Page 47

Something crashed close by, making Dani flinch. Before she could look to see what it was, Kryxis scooped her up.

“Go. Dangerisss.”

“Yeah…let’s get out of here.” Time to ask him questions later.

Kryxis raced back toward the stairs, moving quicker than before, forcing her to hold on to him. He climbed the stairs two at a time, and when they got to the next floor, he paused only briefly to smell the air. Veering to the left, he flew down the darkened hall, bounding over another downed bot, until he slowed coming to the door of a tech lab.

“They’re in here?” Dani asked.

“Xa.” He let her down beside the door.

She went to knock, then paused, glancing back at Kryxis guiltily. “The others are going to be on edge, and Garret might have some bullets left. You should hide.”

“Hide?”

“Yes, hide.” She covered the glass of her helmet in her hands then pointed to a room opposite. “In a room close by. Please. Just until I talk to them, okay? So they understand you mean no harm.”

His gaze snapped over to the room opposite. He mumbled something then backed away. “Be…close.”

“I know you will.”

As he disappeared into the room, Dani turned back to the door. She knocked heavily against it. “Myrell? Garret? It’s me,” she called.

It was silent, and for a second she feared something might have happened. Then she heard shuffling at the door.

“Dani?” Garret’s muffled voice called back.

“Yes! I’ve come to get you out. Open up.”

There was more shuffling, then she heard Myrell’s voice. “Wait. How do we know it’s you?”

Dani smirked. “There was only one who could mimic like that. But I set him on fire, remember?”

She heard them talking but couldn’t make out the words. “All right…” Garret said, “Back away from the door.”

She did as asked and heard something being moved aside before the door slid open.

Garret appeared with his gun aimed, with Myrell right behind him. Dani lifted her hands, then slipped off her helmet. As soon as he saw her fully, he dropped his gun. “Holy shit, it really is you.”

Before she could open her mouth, he was pulling her into him, hugging her so tight he almost lifted her off her feet. She dared to glance at the room opposite and saw a pair of eyes shining in the dark. She waved her hand behind her, hoping Kryxis understood it meant to stand down.

Garret released her. “I can’t believe it. On the bridge, I thought…”

Dani pursed her lips. “I got…lucky I guess.”

Myrell came around and pulled her into a hug next. “Crazy lady, what are you doing out here all alone? And how the hell did you find us?”

“I saw you on one of the security feeds,” she explained.

“Damn, we were trying to get into the system ourselves but with no luck. Thought we’d be stuck here for a long time if we couldn’t get communication up.”

“Yeah, I heard you through the helmet just barely. That’s when I knew I had to come find you.”

Garret studied her. “How did you get here? This place is crawling with all sorts of dangerous things. And not just bugs.”

Dani shifted. “I, um…I had some help.”

They gave her a curious look.