Raging at the Stars

by Lesley Davis

“Emory!”

  Sofia used her officer’s voice, but, like always, Emory paid it no heed. She just ran toward the grays.

  “Where does that pipe go, Dink?” Emory asked.

  “It’s not for drainage, that’s for sure,” he replied. “I’m just bringing up the lay of the land. I’ve found some old geographical maps of that area. It looks like we may have some sort of hidey hole out there for something hidden much deeper underground.”

  Still running, Emory managed to wrap the gun’s strap over her shoulder to free up her hands. She pulled something out of her pocket.

  “Oh my God! Don’t you dare fucking drop that!” Dink screamed in her ear. He’d obviously caught sight of what she was holding via his view through her glasses.

  Emory could hear footsteps rapidly gaining behind her. Sofia was heading across the field. She was still dropping aliens with expert head shots that Emory was totally in awe of. Before she could change her mind or chicken out, Emory pulled the pin from the grenade.

  “Fire in the hole!” she yelled as she threw it as high and as hard as she could. It flew through the air, well across the field to where the aliens were congregating trying to squeeze down the narrow pipe. The grenade landed among them as they crowded together, taking it in with them.

  The fierce explosion blew apart the pipe and ripped the surrounding land to shreds. Pieces of alien flew high into the air. The force from the blast knocked Emory on her ass. She was sitting there watching the dead alien bodies hit the dirt with dull thuds when Sofia reached her side. Sofia grabbed at her arm and shook her roughly.

  “Are you crazy?” she shouted as debris still rained on the ground.

  Emory was pleased to note there was very little left of the pipe and that the rubble had buried it. That hidey hole was blocked to anything now. The explosion had also wiped out most of the aliens. All that was left were ones torn to pieces on the ground, screeching as they died in agony. Emory shifted the gun back into her hands. “I won’t waste any bullets this time.” She stalked over to where the few remaining aliens lay writhing in the dirt.

  “Where did you learn to throw a grenade like that?” Sofia asked, keeping up right beside her, her own gun at the ready.

  “Softball, of course. The start of many a young girl’s lesbian leanings.” She turned the gun so its butt was facing downward. “Time for a different game.” She held the butt above an alien’s bulbous head. She stared into the black eyes, seeing nothing but herself reflected off the lens. It’s squealing was reaching an ear-splitting high as it writhed on the ground. “Do you understand me? Do you understand English?” It showed no comprehension at all at her voice. “Where are the abductees? Where do you take the humans you kidnap?” Emory’s short fuse was rapidly burning out. She knew she wasn’t going to get any answers. “Then it’s time we play ‘Whack a Martian.’” She slammed the butt of her gun down with a satisfying crunch that stopped the creature’s terrible wail. Emory wiped the oily residue off the gun on the grass.

  “That’s for Ellie.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The field was full of the prettiest buttercups and daises Emory had ever seen. She plucked a bright yellow bloom from its stem and twirled it gently between her finger and thumb. The sunlight sparkled off the yellow petals. Emory turned her face up to the sky. Picture-perfect clouds drifted by. Everything was beautiful.

  Then the sky darkened and the clouds began to shift in shape. They stretched until they morphed into the familiar shape of flying saucers. They blotted out the sun, turning the air cold. The shadows they cast left Emory straining to see. Like a sudden shower of rain, little gray aliens began falling from the saucers. They hit the ground and quickly covered it. They landed all around Emory, filling the field completely with bodies. The saucers took off and the blue sky returned. The buttercups and daises were all gone, buried under the writhing, squealing corpses of little gray aliens.

  Emory slammed her hands over her ears, desperate to block the sound out as the screams burrowed through her brain until it was all she knew. She took a step, stumbling over the bodies before her.

  “Tell me where my family is,” she demanded over the row. She stared into their black eyes, searching for one who’d give her what she needed. “Tell me where they are.” She kicked out at one. Its screaming escalated. The noise was excruciating, like nails dragging down a chalkboard.

  “Tell me! Tell me where my family is!” Emory screamed, climbing over the sea of bodies shifting and undulating like waves on an endless sea.

