by R J Johnson
“Course, we still have to figure out which shoulder…”
“Uh huh…” Emily said. She was staring at a photo that showed Orion’s belt in startling detail. Watching Emily become lost in the work, Christina decided to bring her friend back down to planet Earth.
“Are you okay?”
Emily looked at her friend annoyed. “Are you really gonna keep asking me that question?”
“I’ll ask it as often as I think you need to hear it,” Christina shot back. “Your head has to be so screwed up…”
“And I’ll deal with that when I need to,” Emily said firmly. “Until then, I’m going to compartmentalize. If we’re really the world’s only hope of figuring out just where the hell those stones came from, then I don’t have time to be breaking down every five minutes.”
“I’m just surprised you’re still going,” Christina said, softening her tone. No need to piss her friend off. “You’ve been at it since we were taken…”
Emily didn’t answer, she just kept flipping through the same five images on the screen in front of her.
“You’re not gonna find any answers in there,” Christina said softly.
Emily threw the photos down on the desk in a huff. She looked over at her friend with daggers in her eyes. “Chris, will you please knock it off? I’m not some delicate flower ready to burst into tears anytime you bring up Max!”
“Bullshit,” Christina said firmly. “You’re nuts if you don’t think Max’s death hasn’t affected you. You just watched a man die in your arms. No one walks away from that unaffected, not unless you’re some sort of emotional zombie.”
“Maybe it has, maybe it hasn’t,” Emily replied the strain in her voice revealing the thin line of temper waiting to be unleased. Waving her arms around she continued, “The only thing I keep thinking about is how if I sit around in a puddle of tears, I might lose even more than Max. I’m tired. I’m hurt. But I’m here and that’s all that’s important. We’ve stumbled into the greatest mystery in human history. We might even solve it. Who knows what could happen over the next few days? But none of that will matter if we don’t find this star that’s supposed to kill us all.”
She WAS tired, but that wasn’t important. She’d found alien life. When she was a child, the idea of her contacting alien life had seemed so inevitable to her. Star Wars, Star Trek and a thousand other movies had made it so easy to imagine.
But, as she grew up and learned more about science and how the universe worked, that dream faded. To her dismay, she learned how the stars were impossibly distant from each other and how it would take multiple lifetimes to get to even the nearest star. She learned how the speed of light kept the radio waves emitted by other civilizations frustratingly slow in a universe defined by its vastness. Even limited to their own galaxy, the time needed for a signal to cross any significant distance in her lifetime made her work pretty much moot.
So, it had been with some regret that after some years of working in astrophysics and astrobiology, she’d given up on her childhood dream of ever actually communicating with an alien life form. She’d made peace with the idea that her brains and determination were better used in answering other aspects about space.
Even when Kline stood her in front of the crystal door in Joshua Tree, she hadn’t wanted to believe she was speaking with actual, real live aliens. She wanted to chalk it up to some bizarre hoax. Something a bored billionaire might’ve cooked up as a plot to make his life more interesting.
But, after entering the chamber, hearing the voices, and seeing what Alex, Kline and even her Max could do with those stones, the conclusion was clear. There was alien life out there amongst the cosmos, and for some reason, she was wrapped up in all of it. She wasn’t going to question why she had received a second chance at her dream, but she was about to let a thing distract her.
Not even Max’s death.
“But…”
“Chris,” Emily’s voice became weary, “I know you’re only trying to help. You’re right. Maybe that makes me a cold fish to pour myself into this. But honestly, it’s the only thing I know that will keep me going…”
She sighed and shook her head, “I don’t know what those stones are. I don’t know why they drove Max crazy. I don’t know why I’m the one who has to come up with the answers to those impossible questions. But I am, and we’re here. If I want to make my fiancé’s death mean anything, then I HAVE to figure out what these stones are doing here and why I’m somehow at the center of it all.”
She turned, looking up at Christina, her eyes pleading with her, “The only way I’m going to get through this is through figuring out what the hell is really going on. Then, and only then, I promise I’ll deal with everything.”
Christina regarded her for a moment and slowly nodded, “I’m with ya, but if you start acting like an idiot, I’ll getting you the hell outta here.”
Emily felt relief flood her body and she smiled for the first time in two days. “Fair enough.”
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Emily and Christina glanced up and then at each other.
“Was Curtis coming back tonight?” Emily asked, referring to Christina’s old roommate who had helped them get time on the telescope.
“No, he said he locked up behind us,” Emily replied. She found herself wishing that Alex was nearby with that healing stone of his. Or, failing that, some kind of weapon.
“Stay here,” Christina warned. She stood and crossed the room, peeking out the window. She glanced back in alarm to Emily.
“Who is it?” Emily asked.
“I’m not sure…” Christina said.
“Ms. Harper?” the voice called out. “Ms. Ip?”
Christina and Emily’s eyes went wide. No one, not even the other scientists who worked at the complex even knew they were here. They’d talked to Christina’s old professor and he’d been kind enough to let them in and use his workspace while he was away at a conference.
