Finally, she stood under a wall light, put her hands on her hips, and declared loudly, “How am I going to help you escape if you won’t even show up at the party?”
She waited, and waited some more. There was one moment when she thought she sensed a presence. But the moment passed, and she finally decided that there wasn’t going to be any contact.
“Fine. Be that way,” she said. “I’m going home now.” Maybe she’d wasted her time trying to reach the elusive aliens, but at least she’d tried.
Raven was standing in the center of the plaza when she reached it. He was surrounded by people demanding his attention, but his gaze went instantly to her.
He frowned thunderously.
She gave him a faint smile and a brief wave. He jerked his head for her to join him. He was alone by the time she reached him.
“You look rested,” she said. “Did you have a nice nap, dear?”
“You fucked my brains out on purpose,” he said.
His outrage amused her. He hadn’t whispered, but no one nearby acted as if they’d heard.
“Yes,” Zoe answered. “I got the idea from you.”
He failed to fight off a faint smile. “Turnabout is fair play?” he asked.
“Yes.” She ran her hand up his muscular arm, totally addicted to the feel of him. “Plus, I really needed to fuck your brains out.” Because they had no way of knowing if they’d ever make love again. “I’d throw you on the floor and do it all again right now if I could.”
“Me, too.” He put his arm around her waist. “Did you have a good meeting? Do we have the Denthera’s help?”
She shook her head. “I think they may already have left.”
She looked around nervously. Nothing seemed any different than before. There were people in the plaza and on the ramps, just as there always were. But there was a tautness in the way they moved, tension was thick in the air. The plan was obviously in motion.
“What happens next?” she whispered.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he said. And did.
If there was one thing telepaths were good at, it was speaking when their lips and tongues were otherwise occupied. He went over last-minute timing and tactics while they held on to each other for dear life.
With Doc too occupied to warn them off, a small crowd gathered around them, and Zoe faintly heard cheers and applause, but she ignored everything but Matthias Raven.
48
Zoe leaned against the wall just outside the infirmary and tried not to look toward the ramp on the other side of the plaza. Arco wasn’t going to appear just because she wished him to. She tried not to look at Matthias as he moved around from one busy group of sailors and marines to the next. She tried not to feel claustrophobic because every human in the POW camp was gathered in the plaza or looking down onto the plaza from the first level up. Everyone was trying to look inconspicuous, just as she was. Someone was even nonchalantly whistling. She pretended that Everard and Rumi weren’t standing nearby, protectively flanking her. The wait was maddening for all of them and the buzz of tension she picked up from the crowd made her even more nervous, even more aware of all her people.
Like all of them she had her assigned job, but she couldn’t do it yet.
She was trying to look casual but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. Every time she dropped them to her side and made a conscious effort to relax she’d notice a few minutes later that she’d assumed the same defensive position again. At least she had her breathing under control and she wasn’t shaking. Others were.
Where was Arco? When could they get this started?
Waiting was the worst part.
Zoe considered following Doc’s example of checking on each person, even though she knew she had to remain in her assigned spot. She was almost grateful when Barb stepped in front of her, but she grew even more tense at the appearance of the larger woman despite the distraction. She didn’t like that Barb blocked her view. She hated having Doc out of her sight for a moment when she feared every sight of him would be her last.
Zoe forced herself to concentrate on Barb. She waited to find out what Barb wanted, but the other woman didn’t speak, she didn’t look at her. Barb looked even more nervous than Zoe felt.
“Hi,” Zoe finally said, adding, “I’m sorry about knocking you out.”
Barb’s head came up. Her expression was full of chagrin. “No, no! I’m the one who needs to apologize. I’ve been meaning to talk to you anyway, Zoe.” She looked furtively around. “And it’s not just because of—you know—you being who …”
“It’s something of an open secret now,” Zoe said.
“I was sorry the minute I woke up, but I was embarrassed to talk to you. I’m sorry I went off on you like that. In fact, I barely remember doing it. It’s just that …” Her gaze went to Matthias, and Zoe’s followed. “He’s what’s kept me sane in here.”
“Me, too,” Zoe agreed.
“It’s not just how he can make your body feel. He’s a good friend. He can be trusted, and relied on. He’s such a good person.”
“Yes, he is,” Zoe agreed. She couldn’t keep her gaze off of Matthias, either. He was more than a lover. Or a commander. Or a vampire. He was the best friend she’d ever had. “He makes me laugh,” she said, not really talking to Barb.
“He makes you whole,” Barb said.
“Doesn’t he?”
All Zoe could do was nod.
“Even though I knew the two of you were meant for each other early on I still resented it. I wanted to stop what I saw happening. I was selfish, but I had to try. You have to fight for the love you need even more than the love you want. The chance of having a life with Doc is worth fighting for.”
Barb’s words hit Zoe in the gut. She was so completely stunned that she forgot to breath. All she could do was stare at Matthias as he turned and approached her.
He was a treasure found in a dark place.
Barb gave him a nod and left before he reached Zoe. He glanced after her for a second, then put his arm around Zoe’s hunched shoulders. Marines are in place, he thought. I’ve got word that most of the Kril are having a caf party up top. That ought to keep them from noticing the crowd.
