ISLAND IN THE SAND

Part XIV

 Star was leaning against the back door to the operations center, when it opened. Star fell backwards, but her flipping body never hit the floor, as many small hands caught her and brought her to a halt in mid-air. Star didn’t hesitate or thank her band of faithful orphans with murmured comments, as she recovered herself and finally stood before them.

Whatever heavy equipment the boys from Sly’s band were carrying toward the sphere consumed her immediate attention. She stood before the console. The display above the machine showed a view from the front opening of the operations center. The water filled moat was barely visible at the bottom. The crossing plank had been withdrawn, and the opening closed and locked. Star glanced over to make sure the hatch was manually dogged down from the inside. The sphere was a fortress, but she knew any fortress could be assaulted and broken into given enough time, and the proper equipment.