  She slammed her boot across the neck of one alien, cutting off the pitiful noise it was making. “Where are my family?” Emory said again. “Or I promise I will blow this whole field up and all of you with it.” A grenade appeared in her hand and she wiggled the pin.

  The black eyes stared at her, expressionless and empty. Its fingers scraped at her boot. Emory eased the pressure off of its scrawny neck.

  “Where is my family?”

  Its eyes never altered as it gasped for breath. She watched as its mouth appeared to form words, its lips moving, making shapes. It even appeared to smile. A cruel curling of its mouth, a sneer of self-satisfaction.

  “Where are they?” Emory asked one last time.

  It finally hissed out an answer. Its voice had a chilling tone.

  “Dead.”

  Emory woke with such a start she ended up being slammed back into her seat by the seat belt fastened across her chest. Her hands were outstretched, grasping at something, still caught up in the dream. She realized her fingers were fumbling to pull out an imaginary pin.

  “Fuck!” she panted, trying desperately to wake up completely and leave the dream behind.

  “You okay over there?” Sofia asked from the driver’s seat. “I was just getting ready to nudge you because you seemed to be getting agitated.”

  No shit, Emory thought as she scrubbed at her face to try to erase all traces of her slumber. “Who knew killing an alien would be like eating cheese before bedtime? I hate having nightmares. I was just revisiting my less than finest moment losing my temper over that freaking alien.”

  “It did hold a crazy kind of heroic charm. Except for you promptly throwing up after it.”

  “Yeah, there’s a reason why I was never invited along on the hunting trips my dad and brother went on.” Emory was trying to remember how she even got back in the van. She vaguely remembered Sofia escorting her away from the battered remains of the alien and dragging her back up the ridge. She’d been silent the whole way and had collapsed into the passenger seat. Eventually, she had drifted off into a fitful sleep, exhausted after the adrenaline rush of her first ever up close and personal kill.

  “I hate to say it, but you’ll have to come to terms with it sooner rather than later. It’s probably not going to be the only alien you’ll kill point-blank given the chance. We’re at war here.” Sofia pushed a bag into Emory’s lap. “Eat. I haven’t seen you stuffing your face for at least an hour. You must be starving.”

  Emory opened the bag of chips and ate automatically. “How much longer to the base?”

  “You weren’t asleep that long, Emory. There’s still a few hours to go in the journey.”

  Emory nodded, still shaken by her dream. “Are you okay?” She had to ask. Emory didn’t know which was more unnerving—the Sofia she’d seen in a full-blown rage earlier, or this Sofia driving the van who seemed uncharacteristically calm now.

  Sofia looked at Emory. “I’m not the one who’s risked her life three times in as many days. Do you have some sort of a death wish, Emory? Because I’m seeing a peculiar pattern here.”

  Emory considered what Sofia was getting at. “Three times? Really?”

  “Your foolhardy foray into Area 51 for starters. Then there’s you throwing yourself at an abduction beam. And now you’re running with grenades in your pockets and blowing up drainage pipes.” Sofia shook her head at her. “Not to mention you cracking open the skull of an alien. Which was totally
badass, but I’m guessing is something that’s not sitting well with you?”

  Emory deliberately crammed more chips into her mouth so she wouldn’t have to answer immediately. She was able to think while she chewed and finally swallowed. “I feel like I’m losing my mind and you already think I’m crazy. I was angry. So angry I couldn’t think straight. I’m scared I won’t get my family back. Those girls don’t deserve whatever the aliens have in store for them. And I can’t even let my mind go there. I guess I don’t really care what happens to me.” She shrugged it off. “It’s not like I have anything else to tie me to the planet. Might as well go out with a bang.”

  Sofia’s gaze softened, and Emory felt herself grow warm from the silent scrutiny. “You’re a major pain in my ass, Emory Hawkes, but you’re not sacrificing yourself until you’ve outlived your usefulness to me and I can find a way to get rid of you myself.” Sofia’s sly teasing grin made Emory laugh. “I’ve promised you, if there’s a way to get them back, I’ll do all I can to help you. Whether I think you’re crazy or not. Because that is a given.”

