by R. D. Brady
Okay. I got this. She straightened as Chris let out a yell. “Maeve, look out!”
Maeve’s heart rate spiked as a shadow leapt onto the top of the train only fifty feet away. It was a Kecksburg. It stared at her, tilting its head. Maeve scrambled for her gun and leveled it at the creature, pulling the trigger, but all she got back was an empty click. She was out.
The creature raised its head and let out a yell before it leapt from the train. Maeve stared at the arc of its jump, knowing she might be able to get out of the way, but that would mean leaving Jasper behind. And she just could not do that. She pulled him back against the wall and scooted in front of him, pulling Jasper’s knife from the holder at his belt. The four-inch knife was nothing against that thing’s talons, but she wouldn’t just stand there and let it kill her.
She braced herself as it landed ten feet in front of her.
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
Maeve tensed, her palms slick with sweat. The creature stared at her and roared. It crouched, about to leap, when gunfire blasted into the creature. It leapt back, turning toward the source with a hiss. Maeve whirled around as well, as Adam strode forward, a large weapon Maeve didn’t recognize in his arms. Adam stalked toward the creature. He must have come down the stairwell near the other elevator.
Adam continued to back the creature toward the train. “Get Jasper out of here,” he ordered, not sparing her a look, his focus locked on the Kecksburg and Martin.
The Kecksburg leapt back on top of the train car. Blood poured from the wounds in its left side. Adam shifted his aim to Martin, who dove away from the doorway, the shot exploding the window.
Maeve hauled Jasper toward the freight elevator as Chris ran out and pushed one of the containers into the elevator. Maeve managed to get Jasper inside and then ran for the other unit. Chris joined her as Adam stepped in front of them. The Kecksburg leapt down from the train. It caught a blast in its midsection, which sent it flying back toward the train. It landed in the doorway as the doors started to shut. But the creature’s body kept them from closing fully and kept the train from leaving.
“Adam, come on,” Maeve yelled as they got the second container into the elevator.
Adam pulled the trigger, but the weapon was empty. He tossed it to the side. He pulled two long serrated knives from his belt. “Chris, get them out of here,” Adam yelled.
Chris pulled Maeve into the elevator.
“What about Adam?” she asked.
Jasper moaned from the floor. “He’ll be all right. Do what he says.” With a long look at Maeve, Chris turned off the emergency brake and the doors slid closed.
Maeve lurched for the doors as they closed. “No, we can’t—”
Jasper shook his head with a wince. “Trust me. Adam’s got this.”
Maeve stared at him in disbelief. Adam was facing down a Hank and Martin with only two knives. How the hell could he have that?
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
As soon as Adam shot past him, Martin bolted into the other car to get the train moving. It would be a tough loss, losing his prized specimens, but losing his life would be a much tougher loss to swallow.
He’d only gotten a glance at the man, but it was enough for him to recognize him as Tilda’s grandson, Adam. And he was proving to be every bit as tough as his grandfather had been. Martin initiated the command to get the train moving, but an error message appeared. Damn it. Something was blocking one of the doors.
He picked up his Sig Sauer and strode back to the other car. Pushing through the door, he saw the Kecksburg lying half in and half out of the train car. The doors were opening and slamming closed on it.
On the platform, the elevator doors closed. He looked around but saw no sign of anyone else. They all must have taken the chance to escape. He strode down the car toward the creature. He’d have to open the doors and order it to move. Hopefully it could still move on its own. He really didn’t want to test his control by having to move a wounded Kecksburg.
The creature’s left side was bloodied and its head whipped back and forth. One arm looked broken and the other flailed around uselessly.
A prickling sense of unease rolled down Martin’s back and he turned to the other side of the car. A man kicked in the already spider-webbed glass.
With a yell, Martin rolled away from the glass and crawled down the car. Adam hit the ground and rolled into a crouch. Before Martin could get fully to his feet, Adam slammed his foot into Martin’s chest, sending him flying onto his back again.
Martin saw stars but still managed to bring his gun hand up, firing wildly. Adam leapt back, diving and rolling behind a row of seats.
“You bastard.” Martin got to his feet, anger rolling through him. “You’ve cost me everything. Why couldn’t you and Tilda just leave well enough alone?”
Martin pulled the trigger over and over, emptying it into the seat’s back. He turned when he was abreast of it and peered over. Adam was gone.
What the—
Adam leapt up from three seats ahead, his knife flying through the air and catching Martin in the shoulder. With a scream, Martin fell back, his gun flying out of reach. He crawled along the ground toward the doors where the creature was caught. Martin latched onto the door, holding it open long enough for the creature to slide its body far enough to get its good arm out.
Adam stalked down the car toward him. Somewhere in the fight, the man’s sunglasses had gone flying.
Martin stared into his face, disbelief flowing through him. “No. It’s not possible. Joseph?”
“You don’t know me,” Adam/Joseph said. But Martin knew that wasn’t true. His eyes were not deceiving him. This was Joseph, in all his youthful vitality. But Joseph should be nearing eighty years old now. Martin stared into the man’s eyes and fear slid down his back at the cold, reptilian look in the man’s eyes.
