Proxima

by Chase Hildenbrand

  Where the hell did they come from?

  His first thought was they were here to help, but it quickly became apparent how wrong he was as they began firing on the wrong side. Somehow his side was now fighting against two technologically advanced groups.

  Salena.

  He looked down to the eight inch stone blade in his hand. His shoulder hurt like hell when he rolled it, and he couldn’t lift that arm more than a few degrees, but what choice did he have? He ran away from the safety of the fire to the battle.

  Chapter 29

  BLAIRE, ALONG WITH the man she gave the second gun to, a chef named Michael, used their two alien weapons to blast their way to the locked armory. Blaire used hers to melt the lock off.

  “Michael and I will stand guard out here, the rest of you grab as many guns as you can.”

  It didn’t take long before a nearby squadron of soldiers noticed what was happening. At least ten focused on their group. Blaire and Michael dropped low to the ground and returned fire. Shots soared over their heads into the fence that surrounded the armory. Screams from inside as several of their group went down.

  Moments later they were reinforced by two tribesmen riding on noxyns. One of the riders expertly aimed its arrow into a weak spot in their foes’ armor, killing one. The other threw a spear, but its intended target stepped aside and fired its pulse gun at the rider knocking it off the noxyn. The animal trampled away leaving the injured Proximian on the ground. Blaire wanted to help, but there was too much space between her and the injured warrior. It was too late, anyway. A soldier fired at the tribesman’s crawling body blasting a hole through its side.

  The wrath of the squadron was ready to lay waste to them. But they were too slow. From behind Blaire and Michael, bursts of heated plasma burned holes through the line of soldiers. Enough of their group managed to arm themselves with PL-6s and the remaining soldiers had no choice but to take cover.

  Blaire and Michael rose from the ground and went into the armory to help grab weapons. A minute later they were ready to disperse them to anyone they could find.

  Salena was running low on her arrows. She wasn’t the best archer, but could fire a bow more efficiently than killing someone with a blade. Repeatedly she was defeated in hand-to-hand combat training in the village. She felt in her quiver and found she had three arrows remaining.

  Death surrounded her. She stood in the midst of ten dead tribesmen. Moments ago two squadrons of soldiers, Proximian and to her surprise, human, came through and killed without mercy. She looked around past her immediate vicinity into the battle. Hundreds littered the ground from both sides. The tribesmen didn’t have long. The soldiers and guards combining forces with the enigmatic human allies were proving too much for the primitive warriors.

  A human not too far away was aiming what looked like a plasma rifle and firing on tribesmen who were doing their best to dodge the onslaught. The Proximians’ taller, slender bodies enabled them to move much faster than humans, but it was only a matter of time until the person hit their mark.

  “Forgive me,” she whispered to the man, but mostly to herself.

  She pulled back an arrow and let it go. The arrow pierced the man’s neck straight through. His comrades turned to her in unison, guns held high.

  “Freeze!” one of them shouted.

  “I had to!”

  “Drop the bow!”

  She cautiously laid the bow on the ground and raised her hands in the air. The soldiers advanced on her, keeping their guns raised.

  “You don’t understand. You’re not helping us.”

  “I should execute you right here.”

  “You’re on the wro—.”

  The soldier hit her in the gut with the butt of his rifle. “Not another damn word.”

  Ann raced through the endless hallways of The Linwood. She could no longer hear the fighting outside. On her way to the communications room, she passed many people hiding throughout the ship—unwilling or unable to fight alongside the tribes.

  The bridge was inaccessible, but all the communication in and out of the ship ran through that room. If she couldn’t get communication to work there, she wouldn’t be able to anywhere. She could only pray the Proximians had ceased blocking the ship’s signal output.

  Armed with only the vague idea where the room was located, it took longer than she anticipated to find it, and when she did the door was locked. She kicked it as hard as she could, but the door didn’t budge. Then she remembered the steel pipe in her hands.

