Operation Earth

by Maria Hammarblad

  “Hang in there. I didn’t have a house fall on me so you could die, okay?”

  The unconscious woman offered no reply, but she moaned when he cut her shirt open around the wound. The fabric was saturated with blood, making him grimace.

  She woke when he treated her injuries, staring at him with wide, frightened eyes.

  “It’s okay. You’ll be fine. What’s your name?”

  “Erin.”

  She might have said it earlier, he couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter. If she remembered who she was, she’d probably be okay.

  “Do you remember me, Erin?”

  The woman nodded and grimaced. “Oww.”

  “I know it hurts, but it’ll be better soon.”

  It was hard to sound calm when his own body pounded with pain, but he did his best, and forced a hopefully comforting smile to his lips.

  “This should stop the bleeding until we can get to a medical center. They’ll patch you up in no time. I need to go look for other survivors, okay?”

  “You’re hurt.”

  He tried to shrug, but the little gesture made him feel like his left arm was falling off. Understanding came to her eyes. “You could have saved yourself, but you protected me.”

  “It’s my duty.”

  She made exactly the same face Rachael would when he said something she didn’t believe, so he added the full truth.

  “You remind me of my Rachael.”

  “She’s a lucky woman.”

  “I’d do anything for her.”

  And it took all this for me to figure that out.

  “You fixed me up, now it’s my turn. Take off your jacket.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “I’m assuming you promised your girl to come back. You won’t be able to do that if you bleed out. Take off your jacket.”

  He hadn’t paid all that much attention to himself, but she was right. Blood trickled down his arm inside the sleeve. Something must have cut him when the roof caved in.

  “Alright, but let it be quick. People need me.”

  “And they will have you, but you can’t help anyone if you’re dead.”

  Normally, the uniform would attempt to heal both itself and him, but now the material barely shimmered around the tear. It must have used up all power when protecting him from the weight of the roof. He was strong, but not that strong, and the boulders would have crushed both him and Erin.

  Moot point. There was no way to get a new one unless he’d take the clothes off a dead soldier.

  When he handed Erin the medi-kit and explained the basic functions, the world grew dim around him.

  “Hey, don’t pass out on me, Big Guy.” She paused, and added, “I didn’t expect your blood to be red.”

  “No? What did you think it would be?”

  “I don’t know. Something else. Green, maybe.”

  Peter squeezed his eyes shut, but still couldn’t focus when he opened them again. He must have been up for two days without sleep, or more. That shouldn’t normally be a problem, but combined with blood loss, physical trauma, and no food...

  “Give me that.”

  He reached for the automatic syringe and fumbled a bright blue capsule in it.

  I hate these things.

  Pressing the tool against his own neck, he steeled himself and pushed the button. A moment later, he gasped for air as a mix of adrenaline, painkillers, and performance-enhancing drugs hit his system.

  Erin muttered, “Men,” but sounded amused. Feeling her soft hands tend to his injury, he could almost pretend he was home.

  When did that little house become home?

  Alain broke the illusion.

  “Sir, we have five survivors, all able to walk, and four humans badly wounded.”

  Fantastic. I’d be dead too if it wasn’t for the table.

  “Have you called for help?”

  “No, Sir. Something is disturbing our radio frequencies, and we lack transportation.”

  “I guess we’ll walk. We need to get everyone to the closest guard post. You’re doing a good job.”

  Erin finished the work on his arm, and he struggled to his feet.

  I need a nap.

  The jacket was useless, but he shook the worst dust off and pulled it back on anyway. Old habit declared he was supposed to have a jacket, whether it functioned or not.

  Taking one glance around, it was abundantly clear what happened. His men and the human security guards alike had sacrificed themselves to protect the group around the table, in vain.

  Erin’s eyes burned on his skin and she mumbled, “What do we do with them?”

  “For now, nothing, we’re in for a long walk. They all died in the line of duty and will be remembered. We’ll have a proper ceremony for them later.”

  *****

  Inspired by her initial success as a spy, Rachael tried to find out details about the missile.

  She couldn’t keep her eyes on the other house around the clock, and thinking she could follow them seemed idiotic anyway. These weren’t the old days when people could glide around unseen in cars. These were the new and improved days when everyone was out in the open, and Ryan would spot her.

  “What am I going to do?”

  Helpful as always, Bonbon stretched out a foot and licked her own leg.

  If Peter had been there, it would have been easy. She would have spilled her heart to him, trusting he’d know what to do. He would have acted. Problem solved.

  Who else could she tell?

  Who could she trust?

  Letting the crazies just go on to kill God knew how many people on the ship, starting a war between Earth and the newcomers in the process was out of the question, but what could she do to stop it?

  She pulled out old maps from a shelf, but they gave no clue as to where a missile might be, and she tossed the pile at the wall, yelling, “Goddamn, I miss Google!”

  Bonbon looked at her with all-knowing cat eyes and said, “Meow.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  The cat looked like, “Did you really think I would?”

