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“We stay together.”

Daisy rested a hand on his cheek. “We’ll be back together soon enough. Don’t do anything dumb.” She whirled around and punched the tentacle that had suckered onto her back. “You don’t have permission to touch me.”

Ambassador Ulut gurgled a cry of distress. “Our experiment must obey us. We need her pliable. She’s supposed to be under our control. This requires a full examination.”

“We have a laboratory on board the ship as per your request,” Commander Malem said.

“Take her there. We’ll see why the transference hasn’t taken full effect. My scientist is waiting outside. He can explore her. We may need another dosage inserted to make this effective,” Ambassador Ulut said.

“Of course,” Commander Malem said. “May I suggest you inspect your accommodation while we do that? We have everything laid out for you. And you may like some refreshments.”

“No refreshments. I demand my experiment work.”

“Stop calling Daisy a damned experiment,” Rexx said.

Ambassador Ulut slid closer. Two large tentacles shot out, one wrapping around Daisy’s throat and the other around her waist. He yanked her away from Rexx and lifted her in the air.

Daisy’s gaze caught Rexx’s, and her heart lodged in her throat. He was seconds away from being killed by the Gente. He didn’t seem aware of the guns pointed right at him. His focus was on her, his fists clenched and rage shimmering in his eyes.

She shook her head. If Rexx made one wrong move, he’d be dead.

“I wasn’t aware Humans had such a strong will,” Ambassador Ulut said. “Why do you resist us?”

“Because I’m no one’s slave,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Every alien who ever encounters us underestimates Humans. We may be small, but we know how to fight. You won’t turn us into a slave race.”

“Yes, we will. You will be ours. I know our technology is having an effect on you. I’ve seen the readings, so I know it’s activating.”

Her pulse raced, and her breathing turned shallow. “Activating? What happens when it activates?”

He gurgled a phlegmy laugh in the back of his throat. “It makes you easy to control. It takes away inhibitions. You act on your base instincts and desires. We’ll have full control over the Human race. You’ll be powerless to resist once we find the right dosage. Then you’ll be ours for the taking.”

Daisy gasped as her airway was cut off by the strong tentacles squeezing her. Slime dripped down the sides of her throat and onto her arms.

“Let us take the Human, Ambassador Ulut,” Commander Malem said. “Everything will be to your liking, I assure you.”

“It had better be, or you won’t receive the second half of your payment.” Ambassador Ulut pulled Daisy closer.

She could smell a faint fishy odor emanating from the slime. It turned her stomach.

Another tentacle slid its way up her body, probing and testing, circling her breasts and tracing up to her cheek, leaving behind a slimy residue.

“The Human form is revolting, but it will do for our purposes,” Ambassador Ulut said.

Gunfire exploded in the room, making Daisy’s ears ring. She twisted to see a Gente guard was on the ground, clutching a wound on his leg. Rexx had the other guard pinned against the wall. They were fighting to get control of the gun he held.

“Stop him,” Commander Malem said. “Kill him if you have to.”

Daisy kicked out at Ambassador Ulut, her foot squelching through a layer of blubber and slime.

The ambassador shrieked and tossed her to the floor. He flung himself backward, his tentacles retreating as he slithered away.

Daisy stumbled to her feet. She was about to charge toward Rexx when two more Gente guards stepped in front of her. She slammed into them. If they wanted a fight, they’d get it.

A fist slammed into her side, causing a flame of pain to burn into her. She lurched back, planted her weight on her back foot, and landed a punishing kick to one of the guard’s jaws.

Daisy was lining up another kick when fingers tangled in her hair and wrenched her off her feet. The pain had tears filling her eyes as she struggled to keep her balance and get free.

A blow landed on the back of her head and her brain jarred, sending her onto her hands and knees. She shook her head and tried to get up, but a gun pressed into the back of her head, followed by a needle that slid into her arm.