They were late to the party.
Sam sprinted toward the estate’s dismantled southern gate. A guard on top of the wall took aim. Two bullets ricocheted against the icy cobblestone street.
Jessica rolled out from behind the parked car. Two energy blasts dissipated through the guard’s chest. He collapsed.
Chaingun fire and the rattle of machineguns could still be heard coming from the north wall. The mercenaries were gaining ground.
Jessica met Sam at the gate. He ground his teeth together. His expression dire.
“What’s wrong, Sam?”
He still hadn’t told her. Their situation was much worse than she knew. He hadn’t been able to find her datapad’s teleportation drive. The KGB soldiers must have pulled the teleportation drive out of her datapad. He had been forced to wipe the area without recovering it. When he had destroyed the convoy, her teleportation drive had gone up with it.
That meant only one of them would be able to transfer back to the Subdivision.
“Keep moving,” he said.
Charging through the gate, he fired several rounds into the guards on the front porch. They dove for cover. Sam dropped to the ground and shot one of them in the shoulder. Jessica’s grenade arched over his head. Two soft clinks…
Bbbbbbggggggghhhhhh!
The explosion incapacitated the remaining guards.
Sam entered the mansion. Black as a subterranean cave.
A guard stood at the edge of the elevator shaft and peered into it. Sam kicked him over the edge. His scream faded as he toppled into the dark chasm of the shaft.
The house lights came on. Power restored.
An explosion rocked the outer wall. Flames engulfed the perimeter.
“The mercs broke through,” Sam muttered. He hit the elevator’s call button.
Jessica grabbed Sam’s forearm. Her face bore extreme concern.
“Sam, what is it? You can’t hide it from me. I know you too well.”
Bing! The elevator arrived. They ducked inside.
“Your teleportation drive. It’s gone. Destroyed with the transport tank. I gave you mine.” His voice faltered. “You’re the only one going home, baby girl.”
