Unchained (33 page)

“
Once inside, we are faced
with another problem.” He pointed out a highlighted tube running
from the lower level to the top through the center of the tower.
“This is the only lift in the structure. It will be automatically
locked out the minute our assault begins on the tower. However,
there are access points throughout the building.” He ordered the
access tubes and stairs lit up on the schematic and turned to the
group. “Unfortunately, each access shaft is located at a different
point on each level. They don’t line up from floor to
floor.”

Grey noted with dismay that the units would
have to scale to one level, then locate the next access point and
scale that one and so on. Without the lift, getting from the lower
level to the upper level would be a slow and exhausting effort, not
to mention nearly impossible without a map.

Fiske added, “You will all be issued
micropads containing the tower’s structure and access points. I
suggest you memorize the points in case the micropads are lost or
confiscated.”

He returned to the attack plan. “We have no
choice but to charge the access shafts one at a time and overwhelm
any guard units by sheer numbers alone. I estimate the total
elapsed time to reach Tausek’s chambers under optimal conditions
via this method will be twenty-five minutes.”

Grey and Cidra’s eyes
met.
Twenty-five minutes alone and unarmed
with Tausek
.

Fiske continued unaffected. “If our attack
is discreet, we may be able to access the lift. However, you must
take a tower guard with you or the lift system will not operate. It
is programmed for their embedded ID units. Via the lift, arrival
time is thirty seconds.”

Plass spoke up. “Once you reach the top,
your first priority is to rescue Grey and Cidra. Your second
mission is to capture Tausek any way you can, preferably
alive.”

All heads nodded in understanding.

Lieutenant Fiske began handing out the
miniature micropads. “These micropads contain all the information
you should need. We will drop out of hyperspace over Dakru in one
hour. Be ready to deploy seconds after that.”

“
Any questions?” Plass
asked the group.

When no one spoke up, Plass dismissed them.
He turned to Grey and Cidra. “Join me in my executive quarters. I
want to explain the communications plan.”

Plass smiled at the chaos surrounding his
transport jet docked in the main landing bay located on Dakru’s
Principal Transportation Center. With its contemporary architecture
and gleaming interior, the preeminent transportation center
showcased the very best of Dakru for all the delegates and
foreigners who visited the planet. It was a far cry from the slave
bays on the outer edges of the city.

As he had hoped, the confusion caused by
their unexpected arrival at the Transportation Center instead of
the orbital station worsened an already frenzied situation. Traffic
in and out of Dakru before the biggest celebration of the decade
had pushed the city’s transportation centers to the limit. This
terminal was no exception. The atmosphere bordered on riotous as
people moved in waves and currents throughout the terminal. Muffled
announcements blared overhead. Arguments arose over the precious
few public ground shuttles.

Plass stood outside their transport flanked
by Fiske and their prisoners, Grey and Cidra. Although Plass and
Fiske had not been placed in restraints, they had been disarmed.
Four security guards surrounded them, weapons ready, unsure what to
do with the unanticipated group. An endless stream of people milled
around them, eyeing the proceedings with curiosity.

The Commander glanced at Grey and Cidra.
Side by side, they appeared calm even with their hands locked
behind them. Plass had not told the guards who his prisoners were.
He couldn’t risk a glory-hungry guard with a quick draw. He prayed
no one would recognize them until Stoll arrived.

Finally, the Head Security guard appeared.
He looked haggard and frustrated as he wordlessly motioned for the
entire group to follow him. The churning crowd gave the armed
escort a wide berth as they approached the bank of lifts. The Head
guard activated one of the lifts.

After the doors slid shut,
Grey felt the brief sensation of falling. They were going
underground just as Plass had predicted. It wasn’t good, but at
least it was expected. He tested the strength of the
restraints.
They
were not part of the plan.

He slid Cidra a cautious glance. She was
taking in all the details, checking the guard’s weapons, watching
for weaknesses. He suppressed a smile. No other person in this room
knew what she was capable of.

