by Caryn Lix
“It came straight for us.” Eden tugged on her braid, then tossed it behind her as if throwing it away. “Gideon and I and a few other soldiers led it on a chase to give the others time to escape, then dove into a sewage drain it couldn’t fit through. Within seconds, it sent hunters after us, but by then we’d managed to hide. We spent a whole night in that damn sewer. By the time we emerged, we were filthy and disgusting … but we were alive. The creature had vanished and we didn’t see it again for two years. Then we were out scouting one day and again it just … appeared. This time we were able to hide before it spotted us. I don’t know what it was doing, but it wasn’t rampaging the way the hunters do. It was searching for something. Us, maybe. I don’t know. It pulled buildings apart like it was cracking eggs.”
“Why did it leave?” Matt leaned back, stroking his chin.
Eden shrugged. “Hell if I know. Eventually we snuck back to the store, went belowground, turned off the lights, and barred the doors. We didn’t dare move for days. When hunger drove us to the surface, the creature was gone. We’ve never seen it again.”
Hope flickered in Matt’s eyes. “Maybe it, I don’t know … went somewhere else. Died, even.”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Eden continued to glare at the creature. “We call this one Karoch.”
“What does it mean?” I asked.
“It’s from a story we have about a giant who ravaged the towns around a famous mountain. A kids’ story, but … the name fit.”
“And you don’t know where this thing is?” Priya shook her head in disbelief. “Which means it’s probably hiding out with the other aliens. Lady, I’ve been doing this job for a long time. No one’s ever accused me of being a coward. But this?” She shook her head and turned to me and Cage. “We aren’t doing this. If you kids want to take it on, you’re on your own.”
“Wait a second,” said Matt.
Priya spun on him. “Shut your mouth, boy. You might be a dumbass kid, but you’re still part of my crew, and I’m damned if I’ll let you get yourself killed by that thing. These people abandoned you for dead. Remember that.”
Matt scowled. “That’s not exactly what happened.” Our eyes met briefly, and we both looked away. “And it’s not the point. Eden said she could help us if we helped her. Don’t you think we should at least hear what she has in mind?”
Priya hesitated, and it was clear she had forgotten—not that you could blame her with the specter of Karoch still looming over us like an anime movie mech.
As one, we turned to Eden, who seemed to be waiting for precisely such a moment. “I need that intel. I need to know what the zemdyut have planned, why they’re still in this … well, why they’re still here. You’re the only ones who might be able to help me get the information I need. And if you do …” She reached out and squeezed the sides of the dome. Karoch and the hunter vanished, replaced by a small, sleek model of a spaceship, rotating lazily in place. “I can help you get home.”
The planet has shifted.
The tides have turned.
The people’s arrival has shattered barriers, prickling its sensitive awareness, drawing its attention and forcing a split.
With a scream they coalesce.
Many.
One.
Threats draw near.
Force and power.
Shift.
TWENTY
I LURCHED FORWARD, GRABBING THE edges of the table and staring at the ship. It was a little different from ships I’d seen before, its design fundamentally un-Omnistellar. “Reed?” I asked.
Reed, his obsession with any form of transportation already apparent, leaned forward. “I mean, it’s only a hologram,” he said doubtfully, reaching out as if to touch it. “But it looks sturdy enough.” He turned eager eyes to Eden. “What’s its range?”
A smile touched her lips. “Almost unlimited. It’s the fastest, sleekest ship ever built.”
“Then why the hell haven’t you used it?” Mia snapped, joining us in examining the model, Alexei—as always—by her side.
“Because it fits ten people at most, and I have five times that to worry about. Because I have nowhere to go. Because this is my planet, damn it, and I’m not giving it up without a fight.” Her voice cracked, and she closed her eyes, visibly composing herself. “My daughter died in the first attack,” she said quietly. “Her body is in the desert. I went searching and found her, and I buried her. I’m not leaving her. And I’m not leaving my planet to those things.”
