Taylor and Jack watched Falko pace. He stopped. “Get them both here.”
“You’re going to give them immunity?” asked Taylor.
“I’ll decide that later. Right now, I want them here.”
Jack hesitated. “So, I offer them…?”
“Whatever you need to.”
* * *
JUNE 22, 2147
OLVERA BAZAAR – CENTER CITY SUBDISTRICT, NEW LONDON
Hector and Alexandra Salazar
Alexandra leapt over a stack of wheat and darted to the left. Hector’s arm snagged a pole holding up one vendor’s wares. He didn’t have time to right it. The vendor shouted curses until Wraith pushed him to the ground.
They weaved through the maze of shops at full speed. The XLS spread out across the marketplace in an attempt to flank them. Alexandra reached the back of wall the warehouse and stopped to get her bearings.
Wraith cursed. “Dead end!”
“No, there!” Alexandra moved to the door to the men’s restroom. She entered. Hector and Wraith followed.
Several men inside blinked. Wraith showed his pistol. “You’re done! Get out!” They scurried outside. Wraith’s hand slid over the grenades on his belt as he peeked out the door as it slid closed. “They’re close!”
Hector’s phone buzzed. “Yes?”
“The MTD is synced. Enter code 11-309 into your teleportation drives,” said Jack.
“And our deal?”
Hesitation, then, “Yeah, immunity.”
“Thank you, Jack. I owe you. Get ready for us.” Hector terminated the call and turned to Alexandra. “11-309. Go!”
She entered the code. A swirl of turquoise energy wrapped around her. She vanished.
Hector punched in the return sequence. Nothing. He turned the drive over. The datapad’s teleportation drive was missing.
“Looking for this?” Wraith leaned against the restroom’s wall. The datapad’s tiny teleportation drive rested between his thumb and forefinger. Snap! He broke it in two. A filthy grin crept across his lips. “Thought you two might try and ditch me. Couldn’t let that happen. Now, who do you think would pay more for you—the XLS…or the Union?”
