by Dana Kelly
A moment later, they heard people running and shouting.
“Are you completely sure about that?” asked Casey.
April and Orin shared a puzzled look. “I’ll be right back,” said Orin.
“I’m coming with you,” said Malmoradan. They exited the office and closed the doors behind them. Hundreds of residents crowded the building’s main entrance, and hundreds more converged from stairwells and lifts. The blizzard had vanished, and afternoon sunlight cascaded through the concourse.
“What the hell is going on?” asked Malmoradan. He and Orin approached the throng and cautiously threaded their way through the bazaar. A din of excited chatter filled the air. “Orin, look,” said Malmoradan. He gripped Orin by the shoulder as he pointed.
Vast as a metropolis, a colossal, tiered structure appeared in the distance. Roughly pyramidal in shape, its surface swallowed up the light, creating an illusion of deep space. From the lowest level, bright white illumination sliced open a yawning doorway. A howling chorus of machinery and dissonant tones flowed from the fissure, and the crowd fell silent.
Tiny from such distance, yet somehow entirely visible to the utmost detail, a single figure stepped into view. It wore a gloss black shell, with no discernable face. Slowly, it studied the crowd.
“God help us,” said Orin. “It’s one of those things from the space station!”
Silently, eleven more figures emerged and gathered behind the first, taking the form of a crescent.
◆◆◆
An urgent knock rattled Hector’s doors. “It’s unlocked,” said Casey, but a second knock followed. “It’s unlocked!” she yelled, though her speakers did little to amplify the volume. With a sigh, she walked to the doors and opened them.
“Officer Cartwright,” said Rusty. “Am I glad to see you! Something very strange is going on.”
“I gathered that from all the running and shouting,” said Casey.
He cupped his hands over his mouth and breathed. The air whistled between his fingers. “Those xenos you saw up on Six—what did they look like?”
◆◆◆
Outside in the distance, the first figure raised its arm. One by one, it peeled off its gloves, displaying pure white, human hands. After a moment, it rolled away the head covering to reveal a woman’s face with pale skin and deep blue eyes. Long, snowy locks tumbled down to the small of her back.
“Hello, good people of Taranis Arms!” she said, her voice broadcast with perfect clarity. “I’m Persephone, Director of Human Resources for Porrima Industrium. Before we continue, take a moment to bask in the wonders of our unsurpassed technology.” The mechanical dissonance grew louder, showing no sign of ceasing its gradual crescendo, and a perfectly symmetrical smile brightened her face. “It’s waiting for you. It was always waiting for you!”
“That ain’t what we saw on the space station,” said Malmoradan.
“No. That’s because they’re mimics,” said Orin. “I think I finally understand what they were doing up there. Cover your ears. We can’t listen to anything else that thing says! Come on, we have to get back to Casey.”
“How?” He gestured at the sea of folk crowded tightly around them. “They’re all bigger than I am!”
“Follow me.” Orin placed his hands together, summoning a halo of subtle flames. Blue tendrils flowed from his fingertips, spreading throughout the crowd. They tugged slightly at the inhabitants that impeded their travel, forming gaps here and there. He forged a path back to the courtyard, and they hurried along it, headed quickly inside the office.
Orin urged Rusty inside and closed the doors.
“What’s going on?” asked Casey.
“They’re here, and they just banished the storm like it was nothing,” said Orin. “No snow drifts, no mud—nothing! It’s like the log-lifter never happened.”
“Who’s here?” asked Casey.
“The xenos, like the one we saw in the space station,” said Malmoradan.
“They arrived in a giant ziggurat, and I think they’re about to attack,” said Orin. “Not with guns or knives, but like a Venus Flytrap—with an irresistible offer.”
“Please explain,” said Casey.
“What did you say that thing was doing in the engine room?” asked Orin.
“Reading the personnel files,” said Casey.
“And before that,” said Orin.
She shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s the first time I saw it.”
