Zane was stunned that they had been unable to determine the direction of the sound. That likely indicated that their hearing was poorly developed. That, or they had lost any aural acuity over time. Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t even remember seeing any ears.
After waiting a full minute, Zane rose and made his way over to where the two had been working. As he drew near, he could see a thin female arm dangling off one side of the gurney. A splash of long brown hair spread across the pillow and sheets.
Zane paused and looked over at the door. He couldn’t see any movement inside the room or in the hall beyond. The aurally challenged creatures were apparently still searching the ship, trying to determine the source of the sound.
Zane turned and approached the gurney. When he arrived, he froze in shock.
There, lying on crisp white sheets, was Dr. Katiya Mills.
Zane was suddenly filled with rage and malice when he saw her condition. Her face was sallow, and she seemed to be barely breathing. There was no telling what the grays were going to do to her.
Fearing they would return soon, he slid his hands carefully under her body. As he began to lift her, her eyes opened and a scream formed on her lips.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Acting instinctively, Zane clamped his hand over Katiya’s mouth before she could scream. She grabbed his wrists and thrashed around in the bed, trying to shake him loose.
“Katiya, stop.” He pressed her into the bed and leaned closer. “Katiya.”
She looked into his eyes as though seeing him for the first time. She held his gaze for a moment, then her body relaxed slightly.
“There you go, nice and easy,” he said, slowly removing his hand from her mouth.
She gulped in air then grabbed his arms. “Please, we have to leave!”
“Easy, easy. We’re going to.” He glanced at the door. Still no movement in the room or the hall.
She nodded slowly then looked into his eyes. “I knew you’d come for me.”
Her eyes twitched and her voice slurred, likely the result of a tranquilizing agent.
“I’ll always come for you,” he replied.
“They… they were going to drug me again before you came.”
Zane squeezed her arm. “I know. Try not to talk. You’re still weak.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her gently then turned toward the door.
“I love you, Zane Watson,” she said in a slurred voice.
Zane smiled as he realized he was dealing with the equivalent of a drunk. He wondered if the drugs were like a truth serum.
“No, I really do.”
Zane held a finger to his lips, reminding her not to talk. She nodded dramatically in return.
He carried her over to the door then peered through the glass. As far as he could tell, there was no movement in the corridor. He should have felt relief, but instead, the grays’ absence concerned him.
“Hold on,” he whispered, leaning through the membrane.
“Wow, that felt good,” Katiya said after they’d passed through.
“Quiet,” he whispered.
“You’re no fun,” she moaned.
Zane returned to the bridge. The hologram of Earth seemed to glow more brightly now.
Strange.
Suddenly, Zane had an idea. It involved some element of risk, but there might not be another opportunity. He had to do it, and he had to do it now.
He carried Katiya over to the base of the stairs and propped her up against the rail. He reminded her to remain quiet, and she gave him a mock salute, a silly grin spreading across her face.
After glancing back down the hall, Zane turned and crossed to the globe. It had been stationary before, but now it rotated slowly. He pulled out his smartphone and pressed the power button. He was going to use the camera to document the hologram and some of the ship’s instrumentation. There was no telling how much helpful information they might be able to get from just a few images.
He looked at the phone’s screen, but it was still dark. He cursed. Either his battery was dead or the grays had somehow disabled it.
As he pressed the power button again, Zane heard shuffling behind him.
Katiya.
He looked back at her then frowned. She hadn’t moved. She was still leaning back against the metal rail, her eyes shut tightly.
Zane turned back to his phone and bit his lower lip.
Suddenly, he heard more shuffling, this time closer. He turned his head slightly. A gray figure hovered in the shadows behind him. As Zane reached for his Glock, the creature hissed and charged, knocking him to the floor. It was surprisingly strong and nimble. Before he could react, it grabbed his throat, pinching his windpipe. Zane grabbed its cold arms and tried to pull them away, but the creature was too strong.
Remembering his gun, Zane reached into his pocket. As his fingers closed around the metal grip, he heard a voice speak clearly in his mind. Look at me.
Although he tried to fight it, Zane couldn’t resist the command. He looked up slowly, his eyes resting on the shiny black ovals staring back at him. They seemed devoid of life, and yet he couldn’t turn away.
Release the gun.
Zane knew the creature was using some form of telepathy, but that knowledge didn’t help him fight back. He obediently released the gun.
As Zane struggled to regain control of his will, he suddenly felt as though his internal organs were being squeezed. Was it controlling his body too? Then he remembered reading about people who could bend spoons with their minds. If that were true, anything was possible.
Zane heard a noise coming from the stairs.
Katiya? Please, don’t let her come over here.
Surprisingly, the creature released its hold and turned. Zane could see the dark silhouette of a person coming toward them. The size was wrong for Katiya, which was a relief. But if not her, then who was it?
Stop, Zane heard the creature command the intruder.
But the person continued toward them, apparently immune to the telepathic manipulation.
Stop!
The gray backed up, hissing like a cat.
Zane heard something like the whine of hydraulics, and two hands reached out with startling speed, grabbing the creature by the neck. It thrashed and hissed wildly before finally slipping free and darting toward the doorway next to the stairs.
Instead of giving chase, the newcomer turned toward Zane and stepped closer. Zane slowly reached into his pocket for his gun.
The shadow spoke. “I see you’ve gotten yourself into trouble once again, Zane Watson.”
Zane frowned. It couldn’t possibly be her, and yet there was no mistaking that voice.
She leaned forward, her face now appearing in the ambient light of the nearby globe.
Zane gave a sigh of relief. “What took you so long, Keiko?”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
“I take it you are surprised to see me, sir?” Keiko asked.
Zane rose up on one elbow. “I’m still thinking this is a dream.”
“I can assure you it is not a dream.”
Zane rubbed his neck. “What are you doing here?”
“We discovered that someone close to you had been recruited by Chinese intelligence. We tried to make you aware of the breach but were unable to contact you. Dr. Ross then ordered the formation of an extraction team. We knew you were headed toward this mountain, and we arrived minutes ago.”