The Never Army

by Hodges, T. Ellery

  “Mr. Clean . . . did Jonathan come by?”

  “No, he arranged for food to be brought to you.”

  While she didn’t know what she’d expected, she was sad he hadn’t come to see her. Speaking to the alien felt so pointless now. Something she would do because she had come this far and didn’t believe it was a box she could leave unchecked. But she didn’t want to speak to Heyer, she wanted to speak to Jonathan. Yet, everything said he was avoiding her.

  She knew he’d let Mr. Clean be the bearer of all the bad news because he didn’t want to be the one to cause her pain. Still, she would have rather heard it from him. She wanted to go find him now, but despite Sydney’s open hostility, her warning had felt honest. Being seen with him would do Jonathan no favors.

  “Mr. Clean, can I speak to him through you?”

  “Yes,” Mr. Clean said. “However, he is not alone and rather occupied at the moment.”

  “Saving mankind?” Leah asked.

  “It is a related matter,” Mr. Clean acknowledged.

  “I suppose I can’t fault his priorities,” she said.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  OCT 16, 2005 | 11:30 AM | SEATTLE

  “THIS PLACE FEELS like it is filling up by the minute,” Paige said.

  She stood beside the windows watching people down below. They were near the top of Hangman’s Tree, a circular room that hung from the ceiling at the center. The windows were tinted, allowing them to look down as though they were in the jumbotron of an arena.

  “Yeah, as far as secret alien hideouts go, it’s not going to be the Fortress of Solitude for much longer,” Hayden said.

  Collin came to stand beside her at the window. “Yeah, more like the Costco of Crowded. Or . . . Costco.”

  Paige smirked at him.

  The room itself didn’t have much to it. Just a donut shaped table and chairs. That said, it had no entrance. Jonathan had requested they all be here, and the only way in or out was for Mr. Clean to teleport them. Without implants that meant teleportation sickness.

  The roommates had been the first to arrive. Over the next few minutes, Anthony and Sydney had shown up and were still groaning in their chairs. The roommates went silent when Heyer arrived. He was impervious to the spins.

  Until Paige came to Hangman’s Tree, he had been a man she’d seen once, months ago, at a bar. She would have completely forgotten him had it not been that he followed Jonathan home and left him in a pool of his own blood on the kitchen floor. For Collin and Hayden, this was their third time sharing the room with the alien. A few days ago, Heyer had made a brief, albeit unconscious, appearance on the floor of their garage just before they were taken prisoner.

  Late last night they learned he wasn’t a man at all. That the reasons for his mysterious actions were far more mysterious than they had imagined. So, Heyer’s arrival left her uncomfortable in her chair. Though it might also have had something to do with how his coat hung open and three glowing lines of light were visible beneath his t-shirt.

  Sydney’s reaction didn’t seem any different from their own; only Anthony showed no particular reaction. Perhaps that was why the alien took a seat next to him.

  The AI arrived a moment later—if one could call it arriving. Rather, he decided that his avatar would manifest in the open space in the center of the table. He had swapped out his normal white t-shirt and jeans with a military uniform. Not just camouflage either.

  “Nice beret,” Paige said. “What’s the insignia?”

  Paige thought it looked like a stylized letter H—or two pitchforks facing away from one another. Mr. Clean didn’t bother answering as Jonathan’s arrival would have interrupted—as it turned out, Jonathan’s presence answered the question for him.

  He appeared in a blink and showed no signs of teleportation sickness. Like the alien, his coat hung open. Beneath his t-shirt, lines of light were dampened but still visible. Those lines, looked to be a close approximation to the insignia.

  Seeing their eyes drawn to this, he closed the coat before taking his seat. “Thank you for being here, let’s get started.”

  Paige frowned—there were still two empty seats at the table. Given the donut room’s purpose it seemed strange that Mr. Clean would manifest spare seats.

  “What is this about?” Heyer asked.

  “This is our war council,” Jonathan replied.

  None spoke right away, everyone in the room looking at one another. Some clearly felt that, if a war council was needed, they most certainly should be present. Others, like Paige, felt they most certainly had no reason for being there. With the exception of Jonathan—Paige got the feeling everyone present agreed on which category everyone else fell into.

