Read Orbs II: Stranded for Free Online

people—Saafi, Timothy, Finley. I’m not losing anyone else. We’re safe inside, and until we have some way to fight back, some sort of weapon, I’m not going to put any more of my people at risk.”
    “Your people?” Overton burst out of his chair, his voice growing louder. “ Your people? That’s bullshit. What about my people? What about the people that are dying out there on our watch?”
    Sophie flinched. She felt a flurry of anger rise up in her throat. How dare he question her motives? Everything she had done, she had done for the Biosphere. For her team. She slammed a fist on the counter,silencing him. “Yes, Sergeant. My people. This is my Biosphere, and until further notice you are to sit down and take my orders!”
    Some mixture of shock and latent respect for the chain of command silenced Overton. He sat glaring at her, his face glowing red. Bouma crossed his arms, a look of shock plastered across his features. The tension in the room was palpable, but she had to keep going.
    “Now, as I said earlier: We need some sort of weapon. Emanuel has already been hard at work on this project for the past couple of weeks. And unless anyone has any further outbursts, he’s going to give us an update.” Sophie turned to Emanuel and forced a smile. “You’re up.”
    The biologist ran a nervous hand through his hair before pushing his glasses farther up onto his nose. It was apparent he didn’t want to be part of the growing power struggle between her and Overton.
    Clenching his teeth, Emanuel said, “Alexia, please bring up specimen ninety-four X.”
    A three-dimensional image shot out of the console nearest the team and rotated slowly in front of them.
    Bouma scowled. “What the hell is that?”
    “That, sir, is one of the most important discoveries in the history of modern science,” Emanuel said with a confident smile. “Alexia, enhance image.”
    He took a step away from the hologram and waited for it to enlarge. “These are the remains of one of the Organics’ bones. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much left after you decided to unload a magazine into them a few weeks ago,” Emanuel said.
    Bouma shrugged. “What did you want me to do, let them kill everyone?”
    “As I was saying,” Emanuel continued, “the creature is made up of many of the same elements we see in the anatomy of animals here on Earth. There is one big difference: their bones. Their bones are made up of a new element that is very similar to tungsten.”
    “Isn’t that a metal?” Holly asked.
    “Yes, a very dense metal.”
    “Can you get to the point already?” Overton griped. “You forget we aren’t scientists. Ever heard of speaking in layman’s terms?”
    Sophie watched Emanuel pause. She knew it upset him that no one appreciated the science behind his discoveries, besides her.
    Sighing, Emanuel continued. “Like all metals, this new element—which I’ve decided to call humanitarium—conducts electricity. But the electrical source, well that’s a bit more complicated,” he said, gesturing toward the AI console. “Alexia, bring up the image of the nanobot.”
    A few moments later the peppercorn-shaped hologram emerged. Emanuel smiled confidently. “Billions of these nanobots carry a small electrical charge through the Organics’ systems. The charge is conducted through the aliens’ bones, effectively creating a force field,” he said. “As you know, without their shields, the aliens are actually very fragile. In fact, the creatures can’t survive at all without them.”
    Bouma instantly raised a hand in protest. “No, that doesn’t make sense. I’ve knocked their defenses out with electromagnetic grenades, and they keep coming.”
    “You didn’t knock out their defenses entirely,” Emanuel said. “You see, the nanobots act kind of like little batteries—so even with your grenades, their shields still functioned, but at a lower level. When their shields are low, the aliens are susceptible to human