Shadow Corps

by Justin Sloan

  She had no doubt that was where they would find their target.

  They paused, glancing back at the gate to see if any of the others would make it through. After a few heartbeats, Dex put a hand on her shoulder and nodded.

  “You’re right,” she agreed. “If they’re fighting, let’s get this over with as fast as possible so we can get back and help.”

  She turned to go, then heard Napalm’s voice shouting, “You don’t get to have all the fun!”

  Spinning to look back, she saw Napalm, Carma, and Kwan running out of the gate.

  “The others are holding them off,” Napalm said. “We closed down all tunnels but one, so that they’d have an easier time of it.”

  “Good thing they came with,” Carma noted, giving a nod to Samantha for making the right call on that.

  “That our target?” Kwan asked, glaring at the strange fortress.

  Samantha nodded, drew her sword again and started walking. “Yup. Stay close.”

  As they followed her, Napalm asked, “So… this is your new look?”

  She smiled. “You like?”

  “You bet your ass I do.”

  “Save Dex’s ass, then. Who knows if Dex might have more of these hiding somewhere.”

  “I don’t,” Dex’s voice came through her mind.

  She turned to him and smiled, then said, “Come on, last one there has to clean all the armor when we get back!”

  “She’s joking, right?” she heard Kwan ask as they ran.

  She hadn’t made up her mind yet if she was, but within a matter of minutes she was in, the others close behind. They moved from room to room in the strange fortress, calling “Clear” when they didn’t find any sign of an enemy. They were about to give up when Samantha pulled to a stop in a large room toward the rear.

  The walls were harsh obsidian, the ceiling tall and dark. And in the center of this room was something all of them had come to know and appreciate lately.

  It was a silver hexagon, similar to the jump points found on Hadrian’s ship—the ones they had originally thought were simulations.

  “He’s out there… somewhere.” Samantha turned to the others. “Is there any way to track him? I mean, if we jump while he has jumped, will it take us to the same place?”

  The others shared uncertain looks, torn about what to do next.

  “It could be a trap,” Kwan stated, looking skeptical.

  “And yet, what choice do we have?” Samantha looked around at her teammates, debating. “We came here to hunt him down, to stop him from making gates available to the enemy. If we don’t take him out now, who will? And if he goes on, we all know what that means for the fate of our worlds. We have to try, immediately.”

  The others nodded.

  “Then let’s not waste any more time.” With that, she took a step toward the jump point, the hexagon lighting up as she moved into it. A flash of light filled the room, and then faded as her foot landed. She stumbled, realizing she was standing on top of someone else’s foot. When she recovered, she stood to see that she was face-to-face with a tall man in black armor.

  She had no doubt this was their target. They had found Karstrack.

  23

  OLYMPIUS PRIME

  “I’m so glad it’s you,” Karstrack said, the faceplate of his helmet clearing to show a man who didn’t look much older than her, maybe in his early twenties.

  For a moment, the face changed to Ralod, his young face in a friendly smile. Then to a new face—one older, with salt-and-pepper hair. Very similar to the face Hadrian sometimes wore.

  “You found me, but you’re not going to kill me.” She stepped back, taking up a defensive stance. She heard movement and clicking of weapons as the others did the same behind her.

  “Kill you?” He laughed, almost a sad laugh. “Why, Sam, why in the universe would I want to do that? You’re the one who can make all the difference. When father hears you’ve been found, he’ll be overjoyed.”

  She blinked, confused, and held a hand back to her team to tell them to hold off on attacking.

  “What do you mean… father? Who is your father?”

  “Sam,” he smiled, taking a hesitant step toward her. “I’m talking about your father. He’s waiting for you. All these years, he’s been waiting for you. I was sent to find you, but they kept me away. Hadrian particularly. He wouldn’t even let me find you to let you know. But it’s true.”

  Samantha opened her mouth to speak, but found she had nothing to say. Her dad was a Marine, a one-night stand with her mother.