We continued to stare at the ship. I found Cage’s hand. He squeezed my fingers. “Where would we go?” he wondered out loud. “How would we get home?”
Eden nodded. “I was wondering when you’d ask. And there, at least, I have good news for you. I know your planet, and you aren’t as far from home as you think. Our planet is shielded. Our early scientists decided they didn’t want to deal with alien attacks, and they created a planetary phase distortion, something to block us from most scanners. You have to be right on top of us before you know we’re here.”
“Then how did the aliens find you?” Rune asked. Her head was cocked, ready as always to absorb new information, new technology.
Eden blinked as if the question caught her off guard, but she must have considered it before. Maybe it paled in comparison with the threat of the aliens themselves. “We don’t know,” she said at last. “We don’t know what planet they came from. But we know where yours is, and it’s not far. You could get there in a few weeks.”
“Wait.” I clutched my head with my hands, my brain spiraling with the new information. For a split second, I missed Gideon—or at least his truth-sensing power. “You’re telling me we aren’t far from Earth? That we have a chance to get home? Then why didn’t you contact us when the creatures first attacked? Why didn’t you call for help? For God’s sake, why didn’t you warn us?”
“We didn’t know about you at first,” Eden replied. “And by the time we did, we were too busy trying to defend ourselves to start initiating interspecies contact.”
“Bullshit,” Priya snapped. “You were scared. Desperate. If you knew there were other people out there, people so similar to you, with a society almost identical, why wouldn’t you at least try to call for help?”
Eden scowled. “Because we’d watched you in the intervening centuries. Watched your society develop. Watched your corporations take over.”
“Watched us?” snapped Priya. “How?”
Eden shrugged as if the details didn’t matter. “You aren’t the only ones with technology. Probes. Spies. I’m not even sure. It wasn’t my business to know. But what I did know, what everyone knew, was that if we called for help, we’d be corporate slaves inside of a generation. Besides, we knew your technology. We’d copied some of it. It wasn’t enough to fight off the zemdyut, not by a long shot.”
I lowered my gaze. The corporate fear rang true. And if Eden’s people, Liam’s, had been observing us, that explained a lot of the similarities. Especially if they were nearer to us than we’d initially realized. If I was going to extend Eden the trust I wished had been extended to me, well, I had to commit. “Liam didn’t seem to know any of this,” I said, half to myself.
“It wasn’t common knowledge. We didn’t need people trying to take matters into their own hands. And after a few decades of the zemdyut, secrecy just became a way of life for our governments, our military. No one told the people more than they needed to know.” Eden sighed. “I’m not saying we were right. Just that we were scared. We didn’t want a corporate takeover of our own planet in exchange for getting rid of the monsters attacking us, and we were overconfident in our own abilities. By the time we realized there was no hope, it was too late. But it’s not too late for you.” She scrutinized each of us in turn. “It’s not a guarantee. But it’s something. It’s hope. And if you don’t accept it, you’re going to die on this planet, either when we run out of supplies, which is going to happen in the next three to four months, or when
the aliens tear you to shreds. Regardless, you won’t have long.”
Stunned silence met her words. It wasn’t that what she was saying was particularly surprising. It was just the first time it had been put to us so bleakly.
“All right,” I said at last, when it became apparent no one else was going to. I’d found myself in the position of de facto leader before, and I was getting more comfortable with it. “I think we need to talk about this. Alone, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.” Eden inclined her head. “What I’m asking you to do isn’t easy. And I wouldn’t be asking if there were any other way. But it’s this or watch my people die. If you won’t go in with us, I’ll have to take the risk myself. I’m not sure what I could make of zemdyut technology, but I’m out of options.” She leveled a finger in my direction. “And before I do, I’ll lock that spaceship down. You don’t help me, don’t expect me to help you. Sorry, but that’s the way of it.”
“We understand,” said Mia, surprising me. “It’s an exchange, and you’re not giving anything away for free. Now get out so we can talk.” Her words were taut with annoyance, but there was no real anger in her voice. And this probably was something Mia understood. Quid pro quo. In her world, it made sense.
