Trapped in Your Storm

by Darien Cox

  Nolan frowned down at the computer generated image on the screen. The being was toffee-brown, a biped, the top of its head larger than a human’s, but only slightly. Not like the Greys with their big dome heads.

  The jawline was wide, black half-moons of color running up the chest and neck, then becoming spots that drifted in two lines over the sides of the face, stopping at pronounced cheekbones. No visible ears but the skull indented slightly on either side of the head, so Nolan assumed there was something ear-like there. An extra-wide wide slash of a mouth, long straight nose. Nothing too shocking. Except the eyes—gold iris with a vertical black slit pupil. Like a reptile…

  “Can they shapeshift?” Elliot asked.

  Ogden’s brow lowered. “No. We call them Subs, short for subterranean. They hate that but it’s stuck. They do not shapeshift. They can, however, adjust the color and smoothness of their skin by changing the cell structure of the upper dermal layer. When this happens it can appear as shifting, but the bone structure remains the same. Their base skin tone is brown with black markings, as you can see here in the image. But they have the ability to fade the markings and transform the base to a lighter brown. If appropriately disguised, they can reasonably pass as human.”

  “Okay.” Nolan blew a breath out. “And these Subs are gonna help us save the baby Whites?”

  “I hope so. That all the questions for now?”

  “Hang on,” Elliot said, and Ogden sighed impatiently. “Ogden, what’s this partnership you have with them? Why have we never heard about this?”

  “It’s highly classified,” Ogden said. “And not relevant right now.”

  “You said we could ask questions,” Nolan said. “So give us the gist real quick.”

  Ogden’s fingers drummed the table. “There was a final mission to the moon you’ve never heard about. The Subs made contact during that mission. Explained that they see to the health of the earth because of the symbiotic relationship with the moon. Highly advanced technologically and otherwise. They’ve deflected asteroids over the years that would have destroyed our planet.”

  “Whoa,” Nolan said. “Guess it’s a good thing they’re there.”

  Elliot sighed. “I take it that’s why we haven’t been back to the moon? They told us to fuck off?”

  “Yes,” Ogden said. “Part of the agreement. They’d keep taking care of any outside threats to our planet, and we stay away from their home. They weren’t happy with our continuing presence on the moon.”

  “Because you tried to detonate a weapon on it,” the man in the fishing hat called over.

  Nolan stared over, something catching his eye. He’d thought the man’s hand was tapping at the keyboard under the monitor on the console, but as he looked closer… “What the fuck.” Nolan leaned over and whispered to Ogden. “His hand is inside the desk.”

  “Yes,” Ogden said.

  Elliot and Nolan both leaned over, staring. From the shirt-cuff down, the man’s hand disappeared into the solid base of the desk, which rippled like dark water around his wrist. “What kind of tech is that?” Nolan asked. “What is he doing?”

  “At the moment,” Ogden said, “he is going over the schematics Baz gave us of the inside of the Whites’ base. And listening to the static signals we’ve been getting. He says the static is coming from the sleep-signal the rogue hybrids activated, the tech they got from the Greys. Thinks he can lock on and follow it back, hopefully gain access to one or more entry points into the base.”

  Nolan stared at the odd man, his hand plunged into solid matter like it was pudding. “Ogden.” Nolan looked at his boss. “Who is that guy?”

  Ogden nodded. “All right. Gordy. Can you come introduce yourself real quick? These are two of my top team members.”

  The hand lifted out of the flat desktop, the material rippling for a moment before becoming solid again. The hand was pale brown, and Nolan inhaled sharply when he saw short dark claws in place of fingernails.

  Rising from his chair, the man in the hat stretched his arms up, then placed his hands on his head, twisting, cracking his neck. Then he turned and walked toward them. Nolan’s eyes widened. Dressed in brown slacks and a crisp white shirt, extra-large loafers on his feet, the being smiled—a wide mouth full of small pointed teeth. “Hello. I’m Gordy. You are?”

  Nolan and Elliot stared, but neither spoke. Gordy’s skin was light brown and smooth except for a series of small impressions along his lower cheeks, like vague pockmarks. His nose was sharp and narrow, no eyebrows, no visible hair beneath the hat. The eyes were human-sized but extended to a point at the sides, gold with a black vertical slit.

