Jack and Colonel Taylor watched Falko and Alexandra through the window pane separating the interrogation room and its observation area.
Falko hovered over Alexandra. Shook his head. She wasn’t cooperating. He ordered another electrical shock. Alexandra arched her back and dug her fingernails into the chair as the current flowed through her.
Jack clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. “This is torture.”
“Billions of lives are at stake,” said Taylor.
Jack glowered. “Doesn’t make it right.”
“Call Hector again.”
Jack moved to the corner of the room. Tried Hector again. Nothing. He started to pace. Seconds later his datapad buzzed. “Hector?”
“Jack! I need your help.”
“What happened? Where are you?”
“My teleportation drive broke. Is Alexandra all right?”
Jack grimaced. “She’s here.”
“Good. We’re running out of time. I’m headed for the assembly center. I need your help getting inside.”
Taylor strode across the room. Stuck his face in Jack’s. “Get him back here!”
“Hector, you can’t do that,” said Jack. “I–”
“Listen, I don’t know what they’re up to, but it can’t be a full-scale assault. They’re working from the inside somehow. We need to get into that facility. Can you meet me there?”
“I don’t—I don’t know.”
“It’s our only chance. With the information that Alexandra has, and with what I’ve seen, we might be able to stop them. It’s my one shot at fixing this mess.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Jack said.
He hung up.
“Well?” Taylor’s eyes narrowed.
“His teleportation drive is busted. He’s headed for the assembly center. Wants me to meet him there.”
Falko burst through the observation room door. Anger coursed through his features. “I’m not getting anywhere. I need to increase the pressure.”
“Hector is headed for the assembly center,” said Taylor.
“Have him arrested when he gets there,” said Falko. “and somebody get me a gun.”
