Darkest Days Read online

  He stumbled when the Pegasus touched down, but managed to stay on his feet. The green haze seeping through the bulkheads vanished, and the view screen went blank, casting the bridge in inky darkness. The crew erupted into nervous chatter, warning of panic that would infect the entire ship if someone didn’t take charge. He guessed the young admiral had just wet himself.

  “Stay calm,” the general ordered. “We need to get out of here so we can assess the situation.”

  Athos kept his gun aimed ahead of him, though he expected it was useless. The green entity that had attacked the ship didn’t appear injured by a full discharge of the Pegasus’ armament, so he was certain his pistol would do him little good—if it even worked anymore. He held onto it out of habit. Realizing his armor had lost power as well, he felt his way up the staircase. He could hear the sailors from the bridge moving to the exit behind him.

  His armor felt clunky, and the planet’s gravity made him weak. Huffing after climbing only a handful of steps, he peeled off his breastplate and kicked free from the dead armor on his legs. Unlocking the hatch, he pushed it open and shielded his eyes against the sunlight.

  The emergency hatch exited out of the base of the council building. Soldiers, sailors, and citizens rushed in every direction across the intersection between the council building and the coliseum. Most of his soldiers had shed their armor, and he guessed the power failure was universal.

  “Status?” he demanded of the first officer he encountered.

  “The ship has lost all power, and the outer hull and shields are inoperable,” the lieutenant replied, coming to attention when he recognized the general. “The slave soldiers are not obeying orders, and some are becoming riotous.”

  Athos glanced up and could see the outer hull of the Pegasus, which was created by an energy field, had been deactivated. His view of Earth’s blue sky was stunning, but if the outer hull was down, nothing stood between the ship and the humans.

  “Repel boarders. Seal all access to the city,” Athos ordered. “Have our soldiers take up stations around the perimeter to prevent humans from getting to this level. Pass my orders to everyone.”

  “Yes, sir.” The soldier saluted him and ran off to carry out his instructions.

  Athos made his way across the city, repeating his orders to every officer he encountered. Like an infectious wave, his command brought order to the chaos. By the time he made it to the edge of the city, only nonmilitary citizens still rushed about without purpose.

  He stepped close to the wall at the edge of Pegasus’ city, and his soldiers took positions on either side of him. Humans spilled from the dark holds and berthing on the lower levels, scattering around the base of the ship in a disorganized fashion. They didn’t appear to have malicious intentions, and he hoped the secondary integration conditioning would allow him to maintain control of some of them. Even without the slave gene, these humans had been told from the moment they boarded the ship that the Anunnaki were here to help. With any luck, most of them still believed that and would do what they were told.

  Humans climbed the staircase that led from the bottom level to the ship’s city. Athos could see their confusion had made them angry, and he knew he couldn’t let them into the city.

  “Manually roll the steps on all sides,” he shouted.

  Sailors rushed to the releases on either side of the steps and pumped the handles. His words echoed across the city, repeated by his soldiers. The steps that led up the four faces of the pyramid-shaped vessel released and rolled downward, turning the staircases into slippery ramps. Those on the steps fell and slid into a pile at the bottom. Some of them had likely been crushed and killed.

  Kids near the steps shouted and pointed up at the ship’s city. Athos hadn’t made friends of them by dumping them off the steps, but he didn’t have a choice. He had to make sure his people were safe.

  “General Athos,” a voice shouted from behind him. “Your presence is requested in the council building.”

  “Of course it is,” he said in annoyance.

  The royals wanted to know what was going on, and he couldn’t ignore them for long. He needed to get everyone on the ship on the same page. The power failure and forced landing was just the beginning. He expected this green entity might make the humans attack the Pegasus soon, and he needed her passengers to be ready for the fight.

  “I want you to secure this ship, level by level,” Athos said to a commander standing nearby. “Do not assume all the slaves have turned against us. Organize those who will follow orders into squads and have them guard the lower levels. But trust none of them. We know how dangerous they can be.”

