by JN Chaney
A sound erupted from within the tunnel, like a piece of metal unlatching itself. “Did you hear that?” he asked, looking around.
“Yeah,” said Mei. “Is it coming from the tunnel? Can you see anything—”
Before she could finish, a vehicle appeared from inside. It was much smaller than the trains, more compact. The whole thing looked like a long, white box with curved edges.
It came to a stop right in front of Lena, and two doors slid open. “This is a transportation vehicle known as an ipp.” She paused. “I believe the proper translation is egg.”
John tried to see the resemblance to an actual egg, but couldn’t. Must be a cultural thing.
“Inside, please,” said Lena, inviting them in with a sweep of her hand.
“Guess we’re going on another trip,” said Hughes.
“Hopefully not a long one,” said Short.
The inside was fairly minimalist, with a single row of seats lining each of the walls. As soon as the doors closed, however, the walls flickered and changed, transitioning into what seemed to be glass. It was like it was no longer there. “The hell just happened?” asked Hughes.
“Did the walls disappear?” asked Track.
The vehicle started moving, passing into the tunnel, accelerating quickly and quietly. John couldn’t help but feel like he was riding through the barrel of a gun.
As the tunnel curved, a flicker of light caught his eye from further down the line.
The vehicle exited the covering and a blanket of sunlight swept over them. They were outside now, driving on a slightly elevated track several yards above a pool of water. Several ships flew overhead, cruising between skyscrapers.
To their right, a second vehicle identical to their own passed by them, heading in the opposite direction. It appeared to be filled to capacity with people, many of whom were smiling and talking.
The light faded as they entered another building. Like the one before, the tunnel was long and winding. John felt the momentum begin to shift as the vehicle slowed, finally stopping at another station. The walls turned white again, losing their transparency, and the doors slid open.
“We’ve arrived,” said Lena, stepping onto the platform. “Your rooms are down the hall. Please follow me.”
“Do these things run through your entire city?” asked Mei.
“Yes. Public transportation is a vital part of our infrastructure,” said Lena.
“Sounds familiar,” said Hughes.
“We have a similar system where we’re from,” said Mei.
“Fascinating. I wasn’t certain if you had the capability for such technology. It’s good that you take care of your citizens,” said Lena.
Their rooms were right next to each other at the end of a long hallway, far from anything else. Lena touched the side of each of the three doors, opening them. “Here you are. Please come in and I’ll show you where everything is. The food dispenser is located over here. The beds are on the other side. If you need anything specific or have any questions, you can contact me directly by touching this tile.” She motioned to a carved block on the wall, which illuminated whenever she brought her hand near it. “I’ll receive a notification immediately.”
“How do we come and go from the rooms?” asked Mei.
“The doors are synced to your biometrics. No one else can enter.”
“How does it already have our signature on file?”
“Remember the scanner in the landing bay?”
Mei looked slightly annoyed, but seemed to let it go. “Alright.”
“Can we wander around?” asked Track.
“Yeah, I wanna check this place out,” said Mickey.
“You’ve been given access to most of the building. If there’s an area that is off limits, the doors will simply not respond to your biometric signature.”
“If you leave, you go in pairs,” said John.
“Gotta love the buddy system,” said Hughes.
“If you’ll excuse me, I must return to Master Gel. There is much to do in preparation for tomorrow,” said Lena. She left, heading back the way they came.
John waited until she was out of sight before turning to his team. “Okay, everyone check your rooms. If you see anything weird, tell me.”
“Looks like they only gave us three. Does that mean we gotta share?” asked Short.
“We’ll double up. Mei and I will take this one. You four figure it out.”
“Buddy system,” repeated Track.
“I’ll stay with Short,” said Mickey, almost too excited.
“Too late. I’m with Hughes.” Short touched the door to open it, then went inside.
“Sorry,” said Hughes, shrugging. He followed behind her.
“Damn,” said Track.
“What do you expect?” asked Mickey. “She’s his spotter. They go everywhere together. Don’t fool yourself.”
“Looks like you two are stuck together,” said John, motioning at the third room.
“Oh, well. What else is new?” asked Track.
Mei tapped her door. “Here’s hoping they know what a shower is.”
“I feel the same way about dinner,” answered John. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
CHAPTER 12
Central Command File Logs
Play Audio File 112, 193
Recorded: February 15, 2351
HARPER: Hello, Colonel. Thank you for taking my call.
ROSS: No problem, Doctor. It’s good to hear from you again. Has the board finally wised up and promoted you to chairman?
HARPER: No, ma’am. We’ve yet to make a decision on a replacement for Tremaine yet, but I’ve been given authorization to handle these responsibilities.
ROSS: So, you get all of the work, but none of the benefits? I’ve certainly been there.
HARPER: If I’m being honest, I don’t much want the job. I like working from behind the scenes. Makes it easier. Less red tape and fewer problems.
ROSS: You’re not wrong, Doctor. Have you heard back from our intrepid explorers yet? Please tell me you’re calling with good news.
