by Anna Hackett
There were lots more raptors than last time. Lots more activity.
“Hide,” Tane murmured.
They ducked into an empty side tunnel. A moment later, a group of raptors stomped past.
Tane peered out, then ducked back. “More, don’t move.”
Selena sucked in a breath. She felt jagged energy hit her senses.
More raptors moved past the entrance to the tunnel, and one was holding the leash of an alien creature.
She’d never seen a Gizzida like it. It was almost cat-like, moving with a feline grace, but it was large, bigger than the canids. It had wicked spikes all over its body.
It paused, looking down the tunnel, and it made a funny coughing sound.
She felt Tane’s fingers digging into her hand.
The creature could sense them.
Selena tried to connect with it. She never attempted this with a Gizzida before. She gave it a mental nudge.
The raptor holding the creature grunted and tugged on the leash. The creature roared, and a second later, it moved on.
She sagged against Tane. It had worked.
“Let’s keep moving,” he ordered.
They crept out of the tunnel and pushed through until they found a shadowed spot near the central core. Sunlight filtered in from above, and they crouched by a broken railing, looking down at the bomb below.
“Fuck me,” Levi said.
Selena stared at the bomb in the center of the alien activity.
It was no longer all black.
Now, red lights were flashing all along the side of it.
Dammit. There were so many damn raptors around the bomb.
Tane stirred. “We need to get down there and get the antidote into the bomb.”
“I have to be the one to put the antidote in place,” Selena said. “It appears that without me, it stops working.”
Fuck, he hated this. He hated putting her right in the middle of the aliens and risking her life. It hurt, especially when everything inside him wanted to keep her safe.
“Okay, we’ll—” A wild squawk echoed off the concrete walls and a bird-like creature flew down from above. It arrowed straight at Tane.
What the hell? He spun, but the bird slammed into him. The thing was clearly Gizzida, covered in gray scales. He batted at it, dodging the claws and sharp beak.
“Shit.” Hemi and Dom hit the bird and it fell onto the ground with a squawk. They kicked it, then Dom ripped a knife off his belt and stabbed the creature.
It slumped, and they all stared at it. It was big and mutated. Instead of feathers, it had scales, and wicked, curved claws.
Selena crouched, looking almost sad. “It sensed us through our illusion.”
Tane looked up. “There are more of them.” Three dark shapes wheeled above, near the high, broken ceiling of the central core.
“We need to be careful, or they’ll give us away.” He paused. “Okay, let’s get to the lower level and get Selena to that bomb.”
“Tane.” She grabbed his arm. “Wait. Look.”
He turned and saw that she was looking at the bomb. More of the red lights had appeared on the side of it. Some were still flashing, but a short row of solid red lights glowed brightly.
She swallowed. “I think when the row of lights are all on, no longer blinking…”
The bomb would detonate.
Shit. “Let’s move. Fast.”
They snuck down the stairs and waited at the bottom until a patrol of raptors had walked past, then they darted out.
“I’ll go with Selena,” Tane murmured. “You guys stay hidden.”
He could tell Hemi didn’t like the plan by his thunderous scowl.
“We all go out there, the greater the chance we’ll get caught,” Tane said.
His brother lifted his carbine and reluctantly nodded. “Any trouble, and we’re there.”
With nods, his squad melted into the shadows. Then he and Selena started across the space, heading toward the bomb.
Just like the last time they were here.
Get in, dump the antidote, get out. He had to keep his eye on the prize.
A wild, guttural roar echoed across the space.
He and Selena froze.
“Oh, fuck, Tane, you seeing this?” Hemi’s voice came across the comm line. “To the left.”
There was a large doorway in the wall. It had once been a standard-size entry, but it looked like the raptors had knocked parts of the wall down to make it larger.
Three huge raptors stepped inside.
But these were no ordinary raptors.
They’d encountered enhanced raptors previously, like the wild super-raptors they’d fought before. But these ones were even bigger.
Over seven-feet tall, these aliens sported spikes around their shoulders, and tentacle-like protuberances dangling from under their chins. The tentacles were covered in scales and moved a little…almost like they had a mind of their own.
What the fuck?
“Tane.” Selena spun, her voice frantic. “I’ve seen creatures like this before.” She pulled in a breath. “Those tentacles are highly sensitive. They pick up scents, vibrations.”
Shit. “So they could detect us?”
She nodded.
Damn, Tane was getting the feeling that the Gizzida suspected they’d sneak in. The birds and these monster-raptors were here to be guard dogs.
One of the monster-raptors roared again. It was looking in their direction.
“Tane, get out of there,” Hemi bit out.
“Can’t. This mission is too fucking important.”
He grabbed Selena’s hand and they circled around some black crates. Get to the bomb, that was what he had to focus on.
The three monster-raptors moved, heading in their general direction.
Tane’s pulse jumped. “Keep moving. They can’t see us.”
Selena nodded, half running toward the bomb.
Several regular raptors stepped into view. They looked like scientists, clutching sheets of black glass that were probably some sort of portable comp.
Tane and Selena paused, and crouched in behind some equipment.
