A Clash of Aliens (The Human Chronicles Book 13) (23 page)

Chapter
22

Riyad and Sherri stood outside the
Najmah Fayd
, in the brisk air of J’nae, scanning the rising rows of seats for any sign of movement. So far, nothing.

“We should follow the same steps Adam and I took,” Riyad said.

“From what you told me, the natives got the jump on you and gave you a concussion.”

“We’ll know what to look out for this time.”

“Do we leave the rest of them here, or do we all go?”

Riyad pursed his lips. “Let’s see…I don’t trust Benefis as far as I could throw him; Panur and Lila can do pretty much anything they want and we can’t stop them; and Arieel isn’t going anywhere Lila isn’t.”

“I don’t think that helped much.”

“I think it means it’s not up to us. Let’s go take a vote.”

********

Thirty minutes later, all six of the passengers and crew of the
Najmah Fayd
were standing on the scraggly green grass of the ancient sports arena, preparing to trek off into the bowels of the huge complex. Benefis had clamored for a weapon, saying he could be trusted, since he had nowhere else to go. Riyad relented, but not before telling everyone that the Hal’ic were not their enemy, no matter what transpired. These were primitive creatures who would see any intrusion—especially from space—as a threat. And it was highly unlikely that they would run into the same tribe—if that was the right word—that Adam and he had met before. Anyone they encountered could be completely oblivious as to who they were.

They moved out, Riyad in the lead and Sherri bringing up the rear. Riyad led them to the top row of seating and then moved inside what remained of the once impressive arena. He scanned the ceiling, looking for any netting placed there, like that which had entrapped him and Adam. Not surprisingly, he saw three such traps along the way and avoided them, looking into the shadows for the eyes he knew were watching them.

Sherri moved up next to Riyad, her forehead furrowed. “I’m getting some strange readings from my ATD.”

“What kind of readings?”

“That’s the problem, I’m not getting any.”

“That’s what you’d expect from a bunch of Neanderthals.”

“This is something different. It’s like a void area, directly below us.”

“So you’re concerned because you’re
not
picking up any electrical signals, when none should exist?”

“You missing my point.”

“What is the problem?” Panur said when the forward movement of the entourage stopped.

“Sherri’s concerned because she’s not picking up any electrical signals through her ATD—her interface device.”

Panur looked at Sherri. “Obviously this has you concerned. Why?”

“Normally I can probe about, even when I don’t find anything. There’s always enough static electricity in the air to allow me do to this. I simply ride the ambient electrical charge out to the range limit of the device and look around.”

“But something here is different?”

“Yes, it’s as if even static electricity ends about five hundred feet below us.”

“Isn’t that ground level?” Riyad asked, still not buying into Sherri’s concern.

“Not necessarily. There’s a maze of subways and other underground facilities, including old parking garages extending far below the surface. Yet, as I said, I reach a certain point and then there’s nothing, even if I’m probing within an elevator shaft, for instance.”

“You are suggesting a deliberate shielding of some kind,” Lila said, having been listening in on the conversation. “That would involve a level of technology that does not exist on this planet.”

“Could the Sol-Kor have a base here?” Benefis asked.

“Such a dampening effect as Sherri is describing is beyond the Sol-Kor,” Panur answered.

“So this is something new,” Riyad summarized. “Just more reason to be cautious.”

“I believe the time for caution has passed…” Benefis said, his voice trailing off.

They followed his steady gaze off to the left, to where what looked to be a dozen or more of the caveman-like natives were watching them from within the concrete concourse. They had appeared without a sound, holding thick wooden clubs in all their hands.

Benefis drew his weapon. Sherri stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, giving the Juirean his first experience of the natural strength of a Human, even a Human female.

“Don’t. Let’s not provoke them. Let’s see what they do first.”

Then the team noticed a second group had appeared behind them.

Both parties now stood still and silent, waiting for the other to react.

A movement came from in back in the first group of natives. Bodies stepped aside and a barrel-chested Hal’ic with a greasy, scraggly beard and an animal hide wrapped around his waist came forward.

Riyad squinted at the alien. He looked somewhat familiar, but then most of the natives had the same general appearance. Was this the leader he had met before? He couldn’t tell for sure.

“Sil-ka!” the creature spoke.

Riyad had been through this before. “No Sil-Ka,” he said, shaking his head. “Humans.”