  “Jonathan,” Anthony said. “If your intention is a council to plan Earth’s defenses, perhaps it should be made up of military minds, scientists, our people . . . Veterans who have survived multiple engagements with the enemy.”

  Jonathan listened and nodded. He didn’t speak though, just looked around the room waiting for the next objection disguised as advice.

  “What the hell are you thinking?” Paige asked.

  He turned to her to listen.

  “I get why Anthony, Sydney, and the alie . . . err . . .” Paige hesitated. “I’m sorry… Mr. Heyer?”

  “Heyer is fine.”

  “Well, I get why they’re here, but your roommates? This isn’t a game. You have to take this seriously.”

  His eyes moved to Collin next, who said, “Um . . . I’ve only seen one Ferox; Mr. Clean projected it into our room. I knew it wasn’t real and I still nearly crapped myself.”

  Jonathan directed a side-eyed look at the AI before moving on. He let everyone say what they were thinking, unfazed for the most part, despite everyone seeming to concur that he wasn’t thinking straight. Only the alien said nothing, his face stoic and mostly focused on Jonathan while the others made their points, until . . .

  “Heyer,” Sydney said. “You must have some opinion?”

  Heyer looked about the table patiently. “My understanding is that Jonathan has recently spent a great deal of time considering our strategy. I am waiting to hear his thoughts on the matter. That said, since this council is comprised of those he personally selected, I am rather curious about who is missing.”

  Apparently, Paige wasn’t the only one who noticed the two empty chairs. For a moment all those present looked to Jonathan waiting for him to answer.

  “When the time is right, those seats belong to Agent Laurence Rivers and Leah Delacy.”

  Heyer didn’t react, he only appeared thoughtful. The rest took the news with less grace.

  “Why would you let her anywhere near this?” Paige asked, and she didn’t disguise the pain in her voice as she stared at him.

  Jonathan didn’t get a chance to answer before Anthony piled on. “Either of them. Rivers won’t be turned to our side. Given the first opportunity, he’ll report anything we tell him to The Cell.”

  Jonathan nodded. “When we allow it, I suspect he will.”

  “You want The Cell to know what you’re up to?” Sydney asked.

  “When the time is right, yes,” Jonathan said. “This is a war between Earth and the Feroxian Plane, there can be no divisions amongst us if we wish to win it.”

  “Why Lea . . .” Paige cut herself off. “Why Rachel?”

  Jonathan turned, looking at her and his roommates sympathetically. They had only learned the truth about their next-door neighbor the night before. Paige hadn’t wanted to believe it. She’d resisted longer than the others, and her anger was justified. She’d been closest to the spy. Had just begun to truly feel a sisterly bond with her, only to have it all become a lie.

  “Believe me, I understand,” Jonathan said. “I am asking you to work with her, not to forgive.”

  “But you have forgiven her?” Sydney said, her tone in the vague space between question and accusation.

  Jonathan didn’t turn to look at her. He was quiet, st
aring down at the table as he chose his next words carefully. Finally, he stood. He leaned over the table and planted his fists.

  “I am letting you all cast your doubts. You’ve been heard. Now, I am asking you all to put them aside and listen. Once you understand what we need to accomplish, I will hear objections.”

  Then, he turned to Paige.

  “As you said, this isn’t a game. I won’t tell you how to feel, but there is a time and place for personal vendettas, and this is not it,” Jonathan said.

  There was a palpable tension and Paige knew it didn’t belong solely to her. However, given the circumstances, he wasn’t making an unreasonable request, and he wasn’t asking her to like it.

  Jonathan waited until everyone seemed ready to listen.

  “I’ve agreed with everything that’s been said,” Jonathan said. “But when I say I’ve agreed, I am not talking about the last few minutes. I’ve spent the last few months planning. Months, surrounded by . . . as you said, Anthony, military specialists, scientists, and highly trained government agents. Believe me when I tell you, they have made their contributions.”