  “Don’t be rude,” Gordy said. “I dressed nice and did my face up for you. Least you could do is tell me I look good.” He patted his cheek and his lipless grin widened.

  “This is Nolan. And this is Elliot,” Ogden said. “Guys, this is Gordy. He’s the Sub representative who’s agreed to help us tonight.”

  “Ah, you’re Nolan,” Gordy said. “I’ve heard much about you.”

  Nolan swallowed hard. “Why?”

  The sharply-dressed reptilian chuckled. “Ogden? I’d say it’s about time for that briefing.”

  “Tell me you have good news for me,” Ogden said.

  Gordy nodded once. “This can work in theory. I won’t guarantee success in execution however.”

  “He speaks such good English,” Nolan said to Ogden, still too stunned to address Gordy himself.

  “He speaks every language on the planet,” Ogden said.

  Gordy pointed a clawed finger at Nolan. “Gotta keep an ear on your race. Make sure you’re not blowing yourselves up. It’s tedious.”

  “Okay.” Ogden stood. “Let’s get everyone to gather in the front two rows. It’s time.”

  “Let me get my notes.” The reptilian moved quickly back to where he’d been working, grabbed a small square device, then turned back. He grinned at Elliot and Nolan, who still openly stared at him, then he kicked his shoes off and took a running step, gliding across the floor in his socks. “Sliiiiide!” he said. “Your gravity is sublime.”

  Gordy turned and side-skipped toward the front of the room, gliding on his socks again. “Sliiiiide!”

  “Are you sure that…person is gonna be helpful?” Nolan asked.

  “Trust me,” Ogden said. “The Subs are even more advanced than the Whites.”

  The crowd in the room was gathering near the front, some seated in chairs, others lingering alongside the rows. JT and Christian sat in the first row. Standing out in front like he was about to teach a class was Brett. He smiled when he saw Nolan and Elliot. “Sit here,” he pointed.

  Nolan slid in next to Christian, Elliot beside him. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Christian glanced at Nolan with worried eyes. “You all right?”

  “Yeah. Fine for someone who just met a reptilian.”

  Nolan expected Christian to make a joke, but he merely stared at Nolan, then turned away.

  “What’s wrong?” Nolan whispered.

  “I’m just worried,” Christian said.

  “Okay.” Ogden clapped his hands once. He, Wiley, Gordy in his fishing hat, and Baz stood alongside Brett out in front, the giant screens at their back. “You’ve all met Gordy. I’m going to hand things right over to him to start. Gordy?”

  Gordy took his hat off, exposing his thick, round head, bald and pale brown with prominent bones along the side. JT glanced at Nolan and widened his eyes. Nolan nodded.

  “Don’t want to be rude,” Gordy said and tossed the hat at JT. “Always take your hat off indoors, right?”

  A few soft chuckles sounded from the room.

  “All right,” Gordy said. “I’ve found two signals open enough to play with. One is the Greys’ little device the hybrids installed at the base to put the Thrakatozians to sleep. The other—”

  “Gordy,” Wiley interrupted. “For the sake of group comprehensions would you please refer to them as ‘the Whites’?”
r />   “Ah, of course. The Whites.” Gordy grinned at Wiley. “Such inventive names you come up with for other races. The Whites.” Gordy elbowed Baz. “Because they’re white, see?”

  “No time,” Baz said. “Greys coming.”

  Gordy’s reptilian eyes narrowed as a laughed escaped. “Yes. The Greys. Because they’re what color?”

  “Gordy,” Ogden said. “Get on with it.”

  “The second signal I was able to piggyback off was the one the hybrids are looping from the traffic center,” Gordy said. “Think of it as a prerecorded message to any incoming ships, diverting them to either of two bases located on other parts of the globe. Much to Ogden and Wiley’s rage, I’m not able to tell you exactly where those bases are. But this combined with the signal from the Greys’ tech has allowed me to create an unlock key. Here.”