  Maybe they were just boys with toys and a vivid imagination, but this seemed like a real problem.

  Hah, I remember when I thought being out of coffee was a real problem. Guess I’m getting my priorities in order.

  Thinking of coffee reminded her of work. She should be at work. Time to run to the bus.

  As expected, there wasn’t much to do, and her boss was talkative.

  “Do you know why Canada didn’t join the independence war?”

  “No clue. History was never my subject.”

  He started telling the story, but Rachael couldn’t focus and all she got out of it was something about taxes.

  There were wars back then and wars now. It never ends, does it?

  “I was trying to figure something out today. Is there a military base around here?”

  “Not right here, but there’s an air force base a few miles north. It was used up until they came.”

  “Really? What did they do?”

  He shrugged.

  “Why are you so interested in this all of a sudden?”

  “I don’t know. Just curious.”

  He’d go with me if I asked, but that doesn’t seem fair. They have kids. I shouldn’t get him involved.

  He said, “It’s a shame, all those planes rotting away.”

  “Where is it?”

  He seemed happy to have something to talk about and pulled out a drawer filled with maps.

  “It’s pretty far now when we don’t have cars. I guess you’d need a horse or something to get there, but it’s right, let’s see… Here.”

  How did Ryan and Martin get there?

  Moot point.

  This was the best lead she had, and it was probably the right place.

  She kept a casual voice. “What else did they have? Missiles and stuff?”

  “Probably.”

  Counting
off the people she knew on her fingers reaffirmed the sad truth; she had no one to turn to with a matter like this except for Peter. He wasn’t there, and she couldn’t reach him. Did she know someone who could?

  I miss cell phones. This would be a funky text, though.

  The automated bus moved slower than ever and it took an eternity before it pulled up outside the grocery store. A man in uniform manned the register this day too, but her heart sank when she looked into his eyes. She had been worried she wouldn’t recognize him, but those purple eyes were difficult to forget. This man was a stranger.

  “Can I help you?”

  “No...”

  She almost fled, but she had gone all the way here, so she could at least open her mouth.

  “There was another of you guys here a couple of days ago, and I’d like to talk to him.”

  The soldier rumbled, “Well, I’m here now.”

  This isn’t going well. “Do you know me?”

  The man shrugged. “No offence, Ma’am, but you all look the same to me.”

  “I can see that.”

  Not really, but let’s play nice and maybe he’ll be helpful.

  Another customer was approaching. Not good.

  She forced her lips to smile. “Do you know the... I guess you call him ground commander. About yay tall, golden eyes.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “I need to talk to him.”

  “No, Ma’am.”

  It was like talking to a rock, and his facial expression signaled the discussion was over. She shook her head and stormed out of the store. Not that it did her much good; home was too far away to walk, and the bus wouldn’t be there for a while, so she sank down on a bench and pinched the bridge of her nose.

  The other customers left, carrying their bags, and headed for a couple of brightly red mountain bikes.

  I so need to get me one of those.

  “I hear you’re looking for me.”

  The voice made her jump. Had purple-eyes been watching her all along?

  “Actually I’m looking for Peter, but I hoped you could help me. It’s really important, or I wouldn’t ask.”

  “No, Ma’am.”

  He must have seen a glint of panic in her eyes; he sat down next to her and spoke in a quiet voice. “I don’t know the details of your relationship, and I don’t want to know. I also do not know all habits of your culture, but this is not a job where you can call someone and ask them to come over to fix whatever problem you’ve run into. You have to wait until he comes back. In the meantime, I’d advise you to stop asking questions about him.”

  Crap. He sounds like he thinks I have a plumbing problem or something. He knows about us. Does that mean Peter trusts him? Can I trust him? How can you trust someone with purple eyes? Oh God, I’m prejudiced.

  She fixed her gaze on his face.

  “What’s your name?”

  “On this world, I am Jonas.”

  “Do you like us? Honestly?”

  For the first time, a hint of a smile touched his mouth.

  “Honestly, it’s another day on another planet.”

  “I need to tell you something, but I’m afraid to.”

  “Why me?”

  Good question.

  “Peter isn’t here, and you’re the only other newcomer I’ve talked to for more than twenty seconds.”

  Her answer seemed to amuse him.

  “Fair enough.”

  “You can’t tell anyone I said this, or ask how I know, okay?”

  His eyes fell serious again.

  “I can’t promise a thing like that.”

  “Well, can you promise to do your best?”

  Jonas shrugged.

  “Sure.”

  Am I doing the right thing here? Should I wait until Peter comes back? But by then it might be too late, and he might never come back.

  The thought made her choke up, and she pushed it aside.

  Glancing around, she couldn’t see anything move. If Ryan had followed her all day, he was better than she expected. Even if they had some electronics up and running, high-tech surveillance equipment couldn’t be a high priority. She still lowered her voice to a near whisper.

