Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth)

by S. E. GILCHRIST

  “Out of the question. You and Shay secure this building. None must be allowed to enter.” Bob pushed his sleeve up and checked his watch. “We stay here for the next twenty four hours.”

  “Hold on a minute. People out there need our help.” I planted my hands on my hips.

  “Everyone stays here and by everyone, I particularly mean you.” Garroway pointed at me. “The Mundos Novus have immunity and the moment these strikes are over, they’ll tear this town apart searching for you. The chaos and panic will work to our advantage. We sit and wait.”

  “Wait for what?” asked my mother.

  “Immunity? From what?” I asked in unison with Mum.

  “There’s no time for chit-chat.” Lips thin, Garroway rose to his feet. “Alex, you’ve been given your orders. Get rid of that jeep while you’re at it. Take it to the other side of town as soon as this building has been secured.”

  “But that’s dangerous. Those soldiers might spot him,” I cried.

  “It’s his job.”

  Alex straightened. “Sir. Shay.”

  Nodding, Shay slung his rifle over his shoulder and climbed the rungs of the pit.

  In the sudden quiet that settled inside the shadowy pit, I felt it; the prickling spider sense of danger that told me more positively than words, someone here was my enemy.

  But who?

  ***

  Alex

  I snatched a few moments to have a brief confab with Shay as soon as we’d put sufficient distance between us and the workshop. And my father. This past day, I’d sensed his telepathic ability strengthening. How soon would it be before I’d no longer be able to block him from my thoughts?

  “How did we miss spotting that force? They must be, what? A thousand strong?” I asked but I was really questioning myself and my failure. We’d only just arrived at the camp in time. Mere seconds later and I would have had to bury my mark.

  My mark.

  Tara.

  She was more than my mark and it was about time I accepted that fact.

  Bile rose, scorching my throat. I swallowed the sourness down, wondering how the mission had become so complicated.

  Shay said, “This unit must have a good leader. From what I’ve seen so far, they appear to be well-trained and motivated. Devoted to their cause.”

  “Is it really Andrews, Shay? If that’s the case, I can’t believe we’ve been so blind.” I could have punched my fist into the dashboard, so frustrated did I feel. Instead, I pressed my foot heavy on the metal and the jeep responded with a surge of power, hurtling down the road. “Look at this mess. Look at what our so-called friends are doing to us.” I flung a hand out to encompass the horror that surrounded us.

  Rifle cradled in his arms but ready and aimed, with the muzzle resting on the door, Shay continued to scan for any sign of the Mundos Novus force. But they must have gone to ground until the all-clear sounded. Or they could be busy elsewhere. It made my gut clench wondering what havoc they’d inflict on the town in their search for Tara and her family. Above our heads, a few stray meteorites plunged like the murderous fire-balls they were towards Earth’s surface.

  “I don’t see that we have any choice but to continue with our mission plan,” said Shay flatly.

  “Yeah, me neither. They’ve got us over a barrel. I bet they’re up there right now,” I jerked my chin skyward. “Up there and enjoying the sight of us dying like flies in a firestorm.”

  “I wish I knew whether it was our lot or the other alien race responsible for the strikes. This comes off as being way over the top. If we’re all dead, what the heck do they hope to achieve?”

  “No idea. My father believes they have some weird alliance going on even though they’re enemies. So, the strikes could be coming from both of them.”

  “The Colonel could be wrong. This could be some type of war-game with Earth as the prize.”

  Trust Shay to voice the thoughts swirling about my mind. I turned off the road and the jeep bumped over the rough ground until we reached an old, abandoned produce store. I drove through the rotting timber doors inside. Switching off the engine, I opened the door and jumped out. “Let’s get moving. I don’t want to leave Tara alone for too long.”

  “The Colonel’s there.”

  I didn’t answer, instead I broke into a jog and headed back to the workshop.

