by J. J. Green
“She should start coming around in another ten minutes or so. Then—”
Behind them, the elevator pinged. They turned to see Mrs. Lee step out. “We got the results, honey. And Daddy’s sending the packet now to the nearest deep space link. When the Council receives it, it shouldn’t take them more than a few days to get to Earth and begin investigating.”
“He’s sending the packet?” Jas asked. “You mean you have deep space comm? Carl and Makey destroyed the suppressor?”
“Yes, just a few moments ago. The waves blinked out to nothing.”
“But what about the guys?” asked Jas. “Are they back?”
“Not yet. The truck turned over before it hit the building. But one of the helis Carl downed smashed into it instead. That must have been what destroyed the suppressor.”
Sayen and Jas shared a look. “Let’s go,” Sayen said.
“You’re going out there?” said Mrs. Lee. “Oh, Sayen, do you have to?”
They were already running for the elevator. “Yes, Mama, I do. They’re my friends.”
***
It took Sayen several minutes to persuade her father to turn off the force field so they could go out to rescue Carl and Makey. He repeated that he would go himself rather than let her risk her life. But she pointed out that he had to stay home. He couldn’t leave her mother and their sick guest, Erielle, alone.
“Be careful out there,” were his final words as he turned off the force field. He had a look on his face like he thought he would never see his daughter again.
Jas had armed them both with extra blasters before leaving the house. She held one in either hand as, together, they ran across the road toward the burning building. No time for precautionary measures now. If Carl and Makey were still alive, every second would count in keeping them that way.
The Shadows’ building was rapidly turning into an inferno. Flames rose twice as high as the walls, and a dull roaring filled the air. They were still far away when Jas felt the heat of the fire on her face.
The sun was rising, but the light from the fire was brighter. Jas could only just make out the end of the truck. It was also on fire, and the dark shapes of men and women were outlined in the light. She could vaguely see some kind of struggle going on.
“Krat. Sayen, the Shadows have them.”
“You tackle them from this side,” Sayen said. “I’m going around the back.”
“But—”
Sayen was already leaving, running at her impossibly fast speed toward the rear of the building.
At the fight with the Shadows, someone was lifting a large rock as if they were getting ready to bring it down heavily on an opponent’s head.
Raising her weapon and aiming as she ran, Jas fired. She got the Shadow holding the rock in the back. It looked down, incredulous, at the smoking hole that appeared in its chest before dropping limply to the ground. The rest of them turned. She fired again, and another Shadow fell.
They were armed. As one raised its weapon to return fire, Carl plowed into its side, sending it flying into some of the others. Makey was sitting on the sand, looking barely conscious.
More Shadows raised their weapons. There were too many of them. Jas could never shoot them all, and Carl had been disarmed.
Just as Jas was accepting this was her last fight, a cry of rage rose above the crackle of the flames. The cry had come from the burning truck. The Shadows turned toward the sound in puzzlement.
Sayen was on top of the vehicle, standing within the blaze. She leapt down. She was firing, and she was on fire. Shadows fell at each blast of her weapon, and Jas shot down more of them. They only stopped firing when the rest of the aliens fled.
Suddenly, Carl had Sayen on the ground. He was rolling her in the dirt, putting out the flames. Her clothes were little more than blackened shreds.
Makey staggered to his feet, shaking his head.
“You did it,” Jas exclaimed to Carl. “The suppressor’s destroyed. Sayen’s parents have sent the packet.”
“We did it,” Carl said. “We all did.”
The Shadows seemed to have retreated. Sayen and Carl were burned, and Makey had taken a severe blow to the head, but they’d survived. Carl and Jas hugged. They held the kid’s arms to support him, and all four of them turned toward Sayen’s home.
It was at that moment that the mansion took a direct hit.
Chapter Fourteen
“Krat,” Sayen exclaimed. One side of the front of the beautiful house was ruined, and smoke was already pouring from the windows nearby. The next second, Sayen was gone. She was running toward her home, her raggedy clothes trailing behind her.
