Read Online Operation Tenley by Jennifer Gooch Hummer - Free Book Online

halfway down the stairs.
    “Laraby!”
    He stopped, not looking too happy about it, or to be seeing Pennie.
    “You’re still here.” She ran down to him.
    “So are you.”
    “What’s happening? How can we be getting attacked?”
    “I doubt we are. Could be a crack in the ozone. The effects of the earthquake might be leaking upward. If she was attacking us directly, it would be bigger than a few rumbles.” Laraby started down the stairs again.
    Pennie continued after him. “There were explosions in Command Center.”
    Laraby stopped. “You were in Command Center?”
    Pennie nodded.
    “Did you see their equipment? Their 3 rd i-Alls?”
    “They have so many amazing tools. Wind seats , even.” Pennie held out her wrist. “This is official Fair Force equipment. It’s counting down the forty-eight hours for The Right to Delete.”
    Laraby frowned at it.
    “I know. They want it to look like human technology. Tinktoria in Room Seventy-one started it, but travel’s been suspended. Do you know how to stop it?”
    “I’m not privy to Fair Force equipment because I am not yet a Lieutenant Fair One. And the last time I was with you, my chances of becoming one greatly decreased. So if you’ll excuse me.” He turned back for the stairs. His red beard blew over his shoulder.
    “Wait!” Pennie followed after him. “I thought you were that guy?”
    “What guy?”
    “That guy who knows everything. The guy who knows all the rules.”
    Laraby stopped. “As a matter of fact, I do know all the rules. What is it you want to know?”
    “How to turn this off.” She held out her wrist again.
    Laraby took a closer look. “I can’t help you,” he said, starting back down the stairs.
    “Do you know another way I can get to Earth?”
    “Even if I did know how to get you there, it’s not something you want to do on your own, without Fair Force protection. A myriad of nasty things could snap you up in a nano-second.”
    From the middle of the staircase, the old disheveled Fair One with the Bladeless sign clucked. “Snap you up.”
    Laraby ignored him.
    “We all took an oath, Laraby. To protect them. What if it was your client?”
    “It wouldn’t be my client. I would have reported her right away.”
    Pennie slumped down on a stair. Laraby turned around.
    “I’m sorry, Fair One, but you brought this problem on yourself. You should never have allowed your client to continue using her element. The rules were created for a reason. So right now, breaking another one might not be in your best interest.”
    “I knew it.” Pennie stood. “You do know a way.”
    “I didn’t say that. I never said that.”
    “You said another one. Another rule. A rule I would need to break to get down there. Please, Laraby, what is it?”
    The old Fair One mumbled something.
    Laraby started down the stairs again. “No.”
    Pennie crossed her arms. “Actually, you know what I think? I think you don’t know the rules as well as you think you do. So I’ll go find someone who does.”
    Laraby wanted to ignore her. He really did. But no one knew the rules better than he did. No one.
    “sipLips!”
    Pennie looked over at the old Fair One. “sipLips?”
    Laraby stopped.
    The old Fair One nodded furiously. “Yes. sipLips. They’ll take you down, for something nice.”
    Pennie glared at Laraby. “Tell me how to find a sipLip.”
    “It’s illegal.”
    “Tell me how to find a sipLip,” she said louder.
    Laraby took a step up. “Quiet, will you? Just talking about them can get you reviewed.”
    “ How do I find a sipLip ?” Pennie yelled.
    Laraby sighed. “Come with me.” He pulled a face at the old Fair One before turning away. Pennie hurried after him.
    The streets were deserted as far as Pennie could see. She followed Laraby around a corner.
    “All right,” he stopped. “The sipLips can get you down, but that old Fair One’s right. You’ll need to give them something for it, like some tools.”
    “Mine are still locked