by Jenna Moreci
Evepressedon,restiveandalert.Shewalkedswiftly,andthenherwalkturned
intoarun,theorbsnowjustabluroflightwhizzingpasther.Inthedistance,
shecouldseesomething—awhiteglowpepperedwithyellowand
blue—andherthroattightenedwithcompetingfervorandtrepidation.Asthe
glowgrewinsize,shesoonrealizedthatshewasapproachinganopeningin
thetunnel—anentrancetoanotherroom.Sheslowedherself,pressedherbody againstthewall,andslidcloserandclosertotheportaluntilshewasrightup
againstitsframe.Shecouldhearnoisescomingfromwithin—frenzied
movementandastrange,incessantdrone—butshedarednotlookinside.
Apprehensively,sheglancedatherheatsensor,whichwasbloodredand
shiningvibrantly.
“IthinkI’mhere,”shewhispered.
EvecouldbarelyhearJJtappingathercontroller.Suddenly,shestopped.
“OhGod,” shegasped.
“What?”
“— fifty.”
“Fiftywhat?”
JJ’snexttwowordscamethroughloudandclear. “Fiftybodies.”
Eve’slegsbecameweak.Aheadofherwere fiftyInterlopers—fiftyhungry,
powerful,crazedaliens—andtherewasonlyoneofher.Theoddswereso
terribleitwasalmostcomical,andshechuckledtoherself.
“Guessthisisit,then,”shesaid.
“Goodluck,Eve.”
“Thanks,JJ.”Evehesitated.“You’reagoodfriend.”
JJwasquiet,butthesilencefeltfreeing,asifaweighthadbeenliftedfrom
boththeirshoulders.
Evetookadeepbreath,restingonehandonherfirearmandtheotheronthe torq.
“Hey,princess.” JJfinallysaid. “— someass.”
“What?”
“Isaid,kicksomeass.”
Evesmiledandcockedhergun.“Yougotit.”
Sheleanedintothewall,tryingtosubduetheviolentpoundingofherheart
andtheracingofherthoughts. ForGod’ssake,RUNAWAY. Thewordsrepeated inherminduntilshefeltasiftheywouldpourfromhermouth,soshebither
lipalmosthardenoughtodrawblood.Therewasnouseinthinking,nopoint
intryingtostiflehernerves—andsoagainstherbetterjudgment,shewaltzed
rightthroughtheportalandstooddirectlyinitscenter.
Foramoment,Evecouldonlystandthere,awedbythesightinfrontofher.
The room was tight and enclosed but immensely tall, its walls stretching far above her, reaching all the way to the earth’s surface. Most of the space was primitiveindesign,itsfloorandceilingmoldedfromashandmudmuchlike
therestofthelair,butonedissonantwallstoodapartfromtherest—thewall
directly facing Eve. Its surface was a giant slab of hardware, pieced together withprotrudingblocksandpanels,andcoveredindials,buttons,andnarrow,
sculptedholes.Ajumbleofwiresandcloudytubulescluttereditsfront,
climbingthesurfaceuntiltheydisappearedsomewherewithinthemachinery.
Every so often, a light would flicker from the device, sometimes in yellow, othertimesinblue,typicallybriefandseeminglysynchronized,asif
transmittingsometypeofsignal.
Evewastransfixed,herfeetlikebricksweighinghertotheground.Shehad
foundthemainframe.
AndanarmyoffiftyInterlopers,allofthemstaringdirectlyather.
Thealienswerespreadthroughoutthespace—someonthefloor,others
crawlingthewalls,stillothersflyinghighabove—buteachoneofthem
stoppedandfrozethemomentsheenteredtheroom.Theyappearedcalm,
untroubledbyherappearance—andthentheysmiled,asiftheyhadbeen
expectingherallalong.
“GoodLord,herewego…”shemuttered.
Thethrashingofwingsandthestompingoffeetrumbledthroughoutthe
roomastheInterlopersstampededtowardher.Sheknewtheywererapidly
approaching,thatsomewerenowonlyinchesaway—yetinthatmoment,time
seemedtopasssoslowlythattheirmanicmovementsappearedalmost
graceful.Soon,theroaroftheirchargefadeduntilallEvecouldhearwasher
ownsteadybreathing.
Onebreath.
Two.