Jas, Carl, and especially Makey, struggled to keep up with their friend.
“What’s firing at the house?” Jas asked Carl, scanning the early morning sky. “I thought you shot everything down?”
“They’ve got a missile launcher somewhere out in the desert,” he replied. “It almost destroyed the truck too. The automatic targeting was taking out the missiles, but it couldn’t zero in on the launcher.”
Another missile screamed overhead, and as they watched, it tore through the electrified fence. The house took another hit.
“Look at that,” Carl said, looking behind. The Shadows had reappeared and were running toward the estate. “Do you think they’re after us or Sayen’s parents?”
“I don’t know,” Jas replied. “Whatever it is they want to do, it isn’t going to be good. We have to catch up to Sayen. She can’t take them all on by herself.”
But it wasn’t easy to catch up. Makey could barely run. Carl and Jas were partly supporting him and partly dragging him along.
Sayen had reached the gate. She leapt over its ruins and went speeding up the driveway. The other three struggled after her. Jas saw her swing open the front door and disappear inside.
By the time the other three reached the same spot, Makey was nearly unconscious again. He collapsed onto the front steps.
“Take him upstairs, Carl,” Jas said, glancing over her shoulder. The remaining Shadows were clambering over the ruins of the gate. “Take him to Erielle’s room, so I know where you all are. I’m going to find Sayen and her parents. We might escape the Shadows yet.”
Carl put his hands under Makey’s arms and hauled the kid to his feet. Like a drunken couple, the two made their way up the staircase. Jas followed, helping to support the unconscious Makey. At the top, they parted ways.
Carl said. “After I get him to Erielle’s room, I’m going to give Erielle a gun and lock them in together. Then I’m going to come and find you. Take care, Jas.”
“I will,” she replied and gave him a fleeting smile.
As she ran to Mr. Lee’s room, another explosion rocked the house. She grabbed a desk to steady herself. It would only be a matter of minutes before the place was rubble. The elevator was at the basement. She called it and, too slowly, it rose.
As the doors opened, Jas’ heart missed a beat. The interior was splattered with blood. Whose blood, she didn’t dare to think. She stepped inside. As the elevator went down, she readied her weapon. Whatever was waiting for her at the bottom would see the elevator was descending. She pressed her back against the corner to the right and aimed the muzzle of her gun at the crack between the doors. She aimed low.
The elevator chimed. Before the doors had opened more than a slit, Jas fired. A laser beam returned her fire, scoring a deep burn in the wall opposite the door. The doors opened wide. No more laser beams were discharged. Jas peeked out. She’d hit the Shadow girl. She was on the floor, and Sayen and her parents were behind her. Mr. Lee’s head was streaming with blood.
“Thanks, Jas,” Sayen said as she saw her. “The Shadow was about to kill me. Daddy had forced her down back here when she tried to escape, but she’d gotten the upper hand.”
“No problem,” Jas replied. “But hurry. We have to get out. There are Shadows in the house. We have to collect Erielle, Makey, and Carl, and leave. Now.”
At the end of her sentence, the lights flickered and went out. The basement was suddenly pitch black.
“The power supply’s been hit,” Mrs. Lee exclaimed.
“Oh no,” came Sayen’s voice in the darkness. “How are we going to get out? The elevator won’t operate without power.”
“It’s okay,” said Mr. Lee. “There are stairs for just such an emergency. We only have to get to them. Everybody, join hands. Follow me.”
“Be careful,” Jas said. “The Shadow girl will be coming around soon.”
“What? You didn’t kill her?” asked Sayen.
“No. I didn’t know who I might be shooting at. It could have been one of you three. I set my weapon to stun.”
“Krat,” Sayen said.
“Sayen, that isn’t very polite,” said Mrs. Lee.
Sayen sighed. “Sorry, Mama.”
