by J. J. Green
A sense of powerlessness and frustration overwhelmed Jas as the group passed inside the trap. The people were going to die and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. If she’d been in her own body, she might have been able to save them, but as a tiny animal, she was powerless. She didn’t know what to do.
Go after them, Jas. See what happens.
She jumped a little in surprise. She’d forgotten she was hooked up to the surveillance equipment back at the Lees’ home, and that it was recording everything she saw and heard.
It had been Sayen’s voice speaking through the linkup in her mind. You think I should? she asked mentally. Maybe I should just find a Shadow we can snatch and get back to you guys.
No, Sayen replied. This might be the first and the last chance anyone has of seeing what happens inside a Shadow trap. Haggardy said he couldn’t tell what was going on when he was forced inside one with the other officers of the Galathea, do you remember? But you have night vision. You’ll be able to see clearly. The better we understand the Shadows, the easier it’ll be to defeat them. We’re recording all of this, and we can include it in the packet we send to the Transgalactic Council. If we can capture evidence of what the Shadows do to people, we won’t need one of our own to show them.
Okay, I’ll see what I can do, Jas replied.
The corridor was empty. She left her hiding place and went through the hexagonal entrance, into the Shadow trap.
She’d first entered a similar structure on K.67092d weeks ago. As she went deeper in, following the sound of people and Shadows ahead, a dull chill settled over her. The feeling was partly due to the frigid atmosphere, and partly due to her memories of taking her fifteen defense units on one Locate, Investigate, Vacate procedure after another of the Shadow traps and failing to find anything wrong. She wished that somehow she could have been more thorough. If only she’d been able to find something to convince the Galathea’s master, Loba, of the threat, so many lives could have been saved.
But it was too late for what-might-have-beens. At least now, she finally had her chance to find out what the Shadows did inside their traps.
Chapter Nine
Replication. Generation. Domination. The plan had to succeed.
Time moved on within the physical realm. The invasion of the planet called Earth was reaching a crisis point.
Most of the schemes had been successful. Their kind now occupied important positions in the controlling and supervising organizations of the planet. They had destroyed and replaced humans in most tiers of the planetary hierarchy. In many cases, replication had taken place without attracting suspicion. In others, humans who had noticed the changes had themselves been quickly targeted and replicated. Soon, replication and generation could occur on a mass scale. The remaining human population would be eradicated.
Until then, it was vital that the galactic powers remain unaware of what was taking place on Earth. A severe threat remained: the six trapped humans.
They had the humans confined within a defended domain. Two were older than the others, and a familial relationship existed between them and one of the younger humans. The group included one adolescent. The two older ones were closely connected with influential agents on Earth and in the galaxy’s governing body, named the Transgalactic Council. The other four had been identified upon their arrival. The one who was related to the older ones had infiltrated the digital records that held information on the secret invasion. Despite their best efforts, that human had not been copied and destroyed.
The other three humans were also known. Two had served aboard the starship that had crashed on a trap planet. The sixth human—the adolescent—had escaped from a planet under invasion and come to Earth aboard the same starship. The adolescent had absconded from the center it had been sent to.
Much information was known about these humans. They had inflicted substantial damage and successfully evaded capture many times. The risk their existence posed was extreme, yet all efforts to destroy them had failed. Rather, their menace grew greater. Other humans had been easy to trap and replicate. What made these different?
The threat they posed was growing greater. Already, four of them had broken into a spaceport and stolen a critical item. It was only after investigation had established what was stolen that its significance was realized. The air attack to destroy the humans and the purloined machine had failed. Now, they would be able to use the device to identify a human replicant.
The event increased the risk of defeat. Replication and generation depended on the replicants’ ability to blend into the local population. If the humans used the machine to root out replicants, the effects would be disastrous. Even worse, if the humans alerted the galactic powers of the invasion, all their plans would fail. Past experience of failure told them what would happen then. Wholesale slaughter. A massacre of their kind. No opportunity to return to the void. No chance of life within the physical realm or the ethereal place that was their home.
All resources were to be devoted to eliminating these humans. Already, devices newly acquired had been used to shut down external communication to galactic and intraplanetary receivers. Now, all new weapons obtained were to be targeted at the trapped humans. It was vital that they were eradicated.
To add to the difficulties, as well as the persistent threat of the six renegade humans, an old enemy had emerged within the void. A never-ending battle had resumed. Beings who chose to thwart their attempts to infiltrate the physical realm had discovered their schemes and, once again, risen up against them.
Through an infinity of nothingness, the two sides tussled. Never tiring and unable to die, the fighters fought without respite, whirling in patterns of ether and light, fleeing only to be recaptured, and securing their opponents only to have to eventually release them.
Two escapes were open: Earth and other planets of the galaxy, where they could live on within replicants, or a final defeat of their enemy within the void. If they could achieve both, victory would be sweet. They could live on forever within their corporeal and ethereal forms. They could enjoy physical pleasures and the freedom of the void, and move between the realms without restraint.
