The heavy metal door clanged shut with a resounding finality, the echo reverberating through the cold, dimly lit cell. Huntar's eyes narrowed, his powerful frame tensing as he surveyed their new confines. Zena and Torag flanked him, their expressions grim.

"This is not good," Zena muttered, her striped tail lashing with agitation. "They've separated us from Jenny and Eddie."

Huntar's jaw clenched, a muscle twitching beneath his golden fur. Fear gnawed at his insides—a sickening, unfamiliar sensation. What horrors awaited their human companions at the hands of these ruthless captors?

Torag let out a deep, rumbling growl, tightening his massive fists. The rhino-man's eyes, small and sharp, surveyed their cell, fixating on the sturdy bars that blocked their way out. Huntar knew exactly what that expression meant.

With a sharp shake of his maned head, Huntar refocused his mind. Fretting over Jenny and Eddie's fate would only drive him mad. They needed to stay sharp and watchful for any opportunity.

Stalking the perimeter, his sharp claws scraped against the unyielding metal bars. A low snarl escaped his lips as he searched for weaknesses, any crack or flaw they could exploit. But the cell proved as sturdy and unforgiving as the world that had forged him.

Zena leaned against the far wall, her keen eyes missing nothing as she surveyed their dismal surroundings. "You know they'll be back for us," she said, her tone low. "Thunder Tech didn't go through all this trouble just to leave us rotting in here."

A hollow chuckle rumbled forth from Huntar's broad chest. "Then we had best be ready for them."

The ambiguity surrounding their friends' fate became a burdensome thought over time. Had the humans hurt them? Worse? Huntar's mind conjured grim visions, each more unsettling than the last. He cursed the fact that they'd allowed themselves to be taken alive.

*****

The antiseptic stench of the infirmary assaulted Jenny's senses as she slowly regained consciousness. A dull throbbing ache behind her eyes, the remnant of the blow that had dropped her. Memories came flooding back—the bank heist, the daring rescue, Huntar, and the others...

"Eddie?" she croaked, her throat dry like the desert sands. Blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights, Jenny squinted to make out her surroundings.

"I'm here, Jen." His voice sounded from somewhere nearby, tinged with relief. A warm hand found hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Surveying her surroundings, Jenny recognized they were in a type of medical bay, a stark contrast to the grim cells she had imagined. Banks of monitoring equipment blinked mutely, and a slim, severe-looking woman in pale blue scrubs tutted as she made her rounds.

A woman's sensible shoes clicking against the tile floor announced her arrival. "You're awake," she stated in a clipped, professional tone. "Good. Mr. Freeman will want to speak with both of you shortly."

Walter. The name struck a dissonant chord within Jenny, stoking the embers of her fury into an inferno once more. She pushed herself upright, ignoring the wave of dizziness the motion brought.

"Where are my friends?" The demand emerged as more of a growl, her grip tightening around Eddie's hand. "They'd better not have harmed them—"

The nurse raised a hand, her expression one of practiced neutrality. "Your... companions are secure, Ms. Summer. Beyond that, I'm not at liberty to discuss the situation."

"Not at liberty?" Jenny echoed, her voice rising in pitch. She discarded the fragile blanket and positioned her legs on the cot's edge. "I don't care about your confidentiality agreements or whatever. Those are my friends, and you people had no right to capture us like animals."

The woman's gaze flicked toward the door, her lips pursing. "I need to inform Mr. Freeman that you're awake. Don't do anything rash, please."

Eddie's touch on Jenny's arm brought a calming sensation as the nurse quickly left. "Take it easy, Jen. We won't make any progress if we piss them off."

She rounded on him, eyes blazing like twin sapphire flames. "They took Huntar and the others, Eddie. God knows what they're doing to them right now."

Her friend's expression turned grim, his brow furrowing. "I know. Believe me, I want to bust them out as much as you do. But we gotta play it smart here."

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Jenny gave a terse nod. Eddie was correct; despite her instincts urging her to rescue her captive friends by any means necessary.

The sound of heels clicking on the tile soon heralded another visitor. A tall, imposing figure strode through the double doors, eyes narrowing as they swept over Jenny and Eddie.

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"Ms. Summer," the man greeted in a deep baritone, his expression unreadable. Dressed in a simple white shirt and neatly pressed slacks, Walter Freeman exuded an air of command.

Jenny straightened her shoulders, lifting her chin in defiance. "Where are my friends, Freeman? I swear if you've hurt them—"

He raised a calloused hand, silencing her tirade. "Your beast-man companions are...secure, for the time being. I assure you, no harm will come to them as long as they remain compliant."

"You have no right to hold them prisoner," Jenny shot back, hands curling into white-knuckled fists at her sides. "They're living, thinking beings, not animals for you to cage up."

A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Walter's mouth as if he found her indignation amusing. "On the contrary, Ms. Summer. Those...creatures originate from a time and place that has yet to occur. Their very existence represents an untapped wealth of knowledge, resources, and technology that could propel humanity's advancement exponentially."

Jenny opened her mouth, a blistering retort rising like venom on her tongue. But Freeman pressed on, his voice hardening.

"You've seen firsthand the marvels their era has to offer. Surely you can appreciate the value in studying them, in uncovering the secrets that allowed their evolution from our humble ape ancestors?"

"What!? You talk about them like they're specimens, not people," she said, keeping her voice low and even with immense effort. "Huntar, Zena, Torag—they're living, thinking beings with autonomy and free will. What you're doing is exploitation at best and... and slavery at worst."

