Something had happened in the hallway. Mack wasn't stupid. He’d picked up on the tension between Austin and Tan, though it seemed to come more from Austin than from Tan. And he had no trouble filling in the blanks. They'd gone into the hallway to check on the other aliens, and a shot had rung out. Since neither of them was hurt, Mack assumed Tan had finished off an alien.
Technically, it could have been Austin who’d fired, but that was unlikely. Austin wasn't the type of guy who could shoot someone point-blank. Tan was. That wasn't a judgment but a simple statement. For all his macho and tough-guy exterior, Austin had a soft heart and a tender constitution as well, considering his reaction to the chickens and now this.
Maybe Austin had an issue with Tan killing an alien? Whatever the problem had been, it was not something Mack wanted to get into now. Not with the two girls, Bobbi, and Pax listening in. It could wait.
"Pax, start talking, my friend. What the hell is going on?"
"Cormack, my brother. You have very dangerous place here. Too close to army."
"Our army or yours?" Mack asked.
Pax looked at him as if Mack was stupid. "Zagor army. No human army here."
Mack looked sideways to Tan. He had to ask. "We've seen human soldiers."
Pax waved his hand dismissively. "Not army. Not big enough. Zagor army much, much bigger.”
Well, that wasn't exactly comforting despite Mack’s conflicted feelings about the CUS army. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked.
Pax's shoulders hunched, and his moves were slow and tired as he took off his gloves, revealing the milky white skin of his hands.
"Oil," he said softly. "We need oil. Zagor, my planet, is empty. Nothing left. We used all. We do research. Earth still has oil. So we come here to take it."
It was one thing to hear this theory on the radio and to discuss it with each other, but hearing it from Pax made the knowledge weigh heavy on Mack's heart. "The oilfield that's here in Wyoming, you guys are after that."
Pax nodded. "We are everywhere where is oil. This is large field but not easy to get to."
"Is that's what's causing the earthquakes?" It was the first time that Kristina had spoken up.
Pax looked at Mack, frowning. "Earthquakes?" he repeated slowly as if trying out the word.
Apparently, that was an unfamiliar word for him. "When the ground is shaking," Mack said, gesturing with his left hand.
Recognition lit up on Pax's face, and then he nodded. "Yes, yes. Makes ground shake. We take out too much too fast. Not good for ground."
Well, that confirmed another theory. God, so many questions rolled around in his head, so much he wanted to ask Pax. Where to start?
"When you guys have stolen all our oil, will you leave?" Kristina seemed to have warmed up to the idea of asking Pax questions.
Pax sighed deeply. "Not sure. They say yes before we came here, but now some say no. They like Earth. Is much better than Zagor."
That piqued Mack's curiosity. "Earth is better than Zagor? In what sense?"
"Zagor is…" Pax seemed to search for words. "Is dark. Not happy place. No air. We feel better here. More…" Another hesitation and a thinking frown appeared at the bridge of his nose. "Oxygen," he then said, looking proud he'd remembered the word. "Earth has more oxygen. Zagor is dying planet."
That didn't sound good at all. If the aliens had come here just to steal oil, that was one thing. Mankind would have one hell of a challenge surviving without it, but they had in prehistoric times, so Mack was certain they'd find a way again. But now it sounded like Pax wasn't sure they would leave, and that was a much bigger problem.
"If you guys are staying here, does that mean that…" Austin didn't finish his sentence, but Mack had no trouble guessing where he was going.
Neither had Pax. He shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable for the first time. "If Emperor says we stay, we kill all humans."
A heavy silence hung in the kitchen, and Pax averted his gaze, staring at the floor. Mack couldn't blame him. He had to know how hard that news was for them, and even if he was only the messenger, things still didn't look good for him.
"Emperor?" Tan spoke up. "Zagor has an Emperor?"
"He is leader of our planet. He tells everyone what we do. He… He not good person. Very rich and others hungry."
