Page 29

T he combat shuttle broke through Cetaaris IV's cloud cover, engines growling as Rann guided them toward the research facility.

Davis rolled his shoulders, fighting the tension that always built before action.

He felt good. Better than good. Something close to normal.

The bizarre changes of the past days seemed to have run their course.

He glanced across the shuttle's interior. Ryke checked his assault rifle with practiced moves. Covak's massive body filled two seats, amber eyes alert as they descended. Jesh sat motionless, her blank stare the only sign she was running diagnostics.

"Approach trajectory clear," Rann called from the cockpit. "No activity on the ground. ETA three minutes."

"Copy that." Mira's voice came crisp through the comms. "We can't get a good reading down there. Jex says mineral deposits in the earth are blocking our scans."

"Let us know when you have something," he replied. Things were good between them now. Really good. Memories of last night replayed in his mind. Her skin against his, her body fitted perfectly to his, her voice gasping his name when -

"Touching down in sixty seconds," Rann announced. "Prepare for potential resistance."

Davis focused, checking his sidearm one final time. Mira was safe aboard the ship with Jex. That was what mattered.

"I still think this is bullshit," Mira's voice cut through. "Just because I'm human doesn't mean I'm useless. Jesh looks human, too, and she gets to go."

Silence fell over the shuttle, and he shot a glance at Jesh. Her shoulder-mounted weapon pods gleamed under the lights, metal components jutting from her shoulders and arms.

Covak snorted. "Sure, because nothing says 'blend in with humans' like having pulse cannons grafted to your shoulders."

No one would mistake Jesh for human anymore. Not with those modifications.

"Mira," Jex's voice was gentle but firm. "Perhaps set your comm to a private channel next time."

A mortified groan filled the speakers.

"We left Jex behind, too," Davis said, keeping his tone light. "Eight-foot battle suits tend to cause a bit of panic."

"Touching down now," Rann said from the cockpit. "Careful out there. Sensors show recent weapons discharge nearby."

The shuttle settled with a metallic groan. The rear hatch lowered, revealing the research facility or what remained of it, anyway. Smoke billowed from the eastern wing, and debris scattered across the landing area. Nothing moved.

"Well... shit." His stomach tightened, and his sense of well-being vanished, replaced by familiar tension.

Ryke was already moving, rifle raised. "Standard sweep. Covak, Davis, you take the right flank. Jesh, with me. Rann, secure our exit."

Davis nodded, following the Reaper leader down the ramp. He stepped onto Cetaaris IV, sidearm ready.

The stench hit him as they approached the building. Charred synthetics, melted plastics, and the copper-sweet smell of spilled blood beneath. Bodies lay scattered across the entrance courtyard. They were Latharian. Researchers in lab coats and security personnel still clutching weapons.

He surveyed the carnage. They hadn't stood a chance. This was methodical. Professional.

He tapped his eyecam off.

"Davis?" Mira's voice filled his ear immediately. "What are you seeing? Your feed cut out."

"Nothing you need to see," he replied, voice grim. She didn't need to witness this.

Covak crouched beside one corpse, massive fingers checking for vitals with surprising gentleness. The Vorrtan's nostrils flared. "Still warm. Death occurred within the last hour."

Davis nodded. "Weapon signatures look military grade. Professional hit squad."

Ryke gestured toward the main building. "Grid formation. Sweep for survivors."

The team moved through the facility with practiced efficiency. Davis paired with Covak, covering each other's blind spots as they pushed deeper into the complex. The corridors showed signs of struggle plasma burns on walls, bullet holes in door frames, abandoned equipment scattered everywhere.

"The deeper we go, the fresher the bodies," Covak muttered, voice low.

They turned down another corridor. A sign overhead read "Research Laboratory." The doors stood partially open, controls charred from a plasma hit.

"Going right," Davis murmured.

They entered cautiously, the lab stretching before them.

It was a sprawling space filled with equipment that gleamed despite the destruction.

Moving quickly, they swept corners and checked shadows.

Workstations lay overturned, and data screens flickered with static.

There were more bodies researchers who had died at their posts, some still clutching sample containers.

Covak whistled low. "Frexx. Someone wanted to make sure nothing survived."

Davis stepped closer to one workstation, running his hand over the equipment. "I recognize some of this setup."

"You do?" Covak's eyebrows rose.