“It was reproducing the living experiences of the station crew,” said April. “That’s why we found all those rooms in a seemingly abandoned state, because it was learning every single thing about everyone here—what they love, what they hate, what terrifies them, and what… what they want most of all.”
Orin snapped his fingers. “Exactly!”
“How big is the ziggurat?” asked Rusty.
“Big enough to hold all the people of Cherry Grove a hundred times over,” said Orin. “Big enough to hold everyone on the planet, with room to spare. One of those creatures is out there in the form of a human woman. It’s presenting itself as the head of HR for a company called Porrima Industrium. It’s using some sort of visual and audio amplification, and there’s been this sound coming from their vessel since it appeared.”
“What kind of sound?” asked April.
“It’s creepy as hell,” said Malmoradan. “Take one part sawmill and add two parts complete despair.”
“What’s important about the sound?” asked Rusty.
“It’s part of their weapon,” said Orin. “I’m sure of it. It’s safe to say your countrymen are rowdy, right? Certainly, they’re hearty, but as soon as that sound started, they fell silent. Almost docile.”
Rusty’s throat felt suddenly dry. “How is that possible?”
“The noise could be inducing a highly suggestible state,” said April.
“That was my thinking,” said Orin.
“Enthralled by the Venus Flytrap,” whispered April.
“What did the woman say, exactly?” asked Casey.
◆◆◆
At the foot of the ziggurat, Persephone lifted her outstretched arms. “Haven’t you toiled long enough under the yoke of Taranis Arms and Outfitters? Think about working for Porrima Industrium. Think about it. Every employee receives platinum-level benefits without one credit out of pocket. We offer luxurious shipboard homes and three meals a day—prepared by one of our gourmet chefs—all at no cost to you.” She laughed musically.
“For one day only, we’re offering all of you a signing bonus equal to twice your profit sharing for all ten years of your time here on Arsenal Bay.”
Excited murmuring warmed the crowd.
“Consider this our open house! Come in and have a look around,” said Persephone. “All are welcome!”
A few people moved for the nearest trams, spurring the rest of Cherry Grove’s denizens to rush the stations. Four crowded lines formed, wrapping around the platform. They made their way down to the surface in waves.
◆◆◆
Hector’s phone buzzed, and it buzzed, and it buzzed again. “What’s this about?” he muttered, and he retrieved his device. “You need to see this,” he read aloud. “Call the skyman… This place is amazing… Fear of missing out alert…” He swiped through images of polished halls, of vaulted ceilings with soaring archways. Someone sent him a scented hologram of a vast banquet table. He looked at Edison and Cajun. “Can you two handle the patient for a few minutes? Something is going on out there, and I’m not sure I like it.”
“Go and check in on ya folk,” said Cajun.
“We’ve got this,” said Edison.
Hector nodded. “Thanks, guys.” He got up from the stool and hurried down the hall to his waiting room. “Rusty! What brings you here?”
“We’re being invaded,” said Rusty. “Orin, tell him what you saw!”
Orin shared his observations and hypotheses. “I have a terrible feeling something bad is going to happen
to anyone who gets drawn in. I’m strong enough to shield the building, or pull everyone back inside, but not both.”
“Let’s plan for shielding the building,” said Casey.
“I doubt they’ll listen to reason,” said April. “First, you must do something to break Porrima’s spell!”
Hector snatched up several bags of disposable foam ear plugs. “Let’s start with these. Rusty, time to do some good!” He tossed Rusty one of the bags.
“I’m coming with you,” said Casey, and she checked her pistol’s magazine. “I’ve got lightning guns in the shuttle. They won’t kill those things, but they’ll stun them. Hopefully long enough to get everyone to safety.”
“No,” said Rusty. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and for a moment Casey felt a thrill as she gazed into his eyes. “Your courage is inspiring, but if something happens to us, we need someone to keep telling our story. Please, stay here. Stay safe.”
