Page 2 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"Subject 23 is responding well to the latest formulation," Hammond continued, making notes. "If we can stabilize the neural pathways, we may finally achieve consistent results."

Another child whimpered from somewhere out of view. How many were there? Dozens?

The copper-haired girl's eyes rolled back, her small body convulsing.

"Claire!"

Nirako's voice cut through the vision. I gasped, returning to the council chamber with a violent jolt. Everyone stared at me, faces ranging from concern to fear.

My markings pulsed erratically, casting faint silver light across the wooden table.

"I apologize," I managed, though my voice shook. "I need air."

I stood on unsteady legs, nearly knocking over my chair. Nirako rose to follow, but I shook my head sharply. The last thing I needed was his measured caution right now.

The council members murmured as I fled the chamber. Outside, I leaned against the stone wall of the building, gulping in the cool mountain air. My hands trembled.

The vision had been stronger than any before—more immediate, more visceral.

The door opened behind me. Nirako. Of course.

"The council is adjourning for today," he said quietly. "Your... episode concerned them."

"Episode?" I turned and faced him, anger burning through the residual pain. "Is that what you call it when I experience children being tortured?" His tail lashed once against the stone wall behind him before he brought it back under control.

His golden eyes narrowed. "I call it a reason for caution. Your markings are unstable, your visions unpredictable."

"How can you talk of waiting?" I stepped closer, looking up at his impassive face. "Those children are dying while we sit around talking."

"We follow Aerie discipline for a reason."

"Discipline?" I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "Is that what matters to you? Following rules while innocent children suffer?"

His lifelines showed slightly brighter, the only sign my words had affected him. "What matters is not losing more lives in a failed rescue attempt."

"You didn't feel what I just felt." I pressed a hand to my chest where phantom pain still lingered. "That little girl is being torn apart from the inside. Hammond is accelerating his experiments."

"All the more reason to plan carefully."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I thought you were different. A warrior. Someone who would fight for those who can't fight for themselves."

"I am a warrior," he replied, his voice hardening. "Which is why I understand the difference between courage and foolishness."

"And I'm just foolish, is that it?" My markings reacted again, a hot pulse beneath my skin. "Just the unstable human who doesn't understand your preciousNyxariways?"

"Your emotions cloud your judgment."

"My emotions?" I stepped closer, invading his space until I could see the flicker in his golden eyes. "My emotions are the only reason I survived what Hammond did to me. My emotions are why I can feel those children's pain when everyone else can pretend it isn't happening."

"No one is pretending?—"

"You are!" I jabbed a finger at his chest. "You stand there, all calm and collected, talking about reconnaissance and preparation while they're being cut open and injected with—" My voice broke. "You have no idea what it's like."

"Then help us understand," he said, frustratingly reasonable. "Work with the council, not against it."

"There's no time! Every day we wait?—"

"Is a day we improve our chances of success."

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