Dakar raised his hand silently to stop Star and Madas. He listened carefully, then motioned that guards were approaching. Star raised the crossbow, pressing it snugly against her shoulder as she moved back against the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Dakar’s fist tighten around the laser pistol he held in one hand. Madas’ quiet breath sounded close to her ear as her friend pressed against her back.
They had already dispatched five guards on their way down from the control room. They were on the second level and had one more to go. Dakar took a deep breath and spun out into the corridor, firing as he went. Star turned in the opposite direction covering his back. She fired one arrow into a guard as he raised his arm to fire at Dakar. The blast from his laser hit the wall ri
