by Ivy Barrett
Better for whom? Her smile turned speculative.
* * * * *
Meredith noticed the guard attempting to trail her as she left the office building. Korbin had great instincts. He just needed better help. Several abrupt turns and a bit of backtracking lured the young man into an alley. A quick blast from her pulse pistol rendered him unconscious and she returned to her ship.
“Find a commuter lot. Somewhere we can stay for a couple of hours,” she ordered Hamilton as she activated the panel in front of her. “We’re about to confirm the rebels’ base of operations.”
The last retinal scan logging Corry’s movements had been two days before. So much for Korbin having lunch with her.
“How can we be certain this is where the hostages are being held?” Juarez asked.
Meredith debated how much to tell them. The executive council had stressed that discretion was top priority. She stuck to the facts. “All residents of Borrelly, both inmates and employees, are implanted with an ident-chip. We’ll use shipboard scanners to locate any person without such a chip.”
“A sector-by-sector scan could take—”
“Get started.” She cut off Hamilton before he overtly questioned her decision. Corry didn’t have an ident-chip either. It was far more probable that she had left the outpost, but this might kill two birds with one stone.
It was a tedious process. Hours passed as names and designations of the entire population of Borrelly scrolled across the ship’s main vidscreen. Late in the afternoon, the scanner beeped, indicating an error or what Meredith had been hoping to find, a person not identifiable to the scanner.
Meredith adjusted the search parameters, closing in on the outpost’s newest facility. The complex was still under construction. She laughed.
“Korbin is listed as superintendent for this project,” she told the others.
“That’s pretty damn brazen,” Juarez said. “He’s hiding them in plain sight.”
“At a glance, it’s business as usual. No one is going to question guards on Borrelly. Everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do.” Hamilton glanced at Meredith. “There are only two in the complex without ident-chips. Aren’t we after three hostages?”
“We have to start somewhere. Juarez, put us down here.” Meredith pointed to a clearing on the far side of the complex. “Hamilton, you’re with me, so you’ll need to look the part.” Meredith and Hamilton changed out of their military garb and into nondescript workers’ uniforms.
Meredith programmed her arm band to track the two signals and led Hamilton toward the complex. The side entrance was flanked by guards. They crouched on the ground, protected from view by a rounded hill.
“Create a diversion and I’ll take out the guards.”
He raised his brow at her command but didn’t argue. She crept to the crest of the hill on her belly and braced the rifle against her shoulder as Hamilton strode toward the guards. If this was a simple construction zone, why did they need armed guards?
Hamilton’s angle was perfect, leaving her a clear shot at each target. Kill or incapacitate? She heaved a frustrated sigh. It was so much easier when the enemy was truly an enemy and not disgruntled children.
Easing the intensity level back to stun, she dropped the first guard and the second in quick succession.
“Nice shots,” Hamilton said as she joined him, but the gleam in his dark eyes revealed his amusement at her leniency.
She looked at her arm band while Hamilton heaved one of the unconscious guards to eyelevel and scanned open the door. “Down that corridor and to the right.” With only an occasional glance from the construction workers, Meredith and Hamilton located the holding cells. A control booth separated the two small rooms. She drew her pulse pistol and crept toward the portal. Avoiding the retinal scanner, she entered the master override code Admiral Tiptonn had given her. Nothing happened. Damn it.
Hamilton motioned her back and aimed a controlled energy stream into the locking mechanism. The privacy panel released with a soft hiss.
A young man sat facing the wide console and multilevel displays. She fired her pulse pistol before he knew what hit him, and Hamilton shoved him back from the controls.
She studied the vidscreens, her mind sifting through possibilities. Danette Tiptonn was easily recognizable even in an inmate’s uniform. The young man must be Palmer, so where was VinDerley?
“Holy shit,” Hamilton muttered when he got his first look at the hostages. “Were they trying to start a war?”
