spend a sizable chunk of his personal fortune to get everything set up exactly as he wanted it. It had cost him even more to keep everything a secret.
Now, however, it would all pay off. In another couple of days, the nano-weapon that he planned to use in the Centers would be ready. The dispersion devices with the nanocytes had already been planted in all the key human cities.
All he needed now was patience.
Another ten minutes, and Saret was losing what remained of that patience. What the hell was taking Korum so long? Had Saret underestimated his enemy’s attachment to the girl? It looked like the bastard was still flirting with that woman. There he was now, laughing and touching her arm. What the fuck? Whatever happened to his obsession with Mia? Had she been just a toy for him all along?
As soon as the thought occurred to Saret, he dismissed it. No, something was up. He was suddenly certain of it.
Was his enemy playing him for a fool? Was he even now being fed a false image? There was no way to tell; the figures Saret was watching looked completely real. But, as Saret knew full well, looks could be deceiving.
He had to face the possibility that Korum had figured out something was going on.
Moving swiftly, Saret armed himself and put on a protective shield that wrapped around his entire body. The lab walls were still his best defense, and he had every intention of confronting his nemesis here, where Saret had the home advantage. He felt no fear, though his pulse spiked in anticipation of the upcoming fight.
Glancing at Mia, Saret made sure that she was still unconscious, lying restrained on the medical float. She might wake up soon, and he was hoping to have all the unpleasantness over with before that happened.
Ignoring the adrenaline rushing through his veins, Saret sat down next to her and stroked her arm, marveling at the smoothness of her pale skin. She looked so pretty, with her dark lashes fanning across her cheeks and that soft mouth slightly parted. What was that human children’s story? Sleeping Beauty? Actually, she looked more like Snow White, Saret decided, with her milky complexion and dark hair.
Leaning down, he kissed her lips, brushing them lightly with his tongue. As he’d suspected, she was delicious; just that tiny taste was enough to make him hard. If he had more time, he would’ve taken her right then and there, unconscious or not.
But he didn’t have more time. He needed to stay focused. One way or another, Korum would be here soon.
Getting up, Saret walked over to the image again. By now, he was almost certain it was fake.
Where was Korum?
Saret began to pace, too agitated to sit down again.
When it all began two minutes later, he didn’t even notice at first.
A low humming sound was his first warning that something was wrong. The noise seemed to fill the air, gradually increasing in volume until it was almost a roar to his sensitive Krinar hearing.
Then the walls began to melt. Saret had never seen anything like it before: the material designed to withstand a nuclear blast seemed to liquefy from the top down, as if the building was made of wax.
Now Saret tasted fear. Sharp and acidic, it pooled low in his stomach. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to be safe here, in his carefully constructed fortress . . . but he wasn’t. Saret didn’t know of any weapon that could do this – that could penetrate the same shields that protected the colonies – but his eyes didn’t lie. The walls were literally melting around him.
There was only one thing left to do: retreat and live to fight another day. For a second, Saret considered taking Mia with him, but she would slow him down and he couldn’t take that risk. He would have to come back for her.
Casting one last look at the unconscious girl on the float, Saret activated the emergency escape chute and disappeared through the building floor.
Chapter 7
“I want him found. By any means necessary.
Now, however, it would all pay off. In another couple of days, the nano-weapon that he planned to use in the Centers would be ready. The dispersion devices with the nanocytes had already been planted in all the key human cities.
All he needed now was patience.
Another ten minutes, and Saret was losing what remained of that patience. What the hell was taking Korum so long? Had Saret underestimated his enemy’s attachment to the girl? It looked like the bastard was still flirting with that woman. There he was now, laughing and touching her arm. What the fuck? Whatever happened to his obsession with Mia? Had she been just a toy for him all along?
As soon as the thought occurred to Saret, he dismissed it. No, something was up. He was suddenly certain of it.
Was his enemy playing him for a fool? Was he even now being fed a false image? There was no way to tell; the figures Saret was watching looked completely real. But, as Saret knew full well, looks could be deceiving.
He had to face the possibility that Korum had figured out something was going on.
Moving swiftly, Saret armed himself and put on a protective shield that wrapped around his entire body. The lab walls were still his best defense, and he had every intention of confronting his nemesis here, where Saret had the home advantage. He felt no fear, though his pulse spiked in anticipation of the upcoming fight.
Glancing at Mia, Saret made sure that she was still unconscious, lying restrained on the medical float. She might wake up soon, and he was hoping to have all the unpleasantness over with before that happened.
Ignoring the adrenaline rushing through his veins, Saret sat down next to her and stroked her arm, marveling at the smoothness of her pale skin. She looked so pretty, with her dark lashes fanning across her cheeks and that soft mouth slightly parted. What was that human children’s story? Sleeping Beauty? Actually, she looked more like Snow White, Saret decided, with her milky complexion and dark hair.
Leaning down, he kissed her lips, brushing them lightly with his tongue. As he’d suspected, she was delicious; just that tiny taste was enough to make him hard. If he had more time, he would’ve taken her right then and there, unconscious or not.
But he didn’t have more time. He needed to stay focused. One way or another, Korum would be here soon.
Getting up, Saret walked over to the image again. By now, he was almost certain it was fake.
Where was Korum?
Saret began to pace, too agitated to sit down again.
When it all began two minutes later, he didn’t even notice at first.
A low humming sound was his first warning that something was wrong. The noise seemed to fill the air, gradually increasing in volume until it was almost a roar to his sensitive Krinar hearing.
Then the walls began to melt. Saret had never seen anything like it before: the material designed to withstand a nuclear blast seemed to liquefy from the top down, as if the building was made of wax.
Now Saret tasted fear. Sharp and acidic, it pooled low in his stomach. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to be safe here, in his carefully constructed fortress . . . but he wasn’t. Saret didn’t know of any weapon that could do this – that could penetrate the same shields that protected the colonies – but his eyes didn’t lie. The walls were literally melting around him.
There was only one thing left to do: retreat and live to fight another day. For a second, Saret considered taking Mia with him, but she would slow him down and he couldn’t take that risk. He would have to come back for her.
Casting one last look at the unconscious girl on the float, Saret activated the emergency escape chute and disappeared through the building floor.
Chapter 7
“I want him found. By any means necessary.
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