"Get up! You have thirty seconds left."
Yanking out my laser pistol, I fired at the control console and smiled as sparks spewed in every direction. "Problem solved."
"That is one solution. Now free them."
"Yes'um, boss." Scrambling to my feet, I turned toward the holding cell and gasped in horror. Blood. There was so much blood. It coated the walls and floor. Oh my God! Oh my God!
Voss and Zarek hung limply from manacles set into the ceiling. The skin had been flayed from their backs, and their faces were battered messes.
Sariel and Commander Zan hung behind them and hadn't fared much better.
"Give them the drugs," Jaylan instructed harshly.
Fury churning my stomach, I quickly pulled out the pressure injectors and gave each man two shots. "You sure this will work?"
"Yes. It's like a shot of your human adrenaline. It jacks their systems into combat mode. Get them down before Malik returns."
I hurried over to the control panel set into the wall and hit the Release button.
The men crumpled to the bloody floor and lay unmoving. I carefully removed the shackles from their torn wrists. "How long before the drug kicks in?"
"Any time now."
I squatted down next to Voss and touched his poor face. "Voss, please wake up. I need you."
"Get away from them," Jaylan barked.
"But … "
"When they regain consciousness, they will need blood. Do not approach them until they have fed."
My radar went on red alert. Someone was coming. Smearing blood over my face, I backed into the corner of the control room and blinked in surprise when a Bigfoot clone stormed in wearing a blood-splattered uniform. The dude looked like he had escaped from a Star Wars convention.
He pointed his laser pistol at Voss, and I let out a hysterical scream.
Mister Furry spun around, his laser pistol leveled at me, and rumbled, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
Cringing, I cried, "Malik. Please … please don't hurt me."
"I won't hurt you, my pretty," Bigfoot said, displaying a really scary set of fangs.
Ugh. His breath should be registered as a lethal weapon. "You … you won't?"
"No." The moron holstered his pistol.
"Too bad I can't say the same." Drawing heavily on my power, I hit his mind with everything I had.
He staggered back and howled in fury.
Voss and Zarek suddenly tackled Bigfoot, wrestled him to the floor, and buried their fangs in his neck and shoulder. His feeble struggles stopped abruptly. They had drained him dry.
"They'll need more blood," Jaylan advised.
"I'll see what I can rustle up." Two of Malik's warrior were heading this way. I jogged down the corridor until they spotted me. Giving a yip of fear, I spun around and ran back into the holding area.
The minute they burst through the door, Voss and Zarek were on them like starving Gorum.
Sariel staggered out of the cell, grabbed Bigfoot's body, and tore a big chunk out of his neck.
Oh ick! Maybe I should go get them more dinner. I slowly backed out of the room.
Voss growled deep in his throat.
One look at his dangerously predatory gaze, and I froze. "Easy, snookums. I'm on your side."
Blood dripping from his fangs, he snarled, "Where are you going?"
I eyed the warrior dangling limply in his grip. "Uh … To get you more to eat."
Zarek dropped the warrior he had just sucked dry and took his weapon. "No time. Jaylan and his assault team are breaching the compound."
The walls shuddered violently, and dirt rained down on us.
Sariel kept messily eating Bigfoot.
A sigh of relief escaped me when Wulf, Hothar, and Lothel appeared in full battle gear.
Eyes cold with menace, the Overlord commanded, "Guard her." Poof. He was gone.
Voss grabbed me and planted a bloody kiss on my mouth. "Mine."
I carefully stroked his battered cheek. "Yes, I am. All yours. Forever, 'kay?"
Hothar cautiously approached us. "I will protect your mate, Battle Commander."
"No harm is to come to her," Voss stated, his voice full of merciless rage.
"We will keep her safe," Wulf promised, handing him a weapons belt.
"Go," I urged as he fastened the belt around his waist. "Don't let Malik escape again."
A terrifying smile curved Voss's mouth. "I will bring you his head."
