The Darri Commission: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure (Dominion Rising Book 3)

by Katherine Bogle

  Rikkard slammed him against the wall and the guard groaned. “I’m the one asking the questions.”

  The guard glanced at her, then Sav. He gulped. “I’ll not tell yah anything.”

  Scottish, Selene thought. His accent was faintly Scottish.

  Rikkard ripped the pistol from the holster at his hip and jammed the muzzle against the guard’s jaw. “Won’t you?”

  Fear flashed in the alien’s eyes. He didn’t say another word.

  “There’s no code.” Flik jogged back over, his forehead wrinkled in thought. “The device just wants a handprint.”

  Rikkard smirked. “Well we don’t need you alive for that.”

  “W-Wait!” the guard spluttered.

  Rikkard’s pistol whined, ready to shoot, but he held off. “Why?”

  “I c-can help yah. What are yah here ‘fer?”

  Selene put a hand on Rikkard’s shoulder. They should at least find out if the man knew anything about the Server Room doors before they killed him.

  Rikkard lowered his pistol, but kept it close to the guard’s neck. “What do you know about the Server Room?” His voice was cold, calculated.

  Selene shivered. She was glad he didn’t talk to her like that.

  “The Server Room?” The guard narrowed his eyes, confusion taking over his ace. “Why do ‘yu want in ‘ther?”

  “He already told you not to ask questions,” Selene said. She pursed her lips. She didn’t enjoy how this was going. Every moment they spent with this man was one they weren’t using to hack the Server Room doors.

  The man glanced at her, and then back at Rikkard. “F-fine. Yah need a class-A clearance keycard to get inside.”

  Selene opened a pocket in her utility belt, and yanked out the bracelet she’d snatched from one of the guards. “Will this do?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  Selene took the bracelet from the guard’s wrist. “How about this?”

  Again, he shook his head.

  “Then where do we get one?” she growled.

  The man paled. “Only the Captain and his lieutenants have ‘em. There’s extremely classified—”

  Rikkard shot the man through the bottom of his jaw.

  Selene gasped, and stepped back as the lifeless body thudded onto the floor at Rikkard’s feet.

  “Useless,” Rikkard muttered.

  “So now what?” Sav asked.

  Rikkard sighed. “We’ll get the door to the server room open—” He glanced at Selene, then back at the other two. “—You two stow these bodies wherever you can.”

  Sav and Flik nodded, approving this plan. They took off back down the hall to find a room to stow them in while Selene and Rikkard went to the security gate. Just as Flik had said, a large glowing blue panel with the outline of a handprint marred the curved dashboard in front of the man who’d once stood watch over the gate. His body slumped against the dash, one hand up beside his head. She was glad his face was turned the other way.

  Rikkard climbed the two steps to the seat, and took the man’s hand, moving it onto the handprint panel.

  A white light scanned the man’s palm, and then the screen flashed green.

  Selene and Rikkard hurried through the gate to the other side. Ten feet down the hall, glass windows broke up the pattern of the metal walls, and a large steel door blocked their way to the servers beyond.

  “We’re here.” Selene sighed in relief.

  Rikkard nodded and went for the door. He yanked his phone from his pocket, pulling a long, twisting silver cord from the base of it. Using a knife, he ripped off the control panel beside the door, and attached the cord to one of the driver ports inside.

  Holding his fingers to his ear, he unlocked the phone’s screen and began typing one-handed.

  “We’re here, Rem,” he said into his comset.

  “About damn time!” Rem huffed in her ear.

  “Starting the sequence now.”

  “Roger.” Rem’s furious typing came through her earpiece, and she shifted from foot to foot as she waited.

  Rikkard flipped his phone sideways and started typing with both thumbs, his eyes scanning the screen.

  “This might take a minute,” Rem said.

  Selene pressed her finger to her comset. “We don’t have long, Rem.”

  “I know, I know.” He sighed.

  Selene tapped her foot as the two of them worked on the door. She fiddled with her rifle, and turned back the way they’d come. The hall wasn’t any different, aside from two missing bodies. Flik and Sav must have found somewhere to stow them.

