...Jake was jarred from his thoughts as the earth beneath his feet shuddered. Puzzled, he decided it was probably something going on in one of the labs underground. Bart wasn’t the only scientist to work long hours. Jake was debating returning to the base when an alarm screeched into the night.

He pulled out his comm-unit and tried to get a response as he ran back toward the base. He couldn’t get through and when he reached the guard at the entrance he yelled, “What’s happened?”

“I don’t know, sir.” The man was holding his own comm. “Can’t get through.”

Nodding, Jake ran past him, straight for the elevator.

“Better to take the stairs, sir.”

He waved at the guard and swerved for the stairs instead. As he vaulted down the steps, he tried his comm again, more out of panic than expectation, and had about given up when he finally got a response. As the words washed over him, he almost dropped the comm-unit.

The message kept repeating in his head. An explosion had taken place in the armory on level nine, causing extensive damage to floors eight, nine and ten, and resulting in multiple injuries to a variety of personnel.

Bart’s office was on eight.

There had been no mention of Bart being injured. That, however, didn’t stop Jake’s panic kicking in big time—fuelled by his guilt. Bart would’ve left hours earlier if he hadn’t been doing Jake a favor. God, how could I put a damned recital before Bart’s safety? No, no it wasn’t like that; it wasn’t. He could tell himself that logically and know it was true, but it had no affect in assuaging his guilt. Please let him be all right, please.

The thought did slip through his mind that if he had been working on the report in his own office on level ten, almost directly below the armory, it would probably have been him the rest of his team would be worrying about right now.

He reached the control centre, looking for General Banks, but locating only Sergeant Nilson.

Without preamble, Jake asked, “Do we know anything about casualties? Captain Hilton was working late. Is he accounted for?”

“Major, everything is still very confused. We had two fatalities on level nine—two technical staff members working in the laboratory next to the armory. Casualties are being taken to the medical bay, which thankfully sustained no damage. I’ve heard reports there are trapped personnel on at least two floors. I don’t have any information about Captain Hilton.”

“Could you check on his whereabouts for me? Where’s the general?”

“I’ll do what I can, sir. The rescue operation is being directed from level seven, sir. General Banks is there.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Nilson. I’ll report to the general.”

“Sir.”

Jake hurried toward the elevator and saw a car waiting. He ran in and jabbed at the button. As soon as the car moved, he dropped his head and took a breath. His first reaction was relief; there was no information that Bart was injured. Then he snapped up his head—no information at all.

He got off the elevator at level seven, which also happened to be where the medical bay was situated. The first person he saw was Lieutenant Carl Bradley, who was talking to Sergeant Ron Eisley.

“Carl!” Jake called.

Bradley and Eisley turned swiftly at the sound of his voice.

“Major, I was wondering where you were,” Carl said.

“I was in the control centre, trying to see if there was news about Bart. Do you know what happened?”

“I’m afraid that is still something of a mystery, Major,” Banks spoke up.

“Sir.” Jake turned smartly at the sound of his commander’s voice. “Sorry I didn’t report immediately, but I was concerned about Bart. He was working in his office and—”

“Captain Hilton? There was no one in his office. It has been damaged, but not too severely.”

Jake sighed with relief. “He must’ve finished then.” Jake wondered why he wasn’t here, somewhere. Bart would’ve wanted to help in any way he could. On another level most likely.

“Excuse me, sir,” Sergeant Nilson said, approaching the general. “The major asked me to check on Captain Hilton’s whereabouts.”

“It’s okay, Sergeant. It sounds as if he’d finished and gone up top,” Jake said.