CHAPTER FIFTEEN

As it turned out, they didn’t get a chance to use that plan because nobody came into the room. Sally woke up much more slowly than the other two. Krysta had her implants to help her rid her body of the toxins, and Ginny had managed to not inhale too much of the drug, but Sal had gotten the full whammy.

They couldn’t do much of anything until Sally woke up because there was no way in hell that either Krysta or Ginny would leave her behind. Krysta could have carried her, but that would have been difficult. She’d have had to put Sally down each time she needed to use her cybernetic strength to do anything else. So, Ginny decided to wait until Sally could at least walk on her own.

In the meantime, they kept up the simple conversation about how they felt physically, and speculation about where they were. All the while, they were plotting their next move using subtle hand signals and code words that only they understood.

The plan evolved as time went on, and eventually, they arrived at the idea that as soon as Sally was mobile, Krysta would use her cybernetic strength to wrest the door from its hinges. Depending on what they found outside, they would do their best to escape. Ginny was certain Tigh was mobilizing heaven and earth to find her, but she would be damned if she just sat around waiting for rescue like some princess in a tower. She would do all she could to aid in her own rescue. As a soldier, she could do no less.

 

“Oh, my word, there she is,” Tiggy whispered as the signal started to clear. Tigh was instantly alert and on his feet, leaning over the coms station to see what was going on.

“What do you have?” he asked, feeling a sense of urgency. They’d followed the signal to this mountainous region, and now, they were just trying to home in on exactly where the women were being held.

“It’s fading in and out, but for a moment there, I saw the captain.” Tiggy looked up at Tigh. “Beg your pardon, I saw Captain Starbridge, sir. She was sitting opposite our navigator, Ensign Verity. Krysta must have activated the device but kept it camouflaged on her belt. It was showing the view right in front of her, which included Captain Starbridge.”

The screen in front of her wavered again, going from broken black and white fuzz to the image she described. Tigh’s heart clenched with relief. Ginny was alive!

“There she is again. We’re getting closer. The image is clearer this time,” Tiggy reported as she fiddled with her controls. “No audio. Visual only,” she reported, still fine-tuning the image, which was getting clearer all the time. “Hot damn. Sir, they’re planning something.”

“How can you tell?” Tigh asked the coms specialist.

“We have our own set of signals. Hand signals. Gestures. Stuff we’ve worked out over the years,” she admitted to him. “I can see the captain’s orders from her gestures. She’s saying to wait for Lieutenant Darlington, then they go. The lieutenant is either incapacitated or not with them at present,” she surmised. “Once they have her, they’re going to make a break for it.”

“How? Does she say how?” Tigh wanted to know.

“Well, Krysta has…uh…cybernetic implants. If she doesn’t want to stay someplace, it’s pretty hard to keep her there. I would guess they’re going to break out and make a run for it.”

Tigh felt a rush of both pride in his mate and concern for her safety. “We’ll just have to be there when they go,” he said, firming his resolve. “Jimnai, can you get us a precise location?” he asked the man who had acted as executive officer on their mission to the human galaxy. His trusted friend, Jimnai Burk, was running the nav board, searching for the exact location of where Ginny and the other two women were being held.

“We’re over the signal right now, Captain,” Jimnai replied immediately. “They must be underground, for there are no structures on the surface here.”

“Search for anything that looks like an entrance. Then, bring us down nearby. I want a clear shot at the area from the main weapons array, should it become necessary.” Tigh had to plan for all contingencies, though he would never fire on the location unless he was certain Ginny was safe. “And Henny, I want you running the weapons board,” he told the human master-at-arms. He trusted Hansa implicitly, but he knew Henny’s loyalty to Ginny was beyond question. It was also an act of faith on his part, trusting the Velkir to do their best for everyone.

“Aye, sir,” Henny replied, one eyebrow raised in a sort of pleased surprise.

“I’ve found a small structure, sir,” Jimnai called out urgently. “Scans show it’s an entry point to what has to be an underground complex. Scans can only penetrate the first layer of rock and soil, and there’s a definitely a lift, as well as a staircase, heading downward quite some distance.”

“Any reference data on this site?” Tigh asked.

“Nothing in the database,” Hansa replied. “But I remember hearing rumors of an underground facility here during your brother’s time.”

