by R. D. Brady
But then so too were the humans surrounding him. Each of them had sacrificed a great deal for a different species. Maeve, Chris, Greg, Norah—they all had risked life and limb. Tilda prayed Agaren was able to show the Council the good that still existed in humans like them.
The coffeepot beeped on the counter. Tilda grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured herself a cup. She eschewed any milk or sugar. It was going to be a tough day. Tough days called for black coffee.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Seconds later, Adam was striding across the kitchen toward her. He stood in front of her, looking down, and then pushed her hair back from her face. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“I got a little. But there’s much to do.”
Her tablet beeped. She walked over to the kitchen table and glanced down at it. That was strange. A sensor at the edge of their boundary had gone down. A single sensor. That shouldn’t be a problem but still …
She grabbed her phone and quickly dialed. Jasper answered almost immediately. “I saw it. I have a team on the way to check it out. Hold the line. I’ll have an answer for you in two minutes.”
The line went quiet. Adam took a sip of Maeve’s coffee and then placed it on the table in front of her while they waited. Jasper was back in less than two minutes. “I’ve lost contact with my men.”
All thoughts of introspection and philosophizing disappeared from Tilda’s mind. The commander of R.I.S.E. took over. “Send out the alarms. All guards are to be in their emergency positions now. I’ll be there in five.”
Tilda put down the phone and looked at Adam. “They’re here. Get to the hybrids.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
The R.I.S.E. base had all the accoutrements, including access to a complete catalog of TV shows and movies. Maeve and Greg settled on Chuck, the TV show from the 1990s starring Zachary Levi. It was silly, it was fun, and it helped them forget at least for a little while.
But even as Maeve watched Chuck attempt to be a spy, she couldn’t completely forget what was surrounding them. She glanced at her watch. It was coming up on 5 a.m. She wanted to let everyone sleep as long as possible. The longer they slept, the less stress they would be under. Hopefully sleep would keep them from realizing how dangerous their world had just become.
Of course, the constant movement of the last couple of days had surely reinforced the danger of their situation. But today, Maeve would swallow down her own fear, help them pack up, and help them move again. But from the look on Tilda’s face, she knew that even Tilda was worried about their safety. The R.I.S.E. base was supposed to be the safest base on the planet. Where could they possibly go now that was safer?
Maybe I need to go off the planet with them, she thought, thinking of Agaren. How amazing would that be to see the base on the Moon? Even thinking it made her feel ridiculous. People who talked about things like a base on the Moon or UFOs were ridiculed in current society. The disinformation campaign had worked simply too well. Now even Maeve, who grew up with an alien hybrid, felt foolish at thinking such thoughts.
And that was after meeting Agaren, an actual visitor from another world. She wondered when he would return and if he was successful in his mission. Did they know about the Draco’s incursion? Had the movement of the Draco pushed them to make a decision that all of them would regret?
Did the other species, whatever they were, even experience emotions like regret? Or were they so advanced that logic ruled everything, like Vulcans?
She hated not knowing how she was being judged. She hated not knowing what the judges were like. She felt like a primitive human stumbling around in the dark, trying to find the answers to mathematical physics using a slide rule while others were allowed to use a computer. It all felt so unbalanced.
Greg elbowed her arm gently. “Hey, none of that. No serious thoughts. We’ve had enough of those. This is a no-serious-thoughts zone, okay?”
“Okay.”
He patted her hand. “You’re lying, but I appreciate the effort.”
She grabbed their mugs from the table as Greg turned off the TV. They had switched from tea to coffee about an hour ago. Her stomach rumbled. “I think I’ll get breakfast started. You joining us?”
“Are you actually asking me that? You’ve had my cooking, right?”
Maeve shuddered. “I never knew eggs could be crunchy before.”
“Well, that’s because you’ve never put the egg shells into them. It adds a whole new texture. I was trying something. It didn’t go well.” Greg followed her to the kitchen.
