《The Strays of Lunar One》


 1鈥擨nfiltration

    ¡°I got you covered.¡±


    Lewis breathed a sigh of relief as Oliver¡¯s voice came through the implant. ¡°Tell me I can open the door, now.¡±


    ¡°You can open the door, take a step to the right and slide into an emergency locker, then wait forty seconds for the next guards to pass in¡­ Now.¡±


    Lewis moved, running the dummy pass over the access controls and stepping through the door as Oliver instructed. The door to the emergency locker hissed open as he moved toward it, and he slid inside. The sound it made as it closed had his heart hammering.


    Reminding himself to breathe, Lewis exhaled, making a slow count to forty. As he reached it, the locker door clicked and then re-opened, and Oliver was in his ear, again.


    ¡°Go straight to the end of this corridor, and make a smart left. Take the first door to your right and turn into the second aisle on your left. Our terminal is the third one along.¡±


    ¡°The one next to the wall?¡± Lewis asked, not liking the sound of that.


    ¡°Unfortunately, so.¡±


    Lewis kept moving, doing his best to look like he belonged in this part of the Lunar One complex. In truth, he didn¡¯t, but most of those working here wouldn¡¯t know that. He and Oliver were going for the data held in a closed system, with access authorized from one terminal only¡ªand their time-frame was tight.


    Lewis found it ironic that he, the weakest of the pair, had the most dangerous role to play, but, as Oliver pointed out, he was better at the infiltration side of things. It was what kept them afloat.


    Oliver was good at the tech side, but passing unnoticed? Not so much. The were¡¯s ancestry was clear to anyone raised on the moon, and old prejudices died hard. This company, for example, employed no-one of werewolf blood, but how it found the data it needed to make the differentiation was a mystery.


    Or it had been.


    Lewis reached the end of the corridor, and turned left, raising his head as if reading the designations above each door. It wasn¡¯t hard to pretend he¡¯d almost overshot and take the few steps back to where he was meant to be.


    It was much harder not to laugh as Oliver stumbled through hasty corrections.


    ¡°Chill, bro,¡± Lewis explained, ¡°I¡¯m just making it look good for the cameras.¡±


    Oliver subsided as the door opened and Lewis stepped through, scanning the desks until he found his place. How much trouble the real employee was going to step into when he got himself out of the storage compartment and let the company know he¡¯d fallen asleep in a bar was not their concern.


    That lay solely in Lewis getting in and out of the company¡¯s Lunar One premises with the relevant data. What they hadn¡¯t worked out was how their contact had found the location, or why they weren¡¯t retrieving the data themselves¡ªor why they¡¯d insisted there be a were on the team.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± his agent, Charlotte Stamphir, had asked, when she¡¯d called them.


    Her tone of voice had said it had better not be, and Lewis had shrugged.


    ¡°The clients aren¡¯t usually that specific,¡± he¡¯d explained, ¡°and it would be good to know there was nothing coming to bite us as a result.¡±


    ¡°Only thing that¡¯s going to come and bite you if you don¡¯t take this job? Is me,¡± Charlotte had told him. ¡°I need the commission I¡¯ll get when you guys pull it off.¡±


    She didn¡¯t tell them what she¡¯d need it for, and Lewis didn¡¯t ask. Those who¡¯d found their way onto Lunar One, and who stayed there for any length of time, had their secrets. Sometimes it was to do with the slowly recovering world below, and sometimes not, but whatever it was, he¡¯d learned it was better not to ask.


    ¡°Promises, promises¡­¡± he¡¯d teased, quelling his levity when she scowled.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ll do it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll take the job.¡±


    Lewis hoped he wasn¡¯t about to regret that decision, as the door opened in front of him.


    Looking around, he noted the setup, surprised to see the work-station aisles were longer than he¡¯d expected and that they contained large lab tables with a variety of equipment. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach the one Oliver said he needed.


    As well as the lab equipment, this one had three small poly-foam boxes set on the in-tray at one end, and a glass-fronted refrigeration unit under the table.


    A quick glance at the front of the unit let him capture a picture of it with his implant, but he noted the tissue samples and blood vials with a twinge of unease. He noted, also, that each work station was surrounded by half walls. It was as if someone had started putting them in cubicles and gotten bored half-way through¡­


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡­or like Security wanted the cameras to record what was going on inside each one.


    Lewis pulled a slip of paper from his pocket, glanced down at it, and then made a show of counting the desks along, then reading the label on the half-wall at the back of the cubicle he¡¯d chosen. Shifting his features into an expression of relief, he pulled out the chair and used the credentials they¡¯d been given to log in.


