Edge of Time (20 page)

T
he light woke Riley. Bright, glaring beams, boring straight into her eyes. She started to sit up. Her brain scrambled to make sense of what she was seeing.

The glass from the huge plate-glass window blew in with a roaring crack as the metal curtain slammed into it. The wooden countertop splintered and fell to the floor in a sharp crash as the long, wicked snout and the hull of a tank broke through the flimsy barrier with a dull screech. The rumble of the engine and the rolling of the caterpillar track were ear- splitting even as the tank came to an abrupt stop just inside the wall of the restaurant. Debris rained onto the tiled floor.

Riley barely managed to shield her face.

Darius moved so fast she almost didn't see him. One second he was sleeping on the makeshift bedroll next to her, his warm breath on her shoulder, his arm flung across her stomach. The next he was on his feet, orb glowing in one hand. He reached down, grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder and leapt towards the tank at the same time he yelled at Alec, “Get up!”

Riley had a brief glimpse of Alec, hand shading his eyes from the glare of the turret lights, his face a mixture of disbelief and horror, before Darius began to climb up onto the closest track of the tank. Wait a second; he was climbing
onto
the tank.

Darius pushed his way through the broken metallic curtain and dangling bits of plywood and metal to get outside. A particularly large hunk of wood caught Riley unaware. “Ow!”

“Keep your head down,” Darius advised too late. “
Alec!
”

Alec scrambled up onto the hull of the tank so quickly he passed the both of them. He jumped onto the sidewalk beside the remains of their truck. Darius and Riley landed beside him. Riley had the wind knocked out of her as she tumbled off Darius' shoulder to the wet pavement. She wasn't able to take a breath in to shout as the tank recoiled towards them at the same time as a deafening
bang
nearly burst her eardrums.

The pizza shop blew up: glass, wood, tile, ceramic counter, everything in tiny pieces and flying towards them like missiles. Darius flung himself over Riley to protect her from the worst of the airborne danger. She heard Alec, several metres ahead of them, cry out sharply.

“Move,” Darius yelled, as he yanked her to her feet. She had a glimpse of the gutted pizza store and the turret of the tank turning slowly in their direction before Darius pushed her away.

Her feet slipped on the cluttered sidewalk as she took off after Darius. He was already at Alec's side and helping him up. A trickle of blood ran down Alec's forehead and across his pale face. There wasn't time to ask if he was hurt elsewhere.

“Follow me,” Darius yelled as he ducked down an alley between two storefronts and headed for the service lane behind.

Riley and Alec pounded behind him. Once out of the tank's spotlights, the darkness was complete and treacherous. Riley slipped twice. Instantly Alec was at her side, pulling her upright, and urging her onwards. His hand clasped hers tightly.

The entranceway to the alley exploded as another shell detonated. A hail of brick particles rained down. Riley yelped and ran harder.

They ran down the alley and turned left. This new lane was wide enough to permit delivery trucks. Huge trash bins reeking of refuse jutted out into the roadway, looming out of the dark like monsters. The central gutter was still ankle-deep in rainwater. Riley splashed into the puddle before she could stop herself.

They were halfway down, Darius ahead by several metres, when headlights from the far end of the alley blazed into a blinding glare. Instantly they skidded to a stop. Alec raised a hand to shield his eyes and Riley ducked behind him. The truck's engine roared to life and its tires squealed against the pavement as it leapt towards them.

Darius' orb flashed brightly, the beam heading for the fire escape high up on the wall to his right. The mechanism unlatched and the ladder dropped to the ground.

“Get onto the roof. Cross to the other side of the building,” Darius hurriedly instructed as he lifted Riley up so she could grasp the lowest rung.

Shimmying up the metal rungs like a monkey, she headed for the top. Alec was right behind her and, in his hurry, almost climbing the same rungs as she was. The second she was up and over the rooftop edge, Alec was right behind her. He stopped and peered downward.

“Darius, hurry,” he yelled.

The resounding clang of metal hitting metal reverberated through the alley. The upper brackets of the fire escape strained and partially lifted as the lower ladder was hit by the truck and pulled apart. Alec bent forward over the ledge. Riley grabbed onto the back of his jeans and yanked as hard as she could.

“Riley, stop. I'm trying to reach him,” Alec grunted.

Riley immediately let go. She leaned over his shoulder. The truck had plowed into a dumpster the next store over, but its headlights were still lighting up the alley. Below her, the fire escape abruptly ended six rungs from the roof. On the fifth rung, hanging by one hand, was Darius. He still had his glowing orb in the other.

Riley watched as he popped his orb into his mouth, swung his now free hand up onto the rung and pulled his feet up enough to hook his knees over the rung. He rearranged himself and began to climb. He was over the wall in a second. Riley continued to watch the alley below. The truck's engine was still running, but no one had opened any of the doors or gotten out of the vehicle.

