In His Alien Hands (21 page)

“My name is Jack Herald, I’m mayor of this town. May we know your name and the name of your companion?”

“I’m Bane, and this is Josie.”

“Is she an alien too?” a childlike voice called out from the crowd.

“No,” Bane replied.

“Is she your captive?” a man asked.

Bane was becoming impatient. “No, she is here of her own free will.”

He took a deep breath, calming himself. From the looks of things this was going to be a long, tedious interview.

Chapter 7

The anxious look of the crowd made Josie uneasy. She feared it was only a matter of time before Bane lost patience and his arrogance and irritation crept out. He had a huge obligation, and she knew he took his position seriously, but he was reluctant to justify his actions to those he viewed as vastly inferior. They fired question after question at him. He did his best to alleviate the crowd’s fear, yet instead of reassuring them, he seemed to have the opposite effect.

“I have family outside this town. I need to get out, and I bet I’m not the only one. You need to bring this thing down and let us get to our families,” a young man said.

Bane glared at him. “Let me make this perfectly clear. The shield is here for your protection. Right now the invaders are concentrating on the larger cities. Once they’re done there they’ll move on to the smaller towns. Make no mistake, what is going on outside of the shields is no battle, it’s an extermination. Therefore, no one leaves. No one gets in. The shield is not a revolving door. It is here to stay, no exceptions.”

“We’re not prisoners. Who are you to make these decisions for us?” the young man fired back. Many in the crowd voiced their agreement and outrage.

Josie saw Bane’s fists clench. She knew she had to say something. She stepped up beside him to present a united front. “I know you’re all concerned, but please understand what Bane says is true. We journeyed here by foot from a large city where one of those ships is hovering. The invaders are capable of manipulating the weather. They caused the blackout and the earthquakes without even leaving their ships. Right now they’re probably descending to the ground. Bane said it will be no battle, and he’s right. We are dealing with vastly superior technology, and we don’t stand a chance. The only option is to pray for whoever is outside of the shields and hope that help arrives soon.” She looked at Bane and saw that he appeared satisfied with her words.

“So we’re just supposed to sit tight and pray for help? How do we know you’re even telling the truth? We’ve seen nothing here, apart from the initial arrival of the ships on the news. We’re cut off from the media due to the power outage, but there’s no proof the invaders caused it. Yes, there have been some storms and quakes, but that’s not considered unusual. How do we know the invaders are here to destroy us? For that matter, how do we know if they’re even still out there anymore? We have your word and that’s all. Maybe you’ve sealed us up in here like some science experiment, keeping us from escaping. Maybe he’s the enemy,” a middle-aged woman accused, pointing a defiant finger at Bane.

Bane shook his head. He held up his hands when the crowd began to badger him again. “You have to trust what we’re saying is the truth. I can assure you those ships are still out there and their sole intent is to rape this planet for its resources and to obliterate humanity. It’s what they do. Things are going to get a lot worse.”

“I don’t give a shit what you say. Bring this thing down and let those of us who want to leave, leave. I, for one, am willing to take my chances out there. It sure as hell is better than hiding in here like a coward.”

“Yeah!” agreed several of them. Many glared and pointed at Bane, screaming, “Coward!”

The mayor raised his hands, vainly begging for patience.

“Insolent, ungrateful, ignorant fools,” Bane suddenly bellowed.

The people quieted and stared at him in shock.

“Bane, stop it!” Josie cried.

She saw the angry, young man break free of the barrier and reach into his jacket for what she feared was a weapon. She pointed and screamed as he pulled out a gun. Lightning fast, Bane responded. He pushed her to the ground. She looked up in time to see him pull a palm-sized, shiny ring from his back pants pocket. The man waved his gun around, yelling for the police to get back as they drew their weapons. Bane held the ring at arm’s length, lining it up with the threat. The sun glinted off the ring, and suddenly a beam of light shot out of the center of it toward the crowd. The light widened and encompassed the gunman along with several others, including all of the police officers. They immediately tensed up and shook as though electrocuted. The beam of light held them captive in its glow. As the light died away everyone caught within its range collapsed to the ground.

