The chip clinked in a metal bowl. The woman picked it up and examined it in the light. She spoke several words in a foreign language, his ability to understand and speak in the languages of Earth gone with the chip.
She stared down at him, eyebrows raised, as if waiting for him to do something. How was he supposed to react? He refused to talk in his native language, give her any more information about him and his race than the DNA samples she surely already had.
Her words grew louder as her eyes widened and her nostrils flared. She was mad. After throwing the bowl containing his chip onto a tray, she grabbed the cutting tool again, his blood dripping off as she held it in front of his face.
She screamed at him, her face red. Pressing the blade to his throat, she bared her teeth. She pushed it down, puncturing his skin. The sting was like fire, a burn he couldn’t escape. But he had to.
He reached up and grabbed her wrist, yanking it away from him. With his other hand, he cupped the back of her head and smashed his forehead to her nose. She withdrew and slapped her hands to her face. But, it didn’t knock her down as he’d hoped. Sitting up, he reached for one leg, unbuckling the strap before she came at him again, yelling, with the blade in her hand. He backhanded her before she was close enough to use it on him. She flew onto her rear, and he tore off the other strap. He was free, but he wasn’t leaving until he was sure the woman couldn’t hurt Katrina again.
Yanking a red canister from its holder on the wall, he bashed her head with it. She slumped to the ground. Finally. As much as he longed to slit her throat, he decided to leave her to her own torture. He lifted her onto the bed and strapped her in. Tight. All he had to do was find some Erebus.
Ready to get out of the place as much as he would Gaspra, he yanked open the door. When he saw the multitude of beady red eyes focused on him, he closed it again. Cosmos, he’d almost rushed into a swarm of Erebus without any weapons. Unlike Katrina, he preferred using a plazer, giving him the ability to keep some distance between him and the vile creatures. But he didn’t have his favorite weapon on Terra, and had no idea what the woman had done with his bow and arrows. He rifled through the cupboards of the small room. No luck finding the Alliance technology, but he did find Katrina’s zuranium blade. If he made it to her, he’d give it back. First, he had a bunch of Erebus to kill.
Sucking in a deep breath, he opened the door and prepared for battle. He had no one else to keep safe. Just himself. Launching out of the room, he jumped on the back of the closest Erebus. It roared, swinging him around, trying to get him off. He slammed the blade into its trunk, and the creature fell to the ground, its tentacles still undulating as it died. Its poisonous tar leaked all over the floor, leaving a sticky mess ready to kill him if he wasn’t mindful of his footing. One down, yet many more to go.
***
Katrina eyed the sleeping green heap on the floor. As much as she wanted to kick the girl, smash her head in until she was dead, she couldn’t. Faith hadn’t asked to be created. She hadn’t chosen to be a cross between the most vile creature in the universe and Katrina’s own ancestors. No, Katrina’s anger was with the woman who had created the girl, produced other Erebus-like creatures, then let them loose on the world.
In a strange way, the girl reminded her of her adopted sister, Gwenodyn. They looked like they’d be about the same age, even though Isabel had only acquired her DNA in the last couple of days. Could the girl be related, though? If the crazy woman had fused Katrina’s DNA with that of an Erebus, Faith was some type of clone. Her sister from the crazy bitch.
She bent down, trying to get a closer look at Faith’s features. How could she look so normal, yet like the enemy at the same time? The girl didn’t have completely red eyes ready to burn a hole through her, or any poison dripping from her mouth. Yet, she had no body hair, only the fuzzy leaves on the top of her head. She could easily pass as just another race if brought to the attention of the Alliance. But not on Earth. She didn’t belong on this planet.
“You’re blocking my light.”
Katrina jumped. The girl had woken up without a stretch or a yawn, the usual signs someone had gotten enough sleep and was ready to speak. Instead, she was more like a com unit turning on, though even they took a second or two to load. “Sorry.” She took another step away from Faith, wary of what other surprises she might reveal. “Did you sleep well?”
