“And how many do they need to do that? Because there’s currently upwards of twenty soldiers converging on this position.”
Colette’s eyes widened. “I swear I don’t know anything about that.”
“I believe you,” he stated as Beta advised him how to proceed. He dropped to his knees and laced his hands behind his head.
“What are you doing?” Colette asked.
“Surrendering.” Which went against every warrior fiber in his body. “Beta, shields please.” Just in case the military chose violence over capture.
The air vibrated as a temporary force field encased both him and Colette, and not a moment too soon.
Windows shattered as the soldiers who’d rappelled from the rooftop kicked in the panes. As shards flew and wind whistled through the breach, the door to Colette’s office slammed open, spilling in even more armed individuals. Not that he heard anything in his pocket of calm. The protective force field dulled noise as well as stopped projectiles.
“Shield down,” he murmured in time to hear someone yell, “Don’t move.”
Cade remained in the position Beta claimed was the human version of submission and yelled, “I come in peace.”
The humans didn’t seem to care, for someone fired at him! A tufted projectile hit Cade in the chest.
“I’m shot!” He yelled the thought, and Beta replied. “Remain calm. It’s simply a tranquilizer dart.” The drug within it spread an immediate languor.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t beam you aboard?”
“No,” he slurred. “Not yet.”
His last thought before darkness sucked him into the black abyss of unconsciousness.
10
Colette stood frozen in shock as her office got swatted by the military. Soldiers smashed in through her windows and office, causing a level of damage and chaos she could have never imagined. Surprisingly, she appeared shielded from injury, the spraying shards hitting an invisible wall and dropping to the floor. A cocoon of silence that collapsed almost as quickly as it came into place, the sudden immersion into the noise of the ambush tempting Colette to slap hands over her ears.
Instead, her lips parted in shock as someone shot Cade and he fell over. “Cade!” she shrieked. “What is wrong with you goons? He wasn’t doing anything. Why would you kill him?”
“He’s not dead. Just sleeping.” The reply came from the general, who stepped into the ruin of Colette’s office, her steely gaze taking in the destruction.
At the sight of her, Colette bubbled with sudden anger. “What the ever-loving fuck is this bullshit?”
“Apologies, Ms. Wilson,” the general stated, not sounding contrite at all. “Rest assured, the military will repair the damage to your business.”
“How about the military shouldn’t have smashed my windows and kicked in my door to begin with?” Colette huffed.
“We needed to act and move fast in order to take the galactic visitor into custody.”
“Or you could have, you know, just asked. I told you he wanted to reveal his existence. You didn’t have to destroy my office and shoot him like a rabid dog.” Colette crossed her arms and glared.
The general ignored Colette’s ire and waved at two newly arrived soldiers. “Cover him.” A command that made no sense until Colette noticed they carried a thick and stiff blanket they draped over Cade. Once he’d been hidden, the general turned her attention to Colette.
“While this might seem extreme, we didn’t want to take the chance he’d avoid meeting with us.”
“I told you they wanted to reveal their presence. You asked me to facilitate a meeting.”
“What if he lied, or refused? We don’t intend to cause him any harm, and if he truly is being honest about his intentions, then he won’t mind answering some questions and providing proof he’s here to forge an alliance and not prep for an attack.”
“Ah, yes, because people are always so keen to cooperate with people who act like raging lunatics.”
The general pursed her lips. “I realize you might find our methods extreme. However, this is uncharted territory. We had to act in the best interests of humanity.”
“And you think that’s best served by attacking someone you’re trying to not start a war with?” A sarcastic rejoinder that Colette couldn’t have held back if she tried.