Meredith didn’t comment. She deactivated the energy barriers and reverted control of the doors to their motion sensors. “You get Palmer. I’ll release Danette.” The blonde just stared at Meredith suspiciously as she entered the holding cell. “I’m Major Caperelli. The coalition sent me.”
“How do I know that?” Danette snapped, rising from the bunk.
“You can trust me or stay here.” Meredith turned toward the door, unwilling to argue. “Do you know what they’ve done with the premier’s son? I haven’t been able to locate him.”
“You’re really from Halley Prime?” Danette followed Meredith into the corridor, glancing around anxiously as if she expected someone to interrupt them. Interesting.
“Why would I lie?” Meredith asked.
“We haven’t seen Ashton in days.”
Palmer accepted Meredith’s introduction with a beaming smile. Danette just nodded at Hamilton.
“This way,” Meredith directed.
They reached the ship without incident. If an alarm had been triggered, it wasn’t audible.
Palmer didn’t speak until they were safely on the ship. “Thank you, Major. You can’t imagine how relieved I am to be away from this place.”
Meredith ignored the praise. She needed to find somewhere near Korbin’s office to hide the ship.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Danette reminded him, her tone oddly hesitant.
“Where’s Ashton?” Palmer asked.
“We were hoping you could tell us.” Hamilton entered new coordinates into the navigational system.
“They kept us separated,” Palmer said. “We haven’t seen him since the first day.”
“The leader told me Ashton escaped.” Danette cleared her throat. Her voice sounded stronger as she continued. “I think Ashton took one of the rebels with him. The leader was really upset.”
“The leader? How many different people did you see?” Meredith asked.
“A woman seemed to be running things to begin with,” Palmer explained, “but I haven’t seen her in a couple days. I’d only seen one of the men until the leader questioned me. Do you think Ashton took the woman?”
“Describe her for me.”
“Small, pretty, dark hair, green eyes.” Palmer provided the description.
“Damn,” Meredith muttered. Apparently Corry was right in the middle of this mess. The small ship shuddered as it left the ground. “I want to bring the leader back with us, but I won’t risk your safety to capture him.”
“How do you know who he is?” Danette asked.
“We had several suspects, but finding you here on Borrelly narrowed it down considerably.” Meredith settled her gaze on Danette’s flushed face. She needed to be questioned extensively. Admiral Tiptonn’s daughter was hiding something. “Can you positively identify him?”
“I never saw his face,” she answered calmly. “I was blindfolded when he questioned me. That’s probably why I’m still alive.”
“I’d recognize his voice,” Palmer volunteered. “But I never saw him either. The woman seemed to be just as much a leader as the man. Do you know who she is?”
“Yes,” Meredith admitted. “One thing at a time.”
* * * * *
“What are you talking about?” Korbin yelled. “Who would release the hostages? Who the hell had access to the control booth? Where is Larz?”
“Let me load the surveillance file and you can tell me,” Sharon returned angrily. “Larz didn’
t check in as scheduled, so I accessed the security system and brought up the holding cells. They’re both empty. That’s when I commed you.”
Korbin stepped up beside Sharon as she activated the video file. “Unbefuckinglievable!” Korbin watched in helpless fury as his stepmother and her cohort foiled their entire operation. He’d known Meredith was up to no good when she showed up this morning, so he told Foster to tail her. “Has Foster checked in?”
“He’s not scheduled to for another hour or so. Do you recognize her?”
“Unfortunately.” He turned from the screen with another curse and raked his fingers through his hair. “How long ago did this happen?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“Is anyone else missing?”
She raised both hands in frustration. “Not that I know of. I’ll send out a shift-wide page.”
“Have any ships launched in the past twenty minutes?”
“Nope. They’re still here somewhere.”
“Then I’ll find them.” He paused long enough to give her shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
He should have thrown Meredith’s autocratic ass in a cell the moment she arrived. Corry’s disappearance had distracted him, made him careless. It wouldn’t happen again!