“I’ll give you twenty minutes,” said Casey, and she holstered her sidearm.
Rusty laughed. “Fair enough. I’ll see you in fifteen.” He and Hector stepped out onto the concourse, and Hector locked the doors behind them.
Casey took a deep breath, started her timer, and faced her team. “Everyone suit up. We need to be ready to move when Rusty gets back.” She breathed out. “This is going to be a long twenty minutes.”
◆◆◆
Nimbus stirred and promptly removed all the leads, setting off the monitors’ alarms. “I am awake, and I am refreshed. John LeKay, please take me to see Miguel Santos.” Nimbus sat up, pivoted to the edge of the table, and the blanket tumbled away.
Cajun dressed Nimbus in a hospital gown. “Edison, could use ya help.” He braced Nimbus under one shoulder, and Edison supported the other. Carefully, Nimbus stood. Unsteadily, Nimbus put one foot in front of the next, and they slowly crossed the operating room floor.
Cajun pushed open the doors, and they walked the halls. Moments later, they rounded the corner and soon crossed into the waiting room. “Mike and Orin, it’s my honor to present Nimbus to ya,” said Cajun, and he wore a broad grin. “Nimbus, there’s ya chères.”
With bright blue eyes, Nimbus looked between Orin and Mike. Suddenly, Nimbus’s feet slipped on the tile, but Cajun and Edison were quick to react. Steady once more, Nimbus locked eyes with Mike. “M… Miguel Santos, Or… Orinoco Webb, it is me in this body!”
Tears gathered in Mike’s eyes. “You’re back! You made it.”
Nimbus nodded and laughed. “Miguel Santos, I am experiencing happiness, and I like it very much!”
“I thought Nimbus was a medical fog,” said Malmoradan.
“He was,” said April. “I believe Nimbus is inside that woman, now.”
Shona grabbed her jacket from the duffle bag and draped it around Nimbus. “Don’t want you catching cold,” said Shona.
“Miguel, Orinoco, what do you think?” asked Nimbus.
Orin approached and stood on one side, taking over for Edison. “It’s a good look for you, but I might be biased.”
“I’m sure it’s just temporary,” said Mike, and he dashed to the other side. He relieved Cajun and held Nimbus close. “We’ll get you back to normal in no time.”
“Miguel Santos, you are wrong,” said Nimbus. “There is no going back to what I was.”
“You just need to get your bearings,” said Mike. “You can leave this body whenever you’re ready.”
“He can’t,” said Cajun, and he rested a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Ya fog’s been cerebrally integrated. There’s no reversin’ that without killin’ Nimbus and the host body.”
“John LeKay, y… you do not yet grasp the scope of the integration,” said Nimbus. “This is no longer a host body. Th… This is my body.”
Mike spun around on Edison. “You said Nimbus would be able to leave!”
“I was wrong, Mike. I’m sorry,” said Edison. “I should’ve consulted Cajun first.”
“What can we do?” asked Mike. “There has to be something we can do for him!”
Nimbus grabbed Mike’s hand and gently squeezed. “Miguel Santos, you need not fear for me. I chose this. Although I am scared about f… facing so many unknowns, I w… want this.”
“It’s okay to be scared,” said April. “I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I’m April. I’d love to be your friend. If that’s what you want.”
“April Sattari, you visited me in my dormant state,” said Nimbus.
“That’s right,” said April, and she smiled. “Nimbus, I promise to support you in any way I can.”
“I find hope in your sentiment,” said Nimbus. “Thank you, April Sattari. I graciously accept your offer of friendship. Where is Torsha Madagan?”
“She’s at the Cavern Lake mansion,” said Orin. He and Mike shared the events that followed the pirate invasion.
As they talked, Casey approached Malmoradan. “Hey, it’s been twenty minutes. I need you and Shona to find out what’s going on out there and report back to me. Catch up with Rusty and Hector if you can find them.”
“Will do.”