  Emory noticed that the phone was unusually silent and grabbed at the chance to change the subject off herself and her stupidity. “What’s Dink up to?”

  “He said he was doing some digging, figuratively speaking. What he’s found so far are plans for a series of caverns and tunnel systems under that field you charged into. Oddly enough, that led him to unearthing tunnels under Las Vegas for me. According to your friend, there’s a whole series of them running deep under the Strip.”

  “I’d heard about that. And does he think the aliens bombed Las Vegas because of them?”

  “Dink seems to think the tunnels might reach as far as Area 51.” Sofia rolled her eyes. “So he’s wondering if the aliens we saw at Euphoria were smuggled out by such means. He also said that some of the tunnels known to run underground could fit something the size of an airplane in so he’s hinting other sizeable objects could also be moved that way too. I’m reserving my own judgment on that.”

  “Are you ever going to buy into our justified paranoia, Sofia?”

  “I don’t buy into your fears that the rescuing of stranded people has any nefarious connotations, if that’s what you’re asking. But I’m not starting that conversation again because it pisses me off as you have already seen. But I apologize for storming off like a child.” Sofia looked out the window at the road ahead. “You’ve got to admit, you two have some pretty out there ideas.”

  “Tootsie Rolls,” Emory said, enjoying the look of complete and utter confusion on Sofia’s face at her words.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The day you finally admit I am right about something theory based, I will expect a big bag of Tootsie Rolls as an apology.” She smiled at the scoffing noise Sofia made under her breath followed by a mumbled comment that Emory thought sounded something like hell freezing over first. “Which reminds me, can you find us bathrooms by a store or something? I really don’t fancy a trip off road. If we can find a place that hasn’t been damaged or looted, I also need to make good on my debt to Dink.”

  “You and he bet with candy bars about the existence of aliens?”

  Emory nodded.

  “Like I didn’t think you two were crazy enough before this.” She turned her attention back to the road.

  “He was right and I was wrong. I can honestly say that this was candy I never wanted to hand over.” Emory stared out the windshield, her mind awhirl.

  “Do you want to talk about what tipped you over the edge from mild-mannered reporter to a gun-toting alien killer?”

  Emory smiled at Sofia’s description of her. “No, not really. I guess I’m realizing I have more than one role to play now in this invasion. I have to believe in something I’d dismissed as false trails and misdirection. Now I need to believe we can win against the worst odds, and I know we can’t do that by me interviewing them. The journalist I am is going to have to take a backseat while I process all of this madness.”

  “I said I wouldn’t arm you. I admit that might not be an option now.”

  Emory twisted in her seat to watch Sofia drive and see her reaction. “So I get to keep the machine gun?”

  “You need to damn well practice with it. I think you might need to swap to something with a few less bullets to spray. You’re a loose enough cannon as it is.” Sofia fixed her with a look. “And a little scary.”

  Emory knew that feeling all too well. “I scared myself, to be honest. I didn’t know I was capable of killing.”

  Sofia favored her with a sad smile. “That means you’re still human. And that is how we’ll win.”

  *

  Emory was glad to be able to stretch her legs as she hopped down from the van outside a small row of stores Sofia had pulled alongside of. The area was empty and quiet. Not even birds were singing. After looking around outside for anything small and gray, Emory shoved her gun over her shoulder and walked into the store to gather more supplies. She wasn’t just after food this time. That didn’t stop her from gathering as much candy, including the bars for Dink, that she could lay her hands on. There was always room for chocolate. She found an unopened box of Dink’s Butterfinger bars and thought he’d appreciate the sentiment. She filled her basket then wandered off down another aisle. She was surprised to find three teenaged boys huddled in the back of the store, drinking milk straight from the cartons. They took one look at her uniform and the gun she carried and ran.

  “Hey, it’s okay, I’m not—” Emory jumped out of their way as they sped past her, their arms full of whatever they could carry. “You’d better have something green and leafy in those bags!” she called after them as she watched them race past Sofia and bang out the door. Sofia followed them, presumably to make sure they stayed away from the van.

