Page 5 of Marked Omega

“Over five hundred,” Dr. Lucian says after a few quick taps on his data slate. “This will do. We can use the small clearing just beyond those trees up ahead.”

He tilts the data slate so that Bishop can look. The screen is displaying a satellite map of the surrounding area.

“Good,” Bishop says with a nod.

He fishtails the transport to a gut-wrenching stop at the edge of a dark forest.

“Deakon, Chappel,” Bishop calls over his shoulder to the troops in the back, “get ready to disembark.”

I look behind me and watch as the two big men slide back the lid of a steel storage container positioned between them. From inside, they start drawing out weapons and gear to arm themselves.

However, this is not the kind of equipment I was expecting at all. There is a pair of massive restraints that are basically high tech handcuffs that look like they were designed for a gorilla. There is a massive shock collar and electro-wire netting. And to top it all off, the troopers pull two matching sniper rifles from the case and bandoliers of liquid filled darts.

Are those…tranquilizer guns?

I face forward again, and my heart is suddenly pumping double-time with a combination of fury and terror.

“What’s going on? This is supposed to be a rescue mission!” I shout. “You can’t seriously be considering trying to capture an Alpha!”

In the driver’s seat, Bishop is checking the magazine and chamber of his sidearm. He ignores my outburst, and barks an order to his men in the back seat.

“Deakon. Chappel. Helmets on.” He turns toward Dr. Lucian beside him. “You too, Doc.”

“Wait!” I shout again, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. “I’m not going out there until you tell me what’s going on! This is completely insane if you think—“

Dr. Lucian, helmet in hand, flashes me another grin, but this time there’s a hint of malice behind it.

“You have to understand,” he says cooly. “These Alphas are a valuable commodity, Lily. Just think of what we can learn if we are able to capture one and bring it back with us.”

My mouth feels dry. My throat tightens, making it difficult to squeeze the words out. When I finally speak, the words leave my mouth as barely a whisper.

“This isn’t really a rescue mission, is it?”

There are a series of clicks and hisses as the security troopers fasten their helmets into their protective suits. Sara is wide-eyed and trembling in her seat. Dr. Lucian gives me a phony apologetic look.

“I’m sorry for the duplicity,” he says. “But it was the only way to get you to come along, I’m afraid.”

“Get your helmet on, Doctor,” Bishop says, his voice distorted by the breathing apparatus covering his face. “We’re heading out.”

“No!” I cry, not even trying to conceal my panic anymore. “Sara and I don’t have our masks. And I’m not going out there until—“

“Enough!” Bishop barks. “Deakon. Chappel. Subdue the females.”

“Subdue? What the hell are you—“

Before I can get the words out, a heavy gloved hand falls on my shoulder, clamping me in place. There is a hot sting of a needle at the side of my neck. Almost immediately my muscles go slack and my bones seem to turn to jelly.

In my peripheral vision, I see Sara’s body slump in her seat. They got her too, the bastards.

I try to protest, but it’s in vain. My jaw hangs slack and I feel a trickle of drool on my chin.

“Helmet,” I manage to slur.

My vision darkens. I hear Dr. Lucian’s voice. It sounds like a distant echo.

“Don’t worry about your helmet, Lily,” he chuckles. “You won’t be needing it.”

Then I lose myself to the enveloping darkness.