Endure: Book 5 in The Trapped In The Hollow Earth Novelette Series

by Peebles, Chrissy

  Behind them, the double doors opened wide. Casey turned in time to see a slim figure, a few inches shorter than Mike, walking into the room. Huge, black eyes stared back at her, almost swallowing the bright light. The figure cocked its oversized, bald head, lids blinking rapidly like a reptile, then inched closer and stretched out a hand, as though it wanted to grab hold of her.

  Chapter 5

  Casey froze, and her heart jumped in her chest. The being wore a one-piece, tight-fitting grey suit with black boots. It had two small openings for a nose, thin slits for lips, and no ears. An alien? Yes, unmistakably. In fact, the being looked exactly like one of the famous aliens from Roswell, New Mexico, but Casey was sure it couldn’t be. Everyone knew the photos were fakes, staged by people to make a few bucks. She peered down and pinched her arm hard to make sure once again that she wasn’t dreaming.

  “Whoa.” Mike held his arm out to Casey. “Can you try me too?”

  Her heart pounded, and she took a few long steps back, glancing at Mike. “Oh man. He looks like the beings that chased us and took Jack.”

  Mike threw his arms up in the air, his voice dramatic. “It’s official. We’re doomed. The War of the Worlds has begun.”

  General Ashtar put a hand on his shoulder. “There is no need to worry. I assure you that Thorn is on our side.” He turned to make the official introduction. “Thorn, this is Mike and Casey. Mike and Casey, this is Thorn.”

  Casey had to wonder why the general hadn’t bothered to tell them that the third pilot, his so-called “good friend” wasn’t even human. It would’ve been nice to know so she could have prepared herself for the shock. “He’s…it’s an…” She paused, hesitating to say the word, in case Thorn would understand and be insulted.

  “Ya think?” smiled Mike. “We’ve been around aliens for hours. What’s the difference now?”

  “The others might be tall, but at least they appear human. This one doesn’t,” she whispered, her eyes wide. “It’s like a close encounter of the third kind.”

  “Interaction with an alien—in other words, meeting me,” said Thorn in a high-pitched, almost squeaky voice.

  Casey jumped, surprised that he sounded just like a kid—a very young kid.

  His eyes continued to stay fixed on her. “But don’t be embarrassed. I won’t take it personally.”

  Now, General Ashtar’s words made sense. Thorn couldn’t activate the microchip because he wasn’t human. It’d be up to Casey and Mike.

  “Greetings,” said Mike.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Thorn held up his hand as though in a peace sign. “My leaders sent me down here to stop the rebel troops. Do you wish to save the human population from being destroyed?”

  Casey stared at his long fingers, his odd black nails, and skin that seemed as dry as leather. “Is this a trick question? Of course we want to save the people living here.” For a moment, all she could do was stare at him. He was the third pilot, and choosing him made perfect sense. He was thin and likely weighed less than she did. Still, she was going to find it difficult to work alongside an alien that looked exactly like the ones that had given chase inside the cave. It was going to take much more than a polite introduction from him if he was to earn her trust. “But why do you want to save humanity if you’re not even human?” she asked bluntly, not really caring about manners.

  Thorn shrugged, wide-eyed, as though he didn’t see that one coming. “It’s barbaric to destroy billions of Earthlings just to steal their planet and call it your own. That would be barbaric to treat any beings like that. Besides, I like the people living here.”

  “Fair enough.” She didn’t want to point out that not all people were worth loving, and some might run for the hills at his sight. Others might stop to gawk, laugh, or stare in awe. Then there were the ones like those white-suited guys in E.T. who would have their own agenda. They might want to prod and experiment on Thorn just like the aliens were probably doing to Jack.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” said Thorn.

  She had to wonder if it was true. She peered at him interested, waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, she said, “Okay, I’ll bite. What am I thinking?”

  “You can’t trust me because I look just like them—the bad guys.”

  She let out a long breath, then frowned. “I’m sorry.”

