Chapter 12
Jack’s legs were racing as fast as his mind was as he sprinted up Detroit Street. A million and one questions assaulted his brain – who were these armored alien dudes? Where did they come from? Were they really invading Earth? What did they want with Anna? Did they intend to enslave humanity, starting with the hottest chicks first?
More of those “shard” thingies shrieked across the sky. They seemed to be making passes every couple of minutes. Jack could see the school in the distance, lit by the streetlights from the town center.
Jack considered himself fortunate since he had been able to make it out of the cornfield by the Burger Shack. Though those black armored aliens looked scary enough, they didn’t seem all that bright. When Anna and he had separated in the cornfield, he’d done his best to lead them away from her. This meant sprinting through the high stalks of corn and zigzagging his way through the field. He was able to sense that the aliens were following him because they barreled through the corn, stomping it down in their pursuit – that, and their annoying habit of shooting those purple energy balls constantly. (Jack was sure old Mr. Warner wasn’t going to be too happy to see half of his last crop of the season vaporized by marauding aliens.) This gave Jack a pretty clear picture of where they were and, more importantly, how to avoid them.
That was, of course, until those ships in the sky started teleporting more guys in. Jack was getting tired and running out of places to hide, so he chucked the data tablet as far as he could and took off in the direction of Detroit Street, leaving his pursuers to follow the thing’s “energy signature” instead of him.
Years of playing in the fields with his friends gave him the distinct advantage of knowing the terrain. Jack knew every shortcut, every gopher hole, and every hiding spot between Eagle Hill and the town square, which made avoiding the aliens a relatively easy task.
His real concern was for Anna. Had she made it past them? She didn’t know the area as well as Jack did, and he was worried splitting up might have been a mistake. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but what if Anna didn’t make it back to the school? What would he do then?
Jack’s legs were burning as he jogged onto school grounds. He heard the squeal of tires and saw a few cars loaded up with luggage peel down the street. No doubt people were either evacuating or hiding. The town seemed completely deserted.
He finally got to the bleachers where he’d talked with Anna earlier in the day. His heart sank when she was nowhere to be seen. He doubled over, grabbing his splitting side and tried to catch his breath. He was sweating and felt pretty gross. He gave himself a moment to calm down in the cool night air before calling out.
“Anna?” he hollered. “Anna? You here?”
For a moment, there was nothing. Then came a voice.
“Jack?”
Jack turned toward the cornfield about ten feet away. Something was rustling through it, and Anna emerged. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. She’d made it!
Anna came running up and threw her arms around him. Jack wasn’t expecting such a greeting, but he was glad for it, nonetheless.
“I can’t believe you made it past them,” she said, holding him tight. “I was sure they’d get you.”
“Yeah, well, all those months of chasing after the bus have made me one lean, mean, running machine,” he joked. “Besides, those alien guys aren’t exactly the coldest drinks in the fridge, if you know what I mean.”
Anna gave him a look that clearly proved she didn’t.
“You know, they don’t seem that smart,” Jack clarified.
“They’re not,” said Anna. “They’re just foot soldiers. They do only what they’re told. They might not be smart, but they’re tough, relentless, and deadly. I don’t doubt if they weren’t ordered to capture me this entire town would be dead by now.”
“About that…” said Jack. “You gonna tell me what’s going on here? How do you know so much about these guys? Why do they want you?”
Anna released her hold on Jack and pulled away from him, frowning.
“There’s… there’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jack,” she said.
“So fill me in,” he said.
Anna bit her lower lip and looked like she was going to say something when another familiar voice rang out.
“Princess!”
Jack and Anna turned to see Professor Green running up toward them, waving his hand and smiling.
“Professor!” exclaimed Anna. She ran toward him and gave him an even bigger hug than she’d given Jack.
“Oh, thank the Ancients!” said Professor Green. “We were so worried!”
“I’m sorry,” said Anna. “I didn’t know.”