HARPER: I’m afraid not, but I don’t expect to hear from them for a few days more, at least. They’re visiting the alien city at the moment, which keeps them out of communication range.
ROSS: I still can’t believe that’s even happening. It’s both exciting and terrifying.
HARPER: I agree, which is why I’m calling. I wanted to start coordinating with you on how we should proceed.
ROSS: Is the current plan insufficient?
HARPER: I believe it’s sound. Blowing up the portal in case of emergency should be adequate in the short term, but I thought we’d want an alternative…just in case. If the aliens prove hostile and somehow find a way to stop us from destroying their gate…or, let’s say, we succeed, only for them to rebuild it, we’ll inevitably need another option.
ROSS: What are you suggesting?
HARPER: A contingency plan. A way to defend ourselves in the unlikely event that everything fails and we’re faced with an invasion.
ROSS: Based on the information you’ve already sent me, I can’t imagine our military would be enough to withstand an attack from such an advanced civilization. A single aircraft was able to take out one of our best squads. That toxin of theirs is something else.
HARPER: Yes, although we did have one of the hybrids there. I heard Finn took control of the situation rather quickly.
ROSS: He did, but we only have so many of those children, and they’re hardly an army.
HARPER: Did you have something else in mind? A weapon, perhaps?
ROSS: I’ve been considering the sort of situation you’re describing. What would happen if another portal opened and an army of thousands landed on our planet? How could we combat such a force?
HARPER: As I understand it, you have a handful of bombs. We could arm a few, have them waiting at the Ortego facility in case they decide to open another rift.
ROSS: Are you so cert
ain they would come through at the same place? What if they enter from fifty kilometers away? What if it’s on another continent? For that matter, what happens when it isn’t just a single gate, but a dozen? A hundred portals open in the sky and out pops a flying armada. There’s no way to predict how it might unfold.
HARPER: Damn, I suppose I don’t think like a military commander, do I? What would you do in a situation like that?
ROSS: There isn’t much we could do, except run and hide. Go back into our little hole in the ground and lock the doors.
HARPER: Are you saying you don’t plan on fighting back?
ROSS: Oh, on the contrary. I’d use every weapon at my disposal against them. Remember El Rico Air Force Base?
HARPER: Sure. That’s where the military evacuated from when Variant was released.
ROSS: We sent the Blacks there last year to retrieve some medical tech. In doing so, they managed to find the arsenal. We’re trying to repair a handful of those weapons as we speak.
HARPER: I had no idea you were doing any of this. God, our departments don’t communicate nearly as often as they should. What did you even pull from there?
ROSS: A few stockpiles of long-range ballistic missiles, but those are largely useless without any working silos…and we don’t have time to build them. We did find some bombs, though, and plenty of useless ammunition.
HARPER: Useless ammunition?
ROSS: Leave some bullets in an uncontrolled environment for a few hundred years and watch what happens. You’ll find they’re mostly unusable.
HARPER: It doesn’t sound like we have enough.
ROSS: We don’t. That’s why we’ll have to hope those kids succeed with the talks. If they can’t, then I trust Finn to finish the job and blow the gate.
HARPER: You recommended him, so I have to imagine he knows what he’s doing. It’s the same reason I put Curie’s name forward to the board.
ROSS: Here’s hoping we made the right call with those two. If things go south, I doubt we’ll get a second chance.
End Audio File
The Temple of the Eye
February 15, 2351
The moon was absent tonight, shielded by a blanket of far-reaching clouds. A fire blazed within the temple yard, surrounded by a group of traveling merchants, and the scent of roasted meat floated through the air.
A short walk from the fence, two men moved silently beneath the trees, minding their footing, trying not to draw attention.
Terry and Ludo had left the camp a short while ago, slipping out while the other merchants were occupied. Plead had managed to make a fuss over the butcher’s cut of the meat, providing an adequate distraction.
Ludo had slept through most of the afternoon, exhausted from days of traveling. Terry nearly went on without him, but the farmer would not be so easily abandoned. He stirred from his sleep an hour before sunset, ready for the task.
Now they crept together, moving like thieves in the night. The neighboring monastery wasn’t far, only an hour’s walk. Before they had reached the halfway mark, Terry could already spot the other camp’s fire, a dying light in the distance.
“Let’s go,” he whispered. “Almost there.”
There were a handful of guards posted around the monastery, but nothing they wouldn’t be able to handle. Terry focused and listened, trying to estimate their numbers. Two on the north side, four to the south, one inside the building. Seven altogether. Easy enough.
The two to the north would go down easier, so Terry would start there. The others had gathered around the fire on the other side of the camp. It would be best to save them for last. “We can sweep the whole yard if we’re quick.”
“We must avoid bloodshed,” said Ludo. “Let us infiltrate silently. We can rescue Ysa without anyone taking notice. This is a holy place, and violence here would anger the Eye.”
“Are you sure?” asked Terry.
“I would rather not spill blood on holy ground unless it is necessary,” said Ludo.
“Okay, but if it comes to it, we may not have a choice.”