Now, that sounded ominous. “What kind of facility?”

“Medical. Experimental. I heard it directly, just once, from a fellow who claimed to have been stationed at a top-secret laboratory in the eastern mountains, but most of the other soldiers thought he was speaking out of turn. I heard later that he’d died in a training accident.”

“That doesn’t sound suspicious at all,” Tigh mused sarcastically. “And it fits with Doctor Gruber’s field of expertise. What did this fellow say about the base?”

“It was small. Deep in the earth. One main laboratory and a few offices. It only had one way in or out,” Hansa replied at once. “The idea was that it would be easily contained, and if they needed to bury the whole place, they could do it easily, and no one would be the wiser.”

“Why would they need to bury a place like that?” Tiggy asked, her eyes wide.

“It was probably a failsafe in case one of their experiments got out of control,” Tigh said. “It sounds to me like they were experimenting with bioweapons. That’s one of the few uses I can think of for such a place.”

“Then, this might be where the virus was created?” Tiggy’s voice was tinged with anger.

“It’s possible,” Tigh concluded. “Especially since the fugitive, Doctor Gruber, was the one who created the virus.”

“When we find him,” Henny said, her voice solemn and strong, “he’s a dead man.”

“You’ll get no argument from me, Chief,” Tigh assured her. “He’s already been sentenced to death for his actions. The fact that he’s been eluding justice for so long is a thorn in my side, and a disgrace. The sad fact is he still has many allies—the faction that wants war at all costs.”

“And kidnapping Captain Starbridge?” Tiggy asked. “How does that help?”

“Straight out assassination would’ve been easier and more disruptive,” Henny put in, her tone contemplative, even as Jimnai maneuvered the ship in for a landing. “Unless he’s counting on you to come after her, and you’re the real target, Your Highness.”

Tigh thought about it. “Possible, but unlikely, unless he knows we can track them and doesn’t mind burning the location of this hidden facility.”

“He’s a desperate man,” Henny reminded him.

“Yes, but he’s also a scientist to the core. He wouldn’t want to give up his lab. At least, that’s what I’m betting on.”

“Then, how much do you want to bet there are sensors that have already told him we’re here?” Henny posed the question, that arch in her eyebrow.

“I’m counting on it,” Tigh answered back. “This ship has a lot of special capabilities.” Tigh deliberately brought his hand down on a new console that rose out of the armrest of his chair. He grimaced as something sharp pricked his hand, then the console lights blinked into the green position. “Hansa, deploy the bots.”

A few clunks sounded from below the flight deck and a moment later, a series of self-propelled bots shot out from under the ship, heading for the ground, unfolding into battle bots as they went. Each landed lightly on their feet, weapons at the ready, while several specialized bots with large wheels rolled over every inch of the proposed landing site, making certain it was safe. When they were done, the bots formed a ring, facing outward while the ship came in to land smack dab in the center of the well-armed circle of bots.

“Don’t you worry about mechanicals being corrupted?” Henny asked quietly.

“Not in this case,” Tigh answered just as quietly as he watched the scene unfold. “These bots, and this entire ship, for that matter, are DNA-keyed to the emperor. My brother commissioned this ship, but we were identical twins, so the special features respond to me, as well, but no one else.”

 

Ginny was impatient to leave the cell in which she’d awakened. When Sally finally started to stir, Ginny went over to her and helped Sally sit up.

“How do you feel, Sal? You got a bigger dose of the knockout gas than we did,” Ginny explained gently.

“I feel like a herd of elephants is running through my brain wearing spiked heels,” she admitted, rubbing her forehead, “but I’m good. Where are we?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Ginny replied. “Do you think you can walk?”

Sally rested both of her palms on her thighs and patted them just once. “Let’s find out.”

With Ginny’s help, Sally got to her feet and took a few tentative steps. The more she moved, the easier it became, and the less she leaned on Ginny’s supporting arm. Once Ginny was sure Sally would be able to walk on her own, she maneuvered them both to the area by the only door. With a nod to Krysta to indicate they were through waiting, Ginny set their escape in motion.

