by N. W. Harris
“We’re not doing this to anyone else without telling them first,” he said to Lily and Dr. Blain.
Lily looked at him and nodded. She seemed to feel terrible for what had happened to Tracy. Dr. Blain didn’t look away from her patient. Aside from Jones, the aliens seemed willing to listen to him. In the face of all the suspicions he’d had about the rebels in the past, this was another strike in their favor. They implied a belief that Earth belonged to humans, and so humans should be calling the shots.
He hated himself for letting them do to Tracy what was done to him. From now on, he was going to trust his gut, which had warned him to tell Tracy what they planned to do. Instinct had gotten him this far, and he couldn’t afford to ignore it again.
Shane left the berthing and headed back up to the control room. Even with the risk that he could end up like Tracy, he wanted to connect to Kelly again. Lily had promised this was the way to save her, and he didn’t want to waste any more time. With what had just happened to Tracy, Lily and Dr. Blain would resist his attempts to connect with Kelly. He knew them well enough by now to guess that. If he had the captain on his side, they would listen. He had to convince Jones.
“It’s too risky,” Jones replied. “Dr. Blain doesn’t want to try again until we are back at the base, where we have the proper equipment to protect you both.”
Anger flashed through Shane. For the last few days, he’d tried to convince Jones to allow him to reconnect with Kelly, and he had gotten the same response each time. On this morning, Lily had entered the control room when he was mid-argument, and he’d done his best to get her to agree with him.
“Tracy is in a coma,” Lily added. “We can’t afford to lose another one of you.” Lily turned and exited the control room, seeming to want to escape Shane’s inexhaustible efforts to convince her.
“We’ll be coming into Charleston in ten hours,” Jones continued, his voice firm, “and then heading straight for the base. You’ll have your chance to reconnect to her soon enough.”
Jones returned to his chart table. He was the master at ending a conversation, adopting an air that discouraged people from saying another word.
Shane glared at him, trying to think of some other angle to argue. What they’d said made perfect sense, but he didn’t care. He’d succeed in making a connection once before and that was enough to make him confident he could pull it off again. Besides, he feared something might happen to him on the journey from the port to the hidden base. This might be his last opportunity to speak to Kelly.
Jones was unmoved, acting like Shane no longer stood next to him. It was hopeless; he’d have to wait. He stomped out of the control room, climbed down the ladder, and slumped onto a bench seat on the mess deck.
Ten hours. Then he’d be out of this forsaken steel tube. The inactivity had been the hardest part of the voyage. He hadn’t been able to look up at the sky to make sure Kelly was still there for days. His stomach churned at the thought that she might be gone.
“I’m gonna go bat shit if I don’t get out of this thing soon,” Steve said. He entered the mess deck and grabbed a drink, sitting down opposite of Shane. “You look pissed.”
“Thanks,” Shane grunted.
“Sup?”
“Nothing, man,” Shane replied, cracking his knuckles.
Steve glanced over his shoulder, seeming to make sure they were alone. “You know I’ve always had your back,” Steve said in a low voice.
“Yeah,” Shane replied. Though his friend’s face was three feet from his, Shane sensed a gorge between them.
“We’ve needed you from the start,” Steve continued. “But you’ve been a real bitch lately.”
“What?” Shane’s rage was simmering below the surface, and Steve poured gasoline on it.
“I know you’re stressed about Kelly, but you’ve got to keep your head in the game.”
Shane glared at him, daring the big linebacker to say more. He wasn’t mad at Steve, but anger and exhaustion possessed him. He’d punch him in the mouth if he said another word.
Steve held his gaze. His eyes didn’t return the aggression Shane expected. Instead, Steve’s expression softened with concern. He looked down at his cup, a silent declaration that there was no way he’d fight Shane.