    He was pretty sure the client had intended for Oliver to make the run, but both he and Charlotte had agreed that would be disastrous. There was no way the were would have made it past the foyer without being identified and pulled aside¡ªand this company had a very interesting history when it came to disappearing wolves.


    If Lewis hadn¡¯t known better, he would have thought it was run by cats¡­except the company¡¯s policy was the same for all shapeshifters. It was something he¡¯d look into, if they got another call dealing with the place, but it also made him wonder why their client had targeted it¡ªand why they¡¯d asked for a were to do the job.


    He hoped they wouldn¡¯t be disappointed by the fact Oliver had been kept strictly off-premises.


    ¡°Tell me what I¡¯m looking for Ollie,¡± he instructed inside the implant.


    ¡°Open up the registry.¡±


    As he followed Oliver¡¯s directions, Lewis was glad they¡¯d been able to by-pass the security that prevented most communications. If it had been a blanket blocker, they¡¯d have been out of luck, but since certain corporate executives needed to communicate externally, it wasn¡¯t. The set-up was a series of not-so-simple access codes and tests that had taken him and Oliver a week to breach.


    Once that had been done, they¡¯d only had to work out how to get the data out of the building, since the computer operated on an enclosed system.


    ¡°They¡¯ve got to be able to transfer their findings somehow,¡± Oliver had reasoned, ¡°otherwise it wouldn¡¯t be any use to them.¡±


    ¡°Unless they run the queries they need on that machine, and copy the findings over,¡± Lewis suggested.


    ¡°That still means they need a way to get it off the machine, and there aren¡¯t any data ports,¡± Oliver had pointed out.


    ¡°Short-range transmission?¡± Lewis asked, and Oliver frowned.


    ¡°To authorized implants, only?¡± he¡¯d proposed, and both and he and Lewis had sat back in their seats and thought about it.


    ¡°We need to find the right employee,¡± they¡¯d said, at the same moment¡ªand then laughed.


    The memory made Lewis smile as he worked through the files. It had added yet another week to the operation, but they¡¯d finally tracked down the exec who ran the department and then the guy who worked most closely with it from the next management tier up. Either one of them would have been a likely candidate, so they took both.


    Both men remembered a wild night with some very pretty women, and had an extremely nasty hangover the day after, but neither of them could recall exactly how they¡¯d managed to drink that much, or exactly who with. It wasn¡¯t something they¡¯d mention at work.


    Neither of them recalled their implants being accessed, either, but the downloads had been thorough, and the girls had told Lewis to call them if he needed any explanations. One had even offered to tweak his software¡ªand then hastily clarified she meant the software with the actual coding he¡¯d designed.


    He¡¯d blushed as red as she had.


    Ducking his head to hide the way he blushed at the memory, Lewis continued his search.


    ¡°Those,¡± Oliver told him. ¡°We need all of them.¡±


    ¡°All of them?¡± Lewis stared at the files in disbelief.


    ¡°And you need to do it fast. I think someone¡¯s worked out they¡¯ve got an intruder in the system.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Lewis replied, opening the frequencies he needed and finding the correct command.


    As he hit the button to execute the command, he hoped they were right, and that the terminal really would transmit the files. What if it was set to only transmit completed calculations?


    His worries were brushed aside as the data began to flow, and he made a show of staring at the screen as though deep in concentration. Finding something to do to cover his inactivity was next on the list, so he started going through the terminal¡¯s most recent activities.


    Before long, he had more he needed to add to the upload.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Moments later, Oliver¡¯s transmission had a touch of urgency to it.


    Lewis checked the upload status and felt a twinge of unease. Fifty per cent.


    ¡°Give me the camera feeds and map me a way out of here,¡± he instructed.


    ¡°Wish I could, bro, but¡­ Oliver¡¯s voice cut off, mid-stream, and Lewis felt his heart go cold.


    The only reason Oliver would break off was if he¡¯d been booted from the system, or if he¡¯d been found and physically stopped, which meant¡­


    Nothing happened¡­or not something that he and the other employees could see.


    Lewis checked his implant. If Oliver had been discovered, then an implant hack wouldn¡¯t be long to follow. The only question was how long the security measures at Oliver¡¯s end held out¡­and how fast Lewis could get things done here and get the Hell out.


