Grishnag's body jerked, her eyes snapped open, and she gasped. She glanced around, propped herself up on one arm, grunted and rubbed her chest.

"Fucking hell," she finally growled.

The others rushed over to her.

"You okay?" Dylan reached out to touch her shoulder.

She nodded while taking a few more deep breaths. "Now, yes." She gazed into his eyes for a moment, and then leaned forward and kissed him.

He raised an eyebrow but didn't try to pull back. Before he realized what he was doing, he raised his hands to her cheeks and leaned in slightly. When they parted, both of them were out of breath. Grishnag's face turned a darker green and she looked away.

"Uh … sorry."

"About what? It's not like I'm complaining." He managed to chuckle and Grishnag's blush darkened even more.

Nishara slid forward and gave her a hug. "I hope your death wasn't slow or painful."

"That part happened pretty quickly." Grishnag held Nishara's lower-right hand. "The moments leading up to it, however …"

"What happened out there?"

"Well, I found the … whatever the hell that thing was … in the wreckage of Dylan's car. Grabbed it, jumped back into mine, and hauled ass." Grishnag glanced at Dylan. "Made it to the destination and placed the … thing … in a glowing receptacle. I don't know how I knew where to put it. I just … did." She shrugged. "Anyway …"

Syala and Zilaka began breathing, but this time there was no spasming or screaming. Both of them opened their eyes, glanced around, and pushed themselves upright.

"Are you okay?" Cora said as everyone walked over to them.

"Fine, I think." Syala let out a relieved sigh. "Grishnag delivered the glowing crystal thing, and then a light washed over us, the same as when we entered that … place. Then we woke up here."

"So," Dylan muttered, "if one of us completes the objective, the survivors are all sent back here."

"Looks that way." Grishnag winced again. "Would've been nice if I'd gotten here the same way. But I'd been shot nine or ten times after I got out of my car. I made it to the receptacle, barely. I died only a second or two after I delivered the 'package.'"

"So severely wounded, yet still able to complete our task." Syala smiled at Grishnag. "You were amazing."

Grishnag shrugged and blushed again. "Well, by that point, I was just pissed-off."

"Badass." Dylan grinned. "I'm sorry I missed it."

"Heh. Me, too." She caressed his cheek.

"I may have some good news," Cora whispered after giving them another moment. She glanced at the others and they leaned in closer. "I think I've figured out a piece of the puzzle."

The door at the end of the room slid open and a half-dozen of the nine-foot, armored and helmeted goons marched in. Cora glanced at them, sneered, and shook her head.

"Shit!" She glanced around at the others before whispering, "Not in front of the assholes. I'll explain it when we're away from them."

Everyone nodded, stood, and faced the aliens.

One of them pointed at the open door.

"Not again," Syala moaned.

"Not already," Zilaka added. "We just finished the last one."

"Well … we know what'll happen if we don't." Dylan sighed and trudged toward the door. He noted the absence of the crate of weapons they'd been given before the last fight. "Huh. They're not arming us, this time."

"Not surprising, after what you did to one of them with the very weapon they gave you." Grishnag smirked as she stood beside him. "Which was badass, by the way."

He blushed but grinned. "Well, by that point, I was just pissed-off."

She laughed, clapped a hand to his shoulder, faced forward, and sighed.

"Alright, let's find out what kind of hell they're going to put us through this time."