  “Yes, sir,” the commander replied and gave a salute.

  Athos turned and followed the sailor toward the council building, planning what he’d say to the royals as he walked.

  Chapter Three

  Shane stood by the door to the barracks and looked out across the tarmac, the last sunlight fading. A long row of campfires illuminated the dirty faces of hungry kids leaning over their bowls. He’d helped Steve and his friends bring out large pots and stage them over the fires, and they had thrown just about everything in the fridges and freezers into the pots, making a hodgepodge of different stews. The batch he’d eaten tasted bland, but the starving kids crowded on the tarmac devoured it like manna from heaven.

  He heard the door open behind him, and Tracy stepped out. She’d slipped away with Jules an hour ago. It was clear she’d showered. She wore clean black sweats, those issued to them during their training.

  “I got this,” she whispered. “Go to her.”

  “We’ve started a few more fires to keep them warm,” Shane reported.

  “Buildings full?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Blankets are gone too,” he replied. “Must be a thousand of them.”

  Those who’d finished eating passed off their bowls and huddled around smaller campfires. Many of the kids were already asleep.

  “At least they seem to be behaving,” Tracy observed.

  “They’ve been as docile as sheep so far, but I reckon their real personalities will show once they’re rested. I expect a very busy day tomorrow.”

  Glancing over at the Anunnaki transport, she said, “Looks like they’re still working on it.”

  Aside from one who still wore his breastplate, the aliens had shed their red armor. It was more of a burden without power. He knew they were probably even weaker than Jones, Lily, and their clones because they hadn’t endured a lifetime of Earth’s gravity.

  “They won’t get it started again,” he said, stifling a yawn. “It seems everything that needs any sort of electricity to operate is useless. I think Greenie has shut it all down.”

  “We’re calling it Greenie now?” She chuckled.

  “For lack of a better name.” He grinned at her.

  They were casual about the new threat—a demeanor earned in battle.

  “What are we gonna do with them?” She looked back at the cockpit of the transport.

  “Don’t know,” he replied. “But we can’t just off them like Jones did the one in Cairo. That was wrong.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Tracy sounded disappointed.

  “How’s Jules?” Shane turned his attention to the barracks.

  “She’s asleep,” Tracy replied. “As you should be, so get in there.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll wake Steve in a couple of hours, then I’ll get some more rest.” The tough girl’s tone demanded he let her relieve him. “You’re the only one who hasn’t even had a shower.”

  Shane’s eyelids drooped. He might fall asleep on his feet if he didn’t lie down soon. Taking a last glance at the tarmac, he welcomed the thought of a few hours of peace. He put a hand on Tracy’s shoulder and squeezed before entering the building. His sneakers squeaked on the polished concrete floor and he stopped, not wanting to disturb the blissful quiet of the familiar room.

  He remembered having concerns whe
n Jones originally assigned them to these barracks, especially with the past conflicts between his team and the others. However, after a few weeks of training, the large, open room had become home sweet home. He’d passed out hard in here quite a few times after an intense day of training, and now the peaceful sounds of the teenagers from his team and the Russians sleeping lulled him toward the rack.

  Taking off his shoes, he walked silently towards Kelly’s bunk. Laura sat in a chair next to her. She’d found a glow stick leftover from when they’d done their night training, and it provided just enough light to see by. She looked up and gave him a weary smile.

  “Has she stirred?” he asked hopefully.

  “No,” Laura replied. “But I think she’ll be alright.”

  “You can get some rest now,” he said, sitting on the edge of Kelly’s mattress.

  Laura surveyed him for a long moment, appearing to assess him with her nurturing gaze. The rolled-up sleeve of her black sweatshirt exposed the stub of her right arm. Seeming satisfied he was doing as well as could be expected, she stood with a low groan. She scratched the bandage around her arm. The device Dr. Blain gave her to regrow it must’ve stopped working when the power went out.

