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P align=centerChapter 4/B/FONT/P
P align=justify"Pulse laser," Miles informed Elli. "No sign of particle beam
weapons or projectiles yet."/P
P align=justify"No shit," Elli transmitted back. She restrained an impulse to
nibble on the geek's neck./P
P align=justify"Thought I'd be helpful."/P
P align=justify"I'm not carrying," she transmitted back. "I couldn't carry
anything with this outfit anyway. Admiral, I really would appreciate it if you
would do your job. Find a way to get me out of here before the shooting gets
serious." She launched an arm and flattened both the geek and the dolly against
the wall before she poked her own head out for a few milliseconds, took a vid
and waited for Miles to transmit it back to her ear-eye as a still. /P
P align=justifyThe image ignited in her eyes. /PI
P align=justifyClear! /IHer experienced eye judged. Cheering was an
attractive option, except she didn't have time. IOK, time to move,/I she
hustled them onward with a gesture. They began creeping along the corridor,
keeping as much of themselves in the protective lee of buttresses and the wall
irregularities as they could manage. Elli expected the whole thing to end
painfully at any moment and her heart hammed in her chest like it wanted to get
out of its bony cage. /PI
P align=justifyGod knows what the geek and the dolly are going through./I
Elli couldn't give a damn right at that moment./P
P align=justify"Bruno's carrying," Miles transmitted. "Gotta watch out for
security nets."/P
P align=justify"He can't shoot worth a damn any way," she judged. IIt must
have been Bruno that shot back,/I Elli concluded./P
P align=justifyThey reached a branch in the corridor. She bundled them down it
and began to run. /P
P align=justifyThe dolly was sobbing and the geek seemed to be in a state of
shock. At least they were nearly silent./P
P align=justify"Neither can you," Miles replied, erroneously. "Just run.
You're clear for the next few bends."/P
P align=justify"Guide me to the lock."/P
P align=justify"Left now."/P
P align=justifyShe ran. Something ahead of them caught her eye too late for
her to do anything about it. From nowhere, a cleaning bot appeared. She had no
time to dodge or leap and tripped, sprawling headlong into the corridor. The bot
careered into the distance, knocked onto it's head by her flailing foot.
Instinctively Elli curled herself into a ball to cushion the impact, and blessed
the low G again. Landing on the floor still hurt, but at least she had not
broken any ribs or arms. /P
P align=justifyNow all she had to do was learn how to breathe again. /P
P align=justifyBehind the spot where Elli landed, the geek used his feet to
find whatever the cleaning bot had been sent out to fix. His feet slid across
the pool of vomit left on the floor by an earlier partygoer. He went down
flailing. The geek's head made a horrible noise when it hit the floor. Like a
bowling ball hitting the parquetry from height./P
P align=justify"You haven't got time to muck about on the floor," Miles
scolded./P
P align=justifyElli was still measuring her length on the floor leaning how to
suck air again. The dolly leant over Elli. "Are you alright?" she asked./P
P align=justifyElli's foot was going to hurt like she wouldn't believe when
she slowed down enough to feel it. She just hoped the toes weren't broken./P
P align=justify"Yeah, just bruised," Elli wheezed and painfully dragged
herself back off the floor. She crawled weakly across the where the geek had
come to rest. He looked like he was down for a while and for some reason Elli
felt responsible for his condition. She bent to check on him. /P
P align=justifyFrantic fingers fumbled the back of his head. His skull was
still intact. Seemed to be. Nothing gave under her fingers. That was about the
only good thing to happen in the last couple of minutes./P
P align=justifyThe dolly stood by the wall and stared. "Is he OK?" she asked.
Her words were barely audible around her knuckles. Her voice was an octave
higher than normal./PI
P align=justifyAt least she hadn't run off. That made two good things,
/IElli decided.I /P/I
P align=justifyBruno lumbered up behind them and almost lifted Elli bodily
from the floor. She shrugged him off with an airy gesture. The last thing she
needed at that moment was to have her bare skin touched. "Cover us," she
instructed Bruno, pointed at his gun and then back along the corridor./P
P align=justifyHe was gone almost before she finished speaking. He might not
be bright, but he knew his job./P
P align=justifyMore ruby light flared and more rock exploded. Elli dragged the
geek along the corridor and into the lee of a bend./P
P align=justifyThe dolly was making I'm-going-to-scream motions, filling her
lungs with enough air to let off a good one. It was the last thing Elli needed
at this moment and thought about letting her hand fly, but that would be belting
a client, so she stayed the impulse before it became real. Instead she pulled
the woman bodily into the shelter of a rocky protuberance./P
P align=justifyThe sound of ionising radiation filled the corridor behind
them, the sound of a photonic weapon destroying oxygen and nitrogen molecules in
their billions. Elli hoped it was Bruno at work. If it wasn't him then they were
in serious trouble./P
P align=justifyThe dolly closed her mouth with a teeth-jarring snap. /PI
P align=justifyWell at least that put paid to the scream./I Probably stopped
her from hyperventilating as well. Good things were starting to stack up -
slowly. Still dwarfed by the stack of bad things, even so./P
P align=justifyElli knelt down to take a better look at the geek. He wasn't
going anywhere, not without help. She tried pulling him to his feet, but he was
nothing but dead weight. The guy was out for…/P
P align=justify"You'll be OK if they stick to energy beam weapons," Miles
transmitted. "The light show will interfere. Elli. It's just pulse lasers. Drop
back and protect our investment."/P
P align=justifyThe pain was starting to make itself obvious in Elli's toe, the
one that kicked three kinds of snot out of the cleaning bot. "Yeah but if I take
one hit they'll know," she transmitted back, "and get out a projectile weapon.