  Or was he? These aliens could take on various forms. And based on Hadrian’s visits to Earth, had been traveling to Earth for some time. Who’s to say one of them didn’t look like a Marine and lust after her mom? The thought made her sick, and the idea of her mom not knowing the truth made her pissed.

  There couldn’t be a chance she did know, could there? She had been fairly eager to fight the aliens. And she had left to join the Marines when Samantha was still young… maybe she didn’t want to be around her daughter? Maybe she couldn’t handle the fact that her daughter was half-alien?

  Or… maybe this guy was full of shit.

  “He wanted to stay, to be there for you,” Karstrack went on. “But he couldn’t, not when they were out here trying to destroy everything he held so dear.”

  “I don’t… I don’t believe you.” Even she knew her voice had betrayed the fact that she was lying. “The fight… Hadrian… they’re on the right side here. The alliance is defending Earth.”

  “Defending Earth from what?” Karstrack asked. “Do you have any idea what the alliance is up against? The Ancient Ones have ruled as gods for an eternity. They’ve cast out evil rulerships over and over, and likewise mean to liberate Earth. You think your corrupt governments, allowing poor to stay poor while hungry people starve, is what’s best for you? Wars?” He laughed, then shook his head. “It’s pitiful, honestly. Then there’s the Syndicate… how many of your kind has had to die so that they might teach you a lesson?”

  “What?” She held her free hand to her temple, wishing she could massage it through the helmet. “No, no one’s arguing that the Syndicate isn’t bad. But you’re invading our home.”

  “So Hadrian says. Liberating, says I. Freeing. We’ll allow you to continue on, we’ll even let you have rulers, people of your own choosing to keep the world running, but under our guidance.”

  “It… doesn’t sound so bad,” she admitted. At least, compared to the situation under the Syndicate.

  “It sounds like the Persians and Ancient Greece,” Kwan said from behind. “Don’t listen to this bullshit, Sam.”

  “He speaks in partial truths,” Dex’s voice said through the cloak. “They are the Great Deceivers, after all.”

  “SAYS THE ONE WHO BETRAYED A WHOLE RACE!” Karstrack shouted at Dex, apparently able to hear their private conversation.

  Kwan growled and aimed, pulled the trigger and—BAM! The gun exploded in his hands, sending him flying backward.

  Samantha ran back to Kwan, cradling him. “Stop!” she commanded Karstrack. “If you’re so not evil, so magnanimous, you will not attack my people.”

  Karstrack sighed. “Sam, I’m here for you, not them. I have nothing to prove. As these minions of yours stand in my way, I am given no choice but to remove them.”

  “Not minions,” Samantha said standing, fingers twitching as she prepared to reach for her sword. “Teammates, and friends. And I don’t care what slimy sweetness exudes from your mouth, I ain’t buying it. I know who my friends are.”

  With that, she pulled her sword free and ran at him, moving with quick bursts. She flew with the shadows as the cloak took her, and he didn’t even see the strike that sent a shock of electricity through his armor.

  As he convulsed and fell to one knee, Karstrack lifted a hand. A blast of energy wrapped around her, flinging her into the sky so that she hung there, upside down with her arms at her side.

  “Obse
rve,” he said as he struggled to stand, “as I destroy all you hold dear.”

  Chaos erupted as he threw energy about, striking at Samantha’s friends and shooting blasters from otherwise unarmed hands. It was unlike anything she had seen Hadrian do, and she understood that, at least in some ways, the two were different. Even as she struggled to break free, she watched his armor mold around him, changing into new weapons as he adapted to the defense against this particular set of enemies.

  Samantha struggled, trying to pull on her energy to release his grip, but nothing worked. Not even her new robes were enough.

  It was hopeless.

  Suddenly, a bright flash erupted and an explosion tore through the room of traps they had come through earlier. In its wake stood Hadrian with Agathe, Voira, and Ferder, all in various states of injury, but standing and ready to fight nonetheless.