  Thorn waved his hand in the air. “It is understandable. You’ve probably gone through a lot, and I don’t blame you, but the people here trust me, and so should you. If our mission fails, I’ve just as much to lose as you.”

  “Do you have much experience flying these things?” asked Mike.

  “Only hundreds of years.” Thorn laughed and pointed behind him. “I’m a Grey, and this is my ship.”

  Mike shook his head, impressed. “So what’s the scoop on the bad guys anyway?”

  “Many years ago, Shiek Tio, now known as Commander Tio, became the leader of a dangerous band of criminals, after what your scientists did back in 1961.”

  Casey wrung her hands at the thought that humans had created this mess. “According to Orthon, they lost the probe.”

  “Yes. It crashed on our planet, poisoning our atmosphere. Thousands of my people joined his crazy cause, seeking revenge. They made plans to take over Earth, but the problem was that their bodies weren’t compatible with the bacteria in your atmosphere. So they spent the next fifty years studying your planet, working on military strategies, and developing a vaccine until a solution was found.”

  “So if they’re trying to take over now, they obviously conquered the bacteria problem,” said Casey.

  Thorn nodded. “Yes, in the form of an injection. It took many years, but the rebel scientists finally came up with the perfect vaccination.”

  “Which you obviously took, or else you wouldn’t be down here,” Casey retorted.

  “Yes. General Ashtar got his hands on some vials for my team and me.”

  “But why do they experiment on humans?” asked Mike.

  “Millions of our people were killed immediately. Millions more are still dying. Commander Tio is looking for a cure, so he wants to crossbreed your DNA with ours. All humans will work for their experiments, but the best candidates are dark-haired Agarthians, which are very hard to come by. The rebels will do anything to get their hands on one.”

  Casey blew out a long breath. “Been there, done that.”

  “The rebel Greys are giving our people a bad name, so my government wants them caught and punished. My team’s been tracking them down.”

  “Well, all things considered, it’s nice to meet you,” Casey finally conceded, and her muscles relaxed. It was good to know they had Thorn and his people on their side. Score one for the good guys.

  Mike moved closer and extended his hand, grabbing Thorn’s in a tight grip. “I guess you could say we’re partners then. You said there were more of you. What happened to your friends?”

  Thorn pulled back his hand, staring at the ground. “My team was shot down yesterday. I’m afraid I am the sole survivor.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” Casey wished she could say it was all for a good cause, but she couldn’t since the battle wasn’t won yet. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was going through. If she had lost Mike and Jack and was left alone to finish their mission, she’d surely lose her mind.

  Mike inched closer, muttering under his breath, “General, can we trust him?”

  The general nodded. “Thorn has a pure heart and is a legend in our galaxy. He even saved my life on a mission once. He’s our very own hero.” The general placed his hand on Thorn’s shoulder. “You’re always willing to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, my friend.”

  It was heartwarming to hear that such a small creature could have saved such a big guy.

  Casey smiled when the general turned toward her and Mike, “Our fate rests in your hands. Will you assist us?”

  No one had ever asked her anything so important
, and she felt a tear gathering in the corner of her eye with the weight of it. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to ask a question that’d been on her mind all along. “You never told us what’ll happen if we get caught.” She had to know. “Will they kill us?” Her voice caught slightly as she imagined being forced to walk off the plank of some spaceship, only to plummet into outer space forever.

  Mike averted her gaze. “Of course they will. The only question is how.”

  She swallowed hard against her racing pulse. It shouldn’t have come as such a surprise, but he was right. She’d known it all along.

  General Ashtar hesitated before answering. “They’ll put you into a coma-like state called deep sleep and take you back to their base for experimentation.”

  “Whoa, dude!” Mike held up a hand. “Give me Jaws any day. At least I can try to fight and kick those off, but you’re talking about little green men who want to probe my brain. Give me one good reason why I should sign up for that.”