Several people screamed. Anyone able to move scattered. The only person holding a weapon now that Josie could detect was Bane. She leapt to her feet and grabbed hold of his arm. “Are they dead? Did you kill them?”

He shook her off, staring impassively out at the crowd. “They’re debilitated, but they’ll live.”

The mayor was the only one who held his ground. He came forward until he was several feet from them. “Is this how you plan to protect this town? With threats and violence?” he demanded. Josie was impressed with his bravado.

“You saw what happened. I was forced to protect myself,” Bane said. He turned to Josie, no doubt expecting her to back him up, but she was no longer paying attention to the exchange going on before her. Her gaze was riveted up over their heads toward the sky.

“It’s happening again,” she said.

Massive, black clouds gathered overhead. The light inside the shield grew dimmer and dimmer as the sun was slowly overshadowed. She swept her gaze around the park and noticed that the crowd who had rapidly dispersed now slowed their steps, turning their heads upward. The stunned men on the ground shook their heads groggily and got to their feet as though rising from a long slumber. They too looked upward.

Suddenly, Josie felt a rumble beneath her feet. Just as a bolt of lightning flashed and ricocheted off the shield with a loud
crack
, the ground gave a violent shake. Many people lost their balance and fell to their knees. Bane’s hand shot out and grabbed hold of her arm before she stumbled. All those who had fled from Bane now rushed back toward him.

“What’s happening?” a young woman cried. “Are we under attack?”

The ground heaved again. The crowd struggled for balance and fell into one other while grabbing at bodies close to them. A tree shuddered and fell to the ground close by. Several birds cried out and flew around in disarray. The swings on the playground swayed back and forth. People cried and some prayed aloud.

“Prepare yourself.” Bane said the words close to her ear.

She looked up at him in shock. “For what? What’s happening? You said we’d be safe in here.”

“We will be.”

The ground lurched as though someone had yanked it upward. If not for Bane’s grip on her, she would have fallen as others around them toppled.

“Save us,” some cried, arms outstretched toward Bane.

Despite the dim light, rapid bursts of lightning allowed the outline of the shield to be clearly visible since it was only several blocks away. The land beyond the shield was also visible, although it now appeared to be out of sync with the land within. Strangely, Josie’s line of sight became disoriented. She blinked hard several times, certain she wasn’t seeing correctly. As bizarre as it seemed, the shield appeared to be lifting up and taking the town with it.

“The shield will protect you,” Bane yelled, remaining calm while chaos reigned all around him.

Lightning continued to pummel the shield, and each time it was reflected away in a riot of sparks and cracking sounds. Higher and higher the shield lifted them. People remained on their knees or tried to make their way across the open grass. Within the shield the ground no longer shook, yet the force of being lifted made the ground unsteady to walk upon.

“What’s happening?” someone cried.

“Bane, are we lifting up?” Josie demanded, grasping at his shirt for leverage.

He put his arm around her waist and held her close. “Yes, we’re lifting up. The shield is responding to the earthquakes and is protecting us. Once we’ve reached a safe enough distance it will stop.”

“How high above the ground will we go?” Josie asked in wonder.

“About a hundred feet or so. From where we are it’ll appear much higher.”

“I don’t understand how this is happening. How can a dome be lifting us up? What’s supporting the ground beneath us?” Josie demanded.

Bane smiled. “You’re thinking of the shield as a dome. Think of it more as one of those snow globes. You know the kind you see in the stores at Christmas time? The ones you shake upside down to make the snow fall?”

Josie nodded.

“A huge chunk of the Earth has lifted up beneath us, ensuring entire lakes, underground springs, and resources all are intact. It’s what we call an orb-shield.”

How incredible.
Josie understood perfectly now. It wasn’t a dome at all. It was so much more.