There wasn’t an ounce of coward in the two-hundred-and-twenty pound linebacker, and it did nothing for Shane’s pride to see him cow down. In his moment of violent madness, he wanted nothing more than for Steve to stand up to him. The stocky boy’s head drooped so low that it made his shoulders seem to rise. Shane’s behavior was crushing him, and he’d sat down to try and do something about it.
Gritting his teeth, Shane put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. His thoughts had become a blur of heated confusion. Even in the direst of moments, he’d always known what to do next. The inactivity of the voyage and the failure with Tracy made him feel helpless.
“This is all one big game,” Steve said quietly, not raising his head. “Imagine if it were just football. If you led our team on the field right now, do you think we could win?”
His question struck Shane through his core. The answer was a definitive no, but he couldn’t utter it.
“We aren’t together right now,” Steve continued. “We’d get our asses handed to us.”
He didn’t give Shane a chance to respond, sliding out of the bench seat. Steve left him alone on the mess deck, his words reverberating in Shane’s head. He was glad his friend left abruptly. Nothing Shane wanted to say in that moment would’ve done any good. He was too absorbed in his own crap. He was destroying his team.
The grip of selfish hopelessness loosened. He’d become blinded. The situation was terrible; he couldn’t kid himself that it wasn’t. Together, they still had a chance of rescuing their friends, and of maybe even saving all the teens who were under the influence of the Anunnaki. By himself, he wouldn’t make it out of the gate.
They’d survived this far because they’d stuck together. Ever since Kelly and Jules had been abducted, his team had been drifting apart. Although the stakes were so high that it made him nauseous to think about what losing would mean, this was just a game of sorts. What would Coach Rice say to him right now? He’d say it wasn’t worth going on the field, that Shane’s behavior and attitude had already made them lose.
His head felt too heavy to hold with his hands. Turning sideways, Shane glanced at the clock and then lay down on the bench. He had eight hours to get his head straight. He closed his eyes and relived everything that had happened since leaving Leeville. The memories were painful. They’d lost some good friends and had done things that would haunt him for life. They did what it took to survive. The strength of the team carried them through. They’d been bonded together as one single, unstoppable force. Shane was the glue that stuck them together in the first place, and he’d put the strength of the team to the test through the brutal training they’d endured at the rebels’ hidden base.
“You know they have beds for that sort of thing,” Tracy said.
Shane opened his eyes. It took him a second to gain his bearings. He sat up and saw Tracy settling in front of him with a plate piled with food. Maurice was at the galley window, waiting to receive his tray. Steve was in line behind him, followed by Laura and the rest of his team. He glanced at the clock. Two hours until they pulled in—he must’ve a passed out.
“You’re awake,” he excitedly said.
“Captain Obvious,” she teased. Her voice was weak, but the ever-present gleam of ferocious determination was in her eyes. “I’m freakin’ starving.”
Tracy hunched over her plate and shoveled food into her mouth.
“Did they tell you what happened?” he asked, worried she’d be pissed.
“Yeah,” she said through a mouthful of food. “Said they did the same thing to you.”
He nodded.
“Said you got all angry when they told you.”
“Guess I didn’t like t
he idea that everyone decided to do it to me behind my back,” he replied.
“And then you went and did it to me,” she said, gulping down her cup of water and looking at him over the rim.
“Sorry.” He looked down. “It seemed like the only way.”
“No worries.” She chuckled. “I’m not as sensitive as you overgrown footballers. Whatever it takes to save them. Right?”
“Yeah, whatever it takes,” he said, feeling guilty for how he’d behaved after they connected him to Kelly and relieved that Tracy wasn’t upset.
Maurice slid in next to Shane, and Laura sat on his other side. The stump of her arm was covered by some kind of cup that glowed light blue. She had lost her arm at the elbow in the assault on the control room of the Anunnaki recruit ship, but now it was several inches longer.
“They’re starting to regrow it,” she said, answering Tracy’s questioning glance. “Dr. Blain said it will take a couple of months, but then it’ll be like it never happened.”
