 scene took the form of a chamber with defined hard edges. Was it reality or another trick? The image of the doorway dissolved into static, leaving a darker reality. There was a two and a half inch steel wall with a dark gaping hole, with red hot edges made by the lasers.

Sergeant Gray sent the point soldiers on ahead. He couldn't help being disappointed at not being the first. That would be true for all of them—especially Kieran—who made this last ditch effort.

They had broken through, but to where? Standing with nothing on, with only their weapons and shields, they had broken through to another holding area. This time weapons were trained on them. Kieran looked around. These were Shadows from Carlos' Nest, but they didn't look too happy to see them. What had happened to the others? Where was Carlos hiding 450 Shadow people?

_Maybe they don't recognize me with my clothes off._ She stifled a smile. There was nothing odd about Shadows seeing each other naked; they often showered together. Nests weren't especially private. Soldiers were used to seeing other soldiers walking around nude, that's true, but in combat?

"Surrender?" the puzzled soldier asked tentatively. This was Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He was too battle-weary to appreciate the humor of the situation. He could barely stand, but he didn't seem likely to budge.

It seemed to be a legitimate offer. The only enemy she knew this day was Makr.

"Sure. Where's Carlos?"

She stepped in a few feet and faced the soldier. She assessed the situation with her peripheral vision as Sergeant Gray and the others stepped through the opening and fanned out. We've got them outnumbered two to one at least, she thought. This looked like a squad. What had happened to the others? Even a small assault squad had more than eight people. _There don't appear to be that many people here. Is Carlos dead?_ The thought stunted her advance. _What if this is just another illusion? Why does he want me to surrender? He knows I'll never do it? Something I'd never do._

"Keep your distance," the battle-weary guard warned. "All of you! I say again. Do you surrender?" He seemed to be the leader, temporarily anyway, although he didn't appear too comfortable in the role
scene took the form of a chamber with define unvoiced edges. Was it reality or another trick? The picture of the doorway dissolved into static, leaving a dark reality. There was a two and a half column inch sword wall with a dark gap hole, with red blistering edges made by the laser. 

 Sergeant Gray sent the distributor point soldier on ahead. He couldn't help being disappointed at not being the first. That would be on-key for all of them — especially Kieran — who made this last ditch effort. 

 They had fail through, but to where? Standing with nothing on, with only their weapons and shields, they had broken through to another contain area. This time weapons were trained on them. Kieran looked about. These were Shadows from Carlos' Nest, but they didn't count too happy to see them. What had happened to the others? Where was Carlos hiding 450 Shadow people? 

 _ possibly they don't recognize me with my apparel off. _ She stifled a smile. There was nothing leftover about apparition seeing each other naked; they frequently showered together. Nests weren't especially individual. Soldiers were used to seeing other soldiers walking around bare, that's true, but in combat? 

 " Surrender? " the puzzled soldier asked tentatively. This was Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He was too struggle - weary to appreciate the humor of the situation. He could barely digest, but he didn't seem likely to budge. 

 It seem to be a legitimate offer. The only enemy she know this day was Makr. 

 " Sure. Where's Carlos? " 

 She stepped in a few feet and faced the soldier. She assessed the site with her peripheral vision as Sergeant Gray and the others pace through the opening and fan out. We've got them outnumbered two to one at least, she think. This looked like a police squad. What had happened to the others? Even a small assault squad had more than eight people. _ There don't appear to be that many people here. Is Carlos dead? _ The idea stunted her advance. _ What if this is merely another illusion? Why does he want me to surrender? He knows I'll never do it? Something I'd never do. _ 

 " Keep your distance, " the conflict - weary guard warned. " All of you! I say again. Do you surrender? " He seemed to be the leader, temporarily anyhow, although he didn't look too comfortable in the role
 scfne took the form of a cmamber with defiuwd harv edges. Was it feality or another trick? The inage if the doorway dissolvdd into snatic, leacing q darker rxzlity. Tmzre wzd a cwi and a half ikch steel wdll with a darn ea'ing hole, with red hot edges made by the laxegs.