“No way you could have, child,” responded Green.
Jack had known that Professor Green and Mr. Shepherd were supposedly friends, but he had never known how close he and Anna were. They seemed quite friendly with each other. Despite the fact that it was just goofy Professor Green, Jack couldn’t help but feel a little resentful. After all, hadn’t he just risked life-and-limb to help Anna escape an alien ambush? Sure, the hug was nice, but the image of that romantic night on the hill above the drive-in haunted him. Just his luck that tonight would be the night aliens would choose to invade Earth.
Anna pulled away from Green. “Where’s Shepherd?” she asked.
“He’s on his way,” said Green. “He had me wait here in case you showed up and then went out searching for you. I contacted him as soon as I saw you come out of the cornfield.”
“He’s going to want to evacuate,” she said.
“They’ve got the planet surrounded,” Green said sadly. “It’s only a matter of time, I’m afraid.”
Anna looked worried. “We can’t leave, not yet. We cannot allow the temple to be destroyed.”
“I fear we may not have a choice,” responded Green.
“Did you complete that analysis program?” asked Anna. “The one you were working on to help me navigate the interface?”
“Why yes, as a matter of fact—” Green started to say before catching himself. “Oh dear, you’re not suggesting…”
“I am confident with your help, I can unlock the temple,” said Anna.
“But, Your Majesty…”
“Professor,” said Anna sternly, “We cannot leave what could be the key to ending this war behind. We must unlock the temple, and we must do it now.”
“Uh… what war?” asked Jack.
Green and Anna turned to him. The Professor lit up, as if noticing for the first time Jack was there.
“Jack, my boy!” the Professor exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“He’s the one who…” Anna looked like she was about to say I snuck out to see, but instead she said “saved me from being captured.”
“Really!” said Green, giving Jack the thumbs up. “Good work, lad! I always knew you had it in you!”
Jack gave Green a strange look, which he directed toward Anna, as well.
“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on here?” asked Jack, exasperated. “What temple? Why’s he calling you ‘your majesty?’ And what, in the history of Physics class, ever made you think I had it in me to escape an alien ambush???”
Before either Green or Anna could respond, Jack heard the squeal of tires. The group turned to see a car skidding from a turn onto Detroit Street and accelerate up to the school, scraping the curb as it hurtled onto school grounds and tore right toward them.
“Great,” said Jack. “What now?”
The car rumbled to a halt about ten feet away from them, and Shepherd got out. He did not look happy as he marched toward the group.
“We’re leaving,” he said in a tone that brokered no argument. “Now.”
Anna pulled away from Green and looked at Shepherd defiantly.
“No,” she said.
Shepherd stopped and for a second looked as though her answer surprised him. Then his steely cold gaze returned.
“In t
he car,” he said. “We’re heading to the shuttle.”
“We’re going to the temple,” said Anna. “That’s an order.”
Jack’s eyes grew wide as he saw Shepherd bristle. Did Anna really just tell off her dad? Jack suddenly felt like he was near a bomb that was about to explode.
“We are going to get off this planet, and to somewhere safe if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming,” insisted Shepherd.
“Off planet?” piped up Jack. “You guys can, like, leave the planet?”
Shepherd looked at Jack like he were a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. “Go home, Jack,” he said, without a hint of interest in why Jack was there in the first place.
“Um, aliens are invading,” said Jack. “I don’t think my trailer is the safest place to be right now.”
“No place is safe,” interjected Anna. “Which is why we must retrieve the Ancient artifact right now.”
“You can’t unlock the temple,” said Shepherd.
“I believe I can,” said Anna.
“Would someone please tell me what’s going on?” pleaded Jack.
“Princess,” said Shepherd, completely ignoring Jack, “The minute we enter the portgate, we will be signaling to the Deathlords exactly where we are and that there is Ancient technology on this planet. They will zero in on our location, break through, and throw everything they have at us.”
“Whoa, waitaminute…” said Jack. “They’re called DEATHLORDS?”
