The Strangers

by E. M. Haeger

  Someone gasped beside me, drawing a great lungful of air.

  Henry's clawed fingers shifted, inched toward the release valve. The door switch. The kill button.

  I couldn't fight any longer. I could only stare in utter disbelief at the stranger about to become my murderer.

  A dull boom reverberated through the door as if something very heavy had been dropped on the other side. Smoke filled the room and suddenly all the Etrallia were scrambling.

  Henry drew his blaster.

  My fingers clamped around the metal ridge of the door. It was still solidly sealed. On the other side, smoke was everywhere, billowing further into the room. The Etrallia fired blindly toward the door as their comrades began to fall.

  A rescue? Or had we been dragged into the middle of a civil war?

  A moment later, I caught a glimpse of blonde hair. A soldier dressed in uniform.

  "He waited." Mars grabbed my arm. "When I was captured...he must have waited."

  "Rhine?" It didn't matter now how he'd found us. As long as we were in the airlock, we were still in danger. I watched helplessly as Rhine disappeared back into the smoke.

  A flash of blue fire shot across the room. The Etrallian next to Zubeida stared for a moment at the hole in his chest. Zubeida yelled and whipped toward the attacker.

  Henry fired again. This time, the shot caught the Commander in the arm. But it was the wrong arm.

  Zubeida pressed a finger to his trigger.

  I screamed, the sound of my rage drowned out by a great hiss of air as the airlock doors swung upward. I sprinted out of the airlock and across the room, heedless of the shots being fired.

  At my back, Mars shouted a warning, but I was concerned only with getting to Henry. I fell to the floor beside him, bruising my knees, and shoved my hands to his chest. He'd been shot near the heart and I couldn't tell if it was lethal yet.

  I didn't realize I was still screaming until Rhine shouted my name.

  "Lena." He shook me roughly. "To the pod. Now!"

  MARS

  Earth was burning.

  The coastline the Etrallia were fighting for was alight with fire from battle. Ships whizzed through the air below, firing upon human aircraft.

  The pod was dropping at a dizzying rate, headed straight for the melee below.

  "Can you even steer this thing?" I had to shout over the roar of the engine.

  Rhine didn't respond. His forehead creased in concentration as he tightened his fingers on the controls.

  "Good god, man. We're going to be shot down." I gripped the back of his seat as I struggled to see what he was doing.

  It was ironic, really. To survive an Etrallian coup only to be shot down by our own men. This was all going to be for nothing and it was only because I'd been stupid enough to follow Rhine on his mad-dash rescue mission.

  At least, we'd rescued her. Well, Rhine and Henry, that is. And it wasn't as if we could have done it without Henry.

  The Etrallian in question was slumped against the back of the pod, head resting in Lena's lap as she kept pressure on his wound.

  I had a sick sense of dread. If the pod survived this, Henry might die all the same. Even if he'd come close to crossing us, he was the only friend we had left right now.

  And there was Lena. God, what would Lena do if he didn't make it? Could she heal an Etrallian shot in the chest?

  LENA

  The first day was bloody. That's all I knew from overhearing reports around the Base. Hundreds of fighter jets had deployed the second the military picked up the Etrallian fliers in the air. Henry had been right all along. We were at war.

  The second day was worse than the first.

  The third day, we beat them back. There were too many of us. As predicted, we had the numbers on our side.

  The Etrallia could fight to the death if they wanted to, but they didn't seem so inclined. Based on what we'd seen aboard a single ship, they'd only deployed half their fighter pilots as it was. This only confirmed the suspicion I'd harbored since the day Zubeida and his cronies tried to murder us.

  The Etrallia were now a split faction.

  If Galentide had ordered the attack on Earth, the battle would have lasted much longer. It would have been a fight to the death, all resources utilized. Instead, we'd encountered some sort of rebellion, orchestrated by radicals.

  It was like Henry said. Some people didn't think Gillis was in the wrong. Some people, like Zubeida, wanted us dead.

