at the instrumentation on the slaves' headbands was dark。 And they had turned away before realizing there were no Enforcers or Officers driving them along。
Nor were any Invid looking at the screen as the women turned not toward the cargo elevators that would take them down to their cages； but rather toward the building's arsenal。
Invid dashing around to respond to the emergency took no notice either； and the slaves' dejected heads helped with the deception。 That is； until the Praxians reached the door of the arsenal itself。
An Armored Officer barred their way。 〃Stop！ Where are your overseers？〃
Zibyl； the round…faced； olive…skinned one who had shown defiance outside the plex； led the line。 Now she looked around in feigned surprise； saying； 〃Why； I don't know； Great Master； they were there not a moment ago。 Perhaps they stopped to speak to another Master。 Shall I go look for them？〃
She took a step back the way she had e。 〃Stand where you are；〃 the Officer shouted。 It automatically took a few steps in that direction； too。 〃Slaves aren't supposed to be in this area unacpanied！〃
As it did so； several of the women slipped past； behind its back； silently entering the arsenal。
〃I see no overseers；〃 the Officer was saying。 〃And I see no function lights on your headbands。 In fact； some of those women back there have no headbands at all！ All of you； line up with your hands against that wall while I contact…〃
The Invid got no farther。 From the tattered remnants of her fighting costume Zibyl pulled the pistol Lisa had given her。 The Officer was just facing back toward her when she squeezed the trigger。 The beam was set at minimum dispersal； a star…hot line no wider than a pencil's lead。
Zibyl was wearing a fey smile。
The Officer went windmilling back as green goo and little meteor sparks spurted from the rupture in its helmet。 Zibyl shot it again； dead center in the chest； and twice more； the Invid flopped to the floor with a deafening clang of heavy metal。
Just then there was a yell from the rear of the column； 〃Enemy fire…team ing！〃
〃Stand clear！〃 yelled Zibyl； planting her bare feet more firmly and raising the heavy Invid pistol with both hands。 She stood her ground； her jaw set； as her sisters dove or dropped or sprinted out of her line of fire。
Four Enforcers lumbered around the corner like walking tanks； their steps resounding up and down the corridor like lootives being hit with battering rams。 They were un…limbering their rifles。
Zibyl took careful aim at the leader； determined to buy time and ferally willing to die just so long as she could take some of the more hated slavemasters with her。 She thought she might get one or； with extraordinary luck； two； before they cremated her on the spot。
Zibyl got off the first shot but missed with the unfamiliar handgun。 The Enforcers were bringing their heavy weapons to bear； muzzles the circumference of stovepipes zeroing in on her； when Zibyl heard a rich contralto behind her bark； 〃Sister！ Hit the deck！〃
Zibyl did。 The three Praxians who had womanhandled the Enforcer assault weapon out of the arsenal and into the corridor had set it up on its tripod。 The gunner had to sit on another woman's shoulders to aim； and she fired。
The shot got the lead Invid where the creature's naval would have been if it had had one； and burned it in half。 The Praxians traversed the beam and cut the next Enforcer in two。
More amazons poured into the corridor from the armory； blazing away with pistols and rifles。 Zibyl spun around on her stomach and fired； too。 In moments； the Enforcers were smoking debris in a spreading pool of green slime。
Zibyl rose to her feet； coughing at the smell of it； and hollered to her Sisters； 〃What are you waiting for？ They know we're here now！ Get weapons； quickly； we haven't much time！〃
〃They've been discovered；〃 Veidt said； as he seemingly stared off into space。 〃The alarms are going off now。〃
Vince took a deep breath。 〃Okay； everybody keep low。〃
He pushed off from the wall with his shoulders and stepped from concealment behind the flying buttress of the Central Slavepen。 The coast was clear。 Vince loped toward the entrance； Wolff right behind with the other Invid rifle。 Lisa； Rick； and Jean were next； along with the still…unsteady Miriya Sterling； who was being helped along by Max。 Cabell came just behind； looking dignified even in this frantic endeavor； and with him floated Veidt。 Karen Penn brought up the rear； covering with Rick's pistol。
Rick had dithered a little before making the decision to give Karen his pistol； but it came down to a matter of practical necessity。 Karen had the skill and training for the job he had assigned her； and it was only sensible that she be armed。 Max wouldn't leave Miriya； and Rick himself wanted to be up toward the front； where he could see what was going on and help make decisions； even if this had turned into Lisa's show。 To his relief； Lisa had made no objection。
The automated weapons installations guarding the main entrance were silent； just as Veidt had promised。 The fugitives made it through the door and onto the big rotunda beyond。 They kept to the shadows along the walls； working their way in the opposite direction from that taken by Zibyl and the others。 They were headed for the slave cages。
Enforcers and Armored Officers； along with a scattering of scientists and other Evolveds； were running back and forth； taking no notice of the interlopers at first。 Vince； leading the way； was thankful that the Invid had decided to make their Glike slave operation an Enforcer…and Officer…run facility； if there had been Inorganic bipeds； the Sentinels and the Praxians would have had little hope of coping with them。
The checkpoint to the slave cages was a guard station one quarter of the way around the gleaming green circle of the rotunda。 They were nearly there when a passing Officer noticed them and skidded to a halt； heels striking sparks from the superhard substance of the floor。
〃Halt！ Identify yours…〃 was all he got out before Vince waxed him with a sustained burst from the rifle。 Guards were just being aware of the danger when Vince and Wolff went charging at them assault…style； firing on every other footfall as they fast…walked。 Rick dashed for the fallen officer； to relieve it of its sidearm。
Karen rushed forward to help Vince and Wolff； laying down rounds with the pistol。 The guard station had been stripped of all but three soldiers in the emergency； and they only lasted a few quickened heartbeats once the shooting started。
But at least they left behind more weapons。 Everyone was armed now except for Veidt； and Cabell； whom Rem had once warned； Stay away from guns or you'll end up burning your foot off！ Even Miriya was in the fight； insisting on having a pistol。 After studying the Haydonite…installed equipment for a few moments； Veidt judged that escape from the slavepens could be cut off by Invid in the mand center； or even there at the guard station if the stations were retaken intact。
Wolff solved that with his usual panache。 Cycling the heavy security lock doors to open all through the slavepen maze with the station's controls； he then brought up the rifle's mouth and blew the controls to wreckage。
〃One problem down； but they'll be sending reinforcements here any time now；〃 Lisa said。
Wolff ran a fingertip over his superbly groomed mustache。 〃Then； dearest Captain； may I suggest that we not be here at that time？〃 He turned and set his rifle across a control console； checking fields of fire； preparing to hold the position while the others effected rescue。 At Lisa's mand； Karen stayed with him； handing her pistol to Jean and taking another rifle in its place。
Rick had readjusted his own Invid rifle's sling so that he could lug it； leveled in firing position； at waist height with the sling over his left shoulder； right hand on the grip and trigger。 It was unbelievably heavy； the sling pressing deep into his flesh。 He said； 〃Everybody ready？ No objections？〃
No objections。 The Sentinels descended into the slave…pens of Haydon IV。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Awright； so the mecha are in dinged…up shape and the weapons barrels are shot out and the replace