"Why the fuck did you do that?", Baxter growled at Nadine as they ran outside the room. "Are you trying to kill us?!"
"That was an accident!", she snapped. She was so offended that she wanted to use her pumps and pummel it on his face, but then who couldn't blame his reaction? If she didn't fiddle something back there, the security alert wouldn't be activated.
"And why did you use those pepper sprays on that mongo droid? Are you an idiot?"
"Do I have to repeat it all over again that it was an accident?", and I'm guilty, she wanted to add, but couldn't. She knew that it was a reckless act, and leaving a trace on the droids could hint Levinski about their infiltration.
Hey, she's just a civilian reporter, a female who's not familiar with combats, but using those as an excuse wouldn't change their situation.
And now that she tripped herself, she wouldn't blame Baxter if he laughed and left her. It's her karma.
But Baxter immediately scooped and carried her with his arms without a second thought. She squirmed.
"I hate you, you hate me – but you've got sprained ankle, and we have a killer droid behind us. So don't give me that look and suck it up."
"I thought you're gonna throw me outside the window.", she murmured.
"You just gave me a better idea.", he replied easily. He began to shift his energy and focused how to make an escape. "Trueheart, give me a status!"
"Which would you like me to report first – the good news or the bad news?", Trueheart responded on his earpiece.
"Bad news."
"Besides of that scalpel-wielding droid running behind you, there's another droid at the end of the corridor that wields hatchets. Two with stunners and chains are three floors above you, and currently on their way. One outdoor droid and another one that resides on the patio are ready to meet you downstairs. Added to the fact that Levinski and his men were all stoked – thanks to the pot session we just interrupted – that means you'll probably meet some drug-induced people along the way."
"Shit, that sounds like we can't escape here easily! What's the good news then?"
"Fortunately, nobody contacted Dispatch. And since I'm incapable of doing electronic tappings, I have no choice but to ask for some back-ups."
"Damn it, I told you not to tell – ", he roared but stopped when a familiar voice boomed in his earpiece.
He might thank his boy afterwards.
"I'm doing this favour for Trueheart.", McNab spoke. "Damn you Baxter, I can't believe you would do this lowly act just to have your revenge! And you even brought a civilian – more it's Nadine! If Dallas knows about this, it'll cause you not only insubordination, but also a month-long suspension without pay...after she skins you alive!"
"Hey, I have no idea about this woman's modus...and you're one of us now, so don't assume I'm the only one who's gonna face those consequences.", Baxter scowled. "Besides, I'm doing this to solidify our LT's case against Levinski, now that I've got enough evidences to nail him for accessory."
"The-there's two droids behind us!", Nadine shrieked. "And they've got stunners!"
All Baxter could do was run along the hallways. He couldn't use his stunners or apply maximum force. He couldn't even jump – or throw Nadine outside the window as what he suggested before – due to electric blockades.
He's now putting all of his faith to McNab – that he could crack the mansion's codes and delete all of their surveillance traces while he's planning for escape.
Trueheart suddenly spoke. "Sir, there's three heat sources at the right wing, almost 10 metres away from your location. If you turn right and enter the small staircase, you might lose the droids. But there's a chance that one of Levinski's men might spot you."
"They're chemi-heads now, boy. I could wipe out all of their memories in a single kick.", Baxter replied as he gambled his life and turned towards the small corridor.
He could hear a zing when one of the droids threw an electric rod. He dodged it, and since droids have slower reflexes than well-trained humans, he used that situation to sprint towards them in order to enter the right hallway. He might be carrying a 90-pound human, but he was able to bypass these droids unscathed.
He was dashing towards the staircase when McNab took over. "There's a small room below that staircase, and in a count of five, you and Nadine must enter and cover yourselves there."
Baxter didn't ask why – he leaped the 15-feet stairs, and then swiftly entered the room. He barely scanned what's inside and chose to land on a large cot. By timing, everything went pitch-black.
"That-that was the scariest shit I ever encountered in my entire life!", Nadine managed to say.
