Aphelion

by L. J. Higgins

“Kylah!” he called out again.

  I halted but didn’t turn. “I told you not to call me that.”

  “Sorry, you weren’t answering to Ky.”

  He seemed oblivious to the fact that I’d been purposely ignoring him. “I thought after tonight I’d at least get to avoid you until morning.”

  He gazed at the grey carpet, then back up to me, regret in his eyes. “I really am sorry. I know I screwed up. You shouldn’t have to pay for my mistake.”

  “Commander Kane was right.” I resumed my walk toward my room, Reece following behind me. “You were my responsibility. I deserve any punishment you’re given.”

  “I’m still sorry,” he said.

  “How about you channel that guilt into your training.”

  “Apparently our first line of punishment is sitting through a ‘find your purpose’ class.”

  I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was spend two hours being lectured about aliens. I couldn’t despise them more than I already did. I knew exactly why I was a Skywatcher.

  “It’s good to remind yourself why you’re here.” I stopped in front of a metal door with the numbers 565 etched onto it in black. “This is my room.”

  Reece stared at me for a moment, blinking. I raised my eyebrows.

  “I hope Commander Kane wasn’t too hard on you,” he said.

  “Nothing I can’t handle. Can I go to bed now?”

  “Of course. See you in the morning.” He spun on his heels and walked back the way we came.

  I scanned my card and my door clicked open. Hearing it close behind me, I made straight for my black bedside table, tugged open the drawer, pulled out a blue flocked jewellery box, and flipped the lid open. I ran my fingers over the cool smooth surface of the heart-shaped pendant lying on my palm, feeling my insides calm. The last gift I’d received from my brother. I couldn’t wear it as it was a workplace hazard, but whenever I felt frustrated or lost I’d sit with it. On the front, the words ‘always in your heart’ were engraved. On the back were my parents’ names, and Tyson’s.

  What I’d give to have him back. It didn’t matter how many aliens I killed, it would never ease the pain of losing him.

  Chapter Three

  The ‘finding your purpose’ session was a two hour workshop on finding the reason you hunt the vermin who’d invaded our planet and used their human-like appearance to blend in with the population. They were more than uninvited visitors; they were the reason so many people were missing and presumed dead. Most recruits were ex-military or had similar stories to my own, so it didn’t take much to convince them killing aliens was important work. They spent most of the class discussing the rumours surrounding the deaths of humans. Some said the aliens were like vampires, sucking people’s blood until they were nothing but bone and skin. Others believed they were cannibals, eating their victims and leaving no trace behind. That was the problem: in two years, not one of their victims’ bodies had been found. But each time a human went missing, you could guarantee they had a friend or neighbour who was an alien.

  After discussing everyone’s theories, the instructor played a gruesome video to ensure we understood the brutality of these unwelcome creatures. As the video played, Reece’s face morphed from anger to a greenish colour, as though he might puke. At least it was having the right effect on him. Maybe next time he’d be more vigilant… if they let him hunt again.

  I watched him cover his mouth with his balled fist. It wasn’t that I didn’t want him to hunt again. I just didn’t want it to be with me. Maybe they’d assign him to Ricko, although Agent Rickson didn’t go out in the field much anymore since he’d been promoted to the position of Commander Kane’s right hand man. He was one of the best teachers Skywatchers had, though. He’d be good for the rookie.

  The lesson ended with a lecture about the importance of defending our planet and keeping our fellow human beings safe. They also discussed the importance of being discreet, and how imperative it was to keep what we did at Skywatchers a secret. If people knew the aliens who invaded two years ago had survived and still lived among them, there’d be panic. Imagine the fear of not knowing if your neighbour or best friend was human or an alien infiltrator.

  After the lesson, we made our way to the gun range. I waited until Reece signed out his gun and purposely chose a stall three people away. I knew he was my responsibility in the field, but in this room, I wasn’t in the mood to talk, and he was the only person in the room who’d even bother. Everyone else knew I wanted to be left alone. I was sure he’d get the hint eventually.