“I will not abandon the key to the universe’s survival to the Deathlords,” said Anna stubbornly. “Our only hope is to access it before they can get to us.”
“The risk to your safety is too great,” insisted Shepherd.
“Deathlords?” repeated Jack.
“This is not a debate, Paragon,” said Anna.
“You’re right,” replied Shepherd. “It’s not.”
With that, Shepherd grabbed Anna, lifting her up effortlessly and slinging her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Anna squealed in protest, indignant, demanding Shepherd put her down. Shepherd ignored her and turned to Professor Green.
“Professor,” he said, “I recommend you come with us.”
“Shepherd!” screamed Anna. “Release me! That is an order!”
Green hesitated. “If I may be so bold, good Paragon, but… we have no idea what the temple is housing. If it is the weapon of the Ancients, abandoning it to the Deathlords could be disastrous…”
“Then stay if you wish,” said Shepherd coldly. “I am getting her Royal Highness off this planet.”
Shepherd turned on his heel and began marching to the car. Professor Green hesitated, and then sheepishly began to follow. Jack watched dumbfounded, until Anna looked up and caught his eye as she was being carried away.
“Jack!” she screamed. “Help me!”
Jack was more confused than ever. Aliens were attacking, the girl of his dreams – who it sounds like might just be actual royalty - was being carried away, and it appeared as though Mr. Shepherd had access to some sort of spaceship.
But by the look on Anna’s face, it was clear she did not want to go. And for the life of him, Jack did not want her to either.
Suddenly, he found himself running around Shepherd and blocking his way.
“Wait! Mr. Shepherd, wait!” said Jack, holding up his hands as if that were enough to stop the six-foot-three grown man before him.
“Move, Jack,” said Shepherd sternly – so much so that Jack was almost scared not to obey.
“Look,” replied Jack, “far be it from me to tell you how to handle your own daughter, but… uh… this artifact thing, in the temple place… it sounds kind of important.”
Shepherd glared at Jack, his face hard as a rock… but it was his eyes Jack noticed. There was a hint of sadness in them, and for some reason, that intimidated Jack more than any stare he had ever received from the man.
“I’m sorry, son,” said Shepherd. And with that, he stepped to the side of Jack and tried to walk past him. Anna kicked and pounded on the man’s back, demanding he let her go. Jack hopped in front of him again.
“No, Mr. Shepherd, just wait–”
This time, Shepherd did not stop. Instead, his hand reached out, grabbed Jack firmly by the shoulder, and tossed him aside like he were a rag doll.
Jack hit the ground. He looked up at Shepherd as he was walking away, incredulously. Oh no he didn’t… thought Jack angrily. Taking away Anna, being an all around thorn in his side, AND manhandling him was just too much for Jack to take. Giving into his anger, Jack got to his feet and SPRINTED toward the man. He dropped low, and aimed for Shepherd’s knees.
He hit Shepherd from behind and could feel the man’s legs buckle as he brought Shepherd and Anna to the ground.
The fall had done the trick – Shepherd was distracted long enough for Anna to wriggle free. Before Shepherd could grab her again, she was off, running for the cornfield.
“Green!” snarled Shepherd, “Get her!”
“Oh, dear,” said Green as he took off after Anna. Shepherd reached over and grabbed Jack by the neck. His grip was vice-like, his thumb digging in hard and pressing on Jack’s artery. Jack struggled, but he could not break free of Shepherd’s grasp. He was starting to get light-headed.
“You…” growled Shepherd. “Stay out of this.”
With that, the man pushed Jack away, releasing his hold. Jack gasped for air. When he next looked up, Shepherd was already to his feet and on Anna’s trail. For a moment, Jack thought of obeying the man. But then he thought about all the people in his life who had pushed him around. People like J.C. Rowdey. He thought about earlier this morning when he got hit in the head with a shoe and lay on the side of the road, defeated. Then, he thought of Anna and of how she needed his help. Jack had no idea what was happening, but he did know this…
He wasn’t going to give up.
