Lewen stared at the sky, her voice meek. “I think Tripp is correct.”
Rain began to fall. The drops were fat and sporadic, a lazy February drizzle.
I hadn’t heard from Saul again, and I glanced at the satellite phone, wishing he’d contact us. “We have to find out what’s going on.” Did he have the Book? Had the Umir network been activated?
Evan Young used his binoculars to scour the grounds while lying on the dark coastal rocks. Every now and then, a huge wave would strike, splashing him, but he seemed unperturbed. He was focused. He shifted slightly as he searched the area.
“She’s not here,” I told him.
“You don’t know that,” Evan replied.
“We can’t afford for you to be distracted by your ex-wife.”
“Wife.” He finally looked up from the binoculars. “We’ve never been divorced.”
“Whatever,” Tripp said.
Veronica flexed her hands open and closed, likely trying to warm them up. With the low red clouds and the sun setting, the region was cooling drastically. “Leave him alone. Evan, this is more important than her. Than any of us.”
Evan blinked a few times as he stared ahead blankly, but finally nodded his agreement. “I’ll be fine.”
“Enough of this waiting,” Tripp stood up and began walking closer.
I contemplated arguing but didn’t. “Come on. Stay near the coast and keep your heads down. Let’s hope they’re preoccupied by their ceremony.”
“Rex, I don’t like this,” Veronica whispered.
“Neither do I, but I suspect Roger will be barging in momentarily, and we’ll be able to use that to our advantage.” If that wasn’t the case, we might be executed in the crossfire.
We went a hundred yards closer and saw a sentry facing the ocean, holding an automatic weapon. He wore a black suit and sunglasses, despite the darkness.
Tripp raised a fist and pointed to the ground. We all crouched, and he slunk away, heading straight into danger. I watched as my friend grabbed a palm-sized stone and continued on. He was on a lower level of the rocky outcropping, the Believer twenty feet above us. Tripp peered up, and when the man was turned in the other direction, he tossed the stone toward the ocean. It clattered and bounced before splashing into the water. I silently cheered him on as he climbed the bluff and dashed after the sentry while he was investigating the noise.
Tripp had a knife in his hand, and I stared in horror as he sliced the man’s neck, shoving the body into the lapping waves in one fluid motion. He ducked, rinsing the blade, and crept farther forward.
“Glad he’s on our team,” Evan muttered.
“You can say that again,” Veronica responded.
Another hundred feet and we could see the entire grounds. I spied four more sentries posted along the outer edges of the decorated yard, and something had them panicked. One moment they were casually walking, hands rested on their weapons. The very next, they were charging through the grass to the gates.
“The cavalry’s arrived,” I whispered.
A lone gunshot echoed across the acreage, sending the hair on my arms at attention. Tripp went faster from ahead, and we did our best to remain hidden while copying his path.
We stopped at the tree line. The tall drooping weeping willows added camouflage for us, and I leaned around the trunk, watching the gathering cultists. Alan Black passed by the white seats, fingers intertwined like he was about to deliver a Sunday sermon. Speakers flanked the stage, and when he spoke, I could hear his voice loud and clear.
“Don’t be alarmed, people. Our soldiers are prepared for anything,” he assured them.
So far, we’d only heard the single gunshot.
“We assumed someone would intervene,” Black reminded the crowd, and he received a muttering of agreements.
The rain stopped for the moment, and the breeze ceased as well. The trees had been dancing in the wind, and they halted while the clouds above locked in place.
The calm before the storm.
I was energized, like I’d been given fresh batteries. The air was electric, and I glanced at Veronica, seeing the same reaction in her eyes. Something was happening, and it wasn’t good.
“We have been blessed to be given this opportunity.” Black walked to the stage, which was two stairs higher than the ground. He stepped up and crossed the wooden platform to a pulpit. “What a day. The Unknowns left us clues to their return, and only the honorable and just would be able to join our mission. We’ve spent so much work to gather here. You and me. All of us, invited to this event.” I only saw the back of his head, but I sensed his smile.
