Raging at the Stars

by Lesley Davis

  Sofia nuzzled her gently. “I believe I just did.”

  Emory opened dazed, passion blown eyes, to gaze up at Sofia. “You’re more lethal than any secret weapon the military might have.” She brushed her hair away from her sweaty skin and pulled Sofia down for a leisurely kiss. “Oh yeah, that is so happening again. Fuck this one night only thing. With those moves? You’re stuck with me for life.”

  Sofia laughed and snuggled into Emory’s shaking arms.

  “It would be crazy for me to fall for you, right?”

  Emory’s voice was so soft Sofia wasn’t sure she’d heard her at all. She lifted her head to stare down at Emory’s face.

  “But then, you’ve called me crazy from the first moment we met. So why stop now?” Emory pulled Sofia close and kissed her gently.

  Sofia craved Emory’s touch. She let Emory shift her until she was sat straddled above Emory’s face while deft fingers were pulling her closer. The first brush of Emory’s tongue through her wetness made Sofia cry out, and she lowered herself further so that there was nowhere Emory couldn’t reach. With voracious lips and a wicked tongue, Emory devoured Sofia and left her a writhing mess. Held in place only by Emory’s hands anchoring her hips, Sofia gripped the headboard tightly and bucked against the insistent sucking on her clit. When Emory slipped a finger inside her, Sofia knew Dink had to hear her scream.

  She didn’t care.

  This was their night and nothing was ever going to take that away from them.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  The mood for the drive back to Utah was subdued. They were all piled into Sofia’s vehicle using the ruse that Emory’s VW had broken down and she’d had to be rescued off the side of the road. Emory had listened with amusement to Sofia radioing that excuse in to Russom as they left the Ozarks far behind them and the security it had afforded them.

  Emory sat in the front while Sofia drove. Dink was sprawled out fast asleep on the backseats. He’d been awake for hours coordinating their backup plan. Dink had spent the first few hours of the trip bemoaning the fact he was finally out of his bunker and had yet to see one saucer. Emory had argued that was a good thing, but Dink was disappointed.

  “So, this ragtag gang of Misfit Boys Dink has been gathering together…” Sofia trailed off as if she was uncertain how to continue.

  “The basement dweller’s posse?” Emory teased her. “The long list of military might who were dismissed as cranks? Most of whom are currently making their way toward Utah to support you should you need to stage a coup. And there’s one bigwig already there waiting for us.”

  “And these are all ones who saw something alien or were working for the military and were going to blow the whistle?”

  “Yes, but you’re not getting disgruntled employees wanting to kick back at the government. These are men who saw the truth and wanted to expose it. They were trying to stop what we’re seeing now.”

  “Ah yes, stopping it. That task appears to have landed squarely on my shoulders.”

  “And what lovely shoulders they are too.”

  “Stop that right now. There is to be no flirting while we’re driving toward our uncertain future.” Dink groaned and shifted to sit upright. He scrubbed at his face then reached for the laptop he’d been using as a pillow. His silence alerted Emory.

  “Dink?”

  “Abigail, who is filling in for me quite well, says the saucers are shifting en masse.” He made a face. “We’re not the only ones heading to Utah.”

  Sofia took her eyes off the road and shifted to stare at him. “All of them?”

  “Looks that way. They’re idling though, not cruising at their usual speed. Looks like they’re taking the scenic route on their way. Those things never go slow. That’s a worry in itself.” He clattered away on his keyboard. “Eyes on the road, Sofia. Those saucers are waiting for something, and I’d hate to think it was for us.”

  “Do you think they know about the energy beam at Tesla Falls?” Sofia’s eyes were forward and her foot pressed heavier on the gas pedal.

  “Or whatever else is there,” Dink replied.

  “What else could there be? We know about the alien labs, the human abductees, and Tesla’s energy weapon. What else could be there?”

  “We have a theory—” Emory began only to be cut off by Sofia’s groan.

  “Oh God, no. Your damn theories have a habit of becoming fact.”

