Humankind: Book 1 in the Invasion Day series

by LC Morgans

  “Of course,” Kyra replied after a thoughtful second, and Bow smiled warmly in response. She led her down another hall, and then ushered her into a small room with just a desk and two chairs inside. Bow then frowned when she saw the look of alarm cross Kyra’s face.

  “This is just temporary, after your statement you’ll be shown to Paladin Forst’s office,” she informed her, and turned to leave. Even after the assurance, unease rumbled in her gut, but Kyra did as she’d been asked and took a seat.

  “Wait!” she called when Bow was about to close the door, and she stopped mid-way. “I’m supposed to be boarding a train to Alaska. Can you please make sure they're aware of the situation?” Bow gave her a small nod.

  “The entire world knows there was an attempted rebel attack on Los Angeles, Kyra. Until we have the all clear, all movement in and out of the city has been halted. You needn’t worry about your superiors in Alaska, they’ve already been made aware of the situation.”

  Kyra appreciated the reassurance, but couldn't stop thinking about what’d just come out of Bow’s mouth. Evidently she had been right earlier on, and those two men were rebels who really had been up to no good. She yearned to discover what they'd been planning, and hoped her host officers would give her the full account before she left.

  It wasn’t long before she’d told her story to a pair of human policemen, and then to a Thrakorian Inquisitor. She kept her cool, and had told each of them the truth of how she’d come to notice the two men in the Terminal, and why she thought them suspicious. Only once they seemed convinced did the clearly seasoned officers lighten up, and it was a relief to be left in peace after hours of debriefing. An older, grey-haired Thrakorian man then came to get her, and asked Kyra to join him for some coffee. She saluted him before he even introduced himself, and knew that he must be Paladin Forst.

  “How is it that a young woman just four years into her training, spotted two rebels in a crowd of hundreds of humans?” he asked, and she watched in surprise as he poured her drink and stirred in her preferred amount of sugar and milk, without needing to be asked her preference. She guessed her file really must’ve given him everything he needed to know about her, and the only thing left for him to wonder about was what went on in her mind.

  “I’m very good at what I do, sir,” she replied with a smile. “My superiors throughout my training have attested to my natural skills as a code-breaker, and I've learned to trust my instincts.”

  “That’s what I like to hear, especially when it comes to our Intelligence Division trainees.” He watched her for a moment, and then passed Kyra a file. Inside it were photographs from the scene, along with stills taken from the camera footage of both her and the two men. “Show me how,” was all Forst added, and he took a seat in a large armchair next to her. Her formal debriefing might be over, but she had the feeling the interrogation might not be as finished as she’d assumed.

  “Here,” she pointed to the scuff on the wall that she’d taken for a directional sign. “This is how they knew where to turn and get their fake uniforms. Someone else masterminded this attack, and planted the clues for them beforehand. It’ll be worth you checking the tapes back to see who left this mark.”

  “Couldn't it simply be a line of dirt from the tracks?” Forst asked, and he watched her intently.

  “Absolutely not,” she answered. “These terminals are pristinely clean. This mark has been put there in the hour or so leading up to the men’s presence in the building. Whoever left the uniforms and directions must've left more clues, or perhaps another item for the fake policemen to find.” Forst grinned across at her, but it was a dark smile that gave her the creeps, rather than one to bask in.

  “You're right. A bomb was found attached to the undercarriage of a train heading east. It would’ve been filled with soldiers heading to their base, but instead my team managed to deactivate it and remove the device following your discovery.”

  Kyra felt like she couldn't breath.

  “Are you serious?” she blurted out in surprise, and then apologized a second later.

  “I’m absolutely serious, Lieutenant. Whatever your training or gut instinct told you, it was spot on. You saved thousands of lives today, and ought to be proud.” Forst took a long sip of his drink, and his wrinkled eyes never left her face.

  She stared back at him; unable to even think of anything other than the words he’d spoken. Kyra took the wizened man in. She guessed Forst must be somewhere around six hundred years old, and that he must've seen a lot in his time. His approval meant more to her than she’d ever imagined she needed.