  Shay ran up beside me. “I found evidence of corruption on Chambers. And he’s got this huge cattle property about forty kilometres west of here.”

  “The mayor?”

  Shay nodded.

  “I guess that would make him an easy target to persuade to work with the MN forces. They could have been hiding on his property for weeks. Still, Andrews doesn’t strike me as a man of vision, capable of inspiring or leading that many soldiers. What about a woman?”

  The same thought must have struck us at the same time.

  Our startled gazes met.

  I damn well nearly fell over the charred and still smoking body of some poor soul before catching my balance.

  My eyebrows feeling as if they'd reached my hairline, I exclaimed, “The missing Mrs Andrews!”

  Tara

  I woke a little after dawn from a sleep where my mind continually repeated my actions at the camp. If I’d acted differently, done something... The hollow feeling inside my chest reminded me of what I’d lost and would never find again. If I’d had more time...what I wouldn’t give to tell Dad everything I’d never bothered to say before...now, it was too late.

  I had my chance and I blew it.

  I rolled over and shifted into a sitting position, my body stiff but one good thing, at least the pain from my various injuries had dulled to a mild ache. The smoke had cleared from inside the workshop and breathing was no longer an effort.

  Pushing my fringe from my eyes, I locked away my tormenting memories. My stomach rumbled. I’d eaten little food the previous night. Garroway had doled out one military protein bar to each person and one bottle of water.

  I wondered how long we could survive on such piddly rations.

  If the entire country had suffered devastation from the strikes, food and clean water would soon become the new gold; rare and valuable enough to fight to the death. The thought made me shudder as nightmarish images of the days to come flashed through my mind.

  “How are you feeling, honey?”

  I looked up to find Mum bending over me, her face lined with concern and fear.

  Fear for me, for my safety.

  I’d lost Dad, I couldn’t lose anyone else.

  Emotions choked and burned inside but I managed to respond, “I’m good. Don’t worry about me. You need to start thinking of yourself.”

  I hesitated, wondering whether it would do any good to voice my suspicions about the Warders.

  But before I could decide, my mother said, “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so proud of you. Your father and I raised a strong, young woman.”

  “Mum, about Dad…”

  Her gaze slid from mine and she stared into the distance. “I keep expecting to hear his voice or feel his touch,” she murmured almost absently. “I don’t think it’s sunk in, that he’s gone. Even after the divorce, it didn’t feel like he’d left me.”

  “I wish…”

  “I know, sweetheart.” Turning back to me, she touched my cheek. “I know when all this is over, I’ll remember. And I’ll grieve. But not now.”

  I gently enfolded Mum’s hand in both of mine. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Mum, to keep you, Dan and everyone I possibly can, safe.”

  I snuck a look at the other members of our group. The Warders were sleeping or at least, gave that impression. Em and Dan were curled up on the hard floor and covered in blankets. I lowered my voice. “But I don’t know how to do it, Mum. How do I make contact with the aliens?”

  My mother shook her head. “I’m not sure. Perhaps if we can get to a military installation, we could use satellite communications.”

  “We don’t even know where they ar
e or if they’re within contact distance.” Frowning, I muttered, “Somehow I don’t think using our technology is the answer. I’m certain that we’re missing something important here and it’s to do with me. Are there others out there like Dan and me?”

  “Probably.” Mum smoothed strands of my fringe from my eyes. “I should imagine they’ll be under the control of the Mundos Novus Force by now, perhaps imprisoned. Or dead unless they’ve changed their agenda. When we left the facility in Germany, all we knew about this force was that they wanted Earth to fall and that they’d do everything possible to make it happen.”

  “Do you think anyone else may have escaped? They could be here, like us, lying low.”

  “What are you talking about, Tara?” Mum frowned.

  I admitted, “I saw a message for a GM Batch #9, telling him or her or whatever to prepare.”

  Mum wrung her hands together. “Oh dear, if that’s the case, it could be anyone. And we have no way of knowing whether they can be trusted.” Mum’s eyes met mine.

