I stopped in the duskiness of several large trees and scanned the outside of the building. Lights shone in several windows, meaning the power was still on. I shifted my weight, suddenly anxious to get things moving. Tension crawled through my limbs, and an odd sense that something was wrong teased my mind. I had no idea what or why. Maybe it was just tension rising from the knowledge of what I was about to do. What I had to do, if we were all to keep undercover and keep safe.
I let my gaze rest on the metal doors that were the main entrance to central security. The floor plans indicated heavy fortification within that area, which included the substantial doors and a long corridor to traverse before reaching the control room.
And though it wasn't mentioned on the plan, it made sense that the center would have its own power source if all else went down. But any auxiliary source would take time to get going. I just had to make sure my timing was right, or they would catch me on camera.
The lights suddenly went out right along the building. I waited, watching for several heartbeats, then, when the lights remained out, silently thanked Iktar and walked out of the trees. The camera above the doorway didn't move, even though I was peripherally in the camera's sensor range.
I rapped on the metal. The sound seemed to echo, but for several seconds, there was no reply.
Then a gruff voice said, "Yes?"
"I've been sent here to collect some reports."
A small hatch in the middle of the door slid aside, and blue eyes stared out at me. "Lady, we just been hit by a power blackout. No one is coming in these doors until we have the generator up and running."
I shrugged casually. "Fine. I'll just tell Mr. Merle you said I couldn't have them."
I turned to go and the guard swore softly. "Fine, fine. Just wait a moment."
The hatch slammed closed, and after several seconds, the door opened enough for the armed guard to step through. He was a big man, all muscle and broad shoulders. I couldn't tell what sort of gun he held, because while I'd been trained to use them, I didn't really like them and, like any sane person, tended to avoid them whenever possible. Hence, I'd skipped all the theory stuff on makes and models.
And really, who fucking cared what brand or type it was when it was aimed at your face? Any gun was scary this close.
I slowly raised my arms and did my best at looking defenseless. Which wasn't really hard, considering the gun and the fact I was naked. Actually, it was hard to look anything else but helpless when sans clothes.
He held the gun steady while he looked quickly around. In reality, I could have taken him out there and then, but that would have given warning to those inside.
When he was sure there was no one hiding in the bushes, he opened the door and motioned me inside. As I moved past him, I noted not only the thin strand of wire around his neck - a sure sign that he was shielded from psychic intrusion - but the knife at his side and the second gun strapped near his shins, barely visible through his tan trousers.
"Stop," he growled, before I'd taken three steps beyond the door.
I did as he bid, lightly drawing in his scent while trying to "feel" him with my other senses. He actually smelled quite nice - a mix of sage and sharp spice. But I wasn't getting anything along the sensory lines, which meant he was human. Anything else I would have recognized.
The door slammed shut and darkness consumed us. Bolts thudded home, then the guard's hand gripped my arm with unerring accuracy. Which suggested he was one of Starr's "enhanced" humans, because there was no way in hell a normal human could see in this darkness. Hell, I could barely see, and I had wolf sight. Switching to vampire infrared solved that problem, but he didn't have that option.
Or maybe he did. Who knew what gene pool Starr's people had been paddling in of late?
"Walk," he said, tugging me forward.
"Damn dark in here." I forced a quavering note into my voice. Acting helpless and scared couldn't hurt.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to lead you astray." Amusement touched his voice. "Though I'm telling you, if we weren't in this place, I'd be tempted to let you lead me astray."
"And here I was thinking you didn't notice."
"Lady, present any man with a naked woman, and they're going to notice, no matter what they're doing."
How very true. Unless, of course, they were as highly trained - or as gay - as my brother. Though Rhoan did appreciate a good female form, even if it didn't excite him. Concern flicked through me as I thought of him, and I frowned, wishing once again he was telepathic. I needed to talk to him, needed to know that he was okay, that this vague sense of unease had nothing to do with him.
But that wasn't an option, and there was nothing I could do except concentrate on the here and now. "Well, at least I know I'm not losing my touch."
I bumped against him as I said it, and he chuckled softly. "Stop flirting, ma'am. It's appreciated, but I'm likely to end up with my balls in a sling if I tried anything in this place."
"Isn't that a little harsh on you boys in here when everyone else is allowed to sample the goods?"
"Yeah. But we're better paid than them."
"Money isn't everything."