“Hey, Malmoradan,” said Casey.
“Yeah?”
Casey tossed him a couple pairs of earplugs. “Use these, okay? And be careful.”
“We will be,” said Malmoradan. He and Shona busied themselves gathering and securing their gear. With earplugs in place, Malmoradan disengaged the lock, and they exited the office. He closed the doors, and they headed for the courtyard. Only a few steps in, Malmoradan stopped.
“What is it?” asked Shona.
He removed his earplugs and gestured for her to do the same.
She shook her head. “No way!”
“The noise is gone,” he said.
She studied his face and his body language. Cautiously, she loosened one earplug. After a moment, she removed them completely. “All I hear is the hum of the building’s vents.” She looked around at the deserted expanse, and a chill ran up her spine.
“Same here, baby girl. I don’t hear anything else.”
They soon reached Cherry Grove’s entrance. Warily, they set foot on the patchwork deck, as the afternoon sun shone brightly overhead.
“Where’s the ziggurat?” asked Shona.
Malmoradan pointed to an enormous, rectangular depression in the distance. “It was right there,” he said. “But now it’s gone!” A mound glinted from within the heart of the basin. “Let’s go see what that is. It might be a clue.”
“Yeah. Sure,” said Shona, and she patted her bandaged forearm. “Just you and me, huh Pops? You know we’re not the sleuths of the group, right? Shouldn’t we wait for Casey? Or April?” She shrugged. “Or Mike?”
“They’re all having a moment,” said Malmoradan. “We can do this.”
“All right,” said Shona, and she gestured toward the nearest tram station. They boarded a hanging car, and it lurched into motion. It drifted and wobbled along, swinging slowly around under the station’s massive, ever-turning cog.
Downward they traveled, beyond warning lights, shop lights and crossbeams. A parade of girders sauntered past. The instant the car reached the lower platform, they disembarked and crossed the empty station to the dark red soil beyond.
They spotted a large buggy with oversized balloon tires and climbed its ladder to sit within the vehicle’s cabin. “She’s all yours,” said Malmoradan, and Shona took the wheel. The buggy rumbled to life, and they drove toward the basin.
It took time to reach the depression’s heart.
At first, the mound looked like shale. As they got closer, it looked decidedly metallic, and Shona slowed. As they got close enough to see details, she stopped the vehicle completely. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “Are those what I think they are?”
“What the hell is going on?” asked Malmoradan.
Artificial components of every variety—from replacement limbs to pacemakers, from dental implants to cosmetic enhancements—twinkled under the a
fternoon sun. A full set of prosthetic legs, from pelvis to toes, glimmered at the top of the pile. They all appeared spotless.
Tears welled in Shona’s eyes. “What happened to them?”
“I don’t know,” said Malmoradan. “We’d better get back. I’m starting to get a real bad feeling about being out here on our own.”
“I told you we should’ve brought help,” said Shona. “Can I borrow your camera?”
Malmoradan unclipped his shoulder camera and passed it over. “Here you go,” he said. “Please hurry.”
Shona climbed up through the roof and stood on the driver’s seat as she recorded images of the mound. “Should we get it from another angle?”
“I suppose we should,” said Malmoradan. They traded seats, and he slowly circled the mound as Shona filmed. Moments later, she dropped back down, and the tires spun out, kicking up dust as they sped away.
Chapter 24
Sunset Beach
Ten days earlier, Old Siberian was racing through the nightmare with Ellylle’s world seed on board. As Ellylle had predicted, it had taken three months to return, almost to the day. Determined to restore the galaxy’s natural balance at any cost, the next phase in Ellylle’s plan was ready to begin…
Facing one another, two oceans of cloudy amethyst drifted in parallel, joined by threads of crimson lightning. Old Siberian rocketed through the space between them, and mountains erupted from the darkest shadows, covered with hungering eyes. They watched the starship as she moved, and they shrieked into the abyss.