* * * *

It was almost fully dark when Bane and Josie arrived back at the cabin. Bane landed his spaceship right in the driveway; there was no need to hide it from sight any longer. The bubble, or orb-shield as Bane had called it, had stopped lifting several minutes after it began, and the ground beneath their feet had become stable. People had flocked toward him after that, crying out for answers. Now that they were no longer displaying hostility Bane had magnanimously answered all questions put to him.

Patiently, he’d explained that the orb-shield was self-activating, sensing when danger was imminent and acting accordingly to protect those enclosed within. Dark storm clouds above had continued to display their wrath, and Albion’s mayor had asked what was to protect them from the relentless downpour. Bane had gone on to explain the shield’s abilities. It allowed in sunlight, oxygen, and rain. But the permeable shell acted as a filter, not allowing in too much moisture, harmful rays, or anything other than safe, unpolluted, breathable air—just in case the Cadeyrns attempted to poison or suffocate those within. Bane had reassured everyone that the town would be safe floating in the sky away from any earthquakes, floods, or fires, which relieved Josie and the others, but at the same time made them bow their heads in fear for others outside the safety of the shield.

Markley was thrilled when they entered the cabin. Josie bent to scoop him up into her arms. She’d been so afraid when the crowd had grown hostile and turned on Bane. And seeing that man with the gun had filled her with a terror she could hardly comprehend. In that moment she’d faced the possibility of Bane’s destruction. No matter how he was now, she still couldn’t imagine her life without him. It was true he’d become hard and cold, not just to her, but to mankind itself, but he used that detachment to do what needed to be done. He’d saved them. Not just her and Markley, but the town of Albion as well.

Bane went back outside, saying that he had to check on things in the shed, and when he returned Josie was preparing their dinner.

“Tomorrow I’ll meet with the mayor to begin setting up the town’s power supply. I don’t have enough energy to set up every household, but supermarkets, some stores, the hospital, fire department, police station, all the important places will be hooked up. I asked Jack to make a list of priority locations.”

Josie had seen the two of them with their heads together in deep discussion after the orb had stopped moving. She had a feeling Bane was humoring the mayor, giving him tasks and the impression they were a team, whereas she knew Bane was the one in charge and calling the shots. She pitied anyone who thought otherwise.

They ate dinner in relative silence. She had a lot on her mind, and she could tell by the calculating look on Bane’s face that he was already planning his next three moves. She wondered what other surprises he might have in store for Albion.

She watched him speculatively over the course of the meal, wishing for some sign that he’d revert back to his former self now that the town was safe, though the detached look on his face remained.

“How long do you think we’ll have to be up in the air like this?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“Depends. We’re safer up here anyhow, and I won’t have to listen to people in town complaining to get out or to let others in. It’s bad enough hearing the list of demands from the mayor.”

She didn’t know if she could bear the thought of people trapped outside the dome pounding desperately to get in. Up here they wouldn’t be subjected to that. It was a cold and merciless thought, but perhaps he was right? She forced the image from her mind.

“Why do you have a spaceship? Is it in case the shield didn’t work and you had to battle the enemy? Or is it to convince the town that you’re actually who you say you are? I mean, a spaceship is pretty convincing evidence that you’re not from Earth.” They’d used the ship to get to town faster, but considering how far they’d had to walk to reach it, she figured the purpose of it was not exactly for travel.

“Yes, it’s for the things you mentioned, but it also allows me to leave here once the town is secure.”

“Leave? But aren’t you supposed to stay and oversee the town’s defense? Why do you have to leave? Where are you going?” She didn’t want him to leave. Or did he plan to take her with him?

The look on his face made her feel like a nagging wife. “I’m leaving to battle the Cadeyrns. The shield will see to your safety.”

So he obviously didn’t intend to take her with him. He apparently didn’t have any qualms about leaving her either. Seeing the determined look on his face she knew better than to question his decision. Resigned and annoyed with always finding out his plans way after the fact, she asked, “When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow after the power is set up in town. I’m meeting with the mayor as well. I told him to gather the heads of emergency services so we can discuss the safety of the town. I told him the shield will stay in place and doesn’t need me here to oversee it.”