  Emory grinned. She directed a proud look over her shoulder at Dink. “We’re goddamn geniuses, right Dink?”

  “That we are. Are you going to tell her our theory comes from the paperwork you ‘borrowed’ from Euphoria’s base?”

  “Was there anything in that base you didn’t touch?”

  “She didn’t bring me a blue alien, which would have made for a nicely matched pair I could have had on display,” Dink said.

  Sofia just rolled her eyes and purposely ignored him. “So what’s this new theory of yours?”

  “It’s the little known theory concerning atoms, a ton of energy, and the reason why CERN was blown clear off the planet.” Emory settled herself comfortably in her seat. “Dink, would you care to set the scene?”

  “Once upon a time, dear Captain, there was a lonely little atom with dreams of being so much more…”

  *

  The closer they got to Tesla Falls the more nervous Emory felt. Her hands were constantly clammy and her leg was bouncing nervously with every mile they covered. Driving in the dark of night wasn’t helping either; Emory hated it.

  “I don’t know how you did this, Em.” Dink’s face was pressed up against the back window looking up at the sky. “Having to keep an eye on the clouds for any sign of saucer activity is fucking exhausting. It’s a wonder you didn’t drive yourself off the road and into a ditch. And you can’t see a thing at night. It’s too damn dark. And don’t get me started on the lack of bathroom opportunities for you girls. How the hell did you cope with this?” He flung himself back into his seat and, tirade over, got straight back on his laptop.

  “Where does Abigail pinpoint the ships now?” Emory asked, starting to recognize the signs that meant they were leaving humanity behind and would soon be heading deep into the mountains where the Tesla Falls base nestled shrouded in secrecy.

  “They’re high above us, congregating over the base but way up in the atmosphere.”

  Emory shared a look with Sofia.

  “Remind me again why we’re going there with them right above our heads?” Sofia said.

  “Because between the Sword of Damocles and the saucers, we’re screwed either way unless we do something drastic.” Emory patted down the pockets of her fatigues. She’d put them back on for appearances’ sake and was pleased with how well Dink had patched them up after the pants were torn up as badly as her leg. She was reassuring herself she had her gun, for all the good it would do in a highly armored military base where the soldiers were loyal to the madman in charge.

  “Sofia,” Dink said, “you have spare pilots for your saucers converging at the rendezvous point you specified. You have a military man waiting to finally put right what he had been stopped from doing so long ago. You have Emory by your side, and there’s no one else I’d rather stand with.”

  “Thank you, Dink.” Emory smiled at him.

  “And, Emory, I need you to remember that even though you and Sofia fucked all night, until I feared the bed would collapse under your antics, Sofia here is putting herself in danger for us.” His smile softened. “So for God’s sake, if you two love each other? Tell each other now before we all die.”

  Emory stared at him speechless. “You were supposed to be wearing your sound canceling headphones.”

  “I can’t sleep in the damn things. I look like Princess Leia with them on.” He nodded toward Sofia, silently trying to force Emory’s hand.

  Sofia eyed him in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, Dink. I was given the ‘we loved a lifetime’s worth’ speech once we finally came up for air.”
/>
  Dink gaped at Emory. “You busted out a Terminator quote, of all things, at this gorgeous woman?”

  Emory nodded, feeling perfectly justified in her choice. “It sounded appropriate in the circumstances.”

  “Never let it be said you’re not the last of the great romantics, Em.” Dink sighed and returned to his laptop, still shaking his head at her.

  Emory caught Sofia’s eye and winked. Sofia knew exactly how she felt. It had been whispered between them long into the small hours of the morning before they’d finally let sleep take them. What Emory adored the most was that Sofia finally accepted her, crazy theories and all. And if love was meant to grow from that, Emory couldn’t think of a more beautiful, intelligent, and downright sexier woman to explore that with.

