Earthborn Alliance

by Matthew DeVore

  The sun was just peeking over the mountaintops and flitting in through the open windows.

  “Thank you.” Taking a seat on the sofa, she wrapped her hands around the warm mug he placed on the end table.

  “Don’t ya think it be about time ter make up with yer friends?” Louis asked.

  She shrugged.

  “He seems like a good guy. The whole town’s ecstatic about him. You know, since he opened the Arc an all. Though the Royals and them noble families don’t seem to thrilled with it.”

  “He should dissolve the kingdom. The Earthborn don’t have kings,” she replied.

  “Even so, he’s yer friend. Seems like you’ve been through enough together.”

  She sighed. She did miss him. She even missed Valaan and Allison. “All right,” she conceded, “I’ll go see them. But first I want to finish this amazing coffee.”

  Louis grinned. “Glad ya like it.”

  When her drink was gone, she headed out toward the Arc. The streets were full of people. Some were shopping, but many were walking back and forth to the Earthborn base. Since Ethan opened it up to everyone, it was becoming something of a local tourist attraction.

  Passing the outskirts of town, she walked near the edge of the tree line, avoiding the villagers. She’d become something of a celebrity herself, a first-generation Earthborn survivor. Everyone wanted to meet her, shake her hand, tell her how sorry they were for her loss, and so on. Many had questions about their family’s history. Of course, she hadn’t met most of their ancestors, but she’d heard of several of them. And a few had descended from her friends. It all felt very odd.

  She was about halfway between the village and the Arc when a whistle caught her attention. She stopped and looked into the woods.

  There it is again. It sounded like it was close, but she didn’t see anything but the snow-covered ground and evergreen trees. Whoever was out there, they were trying to get her attention, and they’d succeeded.

  Cautiously, she crept into the tree line.

  “If you value your life, you’ll show yourself before I find you,” she called out.

  Two glove-covered hands slid out from behind a large pine tree held high in the air. Slowly, a fully armored member of the Council Guard stepped out from behind the tree.

  “Don’t shoot, or anything else for that matter,” the man said.

  Bringing two blue-white energy spheres into her hands, she held them menacingly before her. “Move and you’re dead.”

  The Guard stopped in his tracks. “I come in peace.”

  “Like hell you do. Why are you really here?”

  “I’m here for your help.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” she said, watching closely. “You don’t want to screw with me.”

  “Oh, that I know. I saw your handiwork in Madison City. To be honest, you scare me.”

  “Good. Then why are you here?”

  “I told you. I need your help.”

  Aleena let out a grim chuckle. “Why would I help you?” Strange as it was, there was something about the Guard she found familiar.

  “Because you’re the only one who can stop him. Well, you and your friend.”

  “Stop who?” As soon as she said it, she realized who he meant. “The Guard in the forest. The one who conjured the aerial shield.”

  “Yes. He’s extremely dangerous.”

  “Again, why would I help you?”

  “To win the war, of course.” Very slowly, he lowered one of his hands out in front him.

  He thinks I’ll fall for that? I’m not shaking your hand, moron.

  “Friends?” the Guard said.

  It hit her like a freight train, images rushing to her mind. She was in Eric’s dream, in his tiny hole of a room in the dark Resistance cave. Several Council Guard had appeared and passed by her except for one—him.

  “What’s your name?” Aleena asked.

  “Traven,” the Guard responded.

  “Then I’m sorry, Traven.” In a flash, she let the spheres dissipate and smashed a rock into his head that she brought up from behind him.

  The Guard fell hard on the ground, unmoving. She laid her hand on his forehead, placing him into a deep sleep, then grabbed him by the feet and dragged him through the snow to the Arc.

  She passed through an archway in the cloaking screen and shield that allowed the entrance of non-Elves. Once inside, she called out for the protectorate guards. Two silver-clad soldiers ran from a nearby post, their rifles aimed at the man she was dragging.

  “He’s out cold,” she told the approaching men. “Where’s the brig?”

  “On the far side of the base,” one of the men said.

  “We need to call this in,” the other added.

  Aleena dropped Traven to reach out and stop the guard from activating his radio. “Not yet. Go find Councilor Valaan and have him meet me at the brig.”

  The first guard nodded at the other, and the man ran off toward the command center.

  “Tell no one else,” she called after him.

  Taking hold of Traven’s boots, she looked up at the remaining soldier. “Will you help me with this?”

  “Yeah.”

  The man grabbed Traven’s hands and helped her carry the Guard to the brig, tossing him into one of the five empty cells in the sparse circular confinement facility. Aleena activated the energy barrier from the central terminal, and a white translucent field appeared in front of the opening.

  “Thank you,” she told the protectorate soldier. “I’ll take it from here.”

  “All right. Are you sure?”

  She glared at him.

  “Okay then.”

  When the soldier left, she pulled out the chair from under the console bench, pushed it over to the barrier, and sat, watching the Guard sleep.

  After five minutes, Valaan strode through the doorway behind her.

  “Found him in the forest, just outside the base,” she told him. “He wanted me to find him. Whistled so I’d know he was there.”

  “Curious,” Valaan said, standing next to her.

