Page 54

Chapter 12

Dallin pressed a handbriefly against the door. Sloane could be angry with him later. He wasn’t letting her face off with these mutant beasts when she was so sick.

He tried to shake off the sluggish feel in his limbs as he hurried past other aliens as they raced to the docking bay. He pulled his gun as the crowds grew louder, and his ears rang.

Dallin stopped at a bend and poked his head around it.

A huge doglike creature with matted fur snapped at his face as it flew through the air and crashed into the wall. It rolled over and shook its fur, lowering to the floor as it prepared to pounce. Its gaze was latched on him.

Dallin fired and brought down the creature. It roared and slammed to the floor.

Something heavy landed on Dallin’s back, and sharp teeth grazed his neck. He growled and tried to throw the creature off him, but his strength was fading. He’d given Sloane almost everything he had to keep her alive, and now he was paying the price.

There was a yelp, and the creature that had been about to chew through his neck disappeared.

Dallin rolled over and lifted his gun. Nalid stood over the body of the creature, her face pale but a determined look in her eyes.

“I figured you needed a little assistance.” She held out her hand and helped him up. “This is the second group of wild dogs that have appeared on the waystation.”

“Where are they coming from?”

“I don’t have a clue. They’re hungry and mean, though.” Her gaze ran over him. “Did you get bitten? Anyone with a bite seems to fade fast.”

“No, I’m good. Tell your team to be careful. The bites probably contain poison.” Dallin quickly examined the dead creature. “And there’s nothing wild about these things. Look at the scars on their bodies? And those tail spines have been implanted.”

“By the Siblet?”

“I can guarantee it. And these things are tame compared to some of the creatures they have in their arsenal. You need to shut this place down, then do a search from top to bottom to see if there are any more creatures hiding.”

“That’ll take some time. This is a big place.”

“Do you want to take the risk that there are packs of these things roaming about?”

Nalid shook her head. “I’ll get to work. How’s everything going on your end? Have you figured out the poison yet?”

“We’re almost ready to shut it down.”

“Good luck with that.” She turned and dashed toward the sound of more screaming.

Dallin raced back to the room he’d locked Sloane in. He pulled open the door and froze as a growl echoed through the air.

A large black male grimlin approached him, its fangs bared.

Dallin raised his gun.

“Don’t shoot!” Sloane whispered from the shadows. She appeared behind the creature, her face pale.

“What the hell are you doing in here with this thing?” He kept his gun aimed squarely on the ape-like creature.

“You shoved me in here, remember. And he doesn’t want to hurt me, he’s protecting me from you. Lower your gun and relax, unless you want him to rip off your arm.”

“How can I relax when there’s a wild grimlin in front of you?”

The grimlin growled and crouched. Its black fur bristled out all over its body.

“Dallin! Lower your weapon. He’s not wild.”

It went against all his instincts, but he lowered the gun, his gaze fixed on the grimlin. “Was this thing in here all the time?”