  “I guess we’re still not picking up strangers,” Emory said when Sofia returned.

  “We don’t have time to babysit.” She gave Emory a pointed look. “Besides, I have enough to deal with watching after you.”

  Emory snorted at her dig. “Funny that they’re the only ones we’ve seen. This place is like a ghost town. I know we’ve strayed off the more traveled roads, but I didn’t expect this. I just hope they’ve found somewhere reasonably safe to hide out.”

  As safe as you can be when the aliens can just beam you up at any given moment.

  She wandered up and down the aisles, searching for something specific. She soon found what she was after and began gathering up as many tampons as she could carry. Feeling mischievous, she called to Sofia who was over in another aisle.

  “Hey, Sofia? You’re way older than me, right? Do you use Tampax or should I just pick you up a load of Depends?” Emory jerked when Sofia spoke directly in her ear.

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just stick you in a freezer and leave you there?”

  Sofia was standing so close Emory could feel the heat radiating from her. The warmth from Sofia’s breath caused her to shiver as it caressed over her flesh. “I can’t honestly think of anything when you’re this close to me, Sofia.” Emory knew her voice wasn’t as strong as she’d have liked in Sofia’s close proximity.

  “Do I make you nervous, Ms. Hawkes?” Sofia’s low tones rumbled over Emory’s senses, and she had to stifle a moan.

  “You make me a lot of things. Nervous isn’t one of them.”

  “You need to stop teasing me. I don’t like being teased,” Sofia said.

  “I’ll try to remember that, but you’re so much fun to rile up, Major.” Emory grunted as she was pressed into the shelf, Sofia’s body crowding her. She could feel the softness of Sofia’s breasts pressed into her back. It was a marked contrast to the sharp edge of the shelving. Emory closed her eyes and savored the touch.

  “It’s Captain Martinez. Don’t make me hurt you.” She deliberately pushed Emory harder into the shelves.

  Emory dared to peek over her shoulder at Sofia who had her cap low over her eyes. She looked authoritat
ive and, to Emory’s eyes, all kinds of hot. Who knew I’d find the bossy type attractive? Live and learn.

  “And really? Tampons? I’d have expected you to be raiding the chips and dips aisle. That does seem to be the staple of your dietary needs.”

  “You don’t know when we’ll get the chance to pick these things up again. I don’t expect my periods are going to stop because there’s an alien invasion happening so I’d rather be prepared.” She eyed Sofia. “Are you going to help me get the right ones for you or are you holding me like this because you intend to pat me down? Believe me, I’m more than up for that.”

  Sofia stepped back, and Emory winced as she peeled herself off from the hard metal shelves. She immediately missed having Sofia’s breath on her cheek. Sofia somehow managed to switch back to the mission while Emory was left trying to stop her legs from shaking.

  “This whole place looks deserted. I wonder if the evacuation trucks have been through here,” Sofia said, eying the empty store. “And the place is pristine. Even those boys kept their rifling tidy. It hasn’t been looted.” She gave Emory a pointed look as she gathered as many boxes of Pop Tarts as she could fit in the basket. “Except by your hands.”

  “We didn’t see anything when we drove in. I’m sure we wouldn’t miss an evacuation underway. We’ll probably run into them on the road, but I warn you, I’m not going anywhere with them. So don’t even think about handing me over.” Emory flashed a glare at Sofia who pretended to look surprised at such a consideration. Emory’s attention shifted quickly as she spotted a freezer full of ice cream. “I’m declaring today an ‘eat your feelings’ day.” She picked through the small tubs of Ben and Jerry’s until she could find her favorite.

  “Are you expecting me to braid your hair too?” Sofia shook her head at her as she walked past holding a more practical item in her possession.

  “You found their camping aisle?” Emory was surprised to see Sofia had an axe angled rakishly over her shoulder. “What are you aiming on doing? Chopping down trees so we can hurl logs at the saucers? Splinter them to death?”