  “It’s time for you to answer for your crimes,” Hadrian said. He unleashed a flurry of shots from a large laser cannon at his side, then ran forward and thrust a hand toward Samantha, a motion that set her free.

  Her gravity-enforced boots pulled her down, the cloak softening her fall and letting her immediately spring into action.

  But Karstrack was fast too. Seeing he was now outmatched, he turned, gave her a smile, and stepped into the hexagon.

  A bright flash of light took him—but not before Samantha swept in, cloak shooting out behind her. The others grabbed hold, Hadrian shouting something about moving in before the jump gate closed, and then, in a flash…

  …they all stood with Karstrack at the base of giant mountains. Shadows moved, and when Samantha looked up, she saw a massive space dragon closing in. It was only then that she realized where they were.

  Pink and red flowers covering the mountains, rivers flowing and creating fantastic waterfalls.

  A city in the distance, glowing a rosy-gold.

  Ferder said it first, as he recognized his home. “Entono Fos Prime.”

  “That’s correct.” Karstrack turned to them and smiled. “And I have you to thank for it, Hadrian. The other two are still on the move, and one might soon reach Earth. But this is my mission, and because of your jumps and leaving your back doors open, I’ve moved right in. You’ve brought about an end to the Elders.”

  He smiled evilly and then latched himself to the dragon. They shot into the air until he was just a speck on the dragon’s back. And then he was gone.

  Hadrian’s helmet folded back and he stared in disbelief and horror. Samantha knew they were in for a serious battle.

  “We’re not letting him win,” she said, then shouted, “Let’s go slay ourselves a dragon and the dickhead riding it!”

  The others paused, doubt crossing their faces. Most of them were injured, all of them were worn out. But that had never stopped Samantha before, so again she said, “We’re not letting him win! Now pull yourselves together, and follow me!”

  She didn’t even wait to see how they reacted, but simply started running toward the city. A loud “OORAH!” from behind was proof enough that the team was with her, and that they were going to fight side-by-side to slay that beast, or die trying.

  24

  ENTONO FOS PRIME

  The charge toward the city took longer than they would have hoped, as they watched the dragon wreak its havoc. Fighter ships emerged from the hills around the city, striking at the dragon with laser blasts. But then the Scurries emerged from the dragon and began tearing the fighter ships to pieces, while the massive horns of the space dragon glowed, preparing to take out the city and the Elders within.

  “Sam,” Hadrian called. “We’re going to need everything you’ve got. Me and you, are you ready?”

  He motioned up to the dragon and she shook her head, confused. How would they reach it? And once they were up there, did they really stand a chance?

  “You promised me one dragon slaying,” Hadrian shouted, “now keep your word!”

  She clenched her teeth and nodded. If she possibly had it in her, she’d find out this day.

  At the look in her eyes, Hadrian turned back to the others. “Get into the city, save those you can. Get them to safety. Napalm, when you’re in range, start blowing those Scurries into smithereens.”

  “And you?” Napalm asked.

  “It’s time to fly,” Hadrian replied, and then nodded to Samantha.

  It was time. As he started lifting off the ground, she willed herself up, hoping she could recall what she had only once before managed to do. Nothing came. That day had been one when her mom’s life was at risk. The worry for her mom had given her the power.

  Well, was this day any different? As far as she knew, if these Elders fell, so did the entire defensive perimeter. The entire alliance would be without a head, and the enemy would win.

  She tried again, and nothing.

  “Ahhh!” she shouted, willing herself up, even as Hadrian was shooting off toward the dragon. Then it hit her, the reason for her delay—doubt. Karstrack had put in her a seed of doubt, and now she wasn’t sure who the bad guys really were. If she fought them, she risked losing the only chance at finding her father.

  And yet, she told herself, that really didn’t matter. Her team was here, her friends. Hadrian might have his secrets, but she trusted him. She trusted him with all her heart, and would die a thousand times over for any one of these teammates.

