“Are you staying this time?”
David looked up at the waitress’s smiling face and he possibly blushed a bit.
“I recognised the bike.”
“Sorry for taking off like that. I was feeling spontaneous and went for a swim.”
The waitress looked at his wet clothes hanging over the bike but decided not to say anything. Her pen was poised and once he’d ordered he closed his eyes and eased back into the chair. He was back listening to the sounds of the beach again and for a moment he forgot the predicament he was in.
There was movement beside him and he had the distinct impression that someone had just sat down at his table. He opened his eyes and what he saw, took his breath away.
A beautiful stranger was sitting directly opposite him, smiling. “Are you ready, David?”
Chapter Three
The Uninvited
Laja returned with an uncharacteristic look of distress on his face. In his absence, Huey had been busy releasing the humans from their bindings and removing the sacks from their heads. Everyone was pretty traumatised by their ordeal and a strange hush had descended upon the carriage.
While the humans were recovering, Laja and Huey got to work on removing the downed Femesumma and RDUs and with them safely off the train, Laja informed everyone that the rear carriage had been uncoupled. Probably intentionally when they were having their scuffle. Huey was up at the controls, ready to proceed; only he got the order that they were going back.
The word suicide crossed his circuitry, but nothing he could say would make them rethink their decision, so he moved through into the second carriage and activated it and within a few minutes they were moving back along the track. Huey kept the speed down in case they came across the uncoupled carriage, but his suspicion was that it had already returned to the station, where there would probably be an army of Femesumma waiting for them.
His scrambling device would only have worked if the carriage had remained attached, so it came as a surprise when they rounded the corner and there it was. Huey was quick to slow the train and stop it at a safe distance and he and Laja went out to investigate. The lights were still on inside the carriage, but there was no movement and they approached with caution.
There must have been a power failure and the carriage's reserve batteries hadn’t been enough to get it back to the station. Huey was the first to spot something, a Femesumma standing in the tunnel and he seemed preoccupied and because of this, they remained undetected.
They reached the carriage and Laja looked in through one of the windows and there they were, the other members of the group, huddled together. Robin felt Laja’s presence and quickly filled him in. Apparently, there was only one Femesumma, since Laja had already dealt with the second when he’d had his encounter with the invisible assassin.
The remaining Femesumma wasn’t expecting a visit from a Lumsulu, so he was easily dispatched and Laja dragged his limp body to the side of the tunnel.
Now that it was safe to do so, Laja boarded the carriage with Huey and no one was expecting an RDU to be assisting them. Once over the shock, Shou was keen to find out what it could do.
“We don’t have time for a demo,” said Laja. “Come on, the others are waiting.”
Mica and Robin were as composed as ever but admitted they had feared for their lives while being held captive. The Femesumma had seemed unsure what to do with them, although they knew perfectly well what they wanted to do with the humans and that was to send them back to Earth.
“Is the RDU taking us to the telepoint?” asked Robin.
Laja nodded.
“From what we’ve heard, the security around that thing is as tight as a drum,” said Mica.
“I wanted to go and take a look in my spirit form, but the risk of detection was too great,” said Robin.
“I would advise against such action. The remaining telepoints have to be the hottest places on the planet,” said Huey. “The concentration of Formless Ones and Femesumma needs to be seen to be believed and if they detect you, there is a good chance you won’t return.”
“Enough said,” said Laja.
They made it to the train where the others were waiting and Sie wanted to know where Miar was.
“We lost her early on,” said Lim, struggling for words. “A big part of me was hoping she was with you guys.”
“Oh my god! What happened?”
“She was snatched from me,” Lim could barely speak. “Right out of my hand.”
“Lim, I’m sorry,” said Mica.
Lim had plenty of support and Huey left them and took the controls and they were soon speeding along the tunnel. At this rate, they would be at their objective in no time. They would pass through a couple of stations, which Huey was prepared for and he had given Laja another scrambling device, in case they experienced any interference.
All was going well until they passed through the first station and then the carriage started to slow down. Huey thought he’d prepared for everything, but had obviously overlooked something and there was nothing he could do to correct it.
Huey hadn’t keeled over and the carriage still had power, which left only one possibility, its connection to the track had been severed. This meant they were back on foot and they gathered themselves in preparation to leave the train.
They had amassed quite a collection of items, taken off the downed Femesumma. It all looked interesting, but none of it was any use to them, because such items were personalised, so if it fell into the wrong hands it could not be used against them.
The protection devices that Huey had given them had been confiscated and although the carriage looked empty, Clom was having a rummage, just in case they had been stashed aboard the train.
“Come on, Clom, we’ve got to leave,” said Joeum.
“Okay. Some of these wall sections sound hollow,” and Clom was pulling and pushing the featureless panels, hoping to get lucky.
“Bingo,” shouted Clom, as one of the sections slid open.