  In the field, we only used specialty alien hunting rifles, which is what we practiced with. They were quiet, and if aimed right, they always hit their mark. I loaded the cartridge, lifted my weapon to face-height, and stared down the scope. After a few adjustments, I pressed the red button on the wall beside me. It blinked green and a target dropped down. The outline of an alien. I knew it was an alien because a blue glow shone around it. Sometimes they’d throw in one that reacted as a human, just to make sure they kept us on our toes. If you shot one of those, you’d be sent back to basic training.

  Lifting my weapon again, I took aim at the target’s forehead, released a long breath and squeezed the trigger. The gun recoiled into my shoulder, but I stood firm as the bullet found its mark. The night before was the first time I’d missed a target in over a year and the realization that I’d wasted a bullet pushed me to keep shooting.

  The target disappeared, and the light beside me reverted to red again. Inhaling deeply, I pressed it again, repeating the routine over and over until someone tapped me on the shoulder.

  The rookie grinned at me, holding up his target. He’d nailed all his shots too. Maybe he wasn’t as incompetent as I’d thought.

  “Everyone’s gone,” he said. “It’s just you and me left. I thought I’d let you know I’m leaving.”

  “You know, we don’t have to do everything together. Here at Skywatchers, you’re free to do you and I’m free to do me,” I replied. “I like it better that way.”

  “You looked zoned out, so I wasn’t sure you’d noticed. Plus, I wanted to show you I might have stuffed up but I’m a good shot.” He held his targets up again.

  I turned on my gun’s safety, returning it to the weapons desk. The rookie followed as I stepped through the doorway.

  “You’re a great shot.” He beamed. “I mean, I’ve heard how awesome you are, but seeing it in person was pretty cool.”

  How long had he been watching me?

  “Thanks. I train hard.” I picked up my pace.

  With long strides, he caught up. “Hopefully I can be half as good as you one day.”

  I nodded, intent on ignoring him, but the words escaped my lips before I could stop them. “You’re a good shot yourself.”

  The shock of my words appeared to slow his stride, so I hurried away to avoid any more talk.

  After grabbing a quick bite to eat from the mess hall, then made my way to the combat centre where I knew Ricko would be waiting to put me through my paces. Commander Kane was right in saying he was the only other person I spoke to at Skywatchers. He’d been my brother’s best friend. He’d been the one to break the news Tyson had been killed in the line of duty. And he was the person who’d trained me to be the alien hunter I’d become.

  I’d never tell him, but I was looking forward to our combat session. It’d been months since we’d trained together, and he always found a way to push me past my limits.

  “Ky.” He tapped his bare wrist. “You’re half an hour early.”

  “And yet you’re here, ready and waiting,” I replied.

  He brushed the longer part of his dark brown hair to the side, the short-cropped sides making it stylish. He’d always cared too much about the way he looked.

  “I knew you’d skip lunch,” he said.

  “I didn’t. I grabbed a sandwich on my way. Too noisy in there at lunch.”

  “And at dinner. And brea
kfast. You’d live in a hut in the middle of the bush if you could.”

  “Except I couldn’t train to kill aliens out there.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, except that. You ready to get your ass kicked?”

  I laughed. “You’re getting pretty old. What are you? Thirty, forty?”

  “I’m twenty, Ky. Three years older than you. It’s why you find it hard to repel my charm.” He winked, throwing me a set of boxing gloves.

  “So charming. I hear it’s been working on Olivia from IT. Hasn’t she learnt from the other girls, or does she think she’ll be the one to finally tame you?” I slid on my fingerless gloves before pulling the boxing gloves over them.

  “Is that a hint of jealousy I detect?”

  “Hardly. I don’t have a heart to feel anything, remember? I left it at the door the day I walked into Skywatchers.”

  Sadness crept into his eyes, but he forced a smile in an attempt to hide it. “Commander Kane thinks you need to start letting people in. You need to trust your fellow Skywatchers."