Itwastime.
Withherthirdbreath,Evedelicatelyliftedthepalmsofherhandsand
watchedashervisionfadedfromfiftyravenousalienstoacloudofblack.
HowlssoundedacrosstheroomasallfiftyInterloperswererippedfromthe floor,thewalls,theair,andthrustbackward,slammingagainstthemainframe
withsickeningforce.Aloudcrackreverberatedthroughthespace—thesound
ofshatteredbonesandbrokenmachinery—followedbythesizzleofelectricity
burstingthroughthemainframelines.
TheInterlopersconvulsedandwrithed,theirbodieslitwithstringsofwhite
fire like lightning pouring over their skin. Some were killed instantly, and a fewothersflaileduntiltheirtissuemeltedfromtheirbonesandtheirlife
sourcesexploded.Thesurvivorsfelltothefloorandscrambledtotheirfeet—
theyappearedmangledandcadaverous,theirraggedfleshlitteredwithpockets
ofpusandexposedbones—yettheywerealiveandundeterred.Againthey
stormedtowardEve.
Evepulledhergunfromherwaistbandandimmediatelyfiredatthearmyof
aliens.OneInterloperfellafteranother,eachwithayellowedpitinthecenter
ofhisskull.AnamazingpowerhadovertakenEve—itwastheadrenaline
rushingthroughherveins,aphysicalstrengthpairedwithcerebralprowess—
andthetremblingofherhandshadbeenreplacedwithasteadygripand
resolutecontrol.
Shepivoted,firingatthreemoreInterlopersthatapproachedherfrom
behind.Oneswattedatherface,butshenimblyspunawayfromhimand
launchedabulletthroughthebackofhishead.Bodieswerepilingatherfeet,
butsomanymoreremained—perhapsthirty,maybefewer—andsoonshewas outofbulletsandcompletelysurrounded.
Shetookahalf-secondtoeyeheropponents—theyclosedranksasthey
encircledher,grinningasifutterlyconfidentintheirvictory—andthen,with
nootheroptions,shecoveredherheadandcrouchedlowtotheground,
formingherselfintoatight,compactball.
Ablasteruptedinthecenteroftheroom;theInterloperswerethrownagainst
thewalls,blownawaybyEve’smeltlikedebrisscatteredbyabomb.Severalof
themdroppedintolifelesspilesonthefloor,whiletheothersscurriedtotheir
feet,theirbodiesdeformedbuttheirdeterminationunwavering.
Evereloadedhergun,quicklystuffingthemagazineintoplacebeforefiring
attheremainingaliens.Anotherhandfultumbledtotheground;thenumberof
deadalienswasfinallysurpassingthenumberstillliving,andforthefirsttime since she’d entered the room, Eve could feel a sense of hope growing inside her.
Shereloadedhergunoncemore,fumblingwiththeclipforjustasecond
beforeitwasabruptlyswattedfromherhands.AnInterloperstoodbeforeher,
his stare piercing and malicious, and Eve could only watch in horror as the gunfelltothefloor,thebulletsscatteringacrosstheroom.
Beforeshecouldreact,thealienslammedhisfootintothepitofher
stomach,knockingtheairfromherlungs.Shestumble
dbackward,clutching
her gut, and again the creature kicked her, this time hard enough to send the
torq flying across the room. Eve fell onto her back with a thud, gasping for breath,andthealienpouncedonher,pinningherarmstothefloor.
Thecreaturestaredintohereyes,hisgazeblankandunfeeling,butEve
ignoredhisloomingpresenceandinsteadeyedhergun,whichsatonlyafew
feet away. She wriggled beneath her attacker, trying to reach for the firearm, buttheInterloperpluckeditfromthegroundanddangleditaboveherface.
Eve’seyeswentwideasthealiencrushedthegunbetweenhistalons,lettingthe
brokenpiecesfalltothefloor.HelookeddownatEve,asatisfiedsmileonhis
face, and dragged his talons through her hair, slicing her skin until blood trickleddownherscalpandontoherneck.
“Youhavenoweapon,Female,”hesaid,hisvoicedeepandgrating.
Eveglaredatthecreature,herbodyshakingwithfury.Shebroughtherface
closertohisandgrittedherteeth.
“I amtheweapon.”
