okay, buddy?”
“Specs isn’t cut out for this,” Jupiter said softly. “She’s come a long way, but this? I don’t know.”
“She’s tough.” Kawan had seen it in her eyes—that quiet steel beneath the nerves. She'd hold.
“She can also be reactionary.” Jupiter rubbed the back of his neck. “But no idea how she’ll be in this situation, especially when guns are involved.”
“We’re not going to let anything happen to her,” Thor said from the front seat. “To either of them.”
Twenty minutes later, they pulled into an abandoned gas station five miles from the base. Moose was already hunched over a tablet.
