Chapter 41

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In Nat’s room, Sage quickly evaluated the biocomputer. He’d heard about this project, to put a human brain in a biocomputer, but he’d told her the truth. It hadn’t been his area of research.

The biocomputer was connected to a screen, a power source, and a signal booster, but it was simple to disconnect the wires from the exterior ports. He carefully placed the computer into the custom-made, cushioned bag Faal had provided. On consideration, he also packed up the power cord and the signal booster as well. He couldn’t fit the screen, but Faal might want these things.

I have back-up power. I can still notify Sam and Nat of what you’re doing.

“But will you?” Sage went to the door.

Nat went to the mess hall, I convinced her to get something to eat. You should be able to make it to the stairs now.

Sage blinked at the words. “Have you decided to help us?”

I despise you. But, yes. Temporarily.

It was enough for Sage. It was nonsensical, but Claire seemed to draw out the self-sacrificial in everyone. He motioned to Athlete and they jogged as silently as they could back toward the stairs and the door they’d entered by.

Juliet wasn’t in sight, but as they got nearer she popped out of the same storage closet they’d hidden in during their first escape.

“What took you so long?” she hissed. Then she slanted a surprised look at the glasses he still wore.

Sage didn’t pause to answer her. He held the tablet near the exterior door and motioned them through as soon as it opened. His pack was considerably heavier now, and he forced away the unusual thought that it was weighed down by guilt as well as technology.

Nat got back to her room. She knows.

They hustled back the way they’d come, but it was only a matter of seconds before Nat hurtled out the door. They were half-way down the observation deck and she didn’t even slow as she took stock of the situation.

Shoot, that girl could run, Sage thought unhappily. He himself was hampered by the heavy pack bouncing against his back. He didn’t want to permanently damage the computer by jarring it senseless, but –

Nat launched herself toward him in a low tackle and caught him at the waist. They both hit the ground, nearly at the edge of the platform, and Sage automatically hunched his back to try and cushion the computer’s fall. It hurt like hell.

Athlete jerked her off of him, and Nat jabbed an elbow at his chest, while also kicking at Sage’s knee. She didn’t have quite the right leverage (thank heaven) to do serious damage, but it also hurt. Sage scrambled up.

Athlete still had hold of one arm, but Nat now slammed her free fist backward into his groin. His grip loosened slightly. Nat twisted away from him and went for Sage. Juliet threw herself between them before Nat could check her momentum. Juliet crouched ever so slightly and took Nat’s charge on her shoulder. She grabbed Nat’s left forearm in her right hand, and using the girl’s own momentum, heaved her over her shoulder.

 Sage had no time to admire her technique. Juliet had forgotten how close she was to the edge of the platform.

Nat’s thighs hit the railing and she flailed her arms for one panicked second. Then she fell into the abyss dominated by the large spinner.***

Akemi was locked in a silent scream. From two perspectives she’d seen Nat attack the Rik. From two perspectives she’d seen Nat topple over the edge of the platform.

Nat spun and flipped as she fell, and Akemi couldn’t even tell if she was screaming because Akemi could only hear her own mental scream.

No!

Akemi barely registered as Sage went to the edge to look over. All that mattered was Nat. Falling, spinning toward the bottom...

But no. Sage looked over the edge, and to Akemi’s shock, Nat was a mere six feet below the edge of the platform, clinging to an exposed pipe.

Her face was bare, her glasses gone, and Akemi realized with profound relief that Nat was NOT falling. Only her glasses had tumbled free.

You will help my sister. Right now. She sent to Sage.

Sage shook his head, already backing away. “You can alert Sam and Basher now. We’re gone.”

I am alerting them! But she could fall by then. This is your fault. HELP HER NOW!

***

Basher escorted Faal and his retinue of soldiers from the negotiation room to the main exit, more than a little pleased that Faal would have no more excuse to visit the embassy.

Faal detained him just outside the door while one of his ‘aides’ went to get his ground-car. “Although we do not see eye to eye on certain matters, I still feel I may congratulate you on the outcome of today’s work. We have always agreed on the relative value of the Rik.”

The unpleasant thing, Basher thought, was that they did. “I only wish we agreed on more personal matters,” he said coldly.

“Perhaps we may, in time. I look forward to our discussion when next I have occasion to visit the embassy.”