Krysta walked over and, using her cybernetic arm, ripped the door off its hinges. Ginny didn’t get to see Krysta use her mechanical strength often, and it was always impressive. Krysta peeped out the open doorway first while Sally and Ginny stayed behind cover next to the now-open doorframe. When Krysta gave them the signal, they rushed out of the cell and into a long hallway, leapfrogging each other’s positions as they went, doing it by the book, like the troopers they were, even if they were mostly unarmed.

Only Krysta had a weapon, and it was her actual arm, so nobody could really confiscate it. Not easily, at least.

Ginny was surprised by what they found as they moved along. The place seemed almost empty. Oh, there were signs that people had been living here. Refuse bags were lined up in one of the cubbies they’d passed, full of garbage and sealed behind an odor-blocking field. But they didn’t encounter any people until they happened upon a doorway that was made of a clear substance. Thick, Ginny could tell, from the optical distortion, but clear enough that she could see the laboratory beyond.

There was one man in the lab, and he saw her as she peered through the transparent door. His eyes grew round, and he immediately hit a control to his right. Ginny assumed it was an alarm, but instead of locking down, the transparent door opened.

The man came around his lab bench and walked right up to Ginny. He wasn’t armed. He looked upset, but he didn’t seem threatening. Curious, she waited to see what would happen. She didn’t have a weapon, but Krysta was as good as. She stood beside Ginny as the man approached.

“How can this be?” the man asked, clearly dismayed at something. Their escape? Somehow, she didn’t think so. “You are human! But you are not. Not entirely. You are,” he said, pointing at Krysta then dismissing her as he turned back to Ginny. “But you are not.”

“You took DNA samples while we were unconscious?” Ginny asked. Things were starting to make sense to her. Maybe this jackass needed to see it with his own eyes that what they’d claimed was true.

“I never believed what they said,” the man admitted. “It was preposterous to think that the pure jit’suku race would have merged with humans at some point in our history.”

“What about the empress whose marriage to your Emperor Tren brought about the long period of peace. Did you think that was a hoax? Did you not realize she was just like me? A human hybrid with jit’suku DNA?” Ginny felt outrage fill her, even as something else began to burn in her veins. A righteous anger that felt familiar. And somewhat…divine.

“It had to have been a hoax. There were no formal records kept of that time. No way to prove those claims,” the man countered, his voice rising.

“But you have proof now,” Sally said, her voice low and deadly. “You saw the evidence for yourself. The Valkyrie is one of those hybrids.”

The man turned red with anger then white as a sheet as emotion rode him hard. “She is an abomination! And you’re even worse. Human, jit’suku, and something I’ve never encountered before. You have codes from some other race, entirely.”

Ginny felt more than saw Sally detach her floater from her belt to let it capture the moment from a better angle. Sally had their backs, should someone else come down the corridor, but so far, this strange man was the only one they’d encountered. Ginny wasn’t altogether certain he was even sane. Especially after what he’d just said about Sally.

 

“Emperor.” Tiggy’s voice came over Tigh’s earpiece as he left the ship with Hansa and Jimnai at his side. Henny remained in the ship, at the weapons station, in case of trouble, and Tiggy was still monitoring coms. “Valkyrie has left the cell. The trio is heading down a long hallway. I’m getting a live feed from Krysta’s belt-cam.”

This was good news. They were all together and mobile. He just hoped they didn’t run into any trouble before he got to them. Summoning his bots, he left a smaller circle of protection around the ship and took a well-armed platoon with him. Between himself, his two friends, and the platoon of incorruptible bots, they would meet any resistance with deadly force, if necessary.

As the bots opened the access to the underground facility like they were peeling a metal can, Tigh and his friends stood back. The bots were designed with multiple sensors that could detect hidden traps and unsafe atmospheric conditions. When the report came back that there was no threat of gas surface agents in use, Tigh and his friends advanced into the stairwell. The bots were already at the bottom, scouting ahead and giving Tigh a running account of their findings.

Tigh opted for the stairs, rather than the lift. He left a bot at the lift opening to deal with anyone that might come up that way, but he wasn’t too worried about it. If anyone managed to escape out to the surface, the women aboard the Phenix would take care of them, he was sure.