“If the need arises, I will do what must be done to protect Ysa. Do not worry.”
“Alright. I’ll follow your lead.”
The monastery was comprised of several small buildings surrounding a rather large one at the center. Each of the little ones were shaped like domes, the same design Terry had first found when he arrived on this planet, while the main structure had a more complex design, showcasing several floors and rooms. Many of the walls and floors were cracked, with gaping holes from centuries of decay. The eastern wall of the main building had a gap so large it could have doubled as a door. Clearly, years of neglect had taken its toll on this place. Why had no one bothered to maintain it?
Ludo ran to the side of one of the domes, motioning for Terry to join him. Once there, they made their way toward the center building, minding the guards, and entered through one of the open walls.
It was filthy inside, with rubble and broken debris scattered all across the floor. The door was missing from its hinges, replaced instead with a large cloth. Ludo swept it aside and entered into the hall, which was noticeably less cluttered. He continued, with Terry behind him, pressing on toward the innermost section. Like the previous room, most of the others were in shambles. Vines grew over much of the walls, and flowers bloomed through cracks in the floors. Only a handful remained in working order, containing beds and chests. No doubt these were the guards’ quarters.
Terry touched Ludo by the shoulder, then motioned at the farthest room. He could hear deep breathing coming from there. Someone was sleeping.
Ludo seemed to understand. He moved slower now, passing by the room. Terry took a moment to peek inside, and as he had expected, two men were in their beds, their faces buried in their pillows.
When they had gone far enough away from the guards, Ludo stopped before another curtain at the end of the hall. “The priestesses are here,” he whispered.
“How do you know?” asked Terry.
“I have been here before, a long time ago,” he answered, and then proceeded through the curtain.
Inside, the monastery finally opened up, doubling the height of the previous rooms. Statues lined the walls, each with a different face. As Terry scanned them, he realized they were all women, dressed in similar robes, and each with a bald head. Patterns of varying sizes had been carved into their scalps, each with its own unique pattern. Beneath each of them lay a handful of candles and a bowl of flowers, filling the room with a naturally fresh smell, unlike the rest of the otherwise damp building.
At the far end sat another statue, this one much larger than the rest. A city resting on a cloud, with a beautifully carved eye lording high above. “There, behind Everlasting,” motioned Ludo.
Terry touched one of the city’s towers. It was hard not to be impressed by the detail. Dozens of buildings, many with windows, filled the bulk of the pillar, while layers of patterns took up most of the base. Terry could only guess what the scribblings meant.
Ludo ran behind the pillar to a set of stairs, calling for Terry to hurry. “The purification chamber is below,” he said, taking the first step.
Terry clutched the side of the stone. “Ludo, what did you mean when you said you’d been here before?”
“I served here, many years ago, back before I left the Order.”
Terry followed after him. “You said you ran away with Ysa. Did you meet her here? Is that what happened?”
“No, we met in Three Waters, several years before. I was assigned to protect her, and I did for a long time.”
“So, how did you end up here?”
“She was chosen for the ceremony, so they brought her here to prepare. As her protector, I was tasked to follow.”
“Why didn’t you say anything about this place before?”
“The priestesses did not stay here for very long. They used to spend most of their time at the temple, performing blessings and rituals for the visitors, which last
ed for many days, right before the ceremony. I assumed nothing had changed.”
“Did you run away from here together?” asked Terry.
Ludo stopped and turned to him. “You must understand, I could not let her die. I wouldn’t be able to live without her.”
Terry didn’t say anything.
“The priestesses are sent to the other side of the wall where many are killed. I told her if she went, I would follow. Along with Talo, Ysa is my life. We both feared our sins would return to us someday…and now, here I stand again.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” said Terry, looking him in the eye. “We’ll get Ysa out of here, just like you did the last time.”
“Thank you, my friend, but make no mistake. I do not doubt my actions. Not for a moment. I would sin a thousand times to be with Ysa. She gives my wings strength.” He faced the curtain at the base of the stairs. “I would fight the gods for her.”
******
In the following room, two men sat together near a wall, several feet from the entrance. They immediately noticed the two would-be rescuers. “Who are you?” one barked, reaching for his knife.
Ludo leapt toward the man, barely giving him time to respond. He slammed into his side, pushing him against the wall, holding him by the neck.
Terry spotted the armed soldier, then went for his gun, grabbing it by the barrel. In a single, fluid motion, he pushed the rifle so it was aimed at the stranger’s temple. “Let it go!”
The man relinquished the gun, and Terry backed away. The soldier raised his hands.
Ludo kneed the second one in the stomach, knocking the wind from him.
“What should we do?” asked Terry.
“Keep them there until I can get Ysa.”
“Don’t touch the priestess!” one of the men insisted.
“You’d better stand still,” said Terry. “My hand could slip and this gun could go off. You don’t want to chance that.” It was a lie, but he would never admit it. Terry had no wish to kill anyone, not unless he had no other choice. Besides, the sound of a rifle would only bring more trouble.
Ludo motioned at the adjoining room. “Bring them this way. The cages are here.”