  Gordy turned and walked to the screen showing the field up on the mountain at Bear Peak. He pointed to the corner of the field edging the trees. “I will briefly be able to open it up here enough for someone to slip inside. Baz has assured me that since this segment is close to the docking ports it should be empty, since no Whites are currently coming and going. It’s also where you will find access to the sleep signal, which we can hopefully turn off.”

  “I need to point out one thing,” Brett said. “Before I was called from the village Ogden had me watching the camera feeds up there. The woods were crawling with hybrids for a while. I think they were looking for Baz, having realized he’d escaped. They left after a while, but this is going to have to be done quickly and stealthily.”

  Ogden nodded. “Baz, you want to give them the bad news?”

  Baz stepped forward, and Nolan noticed now that his bruises were gone, huge colorful eyes no longer bloodshot. “Hey Baz,” he said. “You look all…healed.”

  “I drink juice,” Baz said.

  “That’s it? You drank some juice?”

  “Rhonda say Catch 22.”

  Nolan frowned.

  “Baz has the inherent ability to heal himself,” Ogden said. “But he was so injured that ability was hindered. Until Rhonda mixed up some juice and got enough nutrients into his blood that he could heal himself.”

  “No more irrelevant questions please,” Wiley said.

  “Greys come tonight,” Baz said.

  Elliot gasped. “What?”

  “Yeah, what?” a bespectacled man in the row behind them called out. “You said we had two days!”

  Gordy held his clawed hands up. “It’s not Baz’s fault. My people have been able to monitor the approach from the moon. The hybrids clearly moved up their timeline, perhaps because of Baz’s disappearance and their suspicion that he went to Ogden.”

  “How long?” Nolan said.

  Baz’s shoulders hunched. “Five hours.”

  “Fuck.” Nolan slumped.

  “As for the Greys,” Gordy said, “they’re still moving pretty slow, probably not as concerned as the hybrids are about human interference. But they are in formation. They aren’t cloaked yet but will likely cloak when they get closer to Earth, so the other inbound Whites’ craft don’t detect them. Their destination does appear to be the east coast of the United States.”

  “Better news,” Baz said, “Greys never suspect moon men to shoot.”

  “Shoot?” Elliot said. “Gordy, your people are gonna shoot at the Greys?”

  “If they get that close before something deters them, yes,” Gordy said. “The plan is to infiltrate the Whites’ base, and shut off the signal keeping them asleep. At the same time, Baz has designed a message that when introduced will spread all throughout the base and tell the Whites what is happening, and exactly who is responsible—Ikto and his hybrids. The timing of this is gonna be delicate.”

  “Look here please,” Baz pointed to a screen, which flashed up sketches of crossing lines next to a large oval. “This here where many White ships docked. This here is…” He looked at Gordy. “You speak English faster. Please?”

  Gordy approached the screen and pointed. “This here is a catacomb of sorts that runs alongside the docking port. Baz has identified this area as where the signal device originates.”

  “Dirt-bag hybrids plant when first arrive at base from craft,” Baz said.

  “Someone will have to upload Baz’s message to the Whites at the exact same time the sleep signal cuts out. Otherwise if the Whites wake abruptly, they won’t know what happened and will kill anyone they find there.”

  “Is Baz going in?” the guy in the back asked.

  “Baz cannot,” Baz said. “Apology. I wish to do this. Genetic sequence alert in this area because near where Whites’ work on craft.”

  “Baz’s DNA is like an access keycard. He walks in, his presence is registered,” Ogden said. “This is how he was caught and subsequently bled by the other hybrids after he disabled the Whites’ ships. Normally hybrids stay out of that area. It was a very brave thing Baz did, and if he could go in to do this mission himself, he would. But he can’t.”

  Baz’s white skin flushed peach. “Thank to you, Hoggin.”

  “While this is all happening,” Wiley said, “Gordy’s people are going to monitor the Greys’ progress from the moon. If the Greys approach earth before our mission in the base is concluded, there will be a firefight. The Greys are at a disadvantage because they won’t expect it, but there will be some fireworks up there.”

  Elliot raised a finger. “Will these fireworks be visible from Earth? More specifically, Singing Bear Village, since that’s the Greys’ destination.”

