Christmas in Zonei Pt. 07

I won't ever take you in pain and fear, Little One, Raeden assured him. When we make love, it will be the most wonderful experience of your life.

Kim believed him and his fear dissipated. Then, in the quiet moment that followed, they heard a low moan. Kim's head snapped up and he became aware of his surroundings again. The coppery smell of blood still permeated the air and the bodies of the mangled quents still lay in grotesque disarray about the room. The moan had come from Brian, the quent who Raeden's lizard-monster—Kim could not think of the creature as Raeden himself—had thrown against the wall.

"I guess he's not dead," Kim said, his voice tight with emotion.

Raeden let out a low growl and Kim tensed as another frisson of fear ran through him.

"He doesn't deserve to live," Raeden said, "but I won't kill him now."

"We need to get out of here." Kim was suddenly panicked. "We ... you've killed two people. If they find out, they'll ... well, I don't know what will happen, but we need to go. Now!"

"No," Raeden said calmly. "It's already too late."

"Too late? What do you mean?"

Raeden nodded toward the window. Outside the last vestiges of twilight were fading from the sky. In the silence that permeated the room, Kim heard the distinctive drone of a flyer engine. Multiple flyer engines. It was rare to see the vehicles in Zonei. They were used by the wealthy for transportation in the upper zones and by CorpSec when they were closing in on a criminal.

Kim's heart jumped into his mouth. "Morf!" he cried. "Raeden, morf and run. They won't be able to catch you."

"Oh, yes they will," Raeden said. "How do you think they found me? They must have implanted a tracking devise. And they know about you too by now," he added. "They'll have already scanned the building and taken note of your heat signature. Neither one of us can get away. It's best if we face this together."

"But, Raeden! They'll kill you."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

Kim didn't understand how Raeden could be so calm when his own chest felt ready to explode.

Then one of the windows on the far end of the room shattered inward, glass flying.

Get on my back, Raeden ordered. When Kim hesitated, he added, Now!

With Raeden's help, Kim shifted around so that he clung to Raeden's broad back, wrapping his legs around the mod's torso.

Raeden stood tall and still. Kim watched with horror, peeking over Raeden's shoulder, as a small drone flew into the room and approached them.

Raeden spoke to it. "I'm sure you already know that I'm Raeden Dearborn, 874928634. I have rebonded and—"

Raeden stopped speaking when a small projectile shot from the drone and buried itself in his neck. Kim felt the body beneath him growing and shifting, felt the warm flesh give way to hard scales, and then they were falling.

Raeden crashed forward onto the floor and Kim rode him down, pulling his feet out of the way so they wouldn't get crushed by Raeden's weight when he landed. Kim found himself crouched on the floor next to his unconscious protector. The scales melted back into Raeden's flesh as he returned to his normal state. Kim was relieved to see that he was still breathing.

The drone hovered, whirring quietly. Kim cowered behind Raeden's still form, staring at it fearfully, trying to figure a way out of their current situation.

Then he heard the clamor of many booted feet running on wood. His gaze shifted to the door in time to see a troop of heavily armed men in full riot gear pour into the room.

One of the foremost men raised his weapon and fired. Kim felt a sting in his neck and the world disappeared into darkness.