He marched to the warden’s office and told his executive assistant there was an emergency.
“What’s so urgent?” Restien asked as Korbin was ushered into his office.
“I have reason to believe there will be an escape attempt within the hour. Please order a lockdown. It will give me a better chance of locating who’s behind this.”
Restien simply nodded and entered the code that put all transport stations on alert. “No one in or out until I hear from you.”
“Thanks.” Korbin left without further explanation.
Too impatient to wait for the elevator, Korbin sprinted down the stairs and rushed out of the office building. He’d start at the construction site. Guards were posted at each entrance. He had to make sure his people were—
“Freeze.” He’d almost reached his hovercraft when he heard the ominous command. Recognizing Meredith’s voice only made the situation more infuriating. Korbin skidded to a halt beside his ship.
“Put your hands behind your head and turn around.”
Her pulse pistol pointed at his chest and the cold purpose in her dark eyes assured him she’d use it. “Mother.” The word was half taunt and half curse.
“NëvouS.” She mimicked his tone.
She motioned toward the trees lining the small shuttle lot. A ship waited just beyond the decorative perimeter. Korbin took two steps toward the ship, spun and kicked out with one foot while he grabbed for the pulse pistol.
His fingers closed around her wrist, but she intentionally dropped the weapon, deftly catching it with her other hand. He wrapped his arms around her torso. She slammed her boot heel down on his instep.
Pain shot up his leg and he jerked her to one side, hoping to dislodge the gun.
“If I have to blast you, Korbin, you’ll really piss me off,” she snarled. “Where the hell are you going to run?”
It took all his self-control not to snap her scrawny neck. He shoved her forward as he wrested the gun from her hand. She twisted as she fell, landing on her back with one leg drawn up protectively.
He aimed the gun at her chest, fury burning in his heart. Pain blinded him and he screamed. His hand went numb and fire burst in his thigh, spreading out to buckle his knee. He caught himself before he collapsed completely and managed to turn his head to the side. The man he’d seen on the vidfile stood to his right, a disrupter pistol still pointed at him.
Meredith snatched her gun from the ground near Korbin and scrambled to her feet. “Thank you, Hamilton.”
“My pleasure, Major.”
Korbin frantically rubbed at his cramping muscles. “You fucking bitch! Did you volunteer for this mission?”
She panted. “Get him on the ship.”
Hamilton half led, half-dragged Korbin onto the waiting transport. Each step he took sent echoes of agony crawling the length of his leg.
Palmer stood in the hatchway, watching with a smug little smile.
“Say something, NëvouS,” Meredith prompted. “I understand you haven’t been properly introduced.”
Palmer stepped back as Hamilton pulled Korbin into the interior of the ship. “Fuck off and die.”
“That’s him,” Palmer confirmed cheerfully.
Korbin didn’t look at Danette, couldn’t bear what he’d find in her gaze.
“In back,” Meredith directed.
Two tiny cells comprised the “back” of the ship. When Korbin hesitated, Hamilton shoved him into one of the closet-sized cells and closed the grate.
“A cage?” he sneered. “How primitive.”
“Alloy bars don’t rely on a power source,” Hamilton pointed out.
“You’ll never get off this outpost,” he predicted.
“Care to wager on that?” Hamilton moved to the bow and took his place at the helm, his fingers flying over the smooth control panel.
“Warden Restien,” Korbin heard Meredith say, “I’ve just transmitted my official authorization and identification. I need to leave your outpost immediately.”
Korbin couldn’t see the vidscreen, but he heard Restien’s reply. “I must confirm this authorization, Major. I was warned of a possible escape attempt.”
“Fine,” Meredith snapped.
She turned her head and looked at a different display. Something had caught her attention, but Korbin couldn’t see what had caused her reaction.
“You idiot,” she yelled. “Call off your men, Warden, or I will open fire.”
“This is by far the most imaginative attempt I’ve ever witnessed, but I’m afraid I was forewarned.”
