standing. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the energy trail they'd left behind.
Pictures began to form in her mind along with snippets of their conversation. They'd argued over instructions they'd been given…over orders to bring someone from this hotel to another location…and if the person didn't come willingly…they were to do whatever was necessary.
"May I help you?"
Behind her, the smiling face of a holo was displayed on the glass wall of the building.
"Do you require assistance? Would you like a transport?" he asked, breaking into a broad smile. His greenish gold hair matched the shimmering surface. Unfo rtunately his bright green eyes were a bit disconcerting.
"No, I don't need one, thank you."
"Would you like to know about the opening of the new entertainment complex?"
Was there a way to stop him from talking? Another picture m aterialized in her mind. The guards were at a door…there was a sign next to it that read, "Alpha." Now the door was slowly opening and--
"May I recommend a new café nearby? It has been given the highest approval rating by Novacorp Entertainments."
"I'm not hungry!" she shouted.
"Are you certain you do not require a transport?" He was still smiling, his green eyes glo wing as he worked to please her.
She closed her eyes and saw the guards again…the door was open and they were pushing their way inside…Jonathan was vis ible for a few seconds…then the door closed.
Nadira ran back inside. "Where is Jonathan Keel staying?" She held up her left hand, identif ying herself as a Guardian.
Mr. Renard's eyes grew wide. "A Guardian! What has ha ppened?"
"Where is he?"
"He's--he's on level 30 suite Alpha." Renard replied, his voice shaking so much he barely got the words out. "Is he in danger? At the Emerald Club we ensure the safety of all our guests and--"
"Call city security now!" Nadira yelled, rushing to the lift.
Inside, Lorena's image appeared on the wall next to the door. "Welcome to the Emerald Club. Where would you like to go?"
"Level 30 right away!"
The doors closed and the lift headed up. It was so quiet that for a moment Nadira wasn't sure it was moving. But a moment later she heard a soft female voice in the background.
"3…4…5…6…"
Lorena was still smiling. At least she didn't have bright green eyes like the man downstairs. Lorena's were a subdued golden brown.
"You'll find the city has a great deal of entertainment. Would you like to know more?" L orena asked.
"12…13…14…15"
"Not right now." Nadira closed eyes. Nothing materialized. Why couldn't she see what was happening in the suite? She paced as each level ticked by. Why was the lift moving so slowly?
"20…21…22…23"
"Can't this go any faster?" she asked.
"I'm sorry. The safety of our guests is most important to us, and we can't--"
"Okay, Lorena. I get it."
At level 30 Nadira jumped out as soon as the door opened. In front of her, a sign indicated that suite Alpha was to her left. She broke into a run, her feet pounding the stone floor. A gold-toned door stood at the end of the corridor.
She touched the fingerpad. Nothing. It must be locked. More noises from inside: the hum of a weapon discharge and glass shattering.
By now her heart was slamming in her chest. Pings of energy flooded her body. She had to get in there now. Summoning all her strength, Nadira pressed her palms against the door and directed her force into it.
Within seconds the door went from gold to bright white, then blue. Her energy burned through it. White-hot sparks flew up, pinging against the walls as the door disintegrated, then blew apart.
Almost pushed off her feet by the force of the blast, Nadira caught herself before she fell. I nside the suite, one guard was on his knees, the other had an arm around Jon's neck. They'd stopped in mid-action, staring at her through the smoldering remains.
Jonathan recovered quickly and got out from under his attacker. He took the man's arm and twisted it
Pictures began to form in her mind along with snippets of their conversation. They'd argued over instructions they'd been given…over orders to bring someone from this hotel to another location…and if the person didn't come willingly…they were to do whatever was necessary.
"May I help you?"
Behind her, the smiling face of a holo was displayed on the glass wall of the building.
"Do you require assistance? Would you like a transport?" he asked, breaking into a broad smile. His greenish gold hair matched the shimmering surface. Unfo rtunately his bright green eyes were a bit disconcerting.
"No, I don't need one, thank you."
"Would you like to know about the opening of the new entertainment complex?"
Was there a way to stop him from talking? Another picture m aterialized in her mind. The guards were at a door…there was a sign next to it that read, "Alpha." Now the door was slowly opening and--
"May I recommend a new café nearby? It has been given the highest approval rating by Novacorp Entertainments."
"I'm not hungry!" she shouted.
"Are you certain you do not require a transport?" He was still smiling, his green eyes glo wing as he worked to please her.
She closed her eyes and saw the guards again…the door was open and they were pushing their way inside…Jonathan was vis ible for a few seconds…then the door closed.
Nadira ran back inside. "Where is Jonathan Keel staying?" She held up her left hand, identif ying herself as a Guardian.
Mr. Renard's eyes grew wide. "A Guardian! What has ha ppened?"
"Where is he?"
"He's--he's on level 30 suite Alpha." Renard replied, his voice shaking so much he barely got the words out. "Is he in danger? At the Emerald Club we ensure the safety of all our guests and--"
"Call city security now!" Nadira yelled, rushing to the lift.
Inside, Lorena's image appeared on the wall next to the door. "Welcome to the Emerald Club. Where would you like to go?"
"Level 30 right away!"
The doors closed and the lift headed up. It was so quiet that for a moment Nadira wasn't sure it was moving. But a moment later she heard a soft female voice in the background.
"3…4…5…6…"
Lorena was still smiling. At least she didn't have bright green eyes like the man downstairs. Lorena's were a subdued golden brown.
"You'll find the city has a great deal of entertainment. Would you like to know more?" L orena asked.
"12…13…14…15"
"Not right now." Nadira closed eyes. Nothing materialized. Why couldn't she see what was happening in the suite? She paced as each level ticked by. Why was the lift moving so slowly?
"20…21…22…23"
"Can't this go any faster?" she asked.
"I'm sorry. The safety of our guests is most important to us, and we can't--"
"Okay, Lorena. I get it."
At level 30 Nadira jumped out as soon as the door opened. In front of her, a sign indicated that suite Alpha was to her left. She broke into a run, her feet pounding the stone floor. A gold-toned door stood at the end of the corridor.
She touched the fingerpad. Nothing. It must be locked. More noises from inside: the hum of a weapon discharge and glass shattering.
By now her heart was slamming in her chest. Pings of energy flooded her body. She had to get in there now. Summoning all her strength, Nadira pressed her palms against the door and directed her force into it.
Within seconds the door went from gold to bright white, then blue. Her energy burned through it. White-hot sparks flew up, pinging against the walls as the door disintegrated, then blew apart.
Almost pushed off her feet by the force of the blast, Nadira caught herself before she fell. I nside the suite, one guard was on his knees, the other had an arm around Jon's neck. They'd stopped in mid-action, staring at her through the smoldering remains.
Jonathan recovered quickly and got out from under his attacker. He took the man's arm and twisted it
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