  Based on this information, the General ordered the imprisonment of all captured Etrallia. They also took Henry. After the radicals were forced to surrender, a group of armed men came for him. I'd treated his wounds as best I could and I was certain that he would live. Still, I was looking forward to monitoring his recovery.

  I even grabbed a gun when they arrived, but unlike an Etrallian blaster, I'd had no proper training. In the moment it took me to load and cock the thing, one of the soldiers disarmed me. It was Henry who tried to calm me, offering to go willingly to his cell.

  All of that was about to change, though.

  "Let me in."

  I didn't need an invitation. I was a member of this task force, a resident of the Base the same as any of them, military garb be damned.

  "Let me in, Charles. This is for the good of our people."

  "How do you reckon that?" He watched me warily from his post, squinting in the glare of the guard tower lights.

  The darkness made me bolder. I pushed past him experimentally. He didn't try to stop me, only followed, hand on his weapon. "You wouldn't use that on me, would you Rhine?"

  The harsh light painted his face in a grimace. "Don't test me, Lena."

  It wasn't enough to be inside the prison camp. I needed Rhine's help. He could tell me exactly where they were keeping Henry...if he was so inclined.

  Rhine jumped down beside me, boots thumping the hard-packed earth. "How many other guards are here?"

  "Only three." He studied me closely. "You better not be trying to do what I think you're doing."

  "What do you think I'm doing?" I began to walk deeper into the camp.

  Rhine grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the shadows. "This is insane, Lena. The war's over. We won. Now, don't go getting yourself arrested for no reason."

  "Arrested?" Oh, I could handle some time in a cell. What they were planning to do to the Etrallia, however. That I couldn't abide. Not until every last card had been played. With Henry still alive, I could never accept that this was the end.

  The prison camp stretched out before me in the darkness. "Where is he?" I turned back to Rhine.

  He looked from me to the prison cells and back again. I could see how much it pained him to have to choose. He was a man of duty, of honor. But at the same time, his loyalty was undying. Which would it be tonight? Loyalty to country or loyalty to something more?

  "I can tell you where he is."

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  "But so help me, Lena--"

  "Relax, Charles. Let me handle this. You've already done your part." I looked him in the eye. "Thank you." I truly meant it. Without his help, I'd have to search through dozens of prison cells in the hopes of stumbling upon Henry and I only had so many hours before dawn.

  "In the back. Third cell from the right. Go straight that way." He pointed down a long row of cells. "Stay away from the walls or you'll be spotted."

  I gave him a grateful nod.

  Henry was right where Rhine said he'd be, but there was nothing humane about his cell. He sat in the dirt, slumped against the bars like a caged animal. An immediate surge of distress shot up my throat. I pushed it back down.

  "Henry," I whispered. His cell was on the edge of camp and there was only so much time before the nearest guard swept the perimeter.

  "Henry."

  Slowly, his dark form stirred. If they'd hurt him, I would make them pay. It was a miracle he was still alive after that blow to the chest. I pulled out the med kit I'd stuffed into my waist
band.

  "It's Lena," I whispered. "Come closer so I can check your wound."

  At first, he didn't respond, only breathed heavily in and out, a loud, rasping noise that had me worried the blaster had pierced more than his shoulder.

  "Henry," I pleaded. "There's no time, I--"

  He stood. Slowly, he unfolded his limbs and pushed one eye against the slats. "Lena."

  I held up the med-gel.

  He blinked one large green eye as he took me in. "You shouldn't be here." Was that disapproval in his tone? Or exhaustion?

  "Henry, you're not well." In these conditions, infection was a likely possibility. "Take this. You know what to do."

  Slowly, almost reluctantly, Henry reached through the bars with one clawed finger and lifted the tube from my grasp. I watched as he spread the entirety of it across his chest. He came closer and I inspected the wound. It could use a clean bandage, but otherwise, it seemed to be healing properly.

  "What are we doing here, Lena?"