“As they may not be for many a long year, I’ll say goodbye now.”

“On the contrary, Senator Fontley has asked me to visit again before he goes back to Earth. I shall see you soon.” He limped slowly away, and Basher forced himself to stand at attention by the front arch of the embassy until he was out of sight. There were a lot of undertones here, and Faal’s obvious, almost purring, pleasure at the outcome made him very unhappy. Sam didn’t look too thrilled either. The only one who could rival Faal’s good mood was Senator Fontley. Basher wished he would shut up already. He’d won his point, and Basher pretty much approved, but there was no need to suck up to Faal as he was doing…. let alone inviting him back to the embassy.

Basher and Sam were the last ones waiting outside when Senator Fontley finally took himself off. Sam had a defeated look on his face and Basher was about to say something when Sam froze. Basher could tell he was reading a message from Akemi.

“What the – ” Sam took off running, without another word. The door automatically shut behind him.

Basher tiredly retrieved his token from the inner pocket of his jacket and pressed it to the slight indentation in the door. Nothing happened.

“What the hell?” Basher turned the token over, and tried again. Nothing.

He was in no mood for this. Basher examined the teethed edge of the token, checking for chips or dust. It looked fine. He held it up to the door again, and this time a tiny red light appeared above the door frame.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The light meant that the door was now ice-locked. It would require four separate token keys to be unlocked. It was a precaution against various methods of hacking the tokens or the doors, but his token should be fine…

Basher pressed a hand to his eyes. He pictured Claire last night, standing right next to him, almost touching him. He pictured her kicking the wall with her foot. Could she have done something to his token? She certainly hadn’t touched it, but she’d sure been ready to get away... as soon as she got a signal? He hadn’t felt his token buzz, but he’d been very intent on the conversation. Too intent.

Cursing silently, Basher began to make his way to the rear entrance to the embassy. He had to go nearly a quarter mile out of his way, down two levels, and try to enter by the observation platform. He’d set his tablet down on the table in the negotiation room, so he couldn’t even tell Akemi his stupid predicament and have her alert someone to let him in.

And what had made Sam suddenly run away like that? If Claire had managed to get a copy of the code from his token, and given it to the Rik... Basher broke into a jog.

***

Sage backed away from the edge of the platform. Away from the sight of the girl clinging to the pipe below them. “Even if she fell, she’d be alright. There’s bound to be safety measures for tourists. Gravity fields to slow the fall.”

To Sage’s surprise, it was Juliet who argued with this. “No, Claire would want us to help her. The sooner we do, the sooner we can leave.” Before he could grab her and force her to walk away, Juliet sat on the railing and swung gently backwards, hanging by her knees. “Just hold onto my ankles – my legs, not my pants! – and lower me another couple feet.”

Athlete complied, getting a good grip on her ankles. He slowly slid her forward until she was hanging completely upside down. He braced his own waist against the railing and lowered her further.

“Okay,” Juliet said calmly. “Don’t let go yet, alright?”

Nat’s hands were sweaty and she shifted her grip unsteadily. “I didn’t expect you to help at all.”

“I’m going to hold onto your wrists, like this,” Juliet said. “And now you release your right hand, just your right hand, and grab my wrist.”

She waited while Nat swallowed and switched her hand.

“Good girl. Now the left hand, just like that.”

Athlete swayed forward a bit when both girls’ weight shifted to him, and Sage steadied him. Juliet was right, Claire would want them to help this girl, but what Claire wanted wasn’t always the best thing for her.

“Now Athlete,” Juliet called. “Slowly pull me up until I can pivot my waist over the railing.”

Impressive muscles bulged in Athlete’s neck as he slowly did what she said.

When Juliet was half over the railing, she talked Nat through switching her grip to the edge of the platform. Sage helped Nat the rest of the way over the railing, and Athlete swung Juliet over.

“Okay, that’s it,” Sage said. “We helped. Time to go.”

Nat was visibly shaking as she shook her head. “Can’t... can’t let you go...”

Sage ignored her and pulled Juliet after him as they ran the rest of the way to the entrance of the observation deck. When they reached the junction of several thoroughfares, he remembered to jerk Claire’s glasses off and put them back in the bag. They couldn’t let Akemi see where they went next.

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