I gulped, sweat beading on my brow as my stomach churned. “I just need a minute.”
Navan stepped up to me, holding my face in his hands. “You can do this, Riley. Just stick to the script, and this will all be over before you know it. Make them understand—make them believe in you, the way the rest of us do.” He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips, reigniting my courage. I mean, what was reading a script compared to holding up a global shield? I could do this. I had to do this, for everyone who was about to risk their lives for the human race.
“I’m ready,” I said, and Navan moved away, taking up a position beside Commander Mahlo. I could see his eyes flicking toward a monitor, but I tried to ignore it, focusing on the lens of the camera instead.
Raising her comm device to her lips, Commander Mahlo instructed her communications officers to start the live broadcast. Without a word, she lifted five fingers, her mouth counting down the seconds in silence. Five, four, three, two, one.
I was live.
“My name is Riley Ingram, daughter to Roger and Jean Ingram of Brooklyn, New York City. I was kidnapped in Texas many months ago by a group of alien rebels,” I began, my heart still pounding. “Roger, Jean, I love you more than words can say. I’m sorry for scaring you, but I want you to know that I’m safe… for now.
“That is part of the reason I’m speaking to you like this, hijacking the airwaves. The truth is, there is a threat approaching—an alien threat, more powerful than you can imagine. I know you’re all going to think I’m a crackpot who’s seen one too many episodes of The X-Files, but you’d be wrong. We aren’t alone in this universe, and there is an enemy on its way. Even so, I need you all to stay calm. There is no need to be alarmed. All I ask is that you stay hidden in your homes for the next seven days, possibly more, until another announcement comes to signal the all clear. There are good alien forces at work here, too, who want to help the human race survive. They are called the Universal Alliance, and we are part of that alliance. They are going to create a shield to protect everyone. As soon as you see a blue light in the sky, do not feel alarmed, just stay in your homes. It is the Universal Alliance seeking to keep you all safe.”
I reached out and grasped Navan’s arm, bringing him into the frame in all his alien glory. I knew the humans would never believe me unless they could see an alien with their own eyes. Hopefully, he would be enough to convince them, though I realized that someone like Commander Mahlo, Agent Phocida, Alfa, or Xiphio might have been more convincing.
“I speak to you now, as an alien ally, to tell you that there is good in the universe,” Navan said. “Humanity has to trust in its allies if you are to survive. We will do all we can to save your planet. In return, we ask that you do not panic or cause chaos. Make our job easier—keep yourselves hidden—and we hope that this will all be over soon enough, with as little disruption to your lives as possible.”
“Stay safe. Stay indoors,” I added, sounding like a commercial. “Humanity must survive.”
A moment later, Commander Mahlo nodded to us, her officers cutting the transmission. As soon as it had ended, I took a deep breath, praying our message didn’t end up causing more panic than intended. I knew how humans could be, looting and stockpiling, and trampling the weak to get their hands on what they wanted. There was nothing like the end of the world to show humanity’s true colors.
Then again, I also knew that most people would just assume it was a hoax, ignoring me entirely… until they saw the shield, that is. I had a feeling that would be the gamechanger, the moment they realized I hadn’t been talking a load of garbage or simply hijacking the airwaves for my own amusement. As soon as that barrier went up, there would be no feasible way of explaining its appearance. Soon enough, they would all have to start believing in aliens.
“Good job,” Commander Mahlo commended me, coming over to shake my hand. “Let’s hope the message gets through to them.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I muttered, looking to Navan for comfort.
He smiled, slipping his hands around my waist and gazing down into my eyes. “Technically, your last name is Idrax now. I mean, if you don’t mind the baggage that comes with that name. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
Seeing his shy expression, I couldn’t help mustering a grin. “I love anything that belongs to you,” I whispered, leaning up to kiss him tenderly. “I’m happy to be an Idrax.”
