She gave herself a little shake. She knew she had been thinking of other things to distract her from the fact that the ordnance bunker where she had nearly died was their target. But if she didn't concentrate on this mission, all of the risks they'd taken, all that they'd miraculously succeeded at would be for nothing.

The bunkeror what was left of itwas just ahead of them. It had nearly been destroyed, that day. And, with grim Coalition practicality, the hulk had been converted to what they needed most; another prison. It was this Califa had heard, the name of Darvis II catching her attention, then the news that they had turned the ruin into a one-cell prison mainly to make existence as miserable as possible for a Triotian captive. And from what she could see now, they'd succeeded; she and Dax had circled the place, and it looked uninhabitable.

And watched by two well-armed guards who circled the building every few minutes. Perhaps word had reached here to be on guard, although thanks to Dax's penchant for rescuing anyone else they could along the way, the Coalition couldn't be sure exactly who they were after. But since Triotians were their most precious prisoners now, the guard had been intensified anyway.

At Dax's gesture, she inched a little closer. They waited, then moved forward again, each small gain of distance seeming to take forever. But the guards were watchful, and she knew they couldn't move any faster without risking discovery.

She didn't know what would happen this time; Dax had merely a.s.sured her the diversion would be there when they needed it.

They moved a little closer.

They had worked out the plan beforehand, based on Califa's knowledge of the outpost and the surrounding area. They'd come down in the shuttle, while theEvening Star was well out of range on the dark side of the planet. Dax had brought the little craft straight down to the planet, then, using Rina's incomparable memory as a guide, had flown to within a mile of the outpost, never once rising high enough to register on the outpost scanners. It was a hair-raising, incredible piece of flying, and Califa swore that more than once she'd heard the brush of branches against the underside of the shuttle.

They moved farther, a gain of a few feet this time as the guards both arrived at the far reach of their circling path. The two men were nearly out of their line of sight now, and Califa quickly followed Dax's lead until he stopped once more.

The shuttle sat about a half mile away, in a narrow cleft between two scarps created by one of the sudden shifts of the land this area was p.r.o.ne to. The hand-held comlink Dax carried could easily reach the shuttle, but theEvening Star was far out of its range. So Rina, grudgingly, had stayed aboard the shuttle, and when the time came, Dax would signal her, and she would relay the signal to theEveningStar with the shuttle's much more powerful communications system. The outpost would hear the transmission, no doubt, but it would be much too quick for them to trace where it had come from. And hopefully, they would quickly forget all about it when that transmitted order was carried out.

They were now within a stone's throw of the barred door that had been implanted in the wreckage of the bunker. They waited, barely breathing as the guards came back. The two men exchanged a few words neither Dax nor Califa could hear, then began the circuit again.

As they approached that most distant point again, Dax lifted the comlink. Califa watched him as he watched the guards, his gaze intent as he gauged the timing. Time seemed to lock in place, to hold, as she looked at him. He was tense, yet crackling with vitality, more alive than any man she'd ever known. And suddenly all her anger drained away; what good was it, when they might die in the next moment?

He moved suddenly, flipping the comlink on and snapping out the order. "Now!"

The prearranged double click came back at them; Rina had copied. Dax shut the comlink off quickly.

Then, with a rakish, reckless grin, he reached out and cupped Califa's cheek. She nearly jumped; he hadn't touched her except accidentally since that day in the lounge, when he'd bargained with her. Then she realized he was tilting her head toward the sky.

It was silent, dark, and spangled with distant stars. Nothing unusual, nothing The sky above them erupted. Fiery objects rained down, looking like the most intense meteor shower she'd ever seen. But this was more ma.s.sive than any natural event; the sky lit up as if with the flames of Hades.

Predictably, the two guards stared upward in shock at the blazing display. It was almost frightening, even to Califa, who at least knew it was somehow arranged; those two were stunned into immobility.

Dax nudged her then, and she tore her gaze from the blazing heavens. They ran the last few feet and ducked into the shadow of the ruin. By the time they reached the door, shouts of amazement and fear were echoing around them from the astonished inhabitants of the outpost; the noise was enough to cover the sound as Dax hit the door lock with his disrupter.

"What in Hadeswas that?" Califa whispered.

Dax grinned, that wild, exhilarated grin that never failed to make her heart race. "Larc finally got to use that rail gun of his. That's every bit of s.p.a.ce debris we've been able to collect over the last week."

Califa stared at him as he pushed the door open. Fired from the modified rail gun into the upper reaches of the atmosphere above Darvis II, any object of size would indeed burn up as it reached thicker air. And a ma.s.s of them would do exactly what she had just seen.

Wordlesslynot the first time she'd been awed speechless at this man's resourcefulnessshe followed him into the cell.

This Triotian was a young one, not even Rina's age. All this, for a child, Califa thought. She glanced at Dax. His face was set, his jaw rigid, and she knew he was thinking the same. And wondering how long the boy had been here.

He was chained to the wall by one thin ankle. He looked at them wildly, and Califa felt a vicious pang at the thought of him being held in this pit. The boy backed against the wall, shaking his head with fear. She couldn't blame him.

