Shadow Corps

by Justin Sloan

  “Dammit,” he shouted, throwing her off.

  It was Carma.

  “What’s this?” Samantha shouted, stepping forward. “Enough!”

  Napalm held up a hand, while his other went to his bloody nose. “See, Sam? I let you have the fun training.”

  She paused, hesitantly looking at them each in turn. “This is… training? It looks more like an ass whupping.”

  Carma laughed. “Our friend here asked me to train him in hand-to-hand, the others wanted to watch.”

  “So far she’s taught me how to take a punch,” Napalm said with a bloody grin. “Can’t say I’m getting any better at it, though.”

  The crowd laughed.

  “How about you?” a tall, blue alien asked, staring at Samantha. “We hear Earthers are notoriously horrible fighters.”

  Samantha scoffed. “That might be true of most of ‘em, but whoever you heard that from never met me.”

  “We should get going,” Ferder insisted.

  “Give it a rest,” the blue one said. “Eliolations, always following the rules.”

  “When we live under the rule of the Elders,” Ferder replied, “yes.”

  “One small demonstration.” The blue alien smiled, his teeth pointy and black. “I’ll even step in this time.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” Ferder whispered to Samantha. “The guy’s a… how do you say, big penis?”

  Samantha laughed. “A dick?”

  Ferder nodded seriously. “Yes. Huge dick. Crippled someone in training a couple years back, isn’t even allowed in the Chronos Corps anymore.”

  But Sam had made up her mind. She put her metaphorical blinders on, turning to the alien.

  “Let’s give them a show,” she said, pressing the button to bring her helmet forward. “What’s his name?”

  “They call me Breaker,” the blue alien said, heaving off his enormous coat so that he came in topless, as Napalm had. Napalm and Carma cleared the area, each with cautious glances Samantha’s way.

  She held up a hand to show she had this.

  “On your mark,” Breaker said, balling his blue hands into fists.

  “Go,” Samantha said, and came at him. Her first strike was aimed at his stomach, but he simply took it and laughed, then picked her up and threw her! She landed with a thud, but quickly rolled out of it. His foot landed, stomping the ground where her torso had been, followed by his knee. She blocked the knee and threw herself forward to slam her helmet into his face, sending him stumbling backward.

  He recovered in time to see her throwing a punch, but not in time to dodge it. The strike took him on the side of his face, a second on his torso again. The face shot caused some damage, judging by the look in his eyes, but the torso shot had been more of a test. It confirmed that he didn’t feel pain in that area, or at least didn’t show it.

  When her third punch came, he tried to block it. But she had thrown it as a feint, and instead went for a leg sweep.

  Breaker smiled, keeping himself planted so that her attack was like kicking at a firmly rooted tree.

  She stumbled back as he plowed forward, again lifting her into the air and slamming her down. This time, it knocked the wind out of her.

  “Not so tough, Earther,” Breaker said, pointy black teeth inches from her helmet. “Maybe I’ll pick on a grown woman next time, see if she fares any better.”

  “Try this on for size,” Samantha said through gritted teeth, grabbing him by the back of his head and slamming his face into her helmet. She brought up a leg and knocked him sideways, so that she was on top of him, and brought an elbow down.

  He moved his head to the side and thrust up, sending her flying away. This time, though, she landed on her feet.

  “She drew first blood on you,” someone shouted from the crowd. Breaker wiped at his nose, where black blood was starting to ooze out.

  “Play time’s over,” Breaker said, and then took a deep breath. Like a blowfish, he suddenly expanded, spikes sticking up and muscles bulging.

  He ran forward, eyes wild and a war cry on his lips. Samantha decided she didn’t want to find out if those spikes could penetrate her armor. It was time to put an end to this.

  She spun, diving under his attack, and came up with a kick to his ass that sent him sprawling in the dirt, face first.

  The crowd erupted in laughter.

  Breaker threw himself over and came at her on all fours, quick and darting like a lizard.

