by Alyse Anders
Alarms sounded off in Mags’ head. “Zee’s working and currently unaware of my existence. And I’m more than capable of doing things on my own. Now, where are we going?”
Tara stopped, closed her eyes and let out a small huff. “Having you with me is only going to cause problems.”
“Or, it might help save your ass if you get into something unexpected. So I’ll ask again, where are we going?”
Tara opened her eyes and looked at Mags for several long seconds. “I couldn’t sleep last night. Every time I’d close my eyes I’d hear his voice begging me to come to him.”
Mags didn’t need to be told who the he was. “Zee said Rennick was in the deepest, most dangerous part of the prison. Wouldn’t it be easier if we convinced him to take us there so you can see him?”
“Based on the little bit you know about your mate, do you think he’d agree?” Tara cocked an eyebrow, which was all the confirmation Mags needed regarding what she thought the likely outcome of that would be.
“Fine. But I’m not about to let you do this on your own.” It might not be the smartest idea for them to wander off alone in the prison, but Mags wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she left Tara alone and something happened to her. “What’s your plan?”
Tara’s shoulders slumped a bit lower. “I don’t have one. Not really. I’m…following the voice inside my head. Which makes me sound crazy.”
“Maybe to someone else it might, but not to me.” While she might not exactly hear Zee’s voice, she’d become more fully aware of his presence the longer they spent in each other’s company. Even now with him locked into the prison system doing whatever, she could feel him around the edges of her consciousness. “And so that you’re aware, I think Zee is somehow plugged into the prison’s network. I don’t know if that means he’ll do something to stop us, but there’s certainly the possibility.”
“Then we better be quick.” Tara spun around and headed straight for what appeared to be a transportation tube. “Coming or not?”
There was something wonderfully exciting about doing something she knew damn well she shouldn’t. That rush she used to get after being on the scene of a crisis, when her patients had been moved to a hospital and Mags knew that they were in good hands, a direct result of her actions. She missed feeling important and having a purpose; a role that she still wasn’t sure how she’d manage to fill now that she was a resident on an alien planet. Maybe having a small adventure with Tara would help her figure that out.
Stepping into the transportation tube, Mags couldn’t help but shiver. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. “Now where to?”
Tara hesitated, as they both looked at the distinct lack of control panel in the tube. “This might not be as easy as I’d hoped.”
“No, these things rarely are. How about we try this. Computer?” A soft tone echoed around them and Mags was pleased that her instinct had been correct. “Can you take us to the bottom level?”
“Unauthorized occupant. Access denied.”
Mags sighed. “That doesn’t sound promising.”
“I should have known getting into the prison itself wouldn’t be open to simply anyone.”
“No, maybe not the prison.” But based on the little bit that she knew of Zee, how he took his role of warden and protector of everyone inside the prison seriously, there was one location she suspected they’d be able to get to. “Computer, take us to the medical ward.”
There was another soft chime and the tube began to move.
Tara nodded. “Smart.”
“I’m not sure how close that will get us, but its at least in the right direction.”
“Maybe there will be someone else we can find to take us lower.” Tara’s gaze was locked onto the door, as the muscle in her jaw jumped. “There has to be a way to see him.”
Mags didn’t have the heart to tell her that there probably wasn’t. They’d go look around, but no doubt Zee was already aware of their presence and was on his way to get them. He’d be pissed that they went behind his back to do something he’d explicitly said not to, but she knew she’d be able to convince him their actions were harmless. Based on what was happening between them, he’d have to understand how Tara was feeling. She couldn’t imagine being told of Zee’s existence and then be forbidden to ever even set eyes on him.
The thought of that separation made her heart ache in a way she didn’t want to examine too closely.
The door to the transportation tube slid open and they stepped out into the corridor. The medical room was off to their immediate left, but from what Mags could tell it was currently empty. “At least we don’t need to explain to someone why we’re here.”
Tara didn’t appear to hear her, and instead was walking slowly down the corridor. Mags didn’t know her well, but she got the impression that Tara was hearing something she couldn’t. That it was leading her toward Rennick and wherever that connection would bring them.
“Tara? Do you still hear him?” For the first time since Mags had decided to follow Tara, she felt her control over the situation begin to slip. “What’s he telling you to do?”
Tara paused as she cocked her head to the side, as though she couldn’t quite hear what was being said. “He’s lonely.”
“I can imagine he wouldn’t get much in the way of visitors.” Mags felt a prickle begin to travel from the base of her neck down her spine. “Maybe we should wait for Zee to bring us to Rennick.”
“No.” Tara began walking once more, this time far faster than a moment before.
Mags had to run to catch up to her, which was the only reason she hadn’t been immediately aware of the two men standing in the corridor when they rounded the corner. Mags gasped and grabbed Tara’s shoulder, halting her progress. “Shit.”
The men weren’t cyborgs as far as she could tell, but they were armed, and their attention was now solely focused on them. The larger of the two stepped forward and leveled his weapon at them. “Don’t move!”