All Zoe could do was nod. She had no words. She was too full of emotions for thought.
“There he is,” Matthias said as Arco appeared at the top of the ramp and gave a thumbs-up.
This was the signal that the Hajim transport was now in the system. They had to take over the camp before the ship landed.
Raven gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “Go, Zoe.”
Now he must wait while Zoe went for the Asi. He would not worry about her. They both had jobs to do and emotions had to be put aside to carry out the op.
To keep the guards who were not indulging themselves with caf from becoming quickly suspicious of the large gathering of humans, the prison’s choir was now giving a performance.
“So far, so good,” Doc murmured.
He was actually appreciating the rich harmonies of the choir, the twenty-member-strong Llanddnoc Wizards, from his spot at the base of the main ramp. It gave him something to outwardly concentrate on. Telepathically, he was working to remind everyone of their military training and discipline. He wasn’t trying to ease fears or do any other kind of manipulation—he didn’t do that with friends.
He waited and watched and listened with all of his finely honed senses. He didn’t let himself worry about Zoe, but he did have concerns about whether or not the Asi would not only show up, but do as they promised. The plan called for a riot; his hope was that it wouldn’t be a real one.
It seemed to take forever, yet when he finally heard them coming he realized that what had seemed like hours had only been a few minutes.
“Spread the word,” he said to the people standing by him.
The hall officers dispersed into the crowd. Doc moved farther up the ramp. There were no guards down here at the bo
ttom of the prison, but the blank black eyes of monitoring cameras circled the wall above the plaza.
Doc had been issued one low-powered laser scalpel for the infirmary. Siler and Mischa had modified the power of the scalpel with scrounged parts. As far as Doc knew, his amped-up surgical tool, along with a few homemade shivs, were the only weapons the humans possessed other than hand-to-hand skills.
He hoped he didn’t have to use the scalpel for getting out of the hole. Not because he shared Zoe’s pacifistic tendencies, but because the jerry-rigged weapon was likely only good for one use and he wanted it for taking over the Hajim ship.
A piercing scream sounded above the singing of the choir. That would be Zoe; that was the signal. Black bodies boiled into the plaza, and hastily orchestrated chaos broke loose.
The humans and Asi formed a riot in the plaza. The humans screamed and shouted for help a lot. The Asi chanted what Zoe had told him would translate as something like “Prey! Consume! Eat!” Taken together, it all sounded scary as hell.
And it wasn’t long before the lights went out. Perhaps the Kril thought total darkness would stop the riot. Or maybe they thought they wouldn’t have to deal with the carnage if they couldn’t see it. Or maybe they planned to send in a contingent equipped with infrared sensors.
Doc ignored the noise and jostling. He watched the ramp, which he had no trouble seeing in the dark. It was several minutes before any Krils showed up to check out what was going on.
A far larger contingent of Krils than he’d been expecting. The rocks piled up to fall into the elevator when it opened must have worked and they were sending their whole force down the ramp. At least the prisoners didn’t have to worry about a flanking assault—just more Kril coming from the front.
“Shit,” Doc muttered as a horde of guards came rushing down the ramp.
He was in among them before they noticed he was there. Some of the alien guards were buzzed out on caf and he disarmed and took out several of these Kril.
Doc yelled, “Light!” and jumped back down among his own people. He handed out weapons to waiting marines as torches were lit. He ran back toward the Kril.
As flickering intermittent light returned, the Asi’s shouts turned into bloodthirsty war cries behind him.
For a moment Doc was caught between the Kril barreling down the ramp and the Asi rushing up. He tucked away the laser scalpel and raised a hand weapon, not even sure which group of aliens to take out as he was caught in the middle of their clash.
Then suddenly the Denthera appeared behind the Kril and the guards had to worry about attack from the rear as well as in front.
“What are you waiting for?” Doc shouted at his own people, and turned to join battle himself. Human war cries joined those of the Asi.
49
From that point the battle went quickly.
The fighting soon spread out of the hole and into the administrative section at the top level of the prison. A few died from every species, but soon most of the buzzed-out Kril guards surrendered. They were put under restraints and locked into the deepest caves at the bottom of the prison.
When Doc finally made his way to where the Denthera had regrouped outside the command center, Zoe was already there. He hadn’t seen her during the fight, and hadn’t realized how worried he’d been about her despite his consciously blocking out the emotion.
Until he grabbed her around the waist and growled, “You could have gotten killed!”
“We all could have,” she reminded him. “You’re covered in blood.”
“None of it mine.”
The Kril had iron-based red blood. The flavor was a little odd, but that hadn’t stopped him from going a little vampire on some of their asses.
Zoe didn’t ask who the blood belonged to. Instead, she turned him toward the Denthera he recognized as the representative he’d seen at meetings. The Denthera were tall, thin humanoids, genetically related to the Kril. Wispy, he’d always thought them. But they moved fast and silently, and had done most of the damage to their Kril cousins.