As I melted into his kiss, his lips moving slowly against mine, kissing away the nerves of the broadcast, I couldn’t help wishing that Jean and Roger were here. I wanted to tell them, face-to-face, that I’d been lucky enough to marry the love of my life. Hell, I even wanted to tell Sasha and George—my birthparents—that I wasn’t a Fenton or an Ingram anymore. I was an Idrax now, and I wanted, more than anything, for them to share in my happiness. Finally, I had a name that nobody could take away from me or fight over. Riley Idrax was going nowhere.
Now that the message was out, we were free to start on the final leg of our journey. With Navan and Bashrik at my side, and Commander Mahlo following us back out into the lunar landscape, we made our way toward the ship that Stone was hanging off, his hands fiddling with something inside a control panel. Undoubtedly, he wasn’t used to having a ship that actually worked the way it was supposed to, prompting him to run a full check on the diagnostics.
“We headin’ out, are we?” he called as we approached, dropping down into the thick layer of dust.
“Can’t put it off forever,” Bashrik murmured, his voice distant. I hadn’t watched much of his farewell with Angie, wanting to give them a private moment, but I could see he was cut up about it. Truthfully, I felt bad about it. I mean, I got to undertake this part of the mission with Navan by my side, but he would have to listen to what was happening with the shield-bearers from afar.
“Ally-up, lads!” Stone whooped, dusting off his pants and striding up the gangway into the waiting Fed ship. Bashrik followed shortly afterward, with Navan pausing at the foot of the gangway, giving me a moment alone with Commander Mahlo. A small cluster of Fed soldiers were moving toward us, coming out of the Lunar HQ entrance. There were four merevins and four lycans, but no promised Rexombra. I looked around, wondering if the sleek assassin was prowling around the ship, but it looked like we weren’t getting one after all.
“Commander Mahlo, I thought we were supposed to have a Rexombra on the ship with us.”
She nodded. “There was some confusion in the planning stages. It was the merevins’ job to inform your friend, Alfa, that he was to join you, but they apparently thought we were telling him. As such, you have no Rexombra on your team, per se. However, he has joined the rest of the Rexombran faction, who have already set off to take up their positions. They will assist in the airstrike, once you have entered the rebel base.”
“And your teams and the merevin squadrons?”
“They will assist on your instruction; we have our comms linked to yours. As soon as you’re ready and have scoped out the clearest targets, we will fire down on the rebel base and take out anyone who tries to run,” Commander Mahlo replied, her words comforting me. I would’ve preferred to have a Rexombra on the ground with us, to sneak up on guards and get us in, but we’d have to make do with what we had.
“I’ll try to share as much information with you as possible as soon as I can,” I said.
“Please, do ensure that the ship remains in stealth mode on your arrival outside the rebel base. This ship has been fitted with newly devised technology that will render you invisible to any sensors the rebels might possess,” she explained. “They don’t seem to have much in the way of detection, aside from the barrier, but the fact that they are stockpiling resources would suggest they’re becoming antsy about their future security.”
“With Bashrik at the helm, we’re in the safest hands possible.”
“Very well, then I can detain you no longer,” she said, with a reluctant sigh. “The truth is, everyone will be looking to you. It i
s not an easy thing, to bear that kind of responsibility on such young shoulders. However, I know you’re capable of enduring its weight.”
“I’m nothing but a mouthpiece, Commander Mahlo. This is all of us, not just me, and I’ve got the best team anyone could wish for.”
She smiled, looking shy for a moment. “I would not normally say this, but… may the Wolf Mother, in all her glory, go with you.”
“Thank you. I hope I see you on the other side of all this.”
She offered out her hand, and the two of us shook on it like old acquaintances. “You too, Miss Ingram.”
I smiled. “Actually, it’s Idrax now. Riley Idrax.”
“My mistake, Mrs. Idrax.”
Chapter Forty-Two
With Bashrik in the pilot’s seat, despite the protestations of the eight Feds who’d come aboard with us, we set off for Siberia. On the navigation monitor, I could see the red dots that signaled the rest of the Fed fleet—all those who hadn’t gone to lie in wait for the queens’ approaching vessels. Another series of flashing lights had joined them.
