Page 82 of Salvation for the Alien Mercenary

"I'm not a specimen." She yanked her sleeve down and stepped back. "I'm a person."

He didn't reply, already turning away to feed the sample into an analyzer. Retreating to the far side of the lab, she watched him. He was up to something; she knew that as sure as she knew she needed her next breath.

The doors to the lab slid open with a hiss, and Anson strode in. The B'Kaar's expression was tense, his usually cocky demeanor replaced by something sharper, more focused.

"We've got a problem," he announced.

"I'm working." K’ell didn't look up from his console. "Whatever it is can wait."

"No." Anson moved to the security terminal near the main display. "It can't."

He placed his palm against the interface panel, and his eyes unfocused slightly, the way she'd noticed they did when interfacing with systems.

"What is it?" she asked, moving closer to see the display.

His jaw tightened as data flowed across the screen. "Security breach. Every message we've sent since arriving on this planet has been intercepted. Someone's been tracking us through our comms."

K’ell straightened, his dismissive attitude vanishing as he became suddenly alert. "What systems were compromised?"

"Communications." The B'Kaar turned, his expression grim. "We've been broadcasting our position like a damn beacon."

"What, all our comms?"

Anson's gaze was hard as he met her eyes. "No, just Rann's. His personal device has been broadcasting our location for the last eight hours."

"Rann?" She frowned. "But that would mean?—"

"The M'Suun are here."

K’ell snatched data cores and samples. "How long?"

"They're already here." Anson's hand dropped to his weapon. "Outer perimeter sensors just went dark."

Alarms shrieked to life, bathing the lab in pulsing red emergency lights. She caught her breath. Davis was somewhere in the building, possibly in the direct path of incoming hostiles.

Ryke's voice came over the comm. "All hands, defensive positions. Hostiles approaching from the south entrance. Covak, Jesh… secure the east corridor. Davis, west corridor. Everyone else, rendezvous on the production floor."

Anson tapped his comms.

"Jex, do you copy?" He frowned and tried again. "Draanth.Nothing. They're jamming our comms. Can't reach the ship."

She swore under her breath. Jex was the only one aboard, running diagnostics on the Lady's Dream's systems. With comms blocked, they had no way to call for backup.

Anson tossed her his spare sidearm. "Take this."

She caught it, checking the charge indicator with practiced movements. "Thanks."

"We need to move," he said, heading for the door. "Doesn't look like the office exit on the north side is compromised. If we can reach it, we have a chance."

She gripped the weapon tighter.

"Move!" Anson barked and grabbed K’ell's arm, dragging him from his precious samples. "Time to go."

She followed Anson and the scientist through the manufacturing unit's maze of equipment and assembly lines. Factory workers scattered at the sight of their weapons, hiding behind machinery. The crack of weapons fire grew closer.

She nearly collided with a solid figure blocking their path as they rounded the corner toward the main production floor.

Davis.