The person in the white coat couldn’t contain her excitement. “Another blue alien.”
“Jaspar is here?”
Had he come to rescue Cade? It would be suicide to attempt it, given the number of soldiers loitering around.
“Is that his name?” the wide-eyed gossiper asked.
“Where is he?”
“Being taken to the general for questioning.”
“Where?” Colette barked, causing the woman to recoil.
“Her office. One level up.”
Colette moved as soon as she had a location, which proved to be useless, as the elevator wouldn’t let her activate the button for that floor. On the contrary, the stupid contraption closed its doors and descended. She kept jabbing the button while cursing under her breath. Might have started kicking the panel, too, if the elevator didn’t stop and open its doors to let on a new passenger.
Dr. Ouellet boarded and glanced at Colette. “I take it you heard.”
“About the capture of another blue alien? Yeah.”
“The general requested my presence. Want to come along?”
The offer surprised. “Yes, please.”
The doctor swiped her keycard, and the damnable button lit up for her. As they ascended, Colette asked, “Is it Jaspar?”
“I don’t know. Guess we’ll soon find out.”
The elevator stopped, and when the doors opened, a tiny sea of soldiers stood in the way. An undaunted Ouellet shoved her way through. “Move. The general is waiting for me.”
They parted to let them through, the tunnel made of bodies exposing a door that had four soldiers pointing guns at it. Ready to shoot if the wrong person emerged.
The doctor didn’t knock but barged right in, Colette on her heels. Colette entered to see Jaspar standing rigidly a few paces from the general.
His expression eased somewhat at the sight of Colette. “You are unharmed.” Not a question so much as a statement of relief.
“I’m fine. What’s going on? Why are you here?” Colette didn’t spare a look for the general, but she ended up being the one replying.
“That’s what I was just about to find out. He showed up suddenly outside our facility’s main entrance and demanded to be taken to the person in charge.”
Jaspar nodded. “I apologize for my abrupt arrival. However, there is a matter of urgency that needs addressing.”
“You want your friend back,” the general surmised.
“I do, but that’s not the reason I’m here.” Jaspar paused before saying, “There is a grave threat approaching your planet.”
“More aliens?” drawled the general, who seated herself and placed the pistol Colette only just now noticed on the desk in front of her.
“Yes. But unlike me and my brethren, they are not coming here to foster peaceful relations. The Krampusonians are a violent race, and humanity is in grave danger.”
“According to you.”
He blinked. “According to everyone who’s ever encountered them and lived to tell.”
The general arched a brow. “And I’m supposed to trust the word of one alien that a different alien is bad? Seems to me like you might be trying to manipulate us.”
“How?” he asked with a frown.
