The Zahkx Alliance: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure (Dominion Rising Book 2)

by Katherine Bogle

  Rem had given her express instructions and showed her the route at least a hundred times. He’d drilled the map into her head until she’d wanted to punch him, but now she was glad he had.

  One floor down, Selene exited the stairwell into a long white hall with dimmed lights. The building would have been partially evacuated after the explosions—the perfect time for her to reach the mainframe.

  Selene sprinted down the hall, her head and shoulder throbbing with every step. Though Erock had done a good job in tying off her wound so it’d stop bleeding, her left arm was going numb, and the blood loss was giving her a headache.

  She continued as fast as her injury would allow, breathing quickly as she turned the corner.

  A woman pulled back, and Selene nearly slammed into her. They both gasped, and Selene backed into the wall. Her heart leapt so hard, her chest hurt.

  Gathering herself, Selene looked back at the woman with pale orange hair, and startling green eyes.

  “Ivy,” Selene gasped.

  The Icarus woman stared at her with wide eyes, and her mouth hung open. Though she had reached for her weapon, her hand quickly dropped back to her side.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Ivy snapped. Her surprise twisted into anger. “Why the fuck would you come back?”

  Selene’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Come back? She glanced at Ivy’s hands, which made no move for either gun on her hip, and then back at her angry face. The last time she’d seen Ivy, they had fought to the death. Only Ivy had escaped in the aftermath of their attack on Election Square, and Selene never got to decide whether she’d pull the trigger on her or not.

  “Wait.” Selene’s mind raced alongside her pounding heart. She looked at Ivy’s leashed weapons again, her words echoing in her ears.

  Why the fuck would you come back?

  Her entire body went cold as the realization hit her. “You’re the one who helped me escape?”

  Confusion, relief, fear, and a million other emotions rolled through her, sending her mind spinning. What the hell was going on?

  They’d been trying to kill one another the last time they saw each other. But something was different then, as it was now. The same black collar was tightly wrapped around Ivy’s throat, blinking red on the side. Ivy’s anger faded, her face smoothing as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

  “Of course it was me,” Ivy snapped.

  Nothing made sense. Why would the woman who tried to kill her countless times, save her from Pate’s prison?

  Selene just stood and stared, unable to comprehend what was happening.

  Ivy let out an exasperated sigh. “You need to get out of here now. More guards are coming.”

  Again, Selene was silent.

  “What is wrong with you? Go!” Ivy barked, pointing back the way Selene had come.

  Selene snapped back, her thoughts finally catching up with her. “Why did you help me?”

  Ivy groaned. “This isn’t the time.”

  “Why?”

  Ivy worked her jaw as she looked Selene up and down, pausing on her injured shoulder. “Because I owed you one.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “What?” Selene raised an eyebrow. She’d have to do better than that.

  Ivy rolled her eyes. “I owed you one, all right?”

  Selene’s eyebrows furrowed as Ivy avoided her eyes. It was Selene’s turn to assess Ivy. Though at first, Selene had thought she looked the same, that wasn’t exactly true. The collar on her neck dug into her skin, leaving deep red marks staining her porcelain skin. Her hair was dull, and her eyes slightly puffy. She had dark circles under them, and she looked far thinner than Selene remembered. Ivy looked utterly exhausted.

  “Are you… okay?” Selene asked. Though she’d hated Ivy what felt like a long time, something still stirred in her chest at the sight of someone being mistreated. She couldn’t help it.

  “I’m fine,” Ivy growled. “Now would you leave before you’re caught again?”

  Selene paused, unable to believe she was about to say this. “Come with me.”

  Okay, Selene. When did you go crazy? Ivy was the enemy, but seeing her hurting only served to remind Selene of all the caged animals she’d saved over the years. If it was possible, what had been done to Ivy was even worse. She was a young woman, barely an adult, and the Dominion was slowly destroying her for their own nefarious purposes. It wasn’t right.

