“We’re here,” she said.
Nothing moved. At this point in time, there were only a few guards based at the compound. The Kindred hadn’t been prisoners. They had been there because they’d believed they were doing important work, making the world a better place. It might have been better if there were more guards. Then they might have gotten a hint that something was wrong and gotten the hell out of there before Sam was taken.
They kept to the edge of the wall as they made their way around and to the back of the building where there was a door that led into the living accommodations. It was locked, but Kane opened it with ease, and they slipped inside. They moved up the staircase to the second floor. A light was on at the far end of the corridor—Jake’s room. Trust him to be still awake. But they didn’t need to pass it; the room she’d shared with Sam was the first door on the left. It was never locked, there hadn’t been any point. She placed her hand on the handle and turned it slowly. If either of them awoke, they would be in trouble.
She slowly pushed open the door, then rolled the gas grenade into the room, heard the almost silentpfftas it erupted. Christa had made it; it contained a sedative that would knock the occupants out for enough time to get the sample.
Closing the door again, she counted to thirty in her head. Then she reopened it. The room was in semi-darkness, the curtainsopen so half-light filtered in from outside. Nothing moved, and she slipped into the room and then came to an abrupt halt. Her heart stopped, and she blinked to clear her eyes.
There he was. Sleeping peacefully. Tomorrow they would come for him, and she’d never see him alive again. She took in his features and her heart ached.
Then she dragged her gaze away to the other bed. And there she was—her seventeen-year-old self. She’d asked Melody if it was okay to occupy the same space and time as her other self. Melody had said she obviously watched too many science-fiction films. She looked so young. And too thin.
She turned and nodded to Kane.
He stepped to the side of the door while she moved to stand over Sam. He was sleeping, sprawled on his front as he always did. His overlong hair flopped over his cheek, and she leaned down and stroked it away from his face. He was so beautiful. And she’d missed him so much.
“I wish I could save you the pain you’re going to go through. But you won’t remember it.”
Hunkering down, she got out the kit Torvil had given her. She took the syringe and removed the cover. After brushing the hair away from the back of his skull, she ran her fingers down his neck, feeling for the vertebrae. She found the space in between and placed the syringe against his skin. Then she pressed the button on the top and waited. A yellow light flashed, telling her that the sample was good, and she released the breath she was holding. She tucked the syringe back in the case and straightened. Then she went still.
Footsteps. And a light flicked on in the corridor outside.
She moved quickly to stand beside Kane, out of sight if anyone should open the door. If whoever it was actually came inside, they were fucked. She realized she’d left the precious case withher DNA sample by the bed, but it was too late to retrieve it now. The door opened and she pressed herself closer to Kane.
“Kaitlin?” It was Jake’s voice, speaking quietly. “Are you awake? I thought I heard something.”
She held her breath as he stood still in the doorway. But when nothing moved in the room, he drew back and pulled it quietly closed. Her heart was racing, and they stayed motionless until the light flicked out in the corridor. Then Kane wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him, kissing her neck.
“That might have taken some explaining,” he murmured.
“Yes. Come on, let’s get out of here.” She grabbed the bag from the floor and turned for one last look. She’d thought she would never see Sam again, and yet here he was. It should be enough, but it wasn’t, and she clutched the bag to her middle.
“Time to get back.”
The light was out in Jake’s room as they left, and they tiptoed down the stairs and out of the building. She stood outside and looked around. This place had been her home for seventeen years. It was a cold, soulless place, and she was glad she didn’t live here anymore. If they hadn’t killed Sam, would she still have broken away? Or would she and Sam have stayed, doing the colonel’s crappy jobs and persuading themselves that they were the good guys?
The machine was where they had left it. She’d half expected it to have vanished—disappeared to God knows when. She pressed her hand to the panel, and they entered. The console had reset itself to go home, and all they had to do was press the switch.
“Time to go save Sam.”
I hope.
Chapter 47
They were in one of the laboratories on the Krellian spaceship. Directly in front of her was the reconstruction chamber. The tube was opaque, and Kaitlin couldn’t see what was going on inside. It was driving her crazy.
Would it work?
And if it did, would the new Sam remember who he was? Whoshewas? Would he be telepathic? She had so many questions.
They’d started the process hours ago. Kane had tried to persuade her to go and rest but she was quite aware that she wouldn’t be able to settle until she knew one way or the other. So she’d sat, then paced, then sat some more. Kane had stayedwith her throughout the long wait, and the others had come in periodically. Jake was with her now. He had been here almost as much as she had, but then, he had loved Sam as well.
One of the Krellian technicians entered the room and reviewed the screen at the head of the chamber. He swiped his finger over the panel and turned to her.
“The process is complete.”
She swallowed as her muscles tensed and her heart rate kicked up. “Did it work?”
