Lisa grinned. “And the mechs’ plasma rifles can ignite the wires without leaving any traces of arson. Or at least, none that forensics will recognize.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” James grinned. “Let’s light this candle.”

“Hang on,” Lisa said, as Fur scanned the area again. “We’ve got to calculate just what to torch for the fire to burn at the right rate—slow enough to get everybody out, but too fast to stop.”

Fur glanced at Sera. Sera nodded. “Targets received. James, Lisa, you two had better retreat the way we came in. We’ll join you in just a bit.”

“C’mon, we can still watch from back here.” Lisa led James a safe distance away as the light show began.

James shielded his eyes against the brilliant glare of the plasma arcs in the dark tunnel as the two cyclemechs fired their rifles at the junction boxes and conduits. He grinned. “Yeah, that’s gonna burn real g—”

Lisa turned. “James?” There was no sign of him. “James, where are—MMPH!” She too was grabbed from behind and pulled into the darkness.