He was a large, hulking man with dark blue skin and something that appeared to be scales along the top of his arms. His partner was far stockier, his skin holding more of a yellow tint that practically glowed in the low light. Mags gave Tara’s shoulder a squeeze and stepped in front of her. “We’re not here to harm anyone or do anything wrong. We came here with Zee, and just got a little turned around when we went for a walk. If you could point us in the direction of the residential quarters, I’d really appreciate it.”
Clearly, these men had been trained to not believe anyone they didn’t recognize wandering the corridors. Instead of backing down or asking questions, the larger blue guard lifted his rifle higher and raced forward. “Get on the ground now!”
Mags’ survival instincts kicked in and she dropped to the floor quickly, keeping her hands visible as she went. Tara was far slower to react, but also did as they said when he got close. Shit, this really was going poorly. And it would no doubt get worse when Zee would eventually show up. Because there was no way he wasn’t aware of what was happening here. Even if he wasn’t plugged into the prison’s systems, her panic was strong enough he could probably taste it all the way back in his office.
Mags craned her neck so she could try and look at the guards. “You need to contact Zee immediately. I’m his mate and he’s going to be pissed when he learns that you’ve basically arrested me.”
Both men paused, but rather than look intimidated as she’d hoped, they shared a look that sent a chill through her. The blue guard squatted down and grabbed Mags by the back of the head. “You’re telling me that Zee’s cock works? That some alien scum has talked her way into his bed?”
Shit, this wasn’t what she’d wanted. “He’s on his way here right now.”
There was no way she knew that for certain, but she had to believe that he would come to help her. Tara’s body was ridged, and her breathing was coming out in short pants as she began to squirm on the floor. Mags didn’t know if Tara was beginning t
o panic, or if she was somehow reacting to Rennick’s emotional state. Either way, it wasn’t going to help them get out of this situation.
“Tara, everything’s going to be okay. Zee will be here shortly.”
“I have to go. I need to get out of here. Let me go.” With each successive word, Tara’s eyes grew wider and her face paled.
“Shut up!” The blue guard kicked at Tara’s legs, landing a solid blow.
“Have to go. Need to get out.” Tara got to her hands and knees quickly and made a move to run.
Mags could only watch helplessly as the guard lifted his blaster, leveled it at Tara’s back as she ran, and fired.
“No!” She tried to scramble to reach Tara, but was immediately hit with the butt of a blaster to the back of her head.
Everything in her field of vision began to swim and she immediately grew sick from the impact. Shit, she probably got a concussion. But from the scream that was ripped from Tara as she fell forward onto the floor was enough to keep Mags moving.
She’d almost reached Tara when a large, claw like hand grabbed her by the shoulder and flipped her onto her back. There was a deadness to his gaze that caused dread to pool in her stomach as he lifted the blaster and aimed it at her chest.
“Wrong thing to do,” he said with a sneer that showed off his elongated incisors.
Mags wanted to close her eyes, but her body refused to concentrate. All she was aware of was the opening on the end of the blaster and the high-pitched whine of its power cycle spinning up.
That was until a mighty roar exploded through the corridor.
Zee was here. He’d come for her.
Mags smiled. “You’re in trouble now.”
Chapter Ten
The only thing Zee knew was rage. It was blinding, all-consuming, and directed everywhere, including himself. He’d only been vaguely aware of Mags leaving his office and going out with Tara into the corridor. Being plugged into prison’s system, his focus had been on checking the internal sensors, monitoring prisoner statuses and ensuring that Rennick was still secured in his cell.
And that had been where he’d been distracted.
Rennick had been pacing and screaming in his cell, growing even more agitated with each passing moment. Zee hadn’t seen him this way before and for the first time since Zee had shoved him into the dark hole, he was concerned Rennick might harm himself. Zee forced his consciousness through the pathways to Rennick’s cell and took over the coms unit.
“Calm yourself. This isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
Rennick spun toward the sensors, and it was only then that Zee realized that he was being consumed by pure panic. “She’s in danger. They’re going to kill her! Help them!”
Help them?
A switch flipped in Zee’s mind and he knew that Mags and Tara were in danger. Ripping himself from the prison’s network, he stumbled backward from the computer terminal in his office as fear slammed into him.
Mags.
“No.” He shook his head, trying to clear it from the panic that threatened to overwhelm him, but it was no use.
Zee bolted from the office and raced down the corridor to the transportation tube. He was inside before the doors fully opened, pulling a scream from him when they responded to his presence too slowly. He wasn’t going to make it. Someone was hurting Mags and he wasn’t there to help her. She was scared, but not just for herself. Tara was in danger too.
No wonder Rennick was terrified.
The second the doors to the transportation tube slid open, Zee was hit with the feeling of resignation; Mags knew she was about to die and was ready for it. The scream that exploded from him carried every emotion he’d bottled up inside him for decades; anger at how helpless he felt, fear of being alone for the rest of his life, and pain at the thought of losing someone else that he loved. His feet carried him toward her without knowing exactly where she was. He didn’t need to know; he could feel her presence the way a tractor beam pulled a ship into a docking bay.