“You want to grab some plates and cups and set them out?” Maeve opened the refrigerator door, hoping there was food there. She was rewarded with the sight of eggs, milk, butter, and bread. It was enough.
Grace padded out of the kids’ room, her tail wagging, Chris right behind her. He walked over and kissed Maeve on the cheek. “You were supposed to be sleeping.”
“I got a little.”
“Why don’t I believe that? I’m going to take Gracie out. Hey, Greg.” Chris headed for the patio doors, where Grace was anxiously pacing back and forth. He slid the door open, and Grace zipped outside.
Maeve watched her go with a smile. At least the kids still had Grace. And Grace was completely loyal to them. They needed that kind of loyalty.
Chris crossed to the kitchen area. “What can I do to—”
The front door flew open. Maeve whirled around, her heart pounding. Chris planted himself in front of Maeve, his arms wide, as if to protect her from whatever was coming.
Adam sprinted into the room. “They’re here. We need to go.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
A series of loud bangs sounded from somewhere in the distance. The noise spurred Maeve into action. She burst into the kids’ bedroom. Alvie was already up, his eyes impossibly large. They’re here.
“Yes.”
Alvie grabbed Snap, who was right next to him, shaking her awake. Chris was right behind Maeve. He walked in and scooped up Crackle and Pop. Alvie hopped off the bed, and Maeve took Snap from him. They hurried to the door.
The front door was thrown wide open. Grace was barking up a storm in the outdoor area. Alvie zipped over to the patio doors and slid them open. Grace bounded in. Alvie put his hands on either side of her head and looked into her eyes. Grace’s frantic barking stopped, and she walked next to him, her body thrumming with energy.
They stepped out into the hallway. Adam stood by the front doors, his gaze locked outside. Down the hall, Norah stepped into the hallway, Iggy perched on her shoulder, followed by Greg, then Luke and Sandra. Luke looked like he was still half asleep. Sandra and Norah looked wide awake, as if they knew exactly what was going on. Both had M4s strapped around their chests.
Chris stopped next to Adam. “What’s the plan?”
“We’re going to the hangar. My priority is getting you all out of here.”
“I like that priority,” Greg said.
Through the glass doors, the hangar looked like it was a mile away. A dozen guards rushed toward the front of the building. Eight of them stayed outside the front entrance, scanning the area, heavy weapons in their arms. Adam held the door open for the other four. They nodded at him before hurrying past the rest of them and heading for the stairs.
“Tilda’s still here?” Maeve asked.
Adam gave an abrupt nod. And for the first time, Maeve saw a crack of emotion on his face. It was taking a lot for him to not protect Tilda in the middle of all of this.
“Stay together. Stay close. No one breaks off.” Adam strode out through the doors. With an intense look at Maeve, Chris followed with Pop and Crackle in his arms. Greg gave Maeve a nervous smile before he ducked out the door as well, Alvie’s hand in his. Then it was Maeve’s turn. Holding Snap, she hustled out of the door, keeping close to Greg and Chris as Norah and Sandra with Luke and Iggy followed.
The city that she’d thought was so captivating just hours before looked sinister in the dim light. In the darkness, the buildings h
ad lost their shimmer. And now they were just shadowed hulks.
As if the base was responding to her thoughts, spotlights blared on, focused on the hill. Maeve frowned. Why would they put on lights?
Shadows moved over the hill, dozens of them. They were fast. They were tall. And thanks to the light, she could see what they truly were: Draco.
And they were heading right for them.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Greg had never been so scared in his entire life. He stared in horror as wave after wave of Draco rolled over the hill. The lights accentuated the scaly crocodilelike nature of their skin. The skin that was practically impenetrable. Their faces were flattened, their mouths more rounded than humans’.
And although he couldn’t see them from this distance, he knew that within their mouths was a second row of extremely sharp teeth.