“That’s awesome,” Shane replied. He’d been so self-absorbed that he’d failed to inquire as to how she was doing for days.
He felt like he should apologize to her, to all of them. He’d failed them over the last couple of weeks.
“So, what did you see when they linked you to Kelly?” Tracy asked.
Shane recounted the dream, his skin crawling at how vivid it was. Tracy finished her meal just as he concluded his story.
“What about you?” he asked. “What did you see?”
“Not as much as you,” she replied, sitting back. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to recall something that had happened long ago. “I didn’t get to talk to her for more than a minute,” she said, sadness in her voice. “Then it was more like we traded minds for a moment. I could see everything that Jules had been through in a flash. Kelly and the others were there too. They all seem to be safe, all except for Ethan.” Tracy’s voice trailed off.
“What happened to him?” Shane asked. He’d liked the stout leader of the Aussie team from the moment he met him.
“I think they made Jules, Kelly, and Ethan fight in the ship’s coliseum,” Tracy said, sounding hesitant.
“And?” Shane glanced up at the clock. They only had an hour until they pulled into South Carolina. The Russian team entered the mess deck, grabbing trays of food and sitting at the table next to Shane and his friends.
“And, they forced Kelly and Jules to kill Ethan.”
Shane stared at her, trying to process what she’d just said. He knew Kelly wasn’t in control of her body, that the Anunnaki were pulling the strings. How it must have tormented her to watch herself commit the murder. He would’ve gone mad if he were in her place.
“It’s one more reason we have to destroy these bastards,” Shane finally said in a quiet voice. He looked around the table, making eye contact with each of his friends. He took a deep breath, knowing he had to say something to bring his team back together.
“I owe you guys an apology,” he began. “Since losing Kelly, I feel like I haven’t been there for you guys like I should.”
Maurice shook his head slightly, showing he disagreed.
“No,” Shane stopped him before he could speak. “It’s true. You’re my brothers and sisters, and I’ve done you wrong by not being there one hundred percent.” He looked over at the Russians, letting them know he spoke to them as well.
“When we get off this sub, we have to function as a single unit. And we have to believe we can make it to the base, and then defeat the Anunnaki.”
He infused his words with as much enthusiasm as he could. The effect was immediate. He’d witnessed the halftime speeches Coach Rice used to give that lifted the spirits of his team during games that Shane was certain they’d already lost. The coach’s words had changed attitudes, had sent them back on the field believing they could win. And many times, they did turn those games around.
Coach Rice had taught him that a good leader always had to have their fingers on the pulse of the team. They had to pay attention to the morale of their players and be ready to step in with words of encouragement at those critical moments when they were needed most. Shane had been so self-absorbed, so worried about Kelly, he’d failed his team as a leader. He was determined not to allow that to happen anymore.
Captain Jones had briefed Shane on the mission that would take them from the port in South Carolina to the base hidden in the Appalachian Mountains. Now he passed the plan on to his team.
“Going nonstop, it’ll take three days to get to the hidden base,” he said. “As soon as we pull in, we’ll need to find a vehicle that can make the trip.”
“At least I’m well rested,” Tracy joked.
“Do we have any maps?” Anfisa asked. “How will we know where the base is?”
“No maps,” Shane replied. “Captain Jones doesn’t want us to have knowledge of the base’s exact location for the protection of those sheltered there. He’ll be with us and will show us the way.”
“I don’t suppose any road actually leads to the base,” Tracy said.
“The roads will take us most of the way, but we’ll have a day of hiking to make it through the forest to the base.”
The sub rocked softly back and forth, and he knew they’d surfaced. Shane looked at his friends one last time, inviting questions. When no one had any, he stood and headed for the control room ladder.
“Let’s get geared up,” Tracy said to the others as he climbed to the next level. He was so grateful that she had awoken. He couldn’t imagine trying to fight his way to the base without her.
