Once you went to the Machine, you never came back.
Danny Slavin knew that, and he was trying his damndest not to be next.
His friend Kate Yancey cowered next to him as the alien guards marched
by. She'd watched them take Valerie and Cerina, and the mild psychic
connection she had had told her they were killed almost upon getting
there. But they never knew exactly what for.
"I'm scared, Danny," Kate said. She shivered in his arms as they peered around the corner.
"Don't blame you," Danny said back.
Suddenly something grabbed her from behind, and she let out a yelp of fright before realizing that it was her friend Amanda. "Manda!" she whispered. "You scared the crap outta me!"
"Sorry!" Manda whispered. "Ooooo...you got the cute one..."
"No time for going droolie now," Kate said. "They're on the look out for everybody who got out of the cargo hold."
"That means, you two, me and Suzi for sure."
"Suzi got out?" Kate was shocked. Manda nodded and said, "Yeah...right after they took Justin."
"Oh no..." Kate whispered. "They took Justin?"
"Right after you guys snuck out," Manda said. Just then a voice from across the corridor hissed, "Hey guys!"
"Suzi!" Kate said, motioning for the other woman to get to where they were.