I'll stick to running down these corridors thanks."/P
P align=justify"There's brownie points in it for you."/P
P align=justify"Yeah. Ten more and I'll have an elf." Elli climbed painfully,
but rapidly, back to her feet. "Bare-butted in a fire fight," she muttered.
"This is the last time I play Cyber-slut. She's dead from now on. OK?"/P
P align=justify"It's a role that you're cut out for."/P
P align=justify"I don't think so."/P
P align=justifyThe dolly was cowering by the wall, making a really small
target thankfully. IThis had better be worth it; /IElli cursed, casting a
withering glance the dolly's way and watching her searchingly./P
P align=justify"Yeah, well, Elli, they're able to track something," Miles
suggested. "Find out what it is and then get rid of it."/P
P align=justifyThe geek showed no sign of coming around soon. Bruno wouldn't
be able to hold them off long./P
P align=justify"It's the light show," she guessed wildly. "I'll bet you."/P
P align=justify"What are you going to do? Shut it down?"/P
P align=justify"Won't make any difference now. They know which way we're
headed. It's only the lifts leading to docking port down this way."/P
P align=justify"Of course, you're right. Imagine that…"/P
P align=justify"I don't need any sarcasm," she threw back. "And there's
probably only the one ship powered up and going live in the entire port. Am I
right?"/P
P align=justifyA delay. "Yeah."/P
P align=justify"Then we have big trouble Admiral You ready to defend your
spot?"/P
P align=justifyA report and a ricochet sounded in the corridor. The analysis
software in Elli's ear-eye piece projected the identification into her eye, a
self propelled explosive cartridge, still small calibre, low energy, all small
bore so far but... Bigger was probably an option. All she needed. IThey were
awake-up back there, bastards./I The interference pattern in her light show
was going to be no protection from here on in./P
P align=justifyShe grabbed the dolly by the arm and dragged her forcibly along
the corridor./P
P align=justify"Bruno!" Elli yelled over her shoulder. "Bring the geek."/P
P align=justifyBruno grunted something monosyllabic in reply./P
P align=justify"Left at the next branch," Miles transmitted. "I'm going to try
to lose them for you. It's a maintenance corridor."/P
P align=justify"What good will that do us?"/P
P align=justify"Confusion."/P
P align=justify"Is it quicker?"/P
P align=justify"No."/P
P align=justify"Then why are we doing it for?"/P
P align=justify"I can booby trap it."/P
P align=justify"OK, do it." To the dolly she added, "wait here." Elli spun on
her heel and sprinted back so she caught up with Bruno. "Left ahead," she told
him. He nodded and took one more shot down the apparently empty corridor. He
missed everything except the wall, but at least the corridor remained
essentially empty of threats./P
P align=justifyThat wasn't going to last long./PI
P align=justifyIt was time to run like hell, /IElli decided./P
P align=justifyBreathing laboured and legs pumping the sound of another whine
of ricocheted particles reminded Elli Quinn of their exposure. She hiccoughed
out one short hysterical bark that might have been the second cousin of laughter
at the errant thought that ran through her headI; As though I needed another
clue before I worked out that we're in deep shit. /IShe pounded along the
corridor, struggling to keep the dolly and Bruno-loaded-down-with-geek moving,
while staying far enough ahead of their pursuit so the upward curve of the floor
prevented a line of sight. It was all they could do. Elli brought up the rear,
not bothering to shoot just at the moment. Speed was more important for the next
few seconds. /P
P align=justify"Why are they shooting?" Elli demanded of Miles "I thought this
was just a corporate raid. Money only, none of this shit. This is serious."/P
P align=justify"I don't know," Miles transmitted. "I wasn't planning on this
sort of thing either Elli. See the bulkhead just ahead of you, that's it."/P
P align=justify"Yeah, got it."/P
P align=justifyThe maintenance tunnel was only half as big as the main
corridor, although it was tall enough, thankfully, for them to stand upright.
