by John Sneeden
About a minute later, a doorway appeared just ahead. Hearing no sounds, Zane stepped through and stopped. After his eyes adjusted, he could see he was standing at the top of a flight of stairs leading down into a cavernous chamber. At first he saw nothing in the dark interior, then his eyes picked up a faint flicker of light in the distance.
Zane descended the stairs cautiously. When he reached the bottom, he stepped out into the room. Soon more details emerged. He quickly saw that the far wall was not a wall at all; it was a V-shaped pane of dark glass.
A windshield.
Just below it were two strangely contoured seats. A long console ran between them, and just above that was the light he’d seen from above. Strangely, it seemed to hover in midair. Intrigued, he crossed the room and approached the glow. As he drew within a few feet, he realized it was a floating hologram. He also saw that the light was actually an intricate design on the globe’s surface. Zane leaned forward then stopped. His pulse quickened as he found himself staring at a 3D representation of the earth. It was so realistic that it gave the appearance of a real-time video.
Zane bent closer and marveled at the amazing technology. The oceans seemed to shimmer, and a few of the scattered clouds seemed to move ever so slightly. It must be some sort of navigation system, he thought. As he reached out to touch it, Zane heard a noise behind him. He turned, and at the same time, he backed away from the light of the hologram. He lifted his Glock and stared toward the back of the bridge, watching for movement. For the first time, he noticed that a doorway stood just behind the base of the stairs. The sound had seemed to come from there.
He slowly crossed over to the entryway. Just beyond was a corridor that looked like the one he’d come down earlier. He wanted to go back and examine the globe, but he knew he needed to investigate the sound. Someone might be in danger.
After passing through the door, Zane walked slowly down the hall. About a minute later, he saw a long window running down the right-hand wall. He stepped up to the edge then eased forward. A large room slid into view beyond the glass. Like the rest of the ship, it was mostly dark, but he could see that it was filled with rows of linen-covered gurneys. Situated next to each one was an instrument tower with a number of futuristic-looking knobs and screens. The whole scene reminded him of a hospital ward.
One of the instrument towers on the far end of the room was giving off ambient light. As Zane turned that way, chill bumps spread over both of his arms. Two figures were moving in and out of the light. They seemed oddly familiar, but the distance was too great to discern any details.
Desiring a better look, Zane squatted and crab-walked down the hall, keeping his head just under the bottom edge of the glass. Moments later, a doorway appeared ahead. Not surprisingly, it was covered by another membrane panel.
Should he enter? Zane knew he had little choice but to go in. It was obvious the creatures were working on someone, likely the same person he’d seen being carried on board. It was also obvious that person had been brought there against their will.
After taking a deep breath, Zane carefully eased through the panel. Once inside, he quickly crawled over to one of the gurneys. As he settled into place, he heard a strange series of monotone clicks, almost like radio static that had been slowed down to the point where the individual bursts of noise could be heard.
Zane bent lower and stared through the tangle of metal legs and wheels. The creatures were to the left in the far corner of the room. Somehow he needed to get closer.
Careful not to make any noise, he turned and crawled down the nearest row. When he got to the end, he situated himself behind a gurney next to the wall. He remained perfectly still, trying to make sure he hadn’t been heard. The strange clicks continued unabated, so he rose until his eyes cleared the gurney. He could scarcely believe the sight that greeted him. Two creatures hovered over their patient, their spindly arms moving around as they continued their work.
They had bulbous heads perched on pencil-thin necks, and their bodies were covered with a dull, lifeless gray skin that looked more reptilian than human. But it was their eyes that gave him chills. Looking into the lidless black ovals was like looking into hell itself.
As Zane watched, he noticed that the two occasionally turned toward each other as they worked. They seemed to communicate through the clicks, although strangely, their tiny mouths never moved.
What now? Should he attack? He had a full magazine in the Glock and another in his pocket. He also held the element of surprise. On the other hand, he didn’t know what weapons they possessed. Nor did he know anything about their physical capabilities. In fact, other than their appearance, he knew nothing about them at all.
As he weighed his options, Zane rested his arm on the gurney’s rail, causing it to creak. The clicking ceased immediately. Zane froze in place. A moment later, the creatures exchanged a few soft clicks. Zane turned his head and watched as they walked toward the other side of the room. They paused for a moment at the door then passed through the membrane.
Zane was stunned that they had been unable to determine the direction of the sound. That likely indicated that their hearing was poorly developed. That, or they had lost any aural acuity over time. Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t even remember seeing any ears.
After waiting a full minute, Zane rose and made his way over to where the two had been working. As he drew near, he could see a thin female arm dangling off one side of the gurney. A splash of long brown hair spread across the pillow and sheets.
Zane paused and looked over at the door. He couldn’t see any movement inside the room or in the hall beyond. The aurally challenged creatures were apparently still searching the ship, trying to determine the source of the sound.
Zane turned and approached the gurney. When he arrived, he froze in shock.
There, lying on crisp white sheets, was Dr. Katiya Mills.
