The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(102)

“Oh, no. I’m very, very impressed with your total lack of basic human empathy and kindness. Also, your arrogance is completely mind-blowing.” Torran bestowed upon her his most intense Scottish glower.

Franklin dropped her hands as her body tensed. Her eyes flicked to her weapon and dagger just a short distance away.

“I’m expendable I take it?” Torran tilted his head as he watched her every move.

“You’ve blown our plans to get the information out of Lindsey without resorting to persuasive interrogation.”

“Torture, you mean.”

Franklin shrugged.

“Let’s talk this out—”

The tall woman dove for her weapons, her sleek muscled body moving with predatory agility. Torran scrambled around the console. Just as Franklin lifted her weapon, Torran tackled her. They slid across the slick floor and into the far wall with a hard thump. With a hiss, Franklin attempted to punch Torran’s face, but he struck her chin with a sharp blow of his elbow, stunning her briefly. Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on prying the firearm from her grip. Struggling ferociously, Franklin punched him in the ear and beat her feet against the floor. Torran managed to rip the weapon free from her grip just as Franklin wedged one leg between their bodies and shoved him off her. Lashing out, she struck him in the side of the head, then crawled toward her dagger.

Torran flipped onto his back, aiming for Franklin when he saw Lindsey dart around the column in the center of the hub and kick the dagger away from Franklin’s grasp. The blade spun across the floor and smacked into the wall. Seizing Lindsey’s wrist, Franklin pivoted on her hip and dragged Lindsey down to the floor. Lindsey landed on her back with a loud thump, air whooshing out of her lungs. With startling speed, Franklin grabbed Lindsey’s long braid and jerked her upright in front of her to use as a shield. Carefully, Franklin slid into a crouching position behind the stunned blond woman.

“Shoot,” Franklin dared him.

“You can’t win this,” Torran replied, still lying on his side and aiming at the two women.

“We already have. You’re cut off from The Bastion. There will be no rescue team except for the one we send. Someone will come in my place, and then you’ll have much more to deal with than just me.” Franklin grinned, her eyes gleaming with the fanaticism of a true believer. “I’m willing to die for what I believe in.”

“Then you won’t let her die,” Torran replied. “And you won’t kill her. You need Lindsey to get to Maria.”

Fingers still gripping Lindsey’s hair, Franklin clearly weighed her options.

Lindsey finally managed to drag a full breath. “Let go of me. We won’t hurt you if you let me go.”

“There’s two of us and one of you,” Torran said calmly, but his heart was beating so hard in his chest, he thought it would break his ribs. “We’ll let you make the call to your people so they can come get us. We won’t stop you.” His only hope was that Franklin would see the sense of surrendering her hostage, so that Lindsey could lead the Gaia Cult to Maria.

“Give me the weapon then,” Franklin ordered.

“Let go of her,” Torran replied.

“Weapon first.”

With a grunt, Torran slid the firearm across the floor. Franklin lunged for it as it whizzed past her, but missed. While she was looking away from him, Torran grabbed the dagger Lindsey had earlier kicked his way and tucked it into his waistband at the small of his back.

“Let go of her,” Torran repeated.

With disgust, Franklin let go of Lindsey and moved to retrieve her weapon. “I’m calling for retrieval right now. I hope you’ll cooperate, Lindsey. I would really hate to see you suffer, because in the end, you will help us one way or the other.”

Torran cautiously climbed to his feet as Lindsey followed his lead, both with their hands raised.

“I don’t care much for torture,” Lindsey retorted.

“Then you’ll help us right away, won’t you?” Bending over, Franklin retrieved her weapon. “As for you, Torran, you’re really not necessary.” She swung the weapon around to fire.

Torran grabbed the dagger from his belt and flung it at Franklin. “I figured you say that.”

Seeing the blade slashing through the air toward her, Franklin dodged. Lindsey pivoted about and administered a roundhouse kick that met Franklin’s head with a meaty thwack. Stunned, Franklin dropped her firearm and it clattered to the floor. Lindsey hit her again with a knee to the stomach, doubling Franklin over.

Torran wasn’t sure if they were going to be able to restrain the other woman. When Franklin lunged at Lindsey and managed to get her fingers around her throat, he recognized they were locked in a battle to the death. There was no way the cultist was going to capitulate.

The two women grappled with one another, Franklin intent on reaching one of her two weapons, while Lindsey fought to stop her. Torran rushed to help Lindsey, but Franklin saw him coming and managed to shove her opponent into him. Torran caught Lindsey as Franklin lunged for her firearm. Again, Lindsey rolled forward and kicked out, striking Franklin’s knee and knocking the other woman aside.

Torran spurted forward and grabbed the firearm. Meanwhile, Franklin picked up her dagger and slashed at Torran. Pain streaked through him as she caught his bicep.

“No!” Lindsey tackled the other woman and they wrestled for control of the bloodied knife.