Max stared at her. Silence grew thick between them. He finally dipped his chin and broke eye contact.
They continued their ascent.
“Did anyone think to bring water? I could really use some. Either that or a cold beer?” Bree kept her voice soft.
Max dug a bottle of water out of his pack and handed it to Bree, who gulped half down before thanking him. The cold water tasted so good. Had to be the best fucking water she’d ever had.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then grabbed the railing to pull herself forward. Her foot slipped on the next step.
Max grabbed her arm to keep her from tumbling down the stairs.
Bree looked at her uncle. Make that uncles. There were two Maxes now. Damn it.
Everything went dark except for a tiny circle of light.
“What the fuck did you put in that water?” Bree steadied herself with one hand on the railing. “You motherfucking dickwad! What did you do?”
“Bree, keep your voice down. It’s just something that Ipeshe said would help you.” Max’s eyes narrowed and he rubbed his chin.
“What is happening? Tell me what you are experiencing,” Ipeshe demanded.
Max shifted up a few steps, allowing the medical consultant room to stand beside Bree.
“God help the two of you…” Bree’s legs gave way and she slumped down on the step. Her left hand maintained a death grip on the railing.
“Is that supposed to happen?” Max asked.
He sounded very far away.
Aww, hell… she was slipping away again. Bree bit down hard on her lip, trying to maintain consciousness. It didn’t work.
Everything went black.
And then Bree was floating. She looked down and saw Kozeb strapped to a chair.
What the hell? How’d I get here?
Blackness.
“Bree, are you ok?”
Bree forced her eyes open a crack and saw Max and Ipeshe staring at her.
Okay… I’m still on the stairs.
Still woozy, but no longer floating up by the ceiling, she let her eyes close again.
What in the holy shit is going on? She sent the thought out to Zuhl because she couldn’t find her voice yet.
“You are having visions,” Zuhl answered out loud.
So much for keeping this news from Max.
Despite her tightly closed eyes, Bree could see - no, sense - Max and Ipeshe’s surprise at Zuhl’s statement.
“No shit, Sherlock. Why am I having visions? And, what exactly do they mean? Am I a freakin’ psychic now? Or just psychotic?”
“You are not psychotic. This must be related to the changes in your brain. The medicine I put in your water was to help balance your brain neurochemistry and create greater coherence of your brains waves. Do you notice any improvement?” Ipeshe asked.
“Sure. Yes, I’d say that collapsing and having fucking visions is much better. Thank you.” Despite her hushed tone, Bree’s irritation was loud and clear.
She looked at each member of their group - thankfully, seeing only one of each. Her vision was sharper than normal. Bree opted not to mention these improvements yet. Or the annoying questions rattling around in her mind: why was alien medicine helping her? Why was she having visions?
We will find the answers. For now though we need to get Kozeb before he leaves. Are you up to it? Zuhl sent to Bree through their still active mind sync.
“Of course I’m up to it! Don’t you even think you’re doing this without me,” Bree answered out loud as she stood.
She braced for the dizziness, but it didn’t come. She rolled her shoulders and wiped her hands on her jeans.
Still thirsty, Bree debated the wisdom of drinking the rest of the laced water. Even though it had decreased the pain in her brain, it also brought on the creepy out-of-body visions.
No more alien-medicine-laced water.
She continued up the steps and the group followed. She sensed their trepidation. Except the goons; the goons seemed excited.
Bree pulled herself up one step after another until she’d reached the landing in front of the door with a big number three on it.
She waited for the rest of the group to gather on the landing. “Which way? Anyone know?”
“To your left. Four doors down the hall on the right.” The answer came from one of the goons.
“Are they all still in there?” Max asked.
“Yes, two Guards and Kozeb.”
“I have blocked your tracker as I promised,” Zuhl said.
Bree let out a big breath and gave a quick nod. She pointed at the Guards. “Once we get to his office door, you two pop in and get the Guards. Then I’ll go in.” She pointed to Max, Zuhl, and Ipeshe. “You three come in behind me.”