They went farther across the workroom, Mr. Lee slowly guiding them around the workbenches and machinery. After a short while, he bumped into something. “Ah. I believe we’re nearly at the wall. Yes, here it is. Now we just follow it to the left. If we’re lucky, I should be able to locate the door handle.”
“Hey,” said a voice in the distance. A little girl’s voice. “Where are you? Where are y’all going?”
Jas’ stomach clenched. The Shadow sounded exactly like a sad, lost child.
“Don’t answer,” whispered Sayen.
“I heard you,” said the girl. “I know where you are. I’m coming over. Wait for me.”
Jas could see nothing but darkness. She could feel nothing but Sayen’s hand and the smooth wall they were following.
“Are you here?” asked the Shadow. Already, it sounded like she was nearby. “Please answer. I want to find you. I have to find you. I have to get out. Please take me with you. Don’t leave me down here all alone.”
A quiet expression of satisfaction came from in front. Mr. Lee had found the entrance to the staircase.
“I can hear you,” said the girl. “Wait for me. I’m coming.”
There was a rustle and a creak as Mr. Lee opened the door. Jas felt Sayen’s tug, signaling her to follow. She felt the door’s edge. Sayen let go of her as she went through.
A soft, small child’s hand plucked at Jas’ arm. She froze.
“There you are,” said the Shadow, excitement in her voice.
Horror and dread overcame Jas. She kicked out. Her foot met its mark and sank into something soft and warm before sending the thing flying. There was a shriek. Jas bolted through the door and slammed it closed. She was in the stairwell, but she was still in darkness.
“Here, Jas,” called Sayen. Following the sound of her friend’s voice, she tripped over a step. Scrabbling sounded from the other side of the door. The Shadow was trying to find the door handle. Jas hadn’t been able to lock it. The girl would be through the door and after them at any moment.
She raced upstairs. Somewhere above, light appeared, casting a faint illumination down the steps. Mr. Lee had reached the top and opened the door into an upper level room with a window.
From below came the sound of creaking as the door opened followed by light footsteps running up. Jas broke into a cold sweat. She felt a special horror about the cat-loving Shadow girl. Something about her was especially fearful, and yet Jas wasn’t sure she could kill her.
Jas emerged into the room at the top of the stairs. She slammed the door shut. “That thing’s coming up after us,” she panted.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” Mrs. Lee said. “Not a problem.” She jammed a chair under the doorknob.
“Which way to Erielle’s room?” Jas asked.
“Follow me,” Sayen replied.
“Have you noticed something?” Mr Lee asked as they left the bedroom. “The bombardment has stopped.”
“Probably because Shadows are in the building,” Jas said. “They don’t want to kill their own kind. They must be planning to capture us, or pick us off one by one.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Erielle,” Sayen called through the door. She didn’t want to take the woman by surprise. If she was armed, opening the door without announcing herself could be disastrous.
“Thank krat,” came Erielle’s reply. “Get in here.”
Sayen went inside to find Erielle in bed with Makey lying unconscious next to her. Carl was sitting down with his arms folded. The two android servants were standing over him as if on guard duty.
“What’s going on?” Jas asked.
“They wouldn’t let me leave,” Carl replied in an exasperated tone.
“Sir, Ma’am,” said the female android, Florence. “It appears that the estate is under attack. We took the initiative to keep our guests safe while we awaited your further instructions.”
“And you did a wonderful job,” Sayen’s mother replied. “Now I have another job for you. First—Jas, Carl, please give our servants a weapon.”
Jas held her blaster protectively to her chest. “What? Why?”
“Because they’re going to defend us. I’ve reprogrammed them with military skills, as far as I was able. Their primary function now is to save our lives. That’s why they wouldn’t let Carl leave the room.”
“Oh, I see.” Jas handed over a gun.
Mrs. Lee addressed the androids. “Now, I want you both to understand that the creatures that are roaming this house and looking for us are not human. They may look, sound, and act human, but they are not. Do you understand that? Do you believe me?”
