He produced a remote device, a small black rectangle dotted by a few buttons.He showed the spies how to open a thin slat in the wall near the ceiling.It was just big enough for a drone to exit and enter by.He also demonstrated how to open a window in the containment corresponding to the slat.
“What about exits for us?”Kila asked, eyeing the sole door from the room dubiously.“One way in, one way out?Smells like a trap to me.”
“You’d think so, and it certainly could be.However, when authorities decide to inspect my facility, they invariably surround the entire building.No doubt they fear a secret exit.If there were one, you’d walk right into their waiting arms.”
“As opposed to having them come in and apprehend us here.”He scowled at Piras, clearly disliking the situation.
“If they can find you.Observe.”Elcoger pointed his remote at a set of shelves.The unit and the wall it was attached to obligingly opened to reveal a space.“The walls are made of stelnium metal.Fully shielded, and the door itself is undetectable to scanners.Even my employees are unaware of this space.”
The clan approached the area between walls.It was large enough for them to stand in.They could also lie in it, provided they did so in a line, heads to feet.It would hardly be comfortable if they were forced to hide for hours, but it was an improvement over the cargo bins they’d stuffed themselves into to reach Elcoger’s repair shop.To keep from being captured by the Darks, Piras deemed it adequate.
“There’s a light in the space.Should you be forced to use it, I’ll switch it to blue once the danger is past.”Elcoger hop-turned and pointed a pincer at a cylindrical bulb over the door to the front service area.“The regular lights will blink and that will pulse red if someone shows up whom you’d best conceal yourself from.”
Piras glanced around.The two beds in the main storage area would be barely adequate for any of the men to sleep on.He, Lokmi, and Kila would have to take turns on the floor, two at a time.Then he considered where they could set up their workspace and discovered they really had no hope of doing so.On second thought, the beds could serve double duty as tables.Hope and Lokmi would have to learn to keep their tools and devices better organized than they were used to.The pair had a bad habit of strewing their project parts.
The four spies were in for an uncomfortable stay, but it was their best...hell, their only...chance to find and get Secretary-General Mereta off Jedver.
Piras accorded a respectful bow to Elcoger.“Thank you for your help on our mission.We’re grateful.”
The Dantovonian beamed to receive deference.He gave the admiral the remote for their sanctuary.“I wish you luck on your enterprise, Kalquorians and Earther.Let me know if you need anything beyond our agreement, and I’ll compute the cost.”
They saved their chuckles until he left.“Gotta love those Dantovonians.Everything comes at a price,” Lokmi snickered.
“At least we know what to expect from them.Shall we set up?”Piras asked.
“Where?”Hope eyed the rows of crowded shelves, the scant floor space, and the small beds dubiously.
“You’ll have to use the beds as your workstations,” Piras said.“It’ll be a headache to clear off when someone wants to sleep, but they’re all we have.”
“Damned terrible use for what should serve the little recreation we have available,” Lokmi groused.
“You are not thinking of sex after we were squashed flat in those cargo bins for so long?”Hope demanded.“I don’t know about you guys, but I need at least a week to recover.Every inch of me is kinked.My kinks have kinks.”
“I love it when you’re kinky,” Lokmi grinned.
“Forget it.I don’t trust these people to have washed the sheets recently, and Elcoger or his employees might come strolling in unannounced.”
“Not if they’re worried about dying by lethal containment barrier.”
“They can still open the door and look in.”
Lokmi approached her.“I thought you were ready to be watched by others?”
“And judged?You missed how those sneering Beonids looked at me, especially the sister.No thanks.”She crossed her arms across her chest.
But she didn’t back away, even when Lokmi began stroking her.Piras watched to see how the situation would play out and if he’d be allowed to take part.
