Acton peeked around the edge of the rock. They weren’t far from the cells. There were a few Edull guards, but not too many. They clearly felt they were safe here, hidden in their tunnels beneath the sand.
One Edull guard passed by close to their tunnel entrance, and Acton pulled back, holding Sage to the wall. She glared at the Edull.
As the alien wandered closer, Acton darted out and grabbed him. The man jerked in surprise, but with one twist of his cybernetic arms, Acton broke the Edull’s neck.
He dragged the body back into the dark of the tunnel. Over the alien’s body, he met Sage’s gaze. He half expected to see horror, but she just nodded, a resolved, no-nonsense look in her eyes.
Acton nodded his head in return, and together, they darted out of the tunnel. They ducked behind a stack of boxes. The crates were overflowing with metal scrap.
He pointed and Sage nodded. Keeping low, they ran to the next set of boxes.
They were close to one of the construction lines, and Sage muffled a gasp. Up close, the bots were huge and monstrous. Each one was a different design—some with tracks, some with wheels, others with multiple legs.
All of them included lots of weapons.
Another Edull came close, his robes flapping around his body. Acton heard the alien’s rasping breathing. Sinking lower, he pulled Sage down and they waited, tense.
“We need this batch of bots ready today,” the Edull rasped. “They’re transporting them to the battle arena tonight.”
There was a muffled response from whoever he was talking with.
Battle arena? Acton looked at the huge bots. He had a very bad feeling about this.
Once the Edull was gone, he took Sage’s hand and tugged her out of cover. They moved close to the cells.
They moved behind another stack of more scrap parts, but as they circled around them, they bumped straight into an Edull guard.
The alien’s beady, black eyes widened, and he sucked in a shocked breath through the valve in his mask.
Drak.
Before Acton could move, Sage leaped on the Edull, taking the alien down.
“Bastard,” she whispered harshly.
Drak. They had to stop him from raising the alarm. Acton went down on one knee and pressed his hands to the man’s torso, keeping him pinned. He used his power to tear off the Edull’s mask. The guard started to choke, clutching at his throat.
But Acton didn’t let up. Finally, the Edull slumped.
Sage moved back, swallowing. “God.”
Acton lifted the body and slid it inside the nearest crate, covering the Edull with scrap. Then he ducked back down. “Sage?”
She burrowed against him, her hands clutching at his skin. “I’m fine.”
He let himself hold her for a second, then turned his head. His gaze fell on another stack of crates right beside them. He stiffened.
“What?” she whispered.
He just stared, not believing what he saw. She turned her head before he could stop her.
She hissed in a breath and pressed a hand to her mouth. “Are those—?”
“Yes.”
These crates weren’t full of metal scrap, they were filled with body parts.
Acton identified limbs, strips of flesh, hair. Sage made a gagging noise, and he pulled her face into his chest. “Breathe.”
He scanned the nearby containers and confirmed that there were several boxes containing organic parts. When he looked at the closest workbenches, he saw several bots were having organic parts and organs added to their design.
He pressed his lips together. Sage was right, the Edull were monsters.
He pulled in a deep breath. “Sage, we need to free the prisoners. Now.” Before they ended up being used for parts.
Her jaw was tight, but she nodded.
His woman was made of steel under her skin. They headed toward the cells, and when they reached the first one, the people inside looked at them with dull gazes.
“We’re going to get you out,” Sage whispered.
Acton snapped the lock off the cell door. He moved along to the next ones, doing the same. One, two, three.
“Wait until we cause a diversion,” he said. “Then run for the tunnels.”
Realizing the cage doors were open, a few of the people stirred.
At the next cell, Sage stilled. Acton stepped up behind her.
A young girl—in dirt-covered clothes—rose slowly. She had a fall of straight, black hair, pretty, dark eyes, and pale skin.
“Grace,” Sage breathed.
The girl tilted her head, her hands clenched into fists. She nodded. “You’re from the Helios.”