  Ivy’s eyes went wide, and she looked at Selene as if she’d grown three heads. “What the hell are you on?”

  Selene bit back a groan. “I’m just trying to get you out of here.”

  She couldn’t even explain why she wanted to get Ivy out. Maybe it was because she’d seen how Ivy had grown up, and she knew what Sav had been through. Ivy had told her once that she’d been in the Dominion lab half her life. No wonder she’d turned into such a twisted psychopath.

  Ivy shook her head. “I can’t.” Her jaw set. “We need someone on the inside.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “You’d really stay inside this place just to help us?”

  Ivy scoffed. “I’m not doing it to help you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “It’s to help all the Icarus stuck inside this hell.”

  Selene sighed. “Whatever. If you want to feed us information, I’m all for it. How can I contact you?”

  Ivy shook her head. “You can’t. They’ll know.”

  Selene fished inside her pocket, and yanked out her phone, newly given to her by Rem. “Here.” Ivy took it. “Call Rem if anything comes up.”

  Ivy looked at the phone, then back at Selene. It was clear the Icarus didn’t trust her. “Fine.” She slipped it inside her pocket. “Now get the hell out.”

  Selene smiled. “Have it your way.” She slipped around Ivy, heading back down the hall. Ivy paused for a moment to watch her go, then continued the way Selene had come from. She must have known Selene wasn’t leaving right away, but at least she didn’t bother arguing about it.

  Racing down the hall, Selene finally arrived at the lab housing most of the computer mainframes for the facility. She waved a hand to open the door, but nothing happened. Damn.

  She looked at the panel beside the door. The edge of the screen stayed red. She’d need some sort of access code to get in, or maybe a keycard.

  Though she knew she wasn’t supposed to contact Rem yet, she didn’t have any other choice. Without her phone, she was useless when it came to hacking. Pressing her finger to the comset in her ear, Selene said, “Hey Rem, help me out here.”

  A long pause rested on the other end, making Selene’s stomach roll with nerves. What if something had happened to them during their escape? What if they were captured and she was the only one left? She didn’t have long before security cameras came back online and security began searching the building. Rem and the others had to be long gone by now, but she knew Rem could still access their security remotely. If he was safe.

  “Selene, you’re okay?” Flik asked on the other end.

  Selene sighed, both in relief and irritation. “Dammit Flik, I’m fine. Give the comset back to Rem.”

  “We’re talking about this later!” Flik warned.

  If she wasn’t a ball of nervous energy, she’d have loved to poke fun at Flik for worrying over her. “Fine.”

  Shuffling came through her earpiece for another few seconds before it died out and Rem cleared his throat. “Hey, what do you need?”

  “Open this door for me, would you?”

  “Your phone should be able to open it,” Rem said.

  Shit. “Um, I don’t have my phone right now.”

  “What? I just gave you that last night!”

  “I’ll explain later, just open the damn door! Sub-basement one, mainframe room, or whatever it’s called.” She motioned at the doorway, even though he couldn’t see her.

  Rem sighed. “Fine, give me a minute.”

  “Hurry.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  A quiet click of
Rem typing filled the crushing silence. She was glad for it, as the quiet was starting to get to her. Any minute, an armed guard could come careening through a door, or around the corner, and she would be shot again.

  Or worse.

  She shivered. No way. Now was not the time to think worse case scenario.

  “Almost got it,” Rem said.

  “Any day now,” Selene hummed impatiently.

  “You’re very pushy for someone asking for help.”

  “You’re not the one standing in the middle of Dominion territory.”

  “Point taken.” Rem paused. “Got it!”

  The red surrounding the panel turned green, and the door finally opened.

  “Thanks, Rem.” Selene stepped through the door, and it closed behind her.

  “No problem. Just get out of there alive, okay? I’m really sick of this near-death thing you’ve been into lately.”

  Selene snorted. “Sorry, it’s just what I like now.”

  “Shut up, and hurry.”

  She chuckled. “Yes, sir.”

