When They Come

The trio sprinted down the long grey halls as time slipped through their fingers. Alex was really feeling the pressure, but tried keeping her chill mask on, for the sake of everyone.

In thirty minutes, they reached an elevator-looking box that was completely transparent except for the metal framing and the control pad embedded into the wall.

They boarded and Addir pressed a button. The box started to move and the group watched as they soared over walkways and Saimiens moving on them. The aliens were too focused to noticed them.

“I just want to say,” Addir began. “That it has been great working with you two. I’d like to thank you both for trusting me to come along with you. So I could see humans becoming free once more. And Alex, it has been an honor being your brother. I would not have asked for a better sister,”

Alex clicked her tongue. “Alright Addir, spill the beans,” She said expectantly. “This sounds like goodbye to me,”

“But it shouldn’t,” John said skeptically. “Are you thinking about leaving us?”

“No,” Addir sighed. “It is a goodbye though. Because, the generator is connected to us Saimiens. It gives us the extra power we sometimes need and heals us when we’re injured. It lives in our blood stream. And I’m not saying it’s 100% probable, but when we destroy the generator—“

“We risk destroying us too,” Alex breathed, an invisible weight crushing her. “And all the other Saimiens.”

“There is no doubt that the full Saimiens will die,” Addir said with a shaky voice. “But us, I’m not so sure. The human DNA might just be enough to overpower the destructive cells in us. Then again, maybe not,”

Alex couldn’t support herself. She leaned against the side of the box and shook. Violently. She didn’t know how to handle this. In destroying the machine, she could possible kill herself. And Addir. And every Saimien that ever lived. The weight of an entire race crushed her very being. But if she didn’t take care of that machine, all of Earth was doomed. The entire planet would be nothing that smoldering ash if she refused to do it.

She had promised her parents she’d fix the mess she made and she intended to keep that promise. But to what extent?

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Alex said quietly.

“I didn’t want to effect your decision. And I figured I’d inform you close to the time when we needed to do what was necessary in order for your planet to survive. I thought you’d have the right mind set for my explanation,” Addir replied.

Alex’s knees wobbled.

“Alex? Are you ok?” John asked, voice cracking.

Alex screwed up her face and threw herself at John. Her arms wrapped around him as she hugged him tightly. “Thank you. For being there for me,” She whispered.

John hugged back just as tight. He didn’t say anything but she knew he was crying silently. Alex would miss him. But she had to do this. No matter the cost.

“I’ll miss you,” John muttered.

“Me too,” Alex murmured back, tears brimming her eyes.

They pulled away from each other and exchanged serious looks through their holograms. They’d do this together. All three of them. Because…well...if they couldn’t save themselves, they might as well save everyone else.

The transporter slowed and stopped, opening its doors to another corridor, and the trio stepped out, ready to stare Death in the face.

Alex, John, and Addir marched down the halls, ready to face whatever might be thrown their way. No other Saimien guards came to confront the group, which they did not like, though they did not falter in their steps.

Alex had a black hole in her stomach that felt like a raging beast, begging her to find another way out of this mess. She ignored the shrieks and cries of the void beast and took a deep breath.

She gave a sideways glance at John and Addir. They looked just as nervous as she did. They most likely had void beasts raging at them too. She’d call them Instincts. Because like any living creature, self-preservation was of grave importance. To go against them, you’d have to be either crazy, stupid, or fully aware of what you’re about to do.

They were the last one.

Addir paused before a door. He sighed and Alex didn’t need him to say anything. This was the door leading to the generator. Alex placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. She nodded to John and he returned it.

“Whatever we find beyond this door, we’ll have known it was coming,” Alex said, her voice shaking. “And remember, we can’t leave without getting rid of the machine,”

“I’m with you,” John said, forcing confidence in his voice. “Till the end,”

“Me too,” Addir sighed.

Alex gave a weak smile and pressed the open button on the side door panel and dropped her arm, ready to reach for her weapon if needed.

They stepped in and beheld a huge sparking ball of purple electricity, held in a clear containment field. And that wasn’t the only thing in there.

Cassandra, what looked like Xevon, a squad of guards, and a large Saimien also occupied the room. Alex clenched her fists. It seemed she hadn’t done a good enough job to knock out the Ice Queen.

Xevon looked different. Of course he did. He was half human now. He looked older than Addir and had dark shiny hair. The biggest Saimien with them seemed to have an amethyst crown adorning their head. That must be Onol!

“And there they are,” Onol purred. “The ‘heroes’ to save the day,”

“Onol,” Addir growled under his breath.

“Hello Addir,” Onol sneered. “You didn’t think I’d miss this little gathering you’d be holding, did you? Not when I intend to punish your ‘sister’s’ planet and its denizens. They’re despicable creatures really,”

“Then why let your own commander become a hybrid of one?” John argued, silently surprising Alex.

“If it’s to prevent the perpetrators from succeeding, I’ll allow it,” The overlord admitted. Her eyes traveled to Alex. “And here’s the girl who stared it all, Alex Nunes. How does it feel, dear? To be responsible for the disintegration of your planet?”

“Not bad, considering I’ll be the one to save it,” Alex smirked.

“But have you considered the consequences?” Onol inquired mysteriously.

“Consequences?” Alex echoed, raising an eyebrow.

“If you destroy the generator, you cloud die, along with your brother. And if not, if you were to survive, what might your classmates think of you? What would your parents say? To see you in such a horrific state. Their daughter, one of the creatures who enslaved them,”

Alex felt her instincts roar and claw at her insides. That was guilt speaking. It was also doubt. It slithered into her mind, made her rethink her plan.

“Silence!” Addir barked, clenching his fists. “Don’t say another word, Onol. You have no right to sway the decision she made!”

Alex looked to Addir. He seemed so sure of what he was doing. Could she do the same? Could she stay firm in her choice? Yes. She didn’t have a choice. It was her sacrifice for her planet. She couldn’t spare her life and let everyone else die.

“Stop stalling,” Alex said quietly. Onol looked to her.“You’re trying to waste time. To make sure we don’t get to the generator. I don’t want to hear anymore of your crap anyways,”

“If that’s how you feel,” Onol sighed. “Then we shall just have to do this the hard way,” With a snap of her fingers, the squad with a dozen members, Cassandra, and Xevon advanced.

Alex, John, and Addir readied themselves and immediately reached for their weapons.

Pulling up her shield, Alex began firing off her laser phone, trying to hit any target she could. Her heart skyrocketed as she hit one and another took his place. They still had about two hours, but that didn’t mean to take her time.

Kicking away another sentry and shooting him down, Alex was suddenly tacked by Cassandra. The Ice Queen punched her shield several times, but her hits were absorbed into the surface.

Alex smiled smugly as she watched Cassandra and her face, twisted with rage. With a strong push, Alex knocked Cassandra off and stood up, punching back a Saimien advancing from behind.

“You got me last time,” Cassandra snarled. “But this time, it won’t be so easy.”

“Says the girl who tried to punch me through my shield,” Alex snorted.

Cassandra flew at Alex agin and attacked with all her might. Alex fought back, taking her time to assess her enemy’s weak spots and strike at the right time. Alex found Cassandra revealed her left side as she swung to punch her.

Smirking, Alex timed it just right and drove her foot into Cassandra’s side, sending her flying into another Saimien guard. The sentry snarled at Cassandra and shoved her away, sending her right to Alex’s feet.

Before Cassandra could do anything, Alex pressed her paw into the crook of Cassandra’s knee, making her black out again.

Alex smiled and looked around. She saw her next target and charged.