Sage nodded. “We’re here to get you out.”
“I’m not going anywhere without my mom.”
Acton almost smiled. Clearly on Earth, they bred toughness into their women young.
“We will find your mother,” he said.
The girl eyed him and his enhancements. Her gaze was bold and direct. The Edull hadn’t broken this young girl. She gave them a small nod.
She moved to the cell door, and Acton grabbed the lock, twisted it off—
A huge force punched into his lower back.
“Acton!” He heard Sage grunt, and then a scuffling sound. “Let me go.”
Acton was hit again, and he slammed into the bars of the cage.
“Stop it,” Sage yelled.
Inside, the girl was watching him, her eyes wide. He saw one of her hands clench into a fist.
Another hit to his back and pain tore through his body. His legs gave out, and he slid down the bars. He had internal damage now, and his systems were working hard to try and heal what it could.
When he turned his head, he saw several Edull. One was holding some sort of piston-driven weapon that he punched into Acton’s body.
Another Edull was holding Sage. She twisted in his grip until the alien shook her and snarled.
Acton gritted his teeth. The sandsucker would regret putting his hands on her.
“They’ll both be good for parts,” the Edull who’d attacked him rasped. “I’m going to enjoy pulling the cyborg apart. Lock them up.”
His gaze met Sage’s. Her eyes were wide and panicked.
I’ll get you out. I promise.
Chapter Sixteen
Sage lifted her feet and kicked as hard as she could. Her anger outweighed her fear. She jerked her elbow back, and heard her Edull captor grunt.
“Leave her alone,” a young voice cried.
Grace flew at the Edull, clawing at the alien’s mask. The Edull’s arm shot out and grabbed the girl’s robes. He shoved Grace hard and she fell to the ground.
“Bastard.” Sage swiveled and kicked his thigh. He staggered. She landed a punch to his face and felt a satisfying crunch.
He dropped her and she spun. Her gaze fell on Acton.
He was collapsed on the ground, not moving. Her heart leaped into her throat.
Two Edull tried to heave him up.
She had to help him.
Suddenly, a weight hit Sage from behind, and she found herself on her knees on the ground. Her arms were wrenched behind her back.
“Behave, or I’ll knock you out,” an Edull rasped in her ear.
She sagged and saw another Edull guard lifting Grace by the back of her clothes. The girl kicked and snarled.
The other two Edull started dragging Acton away.
“Where are you taking him?” Sage demanded.
Her captor didn’t answer. She and Grace were shoved inside a cell. Sage was stripped of her gear and weapons. Grace scuttled toward the back of the cell, glaring at the Edull.
The door clanged shut, and Sage curled her fingers around the bars. She stared at Acton’s lax form.
“What are you doing with him?” she yelled.
One Edull turned back, his breathing harsh. “We’re going to use him for parts.”
Nausea hit her, and she watched until she lost sight of Acton. A sob sat trapped in her th
roat.
“Are you okay?”
Sage pulled in a breath and turned to Grace. The young girl had such a pretty face, even with it streaked with dirt and lined with concern.
Sage had to be strong for this girl, who’d already been through so much. She crouched in front of Grace. “I’m okay. Are you all right?”
Grace nodded.
“Grace, I’m Sage McAlister from the Helios.”
The girl swallowed and tears welled in her eyes. She quickly dashed them away. “It’s nice to meet you, Sage. It’s been kind of…lonely.”
Sage reached out and hugged the girl fiercely. Grace tensed for a second, then threw her arms around Sage, burying her face in Sage’s neck.
“I’m going to get you out of here,” Sage promised.
Grace shook her head. “I’m not leaving without my mom.”
“We’ll find her. Acton and I aren’t alone, and his friends will be here soon.” She sure hoped she wasn’t lying.
Grace nodded.
Rising, Sage looked through the bars, chewing on her lip.
“You’re worried about him,” the young girl said.