They ran onward. There was more light ahead and then a door resolved from behind
the curve of ceiling. Elli lined up the door catch and made straight for it. The
door gave way without a fight, but it was slow. Bruno caught up and dumped the
geek on the floor while he waited. For coverage, Bruno sighted along the
corridor behind them and let a few blasts off for form's sake. There were no
visible targets. All he did was blacken the wall and slag a bit of
carbon-fibre./P
P align=justifyA deadened click within the wall suggested machinery-in-action.
The lock release was the best sign that Elli had seen for a while. A sure sign
that Miles was still in the station operating system./P
P align=justify"Who's doing the shooting?" Elli asked. She hustled into the
corridor and scanned it for signs of life./P
P align=justify"Looks like the Cetagandans."/P
P align=justify"Not the local security?"/P
P align=justify"No."/P
P align=justify"I don't like that," Elli muttered thoughtfully. The door slid
fully open at last. Elli slipped through, checked that the corridor was clear
before giving a hand signal for the rest of them to follow. "What about the
local security? What're they doing?"/P
P align=justify"Not sure. They seem to be lost all of a sudden, lots of
milling around and hassling people without any real purpose. Lot of gear working
the net now though. Very confusing."/P
P align=justifyThe dolly slipped through the door behind Elli, still looking
dazed and confused. Elli pushed her against the wall so the doorway was clear
for Bruno et al./P
P align=justify"So they're not part of the interference we're getting?" Elli
concluded./P
P align=justify"Well… Not yet!"/P
P align=justify"Keep me updated on the status of the locals. They're the ones
that worry me the most."/P
P align=justify"You not worried about Cetagandans?"/P
P align=justify"Always, but they're a known quantity. Find 'em for me. Need to
know where they are, but I can deal if it comes to that. I can negotiate with
them. Not so easy with the locals."/P
P align=justifyBruno grabbed the geek by the hands and dragged him through the
doorway. He made the job look so easy; but then he out-massed Elli by almost a
hundred percent. IMost of it in muscle, including the bit between his
ears./P/I
P align=justify"I'm going to bring the geek," Elli transmitted. "Even in that
state."/P
P align=justify"Yeah. Take 'em both out with us," Miles transmitted. "We can
sort 'em out later. I don't want to leave anyone behind who might be able to
give a good ID."/P
P align=justify"Great minds…"/P
P align=justify"… think alike."/P
P align=justifyElli was thankful for that concession. The Cetagandans wouldn't
have thought twice about killing the geek if they were in the same position. It
was one of the reasons why Elli continued to work with the Dendarii Free
Mercenaries despite regularly fielding alternate offers. She had moral
standards./P
P align=justify"Bruno, carry the geek," she instructed, "like he's drunk and
we have to help him home."/P
P align=justifyBruno nodded. He might not be bright, but he followed
directions and he was loyal as hell. They began moving along the corridor again,
making much the same sort of progress they made during their previous
flight./P
P align=justifyThe uniform of a maintenance worker appeared from beneath the
curve of the ceiling, walking slowly toward them. Elli watched the woman's
progress carefully, wary of what might be going down. She wasn't carrying.
IProbably legitimate/I, Elli concluded./P
P align=justifyThey gathered themselves together and fussed past the
maintenance tech, sliding by in the narrow confines of the hallway with a bit of
cooperation./P
P align=justifyAnd then they were free of interference for a few blessed
seconds./P
P align=justifyElli turned to the dolly and with one glance made sure the girl
was still functional. She seemed to be OK, now. The worst of the hysterics
seemed to have passed but he eyes were still way too wide though, if Elli was
any judge. "Admiral, need directions," Elli demanded. "Which way?"/P
P align=justify"Keep following this corridor until you come to a yellow door
on your left."/P
P align=justify"Got it," Elli said out loud. "Bruno watch for signs of life,
but don't shoot anyone, especially if they're who we think they are."/P
P align=justify"The Cetagandans?" Bruno said simply. It was only half a
question. He didn't have the same level of interface with Miles Tended to
confuse him. ICouldn't parallel process worth a damn. Male thing,
/Ireflected Elli, Ithey were all much the same./I /P
P align=justifyBruno was staring through the partition back along the corridor
they had just come through, waiting for her to answer him. Noise from behind
them, someone being shoved out of the way./P
P align=justifyElli agreed with Bruno's guess then clapped him on the back. It
was time to hustle again./P
P align=justify/P
P align=justifyThey ran on. Elli dragged the dolly by the hand, struggling to
keep her upright and intact in their haste. It wasn't just that she had two left
feet, the girl had other issues to make life difficult, like a bit more bounce
and jiggle than Elli. The flowers she wore went no way toward being a foundation
garment. She was a bit lacking in aerobic fitness too, despite appearances. /P
P align=justifyBut overall the dolly's lack of physical performance was not
their major problem. Bruno was struggling beneath the bulk of the geek who was
hanging off his shoulder and slowing them all down to his level. It was a severe
limitation on their ground speed. But Elli was loath to leave him behind. INot
with the Cetagandans involved. No way!/P/I
P align=justifyElli relieved Bruno of his gun, Iseemed sensible./I It was
a lightweight carbon fibre framed contraption with an intelligent moulding to
adapt to the shape and action of her hand. She shucked the power pack out,
checked the I'mOK indications quickly, before slamming it back home. IBeta
Colony make the best gear,/I she told herself. /P
P align=justifyFrom her ear-eye's memory storage she selected its operating
system and interfaced it to the comp gear. Icons showing charge status and
sightlines appeared in her visual field, curtesy of the ear-eye-gun interface.
