The hall had a number of security locks, and they were all shut.
She called Zera, and Zera smiled.“Hemma, where are you?”
“The elevator took me to the lab floor, and there is no one here.I have tried to swipe my card at the elevator again, but it won’t activate.I am stuck.”
“Shit.I am coming down.Who gave you the pass?”
“I went to the security desk and said I had an appointment with you or Kritz.He handed me the pass, and here I am.He took my fingerprint, though.That was strange.”
Zera nodded, and an alarm started sounding.“Can you defend yourself against an attack?”
“Can you repair the snapped tendons and ligaments?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes.I can make them wish they were never born.”
“Good because I am locked out of the elevators and taking the stairs.I hate the stairs.” There was thumping, and the footsteps were ringing in a hallway on the other end of the com.
The elevator was coming, and there was only one thing to do.Hemma had to hide.
She wedged herself into a corner and projected the painted wall behind her.Hemma breathed slowly and waited.The elevator opened, and the security guard emerged, looking extremely hostile.
“Where are you, Uraddan bitch?Come on.Your bounty is only good if you are alive.Not my preference, but they won’t pay otherwise.”
The door to the stairwell burst open, and eight actives came and surrounded the man that Hemma was pretty sure wasn’t a guard.
Zera was surprisingly good in a fight, as was the purple bulk of Torun, and the blue and silver of Krizt.Arcady was looking around, and the four others were just glaring at the man who was now shackled within an inch of his life.One of the men walked up and touched the man’s head, and then he cursed.“Bounty hunter.She’s worth three million alive and whole.”
Zera looked around.“Where is she?”
“Is he confined?”She threw her voice to the other side of the lobby.
“He is.We will get him in the elevator, and then we need to talk.Where are you, Hemma?”
She waited until the man was in the elevator, and when the door closed, she stepped out of her concealment.Zera’s eyes widened.“That isn’t in your file.”
“Opposite of tracking.”
Kritz laughed.“Hiding.”
She nodded.“So, still a price on my head.”
Zera nodded.“Yes.That is why we wanted to rush you without panicking you.”
Hemma nodded.“Why wasn’t anyone here?”
Zera grimaced.“We were suckered by everybody getting meeting notices at the same time.It wasn’t until you called that it made sense.Can we get you behind the blast walls?”
Hemma nodded.“It isn’t getting any better, so sure.”
Arcady opened the locks and walked with Hemma, step by step.
They made it through five security gates with Zera walking with them, muttering into her com.
She was taken into what looked to be a delightful consultant space.Arcady had the tablet and handed it over to Zera.“The details have been worked out.”
Zera nodded and looked at the file.“Okay, so, Hemma, despite the rough start, we want to get you back into fighting shape.I get the feeling you will need it.”