  “Thank you, sir. I have to admit I’m in shock, so please excuse my awkwardness. I’m truly honored to serve, and knowing I saved those people is a profound honor I’ll never forget.”

  “None of us ever forget that first pivotal moment in our lives, so you’re right to want to cherish it,” he told her, and stood. “I want you to stay on with us while we investigate these rebels and the attack they'd planned. Your training base has been informed of our need for your insight, and the report from me will count towards your elite exam, so don’t worry about being left at a disadvantage—in fact it's far from it. I want fresh eyes and a keen instinct on this case, and you seem capable of providing both.”

  “Sir, I…” she didn’t know what else to say. He was patient though, and gave her a moment to calm down before giving her a nudge.

  “This is the chance of a lifetime, Kyra. Don’t let it pass you by,” Forst offered with a warm smile this time. He seemed so wise she couldn't question his advice or deny his request. There was something else there too though, and despite his huge size and clearly powerful build, she saw something gentle shine out of him now that he’d dropped his guard a little.

  “I don’t intend to let anything pass me by, sir. I’ll stay.” She then followed his lead and walked in silence behind him through the narrow corridors leading towards the back of the precinct. They walked through a doorway, and the largest group of Thrakorian soldiers she’d ever seen in real life appeared before her and her high-ranking escort. Such mass gatherings were rarely seen, other than on television or in the newspapers, and Kyra could see why. It was an intimidating group, and she instantly shrunk back, as if she wasn’t already tiny enough in comparison to them.

  In a move that surprised the life out of her, each of them started clapping. Her face burned with instant heat, but she felt amazing, and looked every man and woman there in the eye, rather than at the floor like she’d done at first. Her moment didn’t last long, but it’d been wonderful having received recognition for her hard work and intelligence that'd led to the successful capture of the two rebels.

  “The prisoners are with Inquisitors now, Paladin. So far nothing more than what we already know, but they’ve only just made a start,” a Sentinel soldier informed Forst, and he nodded.

  “Very well, we’ll observe the interrogation from the control room,” he answered, and ushered for Kyra to join him. She did as she knew was expected, and followed his lead without question or comment. The last thing she wanted to do was be seen as a hot-head who thought she knew everything, but she also wasn’t keen on them feeling like they were babysitting an inexperienced novice in the field either. Kyra decided that if she were asked a question or her input was required, she would speak up, otherwise she’d simply stand back and keep an eye on everything. This experience would no-doubt provide a bigger lesson than any theoretical simulations she could do back at base, and she believed Forst when he’d told her staying wouldn’t hinder her training. If anything, she’d be much better off when it came to her final exams.

  They came to a stop, and Kyra watched the huge screens from beside Paladin Forst. They could see the two men were being question separately, and each was already squirming under their Thrakorian Inquisitor’s scrutiny. She didn’t envy them one little bit.

  “Whom do you work for? What are they planning?”

  “Freedom, that’s what I serve. H
umans deserve autonomy from the oppression of a governing race neither indigenous to this planet or wanted here,” the man answered. He had so much venom in his eyes at addressing one of the very creatures he was speaking of that it shocked her, but neither the Inquisitor nor Forst seemed surprised by it.

  “Humans are free in many ways. We provided education and purpose, leadership and structure to ensure you survive and thrive. We do not govern this planet using fear or violence, and yet you insist on hurting your own race to try and harm ours. That’s not freeing your people, it’s genocide,” the Inquisitor answered, and the man swore. He rose to the bait just like the Thrak had seemingly planned, and soon started shouting his mouth off.

  “Genocide? You dare talk to me about killing innocent human beings? Your people steal lower-class humans from their beds with no reason or rhyme, because you think they won’t be missed—well they are! You poison water supplies to kill off underachieving areas of the world and kidnap entire families to serve in your homes as slaves. Inconvenient pregnancies are practically non-existent now thanks to your doctors and their so-called ‘unavoidable hysterectomies due to complications.’ It’s obvious you're slowing human reproduction, but will you tell me why?” He paused for a breath at long last, and the Thrak sitting opposite him didn’t move or say a word. “I thought not.”