“The Sovereign has fulfilled her duty, and I’ve been informed that the network is intact. The links won’t be finalized for another twelve hours, but we, my friends, are ready. We are prepared for Arrival. Each of us has bathed in our sacrifices’ blood, and we will be able to accept our rulers with ease.”
The entire crowd of cultists clapped and applauded like their favorite actor had won a prestigious award. The whole thing creeped me out.
Another gunshot from a distance, followed by more.
Black paused his speech, waiting for a moment of silence before continuing. “They are waiting. Do you feel them? Sense their presence?”
A smattering of yeses erupted from the seated people.
“Then let us do as instructed.” Black knelt on the stage, and everyone did the same, kneeling before their chairs.
The chant started from a woman, maybe even a teenager in the far corner, and rose in volume as the rest of them chorused the freaky Zalt words.
Evan pointed at the group, his face drawn and pale. “I can’t find her.”
I clutched his arm. “Evan, this changes nothing. The Book is all that matters.” The words fell short as I observed a stoic woman walking through the center of the seats like it was a runway. It wasn’t her that drew my eye; it was the woman in front of her: eyes cast down, barefoot, with dishevelled hair.
“Is that…?”
“It’s Beverly,” I whispered.
More gunshots rang out. This time, they sounded closer. It was my turn to panic.
I could only watch as Bev was forced to the stage, and Alan Black rose when she came, smiling as he brushed her cheek with a finger.
“Today, I will receive the crown, letting the Unknowns’ leader take hold of my being. For that, I need a final sacrifice. One of strong lineage.” A knife appeared in his hand, and I couldn’t wait any longer.
I was halfway to the stage, ignoring the shouts of my friends, when the first stream of Freedom Earthers burst onto the yard from the west. Relief flooded me, until I noticed the Umir. It rolled away from the Believers, unraveling between them and the incoming soldiers.
“Rex!” Veronica called.
“What is it?”
“It’s Lewen. She’s not here,” Veronica said.
The Umir opened fire.
____________
Saul’s eyes blinked wide, and he reached into the black jacket, tugging the Book free. He spun it around, finding two bullets lodged into the cover. He saw Carson and Edith shaking across the room, and when they realized he was alive, Edith rushed to him, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Saul!”
He wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her head. Carson barreled into him, and he grunted in pain. The Book might have stopped the bullets, but he’d still have a bruise on his chest the size of a silver dollar.
“Kids, don’t forget to read. It’ll do wonders for your life.” Saul smirked and looked at the door. It was closed, and he couldn’t hear any signs of life outside in the hallway. They’d left him for dead with two children in the room. “Are you guys okay?” he asked.
“Carson’s scared, but we’re all right. Where’s Mommy?” Edith asked.
“We’re going to find out.” Saul assessed the window and climbed up the cot, the weak springs depressing deeply from his weight. He stood on his toes, gazing through the glass.
<
br /> The battle had begun. Roger’s people were storming the area, and the sky was darker than ever. Lightning began to flash over the ocean, and for a moment, he worried the Objects were sending more reinforcements from orbit.
“With me, kids,” Saul ordered. They were skinny, in pajamas and bare feet, but it would have to do. Saul tested the handle and found it locked. There wasn’t time to mess around. He shooed the children away and kicked the knob. It flew off, and he pushed the center piece out, hearing it clang to the hardwood. It opened smoothly, and he stepped into the hall. He pulled his second gun, glad that freakishly strong woman hadn’t taken it.
She’d had inhuman strength, and that worried Saul, but he couldn’t dwell on what kind of power the alien-possessed humans would have. They just needed to prevent the invasion from growing widespread.
The kids’ feet slapped against the wood as they sped through the hallway, and Saul saw a woman. He shot her. The kids didn’t even cry at this as they jumped over her lifeless body, running down the steps. Two more Believers. He tapped the trigger, ending their existences.