Gyro's kept the gun barrel vertical despite the bucking while being carried in
someone's hand. Running backwards, with nothing moving to aim for, she shot a
few walls to keep their pursuers in circumspect mode. Despite her efforts, the
sounds of pursuit came closer. She turned and ran some more, concentrating on
distance./P
P align=justify"Door ahead," Miles transmitted barely in time. Bruno almost
carried his burden past it./P
P align=justifyElli skidded to halt at the yellow door and pushed on the latch
mechanism. It wouldn't respond./P
P align=justifyAnother blast came from behind them, shattering another lump of
rock face. She whipped around, sighted and let a blast off in response. IAt
least there's none of them in front of us yet,/I she decided. It was small
comfort./P
P align=justify"How's our comms holding up?" Elli asked Miles worried now
about the lack of purpose in the pursuit. And then she was more worried by the
lack of response from the door./P
P align=justify"Still good," Miles's voice came through clear. "I told you
this encryption was good gear. We're still on the public web. You'll have line
of sight soon, won't be an issue then."/P
P align=justify"Need the door lock bypassed."/P
P align=justify"On it."/P
P align=justify"Well, hurry."/P
P align=justifyAnother rock shard broke from the wall and another shell
wheeeeed into the distance. A sharp pain told Elli that she had sprung a leak.
Blood trailed down her side./P
P align=justifySomeone grunted, but she didn't have time to find out who, or
why. The door sprang open. "Gotcha," chortled Miles into the link joining him to
Elli./P
P align=justifyThey tumbled into the corridor like the Keystone Kops on
steroids. The door slammed shut behind them like a guillotine. Elli blinked at
it mystified for a baffled second./P
P align=justify"Air-loss prevention bulkhead," Miles explained without being
asked. "You've just moved from one zone to another."/P
P align=justifyIt was no matter. "Where to from here?"/P
P align=justify"Head left. Then take the first right. That'll get you to an
elevator that will bring you right to me. Looks clear through there."/P
P align=justify"OK, got it."/P
P align=justifyElli wasn't waiting around or mucking about. Even this close to
their ship, it was essential that they hurry. They made it that far without
incident - it was her aim to keep it that way. /P
P align=justifyShe recognised where they were now. The corridor they were in
now was familiar from when they first arrived, the same scruffy marks on the
walls, the same dodgy paint and the same colours. IWas that only two days
ago?/I Elli marvelled.I Shit, how time flies while you're having
fun./P/I
P align=justifyThe elevator was already open, waiting for them./P
P align=justify"You got this slaved?" she asked Miles/P
P align=justify"Locked out of the web."/P
P align=justifyBruno clambered into the elevator with the geek slung over his
shoulder. Elli pushed the dolly through ahead of her. Another rock shard
exploded ahead of Elli and added that touch of urgency to her dive through the
door./P
P align=justifyThe elevator lurched upward - finally. Gravity gave way
disconcertingly quickly with elevation while they moved toward the docking hub.
And then they were in free fall./PI
P align=justifyAt least that's the first stage of pursuit behind us,/I Elli
thought while she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. As usual she felt the urge to
belch, and couldn't. It was damned uncomfortable having all her bodily organs in
her throat. IBackwoods hick station, /Ishe cursed inwardly. Until a couple
of days ago she thought artificial gravity was used universally./P
P align=justifyThe elevator door hissed open and spilled them through the
rotating bearing and into the docking bay. The airlock to their shuttle was
hanging in the corridor ahead of them, a yellow striped bulkhead, no different
to all the others that lined the docking cavity. /P
P align=justifyThe indications above the door flashed green, clear to open.
Elli bashed her fist against the release mechanism and spent an anxious moment
floating in space while she waited for the door. After the sword in scabbard
sound the door made whe it released she waved the rest of her entourage through.