“Come on,” Darius said as he dropped his orb into his pocket. He wasn't even out of breath. He led them across the roof to the other side of the building. Crouching down, they surveyed the street below.

The heavy cloud cover obscured whatever moonlight there might have been. The street lamps were dead. The air was clammy, cool and heavy. Nothing moved below them. Other than the fire in the pizza joint, the place was silent.

“How'd they find us?” Riley whispered. “We haven't used our orbs.”

“Good question.” Darius frowned. “Maybe Rhozan doesn't need an orb signal any more.”

There was an uncomfortable silence as they pondered the implications.

“Why aren't they following us?” Alec hissed. “It's obvious where we've gone.”

“Hmm, it is, isn't it?” Darius replied quietly.

“So?”

“Maybe whoever is in the tank can't think any more.” Darius let that unpleasant idea sink in for a moment.

Riley was leaning against Alec and she felt him shudder. “What?” she asked. “What is it? What's he thinking of, Dare?”

There was a moment of hesitation before Alec answered for him. “Zombies.”

“Are you kidding me?” Riley rolled her eyes. Of all the stupid ideas.

“Not so stupid,” Darius sighed. “He's familiar with the kind of games Alec plays, knows what scares him and what doesn't. He's toying with us now.”

Riley rounded on Alec. “Are you telling me that Rhozan has read your mind and knows all the games you play? Is that where he's getting his ideas?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Please tell me you love games with little bunnies and hopscotch. Please.”

She felt his stifled chuckle through his shoulder, which was pressing into hers. “No such luck.”

Riley cursed beneath her breath. She knew damn well what kind of games he played. The same ultra-violent, horror-filled blood fests that all boys his age seemed to be obsessed with. She'd sat next to boys on the bus who ranted and raved over the latest version of
Flesh Eating Ninja Warlords from Mars or Ultra Total Mega Battle Destruction IV
until they were blue in the face. Alec's memories coursed across her mind, unbidden. He loved those things. Other than soccer, it was the only time he felt in control. She sighed. “What do we do now?”

“It's too far to walk to Alec's and far too dangerous to travel around in the dark. I have no idea what else is out there,” Darius murmured. “I think we're going to have to stay put for the moment and wait for the sun to come up.”

“Here?” Riley looked around with distaste. Why hadn't she grabbed a couple of the jackets in their headlong flight for safety?

“'Fraid so. Huddle together and try to keep warm. I'll stay awake and keep an eye out.”

There was nothing else to do. Little puddles of rainwater dotted the stone-and-tarred roof. There was no shelter, but the enclosed stairwell near the centre provided something to lean against and some protection for their backs. Riley scrunched herself against the rough brickwork and watched, mildly stung, as Alec purposely walked around Darius to sit on his other side. She leaned against the warmth of Darius' shoulder and closed her eyes.

If Alec was right, Rhozan was using corpses to hunt them. Rhozan might be able to track them without an orb signal, too. Who knew what else this creepy alien would do next? Would this nightmare ever end?

R
iley did nothing more than doze inter- mittently. It was uncomfortable on the rooftop with the pebbles under her butt digging in every time she moved and a post-rain fog swirling around like a convention of ghosts. The eerie silence didn't help either. What was going on down on the ground, out of sight? Was an army of mad, obsessed killers amassing right now, just below the ramparts of the building?

Riley shifted position and sighed. In some ways, she just wished tomorrow would never come.

“Can't sleep?” Darius whispered.

“Too cold,” she lied. The temperature had nothing on her fear.

“Here.” He shifted slightly, lifting his arm and wrapping it around her shoulders.

She smiled in the darkness. There was something about him that made her feel special and cared for. And attractive. She gave herself a mental shake. He seemed to make everyone feel that way. She changed the subject before he could pick up on her thoughts. “There are a few things bothering me. Feel like talking?” she whispered, not wanting to wake Alec who had slid down until curled up with his head resting on Darius' leg.

“Sure. Fire away.”

“There was the guy in the donut shop and the soldiers, but no one else. I mean, this is a city of what, three million? Where is everyone?”

“The ones that are still alive and in this dimension are mostly hiding. If you hold your orb and open your mind, you'll feel them. Just out of sight. Frightened and not knowing what to do.”

“And what about those rip thingies? Like on the houseboat. I haven't seen any of them. Have they all gone?”

“I wish,” Darius sighed. “I feel about two dozen in this neighbourhood alone. They're pretty small and hard to see until you're right up next to one. I haven't drawn your attention to any because we've been far enough away. But it's a good idea to keep your eyes open. The closer we get to Alec's apartment, the more there'll be.”

Riley let this unsettling news sink in. “Well, you know we had that spot of trouble leaving the Base?” she began carefully.

“Hmm hmm.”

“Well, are they coming after us? I mean, could we turn some corner to find a bunch of your Guardian pals standing there, waiting to take us out?”

