by Mel Todd
Allies
Kaylid Chronicles Book 4
Mel Todd
Bad Ash Publishing
Atlanta, GA
Copyright © 2019 by Melisa Todd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Bad Ash Publishing
Atlanta, GA 30127
www.badashpublishing.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Layout © 2017 BookDesignTemplates.com
Cover by Ampersand Book Covers
Book Title/ Author Name. -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-0-0000000-0-0
To all those who don't look like anyone else.
I searched for you from the other side of the galaxy.
―Rarz goldwing Liryline
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - Visitor
Chapter 2 – Meet the Family
Chapter 3 – Going Home
Chapter 4 - Shifted Perceptions
Chapter 5 - True Colors
Chapter 6 - Talking It Out
Chapter 7 - Small Talk
Chapter 8 -Getting Personal
Chapter 9 - Bombshells
Chapter 10 - First Domino
Chapter 11 - Meet the Troops
Chapter 12 - From here to there
Chapter 13 - And Back Again
Chapter 14 - Planning Stages
Chapter 15 - Whirlwinds
Chapter 16 - Practice
Chapter 17 - New Toys
Chapter 18 - Suck it Up
Chapter 19 - Confrontations
Chapter 20 - Cloth of Humanity
Chapter 21 - Alien Ships
Chapter 22 - No Plan Survives
Chapter 23 - Step One of Many
Chapter 24 - Losses
Chapter 25 - Ladder of Success
Chapter 26 - Hope Realized
Chapter 27 - Revelations
Chapter 28 - Taking Command
Chapter 29 - Heavy is the Head
Chapter 30 - Paths Forward
Chapter 31 - Complications
Chapter 32 - Gift Horses
Chapter 33 - Planned Downfall
Chapter 34 - Hail Mary
Chapter 35 -Line in Granite
Chapter 36 - Kamikaze
Chapter 37 - Impact
Chapter 38 - Falling to Earth
Chapter 39 - Coming in Hot
Chapter 39 - Survivors
Chapter 40 - Blood
Chapter 41 - Goodbye
Chapter 42 - Aftermath
Epilogue
Chapter 1 - Visitor
With the invasion focusing on densely populated areas, people are fleeing to more remote areas and overloading the infrastructure there. Reports from areas as diverse as Nebraska and Scotland and Iceland mention the sudden influx of people fleeing the attackers. Their presence is causing life-threatening issues as the support system can't handle the influx. ~TNN Invasion News
McKenna kept sneaking glances at the being sitting next to her in the Humvee as they raced back to their headquarters. The president and others needed to be notified and that could only be done from there. They didn't carry their phones with them. There was too big a risk of it going off at the wrong time, and besides, even with a phone on silent they made noise when they vibrated—too much noise. This wasn't a call she wanted to make out here anyway.
~What is he? Is this a Drakyn?~ McKenna tried not to stare even as she asked in the mindspace. The weird feeling of someone in her mind had faded, but she could feel everyone's rapt attention on their guest.
~You could just ask me your questions. I am here to help both our peoples.~ The rich vibrant voice filled the mindspace and it took everything McKenna had to not squeak in surprise.
She whipped around to stare at him and noticed Perc and JD doing the same thing. While surprise was hard to read on Kaylid warrior form faces, the echoes of emotion down the mindspace let her know they had the same reaction she did.
"How did you do that?" The Humvee drowned out her voice but the Drakyn tilted his scaly head.
~You were talking so I did not think it would be rude to reply. Was it?~
~How can you speak English?~ Toni blurted out the question even as McKenna had to brace herself when the Humvee swayed sharply. Some of the soldiers drove the vehicle like it was a sports car. It wasn't, and the bruises proved it, though at least their bruises faded fast—the soldiers weren't so lucky.
~It would do me little assistance if I could not speak the language of the ones I hoped to offer mutual aid. We obtained examples of your speech and some of my people have made the effort to learn them. Most were gleaned off your streaming networks. As I speak it and hear it, my own skill becomes more accurate. It is an odd language. There are many conflicting ideas inherent in the words. I think I prefer the ones called Spanish and Italian. They have more of an eloquent sound and flow, almost like music.~
McKenna checked to make sure her jaw wasn't hanging open. This just seemed too surreal. She wanted to ask so many questions, but the swirl of confusion in the mindspace told her she wasn't alone.
~Wefor?~ She had no idea if this stranger could overhear that too, but almost didn't care. Almost, so she did try to make it private.
[Yes.]
The AI's voice had a weird, wary note to it.
~Is he, it, telling the truth?~
[There is no information on a living Drakyn in accessible databases. Anything you learn will be new information for the databases.]
~In other words you have no clue and are flying just as blind as we are.~
[That may be another way to put it.] The AI almost sounded aggrieved, which was just amusing.
A shudder shook the vehicle as it came to a halt. The engine shut off and the silence seemed a physical thing.