Zuhl and Max exchanged looks.
Bree definitely needed to figure out what was going on between those two. Right now, she wanted to kick alien ass. She hoped she could trust the Guards about Kozeb’s location - of course she didn’t exactly have any other intel to go on.
An image of the hall with the fourth door on the right brightly lit up popped into Bree’s mind. Her intuition had always been strong, but this was different.
One more thing to figure out later.
It was time to get the creepy little bastard alien.
23
Bree looked at the group standing with her in the stairwell: Max, Ipeshe, Commander Intrusive, and two KG. She considered running in the opposite direction, but she needed to stop Kozeb. Motley crew or not, they’d have to do. She couldn’t do this on her own, so she’d have to rely on these blasted aliens.
Son of a bastard, this could go wrong in so many ways.
It is a simple plan and we are honor bound to help. It will work.
With a deep breath in, Bree opened the door, then looked in both directions before slipping into the hallway. She hugged tight to the wall opposite the stairwell and shifted a few steps to the left, making room for the others to move in behind her.
Once everyone was in place, she crept down the hall, gripping the metal pipe in her left hand and her right resting on her holstered gun. A quick glance confirmed the others moving in perfect formation behind her. Maybe this would work.
As she edged closer to their target, Bree eyed the closed door. No visible hinges and the doorknob on the left indicated the door would swing in and to the right. With her back pressed against the wall, she pointed to Max, herself, and a position on the other side of the door - in that order.
Max nodded in understanding.
Next, Bree pointed to Ipeshe and Zuhl, then signaled with a fisted hand out to her side and up in the air, her elbow at a right angle.
What does that mean?
It means freeze, Bree sent back to Zuhl. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the realization that ESP would be far more effective than hand signals the aliens didn’t understand. Hell, ESP might be better than hand signals even among humans. Max and I will go to the other side of the door. You and Ipeshe will stay on this side.
Understood. Thank you.
Bree dipped her chin, signaling to Max that she was ready to move. He pointed his gun at the door to cover her as she crossed the doorway. Safely in position on the other side of the door, Bree drew her weapon to return the favor. Max crossed the door and slid into place behind Bree.
Never mind. Who needed ESP when you worked with professionals?
Even though she’d only worked with Max a few times, they were in sync, moving like a choreographed dance. She and Scarecrow had had that connection when they’d worked together. Shit. She missed him.
The image of Kozeb restrained in an office chair flooded Bree’s mind. Her knees buckled, but she didn’t collapse. She holstered her pistol and bit down on her lip again; she couldn’t afford another blackout. She clenched her right hand, nails digging into her palm, and took a couple of deep breaths.
Focus!
Leaning on the wall, Bree closed her eyes to examine the image, pay
ing attention to the layout of the office, a large square room with a big desk in the far corner of the room facing the door. Kozeb sat behind the desk with a window behind him. Two empty chairs sat in front of the desk. The Karma goons stood to the side of the desk.
Bree sent the information about the room to Zuhl. Then added, the goons- er, Guards can go first and clear the way. Then I’ll open the door and go straight for Kozeb. You and Max come in behind me. I didn’t see anyone else in the vision so once the goons are cleared we should be good. Can you get the details to Ipeshe and the Guards? Of course, the vision of his office might just be my brain randomly misfiring.
I believe the visions are accurate and I’ve shared the information. Are you able to proceed? Your brain waves are spiking again, Zuhl sent.
I’ll be better once we do this. Guards go on two. The rest of us move on five. Bree sent to the alien, then looked at Max, held up five fingers, and pointed to the door.
As soon as everyone in her group nodded their understanding, Bree held a closed fist in the air and raised her index finger. One.
Please don’t let this be some type of trap.
Two. Second finger went up. The guards disappeared. At least I can trust Max to have my back.
Three.
Four. May the Spirits be with us.
And, five. Bree grabbed the door knob and twisted.
Time slowed - as it always did during dangerous missions. Except this time, it slowed way down.
