"There's a terminal in the medical bay," Maya continued, her voice barely audible. "The chip has access codes. Emergency protocols."
"Why are you helping me?" I had to ask.
Her eyes met mine briefly. "My sister was a match. She died duringprocedures. They said it was complications. It wasn't."
The door opened, and Dr. Mercer entered with two guards.
"What's this?" she demanded, looking at us suspiciously.
Maya straightened immediately. "Evening nutrition delivery, Doctor. Standard protocol."
"You're not assigned to this subject tonight." Dr. Mercer's eyes narrowed. "Return to your station immediately."
After Maya left, Dr. Mercer approached my bed. "Tomorrow you begin the next phase of the program. A transport will take you to our primary research facility where the fertilization procedure will be performed."
"And Redmon?" I kept my voice steady.
"Commander Razak's cooperation is no longer required for the process." Her clinical detachment had never seemed more chilling. "We have sufficient genetic material."
They were going to dispose of him. The realization settled like ice in my veins.
"Rest well," Dr. Mercer said, turning to leave. "Tomorrow is an important day forhumanity."
That night, I didn't sleep. I lay awake, planning, calculating, preparing for what might be my only chance. Dawn was just breaking when I heard it, a distant commotion, shouts, then alarms blaring through the facility.
I sat up, heart racing, as emergency lights began flashing in the corridor outside my room. The sounds grew closer as crashes, roars that could only come from one source.
Redmon.
The wall of my room shook with a tremendous impact from the corridor outside. Another crash, and the metal door buckled inward, tearing from its hinges.
And there he stood, magnificent in his fury. Blood streaked his fur, but his eyes burned with determination as they found mine. Behind him lay the unconscious forms of guards, the corridor in ruins.
"Kalyndi," he growled, reaching for me.
I flew into his arms, as he enfolded me, the safety I'd longed for these endless days.
"How?" I gasped against his chest.
"No time," he rumbled, already pulling me toward the corridor. "We need to move. Now."
Alarms screamed around us as we ran through the facility, Redmon clearing our path with terrifying efficiency. Redmon threw aside guards who appeared, and tore doors from their frames when they wouldn't open.
"Selene?" I shouted over the chaos.
"East wing," he replied, turning down another corridor. "Maya told me where they're keeping her."
Maya. She'd helped him, too.
We found Selene in a holding cell, terrified but unharmed. The reunion was brief, just enough time for a fierce hug before we were running again, following Redmon's lead through the labyrinthine facility.
"This way," he directed, pulling us toward a service corridor. "Maintenance exit leads to the loading bay. Transport waiting."
"Transport?" I questioned as we burst through a final door into the pre-dawn air.
A vehicle idled nearby, engine running, with a familiar figure at the wheel.
"Maya," I breathed.