When McNab secured both Baxter and Nadine's location, he flipped his communicator. "Those two got covered, Roarke."
"So now it's our task to clean their mess, aye?", Roarke mused. "Let me remind you that the Lieutenant is preparing for her leave here. I gave an excuse that I'm handing some business matters. As of the moment."
"That means we have to make this fast.", McNab groaned.
After the kidnapping spree, McNab decided to stay at the Skyline to observe and check some EDD stuffs. He studied the surveillances during the Offertory dance, and immediately spotted how Kyrios entered the hall unnoticed. There were interferences on the video records, but he's still trying to locate the source signal.
Of course, he's fully aware that Dallas and the rest of the team were at the opposite building, interrogating the perpetrator.
That's why it baffled him when Trueheart called and relayed about their situation.
Good thing he was able to pull out the blue prints of Levinski's mansion, its security set-up, and its droid's manufacturer. Even though those were inferiors than Roarke's, cracking the codes outfield was still difficult. That's why he contacted the expert.
"Dallas might spare me, but never in Feeney.", McNab grumbled as he passed the crunch codes to Roarke's PPC. "I'll be transmitting you everything here since I'm not allowed to leave my post. If you need some data, I could patch Trueheart to access the exteriors."
"These will do, thanks. And don't worry, my lips are sealed."
Roarke might be working at the opposite building, but McNab knew how the man works. He's like an E-Magician who could perform E-tricks and E-miracles with a snap of a finger.
It didn't surprise him when he cracked the codes and wiped all electronic evidences in a very short time, including the traces of Nadine's pepper sprays.
This man was seriously iced.
"All house droid's memory banks will have a five-hour reset. The security alert has been cancelled, with all records completely cleaned-up. When those buggers come to their senses, they'll think that the chase was all but a dream."
How and why, McNab decided not to pry. "I'll tell Trueheart about it. Thanks."
"Glad to help. Consider this as my personal gratitude for busting Levinski's balls."
"That was fast.", Baxter remarked as Trueheart opened the car. When the electricity went down, Trueheart instructed him about their escape route. "So McNab managed to reboot everything inside?"
"Apparently, yes."
Unbeknownst to them, it was Roarke who did the job.
"Before we report everything to LT, we need to go to the clinic.", Baxter said as he eyed Nadine.
She scowled. "I don't want to go to any clinic or any hospitals whatsoever – just drop me at the station and I'll fix myself there."
"Fix myself, my ass. You're not gonna work tonight.", he replied while snatching her recorder. "This might be your personal record, but this is now ruled as evidence. You may complain all you want, lady, but remember – I have a jurisdiction over you."
"Fuck you."
"Ah, we can do that afterwards, if you want.", he smirked, even though she's giving him some deadly glares. "So choose – clinic, hospital...or me."
She gaped with horror, and after some vile curses, she settled for clinic.
"Don't be mad at him. He might have some oddities, but actually, that's his subtle affection of telling you he cared.", Trueheart said with a smile, which earned him an elbow jab from his partner.
"Sorry, that was a long call.", Roarke managed to say when he returned. He looked at Eve who was adjusting her extensions. "You're returning now?"
"I need to, or else suspicion may arise.", Eve replied. "I'm sorry if I'm eating your time, handling EDD affairs while you have several empires to attend."
"I can manage. Besides, I wanted to spend some time with my wife.", he replied, flicking a finger on her dent chin. He could visualize in his mind what would be her reaction once she knew about Baxter and Nadine's escapade.
"Tomorrow will be our last day. If our suspect won't move, we go to Plan B."
"But you're quite sure she would stick to your Plan A."
"After our interaction just now? I could see impatience in her eyes. Yeah, she'll definitely show her true colours tomorrow."
"Eve?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
He knew that once she walked outside with the butler Afef, she'll be Princess Petun. She must. But even so, she will be his one and only Eve.
"Roarke, I love you too."
Those words could still melt his heart. So he moved and gave her a long, passionate kiss. Then he toyed the button in his pocket, his charm, his talisman, when she bid goodbye and left.