Between them, all they could muster was a chaotic clamber through the lock and
into the shuttle./P
P align=justifyAnd all hell broke loose behind her, flame and noise, a wave of
heated air. The blast almost crashed Elli against the bulkhead, percussion shock
wave blasting through the orifice and buffeting them against the back wall of
the lock. /P
P align=justifySomeone screamed. Elli thought it might have been
her./P/BODY/HTML
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P align=justify"Pulse laser," Miles informed Elli. "No sign of particle beam
weapons or projectiles yet."/P
P align=justify"No shit," Elli transmitted back. She restrained an impulse to
nibble on the geek's neck./P
P align=justify"Thought I'd be helpful."/P
P align=justify"I'm not carrying," she transmitted back. "I couldn't carry
anything with this outfit anyway. Admiral, I really would appreciate it if you
would do your job. Find a way to get me out of here before the shooting gets
serious." She launched an arm and flattened both the geek and the dolly against
the wall before she poked her own head out for a few milliseconds, took a vid
and waited for Miles to transmit it back to her ear-eye as a still. /P
P align=justifyThe image ignited in her eyes. /PI
P align=justifyClear! /IHer experienced eye judged. Cheering was an
attractive option, except she didn't have time. IOK, time to move,/I she
hustled them onward with a gesture. They began creeping along the corridor,
keeping as much of themselves in the protective lee of buttresses and the wall
irregularities as they could manage. Elli expected the whole thing to end
painfully at any moment and her heart hammed in her chest like it wanted to get
out of its bony cage. /PI
P align=justifyGod knows what the geek and the dolly are going through./I
Elli couldn't give a damn right at that moment./P
P align=justify"Bruno's carrying," Miles transmitted. "Gotta watch out for
security nets."/P
P align=justify"He can't shoot worth a damn any way," she judged. IIt must
have been Bruno that shot back,/I Elli concluded./P
P align=justifyThey reached a branch in the corridor. She bundled them down it
and began to run. /P
P align=justifyThe dolly was sobbing and the geek seemed to be in a state of
shock. At least they were nearly silent./P
P align=justify"Neither can you," Miles replied, erroneously. "Just run.
You're clear for the next few bends."/P
P align=justify"Guide me to the lock."/P
P align=justify"Left now."/P
P align=justifyShe ran. Something ahead of them caught her eye too late for
her to do anything about it. From nowhere, a cleaning bot appeared. She had no
time to dodge or leap and tripped, sprawling headlong into the corridor. The bot
careered into the distance, knocked onto it's head by her flailing foot.
Instinctively Elli curled herself into a ball to cushion the impact, and blessed
the low G again. Landing on the floor still hurt, but at least she had not
broken any ribs or arms. /P
P align=justifyNow all she had to do was learn how to breathe again. /P
P align=justifyBehind the spot where Elli landed, the geek used his feet to
find whatever the cleaning bot had been sent out to fix. His feet slid across
the pool of vomit left on the floor by an earlier partygoer. He went down
flailing. The geek's head made a horrible noise when it hit the floor. Like a
bowling ball hitting the parquetry from height./P
P align=justify"You haven't got time to muck about on the floor," Miles
scolded./P
P align=justifyElli was still measuring her length on the floor leaning how to
suck air again. The dolly leant over Elli. "Are you alright?" she asked./P
P align=justifyElli's foot was going to hurt like she wouldn't believe when
she slowed down enough to feel it. She just hoped the toes weren't broken./P
P align=justify"Yeah, just bruised," Elli wheezed and painfully dragged
herself back off the floor. She crawled weakly across the where the geek had
come to rest. He looked like he was down for a while and for some reason Elli
felt responsible for his condition. She bent to check on him. /P
P align=justifyFrantic fingers fumbled the back of his head. His skull was
still intact. Seemed to be. Nothing gave under her fingers. That was about the
only good thing to happen in the last couple of minutes./P
P align=justifyThe dolly stood by the wall and stared. "Is he OK?" she asked.
Her words were barely audible around her knuckles. Her voice was an octave
higher than normal./PI
P align=justifyAt least she hadn't run off. That made two good things,
/IElli decided.I /P/I
P align=justifyBruno lumbered up behind them and almost lifted Elli bodily
from the floor. She shrugged him off with an airy gesture. The last thing she
needed at that moment was to have her bare skin touched. "Cover us," she
instructed Bruno, pointed at his gun and then back along the corridor./P
P align=justifyHe was gone almost before she finished speaking. He might not
be bright, but he knew his job./P
P align=justifyMore ruby light flared and more rock exploded. Elli dragged the
geek along the corridor and into the lee of a bend./P
P align=justifyThe dolly was making I'm-going-to-scream motions, filling her
lungs with enough air to let off a good one. It was the last thing Elli needed
at this moment and thought about letting her hand fly, but that would be belting
a client, so she stayed the impulse before it became real. Instead she pulled
the woman bodily into the shelter of a rocky protuberance./P
P align=justifyThe sound of ionising radiation filled the corridor behind
them, the sound of a photonic weapon destroying oxygen and nitrogen molecules in
their billions. Elli hoped it was Bruno at work. If it wasn't him then they were
in serious trouble./P
P align=justifyThe dolly closed her mouth with a teeth-jarring snap. /PI
P align=justifyWell at least that put paid to the scream./I Probably stopped
her from hyperventilating as well. Good things were starting to stack up -
slowly. Still dwarfed by the stack of bad things, even so./P
P align=justifyElli knelt down to take a better look at the geek. He wasn't
going anywhere, not without help. She tried pulling him to his feet, but he was
nothing but dead weight. The guy was out for…/P
P align=justify"You'll be OK if they stick to energy beam weapons," Miles
transmitted. "The light show will interfere. Elli. It's just pulse lasers. Drop
back and protect our investment."/P
P align=justifyThe pain was starting to make itself obvious in Elli's toe, the
one that kicked three kinds of snot out of the cleaning bot. "Yeah but if I take
one hit they'll know," she transmitted back, "and get out a projectile weapon.
