Prevail (The Pike Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

he stood at his full height. He looked down at the guard who threatened to hit him with the baton again, and wondered how much pressure he would need to snap his neck.
    He resumed shuffling along until he reached his cell. The guard touched his belt and the door opened. He shoved Kevin from behind causing him to fall to the floor again. He hit the ground hard, the restraints preventing him from getting his hands up to break his fall. He did manage to turn his face and avoided losing any teeth, or breaking his nose again. Closing the door, the guard touched his belt and the restraints slackened, allowing Kevin to free his arms and legs. Kevin forced himself to stand up, walked to the bars and watched the guard as he left. He rubbed his wrists and reminded himself to be patient. The right opportunity would present itself soon enough.
     

Chapter 11
     
    Kevin was actually allowed to sleep for the first time in days. It wasn’t a full night’s sleep, but it was something. When he finally woke he went over the previous day in his mind. The Kemmar weren’t going to stop until they got what they wanted. They were changing tactics. He feared he would have to endure the slaughter of another of his men.
    The guard showed up again that morning with another Kemmar who Kevin started referring to as the doctor. He would pump Kevin full of drugs every morning. If he was a smart doctor he would’ve realized his drugs weren’t having any effect on Kevin. But he was clearly complacent and just assumed that they worked. Kevin was human, just like the Reivers, and the drugs worked on them without a problem. Same species, same results. Only the Reivers didn’t have a bloodstream full of Space Force counter agents.
    Kevin played the role of the drugged prisoner convincingly enough. That was part of the trick. The counter agents allowed him to feel enough of the drug’s effects to modify his behavior appropriately. He played the role, and the Kemmar bought the act.
    The guard escorted him back to the interrogation room. Walking down the hall he made eye contact with each Marine as he passed their cell. They all nodded at him, letting him know that they were ready to follow his lead. When they reached the end of the hall the guard touched his belt and the door opened. Kevin wondered how many doors that belt opened.
    They arrived at the interrogation room, and the door opened. As they walked in, Kevin noticed the interrogator first, but what he saw next stopped him in his tracks. Sitting in a chair in front of the interrogator was Chief Engineer Singh.
    The interrogator looked at Kevin and bared his teeth in a way that Kevin recognized. He was happy. The interrogator said, “The most remarkable thing has happened since we spoke yesterday. One of our ships arrived and delivered a surprising visitor.” The interrogator turned to Singh. “What is your rank and name?”
    “Chief Engineer Rajneesh Singh.”
    “What is the name of your ship?”
    “The Hermes.”
    “And where is the Hermes now?”
    “The Hermes was destroyed.”
    Destroyed? The word hit Kevin like a kick to the stomach. How could that be possible?
    “Where are the rest of your crew?”
    “I don’t know. The lifeboats all scattered in different directions.”
    So the crew might still be alive. But they could be anywhere.
    “How did the Hermes travel such enormous distances?”
    “It used an experimental propulsion system that allowed it to fold space.”
    “Singh!” said Kevin. The guard hit him with his baton and Kevin went down. The guard bludgeoned him two more times. Kevin convulsed as the electricity surged through him.
    Singh stared back at him, expressionless. He showed no sign of empathy whatsoever. What happened to him?
    “What planet are you from?” said the interrogator.
    “Earth,” said Singh.
    “Will you show us where this Earth is?”
    “Yes.”
    “And will you show us how to build this propulsion system?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because they