  Seeing his face was exposed, she brought a foot up and stomped, moving fast with her enhanced speed.

  With a crack, the strike made black blood gush.

  “It’s over,” she said, hands up as she took a step back. “Show’s over.”

  “Not your say, you Earth-sucking piece of shit.” He was up, coming at her with wild strikes, hoping for any hit he could land.

  But as she had said, it was over. She dodged, sweeping his strikes aside and throwing the flat edge of her hand at his throat. He stumbled back, gasping for air, and then she stepped forward, ready to end it.

  With a final strike, she spun and backhanded Breaker, knocking him to the ground. A stunned silence followed, and then sudden cheers.

  “Told you,” Ferder shouted over the cheering. “Not many here like big penises. Er, big dicks.”

  “Either way,” Samantha said with a laugh, and then yelped in surprise as the crowd picked her up on their shoulders and started chanting, “Our champion, our champion,” over and over. This was the last thing she had expected, and when she turned back to look for Carma and Napalm, she saw that the crowd had them up on their shoulders as well, carrying all three of them back to the palace. Soon a song started instead of the chant, and she leaned back and let the crowd carry her, simply enjoying it.

  “Remind me never to mess with you again!” Olivay shouted from next to her, then gave her a wink and joined in the song.

  HADRIAN WAITED AT THE WINDOW, looking out at the gardens. They had set him up in a room in the Orleanian Palace for his duration on Entono Fos Prime, and he appreciated the hospitality. The family of Orlean was an old and powerful one, and not without its drama. They had started as slaves on the outskirts of the universe, Magna Tenebras Prime. But they had fought for their freedom and become one of the most important families in the Alliance.

  By the time they had moved in on their enemies and taken over the Entono Fos planetary system, a good half of the universe had risen up to follow them.

  Fortunately for Earth, none of the universe’s worries had made it out their way. Until now, that is.

  The tenth Orlean, the woman who now presided over the palace, was far from those early ancestors, though. She was smart and brave, and Hadrian trusted her with his life. Which is why he had sworn to serve the alliance under her.

  Movement on the horizon pulled him back to the view outside, and a smile found its way to his lips. The locals were carrying his team back, chanting one of their ancient warrior chants. It flowed like the wind, pleasant, reminding him of Earthly hymns. Moments like these were good for celebration and levity, as long as they didn’t make his team complacent. They had a long and perilous journey ahead of them, starting with taking care of the one behind the betrayal of the gates.

  One of his own.

  He sighed, the smile fading, and made his way to the dining hall. If they were returning, that meant the dinner would soon be ready. It also meant it was time to discuss who this traitor could be, and how best to deal with it.

  Each hall was splendid in its own right. One was made of glowing green jade, which held the healing factors Earthers so rarely understood. Another hallway was constructed entirely out of emeralds and jewels, some from every known planet on the side of the alliance. Even having walked that hallway a thousand times, its brilliance took his breath away.

  Then came the hallway of shadows, one he often preferred to avoid. With walls that seemed to move and reach for you, many made a point of steering clear of this part of the palace. How
ever, it had its purpose.

  At the end of the hallway were the chambers of the Lord of Whispers, a being from the same galaxy as Dex. Rumor had it this being had emerged from a black hole. Immune to gravity and vulnerable only to the rays of sunlight, he remained hidden at most times.

  His purpose was also hidden from most, but not Hadrian.

  Entering the chambers always gave him a shiver of fright. The passageway was dark, but for a violet glow that emerged from behind the reaching shadows. The shadows seemed alive, floating around Hadrian as he walked, almost pulling back on him as if warning him not to continue.

  A grating sound carried through the room, like bones grinding on the inside of his skull. To anyone else this would have been maddening, but not so with Hadrian. He knew the tricks, and he knew how to block them out.

  On he walked, an impossible distance for the length of the room, and then he suddenly spun around. The being he sought floated before him.

