Jess and Kelly both wore amused looks. Jess wiggled her butt into the small section of sofa that Alyssa wasn’t occupying. Kelly plopped down on the end of the coffee table, knocking Sebastian’s feet away with the back of her hand.
“Jordan’s stable. The injury isn’t as bad as it looked. The bullet went through and missed anything vital. Ela got him all stitched up. She says he’ll need to rest his arm for a while and avoid all missions until she releases him for duty.”
“Why was he out for so long?” Sebastian scrubbed his hand through his hair, his cobalt eyes reflecting the light from a nearby lamp.
“He probably went into shock shortly after he was shot. You were all covered with blood, which tells me that his bleeding lasted for quite a while.”
“Jess and I had to take turns putting pressure on his wound,” Alyssa said, “but it didn’t seem to stop until we were almost here.”
“Did you know there was an exit wound?”
“No. His shirt was soaked and it was dark.”
“Well, there you go, then. You were doing the right thing, but you didn’t know he was bleeding out through the hole in his back. Where was the medic? I thought Jack went with you?”
“He did, but he was with Cecily’s team. In all the chaos, there was no way to know where to find him.”
Cecily Taylor led the northern California coalition group, Sebastian’s original team. Together, they’d gathered likeminded people and connected many different rebel groups from around the world to form the Coalition for the Freedom of Humanity. Since things had started to turn bad with the Szu’Kara, Cecily spent most of her time at the eastern Washington coalition headquarters helping Sebastian.
“Is he awake? Can Kora visit him yet?” Sebastian waved toward Kora’s sleeping figure on the bed across the room.
“Let her sleep. Ela sedated Jordan so he could get through the worst of the pain. Kora can go visit him when she wakes up. We set him up in a private room so she can take Lyssa and they can stay with Jordan until Ela discharges him.”
“Well, that’s a huge relief,” Jess said, chewing on a fingernail, a new habit since her abrupt induction into the rebellion.
“Yes. Now, if you all will excuse me, I think I’m going to go sleep for a week.”
***
“Well, technically, the raid was a success.” Sebastian addressed a packed conference room, filling the space with his deep, silken voice. Dressed in green fatigue pants, a black fitted t-shirt, and combat boots, he looked ready to run into battle at any moment. Alyssa licked her lips, trying not to drool at the sight of his lean, muscular chest stretching his tight shirt. The patch of white hair at his widow’s peak curled down, concealing the top part of a scar that bisected his eyebrow and disappeared in his hairline. “The missions are becoming routine for us now, and our teams are efficient. Jordan was our only casualty and he’s going to be fine, thanks to Ela.” He nodded at the dour-looking alien.
Ela was the most emotionless Szu’Kara Alyssa had ever encountered. At most, she’d express irritation but not much more. Her teal skin had a faint sparkle but was as lackluster as her personality. Even her grayish-white eyes were dull and lifeless most of the time.
“The slaves were taken to the Spokane headquarters for rehabilitation but, unfortunately, there were no Zook survivors.”
“Was there no chance of turning them to our cause, Bas?” Lorn leaned forward on his elbows. At just over six feet tall, he looked very human, like a thin, bald, and friendly science geek. His tan skin and warm, light brown eyes made him look like a loyal lap dog. As Jess’ unofficial mate, Lorn had become like a favored son in his girlfriend’s family.
“No. I’m sorry, my friend.” Sebastian shook his head sadly. “They didn’t show any signs of backing down. They were even throwing slave children at us and shooting them before we could grab them.”
“That’s terrible.” Lorn dropped his head onto his clenched fists.
“How big was the camp?” Edward, Jess’ father, stood at the back wall, anger simmering in his blue eyes. His long blond hair was pulled back in his usual low ponytail. Thick, tanned arms crossed over his button-down shirt. Edward’s average height and stocky build made him appear somewhat intimidating, but he was a big softy.