“Thanks for the help,” he said to the representative, who he knew spoke Standard.
“I was just going to ask why they helped when you showed up,” Zoe told him. “Where were you when I looked for you?” she asked the Denthera. “How did you know about—”
The rep held up a three-fingered hand to stop her. Then he closed his eyes and said, “Your words in your quarters were, How do we protect every prisoner in this facility? Wait a minute—I realize that your duty is to the human prisoners, but my duty is to every being the Hajim strive to oppress. Nice speech. Are you thinking that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, or do you really believe that? Yes. To both. I can be pragmatic and idealistic at the same time. The Empire’s policy has always been to prefer diplomacy over war. The Hajim have forced us into a conflict that makes us seem like the aggressor at times to other sentient races, but that is not the way it should be or that we want it to be. We need to make strong, peaceful alliances to solve the Hajim problem. We may have to destroy the Hajim to solve the Hajim problem.”
It took Doc a few moments to realize that the Denthera had just repeated a conversation he’d had with Zoe. He scratched his jaw. “I thought I sensed someone outside her quarters.”
“Damn,” Zoe said admiringly. “You people make the best spies I’ve ever encountered.”
“Thank you, Porphyrgia,” the Denthera said. He looked at Raven. “We agree with the Heir’s words, and with your tactics. But it is doubtful we would have joined you if a nearly empty transport was not arriving that we can appropriate as a means of escape.”
If it bothered Zoe that the Denthera knew full well who she was, she didn’t show it. In fact, she exuded an air of smiling confidence at these newfound, if likely temporary, allies.
“Thank you,” she said. “We appreciate it.”
“Right,” Doc said briskly. “Ship. Escape. We’re only halfway there. Come on, people,” he called to everyone within earshot of his deep, gravelly voice. “Let’s set phase two in motion!”
The squad of Denthera that was surrounding him and the women looked pretty convincing wearing Kril uniforms. It wasn’t nighttime, and Doc didn’t like where he was standing—just inside the main entrance of the prisoner processing center. There was a wide expanse of sun-baked landing field stretching between the building and the ship that had just landed. There was a clear, cloudless bright sky overhead.
“Nice day,” he said to Zoe, who was standing beside him. He didn’t tell her how much the sunlight hurt his eyes. He did take pleasure from watching her turn her face up to the same sunlight. She had insisted on coming along with all the other human women.
He was wearing a hooded tunic and gloves, but he didn’t think they were going to do much good. He didn’t look much like a girl, either, but he had to trust to his telepathic skills and the Hajim’s alien point of view about what humans looked like to get him through the next crucial minutes.
They’d had just enough time to get their people in place in the outbuildings surrounding the field. They had to storm that ship. They had to take it. And the best way to do that would be through an open air lock. So—he must go all the way into the light—
“Pardon me while I smoke,” he said.
He pulled the hood as far down as he could to protect his eyes. He gave Zoe’s hand a quick squeeze and stepped out into the sunlight in the center of the group of disguised Denthera.
Zoe knew he was in pain and hated that Doc was suffering from the light, but his presence was necessary if this was going to work. He might be correct that her presence wasn’t absolutely necessary, but she had argued that it was her right as one of the women prisoners to take part in this escape plan. Some of the women were battle-hardened marines, armed with weapons scrounged from the Kril. Zoe was unarmed. Instead, she preferred to allow someone with more weapons combat skill to have one of the limited supply of stun guns.
She had the training as well as
the data implants to fly just about any kind of craft from all sides in this war. Her duty once they were inside the ship was to help take the bridge and pilot the escapees toward Byzant territory. At least, that was where she intended to go whether the Asi and Denthera argued about it or not.
But that was all for later. Achieve one goal at a time. They’d taken over the camp. Now they had to take over the ship. She took a deep breath and put her attention firmly back in the now, moving forward with the rest.
And by now they were very nearly at the ship’s air lock. The group paused in front of it. The communications stem Doc had taken from the commandant and handed to her buzzed. The vampire Prime had used a few mental tricks to find out the proper code sequences as well. They were in luck that the Kril used numeric code rather than voice, visual, or DNA recognition.
Zoe punched in numbers, then listened to the order issued by the Hajim ship captain. “They’re cycling the lock,” she said after acknowledging the commands.
“Showtime,” one of the women behind her said.
Doc laughed, and Zoe wondered if she was the only one who heard the pain in the sound.
Then her stomach clenched with fear as a ramp descended in front of them, and a hatch on the side of the ship began to slowly iris open. She prayed, and as the daughter of the symbolic head of the Byzant Orthodox Church, she hoped her status would give the prayers a little more oomph.
Then Hajim troops came pouring out of the entrance and she stopped praying, or even thinking.
50
Doc’s goal was to make the Hajim see what they expected to see, which was a group of dispirited, helpless prisoners under heavy Kril guard. Since no one fired on them instantly, he knew they were getting through to them. The Hajim soldiers kept coming down the ramp, getting closer and closer. But there were a lot of them, making him spread his energy thin. It just had to work long enough.
“Now!” he shouted as he lifted the modified scalpel.
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