Core's Attack

by S. E. Smith

  “What have you done?” she whispered.

  He stopped a foot from the bars. “I would show you, but I’m afraid the demonstration would put an end to my plans for you. You are the bait, my dear. If your alien doesn’t follow the rules, one press of a button and the small capsule inside your body will detonate. You’ll feel pain at first, very similar to being shot. Do you remember what that feels like, Ms. Lennox? When a bullet pierces your flesh, cutting through tissue, muscle, and bone before exiting your body?” he inquired.

  “How… how do you know about that?” she demanded, tearing her eyes from the device to his face.

  “I have friends in the right places, Ms. Lennox. I know about your poor mother and father. I know about how they fell in love while on a mission and wanted to disappear. They wanted a normal life—and then they had you. That was their biggest mistake. Your parents had a chance of disappearing until they had you. You were their weakness too, Avery. You are what brought them out into the open,” he said in a soft, cruel tone.

  Avery released her grip on the bar, and smirked ruefully, returning his stare with a cool one of her own. She didn’t miss the confusion that flashed through his eyes.

  “Is this the part where I’m supposed to break down in tearful self-doubt and guilt? I’d be happy to, but I’m not a very good actress. My parents made their choices and they lived—and died—because of them. They never once regretted having me. Shit happens in life. We all make our own rules. They made theirs and I’ve made mine. If anyone has Mommy issues, I think you should take a look in the mirror—or better yet, go have a talk with the bitch in the glass cabinet. I’m sure she’ll be as interested in you now as she was when you were growing up,” she retorted.

  For a moment, Avery wondered if she’d gone too far. The expression on his face twisted into pure hatred, and his fingers twitched on the detonator as he swiftly lifted it in agitation. She instinctively stiffened—waiting for the burst of pain.

  “I look forward to killing you, Ms. Lennox. Think about how you’d like your body to be displayed—which will it be? Held in a passionate embrace in your alien lover’s arms or sobbing over his dead body?” he asked.

  Avery kept her lips pursed together. Markham turned when they heard footsteps approaching. The man she had seen downstairs earlier, the one who had conveniently lifted the lid on the weapons crate in time to let her see what was inside, was walking toward them.

  “The helicopter is about to land,” the man stated.

  Markham nodded. “Take her to the starting point and tell your men to get into position. No one is allowed to kill the alien but me,” he ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” The man glanced at her. “What about the woman?”

  Markham turned and looked at Avery for a moment with a calculating stare. She ignored him, her gaze moving over the mercenary. The tattoo on his arm indicated he was ex-American military.

  “Once the hunt begins, she is fair game to anyone who wants to kill her,” Markham replied.

  The man smiled and nodded. “I’ll let the men know. I’ll inform you the moment she is secured,” he added.

  “What’s your name?” Avery suddenly asked.

  The man looked at her with a frown. “Why?” he demanded.

  Avery lifted her right hand and gently rubbed her fingers along the bar. She tilted her head, a mocking smirk curving her lips when his expression became uneasy.

  “I’d like to know your name so that I can whisper it in your ear when I slit your throat,” she replied.

  “Grant, take care of her,” Markham snapped before turning on his heel. He waved the black box as he walked away. A sense of power swept through Avery. The two men were rattled.

  “Put your wrists together. If you move, I’ll beat the shit out of you,” Grant ordered.

  Avery smiled and placed her wrists together so he could restrain them. “Now, Grant, is that any way to treat a lady?” she replied.

  Core stared out of the window of the humans’ flying machine. Three of Markham’s men—Owens, Carter, and Bradley— were sitting across from him, their gazes unwaveringly focused on him. He could not care less about them. His sole focus was on finding Avery and making sure that she was alright.

  The moment they swept over the island’s cliff, he felt their connection. His fingers curled into his palm as a surge of relief flooded his mind and body. He immediately reached out to her.

  Are you injured? Core demanded.

