"Tess, center yourself."
Tess squeaked. The haz-mat material of her sleeves slid against Ashelin's cap. She planted one foot on each side of Ashelin's neck and held on tight.
"Thanks," said Ashelin. She turned a corner and ran on. "I don't know how Jak can stand all that weight on one side." The alleyway narrowed and ended at a cement building. It was dull next to its metallic neighbors, which reflected the tangle of omnipresent logo light. Ashelin slowed to a jog and jumped up onto a window ledge. She teetered; Tess gasped. Ashelin braced herself. She peeled the slippery haz-mat gloves off and handed them up to Tess, who tucked them under her headband.
Ashelin studied the wall rising above them. She pulled out her gun and shot a few lights. Tess curled her tail close; the glass tinkled as it fell past. Ashelin took a deep breath in through her nose and stretched her arms. As she exhaled, she grabbed a nearby ledge. She swung. Tess gulped as Ashelin pulled her legs up and pressed herself against the wall.
Ashelin scaled the building, breathing deep and loud, sticking to the shadowed vertical path she'd made when she shot the lights. When a window ledge crumbled, she retraced her climb. She looked up, concentrating, shifting carefully so Tess had a scrap of fabric to hold onto.
When they reached the top, Tess scrambled onto the graveled roof first. "Wow!" she said. "That takes a lot of strength. I don't think I could do that."
Ashelin grunted and heaved herself up. She stood slowly and rotated her shoulders. "It takes focus." She flexed her fingers. "And training and practice."
Tess nodded.
They spared a moment to take in the city. They stood on a rather tall, elderly cement behemoth of a building. In the distance, the fog, smog, and night sky rolled into a blackish cloud. Bar neon and vehicle lights splayed from it in all directions, occluded by apartment buildings and factory smoke stacks.
"It's… almost pretty."
"Humph." Ashelin glanced northeast, where Haven would be. "Let's go."
She crunched across the gravel to the emergency exit. "Stand back." Ashelin shot the access pad and kicked the rusty door open. She stepped forward carefully, feeling for a stairway or ladder. "It's an empty shaft. Maybe elevator."
"How are we going to get down?"
Ashelin dropped a piece of gravel down the shaft. It hit bottom and echoed. "It's not too far. Stay there." She squatted and stuck a foot out. When her boot touched the wall, she kicked her other leg out underneath her and screeched a little ways down the shaft. She straightened her legs and stood. Ashelin anchored her arms against opposite walls. "Jump. Keep your weight centered by my waist."
Tess crossed her fingers and jumped into the darkness.
Ashelin bent her knees, alternating her foot and handholds as they descended. She went as quickly as she could; the walls were patches of rough metal, pipes and thick, greased cable lines.
Tess looked up, where gray light filtered in through the emergency exit. Ashelin's forehead was dotted with sweat, her circular tattoos just visible. There were no other lights, not even tiny red blinkers for repairmen.
"What's the plan?" whispered Tess.
Ashelin didn't answer. She breathed, her limbs shuddering from the strain. A few minutes later, she inhaled sharply.
"What's wrong?" asked Tess, straining her eyes.
"Jump down."
"But there's-"
"Do it!"
Tess swallowed and loosened her grip. She fell backwards into blackness. Before she could scream, she hit the ground. Her dT waistband tinged on impact. "Ow! Oh. I think… we're ok?"
"Move," said Ashelin. Tess scrambled blindly for the wall and pushed herself against it. Ashelin landed with a thud and the floor shook. Cables creaked.
Ashelin groaned and stood. "This is the top of the elevator."
Something new wafted through the smell of metal and oil. Tess sniffed the air. "What's that?"
"Cut my hand."
"Oh no! Are you okay?"
"Fine." Ashelin kneeled and felt around the plated floor. "There has to be an access panel. Help me find it."
Tess patted the floor, feeling along the lines and grooves. Her haz-mat clothing slid around, almost rasping. Tess shuddered as her fingers trailed over warm, wet spots on the metal. She wiped her hands on her shirt. "Um." The darkness crowded her, pushing her fur down, making her feel even smaller. "Um."
"Spit it out."
"How did you know Rayn had Bullet X?"
Ashelin lowered her voice. "Jinx's been acting as a spy for me here in Kras. He mentioned a couple things he found that reminded me of Praxis' work. You confirmed my suspicions in the freighter when you said it was made of blue and dark eco."
Tess frowned. "Praxis?"
"Bullet X is a reconstruction of one of his weapon projects. Krew stole information from the Palace and passed it on to Rayn in his diaries."
"Oh."
"I'm doubly pissed, now. I knew she had some of our records, but I didn't realize how many. Or how important. She could have everything- Haven financials, government secrets, the dark warrior project info, other weapon projects."
Tess blinked. "How many weapon projects were there?"
"A lot." Ashelin swore. "If I ever see her again, I'll snap her neck myself."
"Is this it?" Tess pulled. A crack of light shone through.
"Yeah." Ashelin wormed her fingers under. "Pull."
The panel came up easily. Ashelin squinted against the light and dropped into the elevator. Tess followed. "Oh. Your hand!"
"Stupid elevator shaft," Ashelin said. A ragged cut bled from her palm. With her other hand, she retrieved a small package, like the condiment packets at the Naughty Ottsel. She ripped it open with her teeth and squeezed green eco salve onto the wound.
Tess pulled her headband off and tied the gloves tight around Ashelin's hand. She patted the makeshift bandage. "I hope it feels better soon."
"It should heal fast," muttered Ashelin. She stood and pushed some buttons. "We need to hurry. This building is the public façade of Rayn's business. It's connected to her HQ by a covered pedestrian walkway on the third floor." The elevator doors slid open.
"Hello," said Shiv, leveling his gun at Ashelin's neck.
These girls can't get a break!