“I am. He’s strong and powerful, but he needs me.”
And she was locked in a cell, deep in the bowels of this Edull nightmare. God, it was a terrible time to realize that she was head over heels for the cyborg.
“We need a plan.” Her voice wavered, despair like acid in her chest. They were trapped, with no weapons, and no way to contact Magnus and the others.
She couldn’t let the Edull win. She dropped her head in her hands. She needed to be strong for Acton, for Grace.
The girl touched Sage’s shoulder. Then Grace shifted her loose sleeve and held up a thin strip of wire.
Sage frowned.
“I can pick the lock,” Grace said. “I’ve done it before.”
Sage blinked. “Really?”
The girl nodded. “I’ve been snooping around and sneaking out to look for my mom.”
Sage smiled. “That’s awesome, and very brave.”
The girl gave her an answering smile. They moved to the door of the cell, and Grace slipped her slender hands through the bars and started to work on the lock.
Sage kept watch, making sure none of the guards came too close. Then she heard footsteps.
“Edull,” she whispered.
They stepped back and the guard gave them a glare as he passed by.
Cautiously, they went back to work, and Grace jimmied the lock, her tongue caught between her teeth.
God, she was so young. Sage wanted to stroke her hair. She should never have been through this terrible situation. She should be in school, playing, laughing, learning.
“How old are you?” Sage asked.
“Eight.”
She seemed older. “Have you seen your mom?”
A flash of sadness crossed Grace’s face. “Yes. Only a glimpse. She protected me, but they separated us. She’s here somewhere, though, I know it.”
Sage brushed Grace’s cheek gently. “We’ll find her. I promise.”
Click.
The lock opened. Grace and Sage grinned at each other. They quickly slipped out, closing the cell door behind them.
“That way.” Grace pointed. “We need to find mom.”
They quickly hurried down the line of cells. Sage peered inside each one at the bedraggled people, and felt the air of hopelessness.
So many prisoners with a terrible fate awaiting them.
Her gut churned. She wanted to rescue them all, but she couldn’t risk it right now. She knew it would take too long for them to pick each of the locks, but dammit, it hurt.
They kept searching. No Simone.
Grace’s face wavered, but then determination filled her. “We keep looking.”
The next cell held two males. The following one held a family group. There was only one more cell.
It held a lone figure, who sat against the wall, shoulders slumped. Tangled, black hair covered the prisoner’s face.
“Hey,” Sage called out softly.
The woman lifted her head. Her face was badly bruised, but it was clearly Simone. The woman stiffened. “Grace?”
“Mom.”
Simone shot to her feet.
“Mom!” The little girl picked at the lock, fighting to get it open, her hands shaking. Simone reached through the bars and grabbed the girl’s hands.
“Baby girl.”
“We’ve come to get you out,” Grace said.
Life flared in Simone’s dark eyes. “Grace.” She cupped her daughter’s cheeks, and two tears slid down Grace’s cheeks.
“After,” Sage said. “Grace, finish picking the lock. We need to move.”
Grace got back to work and Sage met Simone’s gaze. The other woman nodded.
Sage heard a sound. An Edull guard wandered closer, in profile to them. She tensed.
Shit. They had nowhere to hide.
Then he turned away without spotting them, and she let out a breath.
“You’re from the Helios,” Simone murmured.
“Sage McAlister. I was part of the medical team. I came to get you both out.”
“You’re alone?”
“My man is with me.” Worry was like a punch to her belly. “The Edull took him. There are others with us, but we got separated.”
The cell door clicked open. Simone pushed out of the cell and swept her daughter off her feet.
“Love you, baby girl.” The woman’s hands were shaking. Grace clung tightly to her mother, her face buried in Simone’s neck.
“We need to find a way out,” Sage said.
Simone set her daughter down and nodded.
“That way,” Grace said.
But they’d only taken a few steps when an agonized groan filled the air, rising above the rattle and crash of construction.
