Travelers (Stars Edge: Nel Bently Book 1)

by V. S. Holmes

  “It is, in part. This seems strange and impossible to you, but it has been the story on which I was raised. It is not impossible to me. Nor, I’d imagine, to Lin,” he glanced back with a quiet smile, “though, perhaps we had different versions of the story.”

  Lin snorted. “Mine did not include a gunfight.”

  “Neither did mine. That is why I rethought my beliefs. They did not change, but the way I interpret the world may have.” He stopped and handed Nel the flashlight. A wooden door stood before them. It looked identical to the one in the shed. “Hold this while I unlock it.”

  He fumbled for a moment, then the door swung away. After the darkness of the caves, the night seemed bright. A thin layer of clouds blocked the moon and stars. Nel stepped out with a relieved sigh. They were just over the hill from the house. She froze. “Emilio, we have company.”

  A line of men stood at the rise, unmoving, but clearly waiting.

  “Run around the side and pick me up on your way back,” Emilio offered.

  “I wouldn’t split up.” Nel grimaced at the thought.

  “I’m just going to talk to them.” He shoved Lin after Nel and moved towards his former friends, hands raised.

  Nel grabbed Lin’s hand and pelted up the side of the hill, dreading the sound of fighting. They reached the gate of the house without mishap. The silence was almost worse than gunfire.

  “Get the Jeep going, I’ve got to grab something.” Lin bolted into the house, steps eerily silent.

  Nel jerked a nod and unlocked the garage. She slipped the car into neutral and shoved off with her foot through the half-open door. It coasted through the shed doors and down the drive. Lin emerged as Nel passed the back porch. The tall woman swung herself into the passenger seat. The Jeep roared to life and Nel turned out of the drive.

  The side of the road was deserted. The hilltop was empty. “Fuck, where is he?”

  Lin sighed. “Nel, we got to go. They took him or killed him or something.” Her hand found Nel’s in the dark and squeezed. “Come on, we don’t have much time.”

  TWENTY-FIVE

  The Jeep rattled onto the dirt road, lurching over rocks Nel couldn’t see in the dark. She glanced in the rearview and stopped the car.

  “What are you doing? They could be there already.” Lin twisted in her seat, peering down the stretch of road down which they had just escaped.

  “I need some answers. Real ones.”

  “We’re chasing a gun-wielding maniac and you might be charged with murder in the morning!”

  “Exactly! Everything just got fucked up and I want to know what’s going on. I’m practically blind here, Lin. Give me something.”

  Lin sat back, staring at her knees as if maybe they would answer the questions so she wouldn’t have to. After a moment she looked up at the sky. “You know, sometimes there are these choices. They’re choices that really suck, but they’re important. Rock-and-a-hard-place choices. The world is in a bad way, and we’ve known we were heading here for a long time. My job is to bring you the tools to help. Problem is, some people don’t believe in what we’re doing.”

  “So, that kind of didn’t answer anything. You talk like you’re not a part of this world. Like this isn’t your home.” Nel pointed at the glove. “And you seem to think we’re in a sci-fi movie.”

  Lin’s laugh was dry and humorless. “Alright, say you were given one of those choices, but it meant leaving everything you knew and subjecting generations to a completely alien lifestyle. Well my ancestors made that choice. My brother and I grew up very far from here.”

  “Where?”

  Lin looked up at the sky again, eyes bright. “You see that little blue-white star there?” She pointed. “Half way between here and there.” They were silent a moment, then her eyes swiveled to Nel.

  Nel’s gaze was narrowed on the star. Suddenly her mouth curled and her shoulder shook with silent laughter. That’s it, she’s batshit-crazy. She’s a fucking loon, and here I am on the side of the road at night with her. “Lin, what the fuck?”

  “I know, proof. I sound like I’m nuts.” She held out her hand. “This tattoo is conductive. It transmits electric signals from my brain to various devices on my hand. I’ve got other gloves, not just this one.”

  Nel glanced back at the road again. “So, assuming I believe you, which I really shouldn’t, you’re like an alien? What is this? I hate Ancient Aliens and all that crap. Don’t tell me the Mapuche didn’t make their own culture.”