"It's all right," she said as she knelt beside him. "We've come to take you out of here. But we haven't much time."

"I don't believe you," he said, pulling away.

"You must hold still," Califa urged. "Or I can't break you free of this shackle without hurting you."

The boy trembled. "You're Arellian," he said. "There are Arellian officers. There is one in charge of this place. How...how do I know you're not with the Coalition? How can I trust you?"

"If not me," Califa said softly, "trust him."

The boy's gaze flicked to Dax, who stood watching their backs, and the broken door. "Who is he?"

"Dax?" He glanced back at her call. "He doesn't trust me. He wants to know why he should trust you."

Dax looked at the boy for a moment. "It's a wise man who is careful with his trust. But weare here to take you out of here," he promised.

The boy still looked doubtful. Dax moved then, swirling aside his cloak. When he raised his arm, the flashbow glinted silver in the dim light.

The boy's eyes widened. "The flashbow," he breathed. Dax nodded as he hid the ancient weapon once more. Joy leapt in the boy's face, and Califa quickly and carefully turned the disrupter on the shackle that bound him.

"Can you run?" Dax asked. "Honestly, now."

"I don't think so," the boy admitted. "Not far. I've been chained for a long time."

Califa heard Dax mutter something that she was just as glad not to have understood. Then he knelt and let the boy clamber onto his back; he was so thin, Califa doubted he would slow Dax much. But the burden would limit his fighting ability, so Califa kept her disrupter armed and ready in her hand, and when Dax nodded toward his waist, reached inside the cloak and took his as well.

They started back toward the door. Califa breathed a sigh of relief when the shadows appeared deserted. She glanced upward; Larcos was still putting on a show, although it was less extensive now.

The boy Dax carried didn't even notice; he was too busy clinging like a burr to his rescuer's back, his bony arms wrapped around Dax's shoulders, his legs around his waist.

They headed for the byway that would lead them out of the outpost. Califa could see the dark shadows of the hills beyond. They were going to make it. By Eosor by Dax's G.o.dthey were going to make it. They'd be A sudden flare of light froze Dax in his tracks. The boy cried out, and Dax turned to put himself between the child and the threat. And out of the glare of the powerful huntlight came a voice Califa knew.

"Hold!" Then, in shocked tones. "Eos, it's Dax!"

Beltar. Beltar Estrille, the man Larcos had reminded her of. He must be the Arellian the boy had mentioned, the one in charge. She remembered they had, with typical Coalition perspicaciousness, promoted him to major soon after he had obtained a barely mediocre score in her tactical cla.s.ses. She also remembered him as a bit gullible.

Califa stepped forward, into the light. The man's tone changed to one of bewilderment.

"Califa? Califa Claxton? Is that you?"

"Yes, Beltar. It is."

Her fingers tightened around the disrupter. Carrying the boy, Dax was virtually unarmed. And Beltar couldn't help but see that. Just as he couldn't help but see that she was armed. What would he do? And how should she play it? Before she could decide, she heard a long, low whistle.

"Eos, Califa, you've done it. You've captured the most wanted man in all the Coalition systems put together! General Corling will want to put a medal on you personally. You've just bought your career back!"

She could see nothing in the glare of the huntlight. But she could feel Dax's gaze fastened on her.

Chapter 22.

"Turn out that light, will you, Beltar?" Califa asked. "It's blinding me."

The light clicked off obligingly. Dax swallowed tightly, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Califa, although now that the glare had destroyed his night vision temporarily, all he could see was her slender shape.

"Is she one of them after all?" the boy whispered into Dax's ear.

"Sshh," he hissed. Mainly because he had no answer. Hurcon's words came back to haunt him now. He didn't think Califa would turn on him, but then he'd never expected she would be offered her life back in exchange, either. But in the Coalition, apparently handing over their most wanted man would be all it would take for them to admit they were wrong. Or at least to make reparations. It was a prize anyone would be hard-pressed to resist; for the woman whose whole life had been her career, it would be nearly impossible.

"Thank you," Califa said, sounding genial. "Now I can see again. Are any of your guards handy to turn him over to?"

Beltar snorted in disgust. "No. They're all off watching whatever that sky display is. I thought it might be a diversion, we've heard rumors that he"he jerked a thumb at Dax"was on a rampage, raiding labor camps."

"You always were a smart one, Beltar." Califa's tone was overloaded with admiration. The man didn't seem to notice.

"Yes, well, I suppose that's why they promoted me to commander here."

"And so young, too, to have a command."

The man preened visibly.

"Hmm," Califa murmured, looking thoughtful. "Perhaps we should lock them back in the boy's cell for now . I wouldn't want them to get loose. It might ruin your reputation."

"No, that wouldn't do," Beltar agreed hastily.

Dax could see him now, a lanky, loose-jointed man whose uniform seemed to look ill-fitted. He was smiling at Califa as he walked toward them.

"We wouldn't want to tarnish your regained honor, either," he said. "I can hardly wait to turn in this report. I always admired you, Major. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Major," Califa returned almost gaily. "It is good to be back."

