Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 20

Nika stepped up to the comm panel and pressed her hand against the ID plate. "Yes." She stepped aside and gestured for Wiley to use the panel.

He put his hand up to the plate, then turned to look into her face. "Why?" he asked. "What's happened?"

A door opened, letting them into the s.p.a.ce between the glastic panels. The second door opened only after the first had shut again. Nika pushed at Wiley.

'The High Secretary is dead," she said. 'The Secretarial Palace is under attack by a number of groups." She led him down a corridor as she talked. "We hope to be able to keep you safe here, for a while, at least. If we have to, we'll keep moving you around until its over."

Wiley nodded. He felt terrible. He'd had too much to drink, too much ... excitement, certainly too much falling, and still hadn't had dinner.

"I don't guess there's been a mistake about my father," he said.

"No," said Nika. "No mistake." She looked at him. "I'm sorry."

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Chelsea Quinn Yafbro

Wiley looked away from her. He wasn't sure if he was going to cry, but if he was, he didn't want to do it in front of the Kona Tatsu. Not live agents, anyhow, he amended, thinking of the security cameras that must be around.

"Come on, let's get you that dinner," said Nika.

They moved through several corridors, turn- ing comers until Wiley was sure they were no longer under the tavern. Finally, they entered a dining room. Wiley was a little startled to see the tablecloths and human waiters.

"Where are we?"

"Welcome to the gracious Kona Tatsu Cafe,"

said a waiter, leading them to a table.

'Two specials. Jack," said Nika. "Getting shot at makes me hungry."

"Everything makes you hungry," said Jack.

"Food'U be right out." He disappeared behind a folding screen.

Wiley leaned back in his chair. "So you're Kona Tatsu."

Nika smiled. 'Tup. And you're the heir to the Secretariat"

Wiley drooped. Thanks."

Nika's smile vanished. "Wiley, you can't hide.

Not from Sclerida, not from Haiken Maru, and certainly not from the Secretariat."

Then whats this far?" Wiley gestured around him.

100.

The time being," replied Nika. "It's tempo- rary. Until things settle a little, and we can talk instead of shoot."

'Then I'll have to grow up. Take the d.a.m.n chair, pick up the reins."

"You don't want to."

"A prize for the lady in shreds," said Wiley.

Nika gave her rumpled clothing a quick glance, then shrugged.

"No," Wiley continued. "I don't. I don't under- stand how any of it works, regardless of how much attention I pay. And I don't much want to be someone's puppet, so it doesn't matter that I'd have a regent."

"Is that why you party all the time?' asked Nika.

Wiley threw up his hands. "What else am I going to do? What am I actually good for?"

Jack appeared beside their table. 'The food will be-"

"Haiken Maru!"

Nika and Jack turned; Wiley stared. An injured man had stumbled into the dining room.

"The safe house is under attack," he said.

"Haiken Maru forces are spreading like ants.

Better get him out of here." He waved at Wiley.

Nika stood. "Right. Lets go."

Wiley shoved his chair back. "So much for bodily sustenance."

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Chelsea Quinn farhro

'Through the Idtchen," ordered Jack. "Up the tube, aircar on the roof." He pulled a weapon and headed for the door. Nika grabbed Wiley s arm and pulled. He followed, running.

In the kitchen was indeed a lift tube. They jumped in. As they shot past the first few floors, they could hear sirens and yelling.

Nika took off her belt, "Put this on." She reached around Wiley and fastened the belt for him. "Its got my AID. It'll take care of you."

"But you'll be here," protested Wiley.

"Maybe not," she shot back. "We didn't expect them to find you here." She pulled two weapons from some fold in her battered garment as they neared the roof.

"Look, thanks for ... your help," offered Wiley "Even if..."

Nika looked him in the eyes. "Sony about dinner."

The tube stopped them and she stepped out, both guns blazing. Wiley had a momentary flash:

what if there were Kona Tatsu on the roof?