He could deal with the aftermath later. Now he was in survival mode. He had the Book and Dirk’s grandchildren. It was almost a win.
People were rushing near the back patio, and he pressed against the wall, letting them pass.
“Where’s Mommy?” Carson asked desperately.
Saul glanced at the kids and into the forest to the west. “Dammit.” He shoved the Book into Edith’s hands. “Go. Run that way. Hide. If you find people with a patch on their breast”—he patted his chest—“you tell them you want to see Roger. Okay?”
Edith’s lips trembled. “I’m scared… come with us.”
“I need to find your mother,” Saul told them.
Carson took the lead. He grabbed his sister’s hand and they ran from the house, away from the Believers converging on the estate’s yard. It was chaos.
Saul had heard the stories of the alien robots, but seeing it in action wasn’t the same. The metal bot shot with impunity, holding the flock of militia soldiers at bay. Saul peered toward the ocean and squinted, trying to gain a better view.
It was Black on the stage, with the Zalt woman and… Beverly.
Most of these people would still assume he was on their side, so he played along. He jogged to the end of the stone patio and tapped another armed guard on the shoulder. “What’s happening?”
“Damned militia’s here. Black is trying to attune to the Unknown leader.” The man looked terrified and very young.
“Why’s that woman up there with him? Is she a threat?” Saul asked.
“That’s his sacrifice. He said something about her being strong… before the assault.”
Saul stuck his hand out. “Give me that gun.”
The guy blinked, his gaze unfocused, but he passed it to Saul. It was an M4, lightweight, and packed one hell of a punch. “Go into there.” He pointed at the house. “It’ll be over soon.”
The man licked his lips and looked from Saul to the robot, then to the house. He ran inside.
“Good boy,” Saul mumbled.
The gunfire had all but ceased, with only the odd unpredictable Freedom Earther still attempting to shoot their target. The Umir stood, guns rising and lowering while it guarded the Believers.
It was calm out; the air bore a certain electricity. Another lightning fork erupted in the sky, but instead of bright white, it was pink, mimicking diluted blood. Saul had never seen anything like it.
He strode across the grounds with purpose and circled around the kneeling cult members. His goal was Alan Black. His knife glinted with the light of the string LEDs.
Saul took aim while the chants reached a crescendo. His finger rested beside the trigger. He’d only get one shot at this.
____________
Dirk was Claude Giroux. A few hours passed, and more of the Zalt arrived. None of these people were human any longer, just Claude, but they treated him with a deference akin to royalty. The real Claude would have basked in it, thriving at the attention, but it made Dirk feel sick to his stomach.
He was really on Rimia, lying on the ground, but his entire mind was present in France.
“It’s time,” a man he knew as Plar said.
Dirk nodded Claude’s head and raised his arms. Seizing Claude’s mind meant he could pull information stored inside it. Dirk was aware of how to call the Zalt leader.
His body thrummed with anticipation. Dirk had to best the being, send him back to the Objects. Perhaps this would dissuade them or kill the leader. That might be enough to turn the tides.
The entire region was shrouded in thick red clouds. A storm raged outside the Versailles boundary, but in the courtyard, it was calm. The Zalt, all five thousand of them, knelt and chanted while he stood between them, hands pressed skyward. He said the phrases, beckoning the Zalt into him.
Dirk felt the change while a particularly intense burst of lightning careened from above. It hit his forehead, but there was no pain.
The alien had arrived.
____________
The Zalt surveyed the people, and chuckled with amusement. Humans. He’d never inhabited them, but they looked hardy enough. Of course, he’d lived inside countless beings over endless ages. They were mostly hairless, which made him assume they were used to creature comforts. It would be nice to enjoy the small things again, after such a long time in Exodus.
He spread his fingers wide, turning his hand around. His vessel felt strong. He’d bonded to this man earlier on. Visited him numerous times, and knew he’d chosen…
Something was wrong.
Another voice lingered within his vessel.
A stronger being.
A dangerous adversary.
