Project Solaris 2: Hero Rising

by Chris Fox

  Her hair had grown back to her shoulders, and she often allowed it to screen her face. Today it was pulled back into a short ponytail, further proof that she was comfortable around Janaki.

  Jillian sat next to the last empty chair, which I slid into. All eyes moved to me as conversations ceased. I licked my lips, trying to think of something leader-y to say. I decided to just stick to the facts. "Everyone knows why we're here. Osiris has given us a tip, one that we feel might have merit. We're here to discuss the best approach, and if the team agrees, we're going to head to Cairo to investigate. Kali, what did you turn up?"

  "Me?" Kali asked, looking up from Janaki. She blinked once, blushing. "Uh, the search went pretty well. I did some investigation about satellites predating history. Most of it is the kind of crap you see on Prehistoric Aliens, but there are some useful tidbits. Several of the more credible reports mention a pair of 'Black Knight' satellites that astronauts have seen while in orbit. They claim they aren't man-made, though they have no explanation for why they haven't been found by more modern satellites. There are over two thousand orbiting earth right now, and even though space is big, you'd expect someone to have found one by now."

  "We know the grey men ships can cloak." Jillian pointed out. "Maybe their satellites can, too."

  "What about Cairo?" I asked.

  "The information there is a little more sketchy," Kali said, giving an apologetic shrug. "The pyramids have all sorts of legends around them, and it's hard sorting fact from fiction. The Sphinx, though, has fewer. Apparently, it's older than most people assume, which fits with Osiris' story. Quite a few stories dating back to Alexandria claim that there is a room under the Sphinx's paws. Legends claim that it contains a tremendous store of knowledge."

  "Access to a satellite would certainly qualify as a lot of knowledge," Summers said. She sipped from a glass of water.

  "Did you find anything else?" I asked.

  "That's pretty much it. I know it isn't much, but the Internet is full of baseless claims and weird stories." Kali looked uncomfortable, but smiled when she caught Janaki looking at her.

  "That's plenty, enough to get started anyway." I straightened in my chair, trying to decide what to do next. "It sounds like we're going to have to take a trip to Cairo, and chase down some of the more plausible leads."

  "What about Osiris? Can he give us any more useful intel? Or any resources?" Marcus asked, sourly.

  "He's arranged a guide, and also set us up with lodgings so we don't have to stay in the ship," I supplied. I didn't blame Marcus for the way he felt about Osiris, but I also didn't have time to get sidetracked by animosity. "We'll head to Cairo and get checked in, then we can split up and chase down individual leads. I want to learn more about the Sphinx, and see what it will take to investigate the possibility of a secret room under the paws. Kali, can you prepare a report on that?"

  "On it," she said, giving a confident nod.

  "What about me?" Janaki asked. She blinked owlishly.

  "Kali, do you have work for her?" I asked.

  "Yeah, I'll keep her busy."

  Marcus chuckled. Kali's eyes widened, then she blushed.

  "Not like that," she muttered, rising from the table and hurrying away.

  "Okay everyone, get what rest you can. We're heading for Cairo in the morning."

  Everyone filed from the room, leaving Jillian and I. She waited until they were all gone before speaking. "We don't exactly have a lot to go on. We're not sure there's anything even under the Sphinx, but if there is, do you have a plan for handling it?"

  "Nope," I said. I wrapped my arms around Jillian, pulling her closer. "I have no idea what to expect. If there is something down there, we're going to have to wing it. Hopefully this satellite exists. If it doesn't, I'm hoping my abilities will show me how to access it."

  Interlude

  The grey man waited until its host body was asleep before asserting control. It willed the female to wake, guiding her silently through the forest of obelisks until it reached one of the shuttle craft. Unfortunately, the host lacked the ability to pilot such a vessel. There was no means of escaping the mothership, but that didn't mean the grey man was powerless. It would use the humans' primitive technology against them, in just the same way the Builders' creations had been subverted.

