Tarian lifted his head from the desk as the alarm blared. With a groan, he turned toward the noise. When he couldn't locate the source of the racket, he started blinking the sleep away and stumbled toward the window. He leaned on the sill and saw the ordnance storehouse lights flashing across the field. As his gaze tracked the beams, the scene made sense. Tarian spun and bolted from his quarters.

When he burst out of the building, Tarian dashed toward the depot. As he crossed the courtyard, a hand yanked him to a stop. Tarian reached back, grabbed the stranger and twisted his arm behind his back. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Lloyd said with a whimper, his face paling. He raised his free hand in surrender. "However, you rushing headlong into an unknown raid isn't one of your better ideas."

As Tarian relaxed his grip, he spun toward the armory as his hand flew to his side. He reached for his sidearm, but his fingers brushed an empty belt. A curse flew from his mouth as he whirled toward Lloyd. "Do you have a spare gun?"

"You're lucky you ran into me first." Lloyd drew a handgun and thrust it toward Tarian. "Next time the alarm blares, you might remember to secure your sidearm before you try to take on a mystery unarmed."

"That's enough," Tarian said as he took the weapon. After a brief check, he aimed the small firearm at the depot and inched forward.

"You shouldn't be the first to enter," Lloyd said, pulling Tarian's shoulder. With a few long strides, Lloyd pulled ahead of Tarian and placed an ear against the depot's door...