“Yes, we do, Ma’am,” chorused the two androids.
“That means you are not breaking any fundamental law by shooting at them, right?” she continued. “In fact, you would be doing us an enormous favor. Do you think you’ll be able to do that? If you kill the invaders, it would help us. It would give us a chance to escape.”
“We can do that, Ma’am.”
“Wonderful,” said Sayen’s father, looking out the window. “I think it’s high time we got the krat out of here.”
“Craven,” exclaimed Sayen’s mother.
Erielle pushed down her covers and pulled herself out of bed and onto her crutches. She refused all offers of help. Sayen picked up Makey, and they went out into the corridor.
“Where now?” Jas asked.
“To the helis on the roof,” Mrs. Lee said. “We’ll never get out with Shadows all over the house looking for us. Now that the force field’s down, we might as well take our chances in the sky. Was that your plan, Craven?”
“Exactly, my dear,” her husband replied.
The android servants went one way to head off the Shadows, and the humans went the other. Sayen’s father led them away from the main staircase and into the smaller corridors. A Shadow wandered into view, and Carl shot it. Sayen hoped the alien died before it had a chance to tell the others where they were.
She knew this part of the house well. She’d often played hide and seek with her brother there when they were children. It was also the quickest route to the roof. She’d walked it during her short-lived stint at the Global Government Security Headquarters.
Wisps of smoke were following them down the corridor, and the air was filled with the smell of burning. They would have to leave soon if they didn’t want to go up in flames with the rest of the place. Sayen’s heart sank at the knowledge that the only home she’d ever known would soon be gone. But they’d sent the packet to the Transgalactic Council, and with a little luck, they could escape the Shadows pursuing them and find some place to hide out while waiting for the Council to come to Earth’s aid.
A cry echoed out. Someone had been shot not far away. The androids had their backs. She hoped they would last out a while longer.
They redoubled their pace. Soon, they were running. Poor Erielle was hobbling along as fast as she could on her crutches.
“Here we are at last,” Sayen’s father said. He opened the door to the stairway that led to the roof. The corridor echoed with footsteps. Sayen turned to see several Shadows
running toward them. They’d broken through the androids’ defenses. Jas fired, killing the leader, but the others only jumped over him and came on.
“Hurry up,” said Sayen’s mother as she guided Erielle up the stairs.
When they were all inside the stairwell, Sayen locked the door. They stepped out onto the windswept roof. Smoke was rising up all around them into the early morning sky.
To one side, where the helis had stood, was a pile of smoking ruins. A missile had destroyed the helis. They weren’t much more than lumps of charred, twisted, reeking metal. “Krat,” exclaimed Sayen’s mother. They walked slowly over to what was left of their only means of escape.
“What now?” Carl asked.
Sayen’s father turned to him with a stricken expression. “I’m all out of answers to that question, son.”
Sayen swallowed. “Daddy, Mama, it’s okay. We did what had to. We’ve done all we could.” She put Makey down so that she could embrace them both. Then she turned and hugged Erielle, holding onto the stubborn, pigheaded, dogmatic woman as if she were life itself.
Jas and Carl looked at each other and smiled briefly. They turned, raised their weapons, and aimed them at the door on the other side of the roof, waiting for the Shadows to emerge.
A blast of hot air swept down from above, and over the roar of the burning house came the whine of a shuttle engine.
“Krat,” shouted Jas. “They’re coming at us from above too.” She turned and aimed at the floor of the shuttle that hung over them. A tiny escape hatch opened, and the head and shoulders of a man appeared in the space.
As Jas sighted her gun, Sayen ran at her and knocked her down.
“What the...?” she exclaimed from the floor.
“Phelan,” yelled Sayen. “Mama, Daddy, it’s Phelan. Back up, everyone, so they can land.”
“They can’t land on the roof. It’ll only burn the place down faster,” Carl shouted over the engine’s whine.