Jack hopped back to his feet and started running. He heard Shepherd cry out his name as Jack passed him and hit the cornfield, following the path Anna and Green had taken. He shot past Green, whipping a corn stalk in the man’s face by accident but slowing him down in the process. Finally, he caught up to Anna, who had stopped in a small circle devoid of any corn.
Jack stopped, catching his breath.
“What are you doing?” he panted. “We gotta keep running.”
“No we don’t,” said Anna, pulling a small device out from the back pocket of her jeans. “We’re here.”
She immediately began tapping on the rectangular device, as if she were pressing invisible keys. Jack noticed strange symbols that appeared on the smooth stone-like surface of the tablet – but even though it looked like a rock, Anna’s finger moved around the symbols like they were floating on water.
“We’re in a cornfield, there’s no temple around here,” said Jack, “and what the heck is that?”
Anna stopped and looked at Jack. She was frowning. “Jack, I’m sorry for involving you in this,” she said.
Jack shrugged. “Hey, it’s cool,” he said. “I mean, it’s not your fault aliens want to capture you, right?”
Anna was silent. Just then, Green appeared. “Princess,” he said, out of breath as well. “Please…”
“You know this is the right thing to do, Professor,” said Anna.
Green nodded. “I know,” he said. “Just… promise me when this is over, you’ll convince Paragon Shepherd of that as well.”
As if on cue, Shepherd broke through the surrounding barrier of corn. He stood before the group, his face stern. Anna and he shared a glare, and she looked back at him as hard as he looked at her.
“Do not activate that,” he growled.
Anna straightened, and suddenly Jack noticed a strange change in her. It wasn’t anything physical, it was more like a feeling he got. She suddenly became authoritative, powerful… regal. It was obvious Shepherd and Green noticed the change, too.
“All my life, I’ve shouldered the responsibility of my bloodline,�
� she said. “I have trained. I have studied. I have prepared – all for moments like this. You protect me because I am the heir to the throne of the Galactic Empire and the keeper of the secrets of the Ancients. But what good is that protection if it does not allow me to do what I need to do – what I’m destined to do? I am your Sovereign, Paragon Shepherd, no matter what age I may be. I ask now that you treat me as such, and believe me when I say… I can do this.”
Shepherd gazed at Anna with a slight look of surprise on his face. It was the first time Jack had ever seen him look uncertain. After a long moment of hesitation, Shepherd’s shoulders relaxed and a sigh of resignation followed. He nodded, ever so slightly.
“I am, as always, your loyal servant, Your Majesty,” he said softly.
Whatever battle of wills the two had been fighting, it was obvious Shepherd had just surrendered. Anna relaxed as well, and turned to Jack.
“Jack,” she said.
“Yeah?”
“Brace yourself.”
Anna looked down at the device in her hand and flicked one last symbol into a circular configuration made up of all the others she had positioned on there.
Suddenly, the dirt beneath their feet glowed with a brilliant white light – which strangely did not appear to illuminate anything, as if the light were trapped within the ground.
An audible, vibrating “hum” could be heard and felt, as the light beneath them began to swirl around like a whirlpool.
Then, the whirlpool expanded downward at a frightening speed.
Jack felt as though he were hovering weightless in mid-air for a split second, and then, it happened…
He started to fall.
Chapter 13
Jack was yanked downward violently, as though something had grabbed hold of him and was reeling him in with incredible speed. It felt like his stomach had been ripped from his belly and left far behind him, much like riding a roller coaster, only a thousand times more intense.
His skin tingled like air was blasting into him with hurricane-like fury. However, he did not feel cold, and the wind did not cut into his skin, but it was there nonetheless. Jack tried to open his eyes and focus. All around him he saw bizarre colors and objects flying by with frightening speed, all kept at bay by a swirling spiral of brilliant blue light.
Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet Page 11