  It withdrew a boxy black communications device from within a pocket, studying the archaic little thing. A cell phone, it was known as. The grey man understood its usage from the host's memories. All it needed to do was select a sequence of numbers, and the device would broadcast data to the intended recipient. The Progeny of the Builders orbiting this world couldn't be reached in such a fashion. They considered the communications of Earth largely worthless, and chose not to devote the necessary time to studying them. In hindsight, that may have been a mistake. They could have learned much from such a study. Should the grey man find a way to rejoin the collective, it would lobby for a change in this policy.

  The grey man flinched as a human voice sounded from nearby. Someone was awake and conversing in soft tones. It wouldn't do to be caught, even though it could likely fabricate a believable lie. No, any suspicion was dangerous. The human known as David possessed the necessary abilities to identify the grey man within the host consciousness, and could incite the others to destroy her.

  So the grey man hunkered down behind several thick obelisks, unmoving as two of the humans passed by. Its heart thundered, the primitive fight or flight reaction irksome. Grey man physiology had long since done away with such things, as they understood that such evolutionary dead ends weakened the species. Their intended purpose, surviving against predators in a jungle, had long since become obsolete.

  The pair of figures passed within a dozen feet, it was David and the female known as Jillian. They wore loose, comfortable clothing unlike their usual garb. The host's memories identified them as gym clothes, which suggested the humans had been training. Their combat techniques were impressive, and had been used to devastating effect when this mothership had been commandeered from the fleet. The fact that David continued to train in them was troubling. He was enough of a threat, and anything that strengthened him needed to be prevented.

  The grey man shook its head, returning to the task at hand. It had a task to tend to, and such frivolities could be considered later. Right now, it needed to find a way to stop Project Solaris. They could not be allowed to reach the Builder's satellite. It would provide too large of an advantage in the coming war.

  Since it couldn't communicate directly with the Progeny, the grey man did the next best thing. It composed a text message using the cell phone, then sent it to one of their most reliable agents, the one known as Dick.

  Chapter 10- Cairo

  I opened my eyes, blinking once. Feeling returned to my body as I disengaged from the ship's data network. The others were clustered around me, studying the holographic map projected into the center of the clearing. I'd created it for the others, allowing them to see a 3D representation of the ship's surroundings. Right now, it showed a sprawling city beneath us, one of the largest in the world.

  The vertigo faded quickly as I gave up the hundreds of senses afforded by the mothership, and settled into the five I'd grown up with. Doing so felt limiting, and for a moment I understood why the grey men considered us to be so primitive. Their consciousness was always linked to the ship, and through the ship was linked to the consciousness of other grey men. They had access to a wealth of sensory data we'd never really understand.

  "So we're meeting a contact in Cairo?" Kali asked, adjusting her oversized sunglasses as she studied the map. The Pyramids were recognizable, but they were dwarfed by some of the skyscrapers in the massive city's downtown area.

  "That's the plan," I said, rising from the makeshift throne I'd created. It flowed back down into the black marble floor as I joined the others. Marcus and Summers were conversing in quiet whispers, and Marcus was even smiling. Seeing him so happy was eerie. They stopped as I app
roached. "Osiris has arranged for us to meet a Mohn contact here. He claims this guy is the foremost anthropologist in the world, one who specializes in Egyptology. If anyone can find us a way to the Black Knight's control module, it's this guy."

  "And we're really okay with dressing like this?" Jillian asked, looking down at herself. I didn't see what she was getting at, as she had her usual jeans and T-shirt.

  "It's sweltering there, so we can get shorts if needed," I said, shifting uncomfortably. I was growing more accustomed to leading, but I had the sense that I'd somehow missed something important.

  "She means is it okay to dress as tourists," Marcus supplied, giving me a playful punch to the arm. I'd never seen him in that good of a mood. Ever. "Egypt is a Muslim nation, and you hear stories about women being kidnapped, that sort of thing. Western style of dress may not fly here."

  "That's a great point," I said, realizing I knew nothing about the city we were about to visit. "If we need to buy new clothes, we'll do it here. I imagine we'll be fine, though, at least in the short term. There are bound to be a ton of tourists here to see the pyramids or the Sphinx. If we keep to touristy areas, we're probably fine."