Explosions rang out. The buildings on the periphery of the camp went up in flames. Then buildings farther in started to burst into flame as well, shards of metal flying through the air.
Their quiet, contained walk had turned into a frantic sprint. Greg’s legs pumped as he kept up with the group. At the front of the group, Adam was leading the charge, eight guards surrounding them.
But Greg knew that those guards wouldn’t be enough. The weapons in their hands wouldn’t be enough. From the corner of his eye, he saw something fly over his head and hit the building next to him.
He opened his mouth to shout out a warning, but the building exploded, flinging him into the air before he could even utter a sound.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
“Ig!” Iggy flung his weight back, digging his heels into Norah’s chest. She stumbled back, trying to keep her balance. But Iggy pulled on the back of her shirt, yanking her to the ground as he vaulted off her and onto Sandra and Luke behind them, forcing them to the ground as well.
Sandra screamed, but the scream was cut off with the sound of the explosion as the building they were about to walk in front of blew apart. Norah rolled onto her stomach, covering her head with her hands as debris scattered around her.
A sliver of metal impaled itself in the ground right next to her elbow. She looked up, her ears ringing. If Iggy hadn’t pulled her back …
Best not to think about that. Norah scrambled to her feet. Iggy lay sprawled across Sandra and Luke. He lifted his head, turning to look at Norah, a scratch above his eye. “Ig?”
Behind them, she saw a group of Draco appear from around the corner of their apartment building. She ran to Sandra and Luke and grabbed each of them by the elbow and yanked them to their feet as Iggy started barreling down the road.
Luke let out a cry, but Norah ignored him, urging him to his feet. Sandra figured it out quicker than Luke did and was already moving forward. She reached for Luke. “I’ve got him.”
Norah nodded, releasing Luke. She grabbed her M4, scanning it quickly to make sure it hadn’t been damaged in the fall. It looked all right. She turned around and let off a spray of gunfire. She might as well have shot cotton balls at them for the damage it did. But it did make them hesitate.
“This way!” Sandra turned into an alleyway between two buildings.
Iggy stood crouched on top of a dumpster, bouncing anxiously. Norah let loose another round of fire as she entered the alleyway.
This time it didn’t even slow them down.
“Iggy, let’s go!” Norah yelled as she sprinted down the alley. Iggy galloped next to her. Sandra reached the end of the alley and jerked Luke to the left. Norah and Iggy were right behind them.
A Draco sprinted up around the corner, skidding to a stop in front of them. Its mouth open, saliva dripped from its lips. Sandra pulled Luke to a halt and then thrust him behind her as she brought her own weapon up, aiming for its face.
The Draco dodged and shifted, then sprinted forward. It shoved the weapon out of the way and then slammed a giant palm into Sandra’s chest. With a scream, she went flying through the air and slammed into a Hummer nearly twenty feet away. She crumpled to the ground.
Four Draco bolted up behind them. With a shriek, Iggy flung himself at them, his talons ripping into the Draco skin.
The Draco that had attacked Sandra reached for Luke. Norah tossed the M4 aside, realizing the magazine was empty, and pulled her knife from its sheath. With a yell, she tackled the Draco reaching for Luke. It grunted as the two of them hit the ground.
Norah slammed her knife into the creature’s neck.
The knife broke. Her heart raced as the Draco let out a screech. She took the broken knife blade and slammed it into the creature’s mouth and into its throat.
Blood gushed over her hand as she yanked her hand and the knife out before taking the remnants of the knife and stabbing it in the eye. The creature convulsed and then went still.
Norah got to her feet. “Luke, run!”
Norah whirled around as Iggy let out a scream. A Draco was right behind her. It backhanded her across the face. She flew into the air and slammed into the building. Stars danced in front of her vision for a moment before everything went black.
Chapter Sixty
Maeve’s head rang like a bell. She’d flown through the air a good twenty feet before slamming back down to the earth. By some miracle, she’d managed to keep Snap curled in her arms and safe from the impact. But she felt her fear.
