Chasing the Shadows

by Maria V. Snyder

  “Good,” Radcliff says. “Anything else?”

  “I believe Ara has something to tell you.”

  Oh yeah. I inform Radcliff about my failure with the shadow-blob alarm.

  “It did seem too good to be true.” Radcliff rubs his face.

  I’m just as disappointed. I hate that the security officers in the lab will have no warning of an attack. If only I could— Why not? I mull it over.

  “Uh oh, she’s got that look,” Morgan says. “Spit it out, Lawrence. Yet another insight into Jarren’s machinations?”

  Ignoring her sarcasm, I say, “I could monitor the camera feeds in the lab with a portable. Well, at least when I’m awake.”

  Radcliff leans back and drums his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I’m tempted, but I need your full attention on discovering a way to contact DES.”

  “Then how about a shift in the lab? In fact, I could do it alone because I can see the danger.”

  “And what happens if a HoLF breaches the lab?” Morgan asks.

  “I sound the alarm and get the hell out of there.”

  “What if it surprises you? You won’t have backup.”

  “It won’t.” I shudder, remembering the heavy pressure on my shoulders whenever they were around. Truthfully, I’d rather have a shift guarding detention. Looters, even rioting looters, are less scary than shadow-blobs. But my conscience refuses to allow me to be a chicken.

  “You’re supposed to be dead. You can’t be seen.” Morgan points out.

  “I can take one of the overnight shifts. You know no one dares enter the lab except for security.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Radcliff says, ending the discussion.

  A familiar response. At least he didn’t say no. When Morgan leaves, I glance at the time. Maybe Niall is still awake.

  As if he can read my mind, Radcliff says, “Go to sleep, Ara. Take advantage of a full night’s rest while you can.”

  Does that mean he’s decided? As usual, his expression gives nothing away. I wonder when Elese will teach me the how-to-look-intimidating-without-even-trying lesson or the how-to-suppress-your-emotions lesson. Too tired to argue, I get ready for bed.

  “An alternative dimension is the stuff of science fiction, Ara,” Yenay says. “While there’s always speculation, there’s been no evidence that such a thing exists.”

  At that moment, she reminds me of my mother. Although younger and with shorter hair, she has that you-are-wasting-my-time-with-this-nonsense demeanor.

  “Plus the Q-net failed to produce a mathematical theorem that would prove its existence,” Bertie adds, in a gentler voice. “The fact that the aliens believed in demons is a very important discovery. It explains why all these Warriors are spread throughout the Galaxy. Your parents must be thrilled.”

  They are. Lan’s translations of the alien symbols are the first big breakthrough since the discovery of the Warriors on other planets. Except their excitement is tempered by large doses of frustration because they can’t get into the Warrior pits. I hope this meeting will help get us closer to that goal.

  We’re in Radcliff’s office. It’s oh-seven-hundred so I can still report to training on time. Lucky me. Lan’s messages to her mother are on the screen above his guest terminal. It’s been three days since Morgan and I opened the files. The astrophysicists delayed the meeting until they finished the laser weapons and the sensor that will record the full electromagnetic spectrum in the pits.

  “So where did the HoLFs come from?” I ask.

  “We have a few theories,” Bertie says.

  “Like what?” I’m not letting her get away with a vague answer.

  “They could be native to Yulin and were disturbed by the destruction of the Warriors.”

  “And native to Planet Xinji as well? The HoLFs killed—”

  “We can’t know that for sure,” Morgan says. “Jarren said the HoLFs appeared after they raided the Warrior pits, but we can’t trust him. And there wasn’t enough information in the files from Xinji aside from mention of the first deaths.”

  Which included multiple lacerations, evisceration, and exsanguination, but I guess that could be attributed to your average murdering psychopath. Too bad those files were stolen. Even though they’re mere pieces of the vast amount of data that is sent to DES from a research base, we really need to recover them—that’s next on my worming To-Do list after we contact DES.

  “Or the looters could have brought the HoLFs,” Yenay says.

  “The looters didn’t bring them,” I say. “They arrived because the Warriors were removed and destroyed.” But I might as well have been talking to one of the Warriors.

