Chapter 37
"The area is full of laser sensors," Lex replied as she looked out the launch window at the mass of mine shaped robots designed to fire upon anything that moved. The Macronesian president had obviously removed the welcome mat.
Reuban slowed the launch to a mere crawl and then pulled a tiny laptop computer out of his bag. "Pinball, anyone?" he asked with a grin as he began typing.
All eyes turned to the mine field ahead. Suddenly, the round orbs began spinning madly. One opened fire, shooting its neighbour. Withing seconds, the rest responded in kind, the water turbulent with simultaneous explosions.
"Very nice," Sean replied as the debris began to drift to the sea floor. Reuban grinned as he guided the launch towards the docking bay. Within moments the launch nudged the bay of the underwater station, accompanied by the hum of the vacuum seal tightening.
Once again Reuban reached into his bag of electronic goodies and pulled out a new gadget. After attaching it to the locking mechanism of the station, the team waited while it overrode the security system.
Lex braced herself as the door swung open. Sean peered into the brightly lit but empty hallway. "Alright, we'll split up. Dorion, you come with me. Reuban, you're with Lex."
"No." Dorion glared at him.
"I think, under the circumstances, it would be better if you accompanied me." Sean returned the glare, undaunted.
Lex's patience waned as time continued with neither man backing down. "This is ridiculous," she snapped. "While you two have your pissing contest, I'm going in to rescue my dad."
Shoving Dorion none too gently out fo the way, Lex headed down the left corridor.
"Stop!" Sean barked, causing Lex to turn around. "There could be explosives wired in the hallways."
"She'll be fine with me," Dorion cursed as he joined Lex, referring to his inhuman senses. Not wanting to waste any more precious time, Lex merely turned and followed him.
They walked in silence for minutes until Lex saw Dorion stiffen and stop. Coming to stand beside him, she waited while Dorion closed his eyes. A moment later they flew open.
"Two, in there," he said softly, pointing to a room on the right. Lex nodded and approached the room cautiously.
Flinging open the door, Lex strode into the room, Dorion close behind. The heavily armed men looked up in surprise before raising their weapons.
In a move too fast fo the human eye, Dorion leapt on the guard furthest from Lex. Lex turned her attention to the other guy. Ripping the gun from his fingers, she pulverized it with her hands, silently agreeing with Wendy's assessment of her armour.
The large guard regarded her in amazed alarm a moment before he rushed her. With the merest flick, Lex sent him flying across the room. He smashed into the far wall, sliding bonelessly to the floor.
"I like your style," Dorion said with a smirk as he tossed the second guard to the floor carelessly.
"Two down, seven to go," Lex replied returning to the hallway. Once again Dorion took the lead. Lex's headset crackled a second before she heard Sean's voice.
"We just took out three guards here. How are you doing?"
"We got two and we're moving in," Lex answered.
"I'm guessing the last three guards are with the hostages, and the president won't be too far away."
"My sensors are showing life signs in the central office. Head there," Reuban added.
"We're on our way," Lex replied. Even though Dorion wore no device, she knew his sensitive ears had picked up the transmissions.
Withing minutes, Sean and Reuban met them at a large door. "Perfect setup," Sean muttered appreciatively, eyeing the door darkly. "Only one way in, one way out."
"A smart, raving lunatic," Dorion grunted. "Will the fun ever end?"
All eyes turned to Lex. She took a deep breath and nodded. Reuban and Sean raised their weapons. A cold mask settled over Dorion's angular features. It was now or never.
Stepping to either side of her, the team watched and waited in anticipation as Lex raised her Talamyte reinforced leg. In one swift kick, the heavy door blew inward in pieces.
"The area is full of laser sensors," Lex replied as she looked out the launch window at the mass of mine shaped robots designed to fire upon anything that moved. The Macronesian president had obviously removed the welcome mat.
Reuban slowed the launch to a mere crawl and then pulled a tiny laptop computer out of his bag. "Pinball, anyone?" he asked with a grin as he began typing.
All eyes turned to the mine field ahead. Suddenly, the round orbs began spinning madly. One opened fire, shooting its neighbour. Withing seconds, the rest responded in kind, the water turbulent with simultaneous explosions.
"Very nice," Sean replied as the debris began to drift to the sea floor. Reuban grinned as he guided the launch towards the docking bay. Within moments the launch nudged the bay of the underwater station, accompanied by the hum of the vacuum seal tightening.
Once again Reuban reached into his bag of electronic goodies and pulled out a new gadget. After attaching it to the locking mechanism of the station, the team waited while it overrode the security system.
Lex braced herself as the door swung open. Sean peered into the brightly lit but empty hallway. "Alright, we'll split up. Dorion, you come with me. Reuban, you're with Lex."
"No." Dorion glared at him.
"I think, under the circumstances, it would be better if you accompanied me." Sean returned the glare, undaunted.
Lex's patience waned as time continued with neither man backing down. "This is ridiculous," she snapped. "While you two have your pissing contest, I'm going in to rescue my dad."
Shoving Dorion none too gently out fo the way, Lex headed down the left corridor.
"Stop!" Sean barked, causing Lex to turn around. "There could be explosives wired in the hallways."
"She'll be fine with me," Dorion cursed as he joined Lex, referring to his inhuman senses. Not wanting to waste any more precious time, Lex merely turned and followed him.
They walked in silence for minutes until Lex saw Dorion stiffen and stop. Coming to stand beside him, she waited while Dorion closed his eyes. A moment later they flew open.
"Two, in there," he said softly, pointing to a room on the right. Lex nodded and approached the room cautiously.
Flinging open the door, Lex strode into the room, Dorion close behind. The heavily armed men looked up in surprise before raising their weapons.
In a move too fast fo the human eye, Dorion leapt on the guard furthest from Lex. Lex turned her attention to the other guy. Ripping the gun from his fingers, she pulverized it with her hands, silently agreeing with Wendy's assessment of her armour.
The large guard regarded her in amazed alarm a moment before he rushed her. With the merest flick, Lex sent him flying across the room. He smashed into the far wall, sliding bonelessly to the floor.
"I like your style," Dorion said with a smirk as he tossed the second guard to the floor carelessly.
"Two down, seven to go," Lex replied returning to the hallway. Once again Dorion took the lead. Lex's headset crackled a second before she heard Sean's voice.
"We just took out three guards here. How are you doing?"
"We got two and we're moving in," Lex answered.
"I'm guessing the last three guards are with the hostages, and the president won't be too far away."
"My sensors are showing life signs in the central office. Head there," Reuban added.
"We're on our way," Lex replied. Even though Dorion wore no device, she knew his sensitive ears had picked up the transmissions.
Withing minutes, Sean and Reuban met them at a large door. "Perfect setup," Sean muttered appreciatively, eyeing the door darkly. "Only one way in, one way out."
"A smart, raving lunatic," Dorion grunted. "Will the fun ever end?"
All eyes turned to Lex. She took a deep breath and nodded. Reuban and Sean raised their weapons. A cold mask settled over Dorion's angular features. It was now or never.
Stepping to either side of her, the team watched and waited in anticipation as Lex raised her Talamyte reinforced leg. In one swift kick, the heavy door blew inward in pieces.