The Hot Zone (A Rainshadow Novel Book 3) Read Free

atmosphere—not for navigation.
    Lyle rumbled softly again. She could feel his small frame vibrating with a sense of urgency.
    “We need a distraction,” she said. “I’ve got a sort of plan but it’s one of those ideas that had better work the first time because I’ll only get one shot at it.”
    If she failed, Blankenship would overwhelm her with his ghastly dreamstate drugs.
    “Here goes nothing, Lyle.”
    He blinked and sleeked out, his tatty fur plastering against his little body. He opened his second set of eyes, the ones he used for hunting. They burned molten amber. He vaulted up onto her shoulder.
    “Right,” she said. “Let’s do this.”
    She took a deep breath, rezzed the little flicker, and touched the small spark to the edge of the pillow.
    That was when she found out what Blankenship had done to her para-senses.
    With a terrifying whoosh of energy, the tiny flicker spark literally exploded into a firestorm, engulfing the cot in seconds.
    “Crap,” she whispered. She stared at the raging fire, too stunned to comprehend for a few seconds.
    Smoke was not a problem in the heavy psi environment. It dissipated quickly in the atmosphere, but the fire she had inadvertently started was something else again.
    In her panic she intuitively rezzed her senses to the max.
    And discovered to her amazement that she could control the flames.
    “Impossible,” she gasped.
    But she was doing it. Frantically she reached out with her talent, struggling to control the currents of the fire. It took a moment or two but in the end she realized it was not all that different from working gate energy. She beat the wall of flames down until only the bed was burning.
    Fascinated, she concentrated harder and generated more energy. The tide of flames surged and ebbed at her command.
    Satisfied she had the fire under control, she opened her mouth and screamed.
    There was no need to fake genuine fear. She was committed now.
    Lyle growled. The claws of his small paws sank through the fabric of her shirt. He could have escaped the cell but he made it clear he wasn’t leaving without her.
    Two figures appeared in the doorway of the lab. Sedona screamed louder, flattening herself against one wall of the cell as if trying to avoid the flames.
    “Shit,” Hulk said. “The crazy bitch is awake. She set a fire. How in green hell did she do that?”
    Buzzkill started forward, dragging a key out of one pocket. “We’ll figure that part out later. Right now we’ve got to get her out of there. Blankenship will be pissed if he loses his precious research subject.”
    “Yeah, well, he’s not the only one who will have a reason to be pissed. In case you haven’t been paying attention, we need that little witch.”
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Buzzkill said. “I told you the woman was going to be trouble. She gives me the creeps the way she looks at us with those weird eyes.”
    “What the hell is that thing on her shoulder?” Hulk said. “Don’t tell me she’s got a rat.”
    “I think it’s a dust bunny,” Buzz said.
    Sedona screamed again.
    “Shut up, already,” Buzzkill growled.
    He stabbed the key into the lock and swung the door wide.
    “Come on,” he snapped. “Get out of there.” He glanced back at Hulk. “Be ready to grab her. Give her a shot of the sedative to keep her quiet while we put out this fire.”
    “It’ll be a pleasure,” Hulk said. He reached into the pocket of his leather vest for a small syringe case.
    Lyle growled. Sedona clutched the flicker very tightly in one hand and fled from the cell.
    Buzzkill did not try to stop her. He left that job to Hulk, who was already moving to intercept her. One big fist reached out to close around her arm.
    The instant he made physical contact with her she rezzed her new talent, clicked the flicker again, and set fire to his shirt.
    Hulk yelled. The expression on his face was a mix of astonishment and panic. He released her and staggered back, batting