Chapter 15

Sounds good, boss! Santorelli cheered.

How thick is the structure? Tobias pressed with somewhat less enthusiasm.

About ten meters, Jake replied. They're going to reinforce it to strengthen the ground, but they're also using the river for fresh water.

Santorelli asked, What does that mean for us?

They're disturbing the ground in the area. These documents are pretty clear to warn that the site is temporarily unstable. The tunnel is surrounded by watertight doors in case there's a collapse.

I could hear the wicked assumption in Santorelli's reply. And how thick are those doors?

Not so thick that we couldn't handle them, Jake answered.

Sounds like we got a plan! he concluded. Place looks a little dry, anyway!

Have we got everything we need? I asked Jake.

Just getting a few more things.

The outlook was appearing brighter despite my subconscious mind prodding incessantly and telling me that it couldn't be as easy as that. Something much trickier was bound to step in our way. Something always did.

I couldn't predict how soon it would come, but I got my answer nonetheless. One of the doors to the office opened. A Kelbrid donning the rarer blue piece of clothing stomped in, the universal expression of annoyance all over him like the toxic Kelbrid goo. He gazed around the room, so I tucked myself behind as much of the cubicle as I could in the hope that he didn't see me. I heard him exchanging words with one of the other workers, and it sounded bland and boring, like the gentle grumble of a humdrum working day. I was immediately envious.

That talk ended, and then I heard shuffling as the new Kelbrid in blue paced the room. He was coming closer, and I realized that being seen was inevitable. I had to protect Jake.

I pushed myself away from the cubicle and resumed a prouder, more deliberate stance. The blue Kelbrid wandered into view and set eyes on me. I hoped that my confident stance would be enough of a sign that my presence was warranted, but he stopped suddenly, and the annoyance he'd shown turned into something else.

"Bracka!" he huffed.

I resorted to one of the only Kelbrid phrases I'd remembered. "Reon Adisdi."

The Kelbrid cocked his head and snarled. "Bracka!" he repeated throatily. Clearly, saying hello wasn't what he wanted as a response. Unfortunately, it was all I had.

Um, Jake?

He'd caught onto my predicament and attempted to help. He said, "explain." You need to reply: Uryun foo enfiid reecun ecrid.

But the time Jake took to aid me was too much of a wait for the blue Kelbrid, and he stormed closer, shouting something completely different. He pointed harshly to my chest and then to my face.

Attempting to reply was fruitless, and Jake realized it, too. I stuck up my hands defensively and shook my head. It was instinctual, more than anything. Blue Kelbrid didn't buy it and continued to berate me with words I had zero chance of understanding.

Jake! I yelped. What's he saying?!

He's saying that you shouldn't be here. He thinks you snuck in from one of the transport ships. He doesn't recognize you and thinks that maybe you're a dissident.

Can't you speak to him? All I can say is hello, and I don't think that's going to convince him.

The Kelbrid was getting increasingly agitated the more I seemed to refuse to reply. He waved a hand to the door while yanking on my shoulder.

Jake translated. He's telling you to go to another room. I can't speak to him because he wouldn't recognize me, either. Just play along.

Play along?! I exclaimed. Are you insane?! You don't know what these guys will do to me!

He's saying you need to do some identity checks. Just morph small whenever you get the opportunity. We'll get you out of this.

I was incensed! How could he be so relaxed about it? They could kill me or torture me! They could probably think of something worse than both of those combined!

I pushed the blue Kelbrid's arm away and barked, stepping back towards the cubicle. I wouldn't let him take me. "Oop aka winayt!" I yelled.

He seethed at me but stepped back and spoke angrily into the back of his hand. Only then did I realize that something was strapped to it. He yelled something else to me and tried again to grab my arm, but I flailed it off and tried to back around the cubicle.

The Kelbrid followed as I sidled my way through the cubicles and toward the exit. I wasn't going to hang around anymore. Jake could handle himself, and I was causing enough of a scene anyway. He was being ignored.

I saw the big circular door and broke free from the line of cubicles. It was my chance to get out, to run back for cover with Tobias and Santorelli.

I'm getting out, I called to Jake. If you've got what we need, you should, too!

I'm done, he replied. Tobias, Sarge, move back the way you came from and find a tunnel heading upwards. We'll meet you there!

The door ahead swung open with a bang, and a second blue Kelbrid cut off my way out. The reinforcement had arrived. I couldn't turn back with the first one giving chase. I would lose all momentum. My only option was to barrel my way through the door.

"Urfunt!" the new Kelbrid screeched. His right hand unveiled a small handheld gun, the turret whirring with a glowing red chamber. That changed my mind, but not my speed, and I barged with my head down against his chest.

We were flung to the side, collapsing into the open door. When I rolled onto my back, I could hear them both barking orders, cursing my insolence. Two hands pulled me up by the armpits, and though I struggled, I couldn't break their grasp. When the fiery-hot barrel of the weapon was poised to my spine, I knew that luck had abandoned me. Only then did a third blue Kelbrid appear, also possessing a firearm.

Jake! Get these creeps off of me!

His head popped up over one of the nearby cubicles. He evaluated the situation. They're all armed. If I go in, they'll have us both!

What the hell are you going to do? I growled.

Morph when you can, dude. Just not now. You've got three guns locked on.

Fuck… I cursed. The Kelbrids, safe in the knowledge that I'd passed the peak of my struggles, started to march me roughly towards the opposite door, moving me away from the path I knew led to our exit.

Hang in there, Jake spoke reassuringly. Just don't panic. We'll get you out.

The lead Kelbrid kicked open the far door, and I was dragged thrashing into the dark neighboring corridor.