Jack looked back. “I can confidently say we do not have thirty seconds.”
The narrow corridor filled with movement.
Jack grabbed the nearest object—a metal bucket full of oily tools—and hurled it down the passage. It hit the floor with a crash, scattering wrenches and bolts. The guard in front stumbled. The second slammed into him.
Madelaine’s lockpick sparked.
“Anytime now, sweetheart,” Jack said.
The lift roared to life beneath them.
“Yes. I got it,” she said. “See. We’re okay.”
“Indeed, but I helped by throwing oily gross tools into the corridor.”
Madelaine grinned at him. They dragged the sling onto the platform just as it shot upward. Weapon-fire cracked below. Sparks flew from the railing, but they were on their way out with the fuel they needed.
Jack crouched over the fuel cubes. “I would like to officially compliment these bauxite cubes for being worth the trouble.”
“Don’t get attached.”
“Too late. I’m naming this one Bert.”
“Absolutely not.”
The lift screamed to a stop at the docking ring.
They shoved the sling off the cargo lift and ran toward their ship.
Dock seven was fifty yards away.
Between them and their ship stood three more station enforcers.
Madelaine slowed.
Jack did not.
“Jack—”
“I know, I know. No fights unless I can finish them.”
“And if you break it, you buy it,” she reminded him.
He let go of the sling, stepped forward, and raised both hands.
The enforcers aimed at his chest.
Jack smiled his friendliest Alienn, Arkansas, smile. “Gentlemen. We are having a very complicated day, and I would love to solve this without anyone getting hurt, especially me.”
The middle enforcer snarled, “Step aside.”
“See, I would, but the woman behind me is terrifying, and I promised to stay close. So no can do.”
Madelaine muttered, “Jack.”
He kept smiling. “Also, I’m fairly sure that smoke fellow behind you is on our side.” He shrugged as if he wasn’t in trouble.
The enforcers hesitated, then all three of them turned. There was no one behind them.