He nodded. "Spent six months undercover in a research facility a few years back. Extracting a NOMAD operative who'd gotten in too deep."

The Vorrtan snorted. "Look at you, Mr. Science. Never figured you for the intellectual type."

"There's a difference between recognizing equipment and knowing how to use it," he replied, moving to another station. The console here was dead as well. "I was posing as maintenance, not a researcher."

"That makes more sense." Covak grinned, fangs glinting in the emergency lighting. "Holding a spanner instead of taking notes."

Davis approached what looked like the main research terminal. The screen was shattered, but it looked like the data core was intact. "Hey. We might be able to salvage something from this."

He reached for the interface, his fingers brushing the activation panel.

White-hot agony erupted behind his eyes, exploding through his skull like molten metal. His knees buckled as the floor rushed up to meet him.

Fuck . Not now. Not again.

His vision blurred. The room twisted around him, colors bleeding together. Agony tightened his muscles around his bones, and something inside him shifted. His jaw clenched until he tasted blood.

"Davis!" Covak's voice sounded like he was underwater. " Frexx , not again!"

The medic's hands were on his shoulders, steadying him. Davis fought to remain conscious, fought against the fire consuming him from the inside out. His skin felt too tight, like it might split open.

"Covak to team," Covak said. "Davis is having another episode. We're in the main lab."

Footsteps approached, and voices swam around him. He lifted his head, vision swimming. He caught his reflection in a polished metal tray that had fallen nearby, scattering tools around his hands.

His eyes. The pupils had constricted to vertical slits, like a cat's. The gold ring around his irises had expanded, eating into the blue he was used to seeing.

Latharian eyes.

As suddenly as it came, the pain receded, leaving him gasping like a fish out of water on the floor. His muscles still spasmed with aftershocks. He took a tentative breath, but nothing... It felt like the worst had passed.

"Easy." Covak's voice was gentle. "Let me check your vitals."

"No. No need." He pushed himself up, refusing the offered hand. His voice sounded strange rougher, deeper than normal. "I'm fine."

"Like hell you are," Covak growled. "You looked like a kid in his first shift. Like your frexxing bones were all trying to break at once. Hate to break it to you, but humans don't do that."

He shook his head, immediately regretting the movement as nausea washed through him. "I'm good. It's passed. We need to keep moving."

Ryke entered the lab, taking in the scene with one glance. "Status?"

"Davis hit the deck again."

"I said , I'm good," Davis insisted, forcing himself upright despite the tremors still wracking his frame. He curled his hands into fists to hide the shaking. "The pain's gone."

"But something triggered it," Jesh said from behind Ryke. "This facility contains whatever K ell was working on. Perhaps something here can help..."

Before anyone could reply, Covak's head snapped up, nostrils flaring wide. His pupils dilated, muscles tensing beneath his skin. "Someone's still alive. And they're running."

The Vorrtan's skin flushed deep crimson, fangs lengthening as he inhaled deeply, turning his head. "That way. Moving fast."

Even weakened, Davis recognized the start of Covak's battle form. The Vorrtan species had been engineered for war... for tracking. Killing. No one was better suited to hunt down a fleeing target.

"Davis." Mira's voice was soft in his ear. "Be careful. Please."

The simple plea steadied him. "Always am."

"Covak, take point," Ryke ordered. "Jesh, flank right. Davis, with me. Rann, maintain position at the shuttle."

They moved through the facility as one unit.

Covak led, following scent trails invisible to the others.

Each corner brought new evidence of the brutality of the attack.

This wasn't random. Someone had come here specifically to erase whatever work was being done.

.. and make sure no one lived to tell about it.

"Trail leads outside." Covak raced toward a side exit. "Getting stronger."

The door slid open to reveal another landing pad. A nondescript trading vessel sat there, engines cycling for departure. A figure hurried up the boarding ramp, glancing over his shoulder.

The team was already moving. Ryke and Jesh circled left. Covak and Davis went right, cutting off escape routes. The figure reached the top of the ramp, hand hovering over the door controls.

"Oi!" Ryke's voice cut through the stillness. "Stop where you are."

The figure froze, then slowly turned.

"Are you K ell?" the Reaper leader demanded.

He was older than Davis expected. Silver streaked his dark hair, and his face was lined. His knuckles whitened on the handrail as he saw the armed mercenaries surrounding him. But then the Latharian's gaze landed on Davis, and his eyes widened, jaw going slack.