Zane was suddenly filled with rage and malice when he saw her condition. Her face was sallow, and she seemed to be barely breathing. There was no telling what the grays were going to do to her.
Fearing they would return soon, he slid his hands carefully under her body. As he began to lift her, her eyes opened and a scream formed on her lips.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
ACTING INSTINCTIVELY, ZANE clamped his hand over Katiya’s mouth before she could scream. She grabbed his wrists and thrashed around in the bed, trying to shake him loose.
“Katiya, stop.” He pressed her into the bed and leaned closer. “Katiya.”
She looked into his eyes as though seeing him for the first time. She held his gaze for a moment, then her body relaxed slightly.
“There you go, nice and easy,” he said, slowly removing his hand from her mouth.
She gulped in air then grabbed his arms. “Please, we have to leave!”
“Easy, easy. We’re going to.” He glanced at the door. Still no movement in the room or the hall.
She nodded slowly then looked into his eyes. “I knew you’d come for me.”
Her eyes twitched and her voice slurred, likely the result of a tranquilizing agent.
“I’ll always come for you,” he replied.
“They… they were going to drug me again before you came.”
Zane squeezed her arm. “I know. Try not to talk. You’re still weak.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her gently then turned toward the door.
“I love you, Zane Watson,” she said in a slurred voice.
Zane smiled as he realized he was dealing with the equivalent of a drunk. He wondered if the drugs were like a truth serum.
“No, I really do.”
Zane held a finger to his lips, reminding her not to talk. She nodded dramatically in return.
He carried her over to the door then peered through the glass. As far as he could tell, there was no movement in the corridor. He should have felt relief, but instead, the grays’ absence concerned him.
“Hold on,” he wh
ispered, leaning through the membrane.
“Wow, that felt good,” Katiya said after they’d passed through.
“Quiet,” he whispered.
“You’re no fun,” she moaned.
Zane returned to the bridge. The hologram of Earth seemed to glow more brightly now.
Strange.
Suddenly, Zane had an idea. It involved some element of risk, but there might not be another opportunity. He had to do it, and he had to do it now.
He carried Katiya over to the base of the stairs and propped her up against the rail. He reminded her to remain quiet, and she gave him a mock salute, a silly grin spreading across her face.
After glancing back down the hall, Zane turned and crossed to the globe. It had been stationary before, but now it rotated slowly. He pulled out his smartphone and pressed the power button. He was going to use the camera to document the hologram and some of the ship’s instrumentation. There was no telling how much helpful information they might be able to get from just a few images.
He looked at the phone’s screen, but it was still dark. He cursed. Either his battery was dead or the grays had somehow disabled it.
As he pressed the power button again, Zane heard shuffling behind him.
Katiya.
He looked back at her then frowned. She hadn’t moved. She was still leaning back against the metal rail, her eyes shut tightly.
Zane turned back to his phone and bit his lower lip.
Suddenly, he heard more shuffling, this time closer. He turned his head slightly. A gray figure hovered in the shadows behind him. As Zane reached for his Glock, the creature hissed and charged, knocking him to the floor. It was surprisingly strong and nimble. Before he could react, it grabbed his throat, pinching his windpipe. Zane grabbed its cold arms and tried to pull them away, but the creature was too strong.
Remembering his gun, Zane reached into his pocket. As his fingers closed around the metal grip, he heard a voice speak clearly in his mind. Look at me.
Although he tried to fight it, Zane couldn’t resist the command. He looked up slowly, his eyes resting on the shiny black ovals staring back at him. They seemed devoid of life, and yet he couldn’t turn away.
Release the gun.
Zane knew the creature was using some form of telepathy, but that knowledge didn’t help him fight back. He obediently released the gun.
As Zane struggled to regain control of his will, he suddenly felt as though his internal organs were being squeezed. Was it controlling his body too? Then he remembered reading about people who could bend spoons with their minds. If that were true, anything was possible.
Zane heard a noise coming from the stairs.
Katiya? Please, don’t let her come over here.
Surprisingly, the creature released its hold and turned. Zane could see the dark silhouette of a person coming toward them. The size was wrong for Katiya, which was a relief. But if not her, then who was it?
Stop, Zane heard the creature command the intruder.
But the person continued toward them, apparently immune to the telepathic manipulation.
Stop!
The gray backed up, hissing like a cat.
Zane heard something like the whine of hydraulics, and two hands reached out with startling speed, grabbing the creature by the neck. It thrashed and hissed wildly before finally slipping free and darting toward the doorway next to the stairs.
Instead of giving chase, the newcomer turned toward Zane and stepped closer. Zane slowly reached into his pocket for his gun.
The shadow spoke. “I see you’ve gotten yourself into trouble once again, Zane Watson.”
Zane frowned. It couldn’t possibly be her, and yet there was no mistaking that voice.
She leaned forward, her face now appearing in the ambient light of the nearby globe.
Zane gave a sigh of relief. “What took you so long, Keiko?”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
“I TAKE IT you are surprised to see me, sir?” Keiko asked.
Zane rose up on one elbow. “I’m still thinking this is a dream.”