The native leader pointed at Benefis, and then at Panur. “Sil-ka!”

Riyad shook his head. “No Sil-ka. Friends.”

The older native grunted, and then stepped in closer to Riyad. He studied him closely from head to toe, before turning back to those behind him. He barked something in their native language. Both sets of Hal’ic rushed forward.

“Don’t shoot!” Riyad said to Benefis. And the rest of you, just go along. It’s better than being clubbed into submission. Besides, I think I know this guy.”

********

To his credit—and Lila’s too—Panur allowed himself to be herded along, back down the steps, out of the arena and across a wide, cracked thoroughfare that hadn’t seen any wheeled traffic in five millennia. They descended into a musty subway station, lit only by long shafts of light penetrating through holes in a perforated ceiling. At the far end of an ancient boarding platform, the silent natives guided the team along the abandoned train tracks before reaching another set of steps leading even further below.

Riyad kept looking at Sherri, who would return his looks with curt nods. Her ATD was still experiencing some kind of interference.

Then one of their native escorts stopped at a side door in the tunnel and opened it. It was dark inside, lit only from the light steaming through the open door. Even still, Riyad could barely see ten feet into the room.

The barrel-chested native leader stepped into the room and then turned, motioning with his hands for the rest of them to follow.

Seeing that the native had entered first, Riyad followed him in.

A few second later, with all the creatures from the
Najmah Fayd
inside, the outer door was shut. Complete darkness filled the room.

Yet before any of them could pull out electronic lights from their utility belts, brilliant lights flashed on.

The light was painful, and Riyad had to cover his eyes with his hands momentarily to ward off the assault. But even before he could see again he realized these were electric lights shining on them, something these primitive creatures should know nothing about. Had he led them all into a Sol-Kor trap?

When his eyes did adjust, he squinted through the glare and saw that they were in a room within a room, inside glass walls and a solid ceiling. Outside he saw that the glass enclosure sat within a huge cavern and was surrounded by what could have been over a hundred heavily armed creatures—all carrying the same physical features as the primitive Hal’ic—yet they were wearing uniforms rather than animal skins.

Riyad didn’t pull his weapon. Neither did Sherri or Benefis.

Riyad caught Panur’s eye. He was grinning, with a mischievous look in his dark eyes. He seemed to be enjoying the moment.

The bare-chested native leader, who was also in the glass room, stepped up to Riyad. “Greetings once again,” he said, the English words seeming to emanate from  the lips of the Hal’ic. “I did not properly introduce myself the last time you were here. I am Lun Szy.”

Riyad looked around the room before returning his attention to the native leader. “I suppose you have some explaining to do.”

The Hal’ic in turn took in each of the members of Riyad’s group. “As do you…my friend.”

His eyes now settled on Panur. “Our infamous son returns. You should know that this room can be flooded with liquid nitrogen at a moment’s notice, instantly freezing your body. I will die as a result, yet you will be incapacitated and better able to be…managed…would be a good word. Having said that, I hope you have come as a friend and not as an enemy.”

“You know who I am,” Panur stated—not asked—the thin grin still on his face.

“The face of Panur is well known to us, as is your history as it relates to my planet. I must say, I never believed I—or any Hal’ic—would ever meet you in person. None of us have wanted to, since that event would more than likely precipitate our deaths. I am hoping that since you are in the company of this Human, your status has changed from being the most notorious creature who has ever lived…to one of trusted ally. If that is the case, then something truly miraculous has happened during your association with the Humans.”

“I come in peace,” Panur said.

Sherri and Riyad exchanged quick looks, each conveying the same thought:
I can’t believe he just said that.

“That is good to know, although it will be through your actions, not your words, where the truth will be revealed.”

“Of course.”

“You appear to be amused by this event. Had you prior knowledge?”

“I had my suspicions. It would only make sense that the ancestors of my genetic father would have recovered from the Sol-Kor attack well within the timeframe allotted. For you not to have done so would be the exception rather than the rule.”

“So…why are you here, Panur…along with your assorted companions?”

“My companions are on a rescue mission, while I am here on a mission of prevention.”

“I do not understand.”

“I wish to prevent my creation, the new Queen of the Sol-Kor, from continuing with her reign. She is far too dangerous to be allowed rule over the Colony, and only I can stop her.”