Signs from Heaven by Phaedra M. Weldon Page A

guns from, nor did he recognize their make. Knowing if they fired energy or slugs was of great importance to him. Energy burned or disintegrated flesh, and slugs tore and burrowed, as he remembered all too well from their mission to Teneb last year. And with the thoughts running about in his feverish head, that could be the deciding factor in what he was about to do.
    Vanov wanted Fabian to lower the shield—but not to save Bart. He wanted the shields lowered so his people—the ones firing at them—could get a good shot. In essence, he wanted Fabian to lower the shields so they could all get blown up.
    The engineers wanted Fabian to stay away from the podium because they wanted Stratos preserved. They didn’t care one smidgeon about the man dying in a vault somewhere.
    And Fabian knew he was dying. He could feel it inside—he felt something twisting and tightening in his head. He felt wrong . Distant.
    Fabian’s first instinct was to run to the podium and activate it, tossing the tune in his head into the system so the shields could lower. He knew he’d get shot in the process, but at least Bart would be saved. He felt sure Captain Gold wasn’t going to waste any time getting him back to the ship.
    That was his plan—until Dreena pushed her gun into the left temple of Sonya Gomez.
    Then all bets were off.
    As the blasts ricocheted off the shields outside the city, the group stood by the podium, everyone staring at one another.
    Dreena held out her free hand—the one not threatening to kill Sonya. “Please, Mr. Stevens. I promise we will release the commander if you come with us. We must make sure the city lasts until the bombing ceases.”
    â€œAnd what if it doesn’t?” Vanov asked. He held his gun trained on Fabian. “What if my people don’t stop?”
    â€œThen I am certain if the High Advisor does not stop them, Captain Gold of the da Vinci will. The truth of the situation is that unless you stop your intent upon destruction, the shields cannot be lowered.”
    Fabian decided at that moment that he did not like Dreena. He focused on Sonya until her gaze locked with his. He smiled, glanced at the podium.
    She frowned, indicating what?
    He glanced at the podium again. Again she frowned.
    He glanced again.
    And again she frowned at him.
    â€œAre you dense, woman? Duck behind the podium!”
    The sudden outburst caught everyone off guard, especially Dreena. She wasn’t ready for Sonya to abruptly duck down and dive at the podium.
    Dreena fired in reaction. The slug moved through the air where Sonya had been and impacted into the arm of Historian Vanov. He reacted as well—his hand squeezing the trigger just as Fabian lunged for Sonya.
    The bullet exploded into the left podium. Sparks popped outward and the city dropped a few centimeters beneath their feet.
    Lauoc and Krotine moved into action, their own phasers out as they corralled the engineers into a huddle and relieved them of their guns.
    Fabian pulled himself as well as Sonya into a standing position in front of the podium. A claxon sounded from somewhere above them. “You okay?” He had both hands on her shoulders.
    She touched his hands. “Yes, I’m fine. He didn’t shoot you, did he?”
    â€œNah.” He smiled at her. “I’m quicker than that. Even while possessed by evil kudzu.”
    She frowned.
    â€œNever mind.”
    Her hands touched his. “Fabian, your hands are so warm.”
    â€œYeah.” He pulled his hands from hers and touched the podium without warning.
    Tev was at the podium also. “There is a twenty-one percent drop in stability. It would appear that these misguided zealots damaged the dampening system.”
    Fabian looked at the left podium, which remained dark. “Yeah. Looks like we’re going to go down whether we want to or not.”
    Scotty moved to the right podium and began touching the images.