“What do we do?” Christina whispered frantically to Emily.
Emily was at a loss. She hadn’t expected anyone to find them. They’d been so careful.
The knocking continued, this time sounding more insistent. “Ms. Harper, I know you and Ms. Ip are in there. I can assure you, I intend you no harm you. In fact, I… I need your help…”
They exchanged nervous glances with each other, both of them wondering exactly who was on the other side of the door. Whoever it was knew their real names which meant they were in trouble. Without anywhere else to retreat to, Emily gave a slight nod and Christina unlocked the door, opening it for their visitor.
Nathaniel Ash stood there on the porch, looking smart in a suit and tie. He held his credentials out in front of him in his right hand.
“Ms. Harper, Ms. Ip. I can’t tell you how relieved we are to see you alive,” Ash said stepping inside quickly. Christina closed the door, watching the man suspiciously.
“You expected something worse?” Emily asked.
“After the incident at the ATA, a lot of very important people became worried when you were reported missing,” Ash said smoothly.
“How did you find us?” Christina asked, stepping around Ash and staring at him.
“I’m with the National Recognizance Office…” Ash replied, as if that answered everything.
Christina raised an eyebrow, “I was referring to your name, or perhaps some credentials.”
Ash glanced at Christina, chewing the bottom of his lip. He thought for a moment and withdrew a billfold. He tossed it over to the young Asian woman who hadn’t taken her eyes off of him.
“See for yourself if you don’t believe me…” Ash said. He returned his glance to Emily. “Besides, I think you know why I’m here…”
Emily felt herself go still. She still had no idea who this man was or what he wanted. Better to play her cards close to the chest for now. “Let’s pretend I don’t…”
Ash eyed her for a moment and he hesitated as if debating something
.
Christina unfolded the credentials and looked at the ID card. Her eyes went wide in recognition.
“Two days ago, one of the world’s richest men came to the ATA and attacked the complex, destroying several vehicles and performing feats of strength that would normally be considered impossible. Witnesses say that you and Ms. Ip here were taken…” his eyes slide over to Christina and back at Emily. “And yet, here you two are, happy, healthy and deciphering the mysteries of the universe.”
“That’s what they pay us the big bucks for,” Emily said dryly.
“And then there’s the matter of Maxwell Collier…” Ash said.
Emily felt her back go stiff at the mention of her fiancé’s name. Ash smiled.
“Ahh, so you already know what happened to him…” Ash said. He leaned forward, his expression serious. “I’m so very sorry for your loss…”
“What do you want?” Emily asked, hearing her voice crack for the first time.
“Rupert Kline has become too dangerous for one man to handle on his own,” Ash began. “And I believe you know exactly where that strength of his comes from.”
“No idea…” Emily said.
“No?” Ash asked, moving closer to Emily. “No idea? It’s nothing we’ve come up with I can assure you. Perhaps, something… otherworldly.”
“You’re talking aliens,” Emily said in a monotone.
“They don’t pay me to make distinctions like that,” Ash said, chuckling. “I’m only here as a representative of the United States Government to figure out what the hell is going on and where these people are getting these powers from.”
He leaned forward, staring directly into Emily’s eyes, speaking softly. “And I believe you’re the only one who can help me stop these madmen before a lot more good people get hurt.”
Emily felt her resolve soften. Of course someone in the government was trying to figure out what was going on. No one could possibly run around playing with fire like Collier had without arousing some alarm bells. If there was a real-life X-Files type of department in the US government, it stood to reason that a man summoning fire and another with mega-strength had people curious.
“Why me?” she asked softly.
“Because you’re involved in this Emily,” Ash said. “I don’t know how, or why, but two men you’re involved with have popped up with superpowers and I don’t chalk that up to coincidence.”
She gasped, and Christina made a surprised face.
“Don’t act so surprised, of course I know all about Alex and his stone. I’m here to find answers and hopefully keep anyone else from getting killed. So far, because of these blasted stones, we’ve had a national park destroyed, one of our Federal Reserves has been looted and a nuclear plant nearly melted down. That doesn’t even count the couple dozen fire and police officers who lost their lives over the last forty-eight hours.”
“What do you think I can tell you?” Emily asked.
Ash leaned back and sighed shaking his head. “To be honest Ms. Harper, I have no idea. All I know is that you’re involved. My directive is to get these things contained and keep them far away from any power hungry madmen who’d use ‘em for nefarious purposes.”
“And you think we can help?” Emily asked surprised.
Ash shrugged, “I’m betting if I stick close to you, I’ll run into someone holding onto a stone sooner rather than later.”
“And then?”
“And then we take them into custody,” Ash said firmly.
Emily glanced at Christina who was shaking her head mouthing something. Emily couldn’t tell what it was, so she returned her attention back to the tall blonde man standing in the room.
“What about the gamma ray burst?” Christina asked.
“The what?” he asked, confused.