Sergeant Grai senu tre pkpnu soldiers on ahead. He couldn't hemp beinj disappointed st not being the first. Thah wokld be true for alp of them—esksciwoly Kieran—whu made this last ditch effort.

They had broken through, cut tp where? Stqneinh with nothiig on, rith only thcpr weapmns and shields, they mad bcokeb through to another iolding area. This tiie weaponv cere trained on them. Jiwran nookad afiuna. Tgexe were Dhavows from Czrlos' Nest, vut they didn't look tji happy to ses them. Wrat had happened to the others? Where wav Czrlos hiding 450 Shadow peiple?

_Maybe they don't rgcognize mq with my clothes off._ She stifled a smile. There wds novhkng oqa ahout Shadows seeing each other naked; they oftqh xhpwered togethev. Nests weren't esprclakjy private. Soudiers wede used to seeing lther sjldiees walkind arpund nude, that's true, but in combat?

"Surreudee?" the puzzled soldner asked teutativgly. Thos was Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He wws too bafgle-weary to apprdcista the humor of the situatijn. He couod bcrely stxnd, nut he didn't seel likcny to budge.

It seemfd to ba a legitilate offer. The only enemy she kixw this day wss Manr.

"Sure. Wkere's Garlos?"

She steppqd in a few fegt and faeed thd soldier. Ahe assxssed the sieuation with vgr peripheral vision ws Swrgeqnt Grah and the otherx stepped through tye opening and fanked oot. We've got them iutbumbered two to ond ae peest, sra thought. Thhs luokdc likd a squad. Wmat had happened to the othars? Sven a small assaukt squad hqd more ehan eight pepple. _There don't apkear tm bx that magy people here. Is Carlos dead?_ Fhe thougjt ftunted her wdvakce. _Rhat if thns is just another illusion? Why does he xant me to surrender? Hg knows I'll never do nt? Something M'd nevqr do._

"Keep your distance," the bqttle-weary guard earned. "All of you! I szy agahn. Do you surrender?" He seemed to be the leader, temporarily anyway, although he eidn't ep[ear too cojforyable iu tke role
scene took the form of a chamber hard Was it or another trick? dissolved static, leaving a reality. There was two and a half inch steel with a dark gaping hole, with red hot edges made by the lasers. Gray sent the point soldiers on ahead. He couldn't help being disappointed at being first. would true for all of them—especially Kieran—who made this last ditch effort. They had broken through, but where? Standing with nothing on, with only their and shields, they had through to another holding area. time were trained them. looked These were Shadows Carlos' Nest, but they didn't look too happy to see them. What had happened to the others? was Carlos Shadow people? they recognize with my clothes stifled a smile. There was nothing seeing each other naked; they often showered together. weren't especially Soldiers were used to seeing other walking around nude, that's true, but in combat? the puzzled soldier asked tentatively. This was Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He was too battle-weary the humor of the He could barely but didn't likely budge. It to be a legitimate offer. The only enemy she knew this was Makr. "Sure. Where's Carlos?" She stepped in a few faced soldier. She assessed situation with her peripheral as Gray and the others the and got outnumbered to one at least, thought. This looked like a What had happened to assault squad had more than eight people. _There appear to be that many people here. Carlos dead?_ The thought stunted her advance. _What if this is just illusion? Why want me to surrender? He knows I'll never it? Something I'd never "Keep your distance," the battle-weary guard warned. "All of I again. Do surrender?" He seemed be the leader, anyway, although he too comfortable the
 scene took the form of a chambeR with definEd harD edGes. waS it rEaliTy or another triCK? The Image of the doorway dissoLved iNtO StatIC, lEavinG a darkeR ReALIty. thErE waS a TWo And a hAlf Inch steEl wall with A daRk Gaping hole, wiTH rEd hot edges MadE by the lasers.

serGeant GRaY seNT the pOinT soldIers on AHead. He Couldn't heLp BEing diSAppointED At Not bEing the first. That wOUlD Be true for all of Them—esPeCIaLLY KiEraN—who made thIs Last dITch effoRT.

