Jack burst into the control room and ripped his helmet off. “Well?”
Falko threw him an angry glare, but ignored his query. Instead, Falko barked into his datapad’s communicator. “Get me those coordinates!”
Jack turned to Taylor. “Sir, I need a teleportation drive.”
“You’ve got one–”
“For Hector, sir.”
The colonel paused, but then nodded. “All right. Falko will have the coordinates any minute. Get back down to the tube. I’ll bring the drive to you.”
Jack was about to leave when Falko ended his call. “I’ve got the location. It’s a security barracks next to the subassembly. Let’s go!”
Taylor strode to the other end of the room and grabbed one of the station operatives. “Get me another teleportation drive that’ll sync up quickly. Hurry.”
“Hold it!” said Falko. The operative stopped dead in his tracks. Falko’s brow wrinkled. “What for?”
All eyes locked onto Taylor.
“Hector.”
Falko shook his head. “No. His access to this facility has been revoked.”
“What?” Jack exploded. “He–”
“Stand down, Harrington!” said Taylor. Jack’s mouth clamped shut. Taylor turned to the station operative and ordered him to bring a teleportation drive back to Jack. Then, he turned to face Falko. “We’re bringing him back. I’m bringing both my men back.”
Falko’s face reddened. For a brief moment it seemed as though he would lash out, but he turned to Jack instead. “Get back in that tube.”
Jack pulled his helmet back on and darted toward the door.
Without warning, the speaker system blared, “A prisoner has escaped! Repeat, an escaped prisoner is loose inside the facility!”
Falko growled. “Do not stop this operation! The Exodus is our primary objective! We protect it at all costs!” He strode to a nearby terminal and shouted into the speaker system. “All agents are authorized to kill on sight! Weapons free! Do not let the prisoner escape!”