Things weren't exactly rosy on Zagor either. Go figure. These aliens appeared enough like humans that Mack guessed they had to be pretty much alike in their minds and emotions. Of course, that also meant having similar problems as mankind. Greed. A thirst for power. A callous disregard for the weak. Was it strange that it was a comfort, somehow, to know that this was a general problem of human-like creatures, or however Zagorians would be labeled, and not just on Earth? Leave it to him to find solace in that.
"Our planet has many problems. Too many men," Pax said, gesturing at himself, then at Mack, Austin, Tan, and after a short hesitation, Bobbi. "Not many women." This time, he pointed at the two women. "Many Zagorians sick. Many die early. As result, not enough babies."
"Well, I guess we can cross emigrating to Zagor off our list, though a surplus of men does sound kinda awesome,” Tan said, and despite everything, Mack smiled.
"Why did you guys show up here tonight?" Mack asked the question that had been on his mind since the bots had appeared. The newcomers had said they hadn't seen one in weeks, so why had three bots shown up, followed by what seemed to be an alien patrol?
"You close to drilling point," Pax explained. "Many sentinels here to protect."
"How did they know we were here?" Austin asked.
Pax looked guilty. "Sentinels see heat. They always know humans. Not always attack. Only if too many humans or if too close to us. They protect us. They also find oil."
So much for their worries that smoke would betray them. If those bots could see body heat, they would be screwed, no matter where they tried to hide. "We've been here for a while now. Why haven't they come here before?"
"I not know, Cormack. I no make decision.”
"It's just strange because they," Mack said, pointing at Bobbi, Julia, and Kristina, "said they hadn't seen sentinels in a while. I was curious about why they came now."
"Many sentinels broken. Zagor, not much rain. No white frozen rain. Sentinels no good with wet. They no can be everywhere anymore. But you close to drilling, so they guard.”
Mack suppressed a grin because surely it would be rude to smile at how well they knew those bots hated water. He loved Pax's expression for what he assumed was snow: white frozen rain. It made total sense to him.
"If they already have trouble with the weather now, wait till snow season starts," Austin said, and it sounded like a threat.
Pax didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Mack had made the connection already. "That's why they're pumping out the oil too fast. They're in a hurry to get it done before the winter really hits."
Pax slowly nodded, and it struck Mack how much information the alien was sharing here. Wouldn't he get into trouble for this? What if his fellow soldiers ever found out he had betrayed them?
"Pax, why are you telling us all this? Don't get me wrong, we’re grateful, but in a way, you’re betraying your own country. Or planet. Or whatever. What will they do if they find out?"
Pax squared his shoulders, and despite his slender posture, strength radiated from him. "They find out, I die. But, Cormack, if we win, I still die. Slower. But I still die. My planet dead. We no grow old. We die fifty. Sixty is old. Zagor makes us sick. Is Emperor's fault. And the emperors before him. No take good care of air and plants and trees and ground and animals."
Pax painted a sobering picture of his planet, and despite the horrible things his fellow Zagorians had done, Mack couldn't help but feel a sliver of compassion. What would mankind do if they were in the same position? Survival instinct was strong, his father had always taught him, and Mack had found out how strong in the last weeks. Not only had he killed to survive, but he would do it again if it meant keeping himself and his men safe.
"It still doesn't explain why you're telling us all this," Tan said. "No offense, and I'm sorry about your planet and all, but what are we supposed to do with this information? If it's going to get you killed, you have to have a better reason than just wanting to get it off your chest before they kill you."
Leave it to Tan to be incredibly blunt while at the same time voicing what everybody had to be thinking, Mack included.
Pax leaned forward, his face lighting up with energy. "Because I tell you how to win. I tell you how to win war against Zagor. And if I help you, I hope I stay here on earth. Live here. I hope I be your brother."
No one said anything, and they all stared at Pax as if he were an… Mack snorted. An alien. They stared at Pax as if he were an alien, and he was. That was too funny. He snorted again, all too aware of everyone turning their heads, looking at him as if he was mad. And maybe they were right. A fit of hysterical laughter bubbled up. He had to stop now before it would morph into something else, much like what had happened to Austin.
“I’m fine,” he said quickly. “Just… Never mind.”