  “What about the Warders, Mum? Are there other Warders running about?”

  “Yes. Your father and I understood they’ve also been charged with protecting all GMU’s.”

  “So some did escape?” I pressed.

  Mum nodded. “A few. I don’t know how many or who they are or where they could be. Your father and I always assumed the research at the facility continued after we ran. If that’s the case, those born afterwards could well have amazing abilities.”

  “Number nine could be on our side.”

  “True, but we have no way of knowing for certain. I believe we should remain on our guard.”

  I had to ask. I had to. The question was eating me alive. “Am I a clone? Is that what I am?”

  “No, not a clone.” Mum bit her lip and hesitated before saying, “You and your brother are more like test tube babies. You were taken from batch number three and your brother from batch number five.”

  “Wonderful,” I said drily. “So my real parents could be anybody. A serial killer, an axe murderer, a monkey, maybe even some kind of rodent.”

  “Nonsense, Tara. The researchers chose only the best DNA and manipulated it. And remember, your father and I were part of that team.”

  “Then there’s bits of you and Dad inside me?”

  “Yes.”

  Well, that was something. I hugged that comforting thought close. “Number nine would be someone a lot younger than me then.”

  “Not necessarily.” Mum hesitated before adding, “Before we left, we worked on accelerated growth DNA cells.”

  Whoever number nine was, could be anywhere between ten years old and fifty! Or even more. No, that wouldn’t work, what would the aliens want with a geriatric?

  I chewed my lip for a second. “What’s this immunity business Garroway mentioned last night?”

  “I wish I knew. We’ve had no contact with anyone from our previous lives for such a long time. So much could have happened since then. There’s a lot we don’t know.” I could hear the stress in her high-pitched voice. Normally, Mum had the kind of voice that soothed even when she was cross.

  Inside my pocket, my mobile vibrated. Before I could check it out, a pair of boots appeared in my vision. Glancing up I clashed with Bob Garroway impassive stare.

  “Good morning.” I smiled, hoping my suspicions about this guy weren't written all over my face. I’d never been a good liar.

  Garroway placed a hand on my mother’s shoulder. “Marion, here have something to eat.” He handed over more protein bars.

  Mum smiled outwardly as friendly as ever but I noticed a certain reserve in her expression. That plus the way she instantly stood, effectively dislodging Garroway’s hand and walked over to check on Dan.

  “What were you discussing?” His gimlet eyes bored into me.

  “What do you think? You need to be more open about what’s going on. For instance explain what you meant about immunity.”

  “Very well.” Garroway placed his hands behind his back, his stance all military officer.

  Here it comes. I scrambled to my feet aware the others were staring and listening.

  “Strictly speaking the meteorites are seeders.”

  I opened my mouth to speak.

  “Don’t interrupt when I’m speaking.” He held up at hand and I snapped my mouth shut. “Made of part rock, part metal and the remainder an alien compound of which we have little knowledge. What we do know, is each meteorite jettisons microscopic debris the moment it hits our atmosphere and begins to break apart. Within each minuscule fragment are seeders for an air-borne virus manufactured to affect both humans and animals.”

  The day just gets better and better. I folded my arms and slumped against the wall. Em gave a frightened squeal and picking up her blanket scurried over to Alex where she hunkered down beside him.

  Since it didn’t look as if Garroway intended to continue, I asked, my voice hoarse from my mounting tension, “And?”

  “The virus affects different people in different ways. We understand it’s primarily to ensure compliance with the new world order but those who are genetically inclined to rebel or unable to be controlled will eventually die. It’s highly contagious.”

  “It sounds terrible. Will everyone catch it?” I prodded when he fell silent. “What are the symptoms?”

  He frowned, suddenly looking a little paler. “I’ve been led to believe it’s highly contagious and there is an incubation period of twelve to eighteen hours. That’s the sum total of my knowledge.”