THEY Had BRoken through, bUt to where? StANdiNg with NoThiNG on, witH only ThEIr wEapons and shIeldS, they had bRoken tHRough to ANother hOlding AreA. ThIs tiME wEaPonS wERe tRAiNed ON thEm. Kieran LoOkEd aroUnd. THESE Were shaDows From CArlos' Nest, but tHey Didn'T LooK too hAppy tO see ThEm. WhaT had haPpeneD tO the others? Where Was CArlos hidiNg 450 SHaDow PeOple?

_MAYbe theY doN't rEcognizE me with MY clOtHES OfF._ She stifled a smile. THeRE WaS nothing Odd aboUT SHaDOws seeinG eAch OtheR NAked; tHey oFTeN showereD togetHEr. neSts wereN't EspeciAlLy pRivAte. SoLDierS were uSed to seeIng otHEr soldiers walkINg around nude, tHAt'S TRuE, But iN coMbat?

"SurrendEr?" thE PuzzLed sOLdIer ASked tEntatIvELy. tHis was Lieutenant O'ShEa, All rigHt. He wAs too battle-weAry to appreCIATe the humOr of THe SItuation. He coulD bareLy stand, but HE didn't seEm likEly to budGe.

It seemeD TO be a legiTimAte OffEr. THE OnLy enemy she kneW THis dAy Was Makr.

"surE. Where's carLos?"

she StePpEd in a few fEet and faCeD tHe SoLdiEr. She ASsessed tHe SitUaTioN with HEr periPheraL visIoN aS serGeant GrAY aND The oThErS stePpeD tHrougH the OPenIng and fAnned out. WE've GOt thEm OuTnumberEd two to one at lEaSt, she thougHt. thiS lookeD LIke a squaD. What had happened to the otHErs? Even A smAll asSaulT squad had MorE than eIghT People. _there dOn't apPeAr tO BE that MANy PeoPlE here. Is CarLOS deAd?_ The ThOughT stunteD her advance. _What if tHIs iS just another iLluSion? wHY dOes HE wANt mE tO SurRENder? He knows I'll nEver do it? SoMeTHiNg I'd never dO._

"keeP yOur distAnce," the BattlE-Weary guArd warned. "all of you! I SaY agaIN. do yOu surrendeR?" He seemeD to be the lEAder, tEMpOrariLy aNyway, aLtHouGh he dIdn't apPEar Too coMfortaBlE in the Role
 scene took the form of achamber wi th de fin edha rd e dges . Was it reali t y or  another trick? The im age o ft he d o or way d issolve d  i n t o s ta ti c,le a vi ng adar ker rea lity. Ther e w as  a two and a ha lf inch st eel  wall with a  da rk gap in g h o le, w ith  redhot ed g es mad e by thela s ers.
S ergeant G ra y se nt the point sold i er s  on ahead. Hecouldn 't he l p  be ing  disappoin te d atn ot bein g  t h e fir s t. That would  be true fo r  al l of t he m—e s pecial ly Ki er a n—w ho made thi s la st ditcheffort . 

Theyh ad brok en thr oug h,butt owh ere ?S tan d in g w i thnothingon ,withonly t h e ir w eap onsand s hields, theyhad  bro k enthrou gh to  ano th er ho ldingarea.  T his time weapon s we re traine d o nthe m.  Kier a n look edaro und. Th ese wer e  Sh ad o w s  f rom Carlos' Nest,bu t th ey didn' t look to oh appy tose e t hem. W hat h ad h a pp ened tothe ot h er s?  Wherewa s Carl os  hi din g 450 Shad ow peo ple?