Since he joined the coalition, he’d used his experience as an electronics technician to improve the technology around headquarters, as well as taking up the mechanical work. His small team of techs maintained, repaired, and modified all coalition equipment, vehicles, and weapons. His wife, Maira, managed the supplies for general household, cafeteria, and medical needs.
“It was a large camp; probably thirty or more Zook soldiers. They were keeping the slaves in a couple of cellars, packed in like sardines. Didn’t look like they’d been fed for quite some time.”
“Did you get any supplies or equipment?”
“I spoke to Cecily around four this morning and she said they had a small arsenal and a well-stocked kitchen in the main house. When they finish transporting the slaves to Spokane’s HQ, she’ll organize a cleanup team to gather anything useful and transport it here. She’s going to strip that place and burn it down.”
Murmurs and nodding heads around the large, rectangular table approved the plans. Lorn looked stricken by the news. He hated the loss of any life, especially Szu’Kara. The aliens reproduced at such a slow rate that any loss was a significant hit to their population.
“I’ll clear space in the garage so we can inventory everything. We keep bringing in this much stuff, I’m going to have to add more people to my team, Sebastian.”
“Do what you need to do, Ed. If you think we have too much, call around the nearby states and see if anyone else needs more gear.”
“Will do.”
“One thing I wanted to bring up that everyone needs to be aware of—” all eyes turned to Sebastian “—is that there appeared to be newer captives at the camp, especially women.”
Loud gasps filled the air. Mutterings of disbelief reached Alyssa’s ears. She sighed, knowing the news was going to be hard for others to hear.
“How—”
“Why is—”
“That’s just—”
“Quiet down, everyone, please.” Sebastian held his palms up. “It’s shocking news, for sure, but not entirely surprising. The Zook compounds are all locked down, but they didn’t stop interacting with the outside. The commander is still spreading his evil tentacles out to all corners of Earth, and he isn’t likely to give up control without a fight.”
“Have we heard from Shar?” Alyssa quietly tapped her fingertips against the tabletop.
“Kelly spoke with her a few days ago,” Ela said. “The commander is close to allowing Shar access to Hamlin to provide healthcare for the townspeople. Kelly has been persistent in requesting her assistance, but he is reluctant to risk her. She is the only one capable of fulfilling the clinical duties I performed before I escaped.”
“Great, but what does that mean? Is he snatching people from the streets? Why does he keep filling up these damn camps?” Edward pushed away from his corner and started pacing the back of the room.
“Not snatching, I don’t think. I’ve heard from some of the other group leaders that humans are disappearing; mostly homeless, Valene junkies, or unattached loyalists. We’re hoping we can get Shar off-compound so we can talk to her some place unmonitored. She might be able to shed some light on the commander’s plans. If he’s taking people, he can’t keep them on the compounds. He still has to keep up appearances.”
Ela cleared her throat, grabbing the room’s attention. “I believe he may be using Valene to control the minds of any humans that are not completely loyal to him. It is possible that he has found a way to use the Key to subdue or eliminate dissidents.”
Alyssa sat forward quickly, fear flooding her mind. “I thought the lab was destroyed when you and Sebastian rescued me and the coalition bombed the compound?”
“I believe it was, although i
t is my understanding that we have not been able to confirm how much damage it sustained,” Ela said, looking at Alyssa with disinterest. “Even if it was destroyed, Commander Kayn has smaller laboratories on other compounds, as well as a larger laboratory in the Nursery ship. He will have reserve tanks filled with the Key or similar substances.”
Talking about the Key always made Alyssa’s heart hurt. A derivative of Valene, the natural hallucinogenic substance excreted from the pores in alien skin, the Key was a poisonous gas that was harmless until it came in contact with another alien substance used as a component in the recycling process or mixed in with a newer material called Plastin.
Plastin was a plastic substance used in the manufacturing of almost everything made since the aliens arrived. When the coalition revealed the true purpose of the Key and Plastin to the general population, manufacturing slowed down dramatically and much of the Plastin already in use was burned before the commander called for a lockdown of all alien compounds.
