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e Battloid's hand。〃
Jack sounded weak and weary。 〃Goddamn you； it's all I can do to keep him from ing apart in pieces！ And I caught a hit or two myself。〃
Karen imaged the mechamorphosis； and the VT； back in Guardian shape； knelt with its radome almost touching the ground。 She was out of the cockpit and running in another second or two； sidearm drawn。 She passed into the dark interior； calling his name。
Something hit her from behind； and the next thing she knew； Jack and Burak were standing over her with drawn guns。
CHAPTER TWENTY…FOUR
I've been accused of over…romanticizing certain aspects of the events that day。 Maybe so； and if that's the kind of thing that irks you； then don't read on。
What you should do to keep yourself busy； though； is make sure you try the glass slipper on every appropriate foot that es your way。 You might change your mind…or your luck。
Jack Baker； Upwardly Mobile
Glowing disembodied along the crystal highways； Baldan II implored his people。
〃We know which media we must strike at now！ Tesla's troops and even the Sentinels may not be enough！ We must help them！〃
But everywhere it was the same。 〃We are safe here in the bosom of Spheris。 Let the outworlders fight their own battles！〃
The heart he had put into them was gone again； now that someone seemed ready to hand the Spherisians peace and freedom on a platter。 Baldan brooded； and wondered if such a gift could ever be trusted； and how much harm it would do Spheris in the long run。
Teal spoke across the mineral medium to him。 〃What shall we do？ Baldan； if you want to fight； I am with you。〃
〃There is one thing we might do；〃 he said。 Reorienting his mind…spirit along new vectors； he headed toward Beroth。 Teal rose after。
Karen knew her flight helmet had saved her from being killed； from the positions of the two as they stood looking down at her； she presumed Burak had struck the blow。
She tried to move and realized she was trussed up with her own flight harness and their uniform harnesses。
Burak was tucking her dropped pistol in his gunbelt。 〃I'll get the Fruit。 Make sure she's secure。 And don't forget to bring her helmet。〃
Jack removed the helmet； but then stood looking down at her uncertainly； weighing his Badger。 〃Jack； Tesla's making you do this； isn't he？ Jack； don't listen to him！ Stop and think what you're doing； before…〃
〃Silence！〃 Burak was back。 〃Be grateful that Omnipotent Tesla directs us to spare you； or…〃
Then his expression became a little vague； as did Jack's； as they both listened to something she couldn't hear。 Burak glanced down at her with a devilish grin； his horns silhouetted against the entrance。
〃It seems you're not indispensable after all； Penn。〃 He turned to Jack。 〃Finish her； while I load the Fruit。〃 Burak had no punctions about killing Karen…not under Tesla's coercion。 But he was much more concerned that the Fruit stay in his possession； giving him some minimal leverage with the Invid。
〃Jack； don't do this；〃 she whispered。
He bolstered his gun like a man in a trance。 His forehead was covered with rivulets of sweat。 Hooking his hands in her bonds； he began pulling her up。 A part of him felt that he couldn't simply leave her body there； that he must move it further into the darkness to hide his terrible crime。 Another part simply wanted to lift her up and bear her away…away from the danger。
Her infighting moves were severely limited： ankles and knees were strapped together； her hands bound behind her at elbows and wrists。 But as he lifted her up； she made her play； it had nothing to do with knocking him unconscious。
Lurching against him； she pinned him between the wall and herself； putting her mouth to his。 The zombielike dullness slipped from him； and after a surprised instant； he kissed her back； arms going around her； supporting her。 He buried his fingers in her hair and hugged her tight。 Time stopped for both of them。
〃What are you doing？〃 Burak's footsteps clicked on the floor。
Jack could only release her and turn to go for his gun in a desperate contest。 Karen tucked her chin in and managed to avoid having her head cracked open as she toppled over backward in a painful fall。
Jack didn't have time to unholster his pistol； because Burak was practically on top of him； though one of the man's groping hands blundered open the retaining strap that held his set in its pouch。 But he managed to grab Burak's wrist and give it a practiced twist； sending the Perytonian's handgun bouncing across the floor。 Then Jack hit him with a right cross； sending him staggering into the wall。
Tesla sensed what was going on and strove to reassert his dominance over Jack； sending a mental bolt at him just as he went to grapple with Burak。 Jack somehow endured the attack； but he was off balance。
Knocking aside Jack's clumsy defense； Burak used an instinctive attack； one the Sentinels hadn't seen from a Perytonian yet； and that Jack wouldn't be looking for。 Rather than use hands or feet； Burak faked； then lowered his head and gored Jack Baker。
The long； dart…keen； tapered horns ripped through the tough fabric of the man's uniform and through flesh and muscle； opening twin channels across his midsection。 One horn hung up on a rib； and Burak was pulled off balance。 Jack managed to land a hammer blow to the base of Burak's neck with his fist； but the Perytonian lifted him from his feet and dropped him like a bull tossing a matador。
As Jack fell； Burak looked around dizzily for his gun。 But a burst from a Badger made him duck； and he rushed madly for the bunker's entrance。 Karen fired again； but with no way to aim； she was lucky she just stitched a line of shots across the ceiling。
Lucky I didn't shoot my own young tush off！ she told herself。
As it was； she had through some miracle managed to squirm over to Burak's gun； rolling over it backward to get it。
As Burak fled； he kicked something that skittered ahead of him。 He instinctively scooped it up as he ran； barely breaking stride： Jack's set； which had bounced loose in the struggle。
Karen fired one more burst blindly； then let Burak go and set the Badger aside。 She went back to work on the makeshift bonds