“Riley, the Tyon Collective doesn't believe in revenge. It's not logical. None of them are out there, hunting us down. Were you worried about that?”

“Sort of,” she replied. She hesitated, not really wanting to hear the answer to her next question. “And, will they, you know, be around if we, you know, fail with Rhozan?”

“You mean, come to our rescue?”

“Well, yeah.”

“No.”

The silence after this bombshell stretched for ages, while Riley considered the news. She had figured as much. Rhozan wanted them dead. The Tyon organization wouldn't bother to save them. And the
entire world
was falling into disarray.

“I'm not even sure if they've left yet,” Darius murmured into her hair.

“Who?”

“The Collective. Regrouping would have finished by now. Logan's plan was to leave as soon as everyone was at Home Base. They've probably left the planet.”

Riley couldn't help raising her eyes heavenward. Was there a spaceship blasting off right now and circling her world at this very minute? She thought of all the devoted scientists, living their lives in anticipation of extraterrestrial contact, and the irony that aliens had already been here and no one had noticed. It just showed that Fate had a twisted sense of humour.

Darius' voice grew bleaker. “That's all they do, you see? Introduce the resistor gene, train those who acquire it to resist the Others' mind control, and if that works, eliminate any witnesses. They don't actually fight anyone themselves. Sometimes, they just pick up the Potentials and leave. Like here.” Darius shifted and pulled Riley closer until her head was resting under his chin.

“What do you mean, eliminate witnesses?”

“We're actually not supposed to be doing this at all.” He sighed. “It's a long story.”

“It's a long night.”

“Fair enough.” She heard the smile in his voice. “Okay. The prime mandate of the Intergalactic Council is to permit the growth and natural evolution of all cultures, so attacking one group of beings just because they are overly aggressive was politically unpalatable. There's a lot of jockeying for power and control on the Council, as you might imagine, and some pretty powerful lobbies made it clear that the Others were to be ignored. So some members of the Council secretly formed the Tyon Collective and sent them out to do what, legally, they couldn't.”

“Sneaky.”

“Hmm. The trouble of course is that the Collective has been doing the Council's dirty work illegally for so long now that the secret is pretty much out. There has been pressure for the Collective to be dissolved. Of course, all this is pretty high-level stuff. I'm not supposed to even know about it.”

“So, how do you?” Riley asked with a good idea of the answer.

“Anna told me.” Darius paused and Riley worried for a moment if he was going to cry or something. She was relieved when he started to speak again. “Anna was second in command at Home Base and privy to a lot of what was going on because of her relationship with Logan.”

“What relationship? I thought she was your girlfriend?”

“She was to be partnered with Logan after they were retired from the Collective. Pair bonds are often pre-arranged by the Council in order to ensure maximum continuation of the genetic Tyon ability.”

“She agreed to an arranged marriage to Logan?” Riley sat up. “But she loved you.”

“Love is a pretty strong word, Riley. I'm not sure if Anna actually knew what that meant or if she felt it. Attraction, yes; desire, yes; willingness to break rules on my behalf, maybe. But love? She isn't like us, Riley. Orions are raised in a world where emotions are dangerous to their survival. I loved her. But did she love me? I don't know.”

Riley thought it over. Heaven knows the woman was strong enough with Tyon power, and her skill combined with Dean's would probably have been more than enough to kill the three of them. But she
hadn't
. She'd literally kept her orb at her side and had let Dean's killing force bounce back towards her. What else, other than love for Darius, could have caused her to do that?

For a long time neither spoke. Riley was caught up in the thoughts swirling like a vortex around her mind. The mandate of the Collective, the danger they were in, Darius' love for Anna. She thought about Darius growing up amongst the Collective, his need to love and be loved not understood or sanctioned and resulting, she realized with sudden insight, into a need to flirt and provoke everyone around him, just to be acknowledged.

“Are you sorry?” Darius' voice startled her.

“Sorry for what?”

“Sorry you're involved. That we ever met.”

Was she? Days ago the answer would have been an unqualified “yes.” But now, she wasn't quite so sure. If Darius hadn't invited her for coffee in order to separate her from the crowd, if those Emissaries hadn't tried to kill her, if she hadn't the gift the Tyons were looking for, then what? Right now she'd probably be in Vancouver, at Deborah's, dealing with her hysterical, incapable older sister while the world fell apart around her and she would have been helpless to do anything. Not only helpless, but ignorant.

Here, now, she had a fighting chance to make a difference. There was power inside her that might make Rhozan sit up and pay attention. She was going to be of help.

“No,” she answered.

“That's my girl.”

Off to their right, several streets away, a flash of light lit the darkness. The echoing recoil of sound bouncing between the buildings indicated the tank was momentarily in operation. Alec didn't move beside them.

“He's really exhausted,” Riley noted with worry.

“And today is going to be a hell of a day,” Darius sighed.