The second he turned the corner, Zee launched himself at the form that stood over Mags’ body. He didn’t know who or what he was attacking – rational thought had left him – as his fists took on a life of their own. There were screams and the sound of crying that penetrated through his haze of anger, but it was only when the gentle touch of a hand slid across the back of his neck, was Zee able to stop. He turned his head, blinking rapidly to clear his eyes, finally able to focus on the concerned look on Mags’ face.
“Zee?” Her voice shook and her breathing came out in short, shaky pants. “Please stop.”
He looked down at his hands and saw the green blood that coated the backs of his knuckles. The prone body of the guard who’d attacked Mags was on the floor beneath him. “Did I kill him?”
Mags held his gaze as she reached down and placed the back of her hand in front of the man’s mouth. “I still feel him breathing.” She swallowed hard. “Tara’s hurt. I need to help her.”
He nodded and she hesitated for only a moment longer before rushing to her friend’s side.
By the Gods, what had he done?
Zee got to his feet and looked around at the chaos he’d created. The guard beneath him was bleeding profusely, while a second was slumped unconscious against the wall. Had Zee thrown him? If he’d come after Mags, then that was likely. It was then that he looked over at where Mags now leaned over Tara’s body, doing something with her hands on her chest.
“Zee!”
He raced to her side and dropped to his knees beside her. “What’s wrong?”
“Her heart stopped beating.” Mags was compressing Tara’s chest with her hands, pausing to blow air into her mouth. “She was shot in the back.”
Zee knew nothing about medicine, and even less about human physiology, but based on how she was reacting, this was clearly Mags’ area of expertise. All Zee could do was watch and be ready to help anyway that Mags needed him to.
Time wasn’t a construct that Zee hadn’t struggled with since his rebirth. The constant run of time ticking in his matrix had long ago become little more than white noise. But there was something immediate to their present situation that had made him painfully aware of each passing nanosecond, and the growing possibility that Tara wouldn’t survive.
He didn’t know what her death would do to Rennick.
He could feel Mags’ panic begin to crest and he realized that Tara didn’t have much longer. “What do you need?”
“An adrenaline shot, or some other powerful stimulant. Barring that, a mild electrical charge that I can use to start her heart.”
The medical facility for the prison wasn’t far from here, but he couldn’t be certain where any of the necessary items were housed. But he did have another option. “Move.”
Mags scooted back, leaving a space between her and Tara’s body. “What are you going to do?”
“There are certain advantages of being half artificial.” He reached out, his hands hovering above Tara’s chest where Mags had been pressing. “Where do you want the shock?”
She adjusted the placement, gently pressing his palms to Tara’s body. “Keep the shock mild to start, then work up. We use about two hundred volts.”
“What’s a volt?” They didn’t have time to get into specific units of measurement. “I’ll have my matrix scan and adjust automatically.”
Slipping into scanning mode, Zee was barely aware of Mags holding her breath or her rising tension. It hurt to purposely overload his cybernetics and send the charge through his arms to his hands, but the moment the energy left him and entered Tara’s body, he knew it was worth it. She bowed off the floor and her eyes opened, but she still wasn’t breathing.
“Again!” Mags shifted to Tara’s other side. “We almost had her.”
Zee repeated the shock, and a third time when finally, Tara sucked in a large gasp of air, before frantically looking around. “Rennick!”
“It’s okay. He’s okay and you need to relax.” Mags
encouraged Tara to lay back down. “You were shot with a blaster. I think it was like a taser, but we’ll need to get Hallam to look at you to see if there’s any permanent damage.”
Tears escaped Tara’s eyes, but she didn’t make a sound. “It hurts.”
Now that he’d calmed, Zee’s mind was better able to enact a proper plan. He got up and went over to the nearest communication terminal, something he should have done long before now, and sent out a medical distress call to Hallam. “Someone will be here shortly.”
He didn’t wait for Mags to say anything else, and carefully lifted Tara into his arms. “Let’s get her top side.”
“No wait.” Tara placed a hand on Zee’s chest and looked up into his eyes. “I need to see him. He needs to know that I’m going to be okay.”
“If you’re the same as Mags and I, then he’s already aware of your physical status.”
She shook her head. “He won’t calm down until he sees me. Please?”
Zee owed Rennick nothing. His hate for the man hadn’t lessened simply because a woman from Earth had traveled halfway across the galaxy against incredible odds to be here. But looking down at her, Zee knew that there was more to this connection between their two peoples than any of them realized. He might not owe anything to Rennick, but there was a possibility that he owed it to himself to finally begin to move on from this betrayal.
He turned to look at Mags. For once in his life, Zee didn’t trust himself to make the right decision. He’d always been the one in charge of the prison, knew the potential consequences of each decision he made, and was always willing to accept them. But he had a blind spot where Rennick was concerned, and having impartial input from someone who he trusted was something he’d never thought he’d need before.
But he did trust Mags and he wanted her opinion.
She cocked her head to the side and waited for him to speak. It was as though something critical in their relationship was about to happen, though he didn’t fully understand the significance. Zee took a deep breath and looked Mags right in the eyes. “What do you think?”