  “It’s unlikely,” Gordy said. “There is a shield around your planet that does a pretty good job of masking all of the craft and activity that goes on in your solar system beyond orbit. But…” He shrugged. “Something could be visible to the naked eye. For that, Elliot, we need you to be ready if necessary to patch in to Village Radio in case anything comes close enough to be seen from the mountain area. We have copy about a meteor storm for you to read from.”

  “Shouldn’t be too much of a problem,” JT said, leaning forward to look at Elliot. “Samhain lantern festival tonight, with actual fireworks. I doubt the villagers will notice anything unless a ship comes crashing down or something.”

  “We will do our best not to let that happen,” Gordy said. “If there’s a conflict with the Greys, we’ll try to take them out before they reach your orbit.”

  “So who’s going in?” Elliot said. “Who’s going into the base?”

  “Brett,” Ogden said. “With his experience as a Navy Seal and an astronaut, he’s the best choice. Brett has agreed as well.”

  Brett shrugged, smiling. “I’ve gone up. Now I’m going down.”

  “Also Nolan,” Ogden said. “You’ll go with Brett. For similar reasons. I believe you’re the most qualified to pull this off.”

  Nolan’s stomach lurched, but Ogden was right. Nolan had successfully infiltrated hostile facilities for stealth missions when he served in the military, and had gotten a reputation for being able to pull off miracles in impossible situations.

  Elliot stared at Nolan, open-mouthed.

  Nolan avoided Elliot’s gaze, and nodded at Ogden. “Absolutely, sir. Happy to do it.”

  “What?” Elliot stiffened beside him. “How the hell does Nolan have experience going into an alien base currently run by hostile mutinous hybrids who’d trade babies for scrap? He’s not trained for that!”

  “It’s okay,” Nolan said. “I can do it.”

  “No you can’t!” Elliot said. “You’re not trained for this!”

  “No one is trained for this,” Ogden said. “But Nolan is the best choice, Elliot. We’ll be monitoring everything from here, will be in constant communication with the team, and Baz will be in their earpiece as well, giving direction.”

  “No hybrid to be in that section,” Baz said. “Only sleeping Whites. Should be able to do in and out, Ellytot.”

  “Ah, excuse me,” the guy behind them called out. “How are Brett a
nd Nolan not going to be detected if Baz can’t even step through the door without alerting the other hybrids?”

  “Baz thinks their pure human DNA will fail to trigger any alerts. The system is set up to recognize Whites and hybrids only. But just in case, we’ve modified some outerwear that should help mask their life signs,” Wiley said. “And Baz’s schematics are laid out to the last detail. We should be able to get them in real close so they can get it done quickly. Then Gordy can open the exit up for them again and pull them out.”

  “Why can’t he go in?” Elliot pointed to Gordy. “He’s the most advanced being in this room, and he’s not a White or a hybrid. Don’t tell me he couldn’t do this himself.”

  “I cannot go inside a Thrakatozian base,” Gordy said. “We have our own agreements with them, and a strained history. I’ll do what I can to help this go smoothly. But we don’t want the Whites to ever know our race was involved in this part of the plan—breaching the base itself. Got that, Baz?”

  “Understand,” Baz said.

  “Time is short,” Ogden said. “We need to get Nolan and Brett prepped before we send them out on the chopper back to the village. We’ve got a slight head start on the Greys, we don’t want to squander it.”

  “Excuse me,” an older woman standing nearby asked. “How are we supposed to monitor the Greys’ approach?”

  “Gordy’s people will do that from the moon,” Wiley said. “We don’t have the technological ability to see them from here.”

  The woman shook her head. “I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I say I wish we could see those fuckers coming for ourselves.”

  Murmurs of agreement ran through the room.

  Gordy approached Ogden, and Wiley walked over to join them. The three spoke quietly while the volume in the room rose with chatter.

  Turning back toward the crowd, Gordy said, “All right. Wiley has given me permission to manipulate your systems so you can see beyond the shield. That is if everyone in this room believes they’re ready to do so. The Greys are not the only ones out there. So I admonish you not to panic.”