  The alien leaned back in his chair, eyes glimmering with understanding. “The malfunction in your queue. You began each activation on a military base, surrounded by the shadows of The Cell’s scientists and operatives. You convinced them to work with you?”

  “Saying it like that makes it sound like it was easy—it wasn’t,” Jonathan said. “But yes.”

  “A remarkably fortuitous story,” Heyer said. “One I’d like to hear.”

  Jonathan considered him for a moment. “Perhaps another time. Right now, I want to return to why you’re the ones I’ve called here. There are two reasons. The first, we have a plan. It isn’t mine—it’s ours.”

  Paige frowned, and from the looks going around the table, she wasn’t the only one who needed him to elaborate.

  “Everything I am about to tell you, it didn’t come from me—it came from us. Your shadows inside The Never. So, anyone who thinks they don’t belong, know this now. You are the reason humanity has a plan.”

  Glances went around the table once again, but the appraisals in each person’s eyes had changed. Well, in most people’s eyes at least.

  “Um, Jonathan, honestly man,” Hayden groaned. “Hearing that I had any part in the plan to save to world—isn’t instilling confidence.”

  “Hayden,” Jonathan said. “I wish I could give you my memories. If I could, you would know your value. All of you. But, you’re right about one thing, no one at Hangman’s Tree can know. To anyone outside this room, no war council exists. All our strategic efforts are coming from Heyer and me alone.”

  Silence.

  “So, Heyer and you take all the blame if it all goes to hell,” Collin said. “Admittedly, I like what I know of ‘our plan’ so far.”

  “He’s rightfully worried,” Sydney said. “Leadership will be questioned if our soldiers think they’re being led by . . .”

  Sydney trailed off as the three roommates turned to hear the rest of the sentence. While Paige didn’t disagree with the sentiment, she thought the woman wise for leaving the rest of what she might have said to the imagination.

  “While we can all see what Sydney is getting at, this is more about containment,” Jonathan said. “The second reason you’re the ones here, is that none of you can be drawn into The Never. Heyer and I are the only two in this room with an active implant. Heyer can’t be drawn in against his will. All our soldiers can. Because of this, they all need to know as little as possible until the very last moment. In the meantime, it will be easier if all involved assume Heyer and I are the only ones with any knowledge.”

  “I think that what Jonathan isn’t saying, is that we’ll all find it easier to keep our mouths shut if no one knows we have anything to share,” Anthony said.

  Jonathan nodded.

  “I give every man in this army the benefit of the doubt. That said, they can all enter The Never. They could question your shadows. We would never know who amongst us might have become a liability.”

  Collin groaned. “This is already too complicated.”

  “I’ll simplify it. Outside this room, Anthony and Sydney are simply carrying out orders and know nothing more than anyone else. Paige, Collin, Hayden, you’re here for asylum, so The Cell can’t use you as leverage against me.”

  “So, be ourselves and let everyone assume we’re useless,” Collin said.

  Jonathan looked at his roommates sympathetically. “Collin, I’m sorry—”

  “No, no,” Collin stopped him, an earnest smile on his face. “I’m happy to not be taken seriously.”

  “Okay.” Jonathan smirked. “But that brings me to something else. It won’t all be an act. There . . . are details that cannot be known outside Heyer and myself . . .”

  The alien had tried not to react too much to any of what had been said so far, but he nodded solemnly, as though the statement showed wisdom.

  “But . . . there will also be things that I must keep entirely to myself,” Jonathan added.

  Heyer’s expression faltered.

  Silence.

  “Jonathan, shouldn’t someone point out that you aren’t immune to being pulled into The Never?” Sydney asked.

  “It’s not any Ferox encounter I’m worried about,” Jonathan said. “Malkier can’t send a Ferox to gather intel against us—at least not effectively. They’re too technologically primitive. Any information a Ferox could bring back wouldn’t likely be actionable. If Malkier hopes to learn how we intend to stop him, he’ll have to enter the gates himself. Now, if I were him, I’d pick random gates. Once inside The Never, I’d subdue the active human challenger for interrogation.”

  The room grew silent as they considered this.