No, it can’t be.
The man’s gaze locked on Martin so he didn’t notice the shift in the position of the Kecksburg. It reached out, whip fast, and grabbed Joseph’s legs, yanking him back. Joseph plunged his knife into the creature’s arm. The creature roared, yanking itself from the train doors and flinging Joseph toward the elevator doors as the train doors slid closed.
The train jolted forward and Martin grabbed onto the seat, pulling himself up. On the platform, Joseph and the Kecksburg circled one another. Martin kept his gaze on the man.
It’s not possible. It’s just not possible. How did I not know?
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX
It felt like the elevator took forever to reach the surface. Chris spoke with the surface to let them know they were coming up and that they would need help. Maeve unstrapped Alvie and checked his vitals. He was breathing. She did the same for the big Gray. His pulse felt strong as well.
“They okay?” Chris asked from over by the control panel.
“I think so.”
“We’re going to have to move quickly as soon as these doors open. There’s not much time left.”
“Okay.” She paused. “What about Adam?”
Jasper still sat on the floor, and Maeve knew his world was still spinning. When he spoke, his voice was a little slurred. “Don’t worry about Adam. He’s been around a while. He knows how to take care of himself.”
Maeve studied Jasper, getting the feeling there was something she didn’t understand, but right now she supposed there was probably a lot she didn’t know. So she closed up the container with the big Gray. It would probably be easier to roll him out. But she pulled Alvie from his container and clasped him to her, breathing him in. Tears threatened to fall, but she willed them back. They’d have to wait until they were safe. And they weren’t safe yet.
The doors slid open and Maeve tensed. But the faces outside the doors were ones she recognized. Mike moved in quickly. “I’ve got Jasper.” He pulled Jasper up, carrying him over his shoulder.
“I can walk!” Jasper yelled.
Mike didn’t slow down. “Shut up, Jasper.”
> Two others hustled in and started pushing out the big Gray’s container. Chris nodded to Alvie. “You want me to—”
She shook her head quickly, clutching Alvie to her. “No. I’ve got him.” All of them hurried toward a waiting truck, and three minutes later they were pulling out of the entrance. Chris sat next to Maeve, who clutched Alvie protectively to her.
“Do we know how everyone else is?” Chris asked.
“We lost four of our people,” Mike said, his voice somber.
Oh no. Maeve clutched Alvie tighter. “I’m so sorry.”
Mike nodded his acknowledgment of her words. “Greg and Norah are all right. But Iggy—he was hurt.”
Maeve frowned. “Iggy? But he wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near this.”
“No, he wasn’t. But apparently he tracked Norah down. And he arrived just in time. A Kecksburg was about to make mincemeat out of her and Greg.”
Maeve pictured the adorable little alien. “And Iggy stopped him?
“Guess you don’t want that guy on your bad side,” Mike said.
Maeve shook her head, trying to picture it but couldn’t. The truck picked up speed, jolting all of them. Chris steadied Maeve and Alvie looking at Mike who was listening intently to something over his earpiece. “What’s going on?”
“We have an inbound chopper.”
“Ours?” Chris asked.
“No. The D.E.A.D.’s. We need to get out of the area before they arrive.”
“What about the rest of the employees from the site?”
“Still in the dark but getting antsy. Their communications are still blocked, but they’ll send someone soon to see what’s going on.”
The truck made an abrupt turn and everyone on the back swayed to the side. Mike held his finger to his earpiece, listening. “Shit.”
“What’s—”
But the explosion next to the truck answered them.
The chopper had found them.
CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN
The truck shook as the explosion rocked them. “Damn, that was close,” Mike murmured.
The truck swerved back and forth. Jasper groaned. “Oh, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Don’t suppose you guys have anything that will take down a chopper?” Chris asked.
“Sorry. Fresh out,” Mike said.
“So what’s the plan?” Maeve clutched Alvie to her.
“We’re veering away from the group and heading toward a populated area. Hopefully blowing up a truck in the middle of Main Street will not be something they are looking to do.”
“How far away is the nearest town?” Chris asked.
Mike met Maeve’s gaze. “Five miles.”
“Oh crap,” Jasper said, sinking to the floor of the truck bed.
“So we’re just hoping whoever’s flying that thing is a really bad shot.”
“Yup.” Mike glanced out the back of the truck. He frowned. “Oh no.”
“What?” Chris looked out as well. “Is that another one?”
“I think so.”
We’re not going to make it. Maeve held Alvie tight, leaning her forehead into his. I love you, Alvie. Whatever happens, I don’t regret coming for you.
“Wait, that’s not a chopper,” Mike said.
Maeve’s head popped up and she stared into the sky as the other dark image came into view. She stumbled toward the back of the truck, which was weaving ferociously. Chris grabbed onto her and Alvie, anchoring them in place.
The winged creature from the ranch soared into view. It glanced down toward the truck and Maeve looked up at it. Then it was flying past them. “That’s the guy from the ranch! The one who saved us.”
“What’s it doing?” Mike asked.
“I think it’s going for the chopper,” Maeve said, hoping she was right and hoping it survived the encounter.