She sounded so convincing Dax shivered inwardly. Was she truly so angry at him? Would she hand him over and then go back to her life, to further Coalition glory? Would she leave him to his fate and pick up her life where it had left off? Would she someday perhaps be the tactician who would defeat Trios in the end?

His stomach churned. There was a chance the boy could dart away into the shadows, and stay hidden long enough for him to get to the flashbow. But the bow was not a weapon that could be fired in haste; he would be dead long before he could activate it.

"Did you search him for weapons?" Beltar asked.

She didn't have to, Dax thought grimly. I gave her the only one that would help now.

"Of course." She waved his disrupter. "There was only this. Come, let's get him secured. I don't like him loose. He's too unpredictable. But they've mangled this lock." Her gaze flicked to Dax as she said, "We'll have to weld it shut or something. Do you have a laser torch?"

Dax felt his heart leap as she pointedly suggested what he'd done to the barracks on Boreas. Was this a signal of some kind, or was he being a fool?

"No, but this will do it," Beltar said, reaching to his belt and taking out a high-power laser pistol. "I've heard he's worse than unpredictable, he's crazy. Why, he's been raiding bases throughout the system, taking nothing but prisoners. What kind of sense does that make?"

Beltar started toward Dax, but he was looking at Califa, and Dax knew this was his only chance. He either moved now, orOr he trusted Califa. Trusted her not to have turned on him. Trusted her to have a plan. Trusted her, not only with his own life, but the boy's. Trusted her loyalty, as he had not done when he had bargained with her to join this mission.

When Beltar nudged his shoulder with the pistol, he went without a struggle. It was an ugly weapon, carving a victim into screaming pieces before granting him the mercy of death. Dax much preferred a disrupter; a direct hit meant instant unconsciousness. The boy was not so acquiescent. He began to squirm, trying to break free. Dax tightened his grip.

"Trust me," he whispered, praying he wasn't condemning them both to Hades. The boy went still. Such faith, he thought.Such is her faith in you, Califa had said of Rina. I hope to G.o.d mine isn't as misplaced as hers is.

The boy started to shake as they stepped back into the dank, dark cell that had been his world for so long. Dax tried to calm him again, but he wasn't feeling too confident himself. He saw Califa stop, keeping herself between Beltar and the door until Dax and the boy pa.s.sed. She looked at him, but his eyes hadn't completely recovered from the flash of the huntlight, and he couldn't read her expression.

But he knew his was rigid as the door swung shut behind him.

The clang of the slamming prison door echoed in his ears. It was a sound he'd never forget, for whatever life he had left. He'd been wrong. He'd gambled his life, and an innocent child's, and he'd lost. She had jumped at the chance to get her life back, all her fine words about hating the system she'd served for so long were "Here," she said in an absent tone, "give me the pistol." She held out her hand, not even looking at Beltar, instead studying the damaged lock as if to determine the best way to seal it permanently shut. After an instant's hesitation, Beltar handed her the weapon. Califa took it, and aimed it at the door. She moved the hand holding the disrupter toward the officer, out of her way. Beltar seemed to relax, and turned to smirk at Dax.

Califa shot him.

She used the disrupter, not the laser, and Beltar never had the chance to scream. He crumpled to the ground without a sound. Dax felt his knees wobble, and wondered if he was about to follow him down.

He let the boy slide to the ground, and braced himself against one of the bars as he let out the breath he'd been holding.

Califa straightened then, and reached for the door to swing it open.

The boy looked from her to Dax.

"She sounded so real" he said, his young voice tiny and scared, "like she was one of them...How did you know?"

Dax drew himself up and put a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sometimes, you just have to let go and trust."

He shifted his gaze to Califa. He could see her now, could see her eyes fastened on him.

"And I owed her this," he added quietly, as if to the boy, but never taking his eyes off of Califa. "Because once I couldn't do it when I should have."

"Oh, Dax."

He heard the whisper, in a voice he hadn't heard from her in far too long. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, right here and now, he wanted "Somebody's coming!" Dax whirled at the boy's cry, as did Califa. They heard the sounds now, distant, running footsteps. But not distant enough. She was closer to the outside perimeter of the ruined bunker, so she ran to look.

"It's a patrol," she reported grimly. "Six of them, on the run this way."

"d.a.m.nation," Dax swore, "he must have told somebody where he was going."

She glanced at the door, the only escape. "We'll never get past them, not that way. We'd have to cross open ground right in front of them. They'd pick us off like brollets. And they'll be here in a minute, maybe two."

Dax looked around the cell. The back of the original bunker had been built into the hill itself, and that portion was about all that was left. They'd simply sealed off the front with a wall and the barred door, leaving what was left of the bunker and its roof extending out into the air. It was an effective, escapeproof prison. Maybe.

"How much farther does that hill go?" Her brows creased. "You mean through it? To the back? Fifty feet or so. Twenty, maybe thirty feet on the sides."

Dax's gaze snapped back to the front of the ruin. The footsteps were getting closer, and they could hear shouting now. They were almost out of time. He looked at Califa.

"Can you fly the shuttle?"

Her brows lowered again. "Yes, but"

"Back to theEvening Star ?"

"Of course. Dax, what"