Rebellion in the Shadows
Chapter Thirty

Su’jee walked towards me, one sure step at a time.

“I’ll take that Talaya,” she said, the tip of her shock-prod came alive in a flash of blue current. “I couldn’t get it to open, but now it’s all set thanks to you,”

“Yeah? Why don’t I hold onto the shock-prod while you take a look?” I asked. I kicked the open case behind me. It slid across the old carpet, only stopping when it hit the wall. Each sparring session with Su’jee had been difficult, she was the better fighter, and she had a weapon. Her slow movement forward was precautionary. She was looking for Kirtis.

“You really think twelve tiny bombs are going to stop him? You’re an idiot, and Kirtis is an idiot too. Did you even check to see if someone was following you? Or watching you? Or even consider that we always have your coordinates? You deserve his spite, and you both deserve what he has planned.” I didn’t wait for her to say anything else, I launched at her. My hand slapped the shock-prod aside and my shoulder rammed into her stomach. We tumbled to the ground. My left hand held her wrist to the ground, her shock-prod just out of reach but her fist thudded against my ribcage and she bucked me off.

She stabbed me with the tip of the shock-prod. The two prongs on the top punctured my skin and the electricity froze me, it was much stronger than the ones they’d been using before. She dug it farther into my side. It was hopeless. She was on her knees next to me as I contorted into a weird shape, unable to control my own limbs.

“You’re so pathetic, it’s almost funny that you were picked to be the next Master Guardian. I’m sure we will replace some other embarrassing candidate to fill in after you’re gone.” The prod was pulled out of my side and she stood up. She took in a deep breath and slammed her boot into my stomach. I yelled out and grabbed where she hit, sure every rib was broken.

“I should just kill you now, save Geokee the trouble.” She pulled a laser pistol out of the back of her uniform. There was an intimidating click, followed by a high-pitched whine.

Fear forced my body back into action. No way was I going out the same way as Prelle. I spun on the rough carpet with one leg extended out. There wasn’t enough power in my kick to knock her over, but it was enough to unbalance her. I stood up, ready to take her down, but I didn’t get the chance. A man tackled her from the side and they both went careening to the floor.

Whoever it was clambered and manipulated Su’jee until she was locked in a choke hold. It was perfect, and her face was purple in an instant. I hobbled over and kicked her in the gut. With all my injuries, it barely made a difference. When she was close to passing out, I had to turn away. Even with all the spite I had for her, I couldn’t watch someone’s face slowly drift into unconsciousness like that. My attention went to my injuries. Blood slowly seeped from the two holes the shock-prod left. When the man spoke, I turned back around. Su’jee was unconscious, discarded in a heap on the floor at his feet.

“That was easier than I thought. Grab the case,” he said.

“Says you. I will be nursing broken ribs for hours.”

“If they even heal you, otherwise it could be months,” he said.

“I doubt I will make it another week here,” I said.

“So do I.” He shot a glance my direction, unconcerned with the blood and limp. He wasn’t much taller than me but was making me feel very small.

“Riko?” I asked. Both my hands were covering the puncture wounds on my side, trying to stem the flow of blood. Each breath was a fresh round of sharp pain to my ribcage.

“Yes.” His dark eyes scrutinized me. “If you would have properly cased the room, that never would have happened,” he said, pointing to my side.

“Are you serious? She had a weapon.”

“Weapon or not, you almost got yourself killed.”

“Who the hell are you to tell me anything?” I asked, he was getting on my nerves.

“I told you, I’m Riko,” he said. That wasn’t what I meant, and he knew it. When we got to the elevator, he stood with one hand over the other, both linked behind his back in parade rest.

“You should lock that back up,” he said, right as the doors started to open. “And when we get out of here don’t talk to anyone, just go back to your room. Don’t do anything stupid. We’re getting you out of here.” I watched him leave down the hall with the case of bombs dangling at his side.

As the adrenaline wore off, the limping became more pronounced. There was still no word from Kirtis, though it didn’t surprise me since I had already found what we needed.

When I reached my room, my door was gone but two familiar guards waited by the doorway.

“Is this broken?” I asked, Rotowey. His arm was in a sling, and his nose swollen to twice it’s normal size.

“Your door privileges have been revoked,” Rotowey said, his twisted smile showing his amusement.

“Is that a thing?” I asked walking through the empty doorway to my room. Neither of them asked about my limp or the blood.

“Apparently,” he answered. The seat at my desk didn’t look comfortable, but bed was out of the question and I didn’t dare send a comm to anyone. Su’jee had known everything and all but told me my calcumat was compromised. It took everything in my will power to not get up and search for Kirtis. There was no message from him, and my worry only grew as the night wore on. Around zero-two, I limped to my mattress and climbed in without getting undressed.