Suddenly,thecreaturelurchedupfromherbody,hislimbsflailingashe
soaredhigherandhigherthroughtheairuntilhehoveredjustinchesbelowthe
ceiling.Evestaggeredtoherfeet,hermindconsumedwithhermelt,andwitha
hateful grimace, she propelled the Interloper to the ground, where his body splatteredintoamillionpieces,sprayingacrossthedirtlikeacrackedegg.
Everacedacrosstheroom,slidingalongthegroundandgrabbingthetorq
from its resting place. An Interloper flew toward her, and she effortlessly tossed him into the wall, still deep in her melt. A second Interloper followed closelybehind,andjustashelungedtowardher,shemeltedhisnearby
comradetoaspotdirectlyinfrontofher,usinghimasashield.Theattacking
InterloperplungedhisclawsdeepintoEve’saliencover,andbeforeeitherone ofthemcouldevenmakesenseofwhathadjusthappened,Evesentthemboth
crashing against the mainframe, their bodies reduced to puddles of flesh and blackbone.
AnotherInterloperbattedEveacrossthecheek,sendingherneckjerkingto
thesideandasharpstingpulsingthroughherskull.Heswipedagain,thistime
slicinghertemple,andthenoncemore,clawingthreedeepgashesacrossher
stomach,andEvereeledback,cryingoutfromthepiercingpain.
Weaknesssettledinherbones.Shecouldfeelherselfslipping,bending
beneaththephysicaltorture,butsheralliedwhatlittlestrengthshehad.Asthe creature made his next move, she dodged his swing and then punched him in theface,sendingteethspillingfromhismouth.Asurgeofenergyrushed
through her then, rejuvenating her, and she pounded her fist into his nostrils againandagain,harderandfasterwitheachblow,andthenkickedathischest,
knockinghimtotheground.Shestormedtowardthefallencreatureand
slammedherbootintohismouth,overandoveragainuntilhersolewas
coveredinbloodandthecreature’slifesourcepoppedbeneathherfoot.
Evescannedtheroom.Deadbodieswereplasteredtothemainframeand
sprawledacrossthefloor,andonlyafractionoftheInterloperswereleft
standing.
Threeflewaboveher,circlingoverheadmenacingly,andEvequickly
meltedaflurryofteethfromthefloor,sendingthemshootingatherlooming
adversaries. The teeth tore through the creatures’ wings, shredding them into rubbery strips, and the aliens crashed to the floor. One broke his spine in the process, while the other two immediately sprinted in Eve’s direction, but she promptlymeltedthemintooneanother,slammingtheirbodiestogetherover
andoveragainuntiltheyweremangledanddestroyed.
OnlythreeInterlopersremained.Eve’sheartbegantorace,andshetriedto
control her excitement, but still her knees shook so furiously that she had to lockthemintoplace.Twoofthealiensstaggeredinherdirection—theywere
haggard and beaten, one with both eyes reduced to craters and the other with hisarmtwistedbackward—andEvehurledthemagainstthemainframewall,
theirbodiessizzlingandfryinguntiltheywereindistinguishablefromone
another.
Eve turned to the center of the room, her eyes darting across the space in search of the last remaining Interloper, but he was nowhere to be found. She spuninplace,franticallylookingforthecreature,butstillshesawnothingbut corpses.
Suddenly,Evefeltaheavyweightsmashintoherback,theblowsopowerful
that she collapsed face-first to the ground. She gasped for air—a sharp pang shot through her chest, and she knew she had a broken rib or two—and then shegapedinhorroratthesightofthetorqrollingawayfromheracrossthe
floor.
Evehoistedherselfontoherelbows,draggingherbodytowardthedevice,
andwithwhatlittlestrengthshehadleft,shemanagedtobringherselftoher
handsandknees.Butagainshefelltotheground,asamassivefootsmacked
againstherback,pressingherintotheclayandmagnifyingthepaininherribs.
Shecriedoutinagony,andthecreaturerestedhisotherfootagainsttheback ofherhead,shovingherbloodiedcheekintothedirt.Histalonscurledaround
her crown, digging through her hair and into her flesh, and he shifted his weightuntilshefeltasifherskullwasbeingcrushed.TheInterloperlaughed.