  “You were in Pit 4 during the attack,” Morgan says. “They could have released them in the other pits.”

  Huh. Well that would certainly be…I can’t think of a horrible enough word to describe it. Did Jarren lie to me about what happened on Xinji? He seemed sincere at the time, but, then again, he planned to leave everyone on Yulin at the mercy of the shadow-blobs. So he’s more than capable of deliberately killing an entire base.

  “The important thing is to learn more about the HoLFs,” Yenay says.

  I agree, but I’m not buying their theories, no matter how logical. I’ll stick with my gut intuition thank you very much.

  “Officer Radcliff is waiting for us in the conference room,” Morgan says.

  Ah, part two. The four of us join him. He’s sitting at the head of the large rectangular table. Niall, Beau, Elese, and Rance are also seated. The screen behind Radcliff shows a diagram of the archeology lab, the entrance to the pits, and the corridor that runs parallel to Pits 1 to 4.

  We settle into the empty chairs. I choose the one next to Beau. He grins at me.

  Radcliff’s gaze scans the room, ensuring we’re all paying attention. “Drs. Carson and Zhang have built a sensor that we need to install in Pit 1.” He pauses as if expecting resistance. When no one speaks, he continues. “Here’s how it’s going down. Officers Keir, Dorey, Rance, and Radcliff will move in step and set floodlights in an arc, creating a perimeter of light around the work area.”

  A curved line appears on the diagram. It balloons out from the entrance to the lab and stops just inside Pit 1. It’s egg-shaped. Fancy.

  “The floodlights in the lab will be aimed at the corridor between the pit and the lab,” Radcliff says. “Drs. Carson and Zhang will install the sensor and activate it. Once they return to the lab, the officers will back out of the pit in step.” The balloon deflates. “When all personnel are in the lab, the doors will be secured. Officer Morgan and I will be on stand-by in the lab. Junior Officer Lawrence will be our spotter. If she sees a HoLF, those in the pits will retreat A-sap. Any questions?”

  “When is the operation, sir?” Bendix asks.

  “2522:204 at oh-one-hundred.”

  Rance frowns at me because I’m the reason we’re going in an hour after midnight—so no one will see me. I ignore him. The fluttering in my stomach has me quite distracted. Not tonight, but tomorrow night, we’re really going to open the doors to the pits, putting the nine of us in danger. Or more if the shadow-blobs escape into the rest of the base.

  “How will we know if the sensor is working?” Beau asks.

  “Bertie and I will have a portable with us. As soon as the signal is acquired, we can leave,” Yenay says.

  “How long will it take to get the signal?” Rance asks.

  “Seconds after it’s turned on.”

  “This op should be quick,” Morgan says. “We get in and we get out in less than five minutes.”

  “What about the laser weapons? How can we aim at the hostiles if we can’t see them?” Rance asks.

  “Lawrence,” Radcliff says.

  “If the HoLFs attack, I will mark their locations for you,” I say.

  Another frown. Rance is clearly not happy to be part of this mission. Unlike the excursion to Pit 21, Radcliff didn’t ask for volunteers.

  “Any more questions
?” Radcliff asks.

  Nothing but a tense silence, which Beau breaks by asking, “Can we call ourselves the shadow team?”

  Groans and sighs.

  “Any more legitimate questions?” A beat. “All right, you’re dismissed. Back to work.”

  Everyone gets up and we file out. When Beau passes me, I grab his arm, stopping him. “I think the shadow team is a cool name.”

  “Thanks, partner.” He gives me a quick one arm sideways hug.

  It’s just to annoy Niall, who’s right behind us. My back warms with the glower I’m sure is on Niall’s face.

  The last time I wiggled into my form-fitting security jumpsuit, I’d been Jarren’s prisoner. Then I’d tossed my clothes over the garment to conceal it, which ended up saving my life. This time, I’m not as stressed or sweaty. The stretchy black fabric is like a second skin and leaves nothing to the imagination. It resists punctures and cuts, but isn’t impenetrable.