  Pushing aside all doubt, she felt the thrill of the fight surge through her muscles, passion for justice and freedom and all that was good take over. And then she was flying through the air, propelled up toward Hadrian and soaring right past him. She felt her robe fluttering behind her, pushing her forward even faster.

  And then she was on the dragon, Hadrian landing a moment later at her side. The surrounding Scurries gave up their fight against the fighter ships and surged on the two of them.

  “Ready to take your training to the next level?” Hadrian asked.

  She scoffed, pulling out her rifle in one hand, her sword in the other. “I think it’s a bit past training time.”

  “Always learning, always growing,” he said. “Consider this your final exams for grade one.”

  “Finals?” she laughed. “Well, tell them I’ve been known to cheat.”

  “In this test, anything goes.”

  “Great.” She turned to the closest Scurry and unleashed a barrage of bullets that tore through its legs. It came sliding across the dragon’s back, right onto the tip of her sword.

  “Keep it up and I’ll see that you get extra credit,” Hadrian said, then leaped into the air and blasted three more Scurries out of the sky with a sweeping arc of laser shots. He landed with a latching of his energy to the dragon, then pointed at the dragon’s head, where Karstrack had just turned to see them. “He needs to be stopped.”

  “Roger that,” she replied, then took off at a sprint, knocking aside Scurries left and right. They were twice her size at least, with long mechanical legs with claws, and they freaked her the hell out. But that wasn’t going to stop her—she’d been freaked out by crazy alien enemies so much in life that, at this point, it was like walking through a haunted house for the hundredth time. Yes, another flash of light and someone shouting “Boo!” could get your heart thumping, but it became part of the fun instead of the terror.

  The Scurries came at her, five in a line, attacks narrowly missing her head as she moved with the swiftness of her robes, every attack part of a dance. Blue and black liquid shot out as she removed limbs, and nearby a group exploded with an energy blast from Hadrian.

  She’d almost forgotten she could do that, and lifted her hand to send a vibration through the air that took out another cluster farther out, just in time to save a fighter ship. The ship zoomed past her, joining three others in a formation to blast the dragon’s head with everything they had. Explosions followed and a billowing cloud of black smoke, but when it cleared, Samantha could see that the dragon was unharmed.

  Hadrian appeared at Samantha’s side, smoke tra
iling from the barrel of his rifle, his sword pulsating with light.

  “The dragon’s hide is nearly impenetrable,” he shouted over the noise of fighting and explosions. “It’s going to take more than that.”

  But Samantha had noticed something about Karstrack as he had dodged the explosions. He was only fighting with one arm, while the other he kept in close, as if to protect it from something.

  While he had dodged the strikes, the Scurries had paused in their attack. The way she saw it, the two might be connected.

  “Just get me close to him,” she told Hadrian, and then started running along the dragon’s back, using her momentum of flight to push herself forward.

  Karstrack smiled and beckoned her forth. “You’ve come to change your mind?” he shouted to her.

  “Maybe. I’ll tell you after you surrender.”

  He laughed, then turned from her. At that moment, Scurries landed on the dragon, clawing at it from the underside. The dragon made a dive, moving for the city below them. Clouds swept by in wisps, the wind like a hurricane, but Hadrian and Samantha kept their hold, steadily moving forward as they fought off the Scurries.

  NAPALM and the others were almost at the city when the first fighter ship came crashing down from above, exploding into the ground nearby. Ferder lunged to see if everyone was okay, but Carma pulled him back. A moment later, the ship blew to pieces in a follow-on explosion.

  “The warheads,” she reminded him, then pointed to the city as she added, “MOVE!”

  Napalm was getting any Scurries he could that came close enough, focusing with his energy so that it would explode, more than once taking others with it.

  He saw the dragon moving in for the city, and froze. The horns were glowing bright yellow, and with a shriek from the dragon, three massive blasts went off.

  It was like watching a falling star, but in slow motion. Napalm had enough time to say, “Holy, shit,” before three parts of the city disappeared in massive explosions of light.