    He checked the upload and increased the transmission rate, hoping he didn¡¯t trip an alarm by doing so. As he waited, he closed out of the documents he¡¯d been perusing, and got ready to shut down the machine.


    Seventy-five per cent, he thought, and heard the door to the lab area open.


    Low voices reached him, but he didn¡¯t turn around. Instead, he tried to stay as focused on his machine as possible.


    Eighty per cent.


    Soft, curt orders followed.


    Eighty-five, as footsteps started along the main aisle.


    Lewis tried to work out how close they were, as he followed the data stream. If he¡¯d just stuck to the designated files instead of trying to go for the cream¡­


    Ninety-five, as soft words were followed by a chair scraping back.


    Ninety-eight. Keys rattling, followed by more quiet speech.


    Footsteps.


    The computer chimed, telling him it was done, and Lewis forced himself to stretch as though this was what he¡¯d been waiting on before going on a break. He leaned back in his seat, then returned to the keyboard and shut the machine down, patting his pocket as though making sure he had his wallet.


    Footsteps moved purposefully toward him as he pushed back his chair and stood.


    ¡°Stay where you are.¡±


    Lewis turned looking puzzled¡ªand froze as he came face to face with a security operator.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± he asked.


    The guard looked him up and down, taking in the newly minted tag on his shirt and the crisp freshness of his company uniform.


    ¡°You new here?¡±


    Lewis swallowed and nodded. ¡°Have I done something wrong?¡± he asked, glad his nervousness wouldn¡¯t seem out of place.


    The guard gave him a tight-lipped smile.


    ¡°No. This is just a routine security check. I need you to stand over there, please.¡±


    Uh oh, not good, Lewis thought, taking a step back toward the wall as he scanned the room.

 2鈥擡xfiltration

    ¡°Oliver?¡± Lewis sent, but silence greeted him and he knew he was on his own. Well, this sucks.


    Worry clawed at his gut, and he hoped the were hadn¡¯t been found.


    ¡°Hands on your head!¡± The command made him jump and he glanced up.


    The guard by the door was looking over the barrel of his blaster and had it aimed right at Lewis¡¯s chest. Lewis¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°M¡­me?¡± he stuttered.


    The barrel jerked. ¡°You.¡±


    The guard at the desk kept working, but a third one reached the end of the aisle. His weapon was also raised. Lewis lifted his hands.


    ¡°Ookay¡­¡± He even managed to sound meek and scared.


    It wasn¡¯t hard. The blood had drained from his face and his skin was cold.


    ¡°Ollie, I seriously hope you¡¯ve got something up your sleeve,¡± he sent, only to have the implant flash red.


    Transmission failed, he read. Well, shit!


    Lewis¡¯s eyes darted to the door and this time he registered the guard standing behind the one at the door. That one wasn¡¯t holding a gun, but she was looking intently at a hand-held and carrying several brick-like attachments on her belt.


    Well, double-the-shit! he thought, and hoped his consternation didn¡¯t show.


    The third guard reached him. ¡°Turn around.¡±


    Lewis stared at him, as if he didn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    ¡°Turn around!¡± the guard barked again, and Lewis flinched. ¡°Face the wall!¡±


    The guard¡¯s finger started to flex around the trigger, and Lewis turned, keeping his hands raised. It was get shot or get captured. Somehow, he didn¡¯t think Charlotte was getting her bonus. Not unless he could think of something really fast.


    ¡°Hands on the wall!¡±


    Lewis placed his palms on the wall, and waited.


    The rattle of the blaster being released was all the warning he got before a hand on the back of his head rammed his forehead into the wall, and a knee slammed up between his legs. Pain rocketed through him and he groaned.


    The guard showed no mercy, jerking Lewis¡¯s hands roughly down and behind his back. The snap of cuffs accompanied the roil of nausea and sudden weakness in his legs. Dizziness didn¡¯t help as the cuffs were secured to his belt. The knee was removed and he was jerked around, someone¡¯s hands at his collar and belt.


    Lewis stumbled as he was pulled past the seated guard working at the terminal, and propelled toward the end of the aisle. His fellow workers kept their heads down and their eyes glued to their screens, but the security guards divided their attention between him and the rest of the room.


    Whatever this company was, security was more than just a door decoration for them. These guys meant business. Gals, too, he noted, reminded by the technician standing by the door. His nuts ached, his legs were still rubbery, and the grip on his collar was unrelenting.


    As soon as they hit the corridor, he realized he was in more trouble than he¡¯d thought. The guy holding him, shoved him forward and he was grabbed by two others.