The girl snapped her eyes open, her irises flashing from red to an eerie green. “Oh, I don’t sleep.” She rose to her feet, her head spinning in an almost complete circle as she surveyed their surroundings. “I do have a period of rest, though. Isabel told me to close my eyes during those times because she didn’t like to see me staring at nothing.”
“Interesting.” She’d come across some Defenders who slept with their eyes open in the lounge. It had been very creepy, and she still suspected they knew what was going on around them. “Did she give you the clothes, too?”
Katrina had come to accept she had no choice in being naked, but she wouldn’t do so by choice, not outside her own room.
“Yes, but I asked for them.” Faith pulled at the bottom of her shirt. “Isabel told me I was more human than Erebus, so I thought I should dress like a human, too.”
“Yet she won’t let me wear any clothes.” Amazing how that worked.
“She said she wanted to debase you, cut you down so you’d agree to what she wanted you to do.”
“And what does she want me to do?” Katrina eyed the girl, hoping for an answer. “Why did she put you in here with me?”
“Information, I guess.” Faith sat down then lay on her back again. “She seems to think you have some sort of magic formula that gives you superhuman abilities.” She shrugged on the floor. “I don’t think you do, or you’d be out of here by now.”
True, though the first opportunity she had, she’d smash Isabel’s face in then feed her to a colony of real Erebus, not the cross-pollinated human type creatures she’d fought earlier.
Faith, on the other hand, confused her. She wasn’t human, but neither was Katrina. Like an awkward child, she was trying to find her place in the world, a planet where she would never belong. Yet, with her Erebus blood, would the Alliance accept her? She seemed harmless enough. Though Katrina still didn’t understand why Faith had been locked in the cell with her.
The girl closed her eyes. A sign she didn’t want to talk anymore? Or had she not gotten enough food from the lights yet? Well, until someone else came into the room, Katrina had no idea what to do. She couldn’t plan anything because she didn’t know what to expect. And her gut told her Faith was not a threat. So, she lay beside the girl, staying off her bruised hip. Her stomach rumbled, and she eyed the brown paper bag. Should she chance eating whatever was in there? No. The food was likely drugged. She pulled her knees closer to her chest and yanked part of the blanket over her butt. She’d much rather have someone bring her clothing than edible food.
Faith jumped, slamming her palms on the concrete floor. Then she screamed.
Katrina’s heart raced. What had happened? Had she dozed off and someone entered their cell without her noticing? Lifting her upper body with her arm, she glanced around. Nope. They were still alone. Leaning closer to her GMO sister, she tried to figure out what had made the girl react like that. “Faith, are you okay?”
But, the girl didn’t answer, only squeezed her eyes tighter, whimpering.
Katrina touched her shoulder. “Faith, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?”
The girl opened her eyes, her gaze cloudy. “What?”
“Are you okay?” She wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how. “You screamed. I thought something was wrong.”
Faith twitched her head and blinked a couple times. “What do you mean? How’d I get back here? Isabel was guiding me down a hallway. Then she turned me over to a man with yellow hair and orange skin. Said he could have the useless alien. Then I woke up here. What happened?”
“You didn’t go anywhere.”
Katrina tried to hold in a smile. “You’ve been here all along. You were just dreaming.”
“No.” Faith scratched her temple. “I would have to sleep to dream, and I don’t do that.”
She couldn’t stop the grin. “Seems you’re more humanoid than you thought.”
“But it seemed so real. I was there. I could smell the musty hall, hear the old man licking his lips. I was terrified. She said I was useless because I don’t look enough like you. Said I was a waste of air.” Faith pulled her knees to her chest. “That’s why she locked me in here in the first place.”
“I see.” So Isabel had created a life she didn’t have use for. Nice. How many others were there like her? Katrina touched the girl’s knee. “I assure you, it didn’t happen. You’re safe here with me.” She didn’t add the for now. She couldn’t guess what would occur the next time someone entered the room.
