“All clear!” She shouted to be heard. Then she was swept into Creeks arms. She wrapped her arms around him and clung. She didn’t want to let go. Not only because his strength was reassuring, but because lethargy dragged against her body. And fresh air had done nothing to aid her vision. Not now. This couldn’t be happening now. The barks of the other Arena Dogs called Creek’s attention back to them.
Another group came up the stairs. Mercury gathered the guards’ weapons and passed them out among the team, then one by one they slipped out into the hall.
“Seneca told us what was happening.” Creek slipped one of the guns into her hand. “Wait for Feeona to hack the last lock then get her and your sister back to Feeona’s ship.”
Grace leaned back, letting the counter behind her take some of her weight. “You’ll be careful.”
Creek nodded. “This time we know what we’re up against and surprise is on our side. This will be easy.” Then he was gone.
Grace found her sister getting water from a container in the corner. Her hands were shaking, and Grace had to help her open the water and lift it. “Go to the sink and splash some water in your face. It should help.”
Her sister did as she suggested and that left Grace to find some way to secure Smith. The older woman was in rough shape, wheezing and crying. Grace couldn’t muster up any sympathy for her as she tightened a length of flexi-tubing around her wrists. “You chose the wrong side of this war.”
Smith coughed. “I’m not a soldier, just a scientist. You of all people should understand. We just follow the science.”
“Setting the science aside for a moment, how do you justify what you’ve done to Jenny?”
“I tried to tell them I didn’t need her. Owens isn’t a man you disappoint.”
Feeona came up the stairs from the basement with Bug hovering over her shoulder. “Well, he’s going to have to get used to disappointment.”
Grace looked up into Feeona’s face. “You’re amazing.”
“You’re damned amazing yourself. Now let’s get the hard drive from the computer and get out of here before any of these guards regain consciousness.” She reached out a hand to help Grace up and Grace took it, trying to cover her weakness.
Luckily the door to the office had remained open during all the commotion. Feeona went in and got to work.
Jennifer came up to Grace’s side. “You okay?”
Grace leaned heavily against a counter again. “My vision is a little dark around the edges.”
Jennifer slipped an arm around her waist. “You need to sit down.”
“No. There’s no time.” She shifted her weight from the counter to her sister as they watched Feeona through the open doorway. She removed the hard drive like it was child’s play.
Feeona’s brow furrowed as she studied them. “Everything okay?”
“Yes.” Grace straightened up as she rushed to speak. “Everything’s fine. The guys have got this and we need to get to your ship.”
Feeona studied her for a moment then headed for the doorway to the hall. Grace breathed a sigh of relief. She could make it and the men wouldn’t be far behind. Like Creek said, this time surprise was on their side.
Chapter Thirty-Three
RomaResearchFacility,PlanetAB-93289
Earth Alliance Beta Sector
2210.205
Creek crept up the west staircase of the two-level barracks, trying to keep his head in the fight. It was only natural that he felt uncomfortable leaving Grace to fend for herself, especially when her scent had been a touch off. He had to remember his butterfly was strong and he wouldn’t have to be away from her much longer.
They’d already secured the ground floor, but most of the guards had still been in their beds on the second floor after a long night. Unfortunately, the shots fired below meant those men would no longer be sleeping. No one could be sure how many weapons they’d face. He heard the door to the stairway open above and waited for footsteps. Before they came, he heard fighting from the other end of the building.
Whoever had opened the door above him was smart enough not to charge down, thinking they could escape easily in this direction. It left him with only one option. He positioned himself carefully then leaped the rest of the way to the top of the stairs. With one kick he was through the door and the two men who’d stood there were on their backs beneath the slab of broken wood. A jab to the neck put down one man and a punch to the face left the other unconscious before either could get off a single shot.
The fighting continued at the other end of the barracks, and he was about to start clearing the rooms on his end when realization stopped him. Grace had been shaky in his arms. She’d barely lifted the gun when he placed it in her hand. Something was wrong. There was a feminine shout from below and in an instant his worry for Grace overwhelmed him.
He let out a howl to let the others know he was leaving and vaulted over the staircase railing, crashing onto the ground floor. He sprinted back toward the lab building and smashed through the door to find chaos. But it wasn’t the type of fight he’d been expecting.