"Oh. Wow. That's … not really necessary," I stammered. "Just kill the bastard."
"As my lady commands." An instant later, he was gone.
I wanted to insist on going with him, but right now he scared the crap out of me. My mother hadn't raised an idiot. I wiped the blood off my mouth. Yuck.
Flinging his head back, Sariel let out an enraged roar.
My heart gave a startled leap. "Holy shit!"
Wulf, Lothel, and Hothar shoved me into the corner and turned a watchful eye on the High Commander.
Clinging to Hothar, I whispered, "Is he going psycho on us?"
"The drug has finally kicked in."
All I could see was a black blur as Sariel's claws and fangs flashed in a dizzying display, flinging bloody pieces of flesh in every direction. Great. Just what we needed. A homicidal Askole.
His Medusa-like tentacles squirming wildly, Sariel stopped suddenly, whipped out his huge penis, and urinated on what was left of Bigfoot's body.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Lordy. That was just plain nasty
With another ferocious roar, Sariel turned toward us, his black pecker stiff and distended.
"Put it away, buster, or you'll be walking bowlegged for the next month," I snapped.
Lothel hissed, "Be quiet."
His face a feral mask, Commander Zan stumbled out of the holding cell. "Where is he?"
I pointed to the bloody remains. "That pile of sushi there is what's left of Bigfoot. If you're talking about Malik, Voss and Zarek are taking care of him."
"He is mine to kill!" Zan held his hand out. "Give me your weapon."
"Ah, I don't think that's a-"
Bellowing a fierce battle cry, Sariel grabbed Zan and zipped off with his pecker still waving happily.
"Ya think he's gonna eat Zan or fuck him?"
Wulf, Lothel, and Hothar stared at me in utter disbelief.
"Just askin'."
A bloodcurdling scream echoed down the corridor.
"Eat it is."
Hothar added with a grin, "Or he impaled someone with his staff."
A giggle escaped me. "A distinct possibility."
"Neither," Lothel stated firmly.
Another scream sounded.
"You sure about that?"
"Yes. Sariel is pumped up on Reaper. His only thought is to kill his enemies," Wulf answered, drawing his pistol.
"That drug takes scary predator to a whole new level," I said as more screams rang down the hallway.
"Reaper is only used in extreme combat emergencies," Lothel said.
"When you need a homicidal killing machine to decimate the enemy?"
Hothar shook his head. "It allows you to keep fighting when you are grievously wounded."
"What happens when it wears off?"
"Without proper medical care, you die," Lothel stated baldly.
"Oh my God! You mean … Voss and Zarek could die?"
Wulf patted my shoulder awkwardly. "We won't let that happen, my lady."
"You're damned right we won't." I drew my pistol and ran down the corridor.
"My lady! Wait!"
A glittering blue light blossomed in front of me. "Oh hell!" I came to an abrupt stop. Lothel crashed into me, sending me slipping and sliding across a pool of blood, and I fell into the light.
Chapter Nineteen
One second I was in the blood-splattered corridor, and the next I was sprawled across an icy-cold transporter platform. My sucky luck continued its winning streak. Scrambling to my feet, I quickly tucked my pistol out of sight.
A tall, stick-thin woman wearing a pointy metal hat and a bronze breastplate over a screaming scarlet battle suit stood at the controls. She surveyed me as if I were dog poop she had accidentally stepped in.
Was it Halloween already? Her makeup did rival the Joker's. Or was she some kind of Genghis Khan wannabe? "Who the hell are you?"
Her tone one of contempt, she spat, "Lilkee. Bow down to me, you filthy little primitive."
"Bow-chicka-wow-wow, aren't you special. And what's up that hat?"
"Silence! You dare to mock me?"
"Ah. Yeah. All I see is a skinny bitch with an attitude who is in serious need of a makeover and a good moisturizer."
Her mouth working like a stranded guppy's, Lilkee gaped at me for a moment, then bawled, "I am a Coletti princess, and no one speaks to me in such a manner. Now bow down to me."