Jamie put a hand back on the robot, hoping to provide some sense of comfort. “Herman, do you know where he is?”
After a few beeps, the ball responded. “There is insufficient data to reply.”
“What data is there?” Drake asked.
“I had attempted to email Dr. Lakewood when I was unable to reach him via his phone. The automatic response I received stated that he would be out of the office for several months and working in his lab in the Chicago area. He warned that he would be unable to respond to all inquiries in a timely manner.”
“So he’s in Chicago,” Jamie said.
“Not necessarily,” Drake said, his face turning menacing. “Someone else could have set up that automatic response to cover their tracks.”
“So you think he’s missing?”
Drake shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess the next step is to track down Lakewood.”
Jamie laughed. “How are we supposed to find him in Chicago in the next hour?”
Drake put his head in his hands. “That’s not what I meant. I meant after we get out of the lab.”
To say that she was confused was an understatement. “But why would we track down Lakewood after we get out of this lab? I thought we needed to find him so we could override the lock.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said, pinning her with a dark look. “Clearly Lakewood has knowledge of the conspiracy.”
He continued to look at her, and Jamie knew there was something else he wanted to say, something that he was trying to decide whether he could trust her with. Finally, he spoke. “I knew Lakewood might be involved once I saw this lab. The enemy has recently made some technological advances in electrical science, advances that wouldn’t be possible without someone with a genius-level intellect.”
“The enemy?” Jamie understood the idea of a conspiracy, but the idea of some unknown party working against her sister was frightening.
“What I’m about to tell you is going to be unbelievable,” he said. “But I need you to trust me.”
Jamie nodded. She wanted to trust him anyway. She didn’t like the thought of Drake lying to her.
“I know where your sister is.”
Jamie recoiled as if slapped. “You do? Then why the fuck didn’t you say anything about it before? Where is she?”
Drake took a deep breath, maintaining eye contact throughout. “She’s on my home world. A planet called Zanthar, but which you humans named JL-398.”
JL-398. She was familiar with that designation. It was the planet Sylvie had shot off towards in search of life.
“Your home world?”
Drake nodded. “I know it seems unbelievable, but it’s true.”
She cocked an eyebrow at her companion. “So you expect me to believe you’re an alien?”
“Believe me, to me, you’re the alien.”
Jamie felt her hands tighten into fists. “You’re not an alien. You’re an asshole.”
“I’m serious, Jamie. I’m a Zantharian.”
“Why are you playing around? Why can’t you just tell me where Sylvie is?’
“I’m not playing. She’s on Zanthar, with my people. So are Captain Brooklyn and her crew. Earth has been infiltrated by a race of shape-shifting aliens that can take on any form they like. They’re masquerading as humans while they infiltrate NASA.”
He looked down at the little robot blinking at their feet. “And now I think they’ve kidnapped Dr. Lakewood and forced him to work for them.”
Jamie shot to her feet. “Why are you doing this to me?” She was surprised she wasn’t screaming. She could feel the tears filling her eyes but was powerless to stop them.