  Avery’s dry, relieved chuckle echoed through his mind. I’ve been better. Markham is insane. He plans to hunt us both down and kill us like some kind of trophy hunting game, she replied.

  You did not answer me. Did he harm you? he gently pressed.

  No, except for my pride. I should have known Albertson was up to something. That slimy little weasel set me up, she replied.

  I will be with you soon. They are landing the machine, he said.

  Core…, she murmured.

  Yes, ku lei, he said.

  Ta me ja’te.

  Her quietly thought words, spoken in his language, tore at his heart. Ta me ja’te, je talli, he replied. I love you, my heart.

  His softly conveyed words were wrapped with warmth and distracted her while he took into himself the pain she was trying to hide from him.

  The slight bump of the skids on the concrete landing site alerted him that they had arrived. The door to the aircraft opened. Owens motioned for him to disembark.

  Core released the harness securing him and rose to his feet. Ducking his head, he jumped to the tarmac and strode toward the vehicle waiting for him. The men from the helicopter followed behind him. He straightened and turned when he was clear of the rotating blades. The helicopter rose and soon disappeared back the way it had come.

  “Move,” Owens ordered.

  Core looked down at the man, and gave the mercenary a sharp-toothed grin as his canines lengthened. Owens swallowed while the other two men took a step back, lifted their weapons, and aimed them at his chest.

  “I will enjoy killing each and every one of you,” he promised them.

  “Move or I’ll shoot you now,” Owens growled.

  Core walked over to the back of the truck and climbed into the back. The three men, along with four additional mercenaries who had been standing near the truck, climbed in behind him. Sitting back, he grinned at Owens.

  “I can smell your fear, human. I wonder if you will piss your pants when you know you are about to die,” he taunted.

  “Shut up,” Owens muttered. The man pointed his gun at Core’s knee.

  “Let him try to kill you, Owens. What you don’t know, asshole, is that Markham put an acid bomb in your girlfriend. All Markham’s got to do is press a button and your gal’s insides will melt like butter on a hot stove. Hope you like your women well tenderized,” Carter chuckled.

  Fury burst through Core. He immediately reached out to Avery. He felt her gentle touch and sigh of resignation.

  Did Markham put an explosive inside your body? he demanded.

  Yes. My hands aren’t free right now so I can’t see if I can remove it, she admitted.

  Do not try until I find you. How is it activated? he asked.

  Markham has a small black detonator. I don’t know how many detonators he might have. I know he has at least one on him, she answered.

  He could feel her exhaustion. Where are you now? he asked.

  They have me chained to a set of poles in the middle of the island. Unfortunately, they forgot to leave the keys, she added with dry humor.

  I will find you, he swore.

  I know you will. I’m going to try to rest. I have a feeling I’m going to need it, she reluctantly admitted.

  Core sent another wave of warmth to her before he pulled away. A sense of loss swept through him again as she quietly slipped away from him. The explosive device Markham had placed inside Avery complicated things. He would need to assess a way to remove it from her before Markham had a chance to activate it. For t
he moment, the human held the advantage.

  But not for long, he vowed as his gaze moved to the fortress on the cliff.

  20

  The truck passed under the opening in the stone wall that fortified three sides of the fortress. Core swiftly analyzed the defenses. The men relied heavily on the wall to protect the interior structures. There were two turrets, each containing a man and a large mounted weapon.

  Core inspected the front of the fortress when the truck pulled to a stop. Another mercenary soldier stood near the entrance. So far, he’d counted almost a dozen men.

  The ones called Carter and Bradley jumped out of the truck. Owens motioned for him to follow the two men. He rose and jumped to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Owens and the rest of the men. Then he recognized Markham standing in the doorway. RITA had displayed his image when they were searching for Merrick.

  Core started to take a step forward when Owens stepped in his way. He looked down at the man. Owens sneered.

  “You don’t move unless I say you can move,” Owens gloated.