“Who are the blue lights?” I asked Bashrik.
“The Rexombran fleet,” he said brusquely.
“At least we’re not alone, eh?” I said brightly, trying to lighten the mood, but only Stone offered a smile. “Can you patch us in to the Earth news networks? New York City, if possible?” I pointed the position out on the map. Bashrik’s hands danced across the controls, bringing up a series of news broadcasts on the screens that surrounded the cockpit walls.
The news anchors looked perplexed, banners running across the bottom of each screen, hailing an alien invasion. Some of the news stories were asking if it was an elaborate hoax, while others were wondering if this was some sort of unsanctioned government action—a made-up event so the governments could implement martial law, perhaps, or a weapons test gone wrong, resulting in an unbelievable cover-up. In the streets, people were running, the cameras showing scenes of smashed up windowfronts and empty shelves in the grocery stores. Meanwhile, looters wearing scarves around their faces and baseball caps pulled low were charging into buildings, stealing whatever they could get their hands on, not caring that the cameras were rolling.
Still, most of the roads and streets looked empty, aside from the looters, giving me some hope that my words had been taken to heart. The majority of people looked like they were staying inside, the way I’d told them to. I really hoped they stayed there until all of this was over.
“Maybe we should turn that off,” Navan suggested gently, putting his arm around me.
“In a minute. I want to see what’s going on,” I protested, holding his hand and gazing down at his ring—the one that matched my wedding band. “Promise me, no matter what happens, that you’ll keep yourself safe. I don’t want you doing something stupid, getting yourself killed in the process.”
He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “There’s nothing to worry about. We have a secret weapon, more powerful than anything the rebels could prepare for. It’s going to be okay, I promise.”
I gazed up into his eyes, saying nothing. I knew he was trying to put me at ease, but it was too late for that. Every cell in my body felt uneasy about the battle we were heading into. A lot was resting on Stone’s shoulders. I’d seen what he could do with a small swarm of pirates, but even he didn’t know how far his powers would be able to stretch—it wasn’t as though he’d held off an entire army before. We were heading into war with a weapon we hadn’t tested… That never ended well.
Have faith in him. If the coldbloods feared the ambaka, then Navan’s right—we have a force Orion and Ezra won’t be expecting, I told myself, determined to stay positive.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived in an eerily familiar spot. It looked like a forest clearing in the Siberian woodland, but I knew there were secrets lurking beneath the otherwise ordinary exterior. This was the spot Mort had brought us to before, when we’d first entered the rebel base what seemed like forever ago.
The invisibility shield lay just ahead of us; I couldn’t see it, but I could sense the shimmer of it. Trying to create a picture of the camp in my head, I remembered the alchemy lab, with its chimneys belching that awful, rust-red smoke, tucked away near the back of the base. If we were going to strike the camp, we needed to get Orion out into the open air. If he hid away in his bunker, alongside Ezra and the rest of his henchmen, it could end up being more of a siege than a battle—we’d never get them out of there.
“Call everyone into the cockpit,” I commanded Bashrik, who urged the others to gather. As soon as they were all in the room, I opened the comms channel to the rest of the Fed. “What’s your status?”
The transmission crackled. “The shield-bearers are set to raise the barrier in thirty minutes,” Agent Phocida replied.
“Yep, thirty minutes,” Lauren’s voice agreed, followed by those of Angie, Ronad, and Xiphio.
“Cuttin’ it fine, ain’t ye?” Stone interjected, his brow furrowed.
I turned to him, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Well, if I’m gonna put up my part o’ the shield here, ye realize it’s gonna sap me of me prime juice. I’m tough as old nuts, me, but when my bit o’ the barrier goes up, I should warn ye—I might lose a bit o’ the power in me ambaka eye. Ye might not have long to take out all the rebels ye can, though I’ll do me best.”