  The overhead lights flashed on as she stepped inside, illuminating dozens upon dozens of hovering white stands, each with a control panel on one side, and a glowing blue orb hovering above them. The alien data hives weren’t something she’d seen much of, and they were definitely not something she could hack herself. Luckily, Rem prepared for that.

  Crossing the floor to the first data hive, Selene pulled a small silver disc from her pocket, and placed it on the side of the control panel. The glowing blue of the orb flashed turquoise as if processing information. She typed in the code that Rem had forced her to memorize, then activated the disc with a tap on the back of it. The orb turned green, and a pale line swirled around the center of it as information was dumped onto the hard drive of the disc.

  “How’s it going?” Rem asked.

  “It’s working,” Selene said.

  “Hurry. Security will be back online in five minutes.”

  “Didn’t you say the disc needed at least two minutes to gather as much info off the mainframe as it could?” Selene pursed her lips in irritation, her pulse racing.

  “Yep, that gives you three minutes to get out.”

  Selene huffed. “Thanks,” she said dryly.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Glaring at the orb as it continued to shift, Selene waited an agonizing two minutes, tapping her foot, or pacing the floor until the orb turned blue again. The line shifting through it stopped, and the entire hive looked as if she’d never touched it. About fucking time.

  Grabbing the disc from the side, Selene returned it to her pocket and headed for the door. “All right, I’m heading out.”

  “You remember the route we planned?”

  “Obviously.”

  Rem wouldn’t let her forget. She’d hardly gotten a wink of sleep with all the information he’d piled on her.

  Selene left the lab and turned to the opposite end of the corridor where another stairwell would be. She pictured the three-dimensional map in her head, the schematics showing the stairwell ascending to the main floor, where there were dozens of halls and rooms. She’d have to slip right through the busiest part of the building to get out the back and find her speeder. And she only had three minutes to do it.

  Thanks Rem.

  Pushing herself to run faster, even as her shoulder burned and her breath came in quick puffs; Selene crossed the length of the hall in seconds before bounding up the stairs to the first floor.

  Her heart pumped hard, and her brain felt fuzzy. She bit down on her tongue to wake herself up. She was almost done. Once she was out of there, she could rest. But until then, she had to remain alert.

  Selene stopped at the first floor entrance. A sheet of glass in the top left side of the door let her peek into the hallway without actually opening the door. With an evacuation, all stairwells would be easy access, no keycard required. She thanked Rem for that piece of knowledge.

  Pressing her face close to the small window, Selene looked down either end of the white hall. Nothing.

  She took a deep breath before she eased the door open. It squeaked slightly, making her wince. This is why she preferred more modern doors that just whooshed into the wall.

  Glancing at either end once again, Selene stepped out of the stairwell.

  On one end, a larger room opened up, a row of glass windows and doors marking the main entrance to the building. Power cell detectors—silver slabs of metal with a blue-lighted screen in the middle—stood on either side of the doors.

  She looked down the other end at a simple white wall.

  Selene went left, as the plan entailed. She only hoped her luck would keep up.

  “Security cameras are down on the first floor, Selene,” Rem buzzed over coms. “They’re turning them all off. I think they know someone’s watching them.”

  “That’s helpful,” Selene whispered as she turned at the end of the hall. She kept going, making a few more turns in the maze of white. Right, left, right, right, left. She pictured the first floor in her mind’s eye. Only a few more turns and she’d arrive at the back of the building with only a row of small offices, two bathrooms, and a janitorial closet between her and freedom.

  Her boots squeaked on the floor as she turned into the third-last hall before freedom. Her legs were like lead, slowing her pace.

  “You’ve got one minute!” Rem said, his voice high and edged with worry.

  “I’m almost out,” Selene assured him.

  The lights of the hall dimmed suddenly, turning the hall to dusk. Selene froze at the corner as a flash of light blasted past her already injured shoulder.

  Selene’s heart skipped as the laser crashed into the wall, burning a hole through it.