“Iwillnotkillyou,”heproclaimed.“Faironneedsyoualive.Youknowthis,
yes?”Heleanedincloser,forcingevenmoreweightontoherhead,and
broughthismouthtoherear.“ButIwillmakeyousuffer.Youwillcryoutfor
mercy,butIwillnotgiveit.Ishownomercy,Female.None.”
TearsflowedfromEve’seyesasifforcedfromhertearductsbythesheer
pressureofhisfoot.Shewriggledbeneathhisbody,butitwasnouse—hewas
strongerthanher,andinthatmomentshefeltexhausted,worn,andworthless.
Everyinchofherbodywasdrained,andshecouldhardlymusterthestrength
toevenstruggle.AgaintheInterloperincreasedthepressureonherskull,his
clawsrakingdeepgashesinherscalp,andshescreamedinanguish.
Justasshefeltherselfgiveintodefeat,aglimmerofhopecaughthereye:
thetorqwaslyingonlyafewyardsawayfromher,andbesideitsatasingle
diamondbullet.Inaninstant,shefeltatremorstirringwithinher—thefamiliar
feelingofpower,faintbutnotgone.
Withthemostshallowbreathshecouldmanage,shechanneledwhatwasleft
ofherenergyandallowedhervisiontofadetodarkness.
TheInterloperflewfromherback,pulledbytheforceofhergift,and
hoveredweightlesslyabovetheground.Slowly,Evepushedherselffromthe
floor—clenchingherteethasshegrabbedatherribs—andsomehowmadeher waytoherfeet,brushingthehairfromherfaceandwipingthedirtfromher
wounds.Sheturnedtofaceheradversary,whofloatedonlyafewfeetinfront
ofher,andthoughshecouldtellhewastryingtobreakfreefromherhold,her
melt held him still, practically petrified. Eve took a step closer, staring at the creaturewithemptyeyes.
“Nomercy,huh?”ShecockedherheadastheInterlopersoftendid.“Funny,I
guesswehavethatincommon.”Coolly,sheleanedforwardandplu
ckedthe
diamondbulletfromtheground,tossingitbackandforthbetweenherhands.
Againsheeyedthecreature—therewasnowsomethingdifferentabouthis
gaze,somethingtimidandfeeble—andcalmly,shetookastepback.
“Thedifferenceis,Idon’tneedyoualive.”
Thebulletflewfromherpalmandplowedstraightthroughthecenterofhis
skull.Hisbodydroppedtotheground,floppingpatheticallyacrossherfeet.
Evebreathedinasdeeplyasshecouldmanage.Theachingofherbody
subsided,replacedwithasenseofauthorityandcontrol.Sheeyedher
surroundings.
Fiftybrokenalienbodiesdecoratedtheroom,displayedliketrophies.
Shehadwonthebattle.
“Eve?”
“JJ,”Evegasped,stirredbyherfriend’svoice.
“Eve,you— ”
“JJ,Ican’thearyou.”
“— youokay?”
Evelookedoverthegraveyardbeforeheronceagain.“Yeah,JJ.I’mokay.”
“Thetorq,it’s— ”
“What?”
“It’stime. — thevirus— activatethevirus.”
Hervoicecutoutforashortperiod,leavingbehindnothingbutgarbledstatic.
Finally,shebecametheslightestbitclearagain.
“— Seeahole?Inthemainframe.Do— seeahole?”
Eveglancedoverthemassivewallandfrowned.“Thereareathousand
holes.WhichonedoIchoose?”
“Any.”
Evepluckedthetorqfromitsrestingspotandhurriedtowardthestructure,
stepping over corpses until she was standing directly in front of the giant computersystem.Withalookofdisgust,shepushedamutilatedbodyfromthe
mainframeandranherfingersovertheintricatewiringandmechanics.
“Click— button,” JJcontinued. “Onthetorq— bluebutton.”
ThetorqwasshakinginEve’sgrip.Shepushedthebluebutton,andthe
devicebecamewarminherhands,itsridgesglowingbrightly.
“— inthehole.”
“What?”Eveasked.
“Putthetorqinthehole.”
Evestareddownatthemechanismandgrimaced.“God,thisreallydoeslook
likeapenis,”shemutteredtoherself,andthenshovedthetorqintooneofthe
manycavities.“Okay,it’sinthe…hole.”
