"I'm working on it." Tarris stared forward. The roof slid away to reveal the floor above. It allowed access to above ground and what Tarris suspected was "the facility." The immediate area was flooded with artificial light.

"Well, well, I was beginning to wonder whether you were too stupid to find this place."

Tarris let her head fall back and groaned. This was the last person she wanted to see right now.

Chapter 11.

"Corman."

"You're not surprised?" he asked.

"I suppose I'm not." Tarris stumbled up the stairs. Her secured hands made it impossible to make adjustments to the operation of her suit. Corman, as usual, seemed amused by her discomfort.

"And is this the slut you've hooked up with?" he sneered.

"I wouldn't go calling the leader of your group a slut, soldier," Asher retorted, earning a smile from Tarris.

He growled at her, but Asher stood firm. "And I assumed you'd had your distemper shots. Silly me."

This time Tarris laughed out loud. "Where were you when I needed a witty reply?"

"Probably taking out someone's liver," Asher said.

"Stop it, both of you!" Corman yelled.

"Or what, Corman? We're dead one way or the other anyway." In her peripheral vision, Tarris saw Asher cringe when she said the word "dead."

"But how you die is up to me," he said a little bit too happily.

"It's up to the Prime, Trooper."

Tarris didn't bother to check who was talking. She knew that voice. "Maken," she said in a flat tone.

"You should have stayed in your apartment, Tarris," Derille said. "Get out of the way, Corman. Let her step up."

Reluctantly, Corman moved back to give them room to come up the stairs. The guard behind them again prodded them. "Move it."

Tarris continued to the top step, her gait far from smooth.

"You look like one of those pathetic drunks in the Sweeps," Corman muttered as she finally stepped onto the floor above the platform.

"You should know, Corman," Tarris said and earned a punch to the jaw for her trouble. She chuckled at him and absorbed another punch to the cheek.

"Stop it, Corman!" Derille yelled. "You have no right-"

"I have every right! I've had to put up with this bitch for years. I've earned that right, Administrator." Corman's white eyes burned with an inner fire.

"I think he needs a collar, Maken," Tarris said. "If you don't get him under control... he'll destroy you." She could feel the heat from the puffiness around her cheek that she just knew was there.

"Where are we?" Asher asked as she stepped up beside Tarris.

"You've got to be kidding. You expect me to tell you-" Derille rolled his eyes, and Tarris interrupted him.

"What does it matter?" she asked, "We're going to die anyway."

"She's got that right," Corman said. "I'll personally see to that. We're in The Battery."

Tarris looked him squarely in the eye. "You know what your problem is? You've got a loud mouth." She had heard that name before, but where? Jerad came to mind, and she remembered. At Jacksters, when she was trying to get a new identity, the kid had sent the man in the black coat to The Battery. Somehow they had circled around in the tunnels and ended back where they had entered them.

When Corman's fist lifted for another strike, Derille yelled, "Trooper Corman! If you disobey one more order, I'll see to it personally that you are incarcerated for the rest of your life with the light permanently on. Am I understood?" Corman jerked forward, and Derille again yelled, "Trooper! Stand down!" The volume of his voice rattled a nearby cup.

Begrudgingly, Corman backed up a few steps, his hand still in a fist by his side. Tarris was aware that if he could have killed her with a look, she would already be dead. His glare was pure evil, indicating in one moment of clarity that her life was already forfeit and it was only a matter of time before he would make her pay for his embarrassment.

"I'd tell her everything if I were you, Maken," Tarris said with a smile, "because she won't let the matter drop until she knows."

"I don't-" Asher started to say.

"Oh, yes you do. You pester and pester until you get what you want." But Tarris said it with affection in her voice.

"And what's so funny?" Asher asked.

Tarris knew Asher would stand there with her hands on her hips if her hands weren't tied behind her back. "Nothing. I think it's just too damned cute, that's all."

"Oh, excuse me while I puke," Corman said.

"Go right ahead, Corman. With some luck you'll choke on it."

"You bitch!" Corman closed the gap of a few feet in an instant, threw himself at Tarris, and knocked her to the ground. He wrapped his fingers around her throat and squeezed her windpipe.

As the guards tried to pull him off her, his grip tightened even more. The contact was only broken when four of them pulled as one to separate them.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Asher asked.

Tarris gasped for air, but it didn't stop a grin on her face. "Because I can." She had held her anger in check for too long. It felt good to finally tell Corman what she really thought of him. Two guards helped her to her feet.

"Trooper," Derille stood in front of her and said, "you live dangerously by taunting him like that. Despite what I say, he is favored by the Prime."

"Figures," Tarris muttered. "And you know what's really scary? Both you and the Prime know your threats are hollow. Corman can do what he likes, and he knows it."