  Casey’s breath caught in her throat. She so desperately wanted it to all be a nightmare she could wake up from, but it wasn’t that simple. “What kind of experiments?” Her voice trailed off in a quiver. She took a deep breath and then let it out again. She put up a trembling hand, the salty, metallic smell of blood suddenly invading her nostrils. She cringed, and her gut feeling told her Mike would be in just as much trouble. Yes, he was a big guy, but even he wasn’t immune to torture.

  General Ashtar towered above her with a desperate look on his face. He peered into her eyes, as if she was his only hope. “I know how you feel. I get it. But destiny has chosen you.”

  “Oh my gosh! The more I think about it, the more I know he’s right.” Mike grabbed Casey’s hands, staring at her with wide, shiny eyes. “Out of all the people who could’ve landed on their doorstep, it was us. Destiny chose you and me! Us, Casey—no one else but us. Think of it like this…our tides of life—yours and mine—connecting in one single purpose to—”

  Pulling her hands back, she had to interrupt him. “I’m onboard, so you can stop. How’s your pain tolerance?”

  Mike’s brow furrowed, as he seemed to ponder the question. “I admit, the idea of getting caught is scary, but if we stay down here, we’re as good as dead, just like everyone on this planet. We have to think about your mom and dad, about our family and friends, about Jack. They’re worth the risk of getting caught.”

  “I’m not scared,” Casey said, because she was far beyond that, but she wasn’t about to let Mike see it. Anyway, he had a point: Jack was worth the risk, and so was everyone else she knew.

  “So will you do it?” General Ashtar’s compassionate blue eyes stared into hers as he waited for her answer. His entire world and hers depended on what she and Mike decided.

  Pushing her fears to the back of her mind, she took a deep breath to focus. There was no way she could refuse. After all, they were Earth’s last chance. She couldn’t bear to think of Jack all alone on that alien mothership. He was the reason she took the injection earlier. It was all about getting him back, and the dangers she faced weren’t important anymore. All that mattered was seeing Jack again. “When do we get started? Jack’s waiting.”

  Mike beamed at her as the general continued, “Soon. Once you accomplish your objective, you may begin a rescue operation to find your friend. If all goes well…” The sudden hesitation in his voice didn’t escape her. “If all goes well, you’ll be allowed to return home.”

  That made it clear that the general really didn’t even know if Jack was still alive. It wasn’t the greatest pep talk, but at least he didn’t try to smash her hopes. “We’ll survive, and we’ll find Jack. We have to.” She straightened, setting her jaw as her eyes locked on his. Grasping his cold fingers, she firmly shook his hand. “General, you have a deal.”

  General Ashtar clapped Mike’s shoulder, his face stern, his lips set into a grim line. “What do you think? Your answer could mean the difference between life and death.”

  Mike nodded. “I’m in, no doubt about it, but do you think you could throw in a pair of shoes?” He laughed, pointing at his bare feet.

  Thorn’s voice rang behind her. “Yes, paddling across the floor might not help us stay inconspicuous once we get in.”

  “All your needs will be met. Now, please follow me to the vessel.” The general’s heavy boots echoed as he walked to the low arch carved in the thick wall.

  “I can’t believe we’re going inside an alien spaceship.” Casey followed, her gaze fixed on the matte material.

  Mike ran his hand across the smooth metal. Following his lead, she touched the side of the ship. It was as thin as aluminum but cold and hard as marble. It didn’t have any insignia, seams, or welding marks, and it seemed to be made in one piece, as though someone had just carved it out of a huge aluminum mountain. Her fingers tingled as she pressed her palm harder, leaving a wet print that disappeared almost instantly. There were no greasy stains and no need to polish. “Wow. If we could patent this stuff, we’d be richer than the Facebook guy.”

  “Are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” whispered Mike. “Let’s get a tiny piece to analyze later. I bet this stuff could make us millions.”

  She held up a finger. “Don’t you dare. If they see you trying to steal stuff, they’ll change their minds and never let us go.” Her palm lingered on the brilliant, mirror-like surface. “It feels like stainless steel, but I don’t think it’s made of that.”