  Kyra had to stop herself falling to her knees in shock. Not once had she ever contemplated that Brona’s operation two years before might not have actually been for the reasons they were given, and now the mans words resonated somewhere deep inside of her. Uncertainty quickly followed the agonizing barrage of emotion she suddenly felt, and she did everything she could not to turn to the huge Paladin beside her and demand to know if it were true. Kyra balled her hands and squeezed as tightly as her muscles would allow in an attempt to keep still. She even focused every ounce of mental strength she had to ensure her breathing didn’t speed up in her fury. In the end, forcing the thoughts away was her only hope, and she wished with all her heart that one day her doubts would be cleared on the subject, not confirmed. There were times in her life she’d questioned the Thrakorian’s methods or what she’d learned, and she hated how often it was continuing to occur.

  By the time the Inquisitors were finished with the two rebels, there was very little of them left. Kyra wasn’t forced to stay and watch, but she did to show solidarity regardless of the still niggling guilt in her gut. The men were beaten, questioned, tortured and treated with chemicals and toxins from synthetic creatures in order for the Thraks to get their answers. The scene was gruesome, and she knew it would stay with her forever.

  With her help, they then worked long into the night decoding what the men had said while piecing the information together. She was still convinced they were lower-level insurgents, and was sure this wouldn’t be the end of the rebel attacks. Kyra made sure to say so via her final report, and none of the Thraks working with her disagreed. The data was then put together and relayed to a team in England, where she knew the Intelligence Division’s Gentry would go over it with a fine toothcomb and get back to the precinct on the next course of action.

  After two days of solid work, she was exhausted, and stood to attention outside Forst’s open office door to wait for what she hoped was his permission to return to Elite Base North.

  “As well as providing the initial alert, Millan has been an asset to the case,” she heard him on the phone with someone while she waited, and her ears pricked up at hearing her name. “Yes, I believe so too. Very well.” He put down the receiver and grabbed his file. Kyra wanted to cough, or shift in her stance, anything to remind him of her presence. She was also desperate to know what'd just been said, but Paladin Forst ignored her. He signed a few forms and then reached into a desk drawer.

  When he stood, Kyra saluted. “Lieutenant Millan, in recognition for your work in apprehending two rebels intent on taking the lives of thousands of innocent human soldiers, I hereby grant you the rank of Colonel in his majesty King Kronus’ Human Royal Armed Forces. As per the Besieger’s orders, I have been asked to invite you to join him in The Tower, where you will be rewarded for your bravery.” He handed her a document validating her rank, along with a new badge with the corresponding emblem on it. Kyra ran her fingers over the symbol, and couldn't quite believe this was happening. She took a deep breath and swayed on her usually so steadfast feet.

  “The Tower? As in…”

  “The Tower of London, yes,” Forst answered before she could finish her train of thought. “Or what’s left of it. The Gentry from every area reside and work from England, and The Tower is the base of operations for the Intelligence Division,” he told her, and she remembered Gron’s explanation of the fortress isle from their training. “The Besieger wishes to speak with you face to face, and sooner rather than later. You’re to leave right away, and the Inquisitors are flying back with you, so you won’t be alone.” Kyra could think of nothing worse than spending several hours in a small hovercraft with two such scary and intimidating Thrakorian’s, but knew she had no other choice. After watching them work though, she truly hoped she was never on the receiving end of their skills. She couldn't put together the smiling and kind-looking men she’d talked to after the interrogation, and the men who’d tortured those two rebels, or the end result. What was left of them had barely been alive, and she doubted they'd stayed that way for long.

  Kyra did as she was asked though, and grabbed the backpack that held her tiny amount of belongings. She followed Forst out of his office and down the hall to where the two Inquisitors were waiting patiently for her, and her discomfort was renewed despite their warm smiles.