  “Almost there,” Rem said.

  A pained scream broke the silence of the corridor.

  Selene’s eyes went wide as she looked back over her shoulder at Rikkard. The same look mirrored on his face as they both turned back toward the gate and ran.

  Their boots pounded against the floor, and she brought her rifle up to her shoulder as she paused by the gate door. Rikkard leapt up to the control panel beside the dead body, and pushed the dead man’s hand back over the handprint.

  “Hurry!” Selene snapped. She recognized that scream. She recognized it because she’d heard the same cry of pain once, what felt like a long time ago on her first mission with the former Alliance members.

  The shimmering shield dropped, and Selene raced through, her heart pounding as she tore down the hallway and around the corner.

  Sav crouched in an open doorway, and she could just make out the two dead bodies beyond, while Flik lay motionless in the middle of the floor, the bright red of his blood spilling through the grated floor.

  “Flik!” she cried.

  That’s when she saw them.

  At the next junction stood four black-clad Dominion soldiers, their eyes hard and angry, their rifles pointed at Sav’s hiding place.

  A snarl tore from her throat as she aimed down the hall. Red flashes flew from the barrel of her gun, and stole the face of the soldier closest to her. Before he could fall she’d shot the second through the chest. The man flew back, almost as if in slow motion as she dropped into a slide, using her momentum to carry herself over a smooth patch of floor.

  Laser fire sailed over her head, making her glad she’d dropped. By the time they could aim any lower, she’d already killed the third, and seconds later the fourth.

  Her heart hammered hard, and she forced air into her lungs. Her entire chest hurt like she couldn’t breath as she rushed over to Flik

  “Flik!” she fell to her knees.

  Sav emerged from the doorway and ran over to his other side. “Flik, you idiot!” he growled.

  Selene’s fingers shook as she gently turned him over. Sav held Flik’s arms, trying not to jostle him too much in case he had internal bleeding.

  Flik’s dark eyes blinked up at them, and Selene sucked in a grateful breath.

  “You’re alive!” She squeezed his hand, relief relaxing her shoulders.

  “Yep,” Flik grunted. He blinked wildly as if trying to remove something from his eyes. His hands moved across his torso, searching for injuries.

  Selene looked down to find a hole burned through his side, bleeding fast. She gasped and covered it with her hands. Hot blood pushed against her fingers, but she pushed down hard.

  “Shit,” she hissed. When they left the pirates for the mission, Captain Erock had outfitted them with special gear. It wouldn’t fully stop the shot of a laser, but it’d reduce the damage, and give them a chance of survival. Only in this case, it was making damn sure the wound didn’t seal from the heat of the laser. At least he shouldn’t have any internal injuries.

  “You’re gonna be okay,” Sav said, his voice high with desperation.

  Rikkard slid in beside them, his eyebrows furrowed, and his cold eyes wild. It had been a long time since she’d seen him afraid. “What happened?”

  Sav looked up. “Soldiers caught us off guard. They must have heard that other one scream.”

  “Shit,” Selene and Rikkard sa
id in unison.

  If they had heard the scream, they’d probably called it in. “Any number of units could be on their way,” Selene said what they were all thinking.

  Three sets of wide eyes met hers. This was not good.

  “Leave me,” Flik grunted, trying to sit up.

  Selene slapped her hand against his chest, forcing him to lie down. “Shut the fuck up,” she growled. “No one is leaving you behind!”

  Flik barked out a laugh.

  “Sav, get the gauze from my belt.” Selene shimmied a little to the side so Sav could reach across Flik and get to her belt. She looked up at Rikkard. “Get back to the damn Server Room.” The command in her voice left no room for argument.

  Rikkard took a long look at her, then Flik before he nodded. “Be careful.”

  Selene flashed an adrenaline filled smile. “Always am.”

  Rikkard choked on a laugh as he stood and headed back the other way.

  “Get back here quickly!” Selene called after him.

  Rikkard waved back at her, breaking into a run and disappearing around the corner.

  “Got it,” Sav said.

