the Ark’s perimeter and take control before the Survivors can do anything to stop them.’
‘Sounds dodgy to me,’ Lauren said, grinding her palm against her forehead. ‘They’ve got armed guards in all six watchtowers, Rat says there are heaps of illegal weapons hidden inside the compound and there’s nothing going on around here. You’ll hear the choppers coming in from miles off.’
‘They’re experts, Lauren, we have to trust in their abilities. I’m sure they’ve put a lot of thought and training into it, but I’d still rather you and James weren’t around when it kicks off. The assault team’s ETA is around eight p.m. this evening, just after it gets dark. That gives you and James a little over two hours to get out.
‘I want you to meet up with him as soon as he gets back with the post. If you think it’s safe, I’d like you to try getting into Susie Regan’s office and making copies of any interesting looking data first. She’s bound to start destroying evidence when the helicopters approach.’
Lauren thought for a second. ‘I’ve only been up to the residence one time …’
‘Talk it through with James. If you think it’s too risky, don’t do it. My number one priority is to get you two out of harm’s way. Steal a car, bluff your way out through one of the turrets, or whatever, but get out. Radio me before you leave and I’ll pick you up somewhere nearby.’
‘Right,’ Lauren said, as the magnitude of what was going to happen over the next few hours began sinking in. The commando raid on the Ark and the links between Help Earth and the Survivors would be the top story on every TV news in the world.
‘I’ve never tried to get out before,’ Lauren said.‘But I don’t think it’ll be hard. There’s only a couple of guards on each turret. They’ll be easy enough to take out if we sneak up on them.’
‘Great and remember, safety first.’
‘Gotcha,’ Lauren said, taking a quick glance at her watch. ‘I expect I’ll be seeing you in a couple of hours.’
*
A cherub usually carries a few basic computer hacking tools, but the strict rules on personal possessions inside the Ark made it impossible to bring anything with them. As the end of her shift approached, Lauren sneaked into the stationery cupboard. She grabbed a spindle of blank CDs and headed into the post room with them.
‘You wanna head back to the school with me?’ Rat asked, giving Lauren a start as she turned to leave.
‘Haven’t you got to take the signature book across to Joel Regan?’
Rat shook his head as he picked up and inspected the spindle of CDs. ‘Apparently the old man’s taken a turn for the worse. Susie reckons he’s in no fit state to look at any letters.’
‘Right,’ Lauren said edgily.
‘What are these disks for?’ Rat asked.
‘Oh,’ Lauren said, stumbling for an excuse that she realised she ought to have thought up in advance. ‘I was supposed to take them to one of the accountants.’
‘Which one? I can run them over for you if you’re doing something in here.’
‘No, no,’ Lauren said, as she reached out to grab them back. ‘He’s gone off for the day now, anyway.’
Rat broke into a big smile. ‘You’re up to something, aren’t you?’
Lauren tutted. ‘Give over, I’m not up to anything.’
‘You can’t pull the wool over my eyes,’ Rat said. ‘Did I ever tell you that I have an IQ of one ninety-seven?’
‘Hmm, let me think,’ Lauren grinned, putting a finger over her lips and scowling as though she had to think hard. ‘I think you might have mentioned it thirty-six or thirty-seven times over the last couple of days.’
Rat looked offended as he put the tub of CDs back on the table. ‘Well I’m off for some grub. I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.’
‘Not if I see you first,’ Lauren grinned.
She felt sad as she followed Rat out of the post room and walked off, pretending to have one last task to perform. Rat was fun to be with and she’d probably never see him again. She took a left behind a wooden partition and gave Rat a few seconds to clear off before doubling back to the post room.
There was a window set high in the wall behind a franking machine and she had to go up on tiptoes to look down into the vehicle compound below. The truck must have pulled up while Lauren was gone, because James and