  “What exactly stops him from doing this to you, Jonathan?” Paige asked.

  “He won’t risk facing me alone.”

  Heyer frowned, but he was careful with his words. “Jonathan . . . what makes you confident of that?”

  “For starters, last time he caught us completely unprepared, and I nearly killed him,” Jonathan said.

  “That was more luck than—”

  “Luck had little to do with it,” Jonathan said. “I knew how to kill him.”

  “Tactfully, Jonathan, you were not alone,” Heyer said. “And you were in a substantially . . . stronger state to engage him while . . .”

  Heyer trailed off, suddenly even more careful of his words.

  “. . . if anything, my brother suspects you are vulnerable.”

  Silence followed as Paige, Collin, and Hayden looked back and forth between Jonathan and the alien.

  “What is he talking about Jonathan?” Paige asked.

  Jonathan seemed to be taking his time answering.

  “What you need to know, is that with Rylee gone, I’m not as strong as I was,” Jonathan said. “Malkier, he would expect me to be . . . quite . . . vulnerable. But by now, he knows that isn’t the case. I’ve sent him a message he’ll find difficult to ignore.”

  “You sent my brother a message?” Heyer asked.

  “Twenty-eight of them. It will take him a while to count,” Jonathan said.

  The first meeting of the war council had concluded on an obvious question. If their shadows had helped Jonathan conceive of this plan, why did he still need them?

  His answer weighed on each of them. “We are the architects of a blueprint. Your shadows knew your true selves would still need to see it through. The best laid plans start falling apart when they meet reality. I still need your help.”

  They all needed time to absorb—Jonathan knew the next time they convened they would have questions.

  Despite being the first to leave, Jonathan didn’t look surprised to find Heyer stepping out in front of him a few moments later as he strode down the upper catwalks.

  “I know, Old Man, you hate the plan,” Jonathan said.

  “On the contrary, I believe you have something th
at can be built on,” Heyer said. “Though, I admit I am not looking forward to what you are asking of me.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Jonathan made to keep moving but Heyer put a hand on his shoulder. “Jonathan, you are avoiding me; it is rather thinly veiled.”

  They had just spent an hour with the rest of the council, but Jonathan wasted no time with the pretense that he didn’t know what Heyer was talking about. Some things could only be talked about in private.

  Jonathan sighed. “Whatever you think you need to ask me, you don’t.”

  Heyer studied him. “I will judge that for myself.”

  “Fine,” Jonathan said. “Walk with me, there is something we need to discuss before it is too late to bother.”

  Curious, Heyer fell into step with him.

  “Twenty-eight cycles inside The Never can only explain so much. This plan you offer—it could not have been conceived unless you were made aware of details I know you had no access to. That only I or Mr. Clean could have told you. How do you explain that?”

  “You’re mistaken,” Jonathan said.

  When he made no effort to elaborate on this, Heyer was left to guess at its meaning on his own. “Jonathan, would you have me believe you pieced this all together with nothing but educated guess work?”

  They had reached a staircase down to the ground floor and Jonathan paused at the top to look at Heyer.

  “You alright, Old Man? That coma having effects I need to know about?”

  They stared at one another, both looked as though it was the other who was clearly confused. Jonathan considered this for a moment, then leaned in to speak quietly. “If this is some sort of guilt, we . . . we really don’t have time for it.”

  “Guilt?”

  Jonathan frowned again but began descending the stairs. Heyer allowed him to put some steps between them before following. Certainly, in regard to Jonathan, there were things he felt guilty about. But what relevance did any of that have to do with the question he’d asked?

  He caught up to Jonathan at ground floor and saw where they were going. The armory was laid out inside of Mr. Clean just as it had been when the AI had been taking the shape of the top three stories of an apartment building. The only difference was that it was no longer contained by the walls of an old building. The stucco and plaster projections that had surrounded it in Heyer’s apartment were gone, which meant its exterior of true alien steel was no longer disguised. However, its antique safe door had not changed, and when Jonathan approached, the door swung open to allow them inside. The alien waited for the door to seal behind them.