Chapter 7

Brook let out a sigh of relief. For a moment there, pressed close to him in the small crew cabin, she’d thought the alien was going to kiss her. Oddly enough, she hadn’t backed away.

Curiosity killed the cat and it can kill the human too, idiot.

“Alvarez,” she said. “What are you doing down here? Why didn’t you stay on the bridge?”

“I heard the doors open during the blackout and I thought maybe one of the aliens was roaming the ship, so I went looking.”

Ontarii turned to face the man, his expression darkening. “Maybe you left the bridge because you’re a Hareema agent and you knew we would expose you.”

“Expose this, you asshole!” Alvarez brought his laser pistol up and pointed it at the alien’s chest.

“Stop it,” she said, pushing the pistol down again. “Alvarez, I need you on my side, not acting like a wild card. I need to know I can trust my security specialist to follow my orders and not go off half-cocked.”

Her crewman glanced down as his cheeks colored. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay until he consents to be tested,” Ontarii butted in.

Alvarez grimaced up at the taller alien. “Be my guest, homie. I’m all man.”

Brook watched as Ontarii grabbed Alvarez’s shoulder and sent a burst of energy through him. Her crewman opened his mouth in a silent scream and then fell to his knees.

“Shit, that’s worse than being tased,” he said, once he’d recovered the ability to speak.

“See, he’s human,” Brook said.

Ontarii nodded. “Three down, five to go.”

The three of them proceeded to check the remaining crew quarters but they didn’t turn up any other crewmembers.

“They’ve got to be in the cargo bay.” Alvarez turned and led them in the direction of the storage area. It was the largest part of the ship, and it had very little cargo, as space was saved for Dr. Cohen’s specimens on the return trip.

The three of them investigated the hold, moving storage containers and checking every compartment to verify that the bay was empty.

“That’s the whole ship.” Alvarez turned to face them.

“Not exactly,” Brook replied, pointing to the hatch at the rear of the cargo bay.

“What’s in there?” Ontarii asked.

“Engine room.”

“Let’s go.” The alien led the way and helped Brook open the hatch. There was a slim metal walkway that crossed over the main engines and drives. Things were relatively quiet at the moment, as there was no propulsion taking place.

“I don’t know where anyone would hide in here,” Alvarez said, scanning the area.

“By process of elimination they have to be in here,” Brook replied, although she agreed with Alvarez that a hiding place seemed unlikely.

Ontarii strode to the end of the hallway and began investigating the series of panels against the back wall. Brook leaned over the railing, peering down into the engine works.

Suddenly there was the sound of laser fire. Brook looked up just in time to see Alvarez groan, then fall backward over the railing. He hit the engine below, causing a shower of sparks and a loud grinding noise.

“Daniel!” she shouted, bending low to see if she could find a way to help her crewmember, but his body was already gone, ground up in the works of the Earhart.

“Get down!” Ontarii shouted, pointing behind her.

Instead of dropping, Brook turned in the direction of his pointing and screamed.

A six-foot tall red block of jelly was quivering at the end of the walkway, blocking the exit. Without warning, a tendril of red shot out from the being.

She was barely able to drop before it hit her, the hot beam instead sailing over her head.

There was a bright flash, and Brook rolled over, realizing that Ontarii had shot a bolt of energy at the creature. The bolt ripped through the tentacle and it fell, over the railing and into the engine.

The block of red jelly was surprisingly quick as it rolled out the exit door and started closing it before Ontarii could get another shot.

Brook jumped to her feet and ran to the door but couldn’t reach it before it whooshed shut. A noise on the other side resembled something being smashed, and she beat her hand against the button to open the door.

Nothing happened. The door was sealed with them on the other side.

“That thing, is that a Hareema?” Her voice was high, her breathing choppy. Fear sat on her like never before.

Ontarii nodded. “Now do you see why we are so vigilant?”

“Yes.” Brook looked over the railing of the walkway again, her voice pinched. “It killed Alvarez.”

“And it will kill again if it suits its purpose.” The alien’s face was grim. “It’s taking a new shape as we speak. But what shape will it be?”

Brook looked at Ontarii, her eyes wide. He was right. It could take any shape. Alvarez. Weitz. Chao.

Herself.

Ontarii.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” he said, heading to the door and putting his weight against it.

“That won’t work. The controls are jammed.”

“Every second we spend trapped in here is a second the Hareema can use to take control of the ship.”

Brook nodded. Something had to be done.

At this moment the Hareema could be donning her shape and ordering her crew to do God knew what. Here she was, stuck in the engine room with an angry Zantharian who already thought she was incompetent.

“There has to be a way out.” She glanced around and tried to swallow back down the bile that rose up and burned her throat, to no avail.

“Right, well, as you’ve pointed out a million times… it’s your ship, so find it.” His voice was low and ominous. Was he already Hareema?