Chapter 22
Drake poked his head around the corner, on the lookout for Hareema. The corridor was empty, so he led his party down the hall. He was trying with every ounce of his strength to remain calm, but he had to admit that he’d never been more keyed up.
When he’d seen that creature with his tentacle around Jamie’s throat, he’d never been more frightened, more enraged. When he’d stomped the asshole to death, it had felt right. He didn’t think he could have stopped himself from killing the creature, even if he wanted to.
He looked down at the small female by his side. She knew, now, about the frenzy, and she’d seen him murder the creature who had threatened her. Although she was still devoted to accomplishing their mission, Drake didn’t think there was any way she’d accept him after this.
Their relationship had barely started, and already he was trying to claim her for life. If they made it off the Hareema base alive, she would probably be excited to say goodbye.
He wondered which would kill him first, the frenzy, or his broken heart.
They reached the entrance to the large central room they’d passed through earlier. There were hundreds of cages there, stacked on each other and full of alien creatures captured by the Hareema. The control room was along the far wall.
Drake took a deep breath and spoke softly. “We need to make it across this room without causing a disturbance.”
At that exact moment, a loud alarm sounded.Fuck. Perfect timing.
“They’re on to us,” Lakewood muttered, and Jamie nodded. Drake saw the fear in her eyes and it made his urge to protect her overwhelming. He pulled her closer to him, his head swiveling to keep alert for danger.
“I have an idea. It’s worked before.”
Drake turned to the Hareema who’d spoken. The creature nodded to him. “When I helped you escape once before. You remember?”
So this was the same Hareema rebel who had helped free him when Ontarii and Captain Brooklyn had been captured. “The bubble,” he said with a smile. “It could work.”
As they looked on, the Hareema formed itself into something resembling a silver bubble. The outer surface was reflective, the inner disguising them entirely. It left a slit in its surface for them to squeeze inside, and then closed around them.
The confines of the bubble were transparent from the inside so they could see their surroundings. “Now what?” Jamie asked.
“Now we walk and hope we stay invisible.”
They walked slowly in silence while the bubble rolled around them. The massive, cage-filled room was full of strange sights and sounds, but Drake refused to be distracted. He kept his eyes on the prize: The control room at the far end of the chamber.
Suddenly the doors on either side of the room burst open. Guards came pouring in through the chamber, rushing down the central path on which they walked. They were on a collision course with the bubble, and Drake frowned.
“Quickly,” he whispered, “side step!”
The bubble rolled between two cages and out of the main thoroughfare just before the group of guards passed by. He let out a big relieved breath and heard it echoed by his companions. Slowly they stepped back on the main path and continued their march towards the control room.
Jamie looked up at him with her big green eyes. “Are you sure this is the right plan?” she asked. “We could just stay hidden in this bubble thing until we get to your ship.”
Drake shook his head. “They’d see my ship take off, remember. We need them so distracted that they aren’t able to deal with one little ship.”
He saw the uncertainty in her eyes and gave her a smile, putting his arm around her. “It’s a good plan, dear heart, and you’re a genius for coming up with it.”
She blushed, returning his smile, then went back to concentrating on the control room. It was a small half-circle that came out from the wall and into the central chamber, with entries on either side. Two guards stood inside, keeping their eyes on the multitude of cages.
“Almost there,” Drake whispered. “When we get inside, we have to keep those two guards back from the controls long enough for our Hareema friend to figure out how to release them.”
The bubble shook ever so slightly around them as the Hareema rebel acknowledged his words.
“Herman has no charge, so we can’t fry them. We’ve just got to keep a hold on them.”
Jamie frowned. “How are we supposed to do that? They’re shape-shifters. They can change into anything. And they’re stronger than me.”
Dr. Lakewood spoke up. “I have an idea. What about if we create a diversion before our diversion?”
“What are you talking about?” Drake asked.
