“Yeah,” Jael says. “And lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place.”
Stay cool, Jax. This is no worse than a bad jump.
“Right.” Jael points without elaborating as to why we should go that way.
To them, we are, quite simply, delicious.
The blood has dried, leaving dark, tacky patches on
the metal floor.
“Anything yet?” March asks without glancing our way.
“It’s a full clutch,” he says at last. “At least ten.”
March shrugs. “We’re here, aren’t we? Maybe they counted on a ship arriving now and then.”
“Pointless speculation,” Vel says.
Jael adds, “We need to find and exterminate them. The time for talking is over.”
A hiss from the ventilation system gives the first warning.
“They’re going to gas us,” Jael says grimly. “Fragging cowards.”
Vel lifts his face, breathes in. “It’s nontoxic, designed to make you dizzy and noncombative.”
“But it’s not bothering
you
,” Jael says, his words already slurred.
And that’s when the things drop down from the ceiling.
At this point, they don’t register anyone else as a threat. We’re beaten. Food.
He backs toward the terminal, trying to lead them away from me.
Oh, no you don’t. We have too much to do yet. You’re not dying for me.
As it lunges to dismember him, I hurl the knife.