"Let's get our guest inside." Lawson said, he sounded tense and McKenna gave him a look. His eyes were wide and skin pale as he stared at the Drakyn, flinching a bit as the dragon man flexed his wings in the confined space.
"Can we make sure to let people know what we’re bringing inside? I really don't want him or us to get shot." McKenna looked at Lawson meaningfully.
Lawson stared at her blankly for a moment, then shook himself. "Oh, yeah." He stepped out of the vehicle and walked a few steps away, flipping on his radio and talking. McKenna didn't bother to listen, she trusted him after the last week or so. And all of them knew how fragile this hope was. Instead she focused on the Drakyn, cycling through all the things she wanted to say.
~How come you can hear us, when we are talking in our minds?~ This was Cass, and McKenna got the impression she was waiting on the other side of the door, acting as protection and backup for both sides.
~I do not understand the question. You are talking. If you did not want me to hear, you would have put it on a private wave length instead of a public space.~ The rich voice sounded confused and his body tilted its head a bit looking at McKenna.
~Silent? Public? Wefor?~
[There is no information to address your question.]
The Drakyn flinched back, his flexible nose wrinkling. ~What is that? It spoke before.~
Interesting when Wefor spoke just to me it was private. Or he didn't react.
~Wefor, the AI in my head.~
~Ah. Yes. That information had been passed along. Though I did not expect a separate in
telligence.~ The Drakyn flexed his wings again, the tight constraints of the vehicle making it an aborted motion.
McKenna had a burning need to know what else had been passed along and by whom. How much did this Drakyn know?
"Okay, you're clear. Guaranteed no one is going to pull a weapon. I talked to Captain Alfonso, he's waiting. We'll call the right peeps." Lawson called back. He sounded a bit calmer.
"Ready? We have people you need to meet." She glanced at the Drakyn and really wished she had some idea about how to read their facial expressions or body language.
All that training we got and nothing that would be useful now.
She ignored the thought that the training had been provided by people who treated these beings as their worst enemy. And they had no idea how accurate some of the details would be.
He came out after her, and yes, she knew it was a male, something. Everything about him screamed male. His huge red wings flexed in the open air. McKenna sucked in a breath. There was an aura about him that just took your breath away. Perc and JD followed, and she realized again how huge the Drakyn was. The reds and yellows of his scales reflected light, casting colors on the back wall of the strip mall. The soldier posted there drew in a sharp breath but didn't move or draw his weapon. McKenna took that as a positive, even if his eyes were wide and breathing rapid.
The Drakyn titled his head scanning the bland building and the two men looking at him.
"Your buildings are so blocky." It came out almost as a question but not quite.
McKenna shrugged. "It works. There are more varieties in other places." She shifted her attention to Lawson. "Alfonso ready for us?"
"Yeah. I don't think he believes, but he's waiting and has the landline connected and with a dial tone," Lawson replied, looking at at the alien standing there. Some of the junction boxes had been taken out and even cell phone service was spotty, but everyone figured it wouldn't occur to the Elentrin to tap into the landlines. With an odd look on his face Lawson shook himself and turned, pulling open the door. "Let's show off the dragon."
McKenna took a steadying breath as the aforementioned dragon tilted his head a bit. "I am called a Drakyn, not a dragon."
"Old name, mythology, stuff like that. I hope it doesn't matter but expect people to call you that. Probably a lot," McKenna told him, resisting the urge to tell him anymore.
Oh, the media will have a field day with this when they get a hold of him.
"As you say." It took him moving sideways through the door to be able to enter and they walked into a room of people gaping at him.
~I knew what you said, but I still didn't expect that. Holy moly.~ Cass's thought held a touch of awe, not awe of his beauty, but of the power and something else this creature embodied.
It creeped McKenna out.
The Drakyn stood, seemingly unaffected by everyone looking at him, a mix of fear and wonder in their eyes.
"Alfonso in his office?" she asked, wanting this done and over with. Maybe then they could get back to a normal life. If that even existed anymore.
"Yeah. Waiting for you." Lawson stayed outside, shutting the door even as he spoke. "Go ahead and take him in. He's waiting." The door shut.
Coward.
She sighed, recognizing that everything had been dropped on her. Fighting back the irritation, she darted a look over at her friends. JD and Cass stood together, Cass leaning into his furred form. Perc leaned against the wall, watching her, his black whiskers laid back tight against his muzzle.
"Come on then." She waved at the Drakyn and led the way to Alfonso's office. The huge being following her with his wings folded down against his back. She really wanted to inspect those wings. They were fascinating. But he made the already small hallway seem tiny. Glancing back, she noticed he blocked most of the light as she knocked on the open door.
I really hope he's on our side.
Mark Alfonso looked up and paled, blinking rapidly. "Holy fuck. It's a dragon."
"So everyone keeps saying. I am a Drakyn and here to help in your, well, our fight against the Elentrin." His voice clearer than it should have been with that mouth formation.
Maybe partially telepathic? Or maybe he's just practiced? Or maybe I know nothing about them?