Sage faltered. “Acton.”
She swiveled, her feet moving before she thought her actions through.
“Sage—” Simone’s fingers brushed her shoulder.
Another pained sound that speared Sage like a lance. She crouched behind a box and peered around the edge.
Bile filled the back of her throat.
Acton was stretched out on a bench, held in place by some torturous-looking chains. Several Edull circled him.
Grace and Simone dropped down beside her, but Sage couldn’t look away from Acton.
One Edull held some sort of tool, and was digging into one of Acton’s cybernetic arms.
Sage must have moved because Simone grabbed her. “You’ll get yourself imprisoned or killed.”
Acton’s body arched and he groaned. Sage bit down on her lip.
Then the Edull set the tool down, gripped Acton’s arm, and wrenched it off. Acton jerked, his roar of pain making Sage shudder.
Tears burned in her eyes. “We have to help him.” She turned to Simone. “He’s mine and I love him.” Oh, God. She loved him, which left her both exhilarated and afraid. “He’s suffered so much in his past, and I’m not leaving him.”
When she looked back, she saw the Edull grabbing more tools.
“Okay, let’s think this through.” Simone turned and Sage saw the intelligence burning in the woman’s eyes. “We need weapons, or something. A diversion?”
Grace’s eyes lit up. “I have an idea.”
The girl weaved through the crates and boxes. She led them to a pile of boxes filled with rows of bottles. The clear containers were filled with strange fluids of different colors.
“We can build a bomb,” Grace announced.
Sage blinked. “What?”
The girl crouched and started studying the fluids, picking some bottles and discarding others. “These are chemicals the Edull use.”
Wide-eyed, Sage looked at Simone.
The woman gave her a slightly pained smile. “I’m a chemist. My daughter has a genius IQ, and a knack for trouble.”
“Once, I blew up the science lab at school,” Grace said. �
��Accidentally.”
Simone made a humming noise.
“And I might have mixed a few of these before.” Grace smiled. “They had no idea what caused the crates to explode.”
Sage blew out a breath and glanced back to Acton. She could just glimpse him through the crates. His big body was shaking.
“Okay, let’s build a bomb.”
Grace was already mixing things together, and Simone leaned in and helped. Sage listened to the pair murmur to each other, and the fizzing sound of chemicals mixing. Every few seconds, she glanced around to make sure they weren’t being spotted.
“Right, back up,” Simone said.
Sage spotted some large, heavy-duty crates not too far away. She raced over to them, and dropped down behind them.
Then she watched Grace pull a device from her pocket.
A flame came out of the end of the device. The girl threw it toward the chemicals and it arched through the air.
Simone grabbed her daughter’s hand, and mother and daughter ran to Sage, diving beside her.
Sage gripped her thighs. “When will—?”
Boom.
The sound was deafening. Rock and debris flew everywhere. Sage dived on top of the others and squeezed her eyes closed. Holy. cow.
Chapter Seventeen
All Acton was aware of was pain, heat, and fire. His systems were badly damaged. He yanked on his remaining arm and legs, but while the chains clanked, he couldn’t get free.
Around him, the Edull were panicking. Several were injured, and others were running to find their attackers.
Acton strained, pulling on the chains. Pain throbbed through him and he roared. The chains were designed to hold strong bots, and could easily hold cyborgs.
He flopped back on the bench, panting. Where was Sage? Was she okay? He needed to get to her.
He would not allow anyone to hurt her again.
Then suddenly, a hand ran along his shoulder, and he jolted. Sage. Perhaps the pain was causing him to hallucinate.
“Oh, Acton.” There were tears in her eyes. She pressed something to the bleeding wound on his shoulder.
She was real. He watched her pull herself together and turn into the no-nonsense paramedic. She dealt with his injury with efficient moves, holding some scrap of fabric she’d obviously found somewhere.
Centurion: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #3 Page 13