Damn.
“He’s here, but he’s hooked up to all kinds of machines and he’s unconscious.” Fee didn’t think she could move him on his own or work out which machines might be keeping him alive.
“There’s a medic in the rescue team,” Eazi told her. “I’m still tracking them from the drone but I can’t contact them directly. I assume some of their equipment was damaged in the fight with base security.”
“All right. I’ll go down to meet them, and bring at least some of them back up with me.” She’d have preferred to have taken Baruke with her, and be done, but she couldn’t risk hurting him or cutting off some kind of vital medical support. “What’s their ETA?”
“From their speed and direction, they should be there by the time you make it to the end of the tunnel.
“I’ll leave now.” She took a last look at Baruke, but his breathing was even and there was nothing more she could do for him now, except go for help.
She slipped back out into the passage and jogged back the way she’d come. When she reached the foyer she slowed down, listening for any hint that there was someone else inside with her.
The lack of people could easily be explained by the rush to get everything cleared for the lift off, and she was grateful. She still held the silver rod in her hand and she didn’t want to hurt anyone unnecessarily.
She glanced over at the water cooler as she ran past it, and saw the cups were once again on the floor.
She looked up at the ceiling, but there was no sign of the grahudi. It had been back here, though. She was sure she wasn’t wrong about the cups.
She ran even faster as soon as she was past the foyer, and then paused in front of the entrance to the stairwell.
This is where Kilmar had got her last time.
She flicked the silver rod, extending it, and then pulled the door open.
No one.
She blew out a breath as she raced down the stairs. She listened for voices as she passed the door to the storage area, and she did hear someone shouting, but that was probably Kilmar giving orders as he made sure nothing would catch on the frameor be taken up with it only to drop down on them as it rose into nearspace.
The basement was quiet, just the familiar hum of the machinery, and she went through the mesh door without hesitation this time.
She kept a steady pace, as fast as she dared without the risk of running headlong into a frien.
She didn’t have Bunny with her this time.
And the one that was down here, lying dead, had already started to stink to high heaven. Her eyes watered at the stench as she edged past it.
Before she reached the end of the tunnel, she heard the low sound of voices.
“Do the rescue team have the code?” she whispered to Eazi.
“No. I never had the chance to speak to them, and now I can’t anyway,” Eazi whispered back. “But I can open up for you now.”
“Let me make sure it’s the rescue team first.” Fee stood still and listened. Then she smiled as she recognized two of the voices. “It’s them.”
She ran forward just as Eazi unlocked the door with a click.
The team went silent at the sound and she used her boot to pull open the latticed metal gate, remembering the burn she got from handling it last time.
“Well,” she said with a grin. “Don’t just stand around.”
Natta and Trayla both grinned back.
“Fee! You freed yourself.” Trayla stepped forward and gave her a hug.
They looked good. Natta was obviously fully recovered, and although their combat gear was dusty, no doubt from the exchange of fire with base security, they both seemed full of energy.
Fee ran her gaze over the rest of the group. There were three others, two she didn’t know, but the third was Natta’s handler, Lieutenant Crin.