Alfonso cleared his throat. He started to wave them to a seat but thought better of it with a second glance at the bulk of the Drakyn.
"I know you've got an in with the people at the top, Largo. Do you want to call them?"
~Wefor, what’s the SecDef's number?~ She had no idea, it had been a contact on her phone and she had left that with Toni, just in case.
With calm precision Wefor rattled off the number and she dialed it, setting the phone on speaker with everyone watching everyone else. All in all she'd really like to have just crashed. The emotional whiplash of the day had drained her. In sleep there was the chance of happier things.
"Burby. Who is this and how did you get this number?" His voice snapped out, harsh and tired on the third ring.
"Doug, it's McKenna Largo. I have a situation." It was the nicest way she could think of to put it.
There was a pause then a heavy sigh, and she swore she heard liquid pouring into a glass. "McKenna, not that I don't enjoy your company, but every time you call my hair gets grayer."
"You're bald," she pointed out, voice dry. Alfonso looked at her with his eyes wide and face pale.
"You're talking to the Secretary of Defense," he hissed, his voice so low she almost couldn't hear him. But she did and rolled her eyes at him.
"I shave because otherwise I'd look like Santa or a Monk, neither of which is appropriate. So what is it now?"
She didn't know how to interpret the odd tone in his voice and frankly didn't have the energy to try.
Either that or I'm getting lazy knowing how the people in my head feel. That might not be a good thing.
"We have someone here that has offered to help us." She started off slowly, not sure how to say this.
"Someone? What type of someone? Why would the Russians or the Brits come to you? They have their own problems and I doubt they care about ours." A curiosity and exasperation mixed together in his voice. She should have felt sorry for the bombshell she was about to drop. She didn't.
"Our possible ally is a Drakyn." She almost added the sir, but right now she didn't feel all that respectful. He wasn't out here risking his life like they were. Watching people they liked die.
"A what?" The screech had her pulling back from the phone, glad it hadn't been up to her ear.
"You heard me. A Drakyn has shown up and offered to help."
There was silence then a flurry of noises, keys clicking as he typed and a muffled shout of "Get in here now," to someone on his side of the line.
"We'll have someone headed your way to pick him, her, it up. Where are you?" She could tell he was trying to find something to write their address down on. Before either Mark or she could reply, the Drakyn spoke.
For some reason both she and Alfonso were startled. He took so much space, but had stood so quietly his presence had disappeared from her awareness. That was distinctly uncomfortable.
"No. I will only deal with McKenna Largo and her family unit. They are the ones I will interact with. They watched me arrive as a part of her, it is only fitting they are my liaisons." That same musical quality of the voice echoed through the room and vibrated down to her bones, but this time it felt like unmovable granite making a statement.
Chapter 2 – Meet the Family
In most urban areas of all states, the garbage companies are also collecting bodies. The dense metal of the trucks makes them the ideal collectors. All telecommunications companies have worked in concert to set up an 800 number that routes you to the nearest collector to call in for dead Elentrin on the street. More rural areas are asked to either take the bodies to the local crematorium or dispose of them individually. Note that this only applies to aliens, for any other body type the police will be dispatched. ~ TNN News
Captain Alfonso swallowed and looked like he would have rolled away if he had the room, instead he just sat up a bit straighter and his hand dropped beneath the desk.
"Don't you dare," McKenna snapped out and he flushed a bit pulling his hand out.
"Dare what?" Burby asked on the other end of the line. "And why would he only deal with you?"
"Like I know. Ask him." She waved at the Drakyn who crossed his arms across his chest and just gave her a level look.
I hang around JD and Perc, arms the size of my thighs should not intimidate me.
"He's just staring at me and not answering, so I'd say it’s not negotiable," she finally said when the Drakyn just looked at her.
"Fine, whatever. I'll get someone down there to get you guys. But be aware, it’s getting worse out there. China? Yeah, let's just say China may never be a power again."
"We will meet at her family unit residence. It is proper all of them are involved." The voice rumbled again, and McKenna heard choked sounds from the hallway as well as squeaks of excitement from kids who were eavesdropping in her head.
That made her realize she had been channeling everything into the mindspace, something that had become automatic. And it meant this dragon could feel them.
"No. I have children, I won't put them at risk by your presence." The words slipped out and she didn't even try to moderate them, just glaring at this being who could probably break her in half if he wanted.
Hell, he could probably break Perc in half.
He pulled back, scales around his nose and eyes flaring slightly as his eyes widened and for a second the swirl of colors sucked her in.
"I would never put nestlings at risk." He deflated back down to his normal. "But I understand your fears. However, it is important that I meet all of your unit, even the nestlings. It is proper."
~Why?~ Toni's voice had a sharpness to it that hurt. But McKenna didn't even attempt to gainsay what she asked. She needed to know the answer also. In fact, she could feel everyone's awareness pulling at the space as they all paid very close attention, even Nam.