  “Alright, time to put all that training to the test.”

  She lifted the pipe over her head and slammed it down on the door handle knocking it completely off. The door swung open.

  “And Blaire’s not here to see it.”

  However, seeing the inside of the room for the first time was overwhelming.

  “What am I doing?” she asked herself after seeing the insane amount of technical equipment in the room.

  Nothing to do but dive straight in.

  Liam was like lightning on the battlefield the way he struck mercilessly and with violence. Every savage killed was another on his way to Ann. He found Percy and Zale not long after landing. Zale was holding her own surprisingly well while he and Percy hadn't missed a beat since Africa.

  He stood back to back with Percy firing at enemies riding the backs of creatures. One flung a spear at him, but it was easily dodged and its dispatcher easily killed.

  “Liam!” shouted Percy. He tapped his elbow to Liam’s back to get his attention.

  “What?”

  “Check this out, man.”

  Liam turned around and saw a squad of his people, led by Jon and Stacy, escorting a familiar looking woman his way. Where had he seen her? He knew he recognized her, but couldn’t place the circumstances of their meeting.

  “Sir! We weren’t sure what to do with her,” Jon said.

  “What did she do?”

  “She purposefully shot an arrow at one of our men, killing him.”

  He glared at the familiar woman.

  “Who are you?”

  “Oh my God, you’re Liam. It’s me, Salena Boulus. Ann’s friend.”

  Of course. He remembered meeting her on a video call with Ann.

  “Why did you attack our man?”

  “Because you’re on the wrong side!”

  A voice on the radio before Liam could offer a reply.

  Ann’s voice. It couldn’t be...could it?

  “...cease fire! I repeat, all fighters from, I can only assume The Hawking, you are firing on the wrong targets! The aliens that look like soldiers are your enemy, not, I repeat, not the tribesmen. You must cease fire! Is anyone hearing me?”

  Liam pressed the talk button quicker than he’d ever done anything in his life. His heart beat uncontrollably.

  “Ann? Is that you?”

  Silence.

  “Ann?”

  “Liam? You’re alive. You’re here!”

  “Sorry it took me so long.”

  “You can tell me all about it later. You have to tell your men to stand down against the tribesmen. They are our allies. The others were imprisoning us. Forcing us to work for them—to fix our ships for their needs.”

  Liam felt sick. How many had he killed on the wrong side? How many had they all slaughtered? He saw the same reaction in Percy, Zale, and the others.

  What have they done?

  “Stand down!” He said into the radio. “Everyone change your tactics. We...we had it wrong. The savag—tribesmen are our allies. The other aliens are our enemy.”

  He locked eyes with Zale. Weeks ago she was the one who told him the tribesmen were savages. He saw the guilt in her eyes. Such a terrible mistake.

  He remembered the guilt he felt after the conflict with the Nigerians and the Chads when he accidentally shot a child. How many wrongful deaths were on his hands today? He looked at Percy. Innocent deaths were on his hands, too, from his time with the WWLO. Was he now much different?


  “Liam, you say we had it backward?” Debra asked on the radio.

  “Affirmative. I am so sorry to all of you for the misinformation. But we can sort out the details after this is over. Ann, where are you?”

  “Communications room on The Linwood. I’m safe, Liam. Finish this.”

  The flame that fueled him only minutes ago to siege war had extinguished. Percy, seeing his friend completely torn apart, placed his hand on his shoulder.

  “Look at me, brother. Mistakes happen in war. We both know that. Now let’s make it right. It’s time to end this and bring our people home.”

  With red eyes close to tears he only had it in him to nod. He lifted his PL-6 and switched targets. His fellows in arms did the same and together they marched.

  Blaire, and the group they picked up along the way, paved a path through the opposing line of Proximian soldiers. Over two hundred PL-6 rifles were distributed among the people. Too many of them had never held a weapon before and didn’t last long, but others banded together and became a strong force.