  I rub the scar over my left hip and wonder if the material is strong enough to block the shadow-blobs’ sharp appendages. No. It won’t come to that. I finish dressing and secure the belt, sliding my pulse gun into its holster. Its weight on my right hip balances out the more important weapon for this mission—the laser. I also have a flashlight just in case and an extra power pack.

  Dimming down the lights in my room, I click the laser on. The thin red beam slices through the darkness. Nice. After lacing on my black boots, I’m ready.

  Both Radcliffs are waiting for me in the living area. Also clad in the combat jumpsuits and sporting that confident ready-for-anything demeanor. When Niall turns to follow his father from the unit, I take a moment to appreciate the view. Oh come on, you’d do it too. He has a fine muscular…er…back.

  We meet up with Beau and Elese in Radcliff’s office.

  “Where are Officers Morgan and Rance?” Elese asks.

  “Already in the lab on guard duty,” Radcliff says. “When we leave security, the four of us will surround Junior Officer Lawrence, to keep her hidden in case we encounter anyone in the base.”

  I’ve put my hair up into a tight bun so it won’t get in the way. Not exactly the best disguise.

  Once we exit the area that’s dedicated to security, Radcliff takes point, while Beau and Niall walk on each side of me, Elese following right behind. It’s hard to see within the ring of officers. Although I doubt anything has changed. I grew up in research bases and they’re all the same design. Still, I’ve been cooped up in security for the last thirty-one days, so it’s a nice change of scenery, even if we’re walking toward danger and the creatures that have been haunting my dreams since the first looter attack. Minor details.

  We reach the lab without encountering anyone. No surprise as it’s almost oh-one-hundred and even the most dedicated scientists are tucked into their beds. Probably dreaming of making a monumental discovery in their field. I wonder if they know we’re cut off from DES and have hostile alien blobs trapped in the pits.

  My parents, Rance, Morgan, and the two astrophysicists are waiting for us inside. Mom and Dad clutch heavy-duty flashlights. Uh oh. Radcliff frowns and orders—well, asks them with a forceful politeness —to leave.

  “No,” Mom says. “This is our lab and the base is our responsibility. We won’t get in the way. We’ll be backups to your backups.”

  Radcliff stills. In this situation, where their personal safety is at risk, he does have the power to kick them out. Will he exercise it? Everyone is waiting.

  “Stay right by the door. If I tell you to go, you leave. No. Matter. What. Understand?” There’s a growly rumble in his voice. Radcliff’s inner guardian lion is showing.

  Niall and I exchange an amused look.

  “Yes,” my parents say together. They stand right in front of the exit.

  At least they’ll be the first to safety if this mission goes sideways. That thought doesn’t help my nerves. Lots of people I care about are in this room. What if I don’t spot the shadow-blobs in time?

  Radcliff issues orders. Four giant floodlights on tripods are turned on. Beau, Rance, Niall, and Elese pick them up and aim them at the entrance to the pits. The extra brightness sears my eyes. Bertie and Yenay hold a metallic box between them as they wait behind the four light bearers. With laser weapon in hand, I join them.

  “It’s a go,” Radcliff says.

  Morgan unlocks the double doors and pushes them wide. They swing into the corridor as she circles back around to stand with Radcliff. Cool damp air flows into the lab. Nothing but dust motes stir in the harsh stream of white light.

  “One,” Beau calls and steps from the smooth lab floor onto the sandstone.

  The other three match his stride. Their boots crunch in unison.

  “Two. Three. Four...”

  The wall of light moves further in until it reaches just inside Pit 1. A couple rows of Warriors are illuminated. The techs reconstructed a number of them after the attack. Cracks zigzag through their uniforms. The statues stand almost two meters tall. Each face is unique, but they’re all Chinese and crafted from terracotta. The red color faded to gray after thousands of years buried underground. They were never painted, unlike the ones on Earth.

  My father thinks the aliens learned how to make the Warriors from the ancient Chinese craftsmen and then constructed the ones that they buried on sixty-four exoplanets. But my mom believes they were made on Earth and then transported to those other planets. Why am I even thinking about this? Better than the possibility of encountering shadow-blobs.

