Free Vall's Will by Linda Mooney Page A

backs to the slit. As soon as
the airlock pressurized, Will and the others dashed through the narrow
corridor, and found themselves inside the main control room overlooking all six
engines. Peersoff checked their coordinates, then pointed to a catwalk
overhead.
    “Up there.
Through that exit.”
    “Somebody
keep me informed as to how much time we have left!” Will called out.
“Five minute increments!”
    “You have
forty minutes, Captain,” Plymon informed them.
    They reached the
catwalk, which emptied into a sub-level deck. Peersoff led them to the nearest
transport tube and pointed up. “Good news is, level sixty-eight is only
eight levels up.”
    “What’s the
bad news?” Will asked, knowing there had to be a down side.
    “We got
company. Bettis! Take the lead!”
    A guard stepped
forward, weapons arm already set to stun, and disappeared inside the tube.
Peersoff followed after him. Will went third.
    They encountered
their first Objurian the moment they stepped into the corridor. Four of the
creatures quickly advanced on them with ear-splitting shrieks. Will ducked
beneath security’s covering fire and ran in the direction Peersoff pointed. She
had heard of this kind of diversionary tactic, but she had never encountered it
personally until now. With hundreds of souls hastily deserting the space
station, the Ben Objure were able to search for Vall with little or no
interference.
    She came across three
unconscious guards from Precorut’s security team. A quick sweep showed they
weren’t seriously injured. Stepping over them, she kept running.
    “Where am I
going, Peersoff?”
    “End of the
corridor.”
    Which lay
directly in front of her. For a moment, she paused and stared at the blank
wall.
    “Thirty-five
minutes, Captain.”
    She whirled
around, but she was surrounded by wall on all three sides. Taking a deep
breath, she examined the plain gray plating. Peersoff said end of the
corridor. He didn’t say door at the end. He knew there wouldn’t be one here.
    Raising her arm,
she mentally armed herself with her highest caliber and aimed at the wall’s
direct center. Two blasts blew through the plating, melting them and the
support beams. Before she had the chance to push aside the soft, dripping
material, a harsh white light shot through the opening, nearly blinding her.
     

Chapter Nine
    Light
     
     
    Will’s shield
automatically darkened to prevent the light from blinding her. It was a stark,
brilliant light, and it intensified as she pushed through the hole, into the
next room. She sensed heat and pressure from it, but her aura prevented her
from being affected by whatever it contained.
    She found
herself inside a passenger cabin, although she couldn’t tell the actual size.
The light was emanating from the far corner, pulsating like a small sun. Its
location reminded her of the first time she’d seen Vall trying to retreat as
far as he could, away from the strangers entering his cell.
    She straightened
just as Magnus reminded her. “Thirty minutes.”
    “Vall?”
    The glow
immediately decreased. It took her eyes a moment to adjust before she caught
sight of the young man standing less than five meters away. A small ball of
light appeared to be rotating in front of him. She started to reach out for him
when the orb vanished inside his chest.
    Will hesitated,
her gaze focused on the area where the light had disappeared. A soft sound drew
her attention up to his face, to find him staring intently at her. He
recognized the armor. He just couldn’t see through the shell to see who was
inside.
    “Uli.”
    Will almost
gasped in surprise. A word. Vall had finally broken his silence.
    She dropped her
helmet and lifted her arm. “Vall!”
    The man’s face
erupted into a relief-filled smile. Will hurried over to grab his hand, and led
him back to the hole. Translate. “Hurry! We have to get out of
here!”
    He didn’t
resist, and allowed her to draw him back through the opening in the wall.