  Not long ago the tide shifted once more in their favor. The newcomers and the Z56s must have gotten the word because in a blink they turned on the soldiers they were fighting alongside, taking them completely by surprise.

  As it seemed things were beginning to wrap up, Blaire saw a familiar face in the distance of someone she was told was dead: Ray. He was hobbling with a fresh wound in his leg, but he was alone. A bloody dagger gripped in his right hand. She went to him.

  “Back from the dead?”

  “Blaire! You made it out of Inizio.”

  They embraced for a moment. Michael was behind them with several others making sure the coast remained clear.

  “Ann said you were dead. I’m glad she was wrong.”

  “You and me both. It was touch and go. Ann okay?”

  “I hope so. She ran off to tell the new guys they were being assholes and shooting at the wrong fucking side. Seeing as how they switched teams a few minutes ago, she must’ve gotten the word out.”

  “She saved us then. We were almost toast. There’s so many dead.”

  Blaire could only grunt in agreement. It almost didn’t feel real to her—not yet anyway.

  Another Z56 flew overhead. Remnants of soldiers retreating to the cave fell as it blasted them from above. The craft turned around, narrowly avoiding the lone mountain, already hunting for new targets.

  Blaire looked around, but no alien soldiers or guards remained in her proximity. A handful of tribesmen still stood, but their dead far outnumbered their living. The survivors knelt next to their fallen and were performing private death rituals. It was a terrible, yet oddly beautiful sight.

  “Come with us, Ray. Let’s find the others.”

  Debra owned the skies. Her fleet was currently on mop up duty, going after any runaways. The message that they were gravely mistaken about their opponent was painful to hear, but war is hell. How many casualties resulted from collateral damage inflicted by her own hand when she flew for the United States Air Force? All she could do was what she always did—pack it away.

  Once the tide turned against the Proximian soldiers, her Z56 pilots found themselves on the wrong end of ground fire. Tragically, they lost four ships in the mayhem. Losing pilots was terrible for any commander, but something about this mission made their sacrifices feel more meaningful than in past wars she flew in. Before, the wars were squabbles over a dying planet’s last resources. But those squabbles were part of what inspired aliens from this very planet to come help save it. Now look at Earth, a thriving planet nearing utopia status. This mission, however, felt so much more personal. They shared a history with the people on the ground. People from a bygone era lost in time and space. They must stand together.

  It wasn’t long before victory was declared by Liam on the ground. Any leftover Proximian guards or soldiers were in full retreat. She told her fellow pilots to follow her to a landing zone in front of the bonfire that had almost burned itself out.

  The victory came at a steep price, but for the Save The Species survivors, it was truly momentous.

  Liam radioed for all survivors to rally in front of The Linwood. Dyran, who was not a fighter, had been waiting in a dropship just outside the battle and would assist him with the translation as they offered their deepest apologies for the tragic misunderstanding.

  The fields of the dead were a nightmarish sight as he sauntered through it stepping around countless bodies. He had to guess the dead outnumbered the living on the battlefield, but it seemed that the majority of people had been hiding inside the four ships which was a silver lining as far as he was concerned.

  Walking into the rendezvous point with Percy, Zale, and Salena it was hard to feel victorious. The remaining tribesmen kept their distance and this time he did recognize their facial expression: distrust.

  He watched enviously as Salena took off running when she spotted someone she knew—her boyfriend it would seem as she jumped into his one good arm and kissed him furiously. He identified him straight away as another of Ann’s friends, Ray. The people he was with were all carrying PL-6 rifles and looked like they’d seen plenty of action.

  He walked through the survivors—many injured, some crying over lost friends and loved ones, some simply staring into space with their minds elsewhere.

  Then he saw her coming down a ramp from inside the ship. The light pole nearby lit her beautiful body. It was a miracle to be standing on this planet with her. He dropped his gun and ran.