  I rolled my eyes. “News travels fast around these halls.”

  We walked onto a thick blue mat spread out on the centre of the floor and tapped gloves before taking a few steps back. I crouched into a defensive posture, waiting for Ricko to make the first move. His left bicep twitched, as it always did before he took a swing. I easily deflected his glove, countering with a right hook, that he easily blocked.

  “He told me because he thought I might be able to get through to you,” he said.

  “Maybe instead of worrying about my social circle, he should concentrate on training his rookies properly. The one he assigned to me is as useless as tits on a bull.” I backed away, shifting my weight between my feet.

  “They can’t all be as amazing as you.” He mistook my words as weakness swung at me again.

  I weaved out of the way, then hit him hard in the chest with a quick double-jab. He retreated several steps, shaking it off.

  I smirked. “Why not? I was a fifteen-year-old loser who wouldn’t hurt a fly before I came here. Now look at me, beating the crap out of my superior.”

  “Don’t get too cocky. It doesn’t suit you. And I don’t remember you being a loser. You were sarcastic, and kind of cute. You even smiled sometimes.”

  “I was never cute.”

  I’d let my guard down for just a moment, and he seized his opportunity to return the jab. I retaliated with a right hook to his cheek, and he stumbled sideways.

  “Getting slow in your old age?” I teased.

  “Maybe I need to get down here and train more often. And yes, you were cute. Remember that year your mum made you the cupcake costume for Halloween?”

  “I was thirteen.”

  “You were cute.”

  His taunting made my jaw tense. I squatted lower, bouncing back and forth on my toes, waiting for him to come to me. He struck out and I ducked, turning sideways and lifting my right leg to kick him in the stomach. He stumbled back, looking at me sideways with eyebrows raised as though saying, ‘Oh we’re getting serious are we?’ He sent a jab towards my head that I reacted too slowly to dodge. It landed flush on my cheek, but I returned the gesture, landing my own jab on his left cheek. He took a step back, shaking off my hit.

  “So, you don’t like cupcakes anymore?” he panted, stretching his arms above his head.

  I moved away from him, leaning forward on my knees to catch a breath while he walked in a slow circle.

  “That was the last costume Mum made for me before the car accident. So, no. Not a big fan of cupcakes anymore.”

  Ricko relaxed his arms. “Sorry, Ky. I didn’t mean to-”

  “Don’t. It was four years ago. I’m over it. Let’s go another round. I can’t say much for you, but I haven’t even broken a sweat.”

  He wiped at his dripping forehead. “Seems I’m spending too much time sitting in an office.”

  “Looks like you need this training more than I do.”

  By the end of the session, I’d worked up a nice sweat of my own. I peeled off my gloves before squirting water in my mouth from a drink bottle. Ricko’s perfectly styled hair had become a dishevelled mess and his muscular arms glistened with perspiration.

  “You still got it,” said Ricko. “You might be as abrasive as sandpaper but you’re tough as concrete. Training with you again will be good for me. Who knew a promotion would have me so out of shape?”

  “That’s what you have the girls in IT for isn’t it?”

  “Are you sure you aren’t jealous?”

  Ignoring his question I changed the subject. “You might think I’ve still got it but Commander Kane doesn’t think it’s enough. That I’ll be stronger if I start making friends.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt,” he replied. “It’s good to have people to talk to. People who understand what you do.”

  I shrugged. “I have you.”

  “So you’ll join me for dinner this evening? I’ll get you something nice to wear and we can go out for a few hours. It’d do us both some good.”

  “Ricko.” I sighed. It wasn’t the first time he’d tried to convince me I needed a night out.

  “What? Come on, Ky. Live a little.”

  “I can’t.” I turned away and headed for the exit.

  “I’m not going to give up on you,” he called after me.

  This was why I stopped training with Ricko.

  Chapter Four

  “Kylah… Ky,” the rookie’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. . I’d nearly made it back to my room. Nearly.