I'll stick to running down these corridors thanks."/P
P align=justify"There's brownie points in it for you."/P
P align=justify"Yeah. Ten more and I'll have an elf." Elli climbed painfully,
but rapidly, back to her feet. "Bare-butted in a fire fight," she muttered.
"This is the last time I play Cyber-slut. She's dead from now on. OK?"/P
P align=justify"It's a role that you're cut out for."/P
P align=justify"I don't think so."/P
P align=justifyThe dolly was cowering by the wall, making a really small
target thankfully. IThis had better be worth it; /IElli cursed, casting a
withering glance the dolly's way and watching her searchingly./P
P align=justify"Yeah, well, Elli, they're able to track something," Miles
suggested. "Find out what it is and then get rid of it."/P
P align=justifyThe geek showed no sign of coming around soon. Bruno wouldn't
be able to hold them off long./P
P align=justify"It's the light show," she guessed wildly. "I'll bet you."/P
P align=justify"What are you going to do? Shut it down?"/P
P align=justify"Won't make any difference now. They know which way we're
headed. It's only the lifts leading to docking port down this way."/P
P align=justify"Of course, you're right. Imagine that…"/P
P align=justify"I don't need any sarcasm," she threw back. "And there's
probably only the one ship powered up and going live in the entire port. Am I
right?"/P
P align=justifyA delay. "Yeah."/P
P align=justify"Then we have big trouble Admiral You ready to defend your
spot?"/P
P align=justifyA report and a ricochet sounded in the corridor. The analysis
software in Elli's ear-eye piece projected the identification into her eye, a
self propelled explosive cartridge, still small calibre, low energy, all small
bore so far but... Bigger was probably an option. All she needed. IThey were
awake-up back there, bastards./I The interference pattern in her light show
was going to be no protection from here on in./P
P align=justifyShe grabbed the dolly by the arm and dragged her forcibly along
the corridor./P
P align=justify"Bruno!" Elli yelled over her shoulder. "Bring the geek."/P
P align=justifyBruno grunted something monosyllabic in reply./P
P align=justify"Left at the next branch," Miles transmitted. "I'm going to try
to lose them for you. It's a maintenance corridor."/P
P align=justify"What good will that do us?"/P
P align=justify"Confusion."/P
P align=justify"Is it quicker?"/P
P align=justify"No."/P
P align=justify"Then why are we doing it for?"/P
P align=justify"I can booby trap it."/P
P align=justify"OK, do it." To the dolly she added, "wait here." Elli spun on
her heel and sprinted back so she caught up with Bruno. "Left ahead," she told
him. He nodded and took one more shot down the apparently empty corridor. He
missed everything except the wall, but at least the corridor remained
essentially empty of threats./P
P align=justifyThat wasn't going to last long./PI
P align=justifyIt was time to run like hell, /IElli decided./P
P align=justifyBreathing laboured and legs pumping the sound of another whine
of ricocheted particles reminded Elli Quinn of their exposure. She hiccoughed
out one short hysterical bark that might have been the second cousin of laughter
at the errant thought that ran through her headI; As though I needed another
clue before I worked out that we're in deep shit. /IShe pounded along the
corridor, struggling to keep the dolly and Bruno-loaded-down-with-geek moving,
while staying far enough ahead of their pursuit so the upward curve of the floor
prevented a line of sight. It was all they could do. Elli brought up the rear,
not bothering to shoot just at the moment. Speed was more important for the next
few seconds. /P
P align=justify"Why are they shooting?" Elli demanded of Miles "I thought this
was just a corporate raid. Money only, none of this shit. This is serious."/P
P align=justify"I don't know," Miles transmitted. "I wasn't planning on this
sort of thing either Elli. See the bulkhead just ahead of you, that's it."/P
P align=justify"Yeah, got it."/P
P align=justifyThe maintenance tunnel was only half as big as the main
corridor, although it was tall enough, thankfully, for them to stand upright.