“Why?” Faith wrinkled her nose. “Why would you want to keep me safe? Isabel is trying to create beings who look like you but can transform into those monsters with the red eyes. That’s what I’m supposed to be, but I screwed up when my body was developing.”
Katrina didn’t know what to say. She felt her jaw drop as she stared at the girl. Was that what Isabel had told her? That would be devastating for any child to hear from their parent. She couldn’t think of any other way to describe their relationship. Faith was a being, even if she hadn’t turned out the way Isabel had hoped. Actually, Katrina was glad she hadn’t. Someone who looked like her but could transform into an Erebus was bad news on Earth, and for the Galactic Alliance. Besides, she already had a bad enough reputation with the Defenders, and probably with her parents after skipping out on the ceremony.
“Because, though we may not look alike, we share DNA. And that makes us family.” Might as well start fixing it all now.
Chapter Seven
Jager jerked his head to the side, dreading the spittle of Erebus poison reaching down to his face. He was going to die by Erebus poison, just as Isabel had back on the table, but he didn’t have to go without a fight. One of the ugly creatures held down each of his arms and legs, staring at him with its beady red eyes. Another hunkered over his chest, ready to deliver the fatal blow, or spit in his case. The tarry saliva hit his cheek, sizzling as it burned through his flesh. He writhed under the creatures’ hold, trying to escape the liquid fire to no avail. These Erebus were strong, of original descent rather than the lab-created creatures he’d met earlier. And while he’d survived the swarm on Hoggins, he didn’t expect to leave Terra alive.
He’d never see Katrina again, couldn’t be sure she’d survive either. They’d had one amazing moment together, but that was all they were allowed, the only happiness he’d ever found. At least he’d had the chance, though, had finally stopped denying how he felt about her like every other time they’d been face-to-face. And he understood her, could accept the reasoning behind her frustrating actions. Yet, he refused to accept the end of his life until he knew she was safe. She had to live through this mission. He’d already lived longer than he’d expected thanks to Bryce, but Jager was supposed to save his daughter now, not put her in further danger.
With a growl, he yanked his legs loose from the grip of the Erebus then kicked them. He tried to roll, to knock off the one trying to kill him, but it’s weight was too much. The two he’d kicked away grabbed him again, holding his ankles tighter than before. The one on top called out before it fell toward him. Cosmos, he was dead.
The weight of the creatures lifted off him, as if he was floating, traveling to the next life. When he opened his eyes to take in the journey, he saw an unwelcome face staring down at him. Jace.
“Do you have a death wish or something, Lieutenant?” Naf shoved the other squad leader aside and reached a hand out for him. “Because every time we have to come to your rescue, we always find you in a cluster of Erebus.”
“I’m more concerned about why he’s naked.” Jace crossed his arms and raised his abnormal brows. “And where in Gaspra is Katrina?”
Jager took the outstretched hand and jumped to his feet. “You haven’t found her yet?” What were they waiting around for? He had to get to her.
Naf halted him with a hand on his chest. “Not so fast, there, naked Defender. You need to get cleaned up before you go anywhere. And from that wound behind your ear, it looks like your trans chip is missing.”
He touched the spot Isabel had dug the blade into, his fingers meeting warm sticky blood. With the other Defenders each having their own trans chip, he’d understood them and nearly forgotten his had been removed. But his needs didn’t matter. He shoved past the new leader of Echo squad. “She’s locked up in a cage somewhere. Who knows what they’ve done to her.”
Someone grabbed his arm. Jager twisted around, his fist in the air, ready to smash the face of whoever held him back.
Jace caught his hand. “Listen, they’ll find her. You come with me. I’ll find you some soap or even redip to wash yourself. And I’ll comb this place for some clothes so we’re not exposed to your nasty nakedness any longer.”
Jager eyed the other two squad leaders. Standing with the rest of the Defenders in a half circle, they blocked his way. “Fine.” He crossed his arms. “But don’t stand around here staring at my cock. Go find her!”