  “It’s an honor to have my presence requested, sir. Thank you for the promotion, and for your confidence in me,” she replied, saluting the Paladin again.

  “Until we meet again, Colonel,” Forst replied with a smile, and he walked away, leaving Kyra with her scary escorts to the English isles.

  Chapter

  Eighteen

  After the first hour aboard the small hovercraft, Kyra finally started to relax. Neither of her Thrakorian companions made much effort to talk with her, both seeming happy to sit quietly and read, and she soon gave in to her exhaustion. She woke hours later, and was surprised she’d been asleep for so long. Kyra checked the time, and knew they were almost across the pond to England. She looked to her right, but the window didn’t reveal anything but ocean and she wondered if they were running late. The tiny craft’s attendants were soon busy delivering a simple breakfast of power bars and coffee to the two Inquisitors though, and she guessed they still had a little time. She fixed her hair and clothing, accepted some food, and took a seat at the small table, where she buried her head in a newspaper.

  “Do we make you uncomfortable?” the younger of the two asked her, and Kyra frowned as she peered over the tabloid at him. She knew better than to try and lie to either of them, even about something so small, so figured honesty was the best policy regardless of their informal setting.

  “You might say that, sir,” she replied with an awkward smile. “But something tells me you get that a lot?”

  He laughed and nodded. Kyra wanted to see him now as the kind looking Thrak with a warm smile and a gentle laugh, but she also couldn't get the images out of her mind of him torturing that rebel man. Her allegiance was with the Thrakorian’s, there was not a single doubt in her mind about that, but she also maintained a healthy fear of them regardless of her relaxed attitude with those such as Sentinel Gron towards the end.

  “We’re like any other soldier—dedicated and fearless when required, and resolute to our rules and training, but outside of that we’re normal Thrak guys.” She didn’t think that could really be possible, but presumed they were trained to turn it off again after the interrogations were over.

  “Do you have families? Children?” she asked, genuinely interested.

  “You’ve got me there,” the same soldier replied with a laugh. “I don’t trust anyon
e, especially women. You could lie to me about the simplest thing and it’d mean the end of us. Many of us Inquisitors are the same, so most stay the ‘lone wolf’ types. How about you? Or does the geek life get in the way of all that too?” he asked with a wink, and Kyra shrugged.

  “It does, but my ambition is what keeps me away from the guys I train with. I let myself get distracted once before, and it didn’t end well.”

  “I know, I read about it in your file,” he said, and Kyra suddenly remembered exactly who she was dealing with. “Sorry, but I had to do my due diligence before debriefing you. That and we are an honest profession, so I have a tendency to blurt things out and piss people off.”

  “You certainly managed that,” she answered, but forced herself to laugh it off and give him a smile. “It doesn’t matter now, he failed and I made elite. I like to think just knowing that was all the kick in the balls he needed.”

  “Damn straight, Colonel.” He replied with a nod, and then looked out of the nearby window. She followed his gaze, and saw land on the horizon. They let the conversation drop then, and before she knew it they were heading into land.

  She’d never traveled so far or so fast before, and actually had to get her bearings when their small hovercraft came to a stop. They were met at the dock by a combination of Gentry human officers and Thrak soldiers, and each were welcoming and kind to her while she tried her hardest not to look like a lost little lamb. She followed their lead, and was glad none seemed interested in making small talk.

  Kyra was then shown to a huge bedroom, which was to be hers for the duration of her stay, and was then left to freshen up before her meeting with the infamous Besieger. A member of the Kings Guard Service, the Besieger was the official capturer of both rebels and rogues. She’d experienced a mere snippet of his specialty, and had no idea what to say or how to act with one of the Thrakorian’s top ranking officers. Kyra racked her brains to try and at least prepare some witty conversational pieces in case he was one for small talk, but wasn’t sure how to deal with a man she was sure must be one of the older and more battle-hardened of the extraterrestrial bunch.