The monster-raptors roared again, the sound deafening in the cavernous space. The scientists broke into guttural speech, staring at the monster-raptors.
One monster-raptor took a step forward, then another. It was coming toward Tane and Selena.
“Move.” He pushed her.
A second later, the monster-raptor broke into a run, barreling at them. Shit.
It swung out a brawny arm, knocking over several crates. Tane dived on Selena, tackling her to the ground. A second monster-raptor charged in their direction.
Shit, the mission was going to hell.
Several raptor soldiers appeared, weapons in hand. They knew something was up.
Tane rose. They can’t see us. That was still their advantage. Selena scrambled up, her skin starting to glow.
Suddenly, a blast of energy rippled out of her. It washed over Tane, but it hit the raptors hard, toppling them. Several crates exploded.
The monster-raptors knocked into each other, losing their balance.
Carbine fire broke out.
“Keep your heads down,” Hemi warned.
Several raptors jerked and fell, slashes opening up on their chests. Dom was clearly getting up close and personal.
The carbine fire focused on the monster-raptors, making them roar.
“We can still get to the bomb.” The squad would keep the Gizzida busy.
There was fear in Selena’s eyes, but she nodded. Together, they darted toward the bomb. He saw that the device had more solid red lights on it now. They didn’t have much time.
Nearby, a raptor scientist leaped onto a crate. He held some strange device in his clawed hand.
What now? Tane grabbed Selena’s arm, jerking her away from the asshole. The raptor hit a button.
There was a blinding flash of light and Tane winced. He saw Selena lift
her arm to shield her eyes.
“Oh, fuck,” Levi said.
Tane turned.
He saw all the berserkers in position, weapons aimed, firing on the aliens.
He could see his squad.
He sucked in a sharp breath and looked at the alien device. The raptor scientist holding it was looking right at him and Selena.
Whatever it was, it had caused their illusion systems to fail.
“They can see us!”
Chapter Sixteen
Shock and fear thundered through her. They were no longer hidden.
Selena watched the raptors explode into action. Poison sprayed around them, and she ducked behind some equipment. Tane slid in beside her.
She reached down and touched the antidote containers attached to her belt. They were safe. But she felt the weight of them, of the responsibility. They needed to get to the bomb.
“Come on, you scaly assholes.” Hemi’s booming voice.
Selena peeked around and saw the berserkers advancing, Hemi in the lead.
“I’m borrowing Hell Squad’s battle cry,” Hemi yelled. “You devils need a damn ass-kicking.”
Griff threw a grenade. The device sailed through the air and exploded. He tossed another one, and this one was cineole. The sharp scent of it filled the air.
A monster-raptor charged with an ear-splitting roar.
“Come on,” Tane said. “While my squad keeps them busy.”
She took his hand and they leaped up, running toward the bomb.
Two raptors sprinted right at them.
Tane launched into a brutal attack. The aliens towered over him, but the exoskeleton in his armor increased his strength and speed. He fired his carbine, then lunged and ducked. He whirled, his combat knife in hand. He stabbed the second raptor in the side.
He was rising when a canid leaped over a crate right at him.
Gasping, Selena darted forward. She threw her hand out. Bright light flashed from her palm. Blinded, the canid landed badly, then stumbled and shook its head.
She lifted both her arms up, drawing whatever power she could. A stream of water flew through the air toward her. She moved her hands, the water forming a huge ball between her fingers.
She threw it at the canid.
The water engulfed the alien dog’s head. It jerked and shuddered as it drowned.
“Remind me to really not piss you off, Butterfly.” Tane wrapped an arm around her and urged her toward the bomb.
Energy hit her senses, like an itch over her skin. Oh, no.
“Tane, I can sense more raptors flooding into the base. Hundreds of them.”
He closed his eyes for a second. There was no way out. He knew it, and she knew it.
“We complete the mission,” he said.
The berserkers were still fighting ferociously and laughing. They showed no fear. They lived their lives flat-out, with everything they had.
They had to make this count.
Selena and Tane sprinted to the bomb. Tane shouldered into a raptor and kicked it.
She would never get tired of watching him move. He fought with a ferocity that made her breathless.
As they approached the bomb, she yanked one of the antidote containers off her belt. They were almost there.
She just needed to get up—
Something dived at her from above.
Selena screamed and dodged, glancing upward. One of the scaled birds was flying back toward the ceiling, while another one arrowed down toward her. She ducked, trying to evade it.
“Selena!” Tane yelled.
Bent over, she darted toward the bomb. So close…
A bird hit her head, its beak stabbing at her face.
Ahh. She threw an arm up. The bird’s heavy body crashed against her. The antidote flew out of her hand, hit the ground, and rolled.
No. No. No.
She shoved at the bird. She threw a flash of energy at it and it flew off, squawking angrily.
Pain throbbed in her head and she felt wetness sliding down her face. She couldn’t see out of one eye. She swiped her hand across her face and saw blood on her fingers.
“Selena.” Tane appeared, firing up at the birds.
“I’m okay. Just scratches. The antidote.”
They both spun…just in time to see a raptor step on the antidote. The container cracked under his boot and broke.