  "How are we getting down there?" Kali asked, still studying the holographic representation of the city.

  "Jillian, how many people can you 'port?" I asked.

  "I've been practicing. I can probably manage four people in addition to myself," she said. Her tone was confident, but I could see a little doubt in her eyes.

  "That means leaving two behind. Kali, are you okay with remaining here and monitoring communications?" I asked, knowing she'd be looking for a way to avoid going anyway. She rarely left the ship.

  Before I'd have chalked that reticence up to her being self-conscious her all-black eyes, but Osiris' words rang in my head. Was there really a spy? Were we really compromised, and if so, was Kali the spy? Just what had the grey men changed when they'd modified her?

  "Yeah, I'm fine with that. Janaki, do you want to stay behind as well? I could use your help going over the data Mohn provided." Kali brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, turning to face Janaki. I'd almost forgotten the quiet Indian woman's presence.

  I didn't need telepathy to see that there was something going on there beneath the surface. Janaki blushed, and she avoided Kali's gaze when she replied. "Sure. I mean, if you think I'll be helpful."

  The exchange filled me with relief. If Kali was the spy, why ask someone else to stay behind? Unless that was also a ruse.

  "Okay, that's settled. Everyone, group tightly around me," Jillian ordered. I did as instructed, wrapping an arm around her waist. She gave me a wink as Marcus and Summers moved to join us. "Can you give me a visual on where we're going?"

  I mentally ordered the ship to zoom in on the city below. The view centered on a two-story building with a wide, flat roof. "That's our hotel. If you can get us to the roof, we can drop into the alley and just enter the front door. Our contact should be waiting inside."

  "Everyone ready?" Jillian asked.

  "Let's do it," Summers said, giving a tight nod. She wore her blonde hair in a simple ponytail, and had donned a pair of large sunglasses similar to Kali's.

  Marcus just nodded. Jillian pulled me a little closer, then there was a brief feeling of weightlessness. When it faded, we were crouched atop an adobe rooftop. After the perfectly controlled climate of the ship, the heat was sweltering, and sweat immediately drenched my shirt. I fished out my own sunglasses, and found myself squinting even through them. The rooftop was so hot, I could feel it through my shoes.

  The other thing that struck me was the noise. There were car horns, a jet flying above, church bells, and hundreds of voices yelling in at least two languages I didn't understand. This place was every bit as large as Los Angeles, and a whole hell of a lot more confusing. Buildings towered around us, and the streets were clogged with the same kind of vehicles we'd have seen back in the states. I was damn glad Mohn was supplying a guide, because I seriously doubted I'd be able to navigate the tightly packed streets.

  "Okay, into the alley," I said, moving to the edge of the roof. I scanned it to make sure it was empty, then hopped down to the top of a dumpster. Jillian landed next, and the other two a moment later. I moved to the mouth of the alley, scanning the traffic.

  I walked casually into the crowd, pushing my way toward the front door. The wood was cracked and faded, the adobe caked with dark dirt. The building was a stark contrast to its neighbors, a three-story restaurant, and a ten-story skyscraper. I pulled open the door, gesturing for the others to enter. They did so and I followed, entering a room that was marginally cooler. A ceiling fan swung lazily above us, the breeze welcome.

  We'd entered a wide room with a single counter. A bearded man with vacant eyes sat smoking a cigarette, his attention never wavering from the tiny color television behind the counter. I approached, clearing my throat as I leaned my elbows on the counter.

  The man swiveled on his chair, slowly turning to face me. He sized me up, then shifted his gaze to Jillian. He perked up immediately, delivering a gap-toothed smile. "Tourists. Do not be worrying, I speak English. Very good English. Are you here to see pyramids?"

  "Uh, we're meeting someone," I replied, glancing around the room. A ripped couch sat in one corner, with a three-legged table in front of it. Not exactly the Hilton. "Is a Doctor Galk staying here?"