  “Of course, they did. And I’m not an alien. Well, not exactly. We’re human. I mean, as human as you are. We lived on a ship with other humans and even another species for a time, though I never met them.”

  “And Los Pobladores dislike you because you sound like nut-jobs…?”

  “Because we were charged with bringing technologic and biologic solutions to some of the issues you guys have made. Things you normally wouldn’t develop for centuries.”

  “Why would you bother? Why would Los Pobladores want to stop you?”

  “When the Emissaries first came to my ancestors it was thousands of years ago. Their technology and understanding of science would have seemed like magic, and humans weren't ready to wield that power. Besides, such gifts are best received from familiar faces. As for Los Pobladores, they don’t think we need such tools. They think we're tainting what it means to be human. Perhaps over time, that small difference in opinion caused greater rifts than we realized.”

  Nel drew a steadying breath. “And who is 'we?'“

  “The Earth-base of the Institute for the Development of Humanity. We realized humans hadn't been preparing for us. The place we were supposed to land was not maintained. It had to be isolated, safe, sacred. I've been on Earth for the past decade looking. I finally found this area and commissioned a survey from a driven, intelligent archaeologist. I think you know the rest.”

  “So we were digging up what, your air-traffic control?”

  “Landing strip. The ship will navigate to this place with a magnetic field. We needed an electromagnet down here to pinpoint the location. It wasn’t complicated until Los Pobladores went in and destroyed any semblance of peace we had.”

  “So why now?”

  “Because I worry Los Pobladores will destroy it before I get the chance. They might have beaten us there.” Lin eyed her sidelong. “Can you drive me to the site?”

  “You know what they would do if they caught us there?” Nel whirled on her, glaring through the darkness. “I have a damn good idea. It involves beating you to death and leaving you on the side of the road.”

  Lin winced. “I’m sorry, Nel.” She unbuckled her belt and hauled the duffle bag over her shoulder. “If I'm not back by morning, there's a letter on my desk. Send it. Then leave Chile and don't look back.” She turned and started hiking up the access road.

  Nel slumped into the seat. Adrenaline drained from her system and all she wanted was to cry herself to sleep. She didn’t want to deal with aliens, or ancient space ships, or saving the world. I’m not Indie. “Why now? Why me of all people.” She scrubbed her face with a rough palm. She needed Mikey, she needed the rock that anchored her when everything else was uprooted. Her fingers traced the designs carved in the handle of his trowel. The summer had begun so well. Her own site, her own crew, her best friend laughing beside her.

  Now she was alone on the side of a road, in the dark, being chased by madmen. I'm not alone. She looked up to where Lin had disappeared in the blackness of the access road. “You’re going to find someone badass and driven, someone who runs as fast as you do.”

  Nel knew she was just as crazy as Lin, but she didn't care anymore. She slammed the Jeep into first. It didn't matter that Los Pobladores had guns and all she had was a trowel and a fuck-ton of anger. It didn't matter that she had no clue who Lin really was. They were running in the same direction.

  The Jeep ground to a halt when Lin came into view. She glanced up at
Nel, face half lit by the stars. Nel tugged the duffle bag from her grip and jerked her head at the hills. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

  TWENTY-SIX

  If the road was treacherous during the day, it was deadly at night. The wheels ground against rocks Nel forgot were there, and the oil pan scraped against the ridges more than once. Finally, they shuddered to a halt at the edge of the site.

  “Fuck.” Nel killed the engine and sat back. “This is gonna suck.” Half a dozen figures stood arrayed across the entrance to the site. They were silhouettes against the star-studded sky, but Nel caught a glimpse of moon-lit armbands.

  Lin’s mouth thinned. “This might be more complicated than I hoped.”

  “What do you need to do? Not including kicking their asses.”

  “Those stones are magnetic. I need you to electrify this place.”

  “If you burn my goddamn site, I’ll fucking kill you.”