  These weapons weren’t set low. If she got shot with one of these, she was done for. Selene leapt around the corner, her heart pounding hard against her ribs.

  “We have one suspect on floor one, west side of the building,” a security guard said. His voice echoed down the hall.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Selene caught her breath, trying to keep herself calm.

  “What is it?” Rem asked.

  “Trouble.”

  Selene leaned on the wall, and readied her rifle. The whine of its charge competed with the echo of the guard’s voice as she fell back. She had to get some distance between them.

  Backing towards the end of the corridor, Selene glanced at her surroundings. Ten offices, all with glass windows and doors. She could hide in one, but then she’d be trapped. Not an option.

  She kept going, walking backwards as fast as she could while keeping her eye on the end of the hall. Boots echoed as guards approached. With the lights so dull, she couldn’t see any shadows before they turned the corner, and she was wide open with nowhere to hide.

  Shit. This was not how she’d planned this escape.

  “Suspect headed north.” The guard’s voice echoed again.

  Selene looked left and right. With nowhere to go, and nowhere to hide, she had only one option. Stop and fight.

  With a groan, Selene quickly dropped to one knee. She coaxed her injured arm up onto her propped up knee, using the palm of her hand to brace the length of her rifle. She took a deep breath, blinking back white stars that danced across her vision. She braced the rifle against her shoulder, and held her finger over the trigger as she peered down the sight.

  It zoomed in at the end of the hall as two black-clad figures emerged.

  She fired.

  An agonized scream told her her aim wasn’t true. Damn. Selene adjusted as much as she could, firing up slightly to catch the second guard in the chest. While the first writhed on the floor, blood pouring from the wound in his leg, Selene climbed to her feet, and instead of finishing the job, she took off.

  Her mind was fading quickly, trying to send her over the edge and into unconsciousness. She couldn’t let it. Not now. Half jogging, half walking to the end of the hall, Selene made
it to the back of the building. A glowing red sign pointed her to the exit. She slammed her good hand against the ‘open’ button, and it whooshed into the wall.

  Selene smiled as she stepped out into the hot morning air. It stifled her breathing, and brought sweat to her skin, but it was freedom.

  Across the street, a black speeder waited for her with a large front end curved up for the seat, and a tinted windshield arched over the top. Selene gasped in relief. She’d never been so grateful for a speeder in all her life.

  She crossed the street, and tapped the windshield of the speeder. The glass top snapped open, letting her crawl into the driver’s seat. Once she was in, she quickly typed in commands along the curved control panel. The hood of the speeder closed, and the blue power core lit the interior, aqua lines running through the hull.

  “Are you clear?” Rem asked over coms.

  “I’m in the speeder now,” she said.

  “Hit autopilot setting one. It’ll take you back to the ship.” Rem really did think of everything.

  “Thanks, Rem.” Her pounding heart slowed as she keyed in autopilot and sat back, her rifle lying across her lap. Once she was a couple blocks away, she closed her eyes for just a minute.

  Though she could have done without the shoulder injury, the plan had gone off pretty well, much to her surprise.

  Darkness settled around Selene for most of the ride. It’d take a few hours to get back, so Selene pulled out her earpiece and leaned her head back on the seat. She needed some damn rest.

  Before long her eyelids drooped, and sleep took over.

  “Selene? Selene!”

  Bolting upright, Selene sucked in a gasp of air as the world around her swirled back to life. Rem and Flik shook her, standing on opposite sides of the speeder with the roof hatch open, one hand on either shoulder. Selene’s racing heart slowed. Had she really slept that long?

  “Thank Aldar, you’re alive.” Rem doubled over, hands on his knees as he took in a few deep breaths.

  “Of course I’m alive,” Selene muttered, her limbs heavy and her mind fuzzy with grogginess. The speeder had docked in the enormous cargo bay of the pirate ship while she was asleep. No wonder they were concerned when she didn’t immediately hop out.