Jewels stumbled as her surroundings solidified. They were in a dense rainforest filled with animal sounds. She stepped back and as far away from Adam as possible. She wished Dex were here instead of this creepy human. The thought startled her. When had she started viewing others as human? She knew that answer. It was the moment she'd laid eyes on Dex that her entire existence had irrevocably changed.
"So, pretty lady. When do we start?" Adam took a step in her direction, and she moved farther away.
"I don't know. Whenever they decide to begin."
"I have an idea of what we can do while we wait."
Her eyes narrowed at his words. She saw the leer and became more alert. She was at a disadvantage. Adam's mind was shielding hers. However, she could keep him out of her thoughts long enough to make a break for it. "I think not." She broke into a run and plunged into the undergrowth.
She heard Adam cursing as he gave chase. No way was she letting him near her. As she went deeper into the bushes, a thought occurred to her that nearly stopped her in her tracks. She wasn't hearing any thoughts. Not even Adam's. She reached out with her telepathy and touched the mental shield around her mind.
Jewels gasped, disbelief freezing her in place. It wasn't Adam's shield she felt. It was Dex's vibrant and comforting shielding that protected her from the loud thoughts of living things. "Oh, Dex, how did you do it?" she murmured.
"Got you!"
Jewels screamed as she was bowled over by Adam's larger form. They rolled, and pain exploded along her back as she slammed into a rock. Adam landed on top of her. Tears filled her eyes, and she gasped, frantically trying to quell the agony racing through her.
"Get off!" she yelled and slapped him hard.
Adam snarled and grabbed her wrists in a bruising grip. She bucked, trying to dislodge him, but he anticipated her move and backhanded her, making her head ring and her vision swim.
"Stupid, girl! Did you think you could escape me? You're prey, and I always catch what I'm hunting. You reek of that stupid Gatoan. Oh, Prince Dex, save me," Adam mocked in a high, shrill tone. "He's not going to save you because he's going to be dead! He, his Father, and all the other mangy cats that came with them."
"No! You lie!"
Adam leaned in and nuzzled her neck. Jewels let out a disgusted yelp and turned her head away.
"Better learn to like this. You're my prize for being stuck on this godforsaken planet for the last two decades."
"Decades?" Jewels distrusted his words. He was too chatty. That meant either he was just that crazy, or he was secure in his plan. Both were bad for her. "You can't be a day over 35," she scoffed.
"Why, thank you, Jewels. Try 70 of your Earth years. I volunteered to assist the Lupines in exchange for them helping me become more than a second-rate psionic. Of course, it meant making some sacrifices."
She had a bad feeling about this turn in the conversation. "Sacrifices?"
"Yes, I had to agree to send them psionics for study. It was easy enough. I never had anyone respect my psionic gifts until I met the Lupines. You see, they aren't psionic, but they were hoping to find some way to either breed it into their line or induce it in existing pack members."
"You bastard! How many of us did you send to them? And how did you not get caught?" Angrily Jewels twisted beneath his bulk, determined to get free and kick his sorry behind.
"The Gatoans aren't the only ones with tech-savvy. The Lupines invented gates that do the same thing as a teleport, except they don't rely on human power. They are strategically placed on Earth and throughout the galaxies the Lupines visit."
Jewels couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What was your reward for turning traitor?"
"I get to rule Earth as Bonebreaker's human representative."
She started laughing; she couldn't help it. "You are an idiot, Adam! Do you think these Lupines will honor their word? Do you think you are the only one they are using like this?"
"I know they will keep their word. Yes, they are users, but I'm not stupid enough not to have backup plans," came his smug reply.
"Then you are a fool!"
Adam leaned in closer to her face. "No, not a fool. Besides, the job comes with perks. They gave me a little extra boost."
Jewels shivered at the madness in his eyes. "What do you mean?" She wanted to use her abilities, but the Phase Three simulation restricted her powers to telepathy only to gauge and test her partner's abilities.
"This." His face morphed, and Jewels screamed as Adam's human features disappeared and reformed. Denial hit, but she knew what he had become. It shouldn't be possible; such things were a myth.
"Werewolf," she gasped, going completely still beneath him. Fascinated and repulsed, Jewels simply stared up at him.
Adam placed his muzzle near her cheek and nipped her. She yelped and jerked her head away, feeling blood on her face. "You bit me, you crazy freak!"
"I am not a freak!" He howled.
She wasn't sure how Adam could speak when his face was mostly muzzle and fur. It clicked then what the Lupines must be. "Wolves! You mean the Lupines are wolves?"
::Brilliant deduction. Now, how about I feast on your fear and make you scream?::
Jewels shut her eyes. She was not going to scream for him. His fetid breath blew in her face, and then Adam howled in surprise. His weight was gone, and she opened her eyes. It took a few seconds to process the fight happening before her.
She recognized Colonel Brion's large form as he fired at Adam, who nimbly dodged the blasts.
::Get up, girl! Use your electrokinesis now!::
Jewels's mouth fell open. The Colonel was psionic! She hadn't sensed it the first time they met. Confused, she stood up and called forth the electricity. The familiar pops and crackles brought a not-so-nice smile to her face. "Feast on this, Doggy Face!"
She pulled back her hand and flung an electric blast that slammed into Adam's head and dropped him writhing and howling to the ground. She sprinted over to Colonel Brion's side.
"Sir, what is going on?"
"No time to talk, Lieutenant. We have to get you to the ship. And as for this cur," Brion fired one laser shot into Adam's twitching body. Adam convulsed and stopped moving.
Jewels grimaced, but was relieved. She hadn't relished the idea of becoming dinner. "Ship?"
Brion jogged toward a narrow path. Jewels was forced to run to keep up with him. "Sir! Ship?"
"Yes, Earth's pride and joy. It's named after you, Lieutenant."
"What, me? Why? You're not making sense! This has got to be the craziest Choosing I've ever experienced!"
"It will be your last," Brion informed her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jewels halted and stared at the shuttle that sat in the clearing. It wasn't a type she was familiar with.
"You will see, Lieutenant. Now, get in."
Brion ran inside, and after a moment's hesitation, so did Jewels.
"Take that seat. I'll explain on the way."
"Way? Where are we going?" she demanded, tired of the half answers.
"To save your husband and our planet."
Jewels sat back in the chair and massaged her aching temples. She felt the vibrations of the engines powering up, and they were airborne. Could her life get any stranger?