Page 93 of Tribute
“Hybrids,” Aled said softly. “Human andUngrich. Right, Kai?” He held his gaze as Kai nodded. “We give them children with the highest percentage of human DNA, which obviously works better than pure Mitan, and they create something nasty in their labs.”
“If they get on the surface, there won’tbeany more Mitans,” Anna said.
Aled grimaced. “Which will suit them just fine.”
“They also lack understanding of emotion,” Kai added. “That’s why they’ve been studying our reactions—to find our weaknesses and exploit them.” He shivered. “They want to create something that can live on the surface but doesn’t have our limitations.”
“Fuck.” Rehz shook his head.
“That’s what Palk meant.” Kai looked over at Rehz. “He traded Anna and Aled for his security. He thinks that if they emerge from here, theUngrichwill save his ass.”
“Then we’ll have to find a way out of here alive.” Rehz’s gaze scanned them all. “Or at least one of us will. We have to warn our government. I was hoping we’d hear something from outside by now, but no such luck. I can’t believe the whole bloody council is in on this, can you?”
“No.” Everyone shook their heads.
He turned to Kai. “Are you able to move your ass if necessary?”
Kai’s smile was crooked. “If there’s anUngrichafter me. Sure.”
Aled wrapped his arms around Kai’s chest from behind. “I’ll help you.”
Rehz nodded. “Then let me do the talking when they come back, okay?”
The light changed and the forms outside the cube cells drifted closer and became identifiable. EachUngrichpair was slightly different in coloration and dimension. Some of them were the size and height of a spaceship, while others were more like tall stalks of grain. Rehz figured the older the creature, the darker the color and the more complex the shape.
“Rehz.”
Anna beckoned him closer. “There’s something going on. Aled and I both felt a new sense of agitation among our hosts. I wonder if our government has finally spoken up?”
Rehz looked at Aled. “Try and find out what’s going on. It could help us with our bargain.”
TheUngrichcongregated around the floating cell. It certainly made sense now why they had perfected an environment replicating the oxygenated surface. Rehz didn’t understand why human DNA worked for theUngrich; he just knew he had to stop the experiments from happening or his people would be exterminated.
He tuned in his thoughts to theUngrichwrapped around his throat.“Have you heard from our government?”
It didn’t answer, but Rehz had been around them long enough to pick up on that slight hint of unease.
“I bet they want us back, don’t they ? What are they threatening you with this time? Carpet bombing, or have they developed more strategic weapons than that? ”
“Be quiet, Rehz Akran.”
Rehz increased the strength of his thought. “You should let us all go before things get worse. Where are your leaders? Let me talk to them.”
A stab of pain right inside his skull had him falling to his knees and fighting to stay conscious.
“I’m right, aren’t I? Let us go.”
The largest and darkest red of theUngrichblasted through the thin cell wall and caught hold of his throat.
“We have a solution.”
“Yeah you do. Let us go. You are breaking the treaty.”
“There will soon be a new treaty.”
He forced himself to stand, and the others joined him. “If you want our government to negotiate with you, you will have to release your hostages.”
“We have a solution.”