  Selene turned back to the problem at hand. “Okay, it’s not going to absorb this much blood, but it’ll hold something in place.” Sav nodded. “Take off your jacket and give me your shirt.”

  Sav smiled. “If you wanted to get me out of my clothes, you could just ask.”

  A laugh bubbled out of her throat. It sounded strangled and panicked—exactly how she felt. “I’m not hitting on you Sav. Come on.”

  Sav unzipped his jacket, tossing it to the ground before pulling off his black t-shirt. Beneath it, his chest was broad, and scars marred his gorgeous umber skin.

  He handed her the shirt, and Selene quickly pulled her hands away and replaced it with the fabric. “Hold this tightly.”

  Sav did as she said while Selene took back the gauze and began unspooling it. “Flik, this is gonna suck, but I need you to arch your hips and get your back off the ground so I can wrap this around you.”

  Flik groaned, his eyes rolling back. After a moment of contemplation he seemed to steel himself, and took a deep breath before doing as she said.

  With just enough space to work with, Selene wrapped the gauze around four times before Flik fell back onto the cold floor with a tired grunt.

  “That’s good,” she said, flashing what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “You’re doing great.”

  “It’s just a flesh wound buddy.” Sav grinned. “You’re gonna be fine.”

  Flik gave Sav a doubtful look, but didn’t say anything.

  Selene tied off the gauze; making sure Sav’s shirt was firmly in place before motioning Sav to let it go. “Okay, you should be good until we get back to the ship.”

  “You’re a pretty good nurse, you know that?” Flik flashed a teasing grin edged with pain.

  “Yeah, yeah. Live first, and then tell me how great of a nurse I am.” Selene stood, reaching down to help Flik up.

  Between her and Sav, they got Flik to his feet. The alien swayed precariously, but managed to stay stand with Sav’s help.

  Selene bit the inside of her cheek to keep from scowling. She wiped the blood on her hands onto her pants. They weren’t out of hot water yet, and with Flik injured, this was going to be a painful retreat back to their cruiser. She looked at the floor. So much blood covered the grates. With it all falling below the floor there was no way of knowing how much he’d lost before she’d arrived, but she wagered he’d be exhausted for a good long time.

  Boots beat the hall behind them, and Selene spun to face the new threat, raising her rifle to her shoulder.

  Rikkard came around the corner and froze, their eyes meeting over the barrel of her gun.

  She took a deep breath and lowered it. “Couldn’t announce yourself first?”

  Rikkard shook his head, and jogged over. “I got it.” He brandished one of Rem’s drives in his hand. They’d all carried two just in case.

  “Good.” Selene looked at Flik and Sav. “We’re good to go then.”

  Sav nodded, and Flik looked about as dazed as he should be.

  “He going to be all right?” Rikkard asked.

  “Yeah,” Selene said. “As long as we get him back to the ship ASAP.”

  “What are we waiting for then?” Sav asked.

  “Let’s go.” Rikkard led them back the way they’d come.

  Selene raced down the metal corridor, Rikkard at her side, and Sav bringing up the rear with Flik slung over his shoulder.

  They’d been inside Targen for what? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? It felt like hours, especially with adrenaline racing through her veins, keeping her alert and ready in case another enemy jumped out at them. She wasn’t about to lose Flik, or any of the others. They had their information and now it was time to get the hell out.

  “Still on plan A?” Selene panted. She snatched a look at Rikkard, who glanced at her with icy eyes.

  “Yep,” he said.

  Plan A took them back exactly the way they’d come. If no one had discovered the bodies yet, then that meant no one knew the path they’d taken. Rikkard pushed ahead, leading them back to the stairs, just as a shake and clang came from above. Someone was descending fast.

  “Shit,” she hissed. Skidding to a stop, she looked back.

  “Plan B it is.” Rikkard spun on his heel and raced back the way they’d come. Selene was quick to follow.

  Flik groaned, and Sav gripped him tighter as they turned to race after them.

  Selene’s breaths came quickly as she pounded after Rikkard, her heart racing in time with her steps.

