Page 36 of Heart's Keeper

Elise had stood back up and looked ready to clock Jameson in the face when her techband went off. Nezka's voice, angry and on edge, confirmed he was ready to come to her aid, but Elise quickly told him to stand down. Lana was searching above, wondering where he hid, when Jameson began to pull at her again.

"You are making a mistake," Lana said, struggling. She looked to Bo and the other researchers whose expressions were distraught. "When the hunters come, we are going to fight them. But we can't guarantee we can protect you all."

"There will be no need, Dr. Hart," Tabara replied. "Understand, however, if you get in our way, my men will be forced to take your people out as well."

Elise cursed at him, and Lana told her not to fight them. The men tried to lead them to the exit as Lana's techband went off.

"Lana," came Xilya's voice. "Can you hear me?"

Lana tore her arm away from another man who tried to grab at her. "Yes, I'm here."

"What are you saying?" Jameson snapped, giving her a confused look as she spoke in vrishan.

"The tracker has found them," Xilya said. "They are here."

Lana tried to stop, but Jameson twisted her around to face him and tried to grab for her band.

"Wait!" Lana cried.

"If you're trying to plan some attack against us, it won't work," Jameson growled.

"It's not! It's one of my team on the ship." She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her go.

"Get off her," Elise snapped. She mumbled another curse as a man shoved her, and she retaliated by grabbing hold of his wrist and snapping it back. The man barked in pain as she kicked another away, then quickly unclipped her gun and aimed it at Jameson.

The men brought up their own guns and aimed them at her.

"No, don't," Lana said. She looked at Jameson. "They are here. They are coming."

Jameson stared down at her with an angry glare. "Why should we believe you?"

One of the gyda researchers—a female—came running up, looking at Bo. "A reading," she said between clicks, her gills trembling. "Several ships approaching."

Bo looked at Mr. Tabara, wide-eyed and speechless. Tabara turned to his men and nodded. "Ready yourselves. It's time."

Without hesitation, the men with their guns aimed at Elise dropped them and dispersed, some going for the mech suits, others exiting the building.

"What about these two?" Jameson asked, shaking Lana's arm.

"Forget them now. Lead them to the gate, and get yourself on the wall." Tabara started back up the stairs. "Our mission is more important." He stopped for a moment to give them one last glance and said, "Remember, do not get in our way."

He left them, returning to somewhere unseen from the floor above. Jameson brought Lana closer to him to shield himself from Elise's aim. "I'm not letting her go till we are at the gate, so you either come or you don't."

Lana locked eyes with Elise and nodded. "It's all right, let's just leave."

Elise dropped her gun reluctantly. "Fine, let's go."

As Jameson started to lead Lana out of the building with Elise, Lana looked over one last time to Bo. "Get to safety," she called out. "Hide if you can."

Bo nodded and turned away, ordering the others to stop their work and follow her.

Outside, a siren began to wail. People ran in every direction—the residents of the station into buildings and the soldiers toward the walls. Jameson walked them to the gate but stopped just before reaching it. He looked around, then led them toward a set of stairs along the wall instead.

"Where are you taking us?" Elise said. "Hey!" She brought up her gun once more. "Enough of this! Let her go. We are leaving like your boss ordered."

Jameson stopped and turned back. "I ain't gonna let you just walk out of here when you and your team are a threat to our mission."

"Like hell," Elise said.

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