A muscle twitched in Walter's clenched jaw, but his gaze remained as impassive as ever. "Perhaps from your limited perspective, it seems that way. But I can assure you, my intentions are ultimately for the greater good of humanity."

Jenny barked a harsh, incredulous laugh. "The greater good? You're harvesting them like resources to be strip-mined! What gives you the right to play god like that?"

"Somebody has to take the difficult decisions," Freeman replied evenly, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. "To sacrifice for the continuation and prosperity of the species. Thunder Tech's work—my work—will ensure humanity's survival long after the world your friends came from."

It was all Jenny could do to keep from hurling herself across the space that separated them, to wipe that infuriatingly calm look from Walter Freeman's face through sheer brute force. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails bit into her palms.

"You're a monster," she bit out through gritted teeth. "Huntar and the others put their lives on the line for me, and you've got no right to imprison them like this."

Freeman regarded her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. When he spoke, at last, his voice carried a quiet menace that sent shivers down Jenny's spine.

"I'm afraid you're sorely mistaken on that point, Ms. Summer. This is my world, my company—and I'll do whatever is required to safeguard humanity's future. Even if that means... unpleasant sacrifices."

A rap at the door cut through the charged silence. Upon Freeman's sharp command of "Enter," two Thunder Tech security officers entered, their imposing statures leaving no doubt about their purpose.

"Show Ms. Summer and her friend out," Walter instructed without preamble. "And make sure they cause no more trouble on company premises."

As the guards advanced, Eddie maneuvered himself to stand protectively between Jenny and their encroaching presence. She gave him a look, silently begging him not to make the situation worse.

There would be time enough for heroics later.For now, they needed to remain patient and formulate a strategy.

"This isn't the end," Jenny declared, fixing the Thunder Tech CEO with a steely gaze as guards took positions around them. "I don't care what sick experiments you used to justify your actions. My friends are innocent, and I won't rest until they're free."

Walter showed no external indication of her parting words. With a brisk nod, he sent them away, immediately shifting his focus to the stacked documents on his desk.

The walk through the gleaming corridors of Thunder Tech's upper echelons passed in a blur for Jenny. Her mind raced, replaying Walter's cold, clinical words.

How could he be so insensitive, completely lacking in compassion? Huntar, Zena, Torag—they were sentient beings, for heaven's sake! They were more than mere animals to be observed and harvested for parts.

No, there was no justification for the CEO's brutal exploitation, no matter how he dressed it up. Jenny's fists clenched at her sides as the security escorts ushered her and Eddie out through the door.

*****

They emerged onto the busy streets, the cacophony of honking horns and rumbling engines a jarring contrast to the cold sterility of Thunder Tech's headquarters. Without a word, Jenny started down the sidewalk, her jaw set in grim determination.

Eddie had to lengthen his stride to keep pace with her. "Jen, wait up! Where are we going?"

She didn't break stride, weaving through the flow of foot traffic with feline grace. "Back to the apartment. We need a plan to get Huntar and the others out of there."

"You heard what Freeman said, though," Eddie reasoned, having to half-jog to match her rapid pace. "He's not gonna make it easy on us. Hell, he's got an entire private security force at his beck and call."

Finally, Jenny whirled on him, eyes blazing with unshed tears of rage and frustration. Pedestrians streamed around them, casting sidelong glances at the pair as they parted like a river around a boulder.

"So what, we just give up?" she demanded, hands fisting at her sides. "Leave our friends to be...to be experimented on and torn apart like lab rats?"

Eddie held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Hey, I'm on your side here, remember? You know I'd do anything to help Huntar and the crew."

Jenny's shoulders fell, the fervor fading from her face. "I know, I'm sorry," she paused, her voice faltering as she ran a hand through her tousled hair. "We can't leave them behind, Eddie. Not after all we've endured as one."

Her friend nodded, his features taking on a look of grim resolve. "You're right. Your animal friends put their asses on the line for you more times than I can count. It's time we returned the favor."

Straightening her shoulders, Jenny lifted her chin and met Eddie's determined gaze head-on. "Then let's get moving. Every second we waste is another second Thunder Tech has our friends trapped in their clutches."

They quickened their steps along the bustling sidewalk, the stark azure sky above serving as a harsh reminder of the betrayal that was occurring all around them. Of the dark truths lurking behind the chrome and glass facade of humanity's supposed progress.

"Any idea where we even start?" Eddie asked after they'd walked several blocks in tense silence. "I mean, you heard the way Freeman was talking. He has an entire research division focused on... whatever it is they're doing in there.

Jenny gnawed her lower lip, turning over possibilities in her mind's eye. Infiltrating Thunder Tech's high-rise headquarters through conventional means was out of the question. Even if she devised a plausible cover story to gain entry, the location would likely be on high alert following the disastrous bank incident.

Which left only one option, as distasteful as it was.

"We'll have to hack our way in," she said with a grim set to her jaw. "Get into their systems from the outside. Find out where they're keeping Huntar and the others imprisoned."

Eddie's brows hiked upward, intrigued. "You know I'm down for a little computer gaming. But Thunder Tech's security won't be a cakewalk to crack. We're talking about military-grade firewalls and failsafe..."

"Then it's a good thing you're such a wizard with the ones and zeroes," Jenny said, mustering a wry smile. She reached out, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze. "I'm gonna need you working at the top of your game, Eddie. No pressure or anything."

Her friend snorted, not unkindly. "No sweat, Jen. Just tell me what you need me to do."

Upon arriving at the apartment, they formed a preliminary plan.