  "Ah yes, Doctor Galk and his lovely lady friend have been with us for two days," the man said, nodding eagerly. The cigarette left streamers of smoke as he gestured up the stairs. "I will fetch him, but first you will be wanting rooms, yes?"

  "Yes," I said, glancing at the others. "We'll need two."

  "Of course, of course," the man said, finally setting his cigarette in an ashtray. He withdrew a big brown book from under the counter. "Please sign our guestbook. The cost will be $100 per night for two rooms, and we serve dates and coffee for breakfast. I would offer a guide, but I'm assuming that Doctor Galk will serve this purpose, yes?"

  "Indeed I will," came a strong voice from the left. I turned to see the speaker, a tall, handsome man with dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a form-fitting black T-shirt that highlighted his well-muscled shoulders. "Welcome to Cairo, David. I'm Doctor Stephen Galk. I've been expecting you."

  Chapter 11- Steve

  Steve crossed the lobby, giving us a warm smile as he approached. He wasn't at all what I'd expected, and looked like he could have fallen off the cover of GQ. The girls noticed it, too. Both Jillian and Summers were paying rapt attention in exactly the way I'd expect if they were meeting a superstar. I suppressed a surge of jealousy, and tried not to dislike the guy on sight. I failed.

  "Doctor Usir said you needed the world's foremost anthropologist, and he paid a premium to get me here," Doctor Galk said, offering me a hand. I shook it, and noted that his grip was more firm than mine. Not enough to hurt, but enough to show it could if he wanted to.

  "Thanks for meeting us, Doctor Galk," I said, struggling to keep my tone neutral.

  "Please, call me Steve," he gave back, releasing my hand and offering it to Jillian. He gave her a brilliant smile. "This must be the lovely Jillian, and I'm guessing that would make you Summers."

  Both ladies smiled at the attention, and I noticed that Steve held Jillian's hand longer than was necessary. Marcus and I shared a look, and I was comforted by the scowl the black man wore. He clearly didn't like Steve any more than I did.

  "Shall we head up to my room? This isn't the best place to discuss my findings." Steve wasn't really asking. He started for the stairway without looking back, clearly assuming that we'd follow. I was annoyed, but I trotted up the stairs after him. The others followed.

  Steve led us to the first of four doors at the top of the stairs, a thin particle board with a brass handle. He opened it with a creak, stepping into wide but sparsely furnished room. Two chairs sat next to a small table opposite the bed, and one of those chairs was occupied by a petite b
runette with her face buried in a textbook. She looked up as we entered, blinking once before giving a warm smile. She was next-door beautiful, with a comfortable white blouse and a pair of khaki shorts.

  "They're here," the woman said, rising and kissing Steve. She turned to the group, looking at us each in turn. "Which one of you is David?"

  "This is Bridget," Steve said, smoothly seizing control of the conversation. He even took a half-step closer, shielding Bridget from us with his body. My dislike intensified. "Bridget is my associate, and has been helping me piece together the mystery Doctor Usir paid us to solve."

  "I'm David," I said, stepping smoothly around Steve and offering Bridget my hand. She shook it, shooting me a dazzling smile. I upgraded her from next-door beautiful to simply gorgeous. "That's Jillian, Summers, and Marcus. Doctor Usir said you might be able to help us."

  "That we can," Steve said. His smile hadn't wavered, but his eyes had gone hard when Bridget smiled at me. "Please, be seated."

  Steve sat in the chair next to the one Bridget had been sitting in, and she returned to sit next to him. That left the bed as the only remaining place to sit, and I gestured at Marcus. He nodded gratefully and sat with Summers. Jillian and I remained standing.

  "Why don't you tell us precisely what mystery Usir has you working on?" I began. I didn't know how much Steve had been told, and if I went spouting off about aliens, it was quite possible he'd laugh in my face.

  Steve crossed his arms, then licked his lips before speaking. "Usir came to us with a rather preposterous theory. He claims that a culture existed that predates recorded history, and that traces of that culture exist here in Egypt. He's tasked me with finding those traces. Specifically, he's asked me to locate something that modern Egyptology believes to be a hoax."