Anfisa had always been the obvious leader of the Russian team, but she seemed okay with taking orders from him and Tracy. He’d be careful not to butt heads with her. The Russian team was an invaluable asset, and he felt confident that they’d make it to the base as long as they all stuck together.
“What about some armor?” Tracy asked.
Jones and Shane had just entered the mess deck carrying stacks of black clothing for them to wear during the mission.
“Without a link to the Anunnaki ships, the armor is useless,” Jones reminded her. “And it would only draw unwanted attention to you.”
“I can’t believe a race of aliens smart enough to overtake half of the universe haven’t figured out how to power their Iron Man costumes without being near their ships,” Steve said.
“It keeps their technology from being used against them,” Jones replied, handing everyone their outfits.
The teenagers went into the berthing to change. Shane had already gotten dressed. The regular lights were off, and only a few dim red lights illuminated the space, helping their eyes to get used to the dark.
He felt his way back to the bench where he’d been sitting before and waited for his vision to adjust. The teams sorted through the weapons and ammunition scattered on the tables, choosing their favorites.
The rest of the teens returned to the mess deck, blinking and squinting until they could see clearly once again. They were somber as they put on their gear. Everyone was dressed the same—black long-sleeved shirts, black cargo pants, and black hiking boots. The clothing was warmer than what they’d worn in Egypt, reminding Shane that summer was over. The excitement that preceded the attack on the Anunnaki recruit ships was absent. Then, Shane and his friends were fueled by vengeance. He still wanted to make the aliens pay for what they’d done, but he wouldn’t have a chance to try until they made it to the hidden base. Unfortunately, the only resistance they expected to encounter was from the kids whose minds were scrambled. He hated the idea that he might have to kill more of them.
“I don’t think you should go with us,” Tracy said, looking at Laura.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Laura replied. She’d donned her gear before anyone else and stood near the back of the mess deck with a rifle over her shoulder.
“You’ll be a liability,” Tracy apologeticall
y said.
“I’ll show you a liability,” Laura snarled, leaning her gun against the bulkhead and stepping toward Tracy with her fist balled.
“Hold up,” Shane said stepping between them. “We all have short fuses right now. But we’ve got to save it for the fight.”
“I’m not staying on this stupid submarine,” Laura said. “I’ve earned the right to go.” She pointed at the stub of her arm.
Even in the dim light, Shane could tell Tracy had wanted her to stay behind for her own good. He looked back and forth between the two girls, remembering how well Laura fought in Cairo.
“She can come,” he concluded, looking at Tracy.
Tracy shrugged, seeming immediately satisfied with his decision.
Jones went over the mission. The plan was simple enough, and Shane absorbed it while donning his vest and stuffing the pockets with extra ammo and grenades. A clone squeezed past the anxious teens through the mess deck and climbed the ladder to the hatch. Minutes later, cool air rushed through the room. Shane sucked in the fresh ocean scent, drinking it like a man who’d found water in the middle of the desert. He hadn’t realized how stale the air in the sub had become. Claustrophobia struck him suddenly, and he had to resist the urge to race up the ladder to get out of the confinement of the sub.
The briefing complete, Jones looked at Shane as if to turn the control of the two teams over to him. Going to the back of the mess deck and standing under the hatch, Shane slung his rifle over his shoulder and looked at his friends. It was time to be the quarterback once again. Jones and Lily had expressed that the humans were better equipped to deal with combat than they were and, once again, the rebels seemed to let them plow the way.
“Stay sharp, people,” Shane said. The excitement of getting off the boat and of actually doing something breathed new life into him. “Let’s go.”
Shane turned and climbed onto the ladder that led two levels up to the top of the sub. He had to keep his chest near the rungs as he climbed so the barrel of his gun wouldn’t catch on the hatches. After he passed through the first hatch, he looked down to see how Laura fared. Staying on his heels, she compensated for the lost arm with balance. She leaned tight against the rungs and let go, then snatching the next rung up before her body could fall away from the ladder. Shane knew he’d done the right thing by letting her come.