They had only to destroy the trapped humans and vanquish their ancient foe. Then, eternity and infinite space could be theirs.
Chapter Ten
Carl passed a hand over his eyes. Jas stopped the playback of what she’d witnessed inside the Shadow trap. They were alone in the basement of the Lees’ home. Sayen had refused to watch the replay of the vid. Seeing the events through the spy fox’s eyes as it had happened was plenty, she’d said, before going upstairs to talk to her parents. Carl was wishing he’d followed her lead.
Though the recording had been a confusion of figures and movement, He had seen enough detail to understand the terrible events. He didn’t think he would ever be able to forget the images of the men and women sinking—dissolving—into the floor, or erase from his memory their cries of terror and agony.
Jas had been able to view the scene first hand because she’d watched it through the surveillance device’s visual sensors. She’d estimated that if she’d been watching with human eyes, she wouldn’t have seen a thing in the darkness. The Shadows had retreated to another chamber, and the dim beams from their distant flashlights were the only illumination. The victims had acted as though they were blind.
“Krat,” Carl said. “I never even imagined what they went through. Margret, the officers on the Galathea, the governor on Dawn, and the soldiers...Jas, do you think that’s what happened to my parents?”
Jas reached out and took his hand. “I said I didn’t think you should watch. If you hadn’t insisted on seeing what the Shadows did, I wouldn’t have shown you. It’s probably best not to think about it.”
He placed his other hand over hers. “I get that you wanted to protect me, but I suppose it’s better that I know. We’ve got to destroy these misborns, Jas. We’ve got to take them out—forever.”
“I know.
And we will. We will. But wait a moment. Watch the next part.”
She restarted the vid. The human victims had entirely disappeared, absorbed by the Shadow trap floor, but the Shadows returned and stood as if waiting for something. They pointed their flashlights at one wall of the chamber.
After a short time, a bulge appeared in the wall. A lump of dark gray material protruded. A little farther down the wall, a similar bulge appeared.
“Look,” Jas said, pointing at the first gray lump.
Carl leaned forward to peer at the screen more closely. The surface was changing, melting like ice cream on a sunny day. The material shifted around, and lines and irregular shapes appeared. “It’s a face,” he exclaimed. “So, this is...?”
Jas nodded. “This is how the victims’ Shadows emerge. Watch.”
When the lump had changed into a recognizably human, dark gray head, it began to struggle, as if it were trying to fight its way out of the wall. A smaller lump appeared below the head, and another below that. The struggling head moved forward, dragging out a torso behind it. As the body appeared, it grew more defined. It moved out into the room, pulling its legs and arms free, until finally a human form stood unsteadily in the chamber.
While this was going on, more human-like figures were pushing through the wall and struggling free. Soon, a group of new Shadows were standing together, the same number as the victims who had been murdered. The aliens were breathing, taking on color, and moving about uncertainly. The original Shadows went forward to help them. It was like witnessing a set of bizarre, horrifying births.
After some time, when the new Shadows had gotten used to their bodies, all of them left the chamber. Jas turned off the recording.
Carl exhaled as tension left him. “What did you do then?” he asked.
“I had to follow them—at a distance,” Jas replied. “Even the visual sensors Sayen’s dad installed in the fox needed some light to operate, and it was pitch black in there. Without light, I would never have found my way out of the place. As well as the darkness, it’s a maze. I remember the same from the LIVs I conducted when we were aboard the Galathea. I needed my helmet’s navigation function to find my way out again. I guess that’s part of the trap. If you wander in, or you’re tempted or forced inside, I don’t know how anyone would ever find their way out. I don’t know how Haggardy did it.”
“Do you still think he’s a Shadow?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he is, or maybe he’s just the same misborn he’s always been. It doesn’t matter anymore. There were Shadows here on Earth before we returned. One more or less isn’t going to make a difference. But, Carl, we don’t know for sure if that’s what’s happened to your parents. No Shadows of them were waiting for you when you got home.”
“That’s right. I wouldn’t have stood a chance against two Shadows catching me by surprise.”
“I wonder what did happen to them.”
Carl smiled ruefully. “Knowing my folks, they wouldn’t have let themselves become victims of the Shadows. They’d rather have died.”
The significance of his words hit him, and he reached out to Jas and drew her close, burying his face in the crook of her neck. She wrapped her arms around him. They stayed that way for a while, until his emotions were spent.
Carl was exhausted. The last time he’d slept had been on the mountainside where Ozment had taken them. It seemed an age ago, and there would be no opportunity for rest that night. The bombardment from the Shadows was continuing, a dazzling display of power. They could break through at any moment. He and Makey had to take out the suppressor as soon as possible.
After that, who knew what would happen? It seemed likely that Carl’s next sleep would be his last, but now that he’d finally accepted that his parents were gone, maybe that didn’t matter so much anymore.
On the far side of the basement, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened. Sayen stepped out. “Have you two finished watching that vid yet? I came to tell you that the Shadow attack has stopped for the moment. The skies are clear.”