A throbbing pain pulsed through Maeve’s back, but she knew nothing was broken. Small miracle. She stood up slowly.
Okay?
She rubbed Snap’s back. “I’m okay.”
She looked around but couldn’t spy anyone else from her group. She’d been blown in between two buildings. Keeping Snap’s head tucked into her, she started to jog to where she’d last seen everyone, but a twinge in her ankle turned it from a jog into a fast walk.
Movement from the left pulled her attention. Three Draco sprinted into view. Maeve ducked back into the shadows, trying to calm her breathing enough to not give herself away. The Draco threw themselves at the guards who’d been escorting Maeve and the others to the hangar.
Maeve knew she should turn and run, but she couldn’t look away from the spectacle. The Draco’s power was incredible. They had no weapons because they needed none. Sharp nails on the end of their hands made quick work of the chests of the guards, even through their vests. One Draco wrenched the head of a guard clean off.
Terror stole over Maeve. We’re never going to be able to defeat these things.
Go. Go now.
Snap’s fear pushed Maeve into action. She sprinted to the end of the alley, ignoring the twinge in her ankle. A sore ankle would be the least of her worries if the Draco caught up with them.
She reached the end of the alley and peered out. A small contingent of guards had created a small barricade at the end of the lane. From it, they were shooting at the oncoming Draco. Their weapons weren’t doing much. But then one lobbed a grenade. Perhaps the Draco didn’t realize what it was, because they ran straight for it.
One Draco’s leg blew off, and he crashed to the ground. But there was no time to celebrate, as three more sprinted at the guards, overrunning the barricade in a matter of seconds.
Maeve didn’t know where to go. There were Draco behind her. There were Draco to her right. If she ran to the left, her movement would undeniably attract them. She had no good options.
Beyond the Draco, she saw more soldiers. She felt a moment of optimism that maybe they would be able to do what the other ones hadn’t. But then she noted their uniforms were different.
The soldiers weren’t theirs. They were the human-looking Draco. Maeve slipped back down the alley to a side door she had seen. She pulled on it, but it was locked. Oh, come on.
She hurried to the other side of the alley. There was no one around. She could see movement at the crossroad. She turned left and hurried down the sidewalk before ducking into the doorway. She tried the door and was rewarded with it giving way. She quickly slipped inside with Snap.
Running wasn’t
an option, so she was going to try hiding instead.
Chapter Sixty-One
Someone was pulling at Greg’s arm. He felt rough ground underneath his face. He slowly opened his eyes, trying to figure out how he’d ended up lying facedown in grass.
Greg okay?
Alvie’s question floated through his mind. Greg turned his head, seeing Alvie frantically pulling at his arm. Beyond Alvie, he could see shadows shifting as R.I.S.E. soldiers fought the Draco. But there was no contest between the two. The Draco were the far superior fighters, and the R.I.S.E. soldiers were going down faster than they could be replenished.
Greg fought the dizziness trying to keep him down to get to his feet. He gripped Alvie’s hand and pulled him away from the worst of the fighting. But it wasn’t like there was any spot that was particularly safe. It seemed like every direction he turned, there were more Draco.
He sprinted along the path, dodging fighting groups, keeping Alvie right next to him, his hand clasped firmly in his. He kept his eyes peeled for anyone in their group, but that blast had separated all of them. More than a few buildings had collapsed, and he prayed that none of their people were underneath them.
His mind scrambled to figure out a way to get them out of this. The hangar was somewhere to their left, but he couldn’t fly. And he didn’t think right now was a good time to give it the old college try. But maybe he could grab one of the boats down by the dock. It was a slim chance, but he really didn’t have any other ideas.
He aimed toward the water as he ducked between two buildings, one that was just half of its former glory. He reached the pathway and saw two soldiers with their backs to him. Thank God.
He sprinted up to them. “Hey. Where should we—”