The way Naema and her mother finally settled on carrying Josephine was between them. While her mother held Josephine's shoulders, Naema held her by her thighs so her bleeding calfs were elevated above Josephine's head. It was awkward, but in order for their plan to work, they had to act now before the Lakirans realized what they were up to.

There were other soldiers' about now, which made encountering another sentinel unlikely, yet Tan peeked about each corner as they went.

Unfortunately, soldiers kept interfering, most trying to help. They argued with Tan that they were going the wrong direction for the medical bay. It wouldn't be a problem, except that Josephine was having a harder time staying focused enough to wipe their memories.

Their trek through the corridors was blending together for her. Her collar was wet with sweat. Her head ached more and more. Each minute she noted more symptoms. By now, she could hardly close her fists. Her breath was coming out in huffs, as though her lungs were going limp to push out the air, and she was certain she would vomit soon.

They arrived back at the door leading up the bridge spire. Naema and her mother set Josephine down and her mother tended to her wounds. Using torn strips from Josephine's ruined uniform, she created gauze and applied pressure.

Tan glanced around for cameras, then set up the tool they'd taken next to the wall beside the door. It was an inner wall—likely steel or aluminum. Perhaps he'd ruin some drill bits, but oh well.

Tan got to work. The screech of tearing metal was deafening. Hopefully this would be quick.

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Victoria's mind had been visualizing the bridge, and the drilling was reverberating up from several floors below. She'd had to watch as the executive officer informed the Admiral, and the Admiral to finally put his earpiece back in before she could speak to him.

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"They took a power drill, ma'am," said Admiral Medina.

"Then send someone downstairs right now and get everyone away from that door."

Even after her command, he hesitated, as though he hadn't yet realized the intruders' amazingly obvious plan. He finally issued the order, but not before wasting time to say, "Yes, ma'am."

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The Admiral sent down Lieutenant Harris, a soldier who'd happened to be in the bridge when the spire locked down. From the bridge floor, he had to descend past the Admiral's bridge, the strike room, the air operations room, a VIP deck, and the first wardroom to finally reach the staging floor of the operations spire. With each passing floor, the reverberating screech of the power tool grew louder.

On the staging floor, two guards were posted by the door. He could hardly hear himself think with the noise.

He approached the men. "Orders from the Admiral," he yelled. "You're to come upstairs immediately."

"What, sir?"

"Come upstairs."

"We're on post."

"What? No. Admiral's calling you off. He wants you out of this room." He gestured for them to follow him.

They motioned that they couldn't hear him. "Sorry, sir. We can't leave," the other said. "Captain wants us to guard this door. No one passes."

"The admiral is calling you up. Hurry your asses."

"The admiral?"

"What?"

"What about the admiral?"

To Lieutenant Harris's profound relief. The drilling stopped.

"The admiral is ordering you out of this room. Now move, soldiers."

This time, they nodded and followed.

"Wait a moment," someone said. "Don't leave just yet."

Harris glanced around for the voice. It sounded like a woman who was out of breath.

"Come back here," she said.

Harris hesitated, as did the other guards. They were just going somewhere, but now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure where. Like walking into a room to fetch something and forgetting what it was.

"Who's speaking?" he asked.

"I am," the voice said. He looked, but did not see the small hole next to the door. It was no thicker than a pencil. "I'm... Captain Janice, and I need you to open the door."

"The spire main door?"

"That one, yes."

It was indeed closed, as was the side door by the auxiliary ladderwell. He knew they were closed, sealed too. But for the life of him, he couldn't remember why.