    ¡°We¡¯ll finish up here,¡± his captor snapped, ¡°but I think he¡¯s all there is.¡±


    The second team¡¯s leader nodded, sweeping a stern gaze over Lewis. ¡°We¡¯re still chasing the connection,¡± he said, and Lewis felt some of his worry ease.


    Oliver was okay¡­at least for now.


    The team leader caught the look and gave him a cold stare. ¡°You¡¯ll help us.¡±


    Lewis swallowed the fear that blocked his throat. It was harder than it should have been. He had an idea these guys weren¡¯t going to take ¡®no¡¯ or ¡®don¡¯t know¡¯ for answer¡ªand that he wasn¡¯t going to enjoy their idea of ¡®asking¡¯ him to ¡®help.¡¯


    With a guard on either side, he was steered down the corridor and into an elevator. As soon as they were out of sight of the corridor, the guard on his left slammed a fist into his side. Lewis folded, but he was shoved against a wall, and hands on his shoulders kept him upright as his two guards went to work.


    Turning out of the path of the blows was out of the question due to a fist to the gut and the hands on his shoulders keeping him pinned in place. Lewis tried to use his feet to keep them back, but a stun stick across the top of his thighs ended that, too. The only good news was they left his face alone.


    They got in a half dozen blows each before the elevator doors opened¡ªand Lewis couldn¡¯t remember if they¡¯d gone up¡­or down. As the car came to a stop, his guards hooked their arms through his, letting him slump forward between them.


    Any hope they¡¯d keep him in the same complex was quickly dashed as they took him into a private hangar. He baulked at the sight of a small personal shuttle, and was jerked forward again.


    The sudden movement made him stumble, but his guards didn¡¯t stop. They hauled him forward until he found his feet again. The sight of the enclosed space inside the craft caused momentary panic and he pulled back.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The movement earned him another sharp blow across the back of the knees and he lost his footing. Being pulled into a shuttle full of hostile guards was definitely not something he¡¯d planned for the day, but it happened.


    They pushed him to the rear of the passenger compartment and held him against another wall, bracing themselves as the shuttle took off. Lewis groaned, turning his head as the first fist was raised.


    They left his head alone, but his ribs shifted uneasily and he¡¯d lost the contents of his stomach by the time the craft touched down. His legs were bruised and his thighs ached from multiple blows. This time, he needed the guards on either side.


    He wouldn¡¯t have stayed on his feet, otherwise.


    The trip had taken them to the Lunar One shuttle port, and Lewis wasn¡¯t happy to find himself bundled off the shuttle and onto an empty train carriage that took them to one of the port¡¯s remotest corners. To his dismay, no one else joined them when the car stopped at the intervening stations.


    His heart sank as the train left the terminal and travelled to a stop on the furthest side of the field. At least his captors weren¡¯t hitting him, anymore. He tried straightening, only to cop an elbow to the ribs.


    Pain flared through his side and he folded with a grunt. Once again, it was only the guards on either side that kept him upright. Struggling against the pain, he slowly and cautiously forced himself to unfold.


    The guard made as though to elbow him, again, and he flinched away.


    ¡°Stop playing with your food,¡± the team leader ordered, and the guards snickered.


    Lewis didn¡¯t like the sound of that, but he did like the idea he might go another five minutes without being hit again. When he was pulled toward the open doors of the car, he did his best to make it on his own, but ended up leaning on his captors.


    Damn¡­ he thought. I need a minute.


    It took five for them to steer him down the corridor connecting the terminal to a small transport.


    ¡°Where¡­¡± he began, and his knees gave as a fist impacted his side.


    His guards hauled him upright with a grunt, and he gave a sobbing gasp.


    The team leader put his face an inch from Lewis¡¯s own.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be asking the questions,¡± he said. ¡°Understood?¡±


    Lewis managed a nod, as he wheezed with pain. This time he didn¡¯t resist when he was drawn toward the transport¡¯s hatch. It troubled him that he was mostly being carried by the men on either side, and he dreaded the beating he was sure waited on board.


    Talk about softening a bloke up, he thought, as they crossed the threshold.


    The first compartment had all the trimmings of a passengers¡¯ lounge, but the guards didn¡¯t stop there. Lewis let them take him through a door at the rear of the lounge and then tried to come to a screeching halt.


    He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d been expecting, but blank walls adorned by shackles and a rack of tools and torture devices wasn¡¯t it. Feeling his resistance, the guards yanked him forward. They ignored his sharp cry as they pressed his chest against the wall and manacled his hands above and to either side of his head.