  But all that had to be put on hold. There was a little matter of a man to be dethroned and an invasion to stop. The professions of love would have their time and place. For now, Emory knew that fighting by each other’s side was all the proof either of them needed that they were a team and in this together.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Tesla Falls loomed large before them, still imposing with all its security and guns aimed right at them. Sofia wanted to turn the vehicle around and drive as far away from it as possible. Maybe go back to Dink’s hideaway and bury her head in the ground and let the world sort its own messes out. But this was it. This was the last nail in her coffin in her association with Dionysius. She was going to challenge everything she had fought to protect, however misguided and misinformed she’d been. It was daunting, it was terrifying, and yet beside her she could hear Emory humming under her breath.

  “What are you doing?”

  Emory turned in her seat to face her. “How can you look at that place and not hear ominous music playing?” She hummed the tune a little louder so that Sofia could hear it clearer.

  Sofia had to admit, Russom’s holding the world hostage for his own nefarious gains did suit Emory humming Darth Vader’s theme. Sofia had long since reconciled herself to the fact that Emory used her weird sense of humor to disguise her own fears. That and consumed an extreme amount of sugary food. Life alongside Emory was never going to be anything that resembled normal.

  “Tell me again why I am going in there with you in tow?”

  “Because I’m the only one crazy enough to follow wherever you lead.” Emory leaned over to brush a swift kiss on Sofia’s cheek. “So let’s get this over with before I totally chicken out.”

  “Second thoughts?” Sofia was relieved she wasn’t the only one apprehensive about what they planned to do.

  “Second, third, and fourths.” Emory rubbed at her arms. “And feeling all those ships hovering above us isn’t calming me much either.”

  Emory had been twitching and complaining about sensing the ships for miles. Sofia knew that was because, instead of just one ship above, the whole fleet was poised ready to pounce. She could feel time slipping away from them like sand shifting beneath her feet. The aliens could and would most definitely strike Tesla Falls at any second. They had to hurry. Sofia prayed they had enough time before it was too late for them all.

  The security guards welcomed Sofia back and rechecked Emory’s details again. They looked in the back of the vehicle and ran a detector underneath it before they waved them through.

  “And now we’re back in the lion’s den,” Emory said.

  Sofia pulled up outside the main building and got out. She opened the back door and pulled out her duffel bag carefully. Gritting her teeth, she hoisted it up and marched into the building. Emory followed her at a much slower pace. Sofia headed straight for her office and quickly unlocked the door. Emory limped in behind her and closed the door behind them. She leaned against it to stop anyone from barging in. Sofia set down the bag then dropped to one knee and opened the zipper as far as it would go. She spread the bag wide.

  Dink took a big gulp of air and scrambled out of it. With Sofia still hunkered down, Dink hugged her.

  “Thank you for not dropping me,” he said. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself and Emory now? I can’t afford to lose either one of you.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Sofia returned the hug then stood and gestured for Emory to pass her the laptop bag. “Dink, you have my log-ins to the system. You have General Ulrich’s codes if they’re still viable…”

  “And if they’ve been changed I’ll have access to all the data here to hack into and try to find the new ones. I’ll try to gain access to Russom’s personal computer. We’ll see how well protected he is. Just leave all that to me. You two need to go face Russom. Let’s get our planet back.” He waved Emory over and hugged her. “Be safe and hurry back. I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb here if I get caught. I don’t think I’ll pass as a soldier.”

  Emory nodded and hugged him tight. “Just tread carefully in the data stream and try not to set off any alarms.” She ruffled his beard gently. “Promise me something? If something happens? Get the hell out of here as fast as you can. Then go find my nieces, please. Don’t let them be left waiting.”

  It tore at Sofia’s heart hearing Emory’s plea. They’d had to stall Emory’s search in order to force Russom’s hand over the deployment of the energy beam. Sofia knew how much it pained Emory not knowing where her family was. Sofia now had two objectives in mind. Saving the planet came first. Then finding Emory’s family and all the other humans taken against their will. She couldn’t think beyond that.

  Sofia gave Dink her keys, and he locked the door behind them. Emory begged for a bathroom break and Sofia directed her to the closest one. Once they were both done making sure they didn’t look as worn as they felt, Sofia pulled Emory into her arms.