  “You’re correct,” came Thorn’s voice from behind. “The material’s called reticuluium, a lightweight metal that’s very strong, thin, and nearly indestructible.”

  Mike shook his head. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Do you have a sample?”

  Cocking an eyebrow, Casey elbowed him. “Did you say, ‘nearly indestructible’? Then how were you shot down?”

  “Good point,” said Mike. “Ask as many questions as you can think of. That’ll help us in our research later.”

  The general shot her a questioning look. If Mike didn’t keep it together, he’d blow their chances of ever going back home. She laughed, hoping it sounded genuine enough. “I’m so sorry for my friend here. He’s a bit, uh…” She tapped a finger on her temple, making a cuckoo noise. “You should’ve seen him the first time he discovered the remote control to his TV set. I couldn’t peel him away from it for a whole month. And then the toaster. Now that experience will—”

  “Whatever,” Mike said in her ear. “She’s so exaggerating! Who wouldn’t know how to use a remote control or a toaster?”

  Thorn raised his eyebrows and continued, “The rebel Greys scrambled our signals, jamming our equipment. When we crashed, the Fotina crystals burst, allowing lethal gas to leak out. I opened the doors immediately and headed down the ramp, but I passed out. When I awoke, everyone was…” He paused, as if he couldn’t dare to say the words.

  “I’m sorry, Thorn,” said Mike.

  “That’s so sad. If there’s anything I can do…” Casey let her voice trail off, hoping he could hear how genuine she was.

  Thorn slowly blinked his eyes. “Thanks for your concern. General Ashtar was nice enough to replace the Fotina crystals and restore the ship, so we’re in good shape once again. I wish I could think of a way to get around the weight requirement with the pilot seats in the cockpit, but it’s far too complicated and not my area of expertise. I’m a field agent and not a scientist.”

  Mike glanced up. “So what’s the secret to getting in?”

  Casey scanned the ship surface for an entryway. “Maybe on the side. Hmm…where’s the front of this thing?”

  Thorn chuckled.

  She heard a loud click, and a small panel slid open, revealing a previously hidden door. A steep ramp descended ten feet to the ground. Casey jumped a step back, her hand flying up to calm her fluttering heart. “Boy, that startled me.”

  “I’ll wait out here,” said General Ashtar, shifting the weight of his massive frame from one foot to the other. “The do
orway’s not really designed for me.”

  Thorn’s slim body moved easily up the ramp and through the entrance, and Casey took that as her cue to follow him.

  Cool air fanned over Casey as she stood frozen in the doorway. She felt a rush of energy passing through her. Glancing around the interior, she trembled at her first glimpse inside a flying saucer. The inside seemed to be made of the same strange material. With her heart pounding like a drum, she walked in slowly, her head high and her fingers barely touching things as she traced the surfaces. The floor shimmered like polished tiles, each carved block casting a soft glow across the deck. The ceiling featured pictures of plants, geometric figures, crosses, animals, and birds. The odd symbols and designs resembled Egyptian hieroglyphics, painted in a variety of colors. They seemed so out of place in a civilization that was supposed to have descended from another planet. With a little more confidence, she walked to the center of the room. Various lights flashed across graphs and star charts, computers, and sophisticated equipment covering the walls.

  Thorn motioned with his hand. “There are three levels, and we are on the second. The top level is for storage. The lower level is the propulsion system, which runs everything.” He pointed to a flight of stairs. “Follow me.”

  The metal staircase wound down to a giant room filled with hot, stuffy air and more than two dozen long, icicle-shaped crystals lining the walls. Each stood ten feet high and was five feet wide at the base. Blue sparks chased each other across the surface, and through the crystalline structure, gold, silver, and platinum-colored coils or wires encased them all. A low, powerful hum reverberated off the walls, as if singing in harmony with the ship’s systems.

  Thorn walked past her and pointed toward the shiny figures. “We use crystal technology to store and transmit power. Each has a flawless, polished surface to ensure a constant flow of energy.”