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Chapter Thirty Six
Tayla
“This was not the agreement,” I insisted again. “They told me you had questions. That was all.”
I hated the weakness in my voice. It didn’t sound like me. But it didn’t matter because the enormous doors were sliding closed and I was inside the broad airlock, on the verge of giving up hope. Whatever was beyond the inner doors, it held no future for me. Of that, I was sure.
“You will see. You will see.”
The alien reached out and ran his hand down my arm, and I shuddered under his touch. And yet, as that strange tingling sensation zipped up my skin, my heart rate slowed. He had done something to me, sedated me somehow with only his fingertips. My muscles relaxed, and I no longer struggled against the guards’ grip. Bright lights made my vision go starry, and it took me a moment to focus again and realize that the inner door was open and I was looking upon a large workspace, lit up with hundreds of lights hanging over lab tables. Behind every table sat a woman shackled to a metal ring sunk into the desk with only enough chain to move her hands for her tasks.
I whimpered, closing my eyes tightly and wishing this was only a dream. A very bad dream. But when my eyes opened, the women were still there, toiling at their work and sparing me only furtive glances.
“Who are they?”
“They are researchers. Just like you. They are helping us to solve a problem. Come.”
The alien man started walking again, leading me past some tables so I could get a better look at the work laid out there. I saw an array of familiar instruments and notes scribbled everywhere. I swallowed hard, trying to find my words again. I knew the question I wanted to ask, but I didn’t dare ask.
“If you have so many researchers already, why do you need me?”
“Because you have found a solution to one of our problems. Your Orb is just the beginning.”
“I’m sorry,” I stammered. “But I don’t think I can help you guys. I mean, the Orb was supposed to help humanity solve our problems, and it can’t even do that. It wasn’t even successful, really.”
I needed to backtrack. I needed to make them believe they had the wrong girl before they chained me to a table and made me work under the harsh lights. I had to get out of here before they took me any further.
Outside, I heard a smattering of gunfire, and I cringed, looking back toward the door. Was it Alec? Had they decided they had no use for him? My stomach clenched, and I thought I might be sick.
Adreax was right about these guys. Whoever they were, they were not the benevolent oath keepers of the universe. They were dangerous, and I didn’t blame him for running. I should have run with him. I should have trusted him and followed him to safety. I was so concerned with my stupid experiments, I missed out on the closest thing to love I’d ever felt, and now I was more alone than ever before.
“Come, sit.”
The alien pointed to a desk. I looked at the chair, but made no move. It’s not like I was just going to go along with this whole shackle situation without a fight.
“Do not worry, Tayla. We are only here to have a discussion. You are safe.”
I hated how that word sounded coming from the alien’s silvery tongue. It sounded more like a threat than a promise.
“Tell me who you are,” I said, standing resolutely with my chin held high. “And why I should work for you.”
The alien’s face twisted. I couldn’t quite tell if it was an amused smile or a look of disgust because the wiggling tentacles that hung from his chin like old seaweed distracted me. My stomach protested again.
“I’m afraid that information is privileged, not that it would do you any good. As you already know, this is the research and development branch of the Space Patrol. We are working to solve a peculiar problem of… resources… on our planet.”
The way he said resources gave me pause. I got the distinct feeling he wasn’t talking about oil.
“What does this have to do with me?”
His eyes ran up and down my body, but this time I could tell he wasn’t scanning me for lies. No, this time I could feel his leer as he hesitated at my hips and my breasts before licking his lips hungrily. It sent a shiver up my spine and I tried to take a step back, only to be greeted by the hard muscles of the guard behind me. Fuck.
At this very moment, I would have traded every piece of scientific equipment on Orb5 just to see Adreax’s face again. I thought back to the vision of his rickety old ship sailing away from us this morning and appealed to the universe to see him to safety. If I couldn’t help him get away, at least I could wish him good luck before I did something that might get me killed.