  Core’s hand shot out and gripped the man’s throat. He lifted Owens off his feet until the smaller man’s head was almost level with his. Owens’ feet dangled in the air and he frantically clawed at Core’s hand as it slowly crushed his windpipe.

  “Tell me to move now,” Core baited.

  “Stand down,” Markham loudly ordered when the other soldiers surrounded him.

  Core looked back at Markham when he lifted up a small black device for Core to see.

  “I would cooperate—unless your feelings for Ms. Lennox aren’t as strong as I thought. If that is the case, she would be of no more use to me,” Markham said.

  With a low snarl, Core tossed Owens body away from him. Owens rolled several times before he lay still in the dirt. Core returned his attention to Markham.

  “I am here. State what you want,” Core ordered.

  “I make the rules here. What is your name, alien?” Markham demanded.

  Core sighed. The human would have the upper hand as long as he held the device that could kill Avery, but Markham would never truly be in charge—not as long as Core was alive.

  “I am Core Ta’Duran,” he replied.

  Markham nodded in satisfaction and turned his attention to Carter. The group of soldiers was still standing ready to shoot him.

  “Restrain him, scan him for weapons again, then escort him to my study,” Markham ordered.

  “Yes, sir. What about Owens?” Carter asked, nodding to his fallen comrade.

  Markham waved a dismissive hand in the direction of the unconscious man. “If he wakes, send him out first. I have no use for weak men,” he replied before turning and disappearing back inside the fortress.

  Carter turned to him, and gestured with the tip of his gun. Core started to raise his arms in front of him when Carter shook his head.

  “Behind you. I’m not going to risk you breaking my neck. Cuff him,” Carter growled.

  Core placed his hands behind his back. He grinned when the man trying to restrain him cursed. The silver cuffs they had were not large enough to go around his wrists. A moment later, he felt a tug and the bite of plastic into his skin. They had used a tie similar to the ones Borj told him Hannah had used on him. Unlike Borj, though, they didn’t hit him upside the head with a frying pan and knock him out. That would be their first of many mistakes.

  Carter motioned for a man to come forward. The man swept a long, flat detection wand over Core’s body, then he stepped back. A second man gingerly patted him down, then moved back, and nodded to Carter. Carter motioned toward the steps leading into the fortress.

  He strode up the steps and into the fortress. Unlike the medieval exterior, the inside was ultra-modern. Polished marble floors gleamed under hand woven carpet runners. Paintings, sculptures, and elegant porcelain vases—many of which he suspected were valuable to humans—were displayed throughout the interior. He focused on the large center staircase when Carter began climbing the steps and followed when Bradley prodded the tip of his weapon into his back.

  At the top of the staircase, the group turned to the left. They proceeded down the large corridor to the double doors at the end of the passage. Core mentally catalogued the details of the room’s interior when they entered. The stuffed wildlife carcasses were an atrocity. This man clearly had no respect for anyone but himself.

  Markham stood near the fireplace, and when the human didn’t speak, Core looked more closely at the frozen form of the woman in the display case, then averted his eyes from the grotesque display. Markham had turned and was watching him with an assessing expression.

  “I would offer you a drink, but something tells me now is not the time to release you,” Markham said with an almost amused smile.

  “I can kill you without spilling the liquor,” Core taunted.

  Markham chuckled. “I’m sure you could,” he replied.

  Core’s gaze moved to Markham’s hand. He was turning the small black box over and over in his hand. When Markham noticed where Core was looking, he lifted the box.

  “An insurance policy,” Markham commented before he slid the box into the pocket of his jacket.

  “What do you want?” Core demanded.

  Markham walked away from the fireplace and over to the large desk. His fingers trailed along the polished surface of the dark wood before he waved a hand at the painting. Core’s eyes followed the movement.