Alyssa got to see first-hand the damage that Plastin and the Key could do when Kayn, the Commander of the Szu’Kara race, ordered her and her parents to be killed. At the time, she was pregnant with his offspring. The growing fetus somehow changed Alyssa’s genetics in a way that had saved her from being poisoned. It just hadn’t saved her from the trauma of watching her parents die painfully.
“Sir!” Daniel, a new recruit that Sebastian had taken under his wing, jogged into the room, breathing heavily. “Turn on the monitor. The commander’s broadcasting.”
Sebastian spun around to switch on the television hanging behind him. Instantly, the large flat-screen was filled with Alyssa’s nightmare. Commander Kayn stood in front of a large painting of Zion, his golden eyes shining and his teeth gleaming in a condescending grin. Alyssa remembered that painting as one that hung over the sofa in his enormous office.
“...hope to restore peace. I wish to reopen our compounds to the public once again, returning our interactions to what they once were. I understand that many of you are sitting idle while unable to continue your employment on Szu’Kara compounds. I hope that you will all understand the need for heightened security and continue to be patient with us.
“Our military is working to contain and eliminate the rebel factions that would kill all of my people as well as any humans who stand with us. It has always been and always will be our goal to maintain planet-wide peace and provide humanity with a means of accessing the wondrous beauty of Zion. I promise you that we continue to research ways that will allow humans, who choose to, a way to accept Final Asen’Sha so they may live a blissful eternity with those they love.
“When the rebel alliance broadcast their vicious lies, the planet suffered a small setback. I assure you, Szu’Kara are still dedicated to restoring beauty to Earth and providing humanity a means of supporting itself without the need for war, fighting, or killing. We will always stand beside humanity. We care about you...I care about you. Together, we will flourish into a beautiful and peaceful society. Thank you.”
Kayn bowed his head just before the broadcast flickered out, leaving a black screen behind. Everyone in the room sat stunned. Sebastian stood beside the television with his head down and a calculating look on his face.
Folding her arms protectively around herself, Alyssa replayed what she’d just heard. Shock and anger fought for control of her racing mind. That son of a bitch. When will he leave us alone? We’re going to have to kill him...but are we capable? Will we be able to get to him...ever?
Chapter 3
“Don’t they know it’s all illusion?” Alyssa threw her hands up. “Illusions of an eternity that we will never have.”
Sebastian squeezed her knee. She turned to gaze out the van window, watching the endless fields of wheat fly by. Her mind hadn’t stopped racing since the broadcast.
“Yes, lots of people do,” Jess said from the van’s middle seat, “but you remember what it was like when you learned the truth. I remember when you told me I absolutely didn’t want to believe it. I was so mad at Lorn for not telling me sooner...you know, after I accepted the truth.”
“I know you’re right. People don’t want to accept the truth if it means giving up the dream of Zion. I just wish there was some way for everyone to see the horrible things Kayn does. If only they knew what I know.” A single tear trailed down Alyssa’s cheek as she remembered the abuses she’d suffered at the hands of the almighty commander.
“Well, darlin’, our job is to spread the truth. The more people we save from slavery, the more people we have on our side. I’m more worried about this new development. What does he gain from making more slaves?”
Alyssa swiped her hand across her hot cheek. “I don’t know. Hopefully Shar will be able to tell us something.”
“Do you think we’re going to be able to bring back any people from the raid? They all looked pretty bad.” Jess leaned forward, poking her head between the front seats to look at Alyssa and Sebastian.
“Cecily said there might be three or four that Ela and Kelly can rehab.” Sebastian smiled at Jess. “The rest are going to have to stay at Spokane’s HQ clinic. We’ll find out when we get there.”
The rest of the drive passed in silence, the three of them lost in their own thoughts. Alyssa wound a lock of hair around her finger, thinking about how much her life had changed, how she had changed. Coloring her hair purple and cutting it into a bob had been a daring move for her after having been the proper personal assistant to Kayn for four years before joining the coalition. She knew he’d never have let her do something so radical when they were dating, which was exactly why she did it.