They ran onward. There was more light ahead and then a door resolved from behind
the curve of ceiling. Elli lined up the door catch and made straight for it. The
door gave way without a fight, but it was slow. Bruno caught up and dumped the
geek on the floor while he waited. For coverage, Bruno sighted along the
corridor behind them and let a few blasts off for form's sake. There were no
visible targets. All he did was blacken the wall and slag a bit of
carbon-fibre./P
P align=justifyA deadened click within the wall suggested machinery-in-action.
The lock release was the best sign that Elli had seen for a while. A sure sign
that Miles was still in the station operating system./P
P align=justify"Who's doing the shooting?" Elli asked. She hustled into the
corridor and scanned it for signs of life./P
P align=justify"Looks like the Cetagandans."/P
P align=justify"Not the local security?"/P
P align=justify"No."/P
P align=justify"I don't like that," Elli muttered thoughtfully. The door slid
fully open at last. Elli slipped through, checked that the corridor was clear
before giving a hand signal for the rest of them to follow. "What about the
local security? What're they doing?"/P
P align=justify"Not sure. They seem to be lost all of a sudden, lots of
milling around and hassling people without any real purpose. Lot of gear working
the net now though. Very confusing."/P
P align=justifyThe dolly slipped through the door behind Elli, still looking
dazed and confused. Elli pushed her against the wall so the doorway was clear
for Bruno et al./P
P align=justify"So they're not part of the interference we're getting?" Elli
concluded./P
P align=justify"Well… Not yet!"/P
P align=justify"Keep me updated on the status of the locals. They're the ones
that worry me the most."/P
P align=justify"You not worried about Cetagandans?"/P
P align=justify"Always, but they're a known quantity. Find 'em for me. Need to
know where they are, but I can deal if it comes to that. I can negotiate with
them. Not so easy with the locals."/P
P align=justifyBruno grabbed the geek by the hands and dragged him through the
doorway. He made the job look so easy; but then he out-massed Elli by almost a
hundred percent. IMost of it in muscle, including the bit between his
ears./P/I
P align=justify"I'm going to bring the geek," Elli transmitted. "Even in that
state."/P
P align=justify"Yeah. Take 'em both out with us," Miles transmitted. "We can
sort 'em out later. I don't want to leave anyone behind who might be able to
give a good ID."/P
P align=justify"Great minds…"/P
P align=justify"… think alike."/P
P align=justifyElli was thankful for that concession. The Cetagandans wouldn't
have thought twice about killing the geek if they were in the same position. It
was one of the reasons why Elli continued to work with the Dendarii Free
Mercenaries despite regularly fielding alternate offers. She had moral
standards./P
P align=justify"Bruno, carry the geek," she instructed, "like he's drunk and
we have to help him home."/P
P align=justifyBruno nodded. He might not be bright, but he followed
directions and he was loyal as hell. They began moving along the corridor again,
making much the same sort of progress they made during their previous
flight./P
P align=justifyThe uniform of a maintenance worker appeared from beneath the
curve of the ceiling, walking slowly toward them. Elli watched the woman's
progress carefully, wary of what might be going down. She wasn't carrying.
IProbably legitimate/I, Elli concluded./P
P align=justifyThey gathered themselves together and fussed past the
maintenance tech, sliding by in the narrow confines of the hallway with a bit of
cooperation./P
P align=justifyAnd then they were free of interference for a few blessed
seconds./P
P align=justifyElli turned to the dolly and with one glance made sure the girl
was still functional. She seemed to be OK, now. The worst of the hysterics
seemed to have passed but he eyes were still way too wide though, if Elli was
any judge. "Admiral, need directions," Elli demanded. "Which way?"/P
P align=justify"Keep following this corridor until you come to a yellow door
on your left."/P
P align=justify"Got it," Elli said out loud. "Bruno watch for signs of life,
but don't shoot anyone, especially if they're who we think they are."/P
P align=justify"The Cetagandans?" Bruno said simply. It was only half a
question. He didn't have the same level of interface with Miles Tended to
confuse him. ICouldn't parallel process worth a damn. Male thing,
/Ireflected Elli, Ithey were all much the same./I /P
P align=justifyBruno was staring through the partition back along the corridor
they had just come through, waiting for her to answer him. Noise from behind
them, someone being shoved out of the way./P
P align=justifyElli agreed with Bruno's guess then clapped him on the back. It
was time to hustle again./P
P align=justify/P
P align=justifyThey ran on. Elli dragged the dolly by the hand, struggling to
keep her upright and intact in their haste. It wasn't just that she had two left
feet, the girl had other issues to make life difficult, like a bit more bounce
and jiggle than Elli. The flowers she wore went no way toward being a foundation
garment. She was a bit lacking in aerobic fitness too, despite appearances. /P
P align=justifyBut overall the dolly's lack of physical performance was not
their major problem. Bruno was struggling beneath the bulk of the geek who was
hanging off his shoulder and slowing them all down to his level. It was a severe
limitation on their ground speed. But Elli was loath to leave him behind. INot
with the Cetagandans involved. No way!/P/I
P align=justifyElli relieved Bruno of his gun, Iseemed sensible./I It was
a lightweight carbon fibre framed contraption with an intelligent moulding to
adapt to the shape and action of her hand. She shucked the power pack out,
checked the I'mOK indications quickly, before slamming it back home. IBeta
Colony make the best gear,/I she told herself. /P
P align=justifyFrom her ear-eye's memory storage she selected its operating
system and interfaced it to the comp gear. Icons showing charge status and
sightlines appeared in her visual field, curtesy of the ear-eye-gun interface.