  “I come from a family of hunters, Mr. Ta’Duran. Unlike my predecessors, the hunt is more than the thrill of the kill for me. I enjoy matching wits with my opponents. I’ve hunted and killed some of the most dangerous animals in the world, but, alas, I’ve grown bored.” Markham turned to face him. Core grimaced with disgust when Markham took his time looking at Core from head to toe. “When I found the other of your kind, I realized that there was finally a predator out there that might actually give me a challenge,” he said.

  “You want to hunt me—like one of your animals?” Core questioned with a dawning sense of understanding.

  “Yes. Two predators pitting their strengths, their skills, and their intelligence against each other,” Markham agreed.

  “Why didn’t you hunt Merrick when you had the chance?” he asked.

  Distaste crossed Markham’s face. “Unfortunately, I never mix business with pleasure. Once my client found out about your comrade, he offered a price that was too generous to refuse. There was a clause in my contract that I could… regain possession of Merrick when my client was finished with him. Sadly, it looked like the alien wouldn’t survive the good doctor’s treatment, but then,” he said with a smile, “CRI raided the complex and rescued the man—and the little housekeeper he was enamored with,” he added, waving his hand dismissively.

  Core growled and Markham’s smile widened. “Imagine my delight when there was more than one alien at Banks’ cottage. Merrick may be gone now, but you’re here now, aren’t you? One of your kind steps out of the ring, and another steps in. Tell me, what is your species called?” Markham asked.

  Core’s patience was beginning to wear thin. Avery was chained somewhere on the island with an explosive device inside her and Markham was acting as if they were having social hour. If Markham wanted to hunt, then it was time to start the game.

  Clenching his fists, Core took a deep breath through his nose and flexed the muscles in his arms. The thick plastic bands cut into his skin, then they snapped. He casually pulled his wrists up and rubbed one of them.

  “I come from a world of warriors. Our species is Prime. My world is called Baade. I am a leader of my clan. I do not care if you know this because by the time I am finished, every single one of you will be dead. If you think you are such a fierce hunter, then shut up and let the hunt begin,” Core snarled, allowing his teeth to elongate. The men behind Markham moved warily back several steps, but Markham just pulled the small black box out of his pocket and held it so that Core could see it, chuckling to hims
elf as he did so.

  “As a matter of sportsmanship and to make the hunt more interesting, I’m giving you a twenty minute head start before my men leave to kill Ms. Lennox. If she is still chained to the poles where we left her, she’ll die there. In forty-eight hours if she is still alive, I’m going to depress the button on this remote. The capsule implanted in her will explode and release an acid that will seep into her bloodstream, causing her to die an excruciatingly painful death,” Markham explained in a hard tone.

  “What guarantee do I have that you won’t kill her sooner?” Core demanded.

  Markham smiled. “None,” he replied before nodding to Carter. “Make sure he is escorted to the gate. The countdown starts the moment you pass through it.”

  Core turned on his heel. He had to find Avery, get her to safety, and remove the capsule. Striding down the corridor, he ignored the men jogging to keep up with him. His focus was on his mate.

  Once out in the courtyard, he paused and looked up. Markham was watching him from the upper window. Core glanced at the men warily watching him before he looked at the turrets. A sense of determination swept through him.

  Avery, ku lei, I am coming he promised as he crossed under the arch. I need you to guide me to you,

  A weak chuckle slipped into his mind. I’ll be chilling out and dreaming about how we’re going to kill all of these bastards until you get here, she tiredly responded.

  21

  “Bloody hell, but I’m going to kill that bastard slowly,” Avery muttered under her breath.

  The shivers that had started earlier were constant now. She felt like someone had placed her feet on an electric mat and was having fun at her expense by turning the power on and off. No sooner would one mass of shakes end than the next one started.

  Her blood had congealed around the ripped sutures in her shoulder. The gauze taped to her skin was no match for her oozing blood or the cold weather. The psycho bastards had an awful sense of humor. They had placed the key to locks holding her within view, but far enough away there was no way she would ever be able to reach them, even if she were able to free one arm.