“I can assure you it is not a dream.”
Zane rubbed his neck. “What are you doing here?”
“We discovered that someone close to you had been recruited by Chinese intelligence. We tried to make you aware of the breach but were unable to contact you. Dr. Ross then ordered the formation of an extraction team. We knew you were headed toward this mountain, and we arrived minutes ago.”
Zane nodded. “The sat phone got crushed.” He rose up on one knee. “I knew there was a mole, but I haven’t been able to determine who it is.” He looked at her, his expression conveying a question.
Keiko blinked several times. “Sergeant Landon Tocchet was your mole, sir.”
Zane felt the life drain out of him. He could scarcely believe what he’d just heard. Tocchet might have been the last person he’d suspected.
Keiko reached out with her powerful arms and pulled Zane to his feet. “We need to get you and Dr. Mills out of here.”
Hit with a thought, Zane held up a hand. “Wait. Do you have photographic capability?”
“Of course.”
He turned and pointed at the globe. “Then I need you to…” He froze. The holographic image of Earth was gone. In its place, a series of strange letters floated in the air. They looked like runes or symbols. Every second or so some of the letters changed.
Keiko stepped closer. “What’s wrong?”
“There was a holographic image here before. It was some sort of navigation technology… and now it’s gone… replaced by whatever this is.”
Keiko leaned forward. “Very interesting.”
Zane turned toward her. “Do you know what it means?”
“Yes, it’s an ancient form of Hebrew. Paleo-Hebrew, I think.”
Zane gave her a confused look. “Ancient Hebrew? Are you sure?”
“I am certain that is what it is. I do not have a large database to draw on, but most of the characters are a match.”
Zane frowned. It didn’t make sense. “What does it say?”
Keiko stared at the hologram. “They’re numbers. Descending numbers. As you can see, some are changing.” She straightened and looked at Zane. “If I had to guess, I would say that it represents time.”
“Did you say the numbers were descending?” Zane frowned.
“Yes.”
After thinking for a few seconds, Zane’s eyes widened. “We need to get out of here. This thing is getting ready to blow.”
Keiko paused in confusion then nodded. “Yes, sir.”
As they turned to leave, Zane grabbed Keiko’s arm. “What time is displayed right now?”
She stared at the floating image. Zane could see her artificial pupils adjusting for the distance. “It’s seven followed by—”
Zane shook her arm. “Seven minutes. That’s good enough. Set your timer for seven minutes. Let’s go.”
“It is done,” she said.
Zane crossed over to Katiya. He checked her pulse then placed a palm on her forehead. “I think she’s fine.” He lifted her gently and nodded toward the stairs, indicating Keiko should lead.
It took them a little over a minute to make their way out of the ship. On their way out, they saw no sign of life. No grays. No humans. Nothing.
When they reached the bottom of the ramp, Zane could hear the thump thump of helicopter rotors in the distance.
“Hey! They’re over here!” someone shouted.
Three silhouettes appeared, running toward them out of the fog. One of the three sprinted ahead of the other two as they drew near. Zane saw that it was a woman clothed in military garb. She had long, raven-black hair and was clutching a semiautomatic rifle. He smiled. He should have known the Oracle would send Carmen Petrosino.
The Italian came to a halt, with two Special Forces soldiers just behind her. She was about to address Zane when she saw the giant craft looming overhead. “What the…?”
&nb
sp; “I’m doing fine, thanks,” Zane said.
She looked at him. “Sorry, I—”
“No problem.” He jerked a thumb toward the ship. “I’ll explain that later. We need to get out of here.” He then told her that a timed explosive had likely been set.
She nodded.
Zane looked at Keiko. “How much time do we have?”
“A little over five minutes, sir.”
Zane turned to Carmen. “Sounds like you came here on a bird.”
“We did.”
“Take us there.”
Carmen gestured for them to follow her. She then led them north through the fog. One of the soldiers offered to carry Katiya, but Zane waved him off. He wasn’t about to let her out of his grasp.
As the thump thump of the bird’s rotors grew louder, Zane saw running lights appear, then the dark outline of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Thankfully, it appeared ready for takeoff.
“They’re here!” someone shouted.
Zane looked up and saw a group of people gathered near the sliding door at the rear, including Amanda, Brett, Artur, and Jorge.
“Everybody in!” Zane commanded.
Zane ducked under the blades then handed Katiya to one of the soldiers and asked him to put her in the chopper.
“Glad you’re okay,” Brett said.
Zane looked at him. “Is everybody back?”
“If my count is right, we’re still missing Bennett and Tocchet.”
Zane cursed under his breath.
“We were just about to form another team to go out—”
“We can’t!” Zane yelled. “This place is about to blow.”
“What are you talking about?” Jorge asked.
“No time to explain, just trust me.” He gave Keiko a questioning look.
“Two minutes, forty-nine seconds.”
Zane took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he sorted through their options. He thought of sending the others up in the chopper while he remained behind, but that would be suicidal. It wouldn’t do the soldiers any good if his body were blown into a hundred pieces. He really had only one option.