“No!” she cried.
Tane fired, unloading a barrage of laser fire into the raptor. More raptor soldiers appeared from around the other side of the bomb, their weapons up.
“Fall back!” Tane roared.
“We need to get the antidote in there.” Selena fingered the last vial. “We can still—”
A monster-raptor charged toward them, knocking equipment out of the way. Now that she was closer to it, she saw that it had a long tail behind it, with a sharp spike on the end.
“We can’t help anyone if we’re dead,” Tane barked. “Come on.”
Together, they ran toward the berserkers.
The monster-raptor gave chase, its steps making the ground vibrate.
Her breath hitched. It was gaining on them. Tane turned, firing behind them.
“Keep running.” He stopped, continuing to fire on the incoming raptor.
“No.” She wasn’t going to leave him.
He scowled “Selena—”
“Hey, butt-face!”
Hemi stood nearby, standing up atop some crates. He fired a deadly-looking shotgun.
Boom.
The monster-raptor stopped and roared.
Hemi roared back, then leaped off the crates. He fired again. “Go!”
Tane picked Selena up and ran.
Hemi walked backward, still firing his shotgun. The monster-raptor lowered its head, its tentacles waving madly. Then it charged.
“Hemi!” Tane yelled.
Hemi spun and ran, but he wasn’t going to be fast enough. The monster-raptor bore down on him.
Selena’s throat closed. She’d fallen for Hemi’s rough charm and sense of humor, and she knew how much Tane loved his brother. She lifted her hand and focused.
The monster-raptor stopped like it had hit a wall. It tried to move its arms and legs but was stuck.
Tane set her down, keeping his arms around her.
“Can’t…hold it…long,” she said through gritted teeth. She’d already used too much energy, and her abilities were flagging.
“Hemi!” Tane roared. “Retreat. Now!”
Hemi shot a finger at the monster-raptor and turned, running toward them.
Suddenly, the monster-raptor’s tail whipped around. Selena saw it coming and she felt Tane tense.
The sharp tip of the tail speared into Hemi’s side. Blood spurted.
“No!”
Selena fought to hold the Gizzida. Hemi fell backward, clutching his bleeding stomach and side.
“Get him,” she whispered.
She had to hold the monster-raptor back. She had to buy them time to get Hemi.
Tane sprinted forward, and Griff bolted to join him. Together, the two men pulled the injured berserker away.
“Fuck…hurts,” Hemi groaned.
“I can’t h-hold it much longer,” Selena gasped.
Tane and Griff hefted Hemi up between them, his arms slung around their shoulders.
Dom took Selena’s arm. “Let’s go, cara.”
They turned and ran. Selena dropped the flow of energy. Behind them, she heard the monster-raptor roar.
Tane gritted his teeth together so hard his jaw hurt. “We need somewhere to hide, or we’re going to have raptors all over us.” He hefted Hemi higher. “You hanging in there, bro?”
“Hell, yeah.”
But his brother’s voice was weak and laced with pain.
“I know a place,” Levi said. “Ventilation ducts off the lower maintenance area.” The berserker lifted a shoulder. “Fucked a maintenance engineer a few times way back. She showed me.”
They foll
owed Levi deeper into the bowels of the abandoned base. Every now and then, they heard the distant roar of a monster-raptor.
“They’re coming,” Selena said. “They’ll keep hunting us.”
“Fuck ’em,” Hemi grunted.
Finally, they burst through the door into the maintenance area. All the ventilation equipment was quiet, and covered with dust.
“Dom, hide our footprints,” Tane ordered.
“On it.”
“Here.” Levi rounded some equipment and Tane spotted the large, mesh grate set into the wall.
He nodded at Levi, and Ash joined the other man. The two of them grunted and growled, and pulled the grate off.
They all ducked into the ventilation tunnel, which was not quite high enough for them to stand in. Once they were all inside, Ash turned and set the grate back in place.
They laid Hemi out on the concrete, and Tane clicked on the flashlight attached to his shoulder.
His gut clenched. There was so much blood, and Hemi’s face was pale behind his beard.
“Just a tiny scratch,” Hemi said, weakly. “Once I get my breath back, I’ll be fine.”
“Let me.” Selena moved closer and Tane felt a punch of relief.
When she saw Tane’s face, she cupped his cheek for a second, offering him comfort. Damn, Tane was in love with this small, alien woman.
“Get his armor off,” she said.
Griff reached out and helped. Hemi hissed out a breath. Selena gasped, and Tane gritted his teeth.
The alien spike had made a mess, tearing up Hemi’s gut and side.
She put her hands over the injury, and Hemi groaned.
“I know,” she murmured. “It won’t hurt for long, I promise.”
Her hands glowed, lighting up the narrow tunnel. Hemi grunted.
Tane moved closer, pressing his palm to his brother’s shoulder. Hemi would be okay. He had to be.
Slowly, the tension in Hemi’s body drained away. Relief shuddered through Tane, but when he looked at Selena, he saw she was trembling. Lines of strain bracketed her mouth.
“Selena?”
“Low…on energy.” Her voice was slurred. “Almost there.”
