Divergence (Sector Series Book 2) by Gregg Vann

Author:Gregg Vann [Vann, Gregg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silver Rocket Press
Published: 2014-05-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Val Malik heard the Sentients long before she saw them.

Some of her people had been caught in the hangar area when the shuttles breached the dome’s security lockouts and flew straight in. Luckily, at least one of them had the time and presence of mind to sound the general alarm. Val was at the main house when the siren went off, and not long after, she heard several loud explosions breaking through the din.

And then the screaming started.

She ran to one of the wall monitors and checked the security feed, and when she saw what was happening, Val grabbed Del and bolted from the house. She left everything else behind and headed straight for the lab—where she intended to barricade herself in and wait for help to arrive. She knew that Sector Security was already in the system, and probably working to repel the invaders right now. Val trusted that Stinson and the others would come for them as soon as they could. They just needed to hold out and wait for rescue.

Breth and six of the remaining dome personnel soon joined them in the underground structure; enacting a well-established emergency plan that every resident of the dome knew. If something went wrong, get to the lab. It had its own oxygen supply, and could be sealed off from the rest of the dome should an atmospheric breech occur.

Although this was the dome’s primary safety rule, it was also a plan of last resort. And this situation certainly qualified. When Val was certain that no one else was coming, she closed the hatch, checking the seal twice to confirm it was secure.

“And you’re certain it was Sentients?” she asked Kerrin as she made her way back down the steps.

“Yes, ma’am. I saw one of them with my own eyes. It was a soldier…bracer and all.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense. Doctor Sa was just here a few days ago. If the Sentients had some sort of problem with us, Sa would have known. The doctor is extremely well connected within The Consensus.”

“It was a Sentient soldier, Mrs. Malik. Just as sure as I’m standing here.”

Val placed her hand on the young woman’s shoulder and softened her tone. “I don’t doubt you, Kerrin. It’s just that I don’t understand why they’re doing this.” She turned to her sister. “Breth, please try the emergency communications system again.”

“I have been,” she replied. “But nothing’s changed, Val. Not a single communications channel is active.”

Val looked at her only sister and saw the fear and desperation on her face. She wished she could somehow comfort her, but Val was consumed by her own worries now. Not for herself, but for those closest to her, her son most of all.

Del sensed her anxiety. “Don’t worry, mom. It’ll be ok.”

“Yes it will, Del. Don’t you worry.”

“I’m not.”

“Good. Now we—shhhh…” Val lowered her voice to a whisper. “I think I hear someone outside.”

There was a heavy strike on the hatch at the top of the stairway, causing them all to jump.

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