Page 47 of Wrath

As I only had two Shells left, if I died during this mission, it would need to be after we’d at least significantly reduced their numbers. Otherwise, our chances of success would be next to nil. However, if we went further into the ship to weed out the more isolated ones, Marcelle could open the doors of the hangar behind us, and then we’d be just as fucked.

Dread and I didn’t have to speak to understand each other. The same thoughts were crossing his mind. Psychic energy swirled around my companion. I guessed he was speaking to his mate.

“Myriam can still control their doors,”Dread mind-spoke to me seconds later, confirming my assumption.

“But that can be revoked any minute,”I countered.

“Exactly,”Dread replied.“Either way, we’re probably about to get screwed.”

“Agreed. I say we flood the main hallway with the virus,”I mused out loud.“If we’re ambushed, they will at least all be exposed to a large concentration of the virus. By the time we get back, they will either already be dead or weakened enough for us to finish them off.”

“Sounds good.”

We both extruded our scorpion tails through the openings at the back of our suits. Bracing for what would follow, we moved forward, quietly placing the canisters on the floor before opening them to avoid making noise that would draw the creatures too soon. Hearts pounding, we snuck past the hangar.

To our relief, the doors remained closed. But my stomach dropped at the sight of one of the Jadozors twenty meters ahead. The beast was beyond massive. It almost filled the space; so much in fact that I didn’t think it could turn around. If that were true, we’d be in a serious position of strength. We continued our stealth approach while deploying more canisters. However, as was to be expected, the slight hissing sound of the aerosol virus coming out eventually drew the attention of the Jadozor in front of us.

With the frightening fluidity of a snake, the creature contorted its long head over its shoulder to look in our direction. Its reptilian eyes flicked this way and that, sliding blindly over us—thanks to our stealth shield—as it looked for an intruder. The Jadozor bared its teeth, hissing at the light mist rising from the canisters. It instinctively backed up. Undaunted, Dread and I each placed another canister on each side of the hallway. The creature recoiled, startled. To the Jadozor, it would have looked as if two canisters had appeared out of thin air. It growled, and this time, took a step forward. We immediately backed away. The beast advanced by a couple more steps then froze. It tilted its head to the side like a bird and paused, looking as if it was listening to something.

“WRATH! Something’s happening,”Myriam telepathically shouted to me.“I’m locked out of the system.”

At the same time she spoke those words, multiple Jadozor voices rose simultaneously, their deafening screeches hurting both Dread’s and my ears, even through our helmets.

And then all hell broke loose.

The Jadozor charged us, even though I still didn’t think it could see us. As we could never outrun it if we attempted to flee, and seeing how the corridor was too narrow to let him through between us, we raised our forearms before us and summoned our shields. Behind us, the sound of the hangar doors opening turned my blood to ice.

Dread and I only managed to fire a single shot of our blasters before the beast rammed into us. Our efforts to bash it back with our shields would qualify as laughable at best. The force of the impact sent me flying back a few meters while it slammed Dread against the wall. Carried by its momentum, the creature continued its advance, crushing my teammate against the wall. I landed hard on my back then banged my head violently against the floor. My teeth rattled while pain radiated along my spine.

Stunned, I tried to get up but never got a chance.

As I remained invisible due to my stealth shield, the Jadozor didn’t see me as it moved forward, trampling me. It fell on top of me. Although startled, the creature didn’t stop its progression, using its claws to propel itself on the ‘uneven terrain’ of my body. It was crushing me. But worst still, its short legs caused it to drag me over a few meters before it finally cleared. Bruised and battered, I made to get up to give chase, only to be trampled again by the second Jadozor that had been further away in the main hallway.

I finally managed to get back on my feet as Dread—having also picked himself up—was running towards me. Without waiting for him, I rushed back towards the shuttle bay only for its doors to start closing before me. Through the narrowing opening, I watched in horror as five mature Jadozors flew through the energy field protecting the integrity of the ship and out of the shuttle bay into space.

“NO!” I shouted as the doors shut in my face seconds before I reached them.

I punched them in helpless rage, my mind immediately seeking Myriam’s.

“Tell me you can reopen the shuttle bay doors?”I telepathically asked her.

“I’m locked out!”Myriam said. The blossoming panic in her voice twisted my insides. Myriam didn’t panic.“The Jadozors are coming for our ship, and someone is trying to hack our hangar door open, probably to let them in. Kwan and Varnog are going out to fight them, and Linette is getting us out of range.”

Before I could respond, the ship’s intercom came to life, and Marcelle’s voice, easily recognizable by its slight French accent, filled the hallway.

“Leaving so soon, Warriors? Just when the fun is starting? That is quite rude. My pets are coming out to play. Fetch, my pretties. Fetch!”

As if in response to her words, the screeches of two more Jadozors resonated in the distance, soon followed by the thumping sound of their heavy feet stampeding towards us.

Chapter 15

Kwan

My stomach dropped, and my blood turned to ice at the sight of a flock of Jadozors shooting out of the shuttle bay of the Nomad. Although our stealth shield remained active, the creatures appeared to see right through it as they made a beeline for us. Linette immediately set the ship in motion to see if they were indeed seeing us. Sure enough, they adjusted their trajectory to keep coming straight at us.

“I’m going to take them out,” I said. “Myriam, prepare to let me out of the hangar.”

She nodded stiffly, her fingers still flying over her keyboard. “I hope that bitch doesn’t lock me out before you do. Go!”

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