The lift halted almost immediately. The door
opened into a wide, deep tunnel lined with endless doors and rooms.
The stone walls were dark with black dirt, smudged and smeared by
people and vehicles that rubbed against them. Harsh overhead lights
ran down the center of the corridor ceiling casting a sickly green
glow over everything. The air hung thick and foul. An insidious low
hum seemed to vibrate from the walls themselves.

At gunpoint, Grey, Cidra, Plass, and Fiske
were ushered down the corridor and into a small, dingy room. Grey
studied the strange marks on the walls and floor. It took him a
moment to recognize the substance that created the stains as blood.
This was an interrogation room. He tugged on the wrist restraints
instinctively. Then he caught Cidra’s eye and gave her a reassuring
smile, hoping to keep her distracted from the room’s horrible
distinction.

Grey and Cidra were halted in the center of
the room behind Plass and Fiske as a door in front of them opened
admitting a tall man followed by two guards. Grey eyed the lead
man, no doubt Plass’ replacement. The new Commander was a big
bastard. Tall and broad with an arrogant saunter that made Grey
dislike him on sight. Chin-length, jet-black hair was combed
straight back from his forehead. His upper lip was curled in a
permanent sneer. His eyes conveyed power and hate. Grey’s dislike
turned to concern.

Plass regarded Commander Stoll with amused
contempt. He knew Stoll as a man who backed a guaranteed winner. It
didn’t matter whether the cause was just or whether the fight was
fair as long as victory was assured.

But there was another factor that made Stoll
dangerous. He had tried and failed the discipline and rigors of
d’Hont training. It was a failure that fueled his ruthless disdain
for them. Tausek had picked the perfect man to harness and shackle
the d’Hont.

Stoll stopped directly in front of Plass,
using his size to intimidate the smaller man. His smile was
superior and arrogant. “Welcome home, Ex-Commander.”

“
Stoll.” Plass ignored the
Commander’s position.

The new Commander’s face turned cruel. A
slow smile returned as he looked at Lieutenant Fiske and nodded.
“Welcome back, Lieutenant. I see our plan worked perfectly. You
have served me well.”

Plass turned to Fiske, his eyes
narrowing.

Lieutenant Fiske saluted and stepped forward
to address Stoll. “Yes, sir. I apologize for the loss of
communication for a short time. It was beyond my control. However,
the mission was a success regardless. The Ex-Commander is all
yours.”

Cidra rocked on her feet. One look at Plass’
pale face told her that this was not part of the plan. Fiske had
betrayed them.

Stoll grinned like a lunatic at Plass. “You
failed. You should have checked out your crew more thoroughly.
Lieutenant Fiske works for me.”

Plass continued to stare tight-lipped at
Fiske. “You’ve seen the evidence yourself. How can you deny the
facts?”

The young Lieutenant snorted. “I don’t know
how you live with those high moral standards you have. Did it ever
occur to you that I don’t care how Tausek came to power? I have my
own position to think about.”

“
You bastard,” Grey
snarled. He dove forward and head-butted Fiske in the stomach. They
both hit the wall with a resounding thud.

“
Grey, stop it,” Cidra
shouted. Fiske gripped Grey by the shirt and pinned him back
against the wall.

Drawn by her outburst, Stoll turned his full
attention to Cidra as he took a slow walk around her. The hair
stood up on the back of her neck.

“
A live Faulkner. Tausek
will be most pleased to see you.” He stopped in front of her, his
gaze drifting down her body.

Cidra felt the chill descend over her.
Although he was inches from her, she couldn’t feel any warmth
emanating from him. The cold blue eyes that met hers had no
depth.

“
Most pleased,” he repeated
slowly. Cidra froze under his lurid gaze.

He spun around and motioned to two of the
guards. “Take Plass to the detention center. The prisoners will
accompany me to Tausek’s tower.”

Fiske stood at attention next to Stoll.
“Request permission to join you, sir. I would like very much to see
this mission through to the end.”

Stoll nodded and walked out of the room.