The gunfire that had been aimed at the truck cut off. They all scrambled forward, trying to get a look at the battle in the sky. The creature dove low and came up underneath the chopper, out of range of any of its weapons. It didn’t slow, slamming its shoulder into the underbelly of the helicopter. The chopper shuddered and one of the gunmen fell from the open doorway with a scream.
The pilot tried to wrangle back control, but the creature slammed into the chopper again with both feet, leaving a dent in the underbelly. Then it flew down and, picking up speed, crashed into the side of the chopper.
The chopper tilted sideways. The creature flew back, its giant wings keeping it afloat as it watched the chopper try to right itself. But there was no time. It was on its side and the ground was coming up fast. With a loud crash, the chopper slammed into the ground, fire erupting into the air as metal debris scattered into the air.
Maeve gasped. It had all happened so quickly.
“Glad that guy is on our side,” Chris muttered.
“Yeah. But why is he?” Mike asked.
The creature turned, flying toward their truck. About twenty feet up, it made two slow circles above the truck before flying off. Maeve watched it go.
“Thank you,” she whispered, knowing that would not be the last she saw of it.
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
They did not return to the safe house after leaving the underground facility. Tilda had arranged for each of them to take a different route back to a new location. Maeve’s group took two separate flights, lifting off and landing from grass fields, not airports. It had taken seven hours to complete the trip. By the time they arrived, it was pitch black and Maeve couldn’t see much of their surroundings. Alvie clung to Maeve’s hand as they stepped off the plane. He’d barely let go of her since he’d come around. She could feel his pain at what had transpired and she didn’t know how she was going to help him through it.
Now they were bundled in the back of an old army truck that bucked and shook as they drove along an uneven road. But soon the uneven road smoothed out. The ride became soothing and Maeve closed her eyes. They jolted open again as the truck came to a stop. Chris rubbed his eyes next to her, having also fallen asleep.
Maeve gently rubbed Alvie’s back. “Alvie, honey, we’ve stopped.”
He awoke slowly, his eyes blinking a few times. She put her hand on his cheek. “It’s okay.”
He leaned into her for a moment before pulling back. Maeve led him to the end of the truck, where Chris helped them both off. There were two large buildings that reminded Maeve of military barracks. Maeve’s feet had just touched the ground when she felt a burst of joy through her mind. She smiled as the triplets bolted out from the closest building. They sprinted across the space and threw themselves at Alvie. Chris put a hand on Alvie’s back to keep him upright. Tears crested in Maeve’s eyes at the reunion. This was how it was supposed to be—all of them together.
Chris put an arm around her. “We did it.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Yeah.”
Greg jogged his way over to them in a mismatched pair of pajamas. He hugged Maeve and shook Chris’s hand.
“How’s Iggy?” Maeve asked.
“He’ll be okay. A couple of stitches and he’s been put on bed rest. But being that Norah has apparently decided to stay snuggled up with him while he rests, the little guy looks perfectly content.”
“Good.”
“You guys are all in the room next to me.” Greg paused. “You’re okay with all being in the same room, right?”
“Oh, I am very okay with that,” Maeve said as the triplets ran for her and hugged her tight. She laughed, pulling them to her. Yes. Right now life was as it was supposed to be.
She looked up as headlights shone from down the road. Another truck appeared. It pulled up a few feet away and Adam stepped out of the back along with Jasper and Agaren.
As the Gray stepped down, he looked over at Alvie and the triplets. All four of them rushed over to him, hugging him. The Gray went still and then gently rubbed each of their heads.
“What is that all about?” Chris asked.
�
�I have no idea,” Maeve said quietly. “But I think everything we know has just changed.”
EPILOGUE
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
The Seattle skyline twinkled back at Martin from behind the picture window in his living room. He sipped his tea, trying to establish some calm. It had been a week since the incursion into the Dulce facility. He had managed to regain control of it, but those who’d infiltrated it had escaped and he had not seen any sign of them. And worse, they had gotten away with his two most prized subjects.
His research was backed up, but it was going to take time to get back to where he was. He was most disappointed that his new security animals had been destroyed. They had shown a great deal of promise. Of course, they had ultimately failed.
He shook his head. And all because of the stupid bond between Leander and Subject One. Years ago, he had mulled over the idea of killing Maeve Leander when she was a child. At the time, the concern had been that Maeve’s existence would pull her mother’s attention from the A.L.I.V.E. Project. But that fear had proven unfounded. Maeve’s bond with the creature had only deepened Alice Leander’s commitment to the project.
And Martin had never worried about the bond between Maeve and Alvie, probably because he’d never had such a bond with anyone, not even his own daughter. It had never crossed his mind during those early years that it would one day be a problem.
The doorbell rang and Martin narrowed his eyes. No one knew about this house. There were zero links between him and this place. He picked up his Sig and turned on the TV to the security camera footage. A tall blonde woman wrapped in a fur coat stood there with a muscular blond man in leather, both in their thirties. The woman smiled and waved at the camera.
A small tingle of fear slid over his skin as he moved to the door and opened it. “Tatiana, Dietrich. What a nice surprise.”