The room looked exactly the way it had in her vision. That’s so fucking weird.
The Guards were gone. Kozeb sat alone.
Heavy footsteps fell in directly behind her - Max. Behind him, two lighter sets - the two Kusharians.
Bree’s muscles burned with power and strength. She was ready to kick ass.
“Don’t move, you puss-filled asswipe.” Bree charged straight for Kozeb behind his desk.
“What is-?”
Her pipe raised over her head, Bree brought it down hard on the top of the fuckwad’s shoulder with an oh-so-satisfying thwack. She’d have bashed his head in, but she needed information from him.
The bastard grabbed his shoulder and looked at Bree with narrowed eyes. “How did you get out? What have you done?”
“You don’t get to ask the questions, assface!” Bree moved back a half step so Zuhl could put restraints on Kozeb. She slid a questioning glance at Zuhl. “How do we know he won’t pull another disappearing act?”
“He can no longer communicate with the Guards via his brain comp. I have disabled that,” Zuhl answered.
Bree shook her head. “And you didn’t think of doing that before? We could have avoided this entire clusterfuck.”
“I did not understand the extent of his betrayal. Or that he had corrupt Karma Guards working with him. I apologize.”
“How ‘bout we assume this prick is well connected and highly motivated to get away. If you’ve got any other special alien tricks up your sleeve to keep him here, use them.” Anger rushed hot through Bree’s body, feeding her muscles with more energy. Ready to explode - like her insides were bigger than her skin. Everything felt too tight. Especially her brain.
“He’s secured. He can’t go anywhere unless we allow it,” Zuhl said, then silently to Bree, would you like me to initiate a Bizhuet on him?
Bree pursed her lips and answered out loud, “not necessary. I’ll get this sack of shit talking.” She looked at the Kusharian in the chair and wiggled her brows, curling one side of her mouth up. “Right?” She swung the pipe hard, hitting Kozeb in the arm.
This strike felt different.
Kozeb laughed.
The fucker laughed.
Bree drew her gun and pointed it at Kozeb’s head. “How about this, you fucking arrogant alien prick? You wanna laugh again?” Bree snarled.
“Our suits have Kranlo to protect us from Jha Dhulen strikes,” Ipeshe chimed in.
“I have no idea what you just said, but I’m gonna bet that a bullet will go right through that suit at this close range.” Bree pointed the gun down to Kozeb’s crotch. “You want me to blow your nuts off?” Bree looked up at Ipeshe. “Does he have balls? I mean, do Kusharian guys have a pair?”
“Our reproductive process is very different from humans or mammals in general. He does not… our males do not possess testicles or reproductive organs outside their bodies.”
“Huh, I’ll be damned. Ok. Well, nutless wonder, I still say a bullet’s gonna hurt like hell. You’ve got two choices. Answer my questions or I start shooting. And, before you ask, this one blocked my tracker so I’m free to shoot you.” Bree smiled at Kozeb. “And, I gotta tell ya, I’m feeling extremely pissed off right now and shooting you would really help me feel better. So, it’s up to you. I can shoot and then ask, or I can go straight to the questions. What’ll it be, fuckhead?”
Bree, you cannot shoot him. Zuhl’s mental voice went sharper than normal.
Actually, I can and I will if I need to. The agreement was that I get to handle Kozeb my way. This is my way, Bree sent back.
I would have no way to explain bullet wounds or his death by bullet wounds to the General. You could end up in the Karma Cocoons, despite my help.
You’ve blocked my tracker off. How would I go down for this? Unless you plan on ratting me out? Bree asked, losing her patience.
And her vision.
Shit. Not again.
I’ve blocked your tracker as I promised, but I won’t allow you to shoot him when we have other, less violent means of accessing the information. Less violent means. I’m still committed to my directive and helping your planet avoid the T’Lalz.
Just back the fuck off and let me do this. Trust me and let me do this my way.
Tired of waiting for Kozeb to talk, she put her finger on the trigger.
