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Kelly shook her head "Nothing upstairs except offices, control, and the clio up" Under their combined stares he seemed to transform His face hardened His posture, which on any other day would have involved a slight stoop and a walking cane,one step below Saet to space and we’ve got that capability right above our heads Besides, my fancy suit we spent all that tiot no other choice"

"They’ll just stop the cli up--and turn it around"

Prue I guarantee there are at least a handful of people who have a sudden urge tous, we bluff We pretend Kelly’s our hostage and when that starts to lose its effectiveness we use that alien cube as our hostage"

The book, too, Saht at least hesitate if he knew they had it

"Mental," Skadz said under his breath

For her part, Kelly see the idea She looked to Saed "If we can get inside Gatee can pull that sas have to go just right--"

"If you have a better idea," Pruo for it But pick one now because we need to get off this damnable stairwell"

Kelly kept her eyes on Sam, eyebrows raised, and Sam realized she needed assurance not that the plan orthy but that Pru to Sa man who served as fence to Skadz, and later Skyler She’d always found hi How he must sweat under that ridiculous duster, how he always spoke as if on a theater stage Yet he’d shown a remarkable sense of loyalty, or at least partnership, with Skyler and Skadz A kinship

She’d also always thought of hie She’d assumed he’d never left the dark confines of that e of the city and its people over the last feeeks And he’d killed Killed with surprising efficiency for an overweight Kiwi lockso up"

"Okay then," Kelly said "On nal"

And just like that, she crept back to the corner that looked out on the rest of the lobby She spent perhaps a second taking in the scene beyond, then held up a hand instructing the rest of the party to wait before she vanished from view

Sam sed hard, and studied the unfa that the safety was indeed off When she glanced back up, Kelly had returned She wheeled one hand about rapidly, the look on her face , Sao next "Are you okay? Are you with us?" she asked him when he’d come to her step

"Don’t worry aboutpeople down"

"Don’t It’s not like that…"

"It is to me" He softened then, a little "Look, I’ n of trouble"

"Me, too, but it’s not our probleet the fuck out of here"

"I know, I know Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it" With that he continued up the steps

Sam followed him after Prumble nodded to her his intention to colanced briefly at the bank of s and glass doors that fronted the lobby of the clialia and sohtcliff fashion of mismatched uniforms and maroon-painted helmets, stood in clumps near the entrances Others ran toward, or back from, the fortress wall some distance away Some stood casually; others were hunkered down behind makeshift barricades It all looked very sloppy and confused to Sam, but clearly it would be suicide to ot out

Kelly strode purposefully up the stairs, Skadz on her heels Sa she’d snatched a Jacobite shift off one of the bodies in the vault’s antechauard against the vague threat of riled subs, or busy in other places Only a few people moved about in the vast lobby, but they paid Kelly and her followers no heed

A second wide flight of stairs led up to what ers about to eoverlooked the northern portion of Nightcliff and the sea beyond The room jutted out over a portion of the yard below, and Sauessed couches or chairs must have once been bolted down

As Pru about, crowded around the double doors that led to the clih the croas speaking in calathered to be patient while a cli the main doors for an unmarked side exit Inside was a narrow, plain hallith sreen floor Exposed pipes lined the ceiling and darted out at odd places through flanged rings that showed hints of rust under their white paint

There were two side doors along the hall, and one at the end, which Kelly raced toward

Sa commands of "Stand down!" at whoever lurked within

Skadz pressed hiainst the hallall so that Saun up as she stepped into the room Terrified eyes stared back at her fro cries of surprise or even "betrayer" at Kelly Others still sat ashen-faced at desks supporting wide terminal displays and slate data entry devices propped up on the flat areas All this faced in on a giant screen that showed on one half what Sao yard, and on the other half a chart of the space stations along the Elevator cord Little icons ital version of the thread

"Everyone stay calm," Kelly said Then she aimed at one of the terrified desk jockeys "You Mark a car on the next climber reserved, then lead us to it We’ll take two of you as hostage"

Sam reached for the nearest technician and balled the collar of his shirt into her fist She was about to hoist him from his chair when she noticed a fahtly askew face Vaughn locked eyes with her and the corner of his htest of movements, the only hint she needed