The closer they got to the city, the more desolation they saw. The Spokane settlement was big, but not quite as big as Seattle, and hadn’t garnered as much attention from Kayn’s restoration programs.
Burned out houses and businesses lined the roadways on the outskirts of the city. Some neighborhoods still had people living in them even with the walls crumbling around them. Closer to the settlement, small markets and apartments were crowded with humans and Szu’Kara.
The difference in appearance between the aliens and the humans was quite noticeable. Most of the Szu’Kara were soldiers or guards, with few civilian aliens living outside of the main settlement. All the aliens looked clean and well-to-do, whereas the humans ranged anywhere from impoverished to middle-class at best.
Winding the van through the dirty streets, Sebastian avoided the roughest roadways and those that were too crowded to drive through. As they got nearer to the gated settlement, Sebastian slowed down to a crawl to avoid running over a protesting mob. Angry bodies formed a nearly impenetrable wall at the gate.
“What’s going on?” Alyssa jumped when a hand smacked her window. Angry faces glared in at them.
“No idea,” Sebastian said, stretching up to look over the top of the mob. “We’re almost there. Sit tight.”
Jess yelped when a strange man plastered himself against her side of the van. He yelled unintelligible words at them, then turned away to fling his fists in the air. They quickly punched down the locks on all the doors.
“Can we get through?” Alyssa jerked her head left and right, gripping the handle on her door.
“Yeah, but I might have to knock a few people out of the way.” Sebastian inched the van forward, bumping into the people blocking the way, stopping only when it looked like a person might fall under the front end of the van. “Shit, these people are nuts.”
“I see the gate.” Jess pointed ahead.
“Looks like there’s some guards there.” Alyssa spotted the telltale bald heads of Szu’Kara towering over the crowd. “I thought Tom’s group took control of the settlement.”
“He did, but I think he’s keeping Zooks at the gate for the intimidation factor.” Sebastian bumped a couple of men waving sticks out of the way and nudged the gate. The guards swarmed around the van, creating a barrier for them to pass through as the gates swung open.
�
�This is crazy.” Jess’ frightened voice squeaked, drawing Alyssa’s attention away from the spectacle outside. Her best friend sat with her legs bent up in front of her, one arm wrapped around her knees and the other holding a thumb to her mouth as she chewed her thumbnail.
Alyssa reached back to grip Jess’ arm and smiled. “We’re going to be fine.”
“I wonder why those people are so angry,” she said around her thumb. “I hope they weren’t like this when Lorn got here this morning.”
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Sebastian said as the gates closed behind them.
The gated settlement was large, several city blocks in size. Normally the gates would only be closed during emergencies, allowing the general population to access the food pantries and supply shops clustered in the center. The outer streets were lined with housing that was reserved for Szu’Kara residents and humans loyal to the aliens, similar to the alien compounds.
Since the truth about the alien agenda had been revealed, the settlements were either locked up tight or taken over by the coalition. Those settlements that were controlled by the coalition were still open to the general population but security had been tightened. The fact that the Spokane settlement was closed during the day was a bad omen.
With clear streets ahead, Sebastian drove at a regular speed toward the command center. As they approached the center of the settlement, Alyssa and Jess gasped, eyes wide. Jess scooted between the front seats, craning her head to get a better look at the fortress in front of them.
The van slid past a large castle-like building. Broken spires topped four round turrets that lined the front. The dirty beige walls were filled with windows that had been barred or covered with weathered plywood. The arched front entrance had a rough wooden door and several guards milling around it. Every other door visible from the street appeared to have been boarded up long ago.
Above the front entrance, the remains of a rectangular tower rose above the dead trees that surrounded the building. Metal fencing with razor wire enclosed the fortified command center. Human and Szu’Kara guards watched them drive by from the broken edges of the tower.
Unchained: The Discordant Earth Series Book Two Page 2