“Cormack, no have much time,” Pax said.
He had to go? Mack still had so many questions to ask him, but before he could say anything, Julia spoke up. “You’re not seriously gonna let him leave, right?”
Not let him leave? What did she mean? Then it sunk in. “I’m not gonna keep him here as a prisoner,” he said, barely able to hold back his anger.
“I wasn’t talking about holding him prisoner.”
Her voice was ice cold, and a shiver trickled down Mack’s spine. “We’re not killing him.”
“Since when do you make decisions for all of us?” Kristina snapped.
“Since this is our home and you are guests here,” Austin said in that wonderfully low voice that made Mack always sit up and pay attention. He’d never known a voice could do that until he’d met Austin. He made you want to obey him; it was the strangest sensation.
“They no here stay with you?” Pax asked Mack, and it took him a few seconds to decipher that one.
“No. They arrived a few days ago. And they’re leaving again,” Mack said.
Kristina and Julia shared a look, a hint of panic on their faces.
“That is why sentinels now come for you. They see new people. They no like. Too many people in place is dangerous. And when sentinels disabled, army sent soldiers here. Us.”
It made sense. If those spider bots had heat detection as Pax had explained, they’d have spotted the three of them here since day one. But they hadn’t bothered them until the other four had shown up. The addition to their group had had the bots worried—in as far as bots could be worried, but that was semantics. But there was one thing that didn’t add up.
“Why you?” he asked. “Out of all the soldiers in your army, what are the odds of you being sent here?”
Pax looked down. “I saw you,” he said softly.
“You saw me?” Mack frowned. What was Pax talking about?
“Sentinels have camera. I watch you attack.”
“Technically, they attacked us,” Austin said.
Mack bit back a smile. It was so classic Austin to point that out. The guy had a strong sense of justice.
“I see report sentinels attacked. I see camera and see you, Cormack. I say I go so I can save you.”
“But…but they still attacked us,” Mack said. “If you volunteered to keep us safe, why did you allow them to attack us?”
Pax looked puzzled. “You alive, no?”
“Well, yeah, but…” Mack thought back on how the aliens had attacked them. Everything had happened so quickly. The aliens showing up, he and Tan shooting them. Killing them. It was a miracle that… “They didn’t shoot us,” he said. “They had weapons in their hands, but they never fired a shot.”
Pax smiled happily. “They no work. I make sure.”
Mack swallowed. “Thank you. Your weapons, do they shoot bullets?”
“No. Shoot rays.”
Rays? What did he mean? It clicked. “Lasers. They shoot lasers.”
“Lasers,” Pax said as if trying the word out. “Lasers kill people. But you all alive.”
“Not all of us,” Kristina said with a sneer at Pax. “There were four of us. One of your precious sentinels killed our friend Diane.”
Pax’s face grew sad. “Pax is sorry. Too many humans killed.”
“How do we disable the sentinels?” Mack asked. He wasn’t gonna waste time by letting Pax apologize for something he hadn’t done. It might have been his race that did it, his people, but he’d made clear he wanted no part of it. He’d saved their lives by somehow disabling the guns of his fellow soldiers. If Pax had to leave soon—and Mack would make sure he did leave safely—Mack needed all the information he could get. Now.
“Water, fire, electricity,” Pax said. “Or turn off from control center.”
“Control center?”
Pax nodded. “One control center for all sentinels in area. Control everything.”
“So if we disabled the control center…” Austin said slowly.
“…you turn off all sentinels,” Pax finished his sentence.
“What does a control center look like?” Mack wanted to know.
Pax pursed his lips, a frown on his face. “Like building. How I explain?” He scrunched his face even more. “Metal building. No light.”
He used his hands to indicate a form, and Mack recognized it. “Like a rectangle.” He made the same form with his left hand, his right still holding the gun.
“Yes, yes.”
“And no light… You mean no windows?” It would make total sense, considering how sensitive Zagorians were to light.
“Yes. No windows.”
A rectangle metal building without windows. “It’s a container,” Mack said, excitement filling his voice. “He’s describing a container. What color?”