    At least he could rest his head against the transport¡¯s side, even if that was poor comfort when they spread his feet apart and shackled them to the floor.


    This was one hell of a softening up process!


    The rattle of locks being released on the cabinet made him flinch, as did the warm presence at his side.


    ¡°Take it easy,¡± the team leader rumbled in his ear. ¡°We haven¡¯t even started.¡±


    Feeling the ache in his ribs and stomach, Lewis thought that this was exactly what he was afraid of. The hiss of the cabinet door opening startled him, and a broad palm came to rest between his shoulder blades.


    A distant hatch closed and the engines rumbled as they went from idle to active. Lewis didn¡¯t have time to think about it as a baton cracked down across the back of his thighs, and his cry got lost in the engine pitch.


    By the time the craft pivoted to take a course away from Lunar One, the manacles were all that were holding him up. Blood showed in thin lines through his shirt and he hung against the wall, sobbing as he tried to draw breath through a throat clogged with pain.


    The warm presence returned, as did the voice in his ear. ¡°You¡¯re lucky this is a short flight,¡± the team leader told him. ¡°We¡¯ll be asking questions when we get off.¡±


    He threaded his fingers through the hair on the back of Lewis¡¯s head and used his grip to gently bounce Lewis¡¯s forehead off the wall.


    ¡°You¡¯d better have your answers ready, or this trip is gonna feel like a joy flight.¡±


    The thought chilled Lewis to the core. So far, the flight had been anything but joyous, and he didn¡¯t want to repeat the experience.


    ¡°Ask your damn questions,¡± he growled, but the team leader laughed.


    Releasing his grip, he ruffled Lewis¡¯s hair. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    He moved away and an unfamiliar swish and crack followed.


    Lewis cried out at the resulting pain, pulling at his restraints as the sound came again. This time he only caught the edge of the intended blow as the shuttle jerked in the air.


    ¡°Get him down from there and cuff him,¡± the team leader roared, as the shuttle went into a steep descent. ¡°Make sure he has a mask.¡±


    Lewis didn¡¯t resist as the guards complied. He crumbled to the floor, and was unceremoniously rolled onto his stomach and his hands dragged back behind his back, again. He didn¡¯t even attempt moving as they finished cuffing him and let him go. He just lay on his stomach as the shuttle swerved beneath him.


    Footsteps signaled their return and his head was lifted so a mask could be dragged over his face, but he still didn¡¯t shift. One of the guards spoke.


    ¡°Leave him. He¡¯s done for now.¡±


    And they let him drop back to the floor.


    The words were truer than Lewis liked, but he still wasn¡¯t tempted to move.


    ¡°You think these are his people?¡± someone asked, and he wanted to laugh.


    He didn¡¯t have any people.


    To his surprise, the team leader did not agree.


    ¡°More than likely. Someone wants whatever he¡¯s got in his head.¡±


    There was a short silence, followed by, ¡°Brace! Brace! Brace!¡±


    Lewis wished he could, but his body didn¡¯t want to know him.


    Maybe it¡¯s a good thing, I can¡¯t move, he thought, as the shuttle slammed down.


    He grunted as the impact translated through his bruised and abused muscles, and then groaned as the shuttle bounced, hit again, and slid. It slewed sideways, skating over the lunar surface as Lewis fought nausea, and shifted across the floor.


    A boot came down on his back to stop the movement, and he gasped.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡±


    Lewis was really getting to hate that voice.


    Smart arse, he thought, glad the guy couldn¡¯t see his face.


    ¡°Help is on way,¡± someone called back.


    ¡°How far?¡±


    ¡°Boss says fifteen.¡±


    ¡°Gonna take too long. Suit up.¡±


    I can do with a suit, too, Lewis thought, and it was like someone read his mind.


    ¡°What about Mr. Happy, here?¡± A boot nudged Lewis¡¯s ankle and he stiffened.


    Mr. Happy? he thought. Why don¡¯t we revisit that when I haven¡¯t had the crap kicked out of me? I can show you ¡®happy,¡¯ then.


    ¡°Stuff him into one, but don¡¯t bother with the arms. He doesn¡¯t need them.¡±


    Do I get a say in this? Lewis wanted to ask, but couldn¡¯t find the energy to say.


    Rough hands grabbed him before he could try, and he whimpered as someone lifted his shoulders and dumped him on his back. Someone else maneuvered his legs into the suit and together two guards worked the suit over him. Pain rolled through him and he fought to stay awake.


