JENNA’S PULSE ACCELERATED. Those two locations were at opposite ends of the tower. The detention block lay underground, whereas her sister-in-law and niece were being housed in one of the guest suites on an upper level.
“Okay, synchronize wrist-comms,” Malik whispered. “Are you ready … one, two, three, set.”
Jenna tapped the device Malik had strapped onto her wrist before they departed Melor earlier that morning, her pulse leaping as the screen started its countdown.
“Aim to be back here within thirty minutes,” Malik continued, his gaze meeting hers.
“And if I’m not?”
His gaze didn’t waver. “Then I’ll come looking for you.”
“What if you’re held up?”
“Stay in the tunnel and wait for us.” He paused then, his gaze narrowing. “Don’t venture down into the detention block … it’s too risky.”
Jenna swallowed once more, to ease the tightness in her throat. Thirty minutes didn’t seem like a long time.
Obsidian detached itself from the wall then, while Malik and Vic crept up to the end of the passageway. Carefully, the cyborg ducked his head out before yanking it in again.
Turning to Malik, Vic gave him the thumbs up, held up four fingers, and then pointed left.
Jenna slowly let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. The thumbs up meant the way was clear—for the moment at least. She presumed four fingers meant there were four soldiers nearby.
Malik nodded, and then both men drew laser-blades. They’d discussed earlier that going in firing pistols would only draw attention to them. You had to get up close to someone with a laser-blade, but they were fast, quick—and quiet.
Malik then gestured for her and Obsidian to follow.
Whispering a silent prayer to the gods, Jidea especially, Jenna moved.
They emerged from the safety of the service passage onto the walkway that lined the back of the landing bay. The vast gilded hangar opened before them.
Jenna glanced right at the armored doorway that led into a wide entrance hall and the bank of elevators. It was unguarded, although when she swept her gaze left, she spied four bronze-clad figures patrolling the bay below.
A shuttle was leaving, providing a welcome distraction. One of the huge hangar doors rolled open, bringing with it a blast of hot, dusty air. The guards were all watching the shuttle as it nosed forward.
Jenna’s heart lurched, hope surging within her.
They’d stumbled upon a small window of opportunity; they had to seize it and move now.
Malik reached the exit first, slamming his hand down on the panel next to it. The door slid open silently, and they hurried through.
Two soldiers stood in the hallway beyond—but neither had time to reach for their weapons or to raise the alarm.
The hum of laser-blades igniting cut through the air as the door slid shut behind them, a flash of white light following. Jenna raised a hand to protect her eyes, and when she lowered it, the two Mir-Ferrins were on the ground, their armor smoking.
Vic then gestured to Obsidian, who marched forward, leaned down, and grabbed the fallen soldiers by the ankles. The droid then dragged the bodies into an alcove, leaving a wet streak on the polished black floor.
The party of four moved past the bank of elevators, into a narrow passageway where two service elevators awaited.
Malik punched the button of one, while Obsidian called the elevator opposite.
Heart beating in her throat, Jenna swept her gaze over Vic and Malik. They both were so calm—although they were trained for this, and she wasn’t.
Her and Malik’s gazes fused then, and her breathing hitched. “Be careful,” she whispered. “Try not to get yourself killed, Mir-Draven.”
His mouth quirked. “I won’t.” Malik then glanced over at Obsidian. “Look after her.”
The battle-droid's head jerked, in a facsimile of a nod. “I shall.”