  Plan B wasn’t quite as simple. It took them through another twisting assortment of halls, but had generally the same principle, just without the engine room. The plan would keep them out of the way of most soldiers, and lead them directly down a staircase near the hall they’d come in from.

  “All this damn running,” Flik grunted.

  Selene smiled over her shoulder, but the look dropped when she realized how ashen Flik’s complexion had become. For someone with typically vibrant orange skin, it was bizarre to see him so pale, almost grey.

  “Come on,” Selene beckoned. She turned back with renewed energy.

  No one would die on Targen. Not today.

  Rikkard slowed as he rounded a corner, and then leapt back suddenly, his arm whipping out and slamming into her chest.

  The wind rushed from her lungs with an oomph and she sucked in a breath as she was forced back against the wall.

  Soldiers, Rikkard mouthed.

  Selene froze, eyes wide, and clamped her lips shut, slowing her breathing.

  “Section twelve-eighteen, clear,” a female voice said, much closer than Selene liked.

  Cold sweat dripped down her spine, and she shot a look between Sav and Rikkard. What now? If they couldn’t go this way, they would have to rely on Plan C. And no one wanted to do Plan C.

  Rikkard met her gaze with slightly widened eyes.

  Shit. They were doing Plan C.

  Selene bit back a groan as they turned back the way they’d come once again. They inched quietly along until they were a few halls away from the Dominion guards.

  She shook her head. If anything had to go wrong, moving on to Plan C was the one thing she’d hoped wouldn’t be it. Guards finding them, they could deal with. Flik getting shot, well it sucked, but dealable. Having to hack into the Server Room, all in a day’s work. But going through Targen’s hangar full of soldiers? Not exactly on her bucket list.

  Selene gritted her teeth as she followed Rikkard. His jaw was hard, and his eyes dark. He was thinking the same thing. They were about to run into trouble.

  They rocketed down a couple more halls, descended a stairwell to the loading docks floor, and then stopped outside a door with a glass window.

  Beyond was a mile worth of hangars leading directly to the outside world. A blue-tinged shield blocked the gates, stopping anyone from coming and g
oing, but it wasn’t the gates she was worried about, it was the dozens upon dozens of airships, speeders, cruisers, and the damn number of soldiers racing across the floor to their positions.

  “This is fucking crazy,” Selene said. Her voice sounded small.

  Sav nodded, sweat dripping down his temples. “You’re sure there’s no other way?”

  Rikkard nodded solemnly. “We stick to the plan.” He turned to face them, waiting until they met his eyes before he continued. “Stay on the catwalks. Don’t get separated. Take out anyone who gets in our path. Stay low until we’re seen.” He paused. “Because we will be seen.” His eyebrows rose as if trying to make them understand. “There’s no escaping a firefight now, but this is our only option.”

  “We can’t go back and try one of the other routes?” Sav asked.

  Rikkard shook his head. “It’s clear from that group we ran into that they know intruders are on board. Since the alarm hasn’t sounded yet, they must be trying to keep it quiet, make us think we’re safe.”

  “But we still have the advantage,” Selene added quickly. “They don’t know where we are, just that we’re here.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But as soon as we set foot inside that hangar, they’ll know where we are,” Sav argued.

  “They will. Which is why we need to move slowly, like we belong here, at least until we’re seen. Then we run like hell.”

  Selene sighed. “We’ve got to get back to the cruiser.”

  “Quickly,” Sav agreed.

  Her gaze lingered on Flik, who could barely keep his eyes open. They were running out of time, and they all knew it. “Okay, let’s go,” Selene said. Her lips pressed into a firm line.

  They all knew the plan. Now it was time to execute it.

  Rikkard opened the door, and they all stepped through, following in a single-file line, much like the groups of soldiers on the other catwalks surrounding the hangar.

  Selene balled her fists, and lowered her rifle so the barrel faced the empty space on her left. Sav held Flik closely, trying to disguise the man with his body.

  Rikkard led, more tense than she’d ever seen him. His shoulders were raised and rigid, his fingers drumming the side of his gun.