  “Sorry about your arm,” Shane said.

  “Whatever,” she said, though her manner let on that it bothered her a great deal. “Least I still have one.”

  “I’m sure we’ll figure out how to get the power back, then Dr. Blain will finish healing you.”

  “If she’s even alive,” Laura replied. She sat on the lower bunk on the opposite side of the quad. “If they were on that sub and their power went out, wouldn’t they have sunk?”

  “Don’t know,” Shane replied distantly.

  He hadn’t given much thought to Lily and Dr. Blain, who’d stayed with the sub that had dropped the Americans, the Russians, and Jones off in Charleston. Laura pressed her lips together, concern clear on her face. She seemed to find strength in worrying about everyone else, like it was what kept her going.

  “Hopefully, there’ll still be hot water left in the pipes,” she said, pointing toward the bathroom.

  Shane nodded. He was so tired he didn’t care about cleaning up. But, with Tracy’s earlier hint and now this, he figured he must look and smell bad.

  The hot water was gone, though he was almost too numb with exhaustion to notice. After showering, he found his old toothbrush and brushed his teeth.

  Back in his quad, he found clean clothes in his locker. Steve snored loudly in his bunk. Shane didn’t care for once because he knew even that noise couldn’t keep him awake.

  Crossing the aisle, he lay down on the edge of the rack next to Kelly. The glow stick’s fading green light made him think of the thing that had shut off the power. Was Greenie watching them now, deciding what to do with them?

  Kelly’s face was relaxed, and she appeared to be sleeping peacefully. He took her hand in his and brushed the hair away from her cheek. He’d been so afraid he’d never see her again.

  “You get rested,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “You get rested, and then you wake up.” His eyes blurred, and he bit his lip to keep the tears back. “I need you, Kelly. Can’t keep it going without you.”

  Shane put his arm over her. His face an inch from hers, he listened to her breathing. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Laura was asleep, embarrassed by his upwelling of emotion.

  “Nat’s okay. Everyone’s okay, and the Anunnaki seem to have been beaten,” he said in a soft murmur, resting his head against Kelly’s pillow. “When you wake up, we can start rebuilding.”

  He watched her eyelids, hoping for some movement that might indicate she was listening.

  “I’ll never be separated from you again, that I promise,” he whispered.

  His eyes grew heavier. At first, he fought to keep them open, afraid he’d fall asleep and wake up to find her gone, still on the Anunnaki ship so far away from him.

  Exhaustion won out, and he sank into a deep, dreamless slumber.

  Shane woke with a start, falling off the bunk onto the floor. He grunted and opened his eyes. Kelly sat and turned, putting her feet on the floor between him and the rack. She looked toward him, but her face was expressionless and her eyes unfocused. Her distant gaze made her seem possessed, like her soul was gone and her empty body was being controlled remotely. Her hand snatched his wrist in a lightning-fast motion, and she held on with an iron grip. Startled, he started to jerk away, but then her eyes locked onto his. He froze, his blood turning to ice. It wasn’t her looking at him—something else was inside Kelly.

  “We’ve chosen you to decide everyone’s fate, Shane,” she said, her voice monotone.

  “What?” He blinked. “Kelly?”

  She didn’t respond. Instead, she released him, her eyes closed, and she slumped back onto the bed.

  Chapter Four

  A loud explosion came from the tarmac. Shane jumped to his feet and flung himself across Kelly, expecting the ceiling to cave in.

  “What the hell was that?” Steve said.

  “The antiaircraft gun,” Tracy abruptly answered, rolling out of her rack.

  Everyone from his team ran outside, followed by the Russians. Shane hesitated, looking down at Kelly. She lay unconscious, her comatose condition returned. He’d gotten her back, but it was only her empty body, and he feared the Kelly he loved was lost forever.

  “Damn it,” he cursed.

  Spinning away, he ran after Petrov toward the door.