  “Yes, Ryan?” I replied through gritted teeth.

  “My name’s Reece,” he said.

  “What do you want, Reece?”

  “Are you going to head to the mess hall for dinner?” he asked. “I just finished combat training, and I’m starving.”

  On a second glance his black singlet clung to his firm chest, his bare arms shiny with sweat and his blonde hair stood at odd angles. For a moment I wondered what state I was in.

  I ran my hands over my hair, smoothing out my long ponytail. “Wasn’t it just lunch?”

  “That was hours ago. We were in the shooting range for a long time. I didn’t see you in the mess hall afterward, so I wasn’t sure if you’d even eaten.”

  “It’s okay. I’m a big girl. I make sure I eat.” I continued walking.

  His grin returned. “Well… maybe we can eat together?”

  “I don’t eat in the mess hall. I prefer to alone. In my room.” I put extra emphasis on the word ‘alone’.

  “That’s why I haven’t seen you at meal times. Are you avoiding someone?”

  “What makes you think that?” I shot him a scowl. “Don’t take it personally. I pretty much avoid everyone. I don’t like people.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because they ask too many questions.”

  “Sounds lonely to me.”

  The pity lacing his voice made my blood boil. “I like my own company. There’s plenty of other rookies and hunters in the mess hall for you to talk to. You don’t need me to hold your hand.”

  He ignored the bite in my tone. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you to join me?”

  Was this guy deaf as well as stupid? “Positive.”

  “We can still walk to the hall together. You know, so you can grab your food.”

  His smile sent an unexpected warmth through my body, easing my frustration. He was persistent, I had to give him that. “You don’t want to walk with me. It’ll make it harder to make friends. I don’t have many fans around here.”

  “Are you kidding? People are fascinated by you. They say you’re the youngest hunter ever recruited, and the best. If you weren’t so scary, they’d probably love to hang out with you.”

  The idea people were talking about me despite the effort I put into keeping a low profile made me uneasy. “I think I’ll skip dinner tonight. Don’t want to scare anyone.”

  “You don’t scare me.”

  “Well, I’ll
try harder.”

  He finally gave up following me, letting me disappear down the hallway towards my room. Reece was the first person in a long time other than Ricko to make an effort to get to know me. The thought crossed my mind Commander Kane might be right. Maybe it would be nice to have someone I could call a friend at Skywatchers.

  I shook the silly notion from my mind. Maybe this was all part of the Commander’s test to see if he could make me fall for a good-looking rookie and prove I was too young to be an alien hunter. Well, it wasn’t going to work. I wouldn’t become weak at the knees like some silly teenage girl and throw away everything I’d worked for since losing Tyson. I couldn’t lose focus, not now. Not until every last alien lay dead at my feet.

  A loud banging woke me with a start the following morning. Throwing back my blankets, I rubbed my eyes with balled fists and climbed out of bed, running my fingers through my dark hair in an attempt to tame it. Ricko’s smiling face greeted me when I opened the door.

  “Good morning! How did you… oh wow, you look like hell.” He shot me a wide grin.

  “I just need a shower. With a face like yours, you have no hope,” I bit back.

  He raised his hand to cover his heart. “You wound me so. I’ll have you know many ladies quite like my face.”

  “Lucky I didn’t hit you too hard, in combat yesterday then. Why are you here, anyway?”

  He held out an official-looking yellow envelope. “The Commander asked me to deliver this to you.”

  “Since when are you the Commander’s errand boy?” I took it from him, turning it over in my hands.

  “Only for the most important of hunters,” he replied.

  I hated when Ricko was in one of his weird moods. It didn’t matter how much he frustrated and annoyed me, he still wore that stupid smile.

  “Why is he sending me an envelope anyway?” I asked. “I thought I was banned from going on missions for a month. It’s barely been twenty-four hours.”

  “It’s not a mission… not exactly, but it’ll get you out in the field. Look at it as more of a bonding exercise.”