“Only clothes,” said Clom, with his head still inside the locker. “Oh, hold up, what’s this?” Clom reached inside. “I can’t reach it.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” said Joeum.
Clom mumbled, his voice muffled. There was a clatter and his upper body disappeared into the locker.
“Lim, help him out of there,” said Joeum.
“I’ve got it, I’ve got it.”
Clom emerged from the locker, both hands clasped around a strange object.
“For god’s sake, Clom, what is it?” asked Joeum.
“I don’t know, it’s like a piece of sculpture,” and Clom proceeded to rub his thumbs over its surface and to his astonishment, it melted around his right hand.
“Oh my god, look what’s happened,” said Clom.
“Stop!” said Huey, as sternly as his electronic voice would allow. “Put it down.”
“Keep your hair on, can’t you see that’s what I’m trying to do.” Clom was banging the device with his other hand.
“Don’t do that,” said Huey, but it was too late and Clom suddenly disappeared.
“Clom! Where’d he go?” asked Lim.
“Stop messing about, I’m right here,” said Clom
“Don’t keep banging it, you have already activated one of its functions,” said Huey.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re invisible,” said Huey.
“You’re joking?”
“Huey, can you help him?” asked Joeum.
“The device has synchronised with Com’s body.”
Laja heard all the commotion and come over to see what was going on. The device that Clom had found was a multi-functioning piece of kit and could be used for cloaking, communication and teleporting.
“It looked like one of the devices I saw the Femesumma wearing and it sort of changed shape and melted onto his hand,” said Lim.
By handling the device, Clom had triggered the cloaking function and it was strange that such an
item would be left lying around.
“Can someone get this thing off.” Clom was becoming distressed.
“Calm down, Com,” said Huey. “Just don’t fiddle with it, otherwise something else might happen.”
Even though Clom was invisible, Huey was just able to see him if he modified his optics to the ultraviolet spectrum. “Hold your hand steady.”
“I’m doing my best.”
After a few moments, Huey confirmed the exact model of the device. “Right, try this.”
“Wait a minute, try this!” repeated Clom. “What the hell happens if it’s a different model?”
“Trust me,” said Huey. “First I want you to make a fist, then splay your fingers, repeat this twice and the device should return you to the visual spectrum.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“We’ll soon find out.”
“That’s far from reassuring.”
“Clom, just do as Huey asks and do it quickly,” said Joeum.
“Okay, okay.”
Clom did as he had been instructed and like magic, he reappeared and immediately started shaking his hand in an attempt to get the device off.
“What are you doing now?” asked Huey.
“Trying to get it off.”
“It won’t come off like that and in any case, I think it might come in handy.”
“Can’t someone else wear it?”
“Weren’t you listening?” said Joeum.
Huey reminded him that the device had synchronised with his body and no one else would be able to use it.
“So you’re stuck with it,” laughed Lim. “Or rather, it’s stuck on you.”
Before they departed, Huey made sure to leave one of his scrambling devices on the train. It would make it more difficult for the Femesumma to regain control and although it didn’t seem right to be abandoning a perfectly good train, it wasn’t going anywhere, so they really had no choice.
Joeum was almost afraid to ask how long this tunnel was, but there was some good news. Having already travelled over fifty miles of it, there were just twenty miles to go.
“What’s waiting for us at the other end?” asked Joeum.
At the other end of the tunnel was an expansive plain. They’d glimpsed it when they began their journey.
“The plain of pain, which would be suicide to cross!” said Clom.
“On foot, it would be suicide, but we won’t be on foot,” said Huey.
There was another station before the end of the tunnel and it was here that Huey was intending to commandeer another carriage, except by the time they reached it, it would probably be crawling with Femesumma.
“Is there a plan B?” asked Clom.
“I haven’t finished telling you about plan A,” said Huey. “And you have volunteered yourself to play the leading role.”
“Because of this thing, I suppose?” Clom shook the hand that the device was still attached to.
“It’s certainly going to help.”
Within an hour they could see the lights of the station and Huey had everyone gathered over to the side of the tunnel and he explained how things were going to go. First of all, Huey gave Clom another scrambling device and then told him to make himself invisible by repeating the hand sequence.
“I could be naked and no one would even know.”
“Just thinking about that unsettles me,” said Sie.
Clom’s laughter bounced off the tunnel walls.
“Focus, Clom, we’re depending on you,” said Joeum.
Huey warned Clom that he was invisible to most, but other RDUs would be able to detect him if he didn’t keep a low profile, so he would have to be careful.
“If you’re spotted, get out of there. We don’t want any heroics,” said Joeum.
“What do I do with this thing again?”
“There will be several carriages up there. Located in sidings. Just make sure that whichever one you pick, it is clear of obstacles and then attach that device to any part of it. And tread lightly, as they will still be able to hear you.”
“Got it,” said Clom, in a hushed voice.