  “I’ve seen him before, in a dream. Well, someone else’s dream. He wanted to work together.”

  Valaan rubbed his chin. “In the dream or now?”

  “Both.”

  “Even more curious.”

  “There’s more,” she added. “He was also one of the Guard outside the cell they put me into in Madison City, and we fought against his team during the rescue.”

  “That certainly complicates things,” Valaan said, turning toward the cell.

  “Yeah, the Guard stationed in Madison City murdered all of Ethan and Allison’s friends. And her parents. If they find out….”

  “Are you suggesting we hide him from them?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered. “Maybe just the part about Madison City.”

  “So you think we should work with him?”

  “I think it’d be dumb not to hear him out. What if he’s really defecting?”

  Valaan turned back to her. “What if he’s not?”

  “If he’s not, then I’ll kill him,” she said, standing.

  “I agree.”

  “With which part?”

  “All of it,” Valaan replied. “Especially the tidbit about Madison City. We wouldn’t want someone to do something rash.”

  Aleena nodded.

  “We’ll proceed with caution.” Valaan glanced back at the captive. “He’ll have to be tested. We’ll need to make sure any information he provides is accurate.”

  “How will we do that?”

  “It depends on what he tells us. We’ll just have to wait and see. How long will he be out?”

  “I don’t know. I put him under with magic. I could wake him, but he’d be too disoriented to be useful. It’s probably best if we let him sleep it off.”

  “In that case, maybe it’s time you go talk to Ethan and Allison. We all need each other, especially friends.”

  “Why does e
veryone keep saying that to me today?”

  “Maybe you should listen for a change.”

  “Okay. Believe it or not, I was on my way to see Ethan when this guy interrupted.” She pointed to Traven on the cell floor.

  “Good for you.” Valaan smiled.

  Together they returned to the command center and took the elevator to the throne room, only to find Ethan wasn’t there.

  “Where’s Ethan?” Aleena asked Kara, who was sitting next to the command chair, chatting with one of the protectorate guards.

  “The king had to step out for a moment,” she replied.

  Aleena turned to Valaan and rolled her eyes.

  “Do you know when the king will return?” Valaan asked.

  Kara shrugged. “I don’t know, sorry.”

  “I’ll look in his quarters,” Aleena told Valaan. “You.” She pointed at a redheaded woman wearing protectorate armor on the far side of the room. “Take me to the king’s room.”

  The woman hesitated.

  “Well?” Aleena goaded.

  The girl came forward. “Follow me.”

  “Thank you.”

  They rode the elevator two floors down. When the doors opened, Aleena’s mouth gaped. “Seriously?”

  The walls had been draped with blue fabric, and blue carpet ran the length of the hall. The woman pointed to the door at the far end.

  “Thanks,” Aleena said, exiting the elevator. The woman made to follow, but Aleena stopped her. “I’ve got it from here, thanks.”

  She knocked on the door. “Ethan? Are you in there?” It was unlocked, so she opened it. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  The suite was huge. There was a full kitchen, multiple sitting rooms, and several baths. She hunted for Ethan all through the lavish apartment. Somebody certainly made some big renovations. She couldn’t imagine the base originally having any suite laid out like that.

  Finally, she found the master bedroom and heard Ethan’s voice inside. When she opened the door, Ethan held up his hand for her to wait.

  “I don’t know how much longer we can hold them.” Leon’s voice was coming from the QueSet. “We’re not going to survive this, Ethan.”

  His face was grim. “Hold out as long as you can. I’ll gather everyone I can. We’ll be there soon.”

  “Hurry.”

  The call ended.

  “Meet me in the command center,” Aleena said. “Bring everyone.”

  She turned and ran toward the elevator, taking it back up to the throne room.

  “What’s wrong?” Valaan asked as she dashed toward the consoles displaying the ancient Earthborn armor.

  “It’s begun. The last Alliance-held city is under attack. Ethan is gathering everyone.”

  Knocking on one of the protective cases, she smiled. It’s just glass.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Ethan’s grandmother said, rising from her seat.

  Aleena backed up ten feet and brought her hands up in front of her, looking at Kara. “Initiation.”

  Sweeping her arms out wide, the glass cases exploded, spewing shards all over the room. Valaan shielded the protectorate on duty in the room while Kara conjured a shield of her own.

  As soon as the glass settled, Aleena went to the table and collected the armor, stacking it in a pile at the corner of the workstation.

  Ethan walked around the elevator shaft, his shoes crunching the glass shards on the floor.

  “What happened here?” he asked.

  Aleena grabbed a dark blue suit from the pile and held it up in front of him. “It’ll do.”

  “Is that—”

  She cut him off. “Quick, put this on.”

  His jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

  “Do you want to go into a war zone with no armor?” she asked.

  “I see your point.” Ducking behind one of the workstations, Ethan changed into the armor.

  When he walked out into the open, she couldn’t help but stare. “Wow.”

  Ethan grinned. “I thought you were mad at me.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  When everyone had gathered, Aleena began handing out the armor. Conner, Rayland, Meghan, and their fathers each got a suit.

  Turning back to the console, she picked one up and held it out to Allison.

