Chapter Thirty-Five

Break-In

In the isolation room, Amanda was reading the most recent report Roxell had downloaded into her laptop computer when she heard a noise outside in the hall. She put the unit aside, thinking it to be yet another visitor. She was right. Only this time the visitor wore a mask and was armed. A second and third followed, each wearing a mask of a different color (red, blue and black) that they used to designate one another.

The intruders dragged the body of the door guard in behind them, dumping him face down on the floor. Dr. Spencer's trained eye had already assessed the man's injuries in a glance. He had several stab wounds in his upper body, any one of which would be fatal if not treated immediately. Not that that would have mattered as the intruders went on to cut his throat. The unfortunate guard lay twitching and gurgling horribly as his life slowly ebbed away.

Amanda was on her feet before she realized, her hands to her mouth. A frightened cry escaped her when Red grabbed her by the hair and pressed an old style handgun against the back of her neck.

"Scream and you'll have a permanent hole in your pretty little head," he snarled.

The petrified physician was roughly spun around and shoved up against the wall where her hands were tied behind her. "No, please, this must be a mistake," she said shakily as the rope was coiled around her arms.

Checking a photograph, Red grunted. "No mistake."

A frightened whimper escaped the terrified woman as a gag was thrust into her mouth. Then a black hood was pulled over her head and tied into place. When her assailants were satisfied she could not escape, they unceremoniously dragged her into the hallway and toward the back of the house.

"Don't look like nobody's up yet," Amanda heard Blue say in a disappointed tone.

"Too early," Black snorted.

"Too bad. I was hopin' to take out a few more of them stiffs before we left."

The image of the dying guard they had left in her room made Amanda shudder. Then her captors started to laugh and she felt sick.

It was at this exact moment that Commander Tolan arrived. He had been planning to set up a security site, just as Bowen mentioned, and was irritated when informed Starbridge still had a transmat operating on an open frequency. A blatant violation of Security Alert Two. What was Fane playing at? Surely he'd had enough time to get the house in order.

The Commander was composing a lengthy dressing down of his Lieutenant as he stepped into the transmat on the ship. A speech that was quickly forgotten the moment he materialized in the receiving bay, the room around him a shambles. It took only a moment for Tolan to find the critically injured Lieutenant Fane buried beneath the mountain of boxes. He was in the process of throwing cartons out of the way when Constance materialized behind him.

"Tolan, what on earth—?" she said in bewilderment.

"It's Fane," came the breathless reply. "He's hurt."

The appalled Constance joined him in pulling boxes away, and then knelt beside the downed officer. "He's alive," she said in relief, "but barely breathing. Tolan, you need to get Roxell here immediately."

Despite his personal feelings, Tolan's primary duty was clear. "We need to secure the house first," he said, looking over at the officer who had just arrived on the transmat pad.

"Tolan!"

"He may not be the only casualty!" the Commander snapped. He gave her a pained look before turning to his second Lieutenant and ordering him to contact the ship to have a squad of men, and whoever had medical training, sent down immediately. Pulling the radio from Fane's belt, he called for the Starbridge security team to report in. All units reported back except one. Lieutenant Bowen came on to inform him that this was the guard on Dr. Spencer's room.

"There are intruders in the building, Lieutenant," the Commander said as he and his men made for the isolation room. "Keep the Royals and the residents within the secured areas until cleared."

Tolan found the guard's body where he had been dumped and cursed under his breath. He was about to call the other teams when his radio came to life on its own. "Commander, the security seals on the door to the access tunnels have been broken."

"I'm on my way," he acknowledged, ordering one of the men with him to stay with the downed officer.

The access tunnels were a series of subterranean corridors leading to different areas throughout the estate, one of which led to the docking bay containing Jason's shuttlecraft. It was at the entrance to this tunnel that the intruders were found.

"Stop where you are!" Tolan commanded. "You're under arrest."

Red cursed and pulled his captive further along the tunnel.

"Just leave her," Blue said coldly. "We can make a break for it. She's just slowin' us down."

"Are you nuts?" Black snapped angrily. "We don't get paid for undelivered goods."