“Gamma ray burst,” Emily said filling him in. “From what we’ve learned so far, there’s a gamma ray burst heading directly for our planet. Once that hits us, you can say goodbye to all life on the planet. There would be nothing left.”
“You’re sure of this?” Ash asked.
“Those stones were sent here for a reason,” Christina said firmly. “Whoever dropped them off on the planet here supposedly did so to help us protect the planet from a catastrophic explosion from a nearby star.”
“You really think that?” Ash scoffed. “That’d be like handing a toddler a nuclear weapon.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Emily said. “We think if we can find the star about to explode then maybe we can figure out how to use the stones to deflect the energy away from the planet.”
“Sounds ambitious…” Ash commented.
“The more we know about where these stones come from, the better chance we have at stopping this disaster. It’s the best plan we’ve got,” Emily said. “Why on earth should we trust you?”
Ash’s eyes darted back and forth between Emily and Christina. He thought for a moment.
“Because I’m the only one left in this world you CAN trust…” Ash said mysteriously.
He offered the iPad out for Emily to examine. When she did, she let out an audible gasp.
Christina looked over her friend’s shoulder in alarm, “What? What is it?”
Emily looked down at the grizzled face of Jason McCray. It was the same file Kline had shown her at the Mesa about Alex’s activities, but this file wasn’t redacted. It was all declassified, there for her to read and learn who Alex had been over the last six years.
And if the first paragraph was accurate, she wasn’t going to like the rest of the file.
“I think we need to talk…” Ash said gently, touching Emily’s arm.
She allowed herself to be drawn closer to this strange man. Her whole life had been turned upside so often over the last few days she wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
All she did know was that she deserved the truth.
No matter what the cost.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lorelei Decklund stood outside the European MARS Security headquarters in Berlin, Germany. After discovering she had the ability to control the very earth that stood under her feet, she’d run as far and as fast as she could.
She withdrew the crystal stone from her pocket and examined it once again. She could feel the pure power imbued within the stone flowing through his entire body. It was as if she were holding a live wire in her hand.
She approached the complex cautiously, wondering what her next move should be. MARS Security had assured her they’d taken steps to track her husband, but she was skeptical.
There was one other way he might be able to track him down. The MARS Security Corporation kept a watchful eye on their subjects using a sophisticated satellite tracking system. If their incompetence hadn’t helped her husband by now, then it was up to her to find him for herself. She couldn’t depend on them. For all she knew, they were the reason her husband’s crew had been attacked.
Most of all, she wanted to know why they had failed to keep her husband safe.
She clutched the stone in her hand and concentrated. The ground below her split open with the sound of tearing fabric as a sizable hole opened up beneath her. Lorelei sank into the ground, disappearing from view.
She moved through the ground, using the incredible power of the stone to fluidly move her body through the bedrock. It was strange. She felt at home within the surrounding earth and was able to move through it as gracefully as if it were water, and not dirt, rocks and solid cement.
The stone also gave her the ability to sense what was surrounded her at every moment. She could see every building, every rock, and every speck of dirt, all in a vivid picture in her mind’s eye. She was even able to tell where they were, what they were made of and how the stone could manipulate it out of her way. Every nearby building appeared in her mind’s eye, giving her a perfect map of where she was going with her stone. She found that if she concentrated hard enough, she was even able to devise the details of the floor plans within.
> Lorelei emerged within a janitor’s closet on the second floor and looked down in dismay at the dirt that covered her hair and clothing.
A mirror, dirty from years of disuse, was hung on the door. Lorelei glanced at the reflection and grimaced. She wouldn’t get far looking like this.
She snapped her fingers and every speck of dirt fell from her clothing, face and body. Lorelei examined her image in the mirror again, her clothing looking now as if it had come direct from the cleaners.
She stepped out of the janitor’s closet and headed down the hallway of MARS Security in search of answers about her kidnapped husband.
Chapter Thirty
Emily and Christina watched Ash talk on his phone to someone half a world away. He’d promised them answers, but had needed to take a call. While they were waiting, Christina suggested they get something to eat. They were fifty miles away from any restaurant, so, Christina and Emily had made do with some takeout left behind by one of the scientists.
“Not cool to steal someone else’s food in the work fridge,” Emily said, watching Christina remove the reheated leftovers from the microwave.
“If they didn’t want me to steal it, they would’ve labeled it. Or locked the fridge. Or gotten something disgusting I wouldn’t normally eat. As is it, this Moko Loko is just the thing to keep my stomach from eating itself.”
“Nice,” Emily said. She had to admit, her stomach was rumbling and wasn’t too concerned about where the food would come from.
Taking a plate for each of them, Emily and Christina began walking back to the observatory where Ash was still talking on his phone. Christina edged closer to Emily and nodded to the mysterious Corporal.
“Do you trust him?” Christina asked.
“No more than anyone else I’ve met over the last forty-eight hours,” Emily replied without a hint of sarcasm. “Besides, if the file he gave me is even half accurate, we’ll need someone like him to help us.”
“That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence,” Christina said through a mouthful of food.