My backup plans had backup plans. I patted all of my gear one last time. I was as ready as I was going to be. I pulled on my cloak and settled the smart glasses over my eyes. The glasses synced to my com and could overlay info on the transparent screen. The time ticked away in the upper left corner of the display, along with a countdown timer.
“You know where we are meeting,” I said to Veronica. She nodded, but she was pale and sweating, with a hunted expression. “Are you okay?”
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I’m worried you won’t show. That this is all for nothing.”
“And I’m worried that you’re going to double-cross me at the last minute,” I said bluntly. She looked appalled. It was better than the stark fear she’d worn before. I continued, “So we’re both worried. But I will be there.” If I don’t die first. I didn’t say that aloud because it wouldn’t help her.
“Okay,” she said. “I will be there, too. And I will not betray you.”
“See you in an hour,” I said.
I slipped into the alley and prayed for success.
Chapter 12
It took forever to work my way around the city to the sentries, but I had planned that time into my schedule. It was late enough that the streets were deserted. This sentry was trying to pass as homeless, but he was too clean, his gear too nice.
At five minutes to the first attack, I palmed a vaporizer and stumbled down his alley. I hummed a bawdy song in my lowest tone. The soldier glanced at me then dismissed me to continue watching the detention center.
It would be his last mistake of the evening. I stumbled into him then activated the vaporizer under his nose. Even training was no use against human nature—he inhaled in surprise. His eyes rolled back and he slumped against the wall. Depending on his metabolism, he’d be out for twenty to forty minutes.
One minute until the first EMP drone hit.
I moved as close as I could while still being in the shadows of the surrounding buildings. I’d already taken the other sentry out. He would be waking up in as little as ten minutes, but a stronger dose would’ve likely killed him, so I’d just have to work with the time I had.
My com vibrated as the displayed countdown timer hit zero. Drone strike one should have just happened. A new timer popped up on the display, counting up. This was our escape timer. At fifteen seconds, a loud pop came from the detention center roof. Now that the danger to my own electronics had passed, I sprinted across the plaza to the back door.
The electronic keypad was dead and the door was unlocked. I sent up a fervent prayer of thanks that the server scripts had done their job in the fifteen seconds between attacks. The breaching charges in my backpack might not be needed after all.
I drew my pistol and eased inside. The glasses immediately adjusted to the darkness, and I could see down the hallway. It was empty. Based on the video feeds and the blueprints, Loch’s cell was about halfway down on the left.
I didn’t have time to clear all of the rooms. The video feeds had shown them empty, so I would just have to trust that they’d stayed that way. I passed several sets of offices, then large, open-barred cells. The solid cells were clustered together in the center of the building.
When I reached the block of solid cells, I confirmed all of the doors were open. I stopped at the first one in case I needed quick cover. “Loch,” I whispered, “the cavalry has arrived. Time to go.”
Marcus stepped out of a cell that was definitely not his. He clutched a length of metal and moved with obvious pain. “I must say, Ada darling, I did not expect to see you again. I figured you’d be long gone by now.”
“Would’ve been the smart move,” I agreed. “We have three minutes, more or less, to vacate this building before the backup arrives. Then we’re meeting a friend and stealing a ship. Can you do it? I have a single dose of foxy if you need it.”
A mix of stimulants and painkillers, amphoxy—street-named foxy—was a common battlefield panacea. It wasn’t very good for the soldiers taking it, though, because they’d be more likely to hurt themselves further while they were hyped up and feeling invincible. But if it got Loch