Bareen and Wendy Hilliard! If they used the sub-space tunnel, why couldn't he?
He left the alcove and charged down a brightly-lit hallway, passing a cavern-sized room a-throb with banks of machinery. A technician looked up at him and Jansen said:
"The sub-spacer. Hurry, man. This is urgent."
The technician pointed, spoke. Jansen followed his directions on the dead run.
When he reached it, he saw what looked like a vidiphone booth in a large, otherwise empty room. But vidiphone booths don't usually have armed guards....
"This is for Mr. Bareen's private use," the guard said, brandishing a blasting rifle. "Better beat it."
No ruses here. This guard would know. This was one of Bareen's private thugs, probably. Jansen took a breath and dove at him.
The blaster roared, searing air over Jansen's head. He hit the guard's middle and they went down together, the rifle falling from the guard's grasp. They rolled over and over, then the guard got to his knees and clubbed an elbow at Jansen's jaw. Jansen rolled on his back, his face suddenly numb. The guard dove for him, pinned him and called for help.
Jansen struggled frantically. He heard footsteps pounding toward them, then brought his legs up and scissored the guard's throat, pulling him down and away. Jansen released the scissors abruptly and scrambled to his feet. He made it to the sub-space booth and pulled the door open. There was a single lever inside and he yanked at it as he slammed the transparent door. He felt nothing at first. He saw the guard retrieve his rifle, pointing it at the booth and firing.