After they left, Jace wet a cloth under a long-necked tap. “So, thanks for leaving your unqualified squad members with me. They’re really helpful when they turn and run from an Erebus instead of trying to kill it.” He tossed the cloth to Jager.
“I know.” Jager ran the material over his face, neck, and shoulders, trying to wipe off the Erebus saliva first. His own blood wasn’t trying to eat through his skin. “But no matter how much training they go through, how many times we run simulations, they don’t try. They depend on Katrina and me to keep them alive.”
“Have you mentioned that to Granil?” Unfolding a blanket, Jace covered the disintegrating body of the woman who had abducted Jager and Katrina and tried to kill him.
“Many times.” Rinsing the cloth off, Jager cringed at the amount of Erebus waste still on him. “She blames Katrina. Says I have to get her to work as part of a team instead of doing all the work.”
“And I know how well those conversations have gone.” Jace tossed him a green shirt and pair of pants. “Here. Put these on. Do I need a set for Katrina, too?”
“Yes.” The thought of all the other Defenders seeing her without any clothes left his stomach in knots. “Why haven’t they found her yet?”
When the call of the Erebus echoed down the hall toward them, his blood froze. Finding Katrina naked no longer mattered, so long as they found her alive. Jager tossed the cloth aside, threw on the loose-fitting clothing, then rushed out the door.
***
“So, you used to live on this planet. Then you went to your mom’s home planet where the Erebus attacked, but you survived.” Faith knitted her brows. “And now you kill Erebus with the Defenders. But you don’t want to kill me.”
Katrina smiled at the girl as she counted off the statements on her fingers. “Yeah, that’s pretty much it. And I would never kill my sister. I promise you that.”
“But, you have another sister, who’s not really your sister. I don’t get that.” She wrinkled her nose the same way Gwenodyn did.
“Both her parents were killed by the Erebus, so my mom decided to take her in, give her a home. She’s not really my sister, but I call her that because my parents are raising her.”
“But I’m your sister because we share DNA?”
“Yes.” Katrina nodded. The girl seemed to piece together her story faster than the members of her squad understood their job was to rid the universe of Erebus.
“So, if you like your family, why do you not visit them?”
A crash in the hall interrupted her answer, stopped her from having to think of one. Faith backpedaled to the far corner of the cell. The lights went out, but red, laser-like beads of light glowed a
ll around. Though the dim glow, Katrina could see the faint outline of large figures all around the cell. They seemed to float along to the front of the room, closer to the door. What was going on?
She reached behind to grab Faith, find out if she knew what the creatures were, what was happening, but the girl had disappeared, the bars no longer surrounding them. Katrina kept backing up, hoping to find a wall, make herself small and unnoticeable until she could see. “Faith?” Had her GMO sister found a way out, or had the creatures at the front of the room taken her?
An arrow swooshed by her left cheek and hit the wall beside her, knocking dust into her face. She coughed then waved her hands in the air. “I’m here. Don’t shoot me.”
Several of the creatures turned to look at her, their red eyes sighted on her. They were Erebus, another new generation. And now she had their attention. Cosmos!
She had nowhere to run, and without the bars to protect her, she hoped Defenders fought on the other side, that they would reach her before any Erebus tried to end her life.
“I see you, Katrina.” Aram waved at her but did nothing to stop the creature charging from the side.
She dropped to the ground to avoid the Erebus. Zuranium-tipped arrows shot all around. With her head covered, she didn’t see the being dropping. It landed on her back, knocking the wind out of her. She gasped but couldn’t catch her breath, didn’t have the ability to move. Her ears started to ring, the sound growing louder with every attempted breath. Her chest burned with the desperate need to inhale. She was going to die. Not because an Erebus had poisoned her, but simply because it fell on her after being shot. And her brainless squad member didn’t know enough to get it off.
Then, all at once, the weight disappeared, the heavy body falling to her side. She rolled over.
Jace stared down at her, his eyes wide. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.” She planted her palms on the ground, needing time to get oxygen “Can I have a minute?”
Jager (Galactic Defenders Book 2) Page 6