  The question should have surprised me, but it didn't. Still, the words stuck in my throat.

  Henry nodded as if I'd answered him. "We're to be your prisoners."

  "Yes," I said softly.

  "We are a great people. A proud one."

  "I know." I studied the muddy ground, forcing back tears.

  "I wish things could have been different," he said quietly.

  I met his gaze. "They never are."

  I'd been disillusioned this whole time. Still, I wasn't ready to give up.

  "We'll fight," he said.

  "Henry," I chided. "You don't have the numbers." It may have been selfish, but I didn't want to lose him, not after everything. "It's over, Henry."

  "Over," he repeated. "Surely, your General has plans for us."

  "He means to keep you to man the purifier machine."

  Henry laughed bitterly. "He'd make us slaves."

  "I'm sorry," I breathed.

  "And if we don't help you convert water?"

  "Then, we'll all die," I said. "Which is why I need to get you out of here."

  Henry didn't respond. He only watched me with those tired eyes. Had he given up?

  "Your people are still alive, Henry. We may have taken prisoners, but the majority of your civilians are still alive and well up there. They need your help."

  "They need water," Henry rumbled.

  "Exactly."

  "Look around, Lena." He gestured to the bars. "Your people have made up their minds. As have you it seems."

  "No." I shook my head fiercely. "This isn't the end, Henry. There's still something you can do." I had his attention so I pushed on. "Gillis is responsible for murdering human beings. Gillis hatched the plans and Gillis took their lives. This whole thing was his idea and it's created the anti-alliance position."

  "Yes. I told you, I wasn't aware until--"

  "Right. And you said Galentide didn't sanction the experiment."

  Henry squinted trying to make sense of what I was suggesting.

  "Which means," I explained, "Gillis can still be stopped. Tried as a criminal even."

  Henry thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Galentide won't allow it."

  Oh god. How did I tell him? The news was still fresh in my own mind. It was what had driven me to such madness in the first place, tiptoeing across the compound in the dead of night.

  "Henry," I began.

  He straightened, the hesitation in my voice giving me away. I cursed myself silently.

  "I'm sorry."

  Henry pushed his head closer to the bars. "Say what you must, Lena."

  I swallowed hard and met his eyes. "Galentide is dead. We received a message this morning."

  For a moment he looked stunned. Then, rage replaced his normally calm features. Rage like I had never seen before. "The rebels," he spat. "The rebels killed him."

  "I don't know." In truth, we had no idea.

  "It's possible the coup is already over," I reasoned. "Zubeida and his guards could have seized complete control of the fleet. We've heard nothing. No transmissions, no signals, and now that all our people are evacuated..." I was rambling. He'd just been informed that his leader was dead. The only leader he'd ever known and I was rambling for no good reason. I bit my lip and stifled my words of condolence. 'I'm sorry' wasn't enough. Not anymore.

  "They'll answer for what they've done," Henry said quietly. "I will make them."

  "You can't fight without Curran. No one knows where he is."

  My words had no effect. Henry wasn't listening anymore. He was planning and plotting his revenge.

  He needed justice. Because in the end, we weren't so different.

  He met my eyes. "You say you've come to free me, Lena of Earth?"

  "I have."

  He bowed his head. "And what do you ask in return?"

  If I could have asked for anything, it would've been to turn back time. To go back to the beginning, to the first time we'd met. Maybe with what I knew now, things could have turned out differently. Then again, maybe not. Instead, I told Henry my plan, explained my last hope for his people and for mine. I turned the key I'd lifted off Rhine and released him from his cell.

  "Curran must win," I told him.

  "Curran." he agreed.

  Maybe he would get there in time or maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he would find Zubeida upon the throne or maybe he'd arrive a hero, Curran's golden boy returned. That part wasn't up to me, but I could do this one small thing. I could give Henry one last chance to save his people and maybe ours, as well.