  Lin snorted. “I wouldn’t have anyways.” She patted the duffel at her feet, never taking her eyes off the array of Los Pobladores. “I’ve got flares. Special ones. I need them attached to those rocks. All you need to do is flip a switch.”

  “Like a bomb?”

  “Yeah, but I promise it won’t screw up your stratigraphy.” She shoved the bag into Nel’s hands. “I’ll distract them.”

  Nel glanced at the men, then back at Lin, then down to her glove-weapon. She tentatively offered her hand.

  Lin took it and squeezed. “You ready?”

  “Ready.” Lin swung herself out of the Jeep, hand outstretched before her. “This is getting ridiculous, Sepulveda.”

  “You think I actually wanted this? You’re less astute than I thought.” Emilio's voice was low, woven with tension.

  Nel watched as Lin approached. Emilio stood stiffly, arms loose at his sides. At gunpoint, then. “I didn’t come to stop you, I came to help you. Clearly the rest of these imbeciles have other plans.”

  “Clearly you need to choose your company better. Duck.” Without changing her tone, Lin swung her arm up, her other hand rising to steady her wrist as light and sound burst into the air. Nel clambered out of the Jeep, dragging the duffle behind her. She dropped to the ground and edged around the car. Los Pobladores may have been guarding the entrance, but she knew these hills as well as they did. The trek overland seemed to take forever, the boom of Lin’s weapon echoing off the hillsides as the glow swelled then faded. Nel crested the hill and broke into a jog. The dirt was compact under her boots, and she only stumbled over rocks twice.

  The ground flattened, the hillside spilling into the strange level area. Guess what, Mikey? You were right. It does look like a runway. She unzipped the bag and fumbled through the contents. The beacons were like the little solar lamps along the front walk to her father’s house, except these were half Nel’s height. It took several tries before she figured out how to embed them deep enough into the ground. The sounds of fighting had moved now, emanating from farther into the hills.

  Her legs were tight from running and crouching, and up in the hills the air was crisp. She knelt, feeling awkwardly around the base of the rock, cold fingers pushing aside hard dirt, feeling for any imperfection. They paused on a thin pilot hole drilled into the stone. She cleared the soil away and shoved the metal rod of the beacon into the hole with a grunt. Tomorrow, she would look back on this and wonder what drugs she was on, but now she moved with single-minded determination. Nel hoisted the bag higher. Her back ached, and her arms were trembling. Whatever adrenaline she had was long spent. She stepped back, panting as she placed the last beacon on the northern line. One side down, one to go. Blasts and gunshots were replaced by shouts. She strained her ears, pressing her senses against the stillness, listening for Lin’s low, clear voice. Nothing. She edged across the open area between the stones.

  A figure burst from the darkness, rushing at Nel. She barely had time to crouch before he was on her. They tumbled to the ground, Nel jamming knees and elbows into what she hoped was a stomach.

  “Bentley, you idiot, stop!” Emilio shoved himself away from her. In the darkness she couldn’t see the glare, but his voice was thick with frustration.

  She edged away, groping for the duffel as she went. “What the fuck, Emilio? You can’t just rush me in the middle of a gunfight and expect me not to punch you!”

  “Your punch leaves a bit to be desired.” He dragged himself to his feet with a soft groan. “Your girl has quite the weapon.”

  “She hit you?”

  “No, if she did I doubt I’d be as spry right now. I came to help.”

  Nel’s brows rose. She should question it, but she didn’t have the energy to take anything at more than face value. “Fine.” She pulled three beacons from the bag and thrust them at him. “Feel for the holes in the bottom of the rocks. Spikes go in there.”

  She jogged further ahead, relying on her toes and shins to find the rocks for her. She ignored Emilio's soft laugh at her litany of curses and set to work on the next beacon. Half the holes were hidden by hard earth packed in for centuries. She slumped onto the ground beside the last one, staring at it, unseeing.

  After a moment, Emilio sat beside her. She could smell sweat and blood, but wasn’t sure whether it was his or hers, or someone else’s entirely.

  “So, do they start themselves?”