The Zalt glanced at his people, all eager for instruction. He wanted to beg for their help as his opponent took hold, coming from the shadows of the vessel’s mind.
Get out.
He fought it, clinging to control.
Leave. Now!
The voice was stronger than he was. He instinctively knew this, but he refused to vacate the vessel he’d honed for years.
But the being wasn’t conceding.
You. Are. Banished.
The Zalt felt his grip loosening, but he hadn’t lived this long by being foolish. His essence fled from the vessel, and he searched for the next most powerful human. He’d visited this one too, more recently. He was always prepared for the unexpected.
The trek was far by human terms, but he was energy, easily transported across the clouds. The Zalt joined with the storms, casting himself beyond the perilous ocean, and discovered land on the other side. His vessel was here, awaiting him. He shot forth, merging from the lightning fork, onto the stage.
____________
Dirk opened his eyes, thrilled that he’d won. He’d banished the Zalt, and it had been far simpler than he’d ever anticipated. The storm raged overhead, and he found himself on his back.
He attempted to move but couldn’t. He glanced over and saw the bodies. The people were all dead, charred to a crisp. Dirk felt the body giving way, and he tried to twitch a finger. Nothing. Claude was dying.
Dirk recessed from the man’s mind, glad to evacuate. When he came to, it was hours later, and the sun had set over Rimia.
Opor was gone.
8
Our main objective was the Umir. If we could isolate it, or disarm the robot, we might stand a fighting chance.
Bev’s presence was a major distraction, but so far, she was still alive. Tripp was in the lead, rushing along the side of the yard. We were mainly concealed, but if anyone was looking, they’d be able to see our small team racing for the Umir.
It faced the Freedom Earthers’ position and had yet to move from the center of the space. The guns were raised, and once or twice a minute, a shot rang against its metal hull, clinking off.
Tripp had one of the Rodax weapons held to his chest, and he dashed from the trees, rolling, then pla
nting a knee as he fired at the Umir. Evan and I went behind the robot, while Veronica continued to circle the yard in search of the Freedom Earthers.
I risked a quick glance at the stage, and saw Bev up there. A man was visible at the right edge of the gathered crowd. Was that Saul?
“Down!” Evan shouted, and tackled me to the lawn. Bullets struck the space where I’d just been, and I smelled the freshly torn earth.
A roar erupted, and I saw the horde of Freedom Earthers stampeding into the grounds. They stayed apart, in segmented lines, knowing this improved their chances of being missed by the Umir’s sights. But it was focused on us, not on the incoming soldiers.
The Umir jumped, springing on thin legs. It landed five yards from me, its feet sinking into the grass. It struggled to climb out, and I fired, aiming directly for its head. One. Two. Three.
Evan did the same, but the Umir blasted a rushed shot at the special agent. Evan took the hit square in the chest, and flew upwards before landing awkwardly.
“Evan!” I kept firing, and Tripp arrived at the same time as the Freedom Earthers. Three soldiers shot at it, and I was nearly hit in the barrage. I lunged away and felt the wind of a bullet scrape beside my ear. The Umir spun, dislodging its leg. It was attempting to roll into its ball shape, but Tripp blew its left appendage clean off. The rest of the Freedom Earthers were there, aiming into its narrow torso, and it froze, smoke rising from its vents.
The red eyes dimmed, and its entire body slumped, crashing into the soil, pinning Tripp. I scrambled over, trying to heft the weight from Tripp, but couldn’t do it myself. I hardly budged the heavy robot’s shell.
Blood caked Tripp’s face, and I thought he might be dead. I peered at Evan, and he was still on the ground, unmoving.
Veronica arrived, her expression grim. She had another thirty soldiers primed for round two.
____________
Roger moved like the wind. For a big guy, he had grace Bill didn’t see in most people. The Believers’ scouts had been easily dispatched, making Bill trust they had a real shot at victory.
Lost Hope (The Bridge Sequence Book Three) Page 19
