When I opened my eyes, I was met with a splitting headache.

My brain felt three sizes too big for its cage.

My bones tumbled, blood hurt.

It was about all I could do to keep my dinner inside my stomach.

I couldn't tell how far we were from where we started.

It was definitely still the underground hangar. The only thing different about it now was all the bodies. There were

dozens of them down here with us, leaning against the columns, sprawling out on the floors,

shoved against the walls, naked, pink-skinned humanoidsids. The meat golems.

It was hard to know for sure just how many of them were down here because, as I had just realized,

I was tied in place with my back against one of the concrete cylinder columns.

He's awake, Rosa said.

Across from me, about ten feet away, Jerry was yawning. He too was sitting with his back against a column, tied in place.

Caddy corner was Rosa, likewise bound.

The three of us were in a triangle facing one another but separated, and in the center of the

triangle, another meat-gallum, faced down and immobile.

What happened? I asked.

Bing!

The sound came from the lamp, which was now lit green, above the metal rectangle and the wall

to my left.

It rose with the speed of a garage door, slowly revealing the man

who had shot us earlier. When the doorway was fully clear, he proceeded into the room,

carrying something that resembled an oversized briefcase in one hand. There was a white cloth

...