Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1)(64)

“Yeah, yeah, go through,” the guard says, thumping the scanner again.

As the big Terran complains behind us, we shuffle past into the security hub. Walking down a long main hallway, Tyler taps the commlink in his ear.

“Good work, Finian,” he murmurs.

“Child’s play. Get your uniglass within a meter of any wireless system and I can work miracles. You want to look for a sign to the central core.”

Stepping through the airlock, another scanner runs a series of red lasers over our badges and armor, an electronic voice urges us to proceed. The hallways are almost busy, SecTeam members either clocking off or clocking on. I spot a sign for the server systems, point it out to Tyler. I keep my stride easy, my smile polite. I ignore the tension in my muscles, the feeling of enemies on all sides, the violence simmering inside me. Walking softly. Hearing my father’s voice in my head.

We arrive at a set of double doors, sealed with an electronic keypad and marked server core. We pretend to chat as a man in an administrator’s uniform hurries past. When the corridor is clear, Tyler holds his uniglass near the lock.

We wait. Trying not to look suspicious. Which, given that we are breaking into this room in the middle of an armed facility, is somewhat difficult.

“Take your time, Finian,” Tyler mutters into his commlink.

“Look if you know someone else who can run a wireless hack on an eighteen-digit encryption, be my guest,” comes the reply.

“I thought you said you were a miracle worker.”

The lock beeps. The server door clicks open.

“Well, hey now, would you look at that.”

We steal inside the room, pulling the door closed behind us. The air is cool, filled with a subsonic hum, the room lit by flickering LEDs and overhead fluorescents, lined with rows of servers and tangles of cable. Finian’s voice crackles in our ears.

“Wow, that was amazing, Finian. You really are a miracle worker. I think I’m going to name my firstborn dirtchild after you beca—”

“Knock it off,” Tyler snaps. “Where do we plant this leech?”

“Tertiary uplink oughta do it. Now listen close. I’ll use small words.”

I keep watch at the door, peering out through the crack while Tyler follows Finian’s instructions. Security personnel march past, a few stragglers heading to their shifts. A refreshment drone trundles past on smooth tracks, carrying a tray of coffee and celedine and stimulant supplements. Five minutes pass, each as long as an eon, until finally I turn and whisper to my squad leader.

“Someone comes.”

Tyler looks up from the server, elbow deep in cable. “You sure?”

I peer back down the corridor at the approaching Terran. He carries an armload of computer equipment and wears a tool belt full of e-tech. He is three days unshaven, glares at the security personnel around him with an air of undisguised contempt, and looks as though he has not slept in seven years.

“He certainly has the appearance of a man who works with computers, yes.”

“Finian, are we good?” Tyler asks.

“Affirmative, I’m getting a signal from the leech. We’re in.”

“Roger that,” Tyler says, sealing up the server cabinet.

A passing security team member bumps into the approaching commtech, spilling some of the gear he carries. The man curses, stoops to pick up his fallen parts and pieces. But he is barely four meters from the server room door now. He will surely notice us if we walk out of it right in front of him.

Tyler joins me at the door, peers outside.

“This isn’t good.”

“Agreed.”

My Alpha looks at our surroundings. Rapidly reaches the same conclusion I have. There is nowhere to hide in here, particularly in the bulky power armor we are wearing. The Enemy Within whispers that I could easily deal with this tech in silence—crush his windpipe as soon as he steps inside. Snap his neck. Choke him to death. A dozen different endings dance inside my head. But the quieter part of me knows that would leave a corpse in the server core, and that might lead to an investigation, bringing our leech closer to discovery.

My mind is racing. But I am not the one who scored a perfect one hundred on his military tactics exam in final year. The Legionnaire beside me is.

“Suggestions, sir?”

Tyler scowls. Permutations and possibilities running behind his eyes. The commtech is shuffling toward the door now, weighed down by his gear, muttering under his breath. Tyler glances at me. Takes a deep breath.

“Look, apologies in advance for this. But whatever you do, don’t punch me, okay?”

“Wh—”

Tyler grabs the front of my power armor and pulls me close. The door opens and the commtech walks right in at the precise moment Tyler’s lips land on mine. My eyes go wide. The man’s jaw falls open.

I am shocked into stillness. I know Terrans touch casually, slapping each other on the back, shaking hands. This is a lot more than a handshake. This is Tyler pressed up against me, turning slowly toward the commtech, our mouths still mashed together. …

The tech stands in the doorway, glancing back and forth between us. It’s Tyler who breaks off the kiss, looking appropriately embarrassed. For my part, I am simply stunned. Shuffling his armload of gear, the commtech backs slowly out of the room.

“Thiiiiiiink I’m gonna give you boys a moment,” he says.