  If these beings had ever visited Earth, Hadrian imagined it would largely explain the human fascination with ghosts. One of its kind could easily be mistaken for a paranormal being, floating with white, torn cloths moving around itself as if submerged in water. Where the face should be, the white robes gave way to violet eyes—the same as the glow from the dark passageways.

  Hadrian bowed, then lifted his hands to show submission.

  A low purring sound came from the being, and then it extended a hand. It was gray and withered, with a pulsating purple light at its center. As the light grew, its center became black, as if there was simply nothing.

  For a moment, Hadrian paused. Even he faced fear from time to time. Visiting this creature had always been one of those times. Not just because of what it was, but because of what the vision might show.

  Steeling his nerves, he bent forward, submerging his face in the light and nothingness.

  Then he was in space, feeling himself pulled in various directions as gravity moved and refused to let go. A series of planets was spiraling around him, and then he was sucked out even farther, to the farthest extent of the being’s reach. He froze. They were there, the Great Deceivers.

  While the universe contained a variety of beings, these were the vilest at times, the most beautiful when it suited their needs. A star map hovered around them with various targets lit up while they discussed plans of attack, shifting in their range of appearances. Some would appear like beautiful gods one moment, surrounded by lights that flickered in and out like their own stars. Then they would sneer at the one next to them, their skin appearing like burnt leather, torn and still smoldering, their eyes like lava.

  Hadrian never enjoyed looking in on them, but it wasn’t their forms that drew his attention. It was the star system that surrounded them. Their map.

  And from what he could tell, they were moving in dangerously close, much more advanced than they should’ve been for this soon in the timeline.

  In a collective movement, the Great Deceivers turned to him, keenly aware of his presence. He pulled back, fighting to be away from them before they could do him harm.

  As he came back, all of space seemingly collapsing around him, he caught a glimpse of the space dragon. It was on the move… closer than he liked to admit. And then he saw the towers—two more great serpents, emerging from the emptiness of deep space.

  With a sputtering breath, he was free of the visions, back in the room with the being. He lifted his arm and produced a knife, then waited until the light had faded from the being’s hands. With a quick downward slice, Hadrian had produced his blood sacrifice. It dripped down into the being’s hand, pulling as if an invisible wind held it.

  He never wanted to know what the being did with the blood. When it was done, he quickly nodded, turned, and departed.

  To know what was truly coming might be terrifying, but it was necessary. The Great Deceivers weren’t supposed to reach Earth yet, he had seen it so. But his visions were fickle, not always set in stone. If this other from his world was manipulating the gates, everything could change.

  Earth and the rest of the universe were undeniably doomed if they didn’t succeed in this mission.

  Unfortunately, he first needed to convince the other Elders of this so that they would devote the resources to seeing it through.

  And dealing with the Elders had never been high on his items of enjoyable tasks.

  16

  ENTONO FOS PRIME: GREAT HALL

  Alien races of all species gathered in the palace’s great hall. Samantha had finally changed out of her armor, and now wore a white robe that draped her body in a way that reminded her of falling cherry blossoms. An emerald braided rope held it up around her right shoulder, its golden cloth trailing behind her.

  Napalm entered a moment later, wearing a similar robe. Seeing it on him, she didn’t feel so silly, though still way more exposed than normal. The way the robe flowed loosely on her curves made her more aware of her body than the skin-tight armor.

  It didn’t help when she noticed Napalm’s eyes on her.

  “You clean up well, kid,” Napalm said, nodding his approval.

  “She’s half your age,” Carma interjected. “I hope you’re not hitting on her.”

  Napalm laughed. “I don’t hit on teammates. Not ones half my age, and not carpet munching aliens that hate men, in case you ever make the mistake in thinking I’m hitting on you too.”