  Nel shook her head and pulled the last piece from the bag. It was a heavy square of metal set with an old looking dial. She angled it towards the clouded moon, squinting. There was something off, just like when she looked at Lin. Something that slid through her mental fingers just as she grasped it. She rested a hand on it. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how you wanted things to end.”

  He snorted and found her hand with his. “You’re right. But I’m fairly certain this is not the end at all.”

  With the dry warmth of his hand over hers, she cranked the dial as far as possible. Her fingers fumbled then found the hard button at the base of the mechanism. She felt, rather than heard, a crackle, like a muted television. Light exploded across the site, searing her eyes and piercing up through the bank of clouds. “Fuck!” Nel blinked away light-marks on her retinas. She peered up at the sky through weeping eyes. Whatever light the beacons gave off, it wasn’t normal. The clouds writhed away from the beams, like mist escaping dawn. “We better move. I’m not sure what comes next, but I’m done with being in the middle of the action.”

  Emilio nodded and pulled her to her feet. “The hills above the site, I’d guess.”

  Nel broke into a jog, navigating the terrain now that it was thrown into sharp relief. They were quiet, only the sound of boots on gravel punctuating their retreat. Even the shouts had faded now. Nel focused on their ascent, ignoring the insidious thoughts about why everyone else had fallen silent. Nel reached the crest of the hill, peering into the darkness at the corners of the site.

  The beacons made it impossible to see whatever was in shadow. She cleared her throat. “Lin?” There was no answer, and Nel slumped to the ground, defeated and exhausted. She hadn’t thought to ask what came next or what she was supposed to do if Lin was incapacitated. Emilio sat quietly beside her.

  “I doubt she’s injured, Bently.”

  Nel didn’t answer. She just leaned her elbows on her knees and rested her head on her arms. Fatigue wrapped itself around her, muddling her thoughts into something that seemed like half a dream. The silence deepened. Emilio's gentle hand on her shoulder startled her back into alertness. Aching exhaustion was like a hangover, complete with a tight stomach. “How long was I out?”

  “Twenty minutes, only.” He nudged her and pointed out to the two rows of lights. “Lin’s down there.”

  Nel leaned forward, blinking sleep and grit from her eyes. Lin stood at the mouth of the runway, one graceful hand shielding her face as she peered at the clouds. She checked her watch then looked up again.

  Nel’s stomach sank. “They’re not coming.”

  He
shushed her and pointed. The patch of clear sky writhed. Sound suddenly ceased as a wave of pressure swept across the site. A rumble followed, not something Nel could hear, but rather something that burst through her gut and left her weak. The air pulsed a second time, and a third. The dully glinting belly of some great metal craft nestled itself into the cleared pocket of sky.

  “Holy fuck.” Nel stood shakily, grabbing Emilio's shoulder as she teetered. A metal disc detached itself from the craft, lowering with a hum that was, again, more felt than heard. At first Nel thought she was seeing double. The figure standing on the disc was Lin’s image, save for the lack of breasts. His bodysuit looked much like the glove Lin wore, and Nel was willing to bet he had tattoos that matched Lin’s. The sleeveless robe reaching to his ankles should have billowed on his descent, but it remained eerily still. The disc halted a foot from the ground. He stepped off and raised a hand in greeting.

  Lin closed the last few paces between them at a run. Their arms locked around one another for several minutes, and they murmured words that Nel could only guess. She swiped at cheeks suddenly wet and cold. She had no siblings but knew that if she could see Mikey again, their reunion would be identical.

  Lin pulled away, hands waving as she spoke quickly. Her expression was too stern to be excited. Twice, her brother glanced up into the hills. Nel shuddered. It was impossible to see into the darkness with so much light around him, but his eyes seemed to meet hers. Finally, he shook his head. He handed Lin a thin tube. He cupped her face, kissed her brow, and stepped back onto the disc. The hum began and the disc rose.

  “Dar, come back!” Lin's words cut through the sound of the spaceship, her voice cracking. She ran to stand under the ship, waving angrily.

  He shook his head, then turned to look at Nel again. He pressed a fist to his chest then gestured out with an open palm. Finally he looked up as he ascended into the ship and the door sealed silently.