Page 17 of Capture of Capricorn

Thud. The fellow’s eyes rolled up, and he dropped hard just as the walkie at his waist crackled, with Adam shouting,“Whatever you do, don’t open the door. Wait for the gas to take effect.”

At the words, Zora spun and hauled the door shut before the wispy fog could reach them.

Capricorn crouched and snagged the walkie, clicking the button to say, “Too late. I’m out, sucker. See you soon.” Let the man simmer and stew while he waited for his comeuppance. He’d wait a while because Adam wasn’t Capricorn’s primary goal.

Zora glanced at the bodies groaning on the floor, and the few that didn’t move. “Not bad.”

“Not bad?” He huffed. “I took out six armed soldiers.”

“Five. That one’s mine.” She pointed to the body at her feet.

“You might get a chance to catch up to my count since I’m sure more are coming.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure, actually. Sounds like there’s been a security breach.” She glanced at the strobing light.

“Which works to our advantage. The guards will be distracted.”

“Assuming it’s not a false alarm. If it isn’t, then I guess Crius will have to decide what’s more important, the sanctity of his installation or recapturing us.” She grinned suddenly. “Nice job getting us out of the cell. Got any other bright ideas now to get off this level?” Her head tilted toward the locked door at the end of the hall.

He snagged the keycard clipped to a guard’s waist and held it up. “We should put this to use before someone thinks of revoking access.”

“Those only work on the more commonly used doors,” she remarked as she followed him, stepping over the littered bodies and kicking at the hand that reached for her ankle.

“Let me guess, they’re using palm or facial scanners, too, for the more secure spots.”

“Yup.”

“Good thing I have a lockpick then.” He patted the gun he’d tucked in his waistband. “Stick behind me, Beauty.”

As they hit the end of the hall, and before he could unlock the door, it opened. He couldn’t have said who was more surprised, the guard about to step in or his buddy who caught him when Capricorn punched him hard enough to make him pass out.

“Move out of the way, or else,” Capricorn barked to the guards clustered.

They chose the latter, fumbling for their holstered weapons. Before they’d cleared a single gun, he’d gotten off five shots with his stolen firearm.

And what did Zora say?

“You should have kept one alive so we could use their face for the scanner.”

He hauled the nearest body up and shook it. “Hence, why I didn’t shoot them in the head.”

“Pretty sure the scanners will notice a lack of body temperature.”

“Well fuck.” He dumped the corpse. “I’m sure we’ll find a kicking one we can use on our way.”

He didn’t have to look far. The elevator opened just as they reached it.Bang.Bang.Bang. He shot three guards, leaving one to stare wide-eyed and trembling.

Capricorn pointed and growled. “You’re coming with us, unless you want to end up like your coworkers, understood?”

The man nodded his head, trembling in fear.

“Shall we, Beauty?” Capricorn kept his eyes on the guard as he beckoned his cellmate.

Zora sidled into the elevator. “There will probably be a welcoming committee on the main level.”

“They’ll be waiting a while, since that’s not where we’re going. Where did you last see the relic?”

“In my lab.”

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