  The survivors parted ways as he sprinted by them determined. Every second he wasn’t with her was time wasted apart. He arrived at the bottom of the ramp the same moment she did.

  They looked at each other for a moment. Taking the sight in. Appreciating every part of the other. Ann was holding her steel pipe and dropped it on the ramp where it rolled away. Then they stepped into each other. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her in the air as they fervidly kissed. It was a reunion they both at some point in the recent weeks nearly gave up on ever happening. Neither wanted to let go; each wanted to stretch the moment to eternity.

  “I love you,” they said together when their lips parted. Liam reached into his pocket and wrapped his fingers on the ring that never left his side.

  On this fateful day amid a cataclysmic event, Liam and Ann vowed to never part again.

  Epilogue

  LIAM, ANN, AND Dyran led a group of fifty into the cave. The rest of the battle’s survivors waited at the base of the mountain. Debra and two other pilots hovered inside their Z56s ready to destroy the cave at a moment’s notice. They all hoped a deal could be made, but who knew what to expect.

  The cave was dark and empty. They used flashlights to make their way down to the steel door. Ann briefed them on the city that lay beyond and what could be waiting for them on the other side. For all they knew an entire army may be anticipating their intrusion.

  The side panel was lit up, giving off an eerie green glow. Liam pulled from a bag he was carrying a hand they removed from a deceased soldier and placed its palm on the scanner. The door opened.

  The extraordinary city shined brightly, but no one was in sight; the roads quiet and empty.

  They loaded on the two service elevators and Dyran assisted them with which button to press to reach ground level.

  Creepy was the first thought that passed through Ann’s head when they walked into the empty city. Hundreds if not thousands of Proximians walked and drove vehicles through here the last time she saw it. Now what vehicles they did see sat abandoned. Where did everyone go?

  Street after street was deserted. But they noticed in the details that the residents appeared to have left in a hurry. Half-eaten food sat on tables and some of the vehicles’ doors were left open.

  When they rounded a corner to a new street they froze. A single Proximian stood feet away in front of a stairwell that descended into darkness.

  “Dyran, you’re up,” said Liam.

  Thei
r Proximian friend walked up to the city resident. Dyran spoke first, but his translator picked up both sides of the conversation loud enough for them to hear it.

  “I am Dyran of the Wrykes.”

  “I am Elora of the Rayn.”

  “Where have the Hyerans gone?”

  “Are you not Hyeran?”

  “My ancestors were. I am from Earth. We came here to bring home the people you were enslaving.”

  “I see.”

  “What purpose were they serving? Where are the residents of this city?”

  “I was assigned to stay behind and warn you of the consequences to your foolish action.”

  “What action?”

  “Interfering in our plan to escape.”

  “Escape the mountain?”

  “The planet. Seven hundred thousand are all that’s left. After your ancestors abandoned your home planet a war broke out.”

  “Yes, between those who wanted to live with technology and the others who wished to live as one with nature.”

  “No. Did the two sides disagree? Of course. But that was not what caused the war. When the wormhole drive was activated as your ancestors left the planet, its signature was picked up by another space-faring species called the Othaul. They are a frightening and demanding species. They wanted things from us. Not to rule us, but to take. They took our food, our supplies. They thrived on our fear of them. One day we decided to fight back. We shouldn’t have bothered. The war was over almost as fast as this one. But a deal was made. Either live in the wilderness with nothing or move to a central location where they could keep an eye on us from time to time.

  “Some chose the simpler life, but many were addicted to technology and a convenient lifestyle and chose to migrate here. For generations we built this city. But every few cycles the Othauls return. We have no choice but to let them inside the city where they do what they want. They take. They kill. Over time we had enough. We knew we were in no position to fight back and they did not allow any research on space travel so we couldn’t escape. If they found out we were building ships to leave the planet then their retribution against us would be swift. Which is why we’d been waiting on the humans to arrive with fully functioning ships of their own. But their ships are too slow.