The bells grew louder as Megan neared the guard tower. She stopped and looked up the ladder. "What do you see?" She called up at them.

A man's head appeared through the hatch. "A battalion of soldiers. They don't look happy."

Megan nodded. "Then I better hurry."

The man gave a curt nod. "We'll stall them as long as we can."

"Thank you." Megan replied as she darted away. She rushed down the winding halls, not completely sure where she was going. The place was a maze and she had never fully mastered it. Finally, she recognized one of the hallways and bolted down the passage. She skidded to a stop and threw herself against a wall.

Around the corner, in the dining hall, the soldiers stood, weapons ready, before Adam Jones, who sat on his raised chair.

"I told you, she's gone." Jones was saying.

"You really think I believe that?" The same soldier from before scoffed. "You're known for keeping your people close, even when free."

"Well," Jones challenged, "she's a special case. Didn't have much of a choice." He gestured to the armed soldiers.

The lead soldier glared at Jones. "Careful. I could have you arrested for a comment like that."

Jones scoffed. "What has our world come to that a few words warrant the death penalty?"

The soldier clenched his fists to maintain the face of civility, which was quickly disintegrating. "Give me the girl and I won't have to do any unfortunate damage."

"Is that a threat, Ratface?" Jones growled.

The soldier, who in all honestly did look like a rat, grinned maliciously. "I guess you're not a complete idiot."

Jones glared at Ratface.

One of the Skyraiders, who had been watching the whole thing, stepped forward angrily.

Jones held up his arm to stop the man. "Fine. Search the compound if you wish, but she's not here."

Ratface smirked, nodding to his soldiers.
The armored men fanned out, walking down the many passages.

Megan pressed herself as close to the wall as she could as one of the soldiers entered the hall and disappeared around the corner. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Jones stood alone in the mess hall with Ratface. The two men glared at each other.
Ratface fingered his dagger, twirling it in his fingers.

Megan knew she should leave, but she had no idea where the soldiers were. She didn't want to risk being seen. Who knew what Ratface would do to Jones if he found out Adam was lying.

If she could get to the Skycraft hangar, she could use one of the lifeboats to get to the brink and run from there. The safest way would be to sneak around the outside of the room.

Megan crouched as she slipped around the corner, trying to keep a table or one of the standing Skyraiders between me and Ratface.
Slowly, she progressed, eventually reaching the right passage. She crept inside, noticing the difference in light. The hallway was much darker than the mess hall.

Suddenly, a soldier appeared around the corner.

Megan froze, her heart skipping a beat as it jumped into her throat, but the soldier trotted right passed her.

Megan almost collapsed with relief. How had the man not seen her? She straightened up and bolted down the passage, taking advantage of her opportunity.