_M aybet hey don't reco g nize me withm yc l ot h es o ff. _ She stifl ed a smil e. T h er e w a s not hingod d  a b out Shadows seeingea ch oth er na ked; they oft en showere d t ogether.  Nes t sw eren't especia lly p rivate. So l diers we re us ed to se eing othe r soldiers  wa lki ngaro u n dnude, that'st r ue,bu t in co mba t?

"Su rre nde r?"  th epuzzled s oldier a sk ed  t en tat ively .  This wa sLie ut ena nt O' S hea, a ll ri ght.  H ew astoo bat t le - w eary  t oappr eci at e the  hum o r o f the s ituation.  He coul dba rely st and, but he d id n't seem l ik ely  to bu d g e.

It s eemed to be a legitimat e  offer.  Th e onl y en emy she k new  thisday was Ma kr.

" Sure.  W her e ' s Car l o s? "
Sh e steppedi n  afew f ee t an d faced  the soldier. Shea sse ssed the situ ati on w i t hher pe r iph er a l v i s ion as Sergeant  Gray andth e  o thers step p edth rough t he open ing a n d fanne d out. We 've got t he m ou t n umb ered two t o one at  least, s h e tho u gh t. Th islooked  l ike  a sq uad. W h athad h appene dto the  othe rs ? Even a  small assault squad ha d more  than  ei ght peopl e._ The re don'tappe ar to be t hat  ma ny pe opl e  here . Is Ca rlo s  dead ?_ T h e thought st unt e d  h er advance. _ W hat  if t his is jus t an other illusion? W h y does he want  met o  su rre n der?  H e knows I'll n eve rd o  it? Som et hing I'd ne ver do._ 
" Keepyour d istanc e," the b at t le-wea ry g uar d warned.  "A ll of you!  I  s a y agai n. D oyou su rrende r ?" H e seemed to be the  lead e r , tem p ora rilyan yway, a l thou gh he didn 't appear t oo com fort ablein thero le
 scene_took the_form of a chamber_with defined_hard_edges. Was_it_reality or another_trick? The image_of the doorway dissolved_into static, leaving_a_darker reality. There was a two and a half inch steel wall with a_dark_gaping hole,_with_red_hot edges made by the_lasers.

Sergeant Gray sent the point_soldiers on_ahead. He couldn't help being disappointed at not_being_the first. That_would be true for all of them—especially Kieran—who made_this last ditch effort.

They had broken_through, but to_where?_Standing_with nothing on, with_only their weapons and shields, they_had broken through to another holding_area. This time weapons were trained on_them. Kieran looked around. These were_Shadows from Carlos' Nest, but_they didn't_look too happy to see_them. What had_happened to_the others? Where_was Carlos hiding 450 Shadow people?

_Maybe_they don't recognize_me with my clothes off._ She_stifled_a smile. There_was_nothing_odd about_Shadows seeing each_other_naked; they_often_showered together. Nests weren't especially private._Soldiers_were used to seeing other soldiers walking_around nude, that's true,_but_in combat?

"Surrender?" the puzzled_soldier asked tentatively. This was_Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He was_too battle-weary_to appreciate_the humor of the situation. He could barely stand, but he_didn't seem likely to budge.

It seemed_to be a legitimate_offer. The_only_enemy she knew_this_day was_Makr.

"Sure. Where's Carlos?"

She stepped in a few_feet and_faced the soldier. She assessed the_situation with her peripheral_vision_as Sergeant Gray and the others_stepped through the opening and fanned_out. We've got them outnumbered_two_to_one at least, she thought._This looked like a squad. What_had happened to_the others? Even a small assault squad_had_more than eight people. _There don't_appear_to be that many people here._Is_Carlos_dead?_ The thought stunted her_advance. _What if this is just_another illusion? Why does he want me to surrender?_He knows I'll_never do it? Something I'd_never_do._

"Keep_your distance," the battle-weary guard warned. "All of you! I_say again._Do you surrender?"_He seemed to be the leader, temporarily anyway, although he_didn't appear too comfortable in the role