The metal crashed into Saekro’s face, sending him stumbling backward into Kunya and toppling them both to the floor.
Ziv’ri lunged for the shock wand.
Sweat began to bead on Jak’ri’s forehead as he struggled to keep the senshi going.
A shout erupted in the hallway.
The guards straightened as they fought the senshi.
Ziv’ri hit the one closest to him with the shock wand.
The guard jerked several times, then collapsed to the floor. Bending over him, Ziv’ri yanked his weapon out of its holster, aimed at the doorway, and hit the other guard with a blast of energy. The second guard stiffened and dropped to the floor, then lay there twitching like the other one.
The weapon must be set to stun.
Jak’ri’s head began to ache with effort.
Ziv’ri’s features tightened with strain as he fired a shot toward the scientists who were untangling themselves and trying to regain their feet.
Saekro and Kunya ducked back behind the operating table.
Breathing hard, Ziv’ri grabbed the fallen guard’s arm and started to drag him toward Jak’ri’s cell.
Jak’ri’s heart slammed against his ribcage. Just a little farther and he would be free. They both would be.
Stopping on the other side of the bars, Ziv’ri yanked the guard’s arm up toward the gate’s censor.
A blast of electricity struck him.
Jak’ri cried out as he watched his brother stiffen and grunt. The senshi Ziv’ri was emitting halted abruptly.
Two more guards stepped over the one who lay twitching in the doorway and entered the lab, a stunner locking Ziv’ri in place.
Jak’ri tried to strengthen his own senshi to combat them, but the vuan drug thwarted his efforts.
“Cease!” Saekro bellowed as he rose on the opposite side of the lab. “Or I will order him killed!”
Hope died as more guards crowded into the hallway.
Jak’ri ended his senshi.
The guard stopped stunning Ziv’ri.
Ziv’ri collapsed to the floor and lay still, muscles twitching.
Weakness suffused Jak’ri as he watched him, coupled with despair.
They had failed.
And now his brother would pay the price.
The two new guards stomped forward and yanked Ziv’ri up.
Jak’ri ground his teeth as they forced Ziv’ri onto the table and engaged the manacles on his wrists and ankles. Before turning away, one held Ziv’ri’s head still while the other locked a fifth, wider manacle across his forehead.
They only ever put the last in place when they wished him to remain completely still for a scan or when they shocked him.
Jak’ri didn’t think they planned to scan his brother.
Blood pooled beneath Ziv’ri’s hands on the table. His chest bore an ugly wound as well.
Ziv’ri glanced at Jak’ri from the corner of his eye. “This was all part of the plan, wasn’t it?” he joked breathlessly. “You knew they’d come for me first. You knew I’d fail to kick their asses. And you knew they’d punish me as they’re about to. This was all your way of getting back at me for putting that yeorxoki serpent in your bed when I was only ten summers. Am I correct?”
Though his heart broke for his brother, Jak’ri forced a laugh. “Srul yes. Maybe after this I’ll finally forgive you.”
Ziv’ri smiled. “Drek you.”
When the guard approached with the shock wand, Saekro held up a hand to halt him. “Wait.” He glared at the two Purvelis a long moment. Then a gleam entered his eyes that chilled Jak’ri’s blood.
The moment stretched.
Gripping the bars, Jak’ri swallowed hard and met his brother’s eyes. Were they going to kill him? Would he really have to stand here impotently and watch these drekkers kill Ziv’ri?
Dread overwhelmed him. Would it be swift? Or would they torture Ziv’ri for hours until his body finally succumbed to his injuries? The two of them had known this could happen, that this could be the punishment meted out if their escape attempt failed. But now that the moment was upon them…
He didn’t want to lose his brother. His best friend.
He couldn’t.
Saekro motioned the guard closer and murmured something in his ear.
Grunting, the guard unshackled Ziv’ri, yanked him off the table, and shoved him toward the open gate to his cell.
Ziv’ri stumbled but managed to remain on his feet as the gate closed and the lock activated.
The guard left. The brothers stared at each other.
What did this mean?
Saekro remained where he stood, watching the brothers impassively. But the gleam in his eye remained.
Kunya stood nearby, shifting anxiously from foot to foot, his tail twitching. Apparently he didn’t know what it meant either.
Jak’ri? Ava called.
Yes.
What’s happening?
Ziv’ri and I tried to escape.
What?
He gave her a brief accounting of what had happened.
Ziv’ri, she said, are you okay? Did they hurt you?
Only a few cuts. I expected a swift and harsh punishment like those they’ve delivered in the past, but they returned me to my cell.
Maybe they’re afraid hurting you could affect their experiments?
Perhaps, Ziv’ri said, his voice full of doubt.
Did you feel anything when we emitted the senshi? Jak’ri asked. They had focused all of their efforts on the scientists and the guards, but he worried she might have felt it, too.
No. I didn’t feel anything. She would have if he’d been at full strength. I was sleeping until the guards woke me up. I thought at first they were going to make me force down more of those disgusting nutrient cubes. But they appear to have something else—
Ava walked into the lab, two guards at her back—in mind.
Her eyes widened as they met his then skimmed over to Ziv’ri.
Theirs did, too.
Oh drek. Jak’ri glanced at his brother and saw the same horror he felt reflected in Ziv’ri’s face. No, no, no, no, no.
“Put her on the table,” Saekro ordered.
Her face paling, Ava stopped short and addressed the scientist. “What’s going on?” She motioned to the brothers. “Who are they? Why am I here?”
One of the guards gave her a hard shove.
Stumbling forward, she scowled and stopped short again. Hands curling into fists, she turned suddenly and punched the guard in the throat.
Caught by surprised, the guard cupped his neck and began to wheeze.
Ava spun and delivered a hard kick to his belly, actually managing to drive him back a step. But the Gathendien recovered quickly and backhanded her, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Before she could do more than raise onto her hands and knees, the grunark grabbed her by the waist, lifted her, swiveled, and slammed her down on the operating table.
Ava cried out, her face contorting in pain.
Jak’ri struggled to hold back a roar of fury. She was still sore from their drekking surgery. That had to have hurt like srul.
Ava clamped her pink lips together and struggled, but she was no match for the Gathendiens as they forced her arms and legs into position and clamped the manacles together.
“They,” Saekro said, “are two lab subjects who are willing to sacrifice each other to thwart our efforts.” His thin lips turned up in an oily smile. “Let us see if they are as eager to sacrifice you.”