“Yeah, all done,” Jas replied. She turned off the screen.
“What do you think?” Sayen asked as she walked over. “Enough evidence to show the Council? Or do we need a real live Shadow too?”
“I guess the Council might be persuaded the vid’s been faked,” Jas replied, “but it’s enough to raise their suspicions, especially if your parents send it. Even so, I still think we should catch a Shadow and send them the positive result from the scanner. No one could argue with that, and it gives us something to do until the truck’s ready.”
“Great,” Sayen said. “I was getting bored just sitting around. Ha, it’s weird. I would never have wanted to do anything like this before. Now I can’t wait. I wish my brother were here. He always used to tease me for being a little mouse. I think he’d be proud of me.”
“We’re all proud of you,” Jas said.
“That’s right,” Carl said. “How are your parents doing with their alterations to the truck?”
“About another hour they said. You should see Makey. He’s in heaven. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier.”
“Do we have enough time for a short expedition?” Jas asked.
“Yeah, I think so. I’ll ask Daddy if he can turn off the defenses for a moment so we can go through the secret gate and arrange a time for him to turn off them off again so we can get in. What do you think?”
“Sounds good” Jas said. “I didn’t tell you,” she said to Carl. “After I came out of the trap, I found one of the Shadows asleep alone in a room. It shouldn’t take more than fifteen to twenty minutes to slip out, grab her, and slip back in again.”
“It’s a woman?” Carl asked.
“No, it’s that little girl you wanted me to grab when we arrived. For some reason, she’s sleeping apart from the adults. The others seem to be sticking in groups.”
Chapter Eleven
Sayen waited as Jas checked the time. They were in a wooded section of the estate, but near the house this time, at the secret gate.
“Thirty seconds,” Jas said.
They were wearing dark clothes, and Sayen’s father had given them a something to wear over their heads that covered their faces and necks. The material allowed them to breathe easily, but prevented light from reflecting off their faces and revealing them in the darkness. Both also carried two weapons strapped to their hips in case something went wrong and they had to protect themselves. Sayen was bringing a sedative to inject into the sleeping Shadow so that she wouldn’t wake up and raise the alarm.
“Fifteen seconds,” said Jas.
Sayen got ready to open the secret gate. Her father had pointed out the barely visible outline of it in the fence. Beyond that point, all was dark. The sky had clouded over and the moon and stars weren’t visible. Sayen blinked and used her night vision. She saw no forms other than the sparse desert plants. There was no sign of any movement.
They had to get the timing right. Touching the gate at the wrong moment would mean certain death. They had only five seconds to go through and close it behind them. They couldn’t risk turning off the defenses for longer. The aerial attack could recommence at any time. Once they were through, they had twenty minutes to find and bring back the Shadow. If they missed the time scheduled for their return, they would be locked out.
“Five, four, three, two—” Jas said.
Sayen reached out.
“One.”
She opened the gate. They stepped through, and she pulled it closed.
“Let’s go,” Jas said.
“Wait,” said Sayen. The gate had disappeared into the fence. Once they left it, they would have a hard time finding it again. “Get some rocks,” she said to Jas.
“I see what you mean. Good idea.”
She waited while Jas gathered a few rocks. After stacking them in a small pile in front of the gate, they set off to catch their Shadow.
Sayen was glad she had something to do while t
hey waited for her parents to prepare the truck for its assault on the Shadow’s suppressor. She knew she should really have gone to check on Erielle—the woman was unwell and alone in a strange house—but she couldn’t bring herself to. Not after their argument. She didn’t know what to make of what they’d both said. Her mother had told her that Erielle was spending most of the time asleep anyway.
The truth was, though she didn’t agree with the underworlder, she could see why she thought as she did. Though the arguments Sayen had used to defend her parents were all true, and she loved them deeply, she wasn’t sure she could excuse their lifestyle now that she’d heard Erielle’s opinion, not even to herself. Why were they so highly paid? Did they really deserve everything they had? What had they meant when they said they helped the work against 'enemies of the Government’? How were the devices they made used? Were they used for good? Could her parents even tell?
On the other hand, Sayen was sure that all the money in the world couldn’t fix what was wrong with their society, nor improve the lives of the worst off, like the underworlders, over the long term. So, in a way, both she and Erielle were right. She just didn’t think she would ever get the woman to see it that way. The underworlder was passionate about the inequalities and injustices she saw.
It seemed inevitable that they would have to part ways. There could be no future for two people with such different backgrounds and who held such different views. Sayen just didn’t feel ready to have that conversation with Erielle yet.
They were nearing the road. “Crossing that is going to be the toughest part,” said Jas. “Lights from the Shadows’ building reveal everything for quite a distance. We’ll have to go far out of our way to cross in darkness. That’s why I told your father we needed twenty minutes.”
“Okay,” Sayen replied, though it seemed they would be cutting it very fine. She supposed Jas knew what she was doing.