  “For your information, there are no carpets on my planet.” Carma bit her lip, trying not to smile. Samantha already knew what was coming and started to walk away, but had only gotten three steps when the alien lady smiled and added, “Only smooth marble—”

  “Okay, we get the joke,” Samantha said, turning back with exasperation.

  “Joke, statement of fact.” Carma shrugged. “It’s not even a matter of grooming, just how it is among the civilized. No offense.”

  “Oh my God.” Samantha turned to find her seat, and was glad to see Ferder there, motioning her over.

  Kwan was at another table, schmoozing with a group of men who looked very much like him, none of them wearing the silly robes. Instead, they wore red and black in a fashion more like gladiators.

  “That’s not fair,” Napalm complained. “Nobody gave me that option.”

  “Don’t you know?” Carma gave Kwan a wave, to which he nodded curtly and returned to his company. “He’s with us, but the Red Company has already claimed him for when he’s not on mission.”

  “Meaning?” Samantha asked.

  “It means that if we’re not off doing our black ops shit, he’ll be with them, tearing ships to pieces and blowing up planets.” Napalm actually looked impressed as he said it. “Kwan there was with the ROK Marines, and they’ve had a faction up here for some time, actually.”

  “Bullshit,” Samantha said, frowning. “Other Earthers, er, humans are already in space?”

  Napalm laughed. “You thought you were the first? Come on, I think there’s even some of the U.S. Fleet Marines out in one of these galaxies, up to something or other. You just happen to be the first Hadrian has brought up.”

  “Which makes you and Kwan there very special,” Carma noted. “We were going to find our seats?”

  Samantha glanced back over at Kwan as they made their way forward, noticing how at ease he was. Did she give off that same level of comfort, or was it obvious she was the new kid on her first day of school?

  As they sat, Ferder welcomed them and then found his own seat nearby. Samantha turned back to Carma.

  “What do we do when there’s no black ops mission?”

  “My planet has its war,” Carma replied, a darkness moving over her. “They’ll need me, at some point. Napalm here…?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t care where I am, as long as I get to blow shit up.”

  Carma rolled her eyes at that. “And you, Sam… I believe Hadrian has special plans for you. Private training, but also he mentioned something about securing Earth’s future. Sounds very important.”r />
  “That’s an understatement,” Samantha said with a scoff. “So after this… I might get to go back and finish off this war against the Syndicate?”

  “I don’t know the details,” Carma replied. “But that’s my guess.”

  Samantha felt her palms go clammy as a light sweat broke out. Her eyes darted around for Hadrian, wanting to know more about this. Unfortunately, she spotted him at the head table with the Elders. While she might not know alien tradition and custom here, she was pretty sure interrupting their conversation for such a simple question wouldn’t likely go over too well.

  Instead, she took a sip of water as she watched them in discussion, keenly aware of Hadrian losing himself from time to time, staring off into nothingness. This wasn’t the time to be thinking about herself, this was the time to get the mission done. After that, she’d go with the flow. Whatever was best for the alliance.

  “Samantha,” Carma said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

  “Hmmm?”

  Carma nodded to Ferder, who had apparently been saying something.

  “Try the endrich,” Ferder said, motioning to the platter being passed over to Samantha.

  She smiled and held out her plate as he scooped something that looked like chicken onto it. With an uneasy feeling, she saw the red wings on the platter, knowing it must have been those weird looking bat swans she had seen outside.

  Oh well, she thought. When in Rome. And with that, she took a big, juicy bite.

  “How’s it compare to what you have back home?” Olivay asked, leaning in from down the table a ways.

  Samantha thought about that, considering that it was somewhere between chicken and something she had once tried at a sushi restaurant.

  “Slimy, yet satisfying,” was all she could think to say, recalling a quote from some old movie from way before she was born.

  “Meaning…?”

  “Meaning,” Samantha replied with another large bite. “It’s delicious.”

  The locals beamed at this, then started offering her more dishes. She was famished, so dug in. Though she was pretty sure most of this stuff would have freaked her out any other time.