As fun as it was to play the invisible man, this was no game. The consequence of messing up would be death and he headed off as quickly and as quietly as he could before he lost his nerve. He may have been invisible, but he wasn’t looking forward to stepping out of the shadows, as the station was particularly well lit. The light was working for him, illuminating a long platform where he was surprised to see only two Femesumma. Surprised and a little relieved.
It then occurred to him that some of them might be invisible too. Realising this could be a strong possibility, Clom took his time. The last thing he wanted was to bump into a cloaked Femesumma.
There were three carriages parked up and mindful about what Huey had said, Clom made his way to the one closest to the platform and attached the device to its underside. Mission accomplished, he then worked his way back along the tunnel to where the others were waiting. It had all gone surprisingly well and he was going to give Lim the fright of his life to celebrate and then thought better of it.
“He’s back,” said Robin.
“It’s done,” came Clom’s disembodied voice.
“Good work,” said Huey.
“There are only a few Femesumma down there, but how are we all going to get past them?”
“Easy,” said Huey.
Huey could now control the carriage remotely and he wanted everyone to be ready to board as soon as it arrived. It took a few long minutes before they saw the carriage pull out of the station and onto the main track. A couple of Femesumma could be seen running around it, in an attempt to work out what was going on.
They all moved back against the wall of the tunnel and Huey hit the accelerator and the Femesumma that had been standing on the track was hit by the approaching carriage. One down, one to go and the carriage hurtled towards them soundlessly and glided to a stop within a few feet from where they were standing. Its door slid open and they scrambled aboard.
“Stop right there.”
In the centre of the carriage stood a Femesumma.
“We’ve been expecting you. Now deactivate that RDU or one of the devils gets it.”
What could they do but comply and Huey prepared to power down, but from out of nowhere an object struck the Femesumma from behind. The distraction was enough to enable Laja to leap into action and one swift blow saw the Femesumma buckle and drop to the floor.
“You weren’t expecting the invisible man, now were you?” said Clom.
“Quickly, bind him with something while I get this thing moving,” said Huey.
Huey zipped passed the downed Femesumma and took the controls of the carriage and they accelerated out of the station just as things were beginning to heat up.
“He didn’t see that coming,” said Lim.
“No,” laughed Clom. “It looked like things were turning bad, so I had to try something.”
“Thank you, Clom. That was a daring and somewhat dangerous move,” said Laja.
A trickle of blood was just emerging from the Femesumma's bony skull plate and a device identical to the one Clom had picked up, slipped from its hand. Tempting as it would have been to pick up; they knew these devices were non-transferable.
Due to their hasty departure, they hadn’t been able to remove the Femesumma from the train, so Laja bound him to the central support beam with some cable that had been left lying around.
“I don’t like the idea that we’re taking him with us,” said Clom.
“He might come in useful,” said Laja.
Clom’s attention turned to the device attached to his hand. “I’m beginning to think that finding this thing was no accident.”
“It was certainly no accident,” said Laja.
“Hard to believe that such a small device could be capable of so much,” said Shou.
“Its ability to render someone invisible is simple enough,” said Laja. “The device bends light a
round the wearer, so it’s really just an illusion.”
“Clever,” said Shou, moving in for a closer look and imagining the fun he could have with it.
The internal layout of the carriage was slightly different from the previous one they had occupied. There were a few terminals that fed through to a large screen in the main compartment and Laja had come across some data files in a really old format and he opened one.
It was interesting and disturbing stuff, personal accounts, along with media reports leading up to the final downfall of the Femesumma. It turned out that most of the remaining Femesumma were part of a group that called themselves, The Revolution. The Revolution was formed after the collapse. Laja looked a little deeper.
The data here confirmed what Huey had shown them at the military bunker. The telepoint they were heading for was only one of a handful that still remained operational.
“Looking for something, Lumsulu?” the Femesumma was awake.
“I don’t suppose you’d care to answer a few questions?” asked Laja, without taking his eyes off the screen.
“Why would I help you?”
“Helping us might save your race and your planet.”
“Save us?” laughed the Femesumma. “We don’t need saving. Save yourself and kill these devils.”
“Your planet is being taken over by the Formless Ones, not the humans.”
“Same difference. We will destroy Vulsumar if it comes to that.”
“If! You’ve already lost control. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to discover that you were never in control.”
Huey put the carriage on auto, so he could join in the conversation.
“A rogue RDU. If you’re listening to what that thing’s telling you, then you really are lost.”
“The Lumsulu is right, if what is left of your race is to be saved, then you must work with us. Destroying Vulsumar is not the answer. Look around you. Look at what Vulsumar has become. Your race is being manipulated by the Formless Ones to bring about its own demise.”
“Listen to that thing go, it’s the work of these devils. Pull its plug before it gets you killed.”
“Without Huey, we would already be dead,” said Lim.
“You’ve even named the damn thing.” The Femesumma’s head went back and it laughed. “And look at you, Lumsulu. You should know better, making friends with the devils and following a piece of possessed junk.”
Alliance Page 10