    It was a relief when the guards dragged him to a corner, and propped him upright.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere,¡± one told him, patting the side of his helmet.


    Lewis didn¡¯t have the energy to sneer. Instead, he just closed his eyes and waited, listening to the guards decide what to do next.

 3鈥擱etrieval

    ¡°Hold,¡± the team leader ordered. ¡°HQ can replace the shuttle, but we won¡¯t know what they were after or who they sent until we get this guy back to them.¡±


    I can tell you who sent me, Lewis thought, trying to see what was happening through the door, and what they were after.


    He didn¡¯t say it, though¡­and wondered if he¡¯d actually tell them, if it came to it. How long could he hold out, if what he¡¯d already had was just a warm-up?


    ¡°They¡¯re cutting through,¡± came the alarmed cry.


    ¡°Yeah, I can see that,¡± their leader snapped back. ¡°Now tell me something I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re coming in through the back.¡±


    Now that he mentioned it, his back was getting a little warm. Lewis tried shuffled forward, attempting to get away from the heat, now he¡¯d registered it.


    He froze as the guard strode over to him.


    ¡°Stay still!¡± the man snarled, seizing him by the shoulders of the suit and hauling him away from the wall to dump him against the rear of the cargo compartment.


    Lewis tensed, relieved to find the few moments of respite had given him the strength to move.


    Who knows? If I sit here long enough, I might even be able to get to my feet, he mused.


    He wriggled experimentally, glad to feel his legs responding. For a minute, he debated between pulling his knees close to his chest, or staying still and not letting his captors know he was starting to recover, then he figured they were busy enough it didn¡¯t matter.


    Besides, if their attackers were here to rescue him, the last thing he wanted was a broken leg from being stepped on. He shifted his legs, tucking his feet close to his rump and bending his knees so they rested against his chest.


    The movement attracted a cursory glance from the guard and Lewis flinched from his gaze. His reaction drew a mirthless grimace from the guard, but the man was more interested in the slowly brightening hull, and he relaxed.


    There was no way of stopping what was coming, but at least he wasn¡¯t completely helpless. He waited, watching with the guards as a molten line drew itself around the hull. Just as it drew to completion, the guards slammed their boots in the center of the hull, shoving the broken metal out and down onto the men outside.


    The forward hatch went the same way.


    Startled cries met their attack, but they weren¡¯t the only ones with a plan. The team leader threw himself against the wall as a burst of solids came through the gap showing that at least one of their attackers had foreseen the possibility. As they leapt through the hull, blaster bolts tore into them and they dropped.


    Shouts from the front were followed by the sound of more blaster fire, as the guards divided into two groups. One of the two in the back dropped to his belly on the cargo floor and began firing through the hole in the hull. His partner was joined by two more, and they crouched beside the gap, waiting for him to signal the all clear.


    One glanced over at Lewis, checking what he was doing. When he saw Lewis wasn¡¯t doing anything, he turned back to the hull.


    ¡°Oliver?¡± Lewis tried.


    This time the implant didn¡¯t flash red, and he realized he was no longer being jammed. Maybe that¡¯s why the beating had been so thorough¡­


    To his surprise, Oliver answered, ¡°Hang in, there, bro. We¡¯re coming.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Closing his eyes, and trying to keep all expression from his face, Lewis waited.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t Oliver that spoke. ¡°Stay where you are.¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice was hard, and Lewis froze.


    ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°And stay off the line. We¡¯re busy out here.¡±


    Well, that told him.


    Blaster fire cut the air and Lewis opened his eyes. The two guards who¡¯d been crouching by the gap had gone through it to take their attackers head on. It made Lewis wish he¡¯d seen how they fared.


    ¡°Keep your eyes open,¡± Oliver instructed. ¡°We need to see the set-up inside.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Lewis managed, and wondered when the guards would notice.


    He was also glad he was able to help, without having to get up. His legs still felt like rubber and his lungs felt compressed. Shifting slightly, he arched his back, hissing against the tightness and tearing that resulted.


    ¡°Turn your head to the right,¡± the woman commanded, and Lewis complied.


    There was only one guard left in the passenger compartment. He was standing by the remains of the door, but glanced over as Lewis lifted his head. When Lewis didn¡¯t move, he went back to watching the fight.


    The only other guard in the shuttle, was the one on overwatch on the floor of the rear compartment¡­five feet away.


    ¡°I need you to distract them,¡± the woman instructed.