  7

  Accordance

  LENA

  As soon as the General discovered what I'd done, I was confined to the holding cell. It wasn't prison--not exactly--but it was close enough.

  Not that I was lonely. Rhine was there with me, silent and stern and looking glum about the whole thing. I figured I'd probably ruined his prospects at another promotion.

  I only minded that I didn't know what was going on. As far as I could tell there had been no news since we'd received the message about Galentide's death.

  "Give it up, Lena." Rhine looked over, head in his hands. He sat on a tiny cot in the corner of the cell.

  I couldn't decide whether I was still annoyed with him or grateful for all he had done. Content to ignore him for now, I continued my pacing.

  "We won't know anything until tomorrow. I mean, if this plan even works in the first place."

  I glowered. "Henry will come through."

  He sighed. "It's not up to Henry who ascends."

  "Maybe not, but with Curran ready to punish Gillis and end this war, there's at least a chance for peace."

  "Sure, as long as Zubeida doesn't screw that up." Rhine sniffed disdainfully.

  He may have been doubtful, but Curran still had a good half of the fleet behind him. He was the favorite for the throne, the one everyone expected to win. As long as the anti-alliance supporters hadn't resorted to civil war, there was still a chance.

  "Curran needs to be the next leader," I said. "It's why I did what I did."

  "I know why you did what you did." It sounded like an accusation.

  "For our people and theirs." I met his stare. "This is the way."

  Rhine was quiet for a long moment. He glanced to the locks on the door. "You really want out of here, princess?"

  I raised an eyebrow.

  He rolled to his feet and I watched as he placed a hand against the lock panels. He nodded to himself.

  "Don't tell me you're secretly a locksmith."

  He gave me a devilish grin, the kind I suspected he'd worn as a boy. It was startling on such a perpetually stern face. "Not in the least."

  Instead, he managed to bribe one of his men. It took a combination of charm and thinly veiled threats, but one of the Major's subordinates let us out on the condition we wouldn't implicate him. Before long, we were making our way through the halls of the Base.

  "We should head for the camp." We weren't the only ones being hel
d prisoner on this base. The other Etrallians would need help.

  "Are you insane?" Rhine peered cautiously around the corner. "The only direction we're headed is toward the tarmac. We need to get out of here. Now."

  "We can't leave without them. Listen to me, Rhine. If we leave them here, there's no telling what the General might do. He's a second away from imposing martial law and you know it."

  Rhine gritted his teeth as he scanned the next hallway. "Fine. But if they catch you...."

  I shrugged. "Fair enough."

  We were halfway to the exit when I heard the first cry of pain. Nothing human to be sure. The distinct sound of Etrallian torment. Before we rounded the corner, I knew what I feared was true.

  The General stood in the mess hall. Half his men had formed a semi-circle around an Etrallian prisoner. The Etrallian was unarmed of course, but our soldiers weren't. They were kicking him with their combat boots, beating him down with their fists. When he tried to stand to defend himself, a soldier struck him with the butt of his gun.

  This wasn't imprisonment, this was abuse.

  One of the soldiers cocked his gun. Not punishment, but murder. Clearly, the General didn't intend to hold a trial.

  "Stop," I screamed.

  Two soldiers grabbed me as I tried to break through the line of men.

  "General!"

  The General paid me no mind. A few soldiers glanced nervously my way as if they expected me to break free at any moment and put myself in the line of fire.

  General Wilkerson spat in disgust. "Put this one out of his misery."

  The Etrallian bowed his head, so human-like I had to close my eyes. I waited for the shot, the crack of gunfire that had become familiar. Instead, I heard a loud whoosh as the doors from the entrance burst open. I heard the thundering of boots as a whole platoon of men marched into the room.

  "Hold fire."

  I nearly fainted. I didn't have to do a headcount to realize the General was outnumbered.

  Maria Burgess stood with her hands clasped behind her back as she surveyed us. We must have been quite a scene, but her gaze was like stone. I watched her with a mixture of terror and amazement.