Chapter Five

Steve knelt beside Jaime's prone body, trying to will her to open her eyes. More than two hours had passed since she'd been dropped at his feet minus her power source, and he had no idea what sort of effect his solution might ultimately have on her, but at least she was still alive. He felt himself growing weaker again, and knew he had to hurry up and make another switch. If he passed out, they'd both be dead. No one had come to torment them further, and Steve was beginning to think they were alone in the building. The sudden thunder of an army of footsteps coming up the stairs told him he was wrong. Was it still New Destiny, or had a rescue team finally come?

Steve completed the needed switch and almost immediately, Jaime's face began turning a deathly shade of bluish-white. The instant he felt strength returning to his own body, he began another hurried switch, knowing they didn't have much time left.

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Oscar stood just outside the entrance to the building, listening closely for any news on his DataCom radio. Russ was hurrying toward him, with three men bringing up the rear, leading an indignant and handcuffed Hansen straight to Oscar.

"Seems everyone else took off," Russ told his boss. "Found this one jamming a briefcase full of electronic parts on his way out the back door."

Oscar handed the briefcase to Rudy, who had just arrived next to him. Rudy looked inside. "It's one of the power cells," the doctor said.

Hansen grinned menacingly. "Been almost three hours since we took it; she's long dead by now. Might still find the other one, though."

Before anyone could stop him, Oscar drew his arm back and then, with every bit of his strength, sent his fist directly into Hansen's stomach, knocking him to the ground. "Where are they?" he demanded, standing directly over Hansen and not allowing him to get up. Hansen merely laughed. Oscar brought his foot down into the same spot where he'd punched him. "Tell me where they are, or next you'll feel this boot in your damned face!" Oscar began turning purple with rage, and the operatives pulled him off of the NSB director, who was gasping for air.

"Second floor...first door on the right, down the hall...last cell on the left."

"The keys." Oscar said firmly. "Now."

"My shirt pocket. Can't really get 'em for you right now."

Oscar had the keys in his hand and was flying up the stairs before the men had Hansen on his feet. Rudy called for the medics to follow with both stretchers and headed in after his friend.

They stopped in front of the cell just long enough to unlock the door, and the sight that greeted them broke both Oscar and Rudy's hearts. Steve and Jaime were both lying on the floor, unconscious or dead, each with a hole where their power cells would go, and the one remaining power cell lay on the floor, still partially grasped in Steve's hand. He had one arm protectively around Jaime, as though his last act before passing out was to reach for her.

Rudy got down on the floor to check his patients. "They're alive!" he exclaimed to Oscar. "Both of them. Tell the medics to hurry - Jaime's in rough shape."