And, I supposed, it did in mine, too.
Eden left without another word and, as if by unspoken consent, the rest of us surrounded the large table. No chairs remained, so we stood or sat on the table itself. The way we arranged ourselves wound up being fairly symbolic: Priya and Hallam at one end, Cage and I at the other, with the rest of our people spread between us. Rune, Mia, Jasper, and Alexei fixed themselves firmly on our side of the table, while Imani, Matt, and Reed took a more neutral position.
We all focused on the table for a while, as if hoping it would provide some answers. “This is crazy,” said Hallam at last. “Did you guys see that thing?” He scowled at Priya. “Cybernetic implants or not, it’d tear us to shreds.”
She nodded. “Maybe. I wonder what sort of weaponry these people have?”
Hallam snorted. “You’re not seriously considering this.”
Priya shrugged wearily and, to my surprise, turned to me. “What do you think?”
For once, I considered my response. Everyone was looking at me, the weight of their gazes a leaden burden. I rolled my thoughts on my tongue before I replied, “I don’t think we have much of a choice. It’s like Eden said: we either take a chance helping them or die here alone. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not super excited about the idea of walking into an alien stronghold.” A shudder went through me and, beneath the table where no one could see, Cage took my hand. “I’d kind of hoped never to see another alien ever again. But since those damned things seem determined to follow us wherever we go, I’d rather get the drop on them than wait for them to find us.”
“Agreed,” said Mia almost immediately. “It’s long past time we took the fight to these bastards.”
Alexei frowned and folded his arms over his chest, his biceps bulging against his too-small shirt. “Maybe, but there’s something here I don’t like,” he said. “Something about Eden. Or perhaps simply the planet.”
“Can you be more specific?” Cage asked him. Something passed between the two boys. They’d been roommates on Sanctuary, and they still sometimes managed to speak without words. I bit off an angry retort. Alexei had suspected me when I first started sympathizing with the prisoners. I couldn’t expect him to just take Eden at face value.
“No,” Alexei admitted at last. “It’s just a feeling.”
“I’ll tell you my feeling,” Imani broke in with what, for her, was surprising intensity. “I’ve watched these creatures destroy hundreds of people. Take lives for no reason. They’ve altered our DNA and transformed us into weaker versions of them. I am sick and tired of sitting around praying they don’t attack me. I’m with Mia. It’s time to take the fight to them.”
Cage sighed. “The goal here is not to fight aliens. In fact, the goal is to avoid that at every cost. If you don’t realize that, it’s not safe to take you into the bunker.”
Imani scowled at him. “The metaphorical fight. All I’m saying is, I’m sick of doing nothing.”
“You’re not alone on that.” He propped his chin on his hands. “But we’re forgetting something. This whole plan rests on Rune’s ability.” He met his sister’s eyes across me. “You’ve been quiet, meimei.”
She shrugged, shifting against the table. “I’m not a fighter,” she said at last in her gentle way. “Not like you. I’m no stranger to dangerous situations, but I’m used to sneaking in and out, working behind the scenes. I think I can handle the alien tech, but I’m scared of what we might encounter.”
“You won’t encounter anything,” Cage said sharply. “You’ll play the same role you always do and—”
Rune spun on him, her sheer fury stopping him short. His hand tensed against mine. “But,” Rune continued as if her twin had never cut her off, “there comes a time when you have to stand up for yourself. These aliens have been pushing us around, pushing everyone around, for way too long. So no matter how much it scares me, I’m in.”
Cage blinked, startled by her vehemence. “Rune, I—”
“I don’t always need you to keep me safe, Cage. Sometimes, you need me.” She straightened her spine, and I caught Matt hiding a smile. “This is the only way I can help all of you. Protect all of you. If it’s anyone’s decision, it should be mine, and I’m doing it. With or without the rest of you, I’m doing it.” Her eyes flashed a challenge, although there was humor there too. “What are you going to do to stop me?”
