Marek glanced around the ship. "Where's Kasen?"
Caillen shrugged. "Off with Shahara."
The other soldiers returned, shaking their heads. "He's clean."
Marek nodded. "You looking for Netan?"
"Yeah, where is he?"
"He's with Aksel," Marek said, replacing his helmet. "I'll tell him you're here."
Caillen took a deep breath, grateful the ruse had worked. "Do it. I don't have a lot of patience. If he doesn't get here quick, I'm leaving."
Marek motioned his group of soldiers off the ship.
"Hey," Caillen mischievously called down the ramp after him. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to lock my systems down while I wait. I just can't trust you mercenaries, you guys are a rotten group."
He saw Marek stiffen, but he didn't say a word in reply.
Caillen smiled in self-satisfaction. He locked the hatch, then ran to free the group from their hiding panels in the walls.
Darling moved to the front to monitor communications.
"You'll have to rush," Caillen said to Nykyrian who checked his blaster's charge level.
"If Netan stays on board too long, they'll get suspicious."
Nykyrian nodded, his stomach knotting. He had to succeed. Looking at Hauk, they took positions on opposite sides of the hatch, ready to pounce.
Their wait was short. Netan must have really been in the mood to get flagged. As it was, he ended up unnaturally unconscious.
Caillen opened the hatch just enough for Nykyrian and Hauk to squeeze through.
Nykyrian's heart pounded against his ribs. He had to get Kiara out.
With practiced ease, they made their way out of the bay and down the hallway, Darling instructing their path via a headset and map inside the Malta.
Darling's voice talking to him in his headset soothed some of the tenseness out of him .
Nykyrian knew he could rely on his friends to get Kiara to safety.
"Two more corridors, then Aksel's office is on your left," Darling instructed.
Hauk moved.
"Wait!" Darling warned.
Nykyrian's heart skipped a beat.
"One being coming down the hall up ahead. There's a door behind you Kip, use it."
Nykyrian led the way into the dark room. "I hate this," he hissed to Hauk.
Hauk nodded in agreem ent.
After a few seconds, Darling's voice returned. "Clear all the way. Move."
Nykyrian opened the door. They made their way to Aksel's office. He tried the door's security code, but it wouldn't budge. "Damn!"
"What?" Hauk asked, scanning the hallway.
"Aksel must have changed codes." Stifling his temper, Nykyrian quickly rewired the lock and raised the door.
Nykyrian saw Kiara first. Her jubilant face looked up at him with adoring eyes that cut through to his soul. He ran across the room and jerked the chains out of their hook in the ceiling. Relief coursed through him as he picked the locks and freed her wrists from the metal cuffs.
His eyes hardened as he noticed the tear in her dress. "Did he hurt you?"
"No," she sobbed, holding him close. "He was waiting for you."
Nykyrian kissed her, his arms tight around her waist while he thanked God she was safe.
She trembled in his arms like a frightened gim fry and he vowed once more to see Aksel pay for this with his life!
"Come on, we don't have time!" Hauk said from behind him.
Nykyrian moved away from her. Hauk was right. Pulling his jacket off, he wrapped it around Kiara.
"Where's Aksel?" Nykyrian asked her.
"I don't know," she whispered, touching his face. "He left a few minutes ago."
Hauk cleared his throat and pulled at Nykyrian's shoulder. "You need to see this."
Nykyrian turned around, then went numb. For the first time, he noticed Driana lying on the floor. He crossed the room to stand over Driana's body.
"She's dead," Hauk confirmed, stooping to feel for her pulse.
Nykyrian looked back at Kiara in confusion over the grisly sight. "What happened?"
Kiara covered her trembling lips with her hands. "She tried to kill Aksel, and he beat her to death."
Nykyrian moved back to Kiara. She fell against him , shaking. Nykyrian held her tightly, knowing this would be his last time to ever touch her. "You're safe now, shona. But we have to hurry."
Handing Kiara over to Hauk's arms, he adjusted his headset. "Darling, report."
"You're clear the whole way back."
He nodded to Hauk. "Get her home."
Hauk hesitated. He gave Nykyrian a look that told him how reluctant Hauk was to leave him to his own defenses. "Walk with peace," Hauk said quietly before dragging Kiara out of the room behind him.
Nykyrian thought over the old League phrase. He finally understood how an assassin could walk in peace. With a sigh, he welcomed the peaceful slumber of death. He gave them a good head start. Hauk would take care of Kiara.
This was the only solution.
"Walk with peace," he repeated and opened the door. Nykyrian ran down the hallway back toward the bay.
"Kip, to the right!" Darling's voice shouted.