Pax pointed at Bobbi’s gray sweater. Well, it used to be gray before he’d gotten blood spatters all over him. “That color.”
Mack nodded. “Gotcha. A gray metal container. That shouldn’t be too hard to find.”
“What are you talking about?” Kristina asked.
“If we blow up the container, we disable all the sentinels in this area. We can kill the Zagorians. They’re as vulnerable as we are. It’s the sentinels, the spider bots, that are the problem,” Mack said.
“Cormack, many bots in army camp. They see you. Different heat than Zagorians. They can see difference.”
“Do you guys run colder or hotter?”
Pax’s expression made clear he wasn’t familiar with that expression. “Your body temperature, what is it?”
Pax’s face lit up with recognition. “Three hundred thirteen,” he said.
“Three hundred thirteen? What kind of fucked-up number is that?” Kristina said.
“They obviously use another system of measurements,” Mack said, mentally rolling his eyes at her. “When water boils, what temperature is that for you?” he asked Pax.
“Three hundred seventy-three.”
“And freezing point? When water becomes ice?”
“Two hundred seventy-three.”
“They’re using what we call the Kelvin scale, which is based on molecular motion. Zero Kelvin is the point where there’s no more molecular motion,” Mack explained to the others.
Tan grinned at him. “I’ll never stop being amazed at the shit you know.”
Mack smiled back. “I guess your high school teachers weren’t joking when they said you’d need math and science later on in life, right?”
“Cormack,” Pax said, and Mack immediately picked up on the urgency in his voice.
“You need to go.”
“Yes.”
“Will you get in trouble for this?”
“No. I tell humans attacked us. And I delete all video from sentinels. But, Cormack, Zagorian soldiers have…” He searched for a word again, then held up his wrist, showing them the underside. He tapped a spot on the right, and when Mack bent in a little closer, he saw a shadow under his skin. A little dark square.
“They have a chip?”
“You need take out. If not, they find soldiers. Control center can see all soldiers.”
Creepy, but it made sense. “But then they know you’ve been here for a while.”
Pax nodded. “You shoot me,” he said calmly.
All the blood drained from Mack’s face. “I’m not gonna kill you!”
Pax smiled at him. “No kill. Shoot me in arm. I look wounded. No one think I talk to humans.”
Mack breathed out slowly. Pax needed to make it look like he’d fought them off to avoid suspicion. It might be smart, but Mack didn’t like it one bit. “How do I know where to shoot so I don’t kill you or you don’t bleed out?”
“We have medicine. No bleed long. Look in…” Pax tapped the pockets on his jumpsuit, first the two on his chest, then the ones on his thighs. They could check those from the dead guys in the hallway.
“Okay,” Mack said. “Let’s go.”
He caught a movement from the corner of his eye, but before he could process it, Kristina slammed her balled fist against his right arm, the one that held the gun. His hand went numb, the nerves protesting the brute force they’d been subjected to, and his fingers couldn’t hold on to the gun anymore.
She grabbed it, and he did an uncoordinated move to keep her fingers off, but she clamped her fingers over his and pulled. Something clicked, and it went off, firing with a bang that made Mack’s ears ring. The gun dropped from his useless fingers, clattering to the ground and sliding away as if nothing had happened.
Was everyone okay? Mack looked around frantically. Had anyone gotten hit? Austin had his arms wrapped around Tan, protecting him. Bobbi was half under the table, looking white as a sheet. And Kristina and Julia were clutching each other.
Pax, was Pax okay? He seemed fine, though he looked at Mack with shock painted all over his delicate face. In fact, everyone was staring at him. Why?
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Why did his voice sound so weird? He sounded muffled. Or maybe his ears were still recovering from the gunshot?
Gunshot.
The gun had gone off.
Slowly he tilted his head down. His body and mind reconnected again, like they’d restored a communication link that had been malfunctioning for a few seconds. Because even before he saw the rapidly spreading red stain on his chest, the pain hit him like a knock-out punch.
His vision swirled, and then everything went black.