"I do what I can." Derille turned and walked away. "Bring them." She could see he fully expected them to walk with him, because he didn't stop and wait. Instead he continued to walk to a door on the far side of the floor.

Sister, are you all right?

Tarris acknowledged Rya's unspoken words. I'm fine. Just having some fun. It wasn't exactly fun, but it was satisfying nonetheless. What of Jerad?

He's untouched for now. He resides with others of his kind. Do you wish me to return?

As much as Tarris wanted the comfort of Rya inside her, she stopped her shadow. Not yet. I want them to think I'm helpless. Strangely, Rya remained silent. Tarris knew what she would automatically say, but Rya didn't say it. Was her shadow being tactful by not pointing out she was helpless without her? They don't know about your new abilities. Let's keep it that way for now. Protect Jerad, but keep close in case things change for the worse.

As you wish, sister.

Suddenly, Tarris had an odd thought. If Rya had said nothing now to save Tarris's feelings, could she trust her implicitly to tell her everything in the future? Had this changed how they interacted from now on? No, that wouldn't change. They had been through too much together for that to change. In things that mattered, there would always be the complete truth.

Then again, maybe she had imagined it all in her head. Maybe she made more out of the omission than need be. It was all blown out of proportion because of the chance of being killed. Or maybe it was the thought that Rya didn't need her anymore.

You've been a good friend, Rya.

The words tumbled around in her head.

And you will always be my home, sister.

Tarris felt a pang of guilt for even thinking such trivial thoughts. How could she doubt Rya's sincerity?

"Take the mediprac and put her with the others," Derille said.

Corman bristled but did as he was told. He signaled to two of the guards to remove Asher. "Say goodbye, bitch," he growled.

"Goodbye, bastard," Asher said to Corman.

He was ready to strike again, but Derille stepped in. "Corman! Just do as you're told."

Corman motioned the guards toward Asher and stood back. He watched with undisguised glee as she was led away. "I think I'll move her up on the list," he said.

Tarris glared at him but didn't give him the satisfaction of asking the question.

"Not interested in knowing what will happen to her?"

"Why bother?" Tarris said wearily. She was so sick of Corman's mind games.

"Obviously she doesn't mean as much to you as you do to her." He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well."

"Go harass a little old man, Trooper," Derille ordered. "You've worn out your welcome here." When Corman was gone, he said, "Why do you taunt him like that? Especially in the position you're in?"

"Because I'm damned well sick of his games, Administrator. He's a real pain in the ass and enjoys my discomfort. If I can give a little back then that's a point for me."

"Sit." He extended his hand in invitation for Tarris to perch herself on a nearby chair. "You've really got yourself into deep shit here, Waite."

"No kidding?"

"Stop it! You should have stayed put, and everything would be all right."

"All right? You've been spying on me. Everything you told me was a lie. How can that be all right?"

"I'm sorry about that."

"That's a laugh." Tarris couldn't hide the sarcasm in her voice.

"You saved those most precious to me," Derille said. "I haven't forgotten that."

"And yet that didn't stop you from taking away something very precious to me. My privacy."

Derille paced back and forth. "It was out of my hands, Tarris. The Prime wanted you kept under surveillance. I had no choice."

"There's always a choice, Administrator. I thought I proved that. If it bothered you so much, you could have said no."

"No one says no to the Prime, Tarris. If you had given it time, you would have come to discover that point. But now..."

"Now. Yes now. I suppose that's it then." Tarris hesitated. "So what will happen to Asher?"

"The mediprac? She'll be used for experimentation."

"What experimentation?"

"That shouldn't concern you right now. What you should be worried about is what's going to happen to you."

Derille was right, but Tarris was more interested in Asher's life than her own. She sensed the guards around her shifting nervously, as if they were expecting her to react.

"She's no threat," Derille told them, "at least not while the light's on. Keep your distance and make sure the light remains on at all times."

"Administrator!" a technician yelled from across the room. "Call for you."

"Stay alert," he said as a final order. He walked across the floor to the small office on the far side. He disappeared through the sliding door to the office behind it.

An older man, obviously the leader of the guards, talked to her. "Not one move. We see that shadow of yours, and the others die. Got that?"

Tarris watched his hand lower to a button on his belt and assumed it to be some sort of alarm. She nodded her agreement. Rya couldn't be in two places at one time, so Tarris was on her own.

Protect Asher and the boy.

But, sister...

No, Rya. This is an order, not a request. Keep them safe for me. Please.

There was another hesitation from her warrior. All right, sister. If that's your wish.

That is my wish, my dear friend. I want them safe.

Derille emerged from the room and stood outside the door. A couple of minutes later, Corman joined him and they talked. Both of them approached her, Derille deep in thought and Corman with an evil grin on his lips. It was not promising.

"I'm needed at the Council chambers. Corman will escort you back to the Corps headquarters. One false move on your part, and they will die. Understood?"