“One. If I get to three, I shoot. Two…” Bree’s finger twitched. Just enough to scare him, but not enough to fire a bullet.
Kozeb’s eyes went from the gun pointing at his dickless crotch up to Bree’s eyes. “What do you want to know?” he asked.
Bree’s team exhaled. Even Max. Oh for crying out loud, the big babies. Scarecrow wouldn’t have sweated that at all. He knew she used the same tactic on guys who were reluctant to talk. She’d never had to blow off anyone’s balls - yet. Of course, she’d never had her brain fucked with by alien zappers, been kidnapped, and nearly killed by a scumbag alien before either. Maybe they had a right to worry.
“Let’s start with, why did you fucking kidnap me and what were you doing to my brain?” Bree moved her finger off the trigger but kept the gun pointed between Kozeb’s legs. Despite this weasel’s lack of family jewels, he gulped and shrunk in his chair.
Max and Zuhl shared that fucking conspiratorial look again. What the fuck? She wanted to punch her uncle in the face.
“I knew that you wouldn’t stop investigating me and I needed to stop you. I planned to use your brain to run some final tests on our protocols…” Kozeb’s voice faded out.
The office faded out.
Oh, hell! Not another vision. Come on, focus on Kozeb’s voice.
“Needed… to see…”
Deep in another vision, a flash of Zuhl and Max, engaged in an intense conversation. Outside somewhere with Ipeshe and two goons nearby.
Shit! Was this a vision of her crew before they came in the building? Or something in the future? She floated above them, but couldn’t hear their words. More flashes of Zuhl and Max talking. Too fast to see or hear any detail.
God fucking damn it. What were they up to? Could she still trust Max? Her stomach roiled.
A loud whooshing noise brought Bree back to the present moment and the office. Her knees buckled. She put her free hand to her head. Wait, why did she have a free hand? Where was the pipe? She looked down and saw it on the floor by her feet.
Something cold touched her arm; Ipeshe had pushed the half-empty bottle of laced water at her.
Max stood on the other side of Kozeb with
his gun drawn.
“This shit has got to stop,” Bree mumbled.
Max nodded toward the bottle of water.
Bree clenched her jaw. She’d had plenty of arguments with Max over the years, but she’d never had reason to doubt his loyalties. Not until now. She bit back the rise of bile and squelched those crazy thoughts. Max would never do anything to harm her, would he?
He had changed. He was different since he’d left the military.
Damn, she missed Scarecrow. She knew without a doubt she could always trust him. Always. No matter what, Scarecrow had her back and she’d always had his.
Bree, you can still trust your uncle. He means you no harm. Neither do I. What you saw was the two of us discussing tactics before entering this building. Zuhl slid the thoughts in gently.
“What’s up with the looks you two keep exchanging?”
Max glanced at Bree. “What looks? Who are you talking to?”
Apparently she’d said that out loud by mistake. “Never mind. We need to finish up with the shit-faced weasel.” Bree glared at Max and pointed to Kozeb.
If Max had betrayed her, she’d tear him limb from limb and beat him bloody with said limbs. And Spirits help him when he crossed to the other side and his sister, Bree’s mother, got a hold of his sorry ass. She had no idea what damage one ghostly spirit could do to another, but her mother would find a way to make him pay in his afterlife.
Bree’s grip on her gun tightened. She barely resisted pointing it at Max.
Max’s jaw twitched.
“Please, drink this. I give you my honor that I have no ill intention. It will help you. You need this before your brain overloads again. It did help you in the stairwell.” Ipeshe looked at Bree. Or, perhaps more accurately, she looked through Bree’s eyes into her head. Maybe even her soul.
Bree blinked to stop the weird connection.
The laced water had somehow helped her. She probably wouldn’t have made it this far without the stupid shit. As much as she didn’t want any more alien drugs, Bree sighed and downed the remainder. She crumpled the plastic bottle and threw it down.
“If this shit does anything weird…”
Mind Sync Page 18