  “If I don’t get the chance later, I want to thank you now for pulling me out of Area 51. Thank you as well for exposing the lies to me and directing me toward the truth. I dread to think what state we’d be in if you hadn’t been at the base spying on us.”

  Emory smiled. “You’re welcome, even if you have done nothing but grumble and fuss about it all since I opened your eyes to reality.” She hushed Sofia’s instinctual arguments with a kiss. “Thank you for letting us dig deeper with your help and uncovering more than we bargained for. And for being an amazing kisser, I thank you for that.” She chuckled against Sofia’s lips as she kissed her again with just a little more passion. “There are other things you are freakin’ awesome at too that I’d like to explore more with you once this whole earth versus the aliens mess is sorted out.”

  “I love your optimism.”

  “I’m full of it.”

  Sofia laughed and kissed Emory back. “Truer words have never been spoken.” She straightened Emory’s collar nervously. “Come on, time waits for no woman trying to stop an alien attack.”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Sofia and Emory were met by an airman who told them Russom had demanded they be brought to his office immediately. The general was fuming over something, a fact the officer remarked on as he hurried them through the building. When he delivered them to Russom’s office he bid them good luck and made his escape. Sofia wished for half his luck as she watched him scurry off.

  Russom barely acknowledged their presence before he was ranting. “They blew up my goddamn ship!”

  Feigning ignorance, Sofia frowned at him. “What ship, sir?”

  “My black craft. The stupid bastards blew it sky high because of the aliens aboard it. What the fuck did they expect to find inside it? Candy corn? It wasn’t a fucking piñata for them to smash open. I needed that ship!” His voice grew louder. He turned on Emory. “And where were you, Agent? You had a job to do, or am I fated to be lumbered with ineffectual CIA?”

  “I got into an accident and was lucky to have Captain Martinez here come across me on the side of the road and rescue me.”

  Russom noticed Emory’s halting gait. “Sit, before you fall down.” His attention swung back to Sofia who remained standing. “I need another ship. You’re goi
ng to help me get one.”

  “And how exactly do you intend I do that?”

  He huffed. “I had intended to draw them out. I set up bait traps for the saucers, hoping that they’d bring a black triangle ship with them as backup.”

  “Bait trap?” Sofia hoped he wasn’t going to say what she thought he might be alluding to.

  “The football stadiums. I had evacuees rounded up and sent to them. Filled to capacity and just waiting to be beamed up if they’d taken the lure.”

  Sofia closed her eyes momentarily and willed herself not to react. Emory and Dink had been right again in their assumptions. She didn’t need to look at Emory; she could feel the anger radiating from her. She kept her gaze firmly on Russom. She’d never seen a man so angry that his disgusting plans weren’t bearing the fruit he desired.

  “Sir, we can’t just corral a big black ship like it’s a wild horse. You saw what damage it did to Maine’s coastline when one fell.”

  “If we could bring it down out here, we wouldn’t have the same problem,” he argued. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, endless miles of empty spaces. That’s how we’ve kept this place hidden for so long. But if we could bring a ship down, I know you could figure out a way to get in without destroying it.”

  “And the aliens on board, sir? What about them?”

  “Those could be dealt with, maybe even bargained with. After all, they have so much more to lose than we do.”

  Emory shifted in her seat. “How so? They’ve laid waste to the planet, abducted humans, and you say they have more to lose? Explain that please.”

  Russom gave her a pitying look. “You want to know the whole truth? Everything?” He laughed. He sounded more and more deranged every time Sofia spoke to him, and that scared her. “Okay. Alien History 101, a full disclosure. Or what’s really happening here on planet Earth.” He sat behind his desk and leaned back in his chair. “The ships you’re seeing now all came in one invasion, way back in Eisenhower’s presidency. The saucer at Roswell was a scout ship, but it crashed and we’d already started scavenging from that when the rest of the fleet came. They came in peace.” He shook his head at that notion. “Their world, so many, many, light years away was dying. They were explorers sent out to find either a new world to colonize or to find help for their own.”