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Besides hanging partially upside down, she wasn’t that uncomfortable draped over Payim’s shoulder as they traversed the corridor. That was probably due to the amazing armored shell. She wasn’t sure if she should do anything or stay limp. At some point a person would rouse unless they’d practically killed her. She glanced wide-eyed at Faktil who was bringing up the rear, but he just shrugged at her.

I guess I’ll stay like this.What was she really going to do anyway?

They rounded a corner and she felt Payim stiffen. Faktil’s expression turned grim as he looked up ahead. Before she could take another breath, the high-pitched whine of alien gunfire filled the corridor.

“Stay down,” Payim barked, depositing her by the wall, before again firing on the crowd of reptiles that suddenly ambushed them.

She tugged in a sharp breath when one of the shots struck Payim. His disguise rippled as the shell absorbed the blast. He fired back at the reptile, ripping a hole in the bastard’s gut. Relief filled her that their armor was working, but more reptiles spilled into the corridor.

A nearby door opened and she was stunned to see a human face peer out. The blonde was equally surprised to see her, anxiously looked at the erupting battle then back at her again.

“Come with me,” the woman hissed, waving to her.

Something screamed that they should follow the blonde.

“Payim!” Elena shouted as she scrambled for the door.

The woman tugged her hand, pulling her into a large room.

“Wait. My friends,” Elena reached for the door as the woman started to shut it.

“They’re not your friends.” The woman tried harder to shut the door, not realizing Elena’s hand was in the way. Thankfully the armor kept it from crushing her fingers.

“I don’t have time to explain.” Anxiously, Elena forced the door wider. “Payim!” she shouted, but with the disguise, she couldn’t pick him out in the melee of reptiles.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the woman swiftly backing farther into the storage room.

“I can’t wait. You have to come now!” the blonde urged, though her stern expression didn’t totally mask her fear.

“Please, I promise you.” She took several steps toward the woman, waving for her to wait.

When she glanced back at the door, one of the reptiles was entering. Instinctively she backed up. The way the reptile glared at her was wrong. Escaping with the woman sounded like a good idea as the scaly beast took another step toward her. She jumped when the bastard suddenly dropped and fell forward, revealing a gaping hole in his back.

“Elena!” the recognizable voice rasped and she looked up from the dead body to see a more familiar scaly face had come to her rescue.

Payim grabbed her, tugging her out of the way of the door as the other two backed in, firing at their pursuers. Swiftly, one of the guys shoved the door shut, keeping out the enemy, while the other blasted the controls.

It was such a relief to see them, but there were more pressing issues.

“There was a woman. We need to follow her.” Elena pointed across the large room.

She couldn’t see the blonde with all the stuff stacked up. Hopefully they hadn’t lost her.

Payim nodded, scooped her up and took off running. He was normally fast, but the combat shell amplified that ability.

“Please, wait. I swear we are friendly,” she called to the woman as they sprinted down the main aisle.

“There.” Scala gestured and raced toward the door.

He managed to get there before the frightened woman could slam it shut on them.

“We are not what we appear to be.” Scala swiped his wrist and the combat shell slid back to reveal his bony face. “We’re here to help.”

The blonde’s eyes widened and she took another step back. Clearly Scala wasn’t what she pictured in a savior.

“Hey.” Elena captured the woman’s attention as she wriggled out of Payim’s arms. “I know Scala looks different, and so do these two under the fake scales, but we are here to help. Please. Do you know where the others are?”

The woman studied her for a moment, then a resigned expression crossed her face. “I will show you, but we have to hurry.” She took off running again down the narrow back hall leading away from the storage room.