  Meghan gasped. “That’s—”

  “Yes,” Aleena said. “Allison, this was Ella’s.” A shimmering deep red Earthborn armor suit hung from her hands. “She was my best friend. And so are you. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have it.”

  Allison blushed. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

  “You better. I don’t want to see any knife or bolt holes in this thing.” She winked. “Or in you.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Allison replied, taking the armor.

  Aleena turned around and walked to the command chair. Standing in front of it, she looked them over. “Traditionally, the armor you hold must be earned. Today you will earn that armor. I declare each of you Earthborn.”

  The group cheered.

  Ethan gasped and doubled over.

  “What’s wrong?” Allison asked, running to his side.

  “I don’t know. But something bad is coming.”

  Kara was staring out the window. “I’ve never seen it do that before.”

  At the perimeter of the base, massive ripples rolled around the shield, distorting their view of the village and surrounding mountains.

  “This is it.” Ethan stepped forward just as a pulsing red indicator illuminated under the royal blue cloth covering the front terminals. Aleena ran to the console and yanked the sheets off. After reading the console, she turned around and stared out the window.

  The ripples stopped.

  “The cloak’s down,” she announced. “It’s run out of power.”

  Kara looked at her, hands trembling. “The Urlowens will know we’re here.”

  The room fell silent, save the repetitive wail of the console’s audio alarm.

  “It’s time for the new Earthborn to fight.” Ethan turned to Valaan. “We can’t be in two places at once.”

  “I should say not,” Valaan answered. “Go, help the Alliance. I’ll stay here and help defend the Arc, should it come to it.”

  “It will,” Ethan said. “Kara, go get Cameron. Have him work with Valaan.”

  “But Ethan—” his grandmother began.

  “He knows this place better than anyone else. There are no bystanders in this war. Not anymore.”

  Kara nodded and moved quickly toward the elevator.

  “There’s one more thing I have to show you,” Aleena told everyone. “I found it a few days ago.”

  CHAPTER 22

  Far in the distance, San Fridas came into view. An enormous oblong siege tower hovered above the center of the city, emitting a translucent dome encompassing the majority of the metropolis. Smaller homes in suburban subdivisions remained outside the Urlowen created dome on the far side, while the other butted up to the sea.

  Stretched out before the city was a large hilly plain. Tiny specks roamed the desert terrain amid flashes of light that were undoubtedly explosions.

  Aleena aimed the ship at the spire directly above the city. “We’ve got to take the siege barrier down.”

  Ethan leaned forward from the seat behind her, pointing toward the field. “Leon said they’d be on the front. I’ll bet they’re somewhere in that mess. We can’t just leave him out there.”

  “Hold on,” Aleena said. “This is about to get interesting.”

  They’d been traveling at breakneck speeds to arrive as fast as possible. She fired two missiles at the spire, which were immediately shot down by automated turrets on the structure.

  The windscreen was filled with bright bluish purple light as plasma cannon rounds poured out of the structure toward them.

  She dove for the barrier, weaving through the barrage and pulling back up just before they smashed into the shield.

  “This is
insane,” Ethan exclaimed. “We won’t last more than another minute or two up here.”

  A siren squealed as a warhead launched from a fighter that fell in behind them.

  Aleena banked hard to the right, pulling up. Fire rained down from the structure at them. She launched countermeasures, but they didn’t take, the missile bearing down on them.

  “This is going to be the shortest mission in history,” Rayland said in the back.

  “Shut up,” Aleena yelled, slamming the control stick to the side. The ship snapped up into a knife-edge turn that would’ve made them all pass out had it not been for the inertial compensation.

  “Ten seconds till impact,” the ship’s automated female voice called out over the internal speakers.

  Suddenly an Alliance phoenix space fighter dropped in from above, nearly swapping paint with their ship as it darted past in the opposite direction.

  “Threat eliminated,” the ship announced.

  Aleena glanced at her sensors and dove back toward the deck. Flipping a switch on the console, she scanned transmission frequencies and encodings.

  “Unidentified craft,” a young female voice said, “I don’t know where in the hell you came from but turn tail and scram unless you want to end up as twisted metal in the dirt down there.”

  “Who’s that?” Allison called up from the back.

  Aleena flipped on her microphone. “This is Lieutenant Aleena of Avenfall. Was that you with the assist back there?”

  “Sure was,” the voice answered. “Now stop messing around and get your ass out of here. I can’t keep following you to keep you safe. I’ve got a job to do. And if you haven’t noticed, it’s not going well.”

  The phoenix from before slid up beside them as they screamed across the suburbs below.

  “We’re here to help. Tell her we’re to help,” Ethan said.

  “No, she’s right,” Aleena replied. “I’m not a great combat pilot, and this isn’t a fighter. We’ll be more help on the ground.”

  She turned her mic on again. “This ship isn’t built for combat. Can you give us some cover? We’ll set down in a parking lot just ahead.”

  “I wasn’t suggesting you get yourself killed on the ground either but suit yourself. I don’t have time for this.”

  The phoenix pulled up and back out of sight.

  “Where’d she go?” Ethan asked.