    She what?


    ¡°Unless you want to spend more time with them,¡± she added.


    Oh, hell, no!


    Lewis pushed to his feet, huffing against the pain and sliding his back up the wall. That got the attention of the guy at the door.


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    ¡°Sit down!¡± he ordered, after snapping a quick look over his shoulder.


    His gun remained pointed outward, and Lewis heard sporadic firing.


    ¡°Oh, very nice,¡± the woman purred. ¡°Now, see what you can do about the guy on the floor in front of you.¡±


    Lewis stayed where he was, letting his body catch up. He didn¡¯t see what he could do to distract the guards further¡­except maybe fall on the one closest.


    Well¡­it was a plan¡­


    ¡°Hurry,¡± the woman ordered, and Lewis didn¡¯t know if she approved of his plan, or just needed him to do something.


    He pushed away from the wall, and the man at the door gave a startled oath.


    ¡°Down!¡± he shouted, turning toward him and bringing his gun to bear. ¡°Get! Down!¡±


    Lewis took another step just as he caught a flash of movement just beyond the hole.


    ¡°Now! Now! Now!¡± the woman screamed and Lewis took two rapid steps forward.


    The guy on the floor felt the vibrations and rolled, and the guy at the door fired.


    Lewis threw himself forward, and the guy on the floor rolled onto his back fired, too.


    Just once, but it was enough.


    The solid tore through Lewis¡¯s already abused abdomen and ripped out through his back, leaving a slew of destruction in its wake. The shots from the guy on the door slammed into his shoulder and side, and he fell.


    He barely heard the woman¡¯s approval, as he landed.


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    Like Hell it is! Lewis thought, hearing another staccato burst from outside. That one sounded nearer.


    Numbness spread through him, and he shivered.


    Shock¡¯s setting in, he thought, as the guy he¡¯d landed on threw him off.


    The impact of hitting the floor again, brought a temporary curtain of black, but Lewis fought to stay on the side of wakefulness. Blood made the inside of the suit sticky, and he wished he had some way of covering the hole in his stomach.


    The world dipped into gray.


    ¡°Stay with me,¡± Oliver urged, ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try¡­¡± Lewis promised, and hoped he¡¯d be able to deliver.


    ¡°You¡¯d damned well better, bro,¡± Oliver retorted. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Lewis thought that was a stupid question, but he answered anyway. ¡°In back.¡±


    A short burst of fire ended with a strangled cry and a thud. It was followed by rapid footsteps that shook the small craft. Lewis drew a hissing breath against the pain of their approach, listening as the guard nearest him, turned.


    This is gonna hurt¡­


    A roar accompanied the next burst of gunfire, and he was relieved not to feel anything else slam into him. The guard slumped to stillness, and Lewis tried to focus on the much larger form coming at him from the front.


    Not that he could do anything about it. His body felt both heavy, and like it was floating, and the ceiling wouldn¡¯t come into focus. Neither would Oliver¡¯s face, as his friend knelt beside him. His features were a mix of wolf and man.


    ¡°I need a medic,¡± Lewis told him, and Oliver nodded.


    ¡°One¡¯s coming.¡±


    The female commander put the lie to that almost immediately. ¡°Just get him out of there. We¡¯ll tank him when we get back to base.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to last that long.¡±


    ¡°His implant will.¡±


    ¡°Bastards,¡± Oliver muttered, slapping quick-patches over the holes in Lewis¡¯s suit, before sliding his arms under Lewis¡¯s inert form.


    ¡°F¡­furry,¡± Lewis managed, and Oliver gave him a sharp look


    ¡°Now what have I told you about calling me that?¡±


    ¡°Hafta be quick¡­¡± Lewis told him, meaning he wasn¡¯t going to last much longer, not that Oliver would have any trouble catching his meaning.


    ¡°Hang in there, bro,¡± the were urged. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡±


    ¡°Yussss,¡± Lewis slurred, as pain caught his breath.


    ¡°Hang in there,¡± Oliver ordered. ¡°You die on me and I¡¯m gonna find you and kill you myself.¡±


    Lewis wanted to laugh, but he faded out instead. When he faded back in, he was still in Oliver¡¯s arms as the were pounded across the lunar surface toward the nearest out-building at the shuttle port.


    ¡°Not far¡­¡± Lewis whispered, referring to where the shuttle had been brought down and his friend glanced down.


    ¡°Just out of range of the port,¡± Oliver told him, and Lewis closed his eyes, again.