  Or was it more along the need to know basis?

  “Let me get this straight,” I said, battling the panic screaming like a banshee inside my head and attempting to focus on his words. What I really wanted to do was run, run and find a bunker and hide. “What you’re telling us is the majority of the world’s population is going to die. And you really don’t know how and what we can do to stop it.”

  My fingernails stabbed into my palms as I waited for his response.

  Boots crunched over the scattering of pebbles on the floor and Alex stood beside me. I spared him a quick glance, also taking in the dagger look Em directed at his back. She rubbed a hand over her face. A twinge of sympathy plucked at my heart at my friend’s drooping mouth and sad eyes.

  Em turned her back.

  I'm sorry, Em, I’m sorry.

  “Yes. That’s about the sum of it,” said Garroway, matter-of-factly.

  “This doesn’t bother you?” Maybe this guy was an alien. Emotion certainly wasn’t his strong suit.

  His grey eyes drilled into me. “Our planet has a history of survival of the strongest.”

  Fuck! The end of the world. No. I don’t believe it. It can’t end this way. “But this is not through a natural event, this is through someone or something’s deliberate actions. Someone orchestrated this strike.”

  “You’re clever, but not clever enough.”

  That sounded ominous. What was this guy up to? “Who has immunity? You, the Warders? The Mundos Novus Forces? Us?”

  “All genetically modified units will be safe. That is, those like yourself and your brother.”

  Horror hit me, as the implication of his words registered. “What about Mum? My friends? Is there some kind of vaccine?”

  “The probability is high the Mundos Novus Forces will have access to a vaccine. Only time will tell who will fall and who will rise.”

  “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

  “As the leader of the Warders of Earth, I’m privy to certain information.”

  “Someone could be feeding you a pack of lies,” I pointed out. “Or you could be lying.”

  “Then if that’s the case, none of us will survive. Logic dictates this to be otherwise.” Garroway angled his body away from me. Apparently, debriefing session was over. “Alex and Shay. I need an update on the situation outside. Rendezvous back here in three hours.” He produced a map from his pants pocket and after unfolding it, jabbed at p
articular landmarks.

  Head reeling, I stared at his stiff back. These aliens sure meant business. A hostile takeover of our planet so they could claim our resources for themselves. At least, that’s what I assumed they were after. But I still didn’t understand; where did the initial alien technology to manipulate human DNA come from? Could it have come from the aliens themselves? But why give us the knowledge to breed people to communicate with them if they intended to either kill or subjugate us?

  What was I missing?

  And where did the Warders come into it? Who did they work for? Our governments, the aliens, or someone else?

  I rubbed my aching forehead before shoving my hands in my pockets.

  Garroway appeared occupied with issuing orders. From the tense set of his jaw, I suspected he had no intention of answering any more questions, so I walked over to where my brother was huddled under his blanket. I crouched down beside him.

  “Dan,” I murmured softly. “Have you got your computer on?”

  “Sure thing, Sis.”

  I smirked. That’s my bro. As soon as Garroway had started talking about the composition of the meteorites which weren’t really meteorites, I’d notice Dan had pulled the blanket back over his head. A second later I’d seen a faint tell-tale blue glow under the cover. “Is he telling the truth?”

  “I think so. The government has changed their tune and the latest press release advises Earth is under attack. They’re saying this was only the first strike and that military installations and service suppliers like power stations were targeted. I guess with the Air Force not far from us, that’s why we were hit too.”

  “Makes sense.” I rubbed my gritty eyes, tired to the bone. “Anything else?”

  Dan popped out from under the blanket, tousled haired and with white-rimmed frightened eyes. I wanted to pull him into my arms and tell him everything was going to be okay. Somehow I knew he wouldn’t believe me.

  Dan said, “They’re telling everyone to stay inside their houses and lock their doors or remain in the public shelters until the all-clear is given. They’re saying another strike is anticipated within forty eight to seventy two hours.”