Lots of hopes and speculations, but anything was better than waiting around to die.
“It's a go,” Logan said.
The doors widened. Our second lucky break—the transport was in the hanger. Figures moved behind that strange black metal, which Hank had called metalastic, a combination of metal and something known as plastic, making the vehicle lighter than if it had been made entirely of metal, but just as strong. It also let in the radiation Lamont had talked about, which was why it was only supposed to be used as a temporary transport.
We climbed down into the hanger before the doors closed. Since we had a limited amount of air in our tanks, we couldn't keep the hanger doors open. Bubba Boom unhooked his welding gun from his tool belt. Air filled the hanger, but it would take some time before we could remove our helmets.
Bubba Boom headed toward the transport ship's access hatch. The plan was for him to melt the metalastic so they couldn't open the hatch and escape their ship.
As he approached, a long thin tube on the underside of the ship swiveled and pointed at Bubba Boom. The Outsiders had figured out what we planned! I yelled for him to duck as the tube spat out bright disks. Our luck had run out.
“Get in close,” Riley yelled.
Everyone scrambled to get underneath the ship, hoping the gun had a limited turning radius. Bubba Boom remained flat on the ground. Two more guns appeared and spun, searching for targets. Sloan pulled a wrench from his belt and attacked the one gun. Riley grabbed the other, hanging from it with both hands. And I shoved the handle of a screwdriver into the opening of the last one.
Riley's gun jerked back and forth, shaking him like a toy. Mine belched. The screwdriver shot out and dented the far wall. Only Sloan had success.
“Take out the rest,” I called to Sloan as Riley flew off his. “Before they…”
Too late. The hatch opened. Cold horror froze the sweat on my skin as one then four then seven suited and armed Outsiders poured from the ship. I checked the air pressure gauge that hung on my belt. There still wasn't enough air for us to shed the space suits. It would have given us a small advantage.
I pulled my knife. The others followed my example except Bubba Boom. He hadn't moved, but I didn't have time to worry about him right now.
The Outsiders fanned out, trying to surround us. They held those long tubes Bubba Boom had warned us about.
“Get behind something,” Riley called.
I ducked behind one of the transport's legs, feeling too big for the first time in my life. Sloan finished bashing the last gun, but it was four against twelve.
“Trella, I admire your tenacity,” Ponife said. His voice echoed from a speaker inside the collar of the helmet. “However, it is time to stop. Surrender and I will allow your cohorts to join the other survivors.”
“No,” Riley said.
“It would be unwise to trust them,” Logan said.
“Thanks for the advice, Logan. Tell me something I didn't know,” I snapped. Putting my knife on the floor, I glanced around, searching for a way to escape. “Thisstinks, but I don't think we have a choice. Too bad we didn't get to the hatch in time.”
I walked to the hatch and almost laughed when six Outsiders followed me. Tenacious, I may be and stubborn and maybe evena bit reckless, but I never excepted to be considered dangerous enough to need six escorts.
We entered the ship. The room was similar to Gateway with another door and a control panel. As the hatch closed behind us, I hoped Riley and the others had gotten my hint. One of the Outsiders punched a few buttons. I repeated the sequence aloud.
Ponife chuckled drily. “Your friends are in custody. No one is left to help you.”
This was the second time he claimed I was alone and helpless. It didn’t go as he had expected the first time, you’d think he’d learned by now. Or I would. Fear still pulsed through my body.
After a hissing noise vibrated through my suit, the other door opened and we were in an area that resembled a changing room, with empty suits hanging on hooks and shelves full of helmets and gloves.
“Keep your helmet on,” Ponife ordered. “We have no plans to kill you.”
“I feel so much better,” I said.
They removed their helmets.
Ponife had perfected his superior expression. “You should be happy. Your mother and friends will all be members of our new combined community.”
“Is she here?” I asked.
“No. She is with the others. Only you will stay with us until our world below is...cleaned.”