When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he found himself in a chamber containing a multitude of hooks with various kinds of coats hanging on them, as well as a row of footwear along one wall. This was a vestibule, of sorts, where inhabitants would gear up for going outside or relieve themselves of outerwear before going deeper into the facility.

“Tiggy, status?” Tigh asked, taking a moment to observe the chamber and plan his next move.

“They’re moving down a long hallway. They came across one cubby that was loaded with bags of trash, but that’s it, so far,” she reported.

“Roger that,” he told her. “Alert me the moment something changes.”

“Aye, sir,” Tiggy replied.

Hansa and Jimnai also had earpieces and had heard Tiggy’s report. Tigh looked at them now. He had given access to the bots, reporting feed to both men, and all of them were seeing data on one side of their combat displays showing what the bots had discovered so far.

“Looks like a straight shot down to a lower level,” Jimnai observed a moment before one of the bots encountered a room where five men were sleeping.

“A barracks?” Hansa asked rhetorically as Tigh ordered a thorough scan of the room. “Only one exit,” Hansa observed as the report came back from the bot. “Seal them in for now. We can deal with them later,” he suggested.

Tigh ordered the bot to do exactly that and stand guard at the lone entrance with orders to stop anyone from leaving, should they somehow be able to bypass his lockout codes that sealed the door. As emperor, he had backdoor and override codes to every piece of tech made by jit’suku—including every programmable door lock in this place.

“I could lock everything down,” Tigh mused as they began walking again.

“You could, but the ladies are on the move. Better, perhaps, to let them move freely and keep the bots doing recon and dealing with problems as we find them. With any luck we’ll meet in the middle,” Hansa offered.

Tigh nodded. He wasn’t sure which was the better option, but he knew Ginny wouldn’t like being locked in anywhere, even if it was for the best of intentions. As they began to move again, another bot reported activity in a compartment it was about to search. Since Tigh had ordered all the bots to approach with caution and stealth, it waited to receive orders.

He paused for a moment, shifting the feed from that bot’s sensors to his display. There were four life signs in the room, and they were talking and moving around. Tigh instructed the bot to climb to the top of the open doorway and deploy a miniature sensor stalk at one corner, where it probably wouldn’t be noticed, to do a sweep of the room.

The data came in, confirming this room, like the other barracks chamber, had only the one entrance. Tigh ordered the bot to return its sensor, and he quickly issued the order to the door’s electronic system to close it and lock it down tight. He stationed the bot at the door, in case the men inside found a way through, then resumed moving. He and his friends were in the next long stretch of hallway that spiraled gently down into the rock of the mountain when Tiggy’s voice came to them.

“They’re at a doorway to what looks like a laboratory. There’s one man inside. The door is closed, but transparent,” she reported.

“Can you send us an image grab of the man?” Jimnai asked before Tigh could get the words out.

“Done.” Tiggy’s confirmation preceded the image of a man in a lab coat by a fraction of a second.

“That’s Gruber!” Tigh cursed under his breath as Jimnai exclaimed.

“He’s seen them. He’s coming over to the door,” Tiggy told them breathlessly.

If only they could communicate with Ginny and tell her to get as far away from that madman as possible. But the cameras weren’t receivers. Just transmitters. Tigh started running, his two friends bringing up the rear. The time for subtlety was over.

“He’s shouting at them about DNA samples and how he didn’t believe that Ginny had jit genes. He’s ranting,” Tiggy said as Tigh and his friends moved ever downward in the underground facility.

Tigh commanded doors to lock as he encountered them, but there were not many, and the base was mostly empty except for those few the bots had already discovered and locked in. The pathway was clear, at least. Any rooms they passed were just rooms, not side passageways. They kept going down, meeting up with the bots and sending them out ahead at a fast clip. If anybody started shooting, hopefully, they’d engage the bots first, but Tigh wasn’t waiting. The whole group was moving at the warriors’ top speed.

“I’ve got two feeds now,” Tiggy said excitedly. “Sally detached the floater from her belt and activated it. It’s giving me a better view. The lab guy looks like he’s about to pop a vein, he’s so upset, but the captain is… Oh, man…she’s starting to glow. I think we’re about to have another divine visitation. You guys had better get your asses down there, pronto.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Hansa said, almost laughing at the comm tech’s candor. “I believe we’re almost there.”