The captive Amanda was roughly pulled to the floor where she hoped they would leave her. To her utter despair, Red lashed her to a support pole and said, "Now don't you run off on me."

"Will you come on!" Black called. "She's not goin' anywhere. Give us a hand. We can take these guys."

The three intruders had been prepared for resistance, but not a military assault. The engagement was short and swift, Tolan's Imperial Guardsmen descending with exacting precision. Realizing they were beaten, the three broke ranks and ran.

With no way of knowing the outcome, Amanda vainly struggled to free herself, becoming all the more frantic once the shooting stopped. She was discovered by Commander Tolan, who found himself strangely relieved when he saw the securely bound and struggling form. There could be no doubting she was being removed from the house against her will. He knelt down beside her, causing her to panic when he touched her. "It's alright, don't be afraid," he soothed, untying the hood and pulling it off. "It's me. Tolan."

Amanda stared at him in disbelief. Of all the people in the universe, he was the last one she thought she would ever be overjoyed to see.

"It's only me," he said again, carefully removing the gag from her mouth.

"Oh, Tolan!" Amanda exclaimed in relief. She leaned against him and started to cry. He held her awkwardly a moment, quietly reassuring her before searching his pockets for something to cut her loose.

From out of the gloom, Red silently moved in behind the Alterran officer. He would be imprisoned for life for what he had done, if not put to death. What did it matter if he killed one more soldier? Silently, he leveled his weapon.

Dr. Spencer looked up and caught her breath, alerting the Commander of the man's presence a split second before she called out a warning. "Tolan! Behind you!"

The Alterran made a rolling dive the instant Red fired. Coming up with his weapon, Tolan fired, downing the intruder with a stun blast. As he got to his feet, he gave the inert form a look of utter revulsion mixed with murderous rage. The sound of running feet made him look up sharply and turn, weapon at the ready. He relaxed visibly when he saw it to be his own men, holstering his weapon.

One of the men noticed his commanding officer holding his left arm in obvious pain. "Commander, you're hurt."

Tolan waved a hand dismissively. "I pulled my shoulder," he said tersely before ordering the unconscious Red taken into custody. He cut the shaken Amanda free, helping her to her feet before turning over to his subordinates, knowing she would be more comfortable with anyone other than himself. "Corporal, Miss Legrand needs medical attention. See to it she gets it," he ordered before leaving the area.

Had the Doctor been present, he would have been impressed again at how Tolan effortlessly took command of the situation. Once the intruders were in custody and onboard the command ship, the Commander was issuing orders left and right. Medics were dispatched. A second security sweep was made and additional men were brought down and placed on exterior watch of the house. Within half an hour, Starbridge was completely secure.

Trusting his instincts yet again, Tolan upgraded the Alert Status to Level One, which essentially sealed off the house. The main transmat was keyed to a security channel and the others were disconnected entirely. With this done, the Commander went to personally check on the well being of the manor's residents and Royal guests. He was relieved to find everyone unharmed and bursting with curiosity as to what was going on, no one having heard anything out of the ordinary until the shooting started. Upon hearing this, Tolan immediately changed his opinion concerning the prince's accommodations. It had annoyed him considerably when he originally learned them to be on the top floor. Now they seemed the safest place in the building.

The Doctor was the first to notice the dark stain growing on the officer's dark uniform. He asked, offhandedly, if he might be allowed to observe when the intruders were questioned. While this was highly unusual, Tolan did not hesitate, saying yes immediately. He had learned to trust the Time Lord's instincts. He later learned to be suspicious of his motives. The moment they were in the hallway, the Doctor took him by the arm and told him in no uncertain terms that they were going to the medical wing where he could be treated.

"Doctor, this is completely unnecessary," Tolan protested. "Roxell's got enough real injuries to deal with. I'm not going to bother her with a muscle strain."

"Enough real injuries?" the Doctor repeated unbelievingly. "My dear Tolan, when was the last time you saw a strained muscle bleed?"

"What?" The puzzled Alterran touched his aching shoulder and was shocked when his hand came away with blood on it. "Well I'll be…" Looking up, he said in amazement, "Doctor, I think I've been shot."