“I thought you preferred his brother,” Dr. Beyhard said and then doubled over when Dunkel landed an elbow in her gut.
“Ladies, please,” came the voice of a stranger, a tall, blond gentleman who looked out of place in a white lab coat. “This is no time for bickering. Besides, I know you’re both in love with me.”
Beyhard snorted while Dunkel crossed her arms over her chest. “As if. And even if we were, there’s no way we’d risk going against that crazy girlfriend of yours.”
The stranger smiled. “I knew you wanted me.”
“Listen here, asshole,” Dunkel began, shaking a finger in the blond’s face, when Dr. Grimm stepped forward.
“Enough.” He looked at Cal, who was currently determining how quickly he could get to a weapon. “We’ve got a job to do. Let’s just get it over already.” The dark-skinned doctor shook his head. “Don’t bother trying it,” he said to Cal. “We outnumber you.”
“Not to mention we’re stronger, faster, and generally better than you,” the blond stated, a cruel smile on his face.
“I’ve been outnumbered before,” Cal replied, his hands balled into fists. “And I don’t remember inviting the staff onto my ship. Care to explain what’s going on, doctor?”
Grimm shook his head. “There’s no point.”
“And why is that?” Cal asked, putting his hands on the back of one of the chairs at the mess table. It could be used as a weapon in a pinch. And it looked like they might be about to start pinching.
“Because you won’t remember it.” Grimm moved forward, his eyes cold.
Cal swung the chair up, ready to smash it down on the doctor’s head, but it suddenly disappeared. He stood there, jaw on his chin, a look of shock on his face.
The blond laughed. “Sorry, friend, but we don’t have time to play today.”
“Who are you?” It was now clear that they weren’t doctors.
“You already know the answer to that question,” Grimm said. “I see it in your memory.”
“Seekers.” Cal spit the name out of his mouth as if it offended him.
“Bingo!” Beyhard chortled.
Dunkel looked bored. “Can we speed this up? I’ve got a therapy appointment in a few minutes.”
The blond man laughed. “You’re really getting into character, aren’t you? You do know you’re not a real doctor, right?”
Dunkel frowned. “I should be, dealing with your crazy ass for the last millennium.”
Grimm moved closer and Cal made a decision, rushing forward to fight with fists. Suddenly, darkness descended on him. He swung but met nothing but air. Another high, feminine laugh filled the air.
“Come on, you bastards,” Cal growled. “You’ll find I’m not easy prey.”
“Oh yes, you are,” Beyhard said, her lips at his ear. She touched him, and he felt a sudden sensation of warmth cover his skin. And then it was gone. And so was something else, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“Enough toying with him,” he heard Dr. Grimm say. “We’ve got what we need.”
“Then blank him,” the blond with the gravelly voice suggested, “and I’ll get us out of here.
Blank him?Cal thought, and then darkness descended.