I nodded, realizing he was right. Yes, we had his freezing powers, but we also needed him to be the last piece in the barrier puzzle. He had assured us that this quantity of nudus, spread across the five pure-hearted bearers, would work to build a viable shield, but I just wished one of us could take his place and relieve him of some of the strain. I could only imagine what juggling both must take out of a person; I just hoped Stone could do it for long enough that we could take out Orion and his henchmen, at the very least.
“In that case, we need to really pinpoint our strike,” I said. “We should focus on Orion and Ezra. If we can get rid of the ringleaders, the rest might crumble.”
“Yeah, we should try and draw Orion to the edge of the rebel base,” Navan agreed, turning to his brother. “What weapons do we have on the ship?”
“We’ve got a few crates of explosives, and we can always call in the lycans, merevins, and Rexombra to strike wherever we want them to strike,” he replied. “I say we hit the alchemy lab, which should send a bunch of rebels running outside the invisibility dome.”
I nodded. “It should draw Orion out, too. If he thinks the elixir is being compromised, he’ll run to defend that first.”
Stone wandered over to the window and pressed his forehead to the glass. We were still in stealth mode, our ship invisible to the rebel sensors, but we could see out. “Plant a load o’ bombs near this lab ye speak of. That’ll send ‘em into a right panic. Orion’ll be jumpin’ all over himself to save his precious samples. If that nifty little book is in there, he’ll jump to save it, too.”
I spoke into my comm device, which linked up to everyone else. “Did you hear that? We’re going to set bombs outside the alchemy lab to draw as many rebels out into the open as possible. Fire on those who escape. We’ll give further instruction as it comes to us. Copy?”
“Copy that, Captain Idrax,” Agent Phocida responded. “Merevins standing by.”
“Copy that,” Commander Mahlo repeated. “Lycan fleet standing by.”
“Copy that, Warrior Idrax,” Anai chimed in. “Rexombran squadron standing by, ready to fire.”
I turned to the rest of my somewhat meager-looking team. There were only twelve of us, but I knew our small number could work to our advantage. After all, the sensors might pick up a large swarm of people approaching the dome. With a smaller squad, we could make our way around the dome undetected, slipping under the shield without causing any disturbance. Now, all we had to do was get into the best position.
I went around the room, quickly instructing the lycans and the merevins to form a perimeter, marking out
the general points of entry. They would act as beacons to the descending fleets, where the soldiers could be dropped off when I called for them. Once they had their orders, they left the ship, hurrying across the forest clearing until they reached the shimmering exterior of the invisibility dome.
I turned to the others. “I want everyone to take a few bombs each and plant them around the outside of the alchemy lab. Plant several outside the main bunker, too, if you can reach it without being detected,” I said, flashing Navan a knowing look. I didn’t want him taking any unnecessary risks. “It might be a good idea to hit the towers that are keeping up the invisibility dome, but they might be too deep into the center of the base.”
“Remind me why we ain’t usin’ those invisibility suits again?” Stone mused.
“Commander Mahlo informed me that changes have been made to the barrier since the last time I was here. Back then, we could’ve snuck in with suits on, but now it carries an electromagnetic pulse that makes them useless. Believe me, I wish we could use them,” I replied hurriedly.
“Won’t they see us coming?” one of the merevin agents asked anxiously.
I sighed, wanting to get on with the job at hand. “No, they won’t. In order to install the electromagnetic pulse around the bottom of the barrier, they’ve had to compromise on visibility. Commander Mahlo has informed me that the lower section of the dome will be fuzzy, unlike the transparent upper half, so we shouldn’t be seen with the new camo markings they’ve put on our suits. Now, does everyone know what they’re doing?”
A ripple of agreement ran through the final four of us, and we moved toward the back of the ship, where the crates were kept. The lycans and the merevins had already taken guns and blades, and a few bombs between them, but there were still plenty to go around. I delved in and took four of the bombs, turning them over in my hands before strapping them to a belt across my chest. By the looks of it, the mechanisms were similar to the ones I’d used on Vysanthe—a simple push-the-button-and-run kind of thing.