s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

become damaged. Maybe the damage was light enough that it could repair itself, Raol didn t know. Either
way he d be ready to grab control if it did.
Where in Sadie s Hell was Lilithia?
 I ll be returning to the ship with my guard, Tarug announced, shifting out from behind the desk.
 Continue to coordinate the operations from here. Keep me informed.
 Yes, sir. Raol automatically switched his workpad to the Ultimate s vids. A cursory glance to
ensure his uncle s passage across the surface would be safe.
www.samhainpublishing.com 107
S.J. Willing
Fortunately the Bolgër hadn t broken out to attack the surface. Not that Raol expected them to.
Surface fighting would take away all the advantages for the guerillas. Raol s men would have no problems
fighting a regular land war, especially with their superior weaponry.
 Is everything clear?
 For the surface travel, yes, sir, Raol said.  We still have no control over the security vids. You ll
need to take precautions on the journey out.
 You re getting more useless every day, boy. Tarug cursed him as he walked past, surrounded by his
elite guard.  If you ever get this situation under control come back to the ship.
 Yes, sir. Raol ignored his uncle s comments. From what he d seen, the elderly soldier was losing
his mind almost as fast as he was losing this pointless war against the Federation.  I will continue to
monitor land space around the Ultimate in case anything changes.
Tarug didn t say any more as he left, and the sudden lightness in Raol s mood testified to how
oppressive Tarug s companionship had become.
A crawler drove down the ramp from the stock area heading toward Tarug s designated pick-up point.
Bypassing two surface walkers heading toward the ship, the smaller one holding the taller figure s hand&
Raol paused, backtracking and focusing on the two walkers. There was only one person who could fit
that small vacsuit. The fully armored escort had to be Marcella, even though its ID read as Private Gerdit
Dunder. He didn t want to think about how she managed to get hold of the suit. There was a mix of relief
and fear. Relief knowing Lilithia would soon be safe within their quarters on the Ultimate, and fear for
Marcella.
With the super tight security on the ship he doubted if even her skills would get her onboard and off
safely again.
Goddamn, he had to admire her though entering the lion s den for the second time to ensure the
safety of his child. That was one sexy, dedicated woman you didn t let escape. And she wouldn t, not while
Raol breathed.
She d darkened her faceplate against Dante s radiation. Good, it helped hide her face. Now, if he was
quick enough he d be able to clear a route for her in, and out, of the ship. Working quickly on his workpad
he sent the encoded messages to his men, and located Gerdit Dunder s private frequency.
 Marcella, if you haven t disabled the in-suit com, don t speak. Everyone will hear you.
The second figure moved its free hand and gave a very casual salute. Good, Marcella had heard and
responded.
 Thank you for taking Lili to safety. I ve put out protocols to the on-ship guards. You ll have no
problem getting Lili to my quarters, and then you ll have to leave immediately. It would be suicidal for you
to attempt to stay any longer.
108 www.samhainpublishing.com
Dante I
Again, she d know that& unless she d seriously considered attempting some form of sabotage. That
really would be suicidal given Tarug s current level of paranoia.
 One day, he told her, his voice falling to a soft, husky tone,  we re going to be alone for a few
hours, and I ll really be able to show you my appreciation.
The door to his office swished open and an excited comtech slipped into the room.
 Sir! The artifact s moving. We ve finally got her planet-free!
 That will be all, Private, Raol spoke into the comset, ending the one-way conversation.  You ve
done more than an excellent job. I will see you are rewarded appropriately.
That done, Raol turned to the excited news bearer.  Good, then maybe we can finally get out of this
God-forsaken corner of the universe.
 Yes, sir!
But how, Raol fretted, can I arrange to leave the artifact behind?
Hearing Raol s voice had two immediate effects on Marcella. The first was a knife edge of fear that
her cover had been blown. The second, more unwelcome feeling, was her legs turning to jelly while
imagining being entangled with Raol between the sheets of a bed in a room very far away from this stupid
war.
It had to be an adverse reaction to the camobots. She touched her helmet in response to his first
statement, letting him know she d heard. She blushed as she imagined herself touching something else.
What the hell was wrong with her? She never allowed herself to become distracted while in a mission. And
things couldn t be more difficult than now.
She d tried to set up and release entry protocols for her and Lilithia to get on board the Ultimate but
didn t know if they were going to work or not. Fighting her way on board, with the child beside her, was
out of the question. Her first test was coming up now, with the guard at the entry hatch already lifting his
weapon to the ready position. It would be particularly hard trying to talk her way into the ship when she
couldn t speak.
 Thank you for taking Lili to safety. How in Sadie s Hell did he do that? Make her skin, and other
places, tingle just by talking to her?  I ve put out protocols to the on-ship guards. You ll have no problem
getting Lili to my quarters, and then you ll have to leave immediately. It would be suicidal for you to
attempt to stay any longer.
Well, that was one problem sorted. Marcella watched the guard lower his weapon and salute as they
approached him. And what about the warning to leave immediately? Did he think she was going to
sabotage the ship or something?
Well, she blushed again. She had toyed with the idea, but discarded it almost straight away. Any [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]