“You were forewarned by the person I’m here to arrest. Premier VinDerley has authorized whatever means I deem necessary to apprehend certain classified persons.”
“If this is official coalition business, why wasn’t I contacted?”
“The details of my mission are available on a need-to-know basis. My departure in no way compromises this outpost. You have no need to know anything more than I’ve already told you.”
“I disagree. I have not yet verified your identity and you’re holding one of my employees against his will. You will be treated as a fugitive until I have information confirming your story.”
“Have it your way!”
“If you attempt to—”
She cut off the comlink and turned back to the control panel. “Buckle up, people, we’re going to have to fight our way out.”
There were no safety restraints in the holding cell and Korbin’s leg still burned from the disruption pulse. He sat on the narrow bench and braced his good leg against the grate. Quick and agile, Meredith’s ship outmaneuvered the outpost troopers.
“Restien is sure as hell going to regret this tomorrow.” Hamilton took the ship into a sudden dive and Meredith laughed triumphantly.
Korbin slammed against the grate, despite his braced leg, so he stood and found a more secure position. Grasping the bars with both hands, he pressed out against the walls of the cell with his feet. His abused thigh protested the pressure. He accepted the pain, drawing it inward as he focused beyond his rage.
The bitch was enjoying this! She laughed again and fired in rapid succession. One of the troopers burst into flames.
“Yes!”
Danette and Palmer exchanged worried glances.
Clutching the grate with all his strength, Korbin concentrated on his breathing as Hamilton continued his reckless maneuvers. The ship rolled to the right then shot straight up, directly in front of one of the troopers. Meredith took out the second ship with her aft cannons and Korbin released his breath in a frustrated hiss.
“Two down,” she announced, “one to go.”
The third ship suddenly abandoned its pursuit and headed back toward Borrelly.
&nbs
p; “Why did it turn around?” Danette asked.
“The warden must have called him off,” Meredith muttered. “Troopers don’t turn tail and run.”
“Why would he call off the attack when he ordered it in the first place?”
Meredith shot Danette an impatient glare. “He must have received confirmation of my identity.”
Danette accepted the explanation with a silent nod. Palmer sat beside Danette, watching Meredith with fascination and awe. Korbin bristled. He remembered similar expressions on Corry’s face as she struggled to gain this woman’s attention.
Had Meredith located Corry? Had others been dispatched by the premier? Meredith turned from the control panel and grinned at him. “You’re really not very good at this, are you, NëvouS?”
Korbin didn’t reply. He stepped back from the bars and sat, unable to stomach her smug expression.
“How’d Ashton slip through your fingers?” she asked.
“He didn’t,” Korbin said. “I had him moved. It was too risky to hold all the hostages on the same outpost.”
“Sure you did. Let me guess. Corry isn’t missing, she’s relocating VinDerley.”
“You’re too smart for me.”
Korbin propped his boot against the grate and finally glanced at Danette. His chest clenched so tightly he couldn’t breathe. Her luminous gaze surrounded him, inscrutable and intense. This was the first time she’d seen his face. Even at the Pleasure Palace he’d been masked.
Tears gathered in her eyes, and Korbin tore his gaze away. He was in a freaking cage! What did she expect him to do?
Chapter Seven
Danette stared out her bedroom window into the gathering twilight. She was home, safe and sound, and she had never been more miserable in her life.
Korbin hadn’t so much as glanced her way as Major Caperelli’s ship sped them toward Halley Prime. It felt odd to think of him by name. She tried not to stare, but the temptation had been too much. Danette had never seen Korbin’s face before, never imagined she would find his appearance so evocative.
Far too intense to be termed classically handsome, Korbin commanded attention with his piercing green eyes and wavy brown hair. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair, to gaze into those vivid eyes, and kiss the frown from his mouth. If only she could talk to him. She’d assure him she would do everything in her power to set him free. Everything in her power. That was the problem. She was as powerless as Korbin.