Dragon and Liberator

"Only if they're together," Neverlin said. "I think we can arrange something that'll get them apart. Get everyone to the Death weapon chamber."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Frost warned. "Both of you."

"We do," Neverlin said. "Now get moving."

He gestured to the guards holding Alison's arms. "And bring her, too. If the Death isn't enough bait for Morgan and the K'da, maybe she will be."

The Advocatus Diaboli's airlock had been slightly warped by the impact. But it was functional enough. Slipping inside, Jack pressed his back against the inner door. What kind of reception committee have they got waiting? he asked Draycos.

The K'da peered over the door. I see nothing, he reported, sounding both surprised and more than a little suspicious. They may have set up an ambush in one of the cross-corridors.

Let's find out. Hefting his tangler. Jack keyed the door.

It slid open with another screech of tortured metal. He ducked out into the corridor for a quick look, then ducked back into cover again.

No one shot at him. I don't smell anyone nearby, Draycos said, his tongue flicking up from Jack's shoulder. Shall I go investigate?

Better not, Jack said. An ambush we can hopefully spot before we get in range. They don't have to be nearly that obvious to turn the Death around and shoot it at us.

Then let us deal with it, Draycos said firmly.

They set off down the corridor, Jack holding his tangler ready, Draycos's tongue rhythmically darting out and tasting the air.

But for all the signs of life they found, the ship might have been deserted. Where is everyone? Jack asked as they passed the ship's midpoint.

In the bow, Draycos said. You were right—they're planning to use the Death against us.

Good luck to them, Jack said. How do they think they're going to get you to come off me?

By also attacking us with normal weapons, Draycos said. Frost knows I'll have to leave you if I'm going to defend you against his men.

Jack chewed the inside of his cheek. Unfortunately, that made a lot of sense. So we need to get you to the Death before he can get his guns lined up?

Or get me past the guns before we attack the Death, Draycos said.

Jack grimaced. Sounds like your classic chicken-and-egg problem.

Pardon?

Never mind—tell you later, Jack said. I guess we're playing this one by ear.

They continued forward through the still-deserted ship. Maybe we can get to the Death room from underneath, Jack suggested as they walked. Or maybe we can just cut off the power.

We can try, Draycos said doubtfully. But I suspect Frost has blocked any threats that obvious.

Frost had. They reached the middeck bow to discover that all the forward compartments had been sealed. And no one's getting in there any time soon, either, Jack said, pointing to a red light on the door's release switch. They've opened that whole section to vacuum.

Including all the power connections to the Death room?

And including the section's backup generator, Jack confirmed. I guess it's a frontal assault or nothing.

Then let us not keep them waiting, Draycos said.

Fine with me, Jack said, feeling his heart start to race again. But we've got one more stop to make first. If they've moved the Death into a bulk storage room, it stands to reason they must have moved all the bulk storage itself out. Let's find out where they put it.

"Hurry up with that thing," Frost growled as the two Valahgua worked at disassembling the swivels of the Death weapon's mount. "Come on; come on."