Gyro's kept the gun barrel vertical despite the bucking while being carried in
someone's hand. Running backwards, with nothing moving to aim for, she shot a
few walls to keep their pursuers in circumspect mode. Despite her efforts, the
sounds of pursuit came closer. She turned and ran some more, concentrating on
distance./P
P align=justify"Door ahead," Miles transmitted barely in time. Bruno almost
carried his burden past it./P
P align=justifyElli skidded to halt at the yellow door and pushed on the latch
mechanism. It wouldn't respond./P
P align=justifyAnother blast came from behind them, shattering another lump of
rock face. She whipped around, sighted and let a blast off in response. IAt
least there's none of them in front of us yet,/I she decided. It was small
comfort./P
P align=justify"How's our comms holding up?" Elli asked Miles worried now
about the lack of purpose in the pursuit. And then she was more worried by the
lack of response from the door./P
P align=justify"Still good," Miles's voice came through clear. "I told you
this encryption was good gear. We're still on the public web. You'll have line
of sight soon, won't be an issue then."/P
P align=justify"Need the door lock bypassed."/P
P align=justify"On it."/P
P align=justify"Well, hurry."/P
P align=justifyAnother rock shard broke from the wall and another shell
wheeeeed into the distance. A sharp pain told Elli that she had sprung a leak.
Blood trailed down her side./P
P align=justifySomeone grunted, but she didn't have time to find out who, or
why. The door sprang open. "Gotcha," chortled Miles into the link joining him to
Elli./P
P align=justifyThey tumbled into the corridor like the Keystone Kops on
steroids. The door slammed shut behind them like a guillotine. Elli blinked at
it mystified for a baffled second./P
P align=justify"Air-loss prevention bulkhead," Miles explained without being
asked. "You've just moved from one zone to another."/P
P align=justifyIt was no matter. "Where to from here?"/P
P align=justify"Head left. Then take the first right. That'll get you to an
elevator that will bring you right to me. Looks clear through there."/P
P align=justify"OK, got it."/P
P align=justifyElli wasn't waiting around or mucking about. Even this close to
their ship, it was essential that they hurry. They made it that far without
incident - it was her aim to keep it that way. /P
P align=justifyShe recognised where they were now. The corridor they were in
now was familiar from when they first arrived, the same scruffy marks on the
walls, the same dodgy paint and the same colours. IWas that only two days
ago?/I Elli marvelled.I Shit, how time flies while you're having
fun./P/I
P align=justifyThe elevator was already open, waiting for them./P
P align=justify"You got this slaved?" she asked Miles/P
P align=justify"Locked out of the web."/P
P align=justifyBruno clambered into the elevator with the geek slung over his
shoulder. Elli pushed the dolly through ahead of her. Another rock shard
exploded ahead of Elli and added that touch of urgency to her dive through the
door./P
P align=justifyThe elevator lurched upward - finally. Gravity gave way
disconcertingly quickly with elevation while they moved toward the docking hub.
And then they were in free fall./PI
P align=justifyAt least that's the first stage of pursuit behind us,/I Elli
thought while she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. As usual she felt the urge to
belch, and couldn't. It was damned uncomfortable having all her bodily organs in
her throat. IBackwoods hick station, /Ishe cursed inwardly. Until a couple
of days ago she thought artificial gravity was used universally./P
P align=justifyThe elevator door hissed open and spilled them through the
rotating bearing and into the docking bay. The airlock to their shuttle was
hanging in the corridor ahead of them, a yellow striped bulkhead, no different
to all the others that lined the docking cavity. /P
P align=justifyThe indications above the door flashed green, clear to open.
Elli bashed her fist against the release mechanism and spent an anxious moment
floating in space while she waited for the door. After the sword in scabbard
sound the door made whe it released she waved the rest of her entourage through.
Between them, all they could muster was a chaotic clamber through the lock and
into the shuttle./P
P align=justifyAnd all hell broke loose behind her, flame and noise, a wave of
heated air. The blast almost crashed Elli against the bulkhead, percussion shock
wave blasting through the orifice and buffeting them against the back wall of
the lock. /P
P align=justifySomeone screamed. Elli thought it might have been
her./P/BODY/HTML