“I’ve been told to put you in one of the suites.”
“You have apartments down here?”
“Of sorts. When the scientists get something new to study, they often don’t want to waste time going home to sleep. Plus, we often have specialists flying in. The rooms set aside for them aren’t big, but they do have private bathrooms and a small sitting area. No kitchen, though. If you’re hungry, then the cafeteria is two floors up.”
“I’m not a prisoner?”
The soldier glanced at Colette. “If you’re asking if you’re being locked in a room, then no, but you are also not allowed to leave. Not until the general okays it.”
“Can I see Cade?”
“I’m not sure. You’ll have to ask the general; she’s the one making those decisions.” The corporal stopped by a door marked 7C. “This is your room. There’s towels and toiletries in the bathroom. Clothing in the wardrobe.” She flung open the door to show a simple double bed with a nightstand. A compact desk and chair, plus a loveseat, completed the compact space.
“What am I supposed to do?” Colette eyed the sterile room and could feel the weight of boredom rushing to crush her.
“I don’t know.” Johnson shrugged. “Have a nap? I’m sure the general will send someone to speak with you shortly.”
With that, the soldier left, and Colette paced for a few minutes, exploring her prison. She might be in a guest suite but, apparently, forget her fucking rights. The lack of window—actually, anything to look at—led to Colette trying the door. Despite the soldier claiming she could move about, she found herself surprised it opened. Not locked, at least. Exiting didn’t lead to anyone shouting or pointing. A prisoner with some freedom.
Colette spent a moment observing as soldiers moved about, seemingly with purpose. She strode from her quiet corner and noticed a concrete rectangle with a large window and a closed metal door. A handful of people in white coats clustered in front of it, tablets in hand, visibly excited. Colette took a step in their direction, and when no one told her to stop and go back to her room, she quickened her pace until she stood just outside the group.
A crowd had congregated to watch something via the window.
Someone.
Cade.
11
Despite being drugged, Cade didn’t sleep for long, yet he feigned it for his captors lest they dose him with something more potent. Best he remained awake should he need to suddenly act. It meant not reacting as they awkwardly carried his body, removing it from Colette’s office and depositing it within a vehicle that contained several most likely armed soldiers—and the luscious human he lusted after.
A woman who’d argued on his behalf.
He’d begun to regain consciousness while still inside her office, and thus he’d learned she’d not been a part of his capture. On the contrary, Colette sounded quite angry about the actions of her people and also displayed concern over his well-being. Cade’s pleasure at her defense waned when he realized the soldiers took her captive alongside him. How dare they arrest her! Fearing for her safety, he’d been moments away from casting aside the leaden blanket to come to her defense, but when he heard they might want them to fornicate as part of their study, he chose instead to be patient.
One point of concern? His lack of a link to Beta. Whatever they’d covered him with killed the ability to communicate. He couldn’t hear Beta at all—or so he assumed, since he didn’t hear anything from the usually very vocal computer.
The Earth warriors—in their hideous matching uniforms of green—transported him and Colette to a facility underground. He didn’t need to see to feel the change in pressure as they descended, most likely to a secret underground base. Cade pretended to still be sleeping as they carried him into a containment chamber. Once they’d placed him on a cold, hard floor, they removed the heavy blanket and the tight tethers keeping his hands bound together behind his back—as if those would have prevented him from acting.
The soldiers then left, the door shutting and clicking as they locked it. While Cade wanted nothing more than to examine his new situation, he remained prone a while longer. Let the humans mistakenly believe their drugs affected him. Since he no longer wore the deadening covering, he attempted to contact Beta without speaking aloud.
“Beta? Can you hear me?”
He squeezed that thought as hard as he could. No reply.
“I’ve been captured but not harmed.”
Still nothing.
“Don’t rescue me yet. I want to see what their military has to say. Perhaps I’ll manage to forge a treaty that allows us to complete our mission.”
Although hopefully that wouldn’t be too quick. He wouldn’t mind remaining on Earth for a bit before returning home and being given his next task. The planet proved more fascinating than expected.
Beta didn’t say a word, and he had to wonder if it was because he didn’t focus enough for his communicator to relay his words, or had the humans devised a prison that actually blocked signal? Possible. While Xamian technology could accomplish incredible feats—such as beam them in and out of buildings with no regards for walls—certain materials could interfere with that. Regular dirt didn’t pose an issue because the sensors could still detect life, and what it could sense it could transport. But add in dense rock and metallic ores and the usual beaming method would be inadequate to the task. Meaning, if trouble arose, he might not be able to easily escape. A dilemma to deal with if and when it occurred.
Having deemed his feigned slumber had endured long enough, Cade pretended to wake and stretch. He assumed someone watched, so figured he might as well give them a show. He sat up and allowed himself his first glimpse of his prison. A square cell made of a hard substance that reminded him of rock. A mattress lay in a corner with a blanket folded atop, which made the soldiers’ decision to place him on the floor rude.
A sink jutted from the wall right beside a basic toilet, which made his nose wrinkle. He preferred the ship’s version, which simply removed the waste from the body.