Cage gaped at her in silence. I only just stopped myself from joining him. Rune stood ramrod straight, fire flashing in her eyes, her tiny features angled and sharp. She looked like a warrior queen geared for battle, not the quiet, disarming tech mouse who’d wormed past my defenses on Sanctuary.
Jasper braced his hands on the table. “We won’t let you go in alone,” he assured her. “And we won’t try to stop you. My family helped us on Mars, and we abandoned them—first to Omnistellar, then to the aliens circling the planet. So whatever it takes to get us back home, I’m in.”
Matt sighed. “If everyone else is in, I’ll go too,” he said quietly. “I was supposed to die on Sanctuary, after all. If I’m living on borrowed time, I guess I have to repay it eventually.”
Reed raised his hand. “Can I say something, or is this decided?”
“Go ahead,” Priya invited before Cage could speak. Only a day or two ago, that would have set the muscles in his jaw jumping. When I looked at him now, though, he was only regarding Reed thoughtfully. I allowed myself a small smile. Rune wasn’t the only one growing and changing.
Reed slammed his hands onto the table, making everyone jump. “You’re all a little too excited about this. Have you missed the part with the giant alien monster beast? Or how these things destroyed an entire planet? This monster’s name is Karoch, not Goliath, and we don’t have any slingshots anyway. If we go in there, we’ll die.”
“If we stay here, we’ll die,” Rune pointed out gently.
Reed nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m not so thrilled about that, either. But if it’s a choice between dying on my own terms and being eaten by a giant space monster, I know which way I’m leaning.”
“I hate to say it, but I’m with the kid.” Hallam waved his hand in Reed’s general direction but addressed his comment to Priya. “Captain, you know I’m always in for a fight. But this will probably be a slaughter. And I can think of far less painful ways to die.”
The silence stretched again. “Cage?” I said at last. “You haven’t weighed in.”
Cage frowned. “I thought it was obvious. Rune said it: she’s going in no matter what, so I’m going with her.” A touch of his usual grin graced his lips. “Besides, when have you ever known me to sit around when there’s a chance of escape? Hell, if I was willing to take on Sanctuary, an alien stronghold should be no problem.”
A ripple of relieved laughter went around the table, and I smiled. I’d known Cage would be on board. He’d been one of the first to extend me the benefit of the doubt on Sanctuary. Of course he would do the same for Eden.
Priya ran a hand over her hair. “Hallam, I take your point. And you,” she added, nodding to Alexei. “I agree. There’s something off about Eden and this whole setup. But I don’t see much of a choice. If it’s die fighting or die huddled in hiding, I’ll die on my feet every time.”
Hallam shrugged. “You’re the boss, lady. You know my opinion, but I’ll follow orders.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Just make sure you’re not letting personal feelings get in the way, yeah?”
“My personal feelings,” Priya growled, “have never influenced my orders, Hallam. And if you don’t believe that—”
“Easy,” said Hallam, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “I didn’t mean offense. I just know how bad you must want to get home to your family. I’m on your side. Legion for always.”
Priya nodded, her hand shaking slightly as she brought her fist down by her side. What had her so riled up? But before I could consider it further, Alexei sighed heavily. “I still think this is a bad idea,” he said, “but I won’t let you walk into danger without me.”
Every eye turned to Reed.
He scowled at us. “You’re all fools.”
“So we’ve been told,” Cage agreed solemnly. “What do you say? We can probably make a case for you to stay behind. You’re one of our healers, after all. We might need you on the outside more than in the bunker.”
“And have you all return covered in glory while I have to tell my moms that I hid in the background?” Reed threw his hands up in disgust. “Fine. I’ll die with you in an alien hideout. Are you happy now?”
I didn’t think anyone was, but we were at least in agreement. For the first time ever, we were all on the same page, functioning as a single team, Legion and Sanctuary and Omnistellar as one.