  I focus on the task at hand as I walk behind Bertie and Yenay. The light pushes back the darkness. The only shadows are those created by the floodlights from the lab. And they’re all human or box-shaped.

  “Lights set,” Beau calls, putting down his tripod at the same time that the others set theirs. All four then pull their lasers and rest their fingers on the triggers.

  The astrophysicists install the sensor, securing it to the ground, and fiddling with…whatever it is they need to adjust. I spin in a slow circle, scanning the shadows, especially the ones that connect to the perimeter.

  “Two minutes,” Radcliff calls from the lab.

  “Not enough,” Yenay says. “We need five more, the link is being difficult.” She curses under her breath in Chinese.

  My mother tried to teach me Chinese. She was often frustrated, which is how I learned the more colorful phrases of the language.

  “You have three,” Radcliff says.

  Without warning, needles of cold stab my skin. The air thickens around me, pressing in, suffocating. It’s a familiar and very unwelcome sensation. Fear sloshes in my stomach as I check all the shadows. An image of an army of shadow-blobs massing in the darkness forms in my mind.

  Hurry, hurry, hurry, I silently urge the scientists. Movement catches my attention. Why is Beau— Not him, but his shadow is rising!

  I aim my laser at my partner. “Beau, duck.”

  He dives for the ground. The laser goes right through the HoLF. Nothing happens. It keeps advancing. I toss the laser to the ground, yank my flashlight, click it on, and…poof.

  “Lasers are useless,” I yell. More shadow-blobs loom behind the others. “Everyone down,” I order.

  They comply and I sweep my light over them. Poof, poof, and poof.

  “Retreat.” Radcliff’s command echoes.

  The four officers hop to their feet, but Bertie continues to tap on her portable. Her fingers dance over the surface. “Just a sec.”

  “Now!” Radcliff is standing in the threshold. “Leave the floodlights.”

  Rance grabs Bertie’s arm and yanks her toward the lab. Yenay kneels next to the sensor and fiddles with something before Elese hauls her to her feet.

  A sizzle and pop sounds and one of the floodlights dies in a shower of sparks and shattered glass. We sprint for the lab. Another crack rends the air. Two more follow. All that’s left are the lights from the lab. Behind us is nothing but darkness.

  “Turn ar
ound! Use your flashlights,” I just about scream. Okay, yes, I screamed.

  Elese and Rance shove the women toward the lab before spinning around. The five of us back up while sweeping our beams of light. I poof a few more.

  “The doors are closing,” Bertie shrieks.

  I glance over my shoulder. Radcliff and Morgan are fighting to hold the doors open. Stars!

  “Double time,” Radcliff orders through gritted teeth.

  The shadow-blobs thread through the gaps in our defenses. Their sharp appendages slice the fabric of our jumpsuits. The column of light from the lab narrows. Now my parents have joined Radcliff and Morgan, helping to keep the doors open. If they closed— No. Not going there.

  We finally reach the lab and dive through the gap. The doors bang shut and Morgan rushes to lock them. No one says a word for a long while. We’re all huffing either from the effort or from almost being killed.

  “Lawrence, did any of the HoLFs escape?” Morgan asks.

  Good question. I inspect all the shadows in the lab. Nothing. Plus the heavy pressure is gone along with the cold. “No.”

  “Did you activate the sensor?” Dad asks Bertie. “Is it working?”

  She jerks as if startled, then consults the portable. The rest of us hold our collective breaths. Did we just risk our lives for nothing?

  “It’s…collecting data,” Bertie says.

  The relief is palpable. We share grins and Beau slaps Niall on the back.

  “You’re bleeding,” Mom says to me.

  I glance down. An assortment of cuts mark my arms, torso, and legs. Lovely. But I’m not the only one. Beau, Niall, Rance, and Elese also have multiple lacerations. Niall has one on his forehead. Blood streaks the side of his face. I squelch the desire to fuss over him. At least the astrophysicists are unharmed.

  “Morgan, ask Dr. Edwards to meet us in security,” Radcliff says.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “The rest of you report to the conference room to be stitched up.”