Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,135

force field, the buildings inside the complex were arranged in a series of neat squares around equally neat lawns with pathways connecting them. Like all the other buildings on Albion, with their ornate gables and embellished windows, they looked like they’d been plucked from another time or transplanted from the First World.

The vehicle slowed to a stop at a security gate, where a squad of heavily armed Albion guards inspected the interior. Marcellus watched Lady Alexander’s monoglass darken as her credentials were transmitted, and a moment later, a guard waved them through. Once inside the compound, Lady Alexander pulled a long, curving pipe from the inside pocket of her coat and placed it ceremoniously between her lips. After flicking a tiny switch on its side and taking a long drag on its tip, she puffed out a cloud of bluish-purple mist. Marcellus watched, transfixed. He’d seen delegates from Albion smoking these vapor pipes before, on his numerous trips to Kaishi when his grandfather would meet with the System Alliance. But now, up close, he could see that Lady Alexander’s pipe was adorned with a small floral crest, carved into the titan plating.

“As you probably know,” she said between puffs, “Albion’s Royal Ministry of Defence has the most advanced laboratories in the System, dedicated to all manner of scientific inquiries.” She gestured out the window as they passed a large, two-story building. “This facility houses our bioweapons department, while the building directly to your left is entirely devoted to new artillery development.”

“Makes our Ministère tech labs look like First World relics,” Cerise whispered to Marcellus.

“What was that?” Lady Alexander asked, her eyebrow arching clear above her monoglass.

“Nothing,” Cerise muttered.

The vehicle glided to a halt in front of an imposing building with pointed-arch windows, a high vaulted roof, and ornate spires that stretched toward the sky. “And this,” Lady Alexander announced with an air of importance, “is where our most classified and high-clearance research takes place. This is where we’ve housed the general’s project.”

Marcellus checked the time on the aerocab’s clock. Their meeting with the source was scheduled to take place in less than two hours. How would they ever get out of this situation? Let alone sneak off to meet in secret with an Albion traitor?

“After you,” Lady Alexander said cordially as the vehicle door swung open.

Marcellus climbed out and took an anxious look around. He was starting to severely doubt their decision to come here. Their cover could be blown at any moment.

“Officer Bonnefaçon,” called another richly accented voice, and Marcellus turned to see a petite man in a trim white lab coat whisking toward them down a stone path. His wiry red hair—which appeared to have been, at one point in the day, confined with gel—now wisped in various directions around his head. As he moved toward them, he tried desperately to smooth down the rebellious strands. “We were so thrilled to hear of your visit. We are delighted to have you here.”

Marcellus nodded to the man and forced a smile. “Merci. We are … delighted to be here, as well.”

“I’m Dr. Cromwell,” he said, his monoglass reflecting the blue sky and buildings around them. “I will be giving you and your associates a tour of our state-of-the-art lab. I think you and your grandfather will be very pleased to witness the progress that we have made.”

Marcellus immediately noted the eagerness in the man’s face. It was not too dissimilar from the way he’d been greeted by Lady Alexander when they’d stepped off the voyageur. It seemed this entire planet was bending over backward to please him. Or rather, to please the person they thought was working directly for the general.

Why were they so eager to make a good impression? What was the general promising them in return for this project?

Marcellus held back a shudder and forced himself to say, “Well, we can’t wait to see it.”

Dr. Cromwell beamed. “Right this way.”

The scientist guided Marcellus and the others up the path to an unmarked entrance. With a hissing noise, the heavy arched doors eased open, revealing a wood-paneled hallway within.

“Welcome to the Filbright Wing,” he said, ushering them through. “We don’t generally like to boast, but we in the Filbright like to think that the work in our laboratories is at the cutting edge of Albion’s developments.”

Marcellus anxiously cleared his throat. “Wonderful.”

“It’s just through here,” Dr. Cromwell said, leading them down the hallway and through another set of doors.

Inside was a room filled with consoles, monitoring equipment, and strange-looking