    The next time he opened them, he was in a corridor he didn¡¯t recognize. The walls were a dull tan and not all the overhead lights were working, but that didn¡¯t worry Oliver who still sported his were-form and didn¡¯t seem to care.


    Lewis scowled. Going through Lunar One in that shape was frowned on, not officially forbidden, but as close to as didn¡¯t matter. How much trouble were they in that his friend would risk the kind of censorship that would bring?


    Oliver glanced at the doors and cross-corridors they passed and then glanced down.


    ¡°Still with me?¡± There was blood on Oliver¡¯s muzzle, and Lewis wondered where it had come from.


    Had he missed another fight?


    ¡°Just,¡± Lewis managed, surprised by the faintness of his own voice.


    ¡°Not far now,¡± Oliver assured him and Lewis drifted into the grey.


    He woke to the feel of his clothes being hurriedly removed, and the sound of someone wielding scissors. People bustled around him, and the face above him was new. A tremor ran through his limbs as he tried to escape, but his body wouldn¡¯t respond.


    The face frowned. ¡°Stay still. We¡¯ll have you in a tank, soon. You got me?¡±


    Lewis blinked, tried to nod, closed his eyes.


    When he opened them, again, it was dark, not the darkness of night or a dimmed room, but the pitch black of enclosure, as if he was entombed. His heart sped up and he flailed at the fluid around him, breathing easily in spite of it.


    Lights came on, small and dim and outlining the lid of the tank above him. Oliver¡¯s voice sounded clearly in his implant.


    ¡°Easy, bro. You¡¯re all right.¡±


    ¡°Ollie?¡±


    No bubbles escaped Lewis¡¯s mouth as he echoed the word out loud. Sound vibrated through the regen fluid.


    ¡°You¡¯re in a tank, Lew. Healing.¡±


    In a tank¡­ Lewis started to relax. Maybe he wasn¡¯t going to die, after all, but where¡­


    ¡°Not a question you should be asking, bro. Now, go back to sleep.¡±


    Lewis stilled, blinking as he fought to control his fear, to accept he was safe and that Oliver was outside the tank and looking out for him.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, bro, but I¡¯ve got to organize a coupla things. I need you to rest and not scare the doc while I¡¯m gone. He¡¯s not good with children.¡±


    That stopped him. ¡°Children? Who are you calling a child?¡±


    Oliver chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re fighting your bedtime, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lewis groaned and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I saw that. Now, get some rest. We¡¯re all paid up and we¡¯ve got an emergency account in case I¡¯m delayed. Doc¡¯ll take care of you.¡±


    ¡°Doc¡­¡± Lewis acknowledged, but the flavor of the fluid around him changed and he was drifting.


    Damned sedative. ¡°You better come back for me.¡±


    ¡°Promise,¡± Oliver said, the word sinking through Lewis¡¯s fading consciousness. ¡°Now, sleep for me.¡±


    A sense of command infused that phrase, and Lewis obeyed. He didn¡¯t hear the exchange as Oliver stepped away from the monitor, and looked at Doc Nielsen.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got forty-eight hours,¡± the doc told him, ¡°and then we¡¯ll tap the next account.¡±


    Oliver nodded. ¡°Do what you need to, doc. Just get him fit enough to travel.¡±


    ¡°The bite will see to that, and you gave me enough for the rest,¡± the doctor assured him, then cocked his head. ¡°You have the list?¡±


    Oliver held up his data pad. ¡°I¡¯ll see who I can find.¡±


    He tucked the tablet inside his fatigues and turned to go, only to have Nielsen lay a hand on his arm.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you change first?¡± the man suggested, and Oliver looked down, registering the blood on his clothes.


    ¡°You know a good tailor?¡± he quipped, and the doc rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Your clothes, yes, but I was referring to your body. You¡¯ll draw too much attention as you are.¡±


    He wrapped a gentle hand around Oliver¡¯s wrist and raised it so the were could see his own fur-covered hand and ivory claws.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Oliver focused for a moment, and with a crackle and snap of tendon and bone, shifted back to human form.


    He looked down at his uniform.


    ¡°Now, I really am going to need a change of clothes.¡±


    The doctor gave him a thin-lipped smile. ¡°We took the liberty,¡± he said, signaling to one of his assistants.


    The man gave them a startled glance and hurried out of the room, returning moments later with a plastic-wrapped set of fatigues and a new pair of boots.


    Oliver looked from the clothing to the doctor. ¡°How much?¡±