  Outside, smoke and fire billowed from the transport, outshining the light of early dawn. Jones and three of his clones pulled Jules out of the seat of the big gun. Having all but destroyed the front of the transport, she appeared satisfied and didn’t resist. The fire retreated like it couldn’t get a hold on the material the spaceship was made of.

  “One is still alive,” Tracy shouted.

  “Get him out,” Shane said, charging toward the craft.

  He latched onto the Shock Troop soldier’s arm. Next to him in a flash, Steve grabbed the soldier’s other arm. They tugged the alien, the only one who’d still been wearing his armor, out of the craft and laid him on the ground. He shrieked in pain, twisting and writhing on the asphalt as he clawed at his side.

  “He looks like one of Jones’ clones,” Steve said.

  “And he’s got a hot shard in his side. It’s stuck in his armor,” Laura observed. “Give me your shirt.”

  Steve peeled off his black T-shirt and handed it to her.

  “I’ll remove his breastplate,” Tracy said, clearly understanding Laura’s plan. “The shard will come with it.”

  Not hesitating when the soldier screamed, Tracy plucked his armor off. A river of blood sprang from the four-inch gash in his side. Laura pressed Steve’s shirt onto the wound.

  “He’s gonna need stitches,” Tracy said, looking at Shane. “And something for the pain unless you guys can hold him still.”

  “There will be a first aid kit in the clinic,” Jones said from behind them. “I’ll grab it.”

  Surprised by the captain’s willingness to help, Shane watched him run toward the building with the red cross painted on the door before he looked back at the soldier. Having the metal removed from his side must’ve given him relief, because he’d stopped screaming. He was lying still and huffing to catch his breath.

  “We are here to help you,” the alien groaned, looking up at Laura, Tracy, and then Shane with sincerity in his eyes. “A powerful enemy has come to annihilate you, and we are here to help you stop them.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Tracy replied. “We know you’re full of shit, so drop the act and keep your mouth shut or we’ll let you bleed to death.”

  Jones returned and sat a plastic toolbox with the words Wound Care labeled on it next to Tracy. Dr. Blain had always been the organized type.

  “Maybe we should just let him die,” Tracy said with sarcasm, flipping open the toolbox.

  Shane glanced up at Jones to see if he a
greed. The captain didn’t return his gaze. He stood near the soldier’s feet, his eyes fixed on the only surviving prisoner. Though so subtle Shane doubted anyone else would notice, a range of emotion crossed his expression—shock, confusion, and then disbelief. The prisoner’s face reflected Jones’.

  “What is it, Captain?” Shane demanded.

  “It can’t be,” the prisoner groaned. “Father?”

  “Pelros?” Jones’ face grew pale.

  “What?” Steve said.

  “How can you guys even tell?” Tracy asked in a dismissive way. “He looks less like you than all these clones you have running about.”

  “The clones here look like me because we didn’t have the gene library to create different ones. Children on Anu are designed by their parents,” Jones answered distantly.

  “And my uncle gave you that scar,” Pelros added, panting. “How could you turn against your own people? How could you slaughter so many?”

  “The Anunnaki are no longer my people,” Jones replied, his voice growing firm. “I cannot be part of a society with so little respect for other species. Pelros, can you not see how wrong the behavior of the Anunnaki has been? Can’t you see it has to stop?”

  “All I see is a traitor,” Pelros replied, glaring at Jones.

  “You won’t be seeing much of anything if you don’t calm down,” Laura advised.

  The blood flowed from his wound, his increasing blood pressure likely making it harder for it to clot.

  “You need to step away for a bit,” Shane said, taking Jones’ arm.

  After another sad glance at the prisoner, the captain didn’t resist, turning and walking with Shane.

  “You okay?” Shane asked once they were out of earshot.

  “I don’t know,” Jones replied, looking down. “What are the chances? Out of a hundred billion Anunnaki, the one to land here and become our prisoner is my son?”