pedals and threw the bot-mode mecha in full upward flight. As soon as he cleared the penthouse, he covered Dee with his other hand to protect her from wind, debris, and any potential incoming fire they might get into.
'Hang on, Dee!' He skyrocketed with the mecha. 'CO
'Roger that! We've got all three of you, DeathRay!' Admiral Walker replied.
Jack could see out of the corner of his peripheral vision that Nancy was in trouble. The remaining AA fire from the ground tracked her still, and she was diving right at it. As far as he could tell, she was going to sacrifice herself to take out the box. Well, that would keep it from firing at Jack and the First Daughter.
Just as her fighter careened toward the ground and the AA box, her canopy blew and the ejection seat exploded out. Then DeathRay was standing next to a shivering Dee and a fast-panting CIA agent on a QMT pad inside the
'Daddy! Mom!' She reached out to hug them, and there was a flash of light and the sound of sizzling bacon as she vanished into thin air.
'Motherfuck you, Ahmi!' Moore shouted, grasping at the air for his daughter.
Jack and Nancy rushed to where Dee had stood and scanned around. There was no need to scan, because they all knew that it was Ahmi's backup plan. They should have expected such.
'I am going to kill that bitch!' President Moore's rage seemed uncontrollable.
'Sir! We'll get her back. I'm sorry, sir. I didn't think about a boobytrap.' DeathRay wasn't sure what to say. 'I'm at your disposal, sir.'
'Me, too, Mr. President,' Nancy offered. 'Sir, the SIFs can't be back on line yet. There is no doubt she was teleported back to the penthouse. Send us now, sir!' DeathRay realized that Nancy was right—there was still a window to get to Dee. They'd just have to figure out a way to deal with that snap-back boobytrap that Ahmi was using.
'Right!' Moore and the First Lady started to climb into nearby AEM suits while the QMT techs started gibbering into their comms and the QMT CW rushed up to the president.
'Mr. President, I've strict orders not to allow you and the First Lady to—'
Moore ignored him, as he nodded to the First Lady and the other two AEMs, who stepped onto the pad. The First Lady twisted on her helmet, as did President Moore. Nancy reached over to her shoulder harness and pulled out the railpistol from her flight armor. The five of them stood at ready on the pad.
'Agent Penzington, send my AIC the coordinates,' the president ordered.
'Sir?' DeathRay knew the president was one heck of a marine, but the CW was right: he
'Coming, DeathRay?' the president asked. Jack could tell from the expression on the president's face that he was talking to his AIC.
'In for a penny . . .' Jack sighed under his breath and pulled out his own railpistol, stepping onto the pad. 'Wild horses and a repulsor tugship couldn't keep me away, Mr. President.'
'But sir!' the CW protested.
Even as the CW was shouting for the techs to cut power to the pad, Jack heard the president quietly say, 'Any time now, Abby—'
The room flashed, and Jack could hear that frying-bacon sound again. The next thing he knew, they were standing in the penthouse of the Seppy Capitol Building, looking up through a big hole in the ceiling. Dee stood just in front of them with a bewildered expression on her face.
Chapter 26
July 1, 2394 AD
Ross 128, Arcadia