  “I have reason to believe the resistance movement are rebuilding nuclear missiles, and they intend to attack your mother ship.”

  He sat up straight and stared.

  “Are you joking?”

  “No. I’m fucking horrified. See why I wanted to talk to Peter?”

  A missile might not even dent their ship, but it would certainly start the war he’d worked so hard to prevent.

  *****

  The march through the city proceeded much slower than Peter liked, but he couldn’t rush the wounded, and leaving them behind was out of the question. They had left too many already.

  The suburb hadn’t exactly been bustling with activity when he arrived, but now both streets and houses seemed deserted.

  Good thing; the area around the meeting place had crumbled into ruins, and even his sturdy vehicle was crushed. Hopefully, these were just piles of cement without human casualties inside.

  He glanced around and nodded to Alain to take the lead. It was time to check up on everyone. How easy life would have been with a transport ship.

  No such luck.

  Erin dragged her feet and he fell in beside her.

  “You doing okay?”

  “No. That... back there, who did that?”

  “Rebels, probably.”

  Your own people wanting to kill you must be a shock, I’m sure.

  “But why?”

  She sounded forlorn, and any explanation he could offer would just make it worse.

  “Just keep walking, okay?”

  His little group looked pitiful. The surviving humans huddled together in the middle, sheltered by what remained of the guard. The men were doing a good job; everyone except Alain and Jean limped or nursed a wound, but still looked alert. He should say something to encourage the pale and frightened people, but he had nothing.

  Up front, Alain held his hand up and the group stopped.

  Now what?

  The street ended in a large open square surrounded by buildings.

  Not good.

  They’d be sitting ducks.

  Alain nodded to the other side.

  “We need to go that way.”

  Except for a couple of park benches and trashcans, there was no cover to be had. Peter loosened the rifle slung around his neck. Hopefully, he wouldn’t need it, but one could never be too sure.

  “If I were to ambush us, I’d pick a place like this.”

  Alain nodded.

  “I don’t see anyone. It’s almost too quiet.”

  “Let’s stay close to the houses on this side.”

  They had crossed about half the distance to the relative safety of the street on the other side when a voice called out, “There they are. I see them.”

  The words should have been encouraging, but in broken French, not so much. A person from Peter’s species would know the language perfectly; the fluency came with the brain tips. Being discovered by humans in a situation like this was probably bad news.

  Another voice called out, “Stay where you are. You’re surrounded. Hand us the humans.”

  Suddenly, there were people everywhere. Peter’s men enclosed the little group of Earth politicians, protecting them, but it might not be enough.

  Erin pushed Alain to the side.

  “Let me through.”

  Peter said, “No” but the younger man moved, probably out of old habit.

  We’re too set in our ways. Blind obedience is counterproductive.

  “Wait.” He put a hand on Erin’s shoulder, but she shook it off and took a step forward. Two steps. Three.

  He too found himself obedient.

  She held her hands out, showing herself unarmed.

  “I’m so happy to see you. We’ve been in an accident, there are many dead, and these men are trying to help us.�
��

  Someone behind Peter called out, “It’s true. A friggin’ house fell on us. These aliens saved our lives and they’re trying to get us to safety, but their radios don’t work.”

  Peter shook his head. This was futile, but they probably needed to try and see for themselves.

  A voice drifted down from a rooftop.

  “Oh, I know who you are, Traitor Bitch.”

  Another voice filled in, “Kill the collaborators and get it over with.”

  At least they’re eloquent; they know synonyms.

  Peter swallowed his sarcasm and moved forward, resting one hand on his rifle while attempting to look casual.

  “There’s no need for killing anyone. Let us be on our way, and you never have to see us again.”

  From the sounds of it, two men argued, but not even his acute sense of hearing could make out the words.

  He murmured, “Erin, I want you to stand behind me.”

  She didn’t move, and she was an easy target.

  Even without knowing the details, instinct screamed that the other side would fire at any moment.

  “Erin, get behind me. Right now.”

  A voice called out. “Tell you what, Intruder. Kill the traitors for us and we’ll let you go.”

  “Not happening, these people are under my protection.” Whatever that’s worth right now... “You could be too, just lay down your weapons and let them go in peace.”

  The man laughed and Peter saw the muzzle of a gun move towards Erin. In his fatigued mind, her hair blurred with Rachael’s. Rachael, who must be protected at all cost.

  He jumped forward just as all hell broke loose, pushing Erin to the ground and covering her with his own body for protection. A bullet passed so close to his head he could hear it. It sounded like an angry insect. Now would have been an excellent time to have a fully functional uniform.

  Someone behind him screamed, and he finally shifted his weapon to cerebral control, letting its frighteningly accurate guidance system return fire any way it could.

  Chapter Nine

  June held her arms crossed, barely resisting an urge to drum her fingers.

  Where the hell is that man?

  “Ground Commander Torsten at your service.”

  Not exactly what I had in mind, but good enough, I guess.