“
It’s show time, gents.
Mind your manners now,” Rourke said as he released the hatch door
of the transport. He took one step out of the craft onto the
landing bay platform on Dakru and came face to face with the
spitting end of a laser rifle.

“
Howdy, boys.” He grinned
wide at two stone-faced entry guards. Decker and Barrios exited
behind him.

The transportation center they had been
directed to on their entry into the Capital City bustled with
activity. An astonishing assortment of species and races crammed
the landing bay, most looking destitute. The smells of food cooking
close-by wafted above the stench of body odor. The landing bay must
have been impressive once, but signs of decay appeared everywhere:
cracked and broken windows, the floor indistinguishable under the
layers of dirt, the walls lined with beggars and thieves.

From amid the madness, the Head security
officer appeared and demanded to see their IDs. As he verified them
in the security system, another guard began a man-to-man body
search.

“
You boys don’t talk much,
do you?” Rourke persisted as the guard roughly frisked
him.

The Head security guard glared at him.
“Quiet. Your identification checks out.” He motioned to a pair of
armed guards. “These are your escorts for the duration of your stay
on Dakru.”

He addressed the guards. “Shuttle them to
the stage area and their quarters.” Handing the ID’s back, he said
matter-of-factly. “You will be shot if you are caught without
escorts.”

“
Their welcome committee
could use some work,” Barrios muttered to Rourke as the Head
security guard disappeared into the crowd without another
word.

They boarded the small, fully enclosed
shuttle with the guards taking positions in the front. Rourke and
Decker sat behind them, with Barrios in the rear just in front of
the band’s equipment and luggage.

The shuttle leapt forward and exited the
landing bay structure. Dakru spread out before them. The dismal
view didn’t get any better. Even at this time of the morning, it
was a dark, solemn city. Rundown one- and two-story buildings
crowded the litter-lined streets. The inhabitants looked like
walking dead, their faces and eyes sunken as they moved along in
slow motion.

Barrios grimaced. “What a pit.”

Decker whispered back to him. “Imagine what
it looked like before they cleaned it up for the big
celebration.”

Pointing to pictures of Tausek plastered on
every structure, Barrios said, “At least we know what the arrogant
bastard looks like.”

Rourke caught Decker’s eye and discreetly
slipped the concealed Flint laser pistol from his jacket. He had
lifted it when they transferred the equipment. Decker smiled back
and slipped his own out.

Rourke leaned over and whispered, “At the
next stop, you take the one on the right. I’ll take the one on the
left.”

The shuttle had barely halted at an
intersection when Decker and Rourke leapt forward, each getting a
headlock on a guard and pressing the Flint pistols to their heads.
The stunned, wide-eyed guards were then yanked up and out of their
seats, restrained and gagged in a matter of minutes.

Rourke jumped into the front seat and took
control of the transport leaving Decker to quiet the guards.

Barrios whistled. “Nice work, boys. Now
what?”

Decker reached around and dug the tracker
unit out of the band equipment behind him. “Now we find them.” He
activated the unit once he located it and jumped into the front
seat beside Rourke. He began a sweep of the city as the shuttle
lurched forward with Rourke at the controls.

“
According to this, they
are moving due south. You need to take the next right, Rourke,”
Decker told him.

“
Got it.” Rourke whipped
the shuttle crisply around the next corner.

Decker concentrated on the tracker unit and
frowned. “This can’t be right. According to this, they are
underneath us.”

Barrios piped up, “What did you do, Rourke?
Run them over?”

“
Back seat navigator,”
Rourke muttered.

“
I’m serious. They are
right below us,” Decker insisted. Then he jumped up. “They turned
off, due south.”

“
What? Where?” Rourke
slammed a fist on the console. “What is going on?”

Rourke suddenly pulled the transport over
and turned it off.

Decker looked at him in disbelief. “What are
you doing? They’re getting away.”

Rourke ignored him and pointed at small,
guarded building on the corner of the next intersection. “What do
you make of that? There was a similar one a few blocks back.”