The waiter returned and brought the tea. Elizabeth thanked him with a nod and turned to Alex. "You don't have to be ambitious. But they can clothe you properly, afford you a decent education, perhaps a scholarship at the University itself. They can give you a job, at least. I'll pay you a visit from time to time, don't you worry. Look, Alex, I'd rather have you away than d-" She was cut off at this point.
The window glass shattered. Elizabeth's hat, which was on Alexandra's head, flew off. A bottle of liquor that was standing on a shelf behind the bar burst apart. The wall behind it echoed a loud bang, as the metal slug that did all of this finally stopped inside it. Some of the cafe guests screamed and rushed out, some hid below their tables. The hat had a hole.
"Down, down!" Elizabeth hurriedly forced Alexandra under the table, and then hid beneath it herself, as quickly as she could without spilling the cup of tea she was holding. Tea was far too precious. But then she placed the cup on the floor, and nervously examined Alexandra's head. She twitched her hair unintentionally, rather unpleasantly to Alexandra. There was no injury.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry!", Elizabeth said, distraught, protectively enveloping herself around Alexandra, "This was meant for me. You're not staying here. Cambridge is not as safe as I thought, someone may use you here to extort me. You're coming with me to Chateau d'Or. There you will be close to me, and guarded by Her Majesty's best." Alexandra was in shock, and could not speak yet.
Elizabeth took a communication device out of a pocket. "Victor? Victor? Hello? Sniper. No injuries. I'm taking her with me to Sydney. Need an armoured vehicle. Call the police."
The Steiners might not have been looking at the cafe at the moment, and could not hear the sniper fire as it was propelled by a silent electric motor, ideal for stealth. But, they could very well hear the glass shatter, and they knew something unforeseen was going on even without Elizabeth's call.
Elizabeth was looking at the puddle of tea on the floor which Alexandra had spilled when she was pushed under the table, with much disappointment and unhappiness. "A Bretonian officer does not duck. Please don't tell the Steiners I ducked. But I had to protect you, with my own body if necessary."
Her thoughts were blank, loud sound of breaking glass, screams, panic. This is what she expected an assault on Halman to be like. But she did not yet realize what is going on. Gladly Liz is professional enough to get her under the table. Alex is just speechless, helpless and clueless witness of some terrifying events happening. With dilated pupils and blurred vision, she sees like Liz is moving her hands to her head. Touching and observing it. She says that she's sorry, for what? What was meant for her? Only then she looks onto the holed hat and then it was only window next to them that broke. A sniper.
She's experiencing growing horror, realizing what could just happen to her. And the relief, Liz just saved her and still is next to her. Strong. Confident. Beautiful. Her eyes are slowly coming back to normal as shock over her body is passing. With obvious signs of intermittent respiratory depression, tears would roll down her cheek, not to mention a slight tremor.
Without saying a word, she firmly hugs Liz, random thought of how expensive her perfume may be comes to her mind. She tried to calm herself down this way. But it's been a second time Liz is saving her. This time from certain death. Alex' heartbeat has reached some insane levels and now when Liz is hugged, she can feel it. Even her voice is shaking, as she's trying to speak. It sounds close to whisper, but Alex intended to speak normally.
"Thank you. They won't hear anything bad about you coming from me. Ever."
Victor's voice came through the radio, forceful and stressed Elizabeth, Cambridge is no longer safe for either of you, so yes head to Sydney. I'm sending Skirka with a shuttle, he'll keep an eye on you both. But you need to leave, now. The radio suddenly cut out with only static remaining.