Page 23 of Capture of Capricorn

He spun the car around, and gravel spat from the tires as he shot in the direction of a broken gate flanked by a flattened fence. Some vehicles had slammed into the sections of chain link, allowing entry to the agitators. A few cars and trucks had been abandoned, leading Capricorn to weave through them to get past. As they cleared the barrage of vehicles and began to speed down the road, they passed more people arriving, flags waving from their car and truck windows, making her snicker.

“What’s so funny?” Capricorn asked.

“These folks thinking there are actually aliens inside there.”

“You don’t think space has intelligent life?”

“If aliens existed and were capable of space travel, indicating they were smart, why would they come here? Humanity can barely accept each other. I can’t see them being welcoming to actual ETs.”

“Good point. But you didn’t answer my question. Do you believe there is something beyond our world?”

“Most likely. It’s rather arrogant to think Earth is the only planet that spawned organisms.”

“You sound skeptical.”

“I’m a person who likes proof. Hence why I’m an atheist. Show me a god and I’ll believe in religion, but of course, no one can ever show proof. It’s always ‘the Bible says…’ And to that, my response is the Bible was written by men. Men who lived in a time where superstition ran rampant. Everything that couldn’t be explained back then was attributed to some magical being in the sky. Since then, science has explained much of what they considered miraculous.”

“What if you came across something science couldn’t explain?”

“I’d say it requires more study because everything has a cause and effect. Lights in the night sky are caused by charged particles colliding with gases in the atmosphere. Eclipses aren’t some mystical events, but a predictable alignment of the moon and our sun. Tsunamis, once considered a wrath of god, are the aftermath of earthquakes. Everything has a logical scientific explanation.”

“If you say so,” he stated with amusement. “But what about the relic?”

She’d almost forgotten about it. She eyed the bundle of fabric in her lap. “Is simply a mystery I haven’t yet cracked. Most likely it’s comprised of a new super alloy that would have given Crius power in the sense that if he knew how to make more of it, he could design things that could withstand just about anything thrown at it. Can you imagine a fortress built of this material?” She patted the bundled sphere.

“Somehow I don’t think that’s what Adam was after.”

“Guess we’ll never know, since we escaped that twat waffle. Good job, by the way.”

He snorted. “I could say the same. Smart thinking using that fire to cover our escape.”

“Team effort.” Not a phrase she’d used very often. “Now where to?” she asked. “I could use a change of clothes, but I don’thave any money.” Which made her wonder how she’d get home. Could she even go home? Crius knew where she lived.

Fuck.

“We just need to find a phone. I have a friend who can help us out with funds, but I want to be farther away from here before we stop.”

They zoomed past Rachel, Nevada, with its alien-themed shops and restaurants. Zora tried to not freak out when they saw a series of unmarked black SUVs whip by, heading toward the base they’d just left. They drove to the next town over called Crystal Springs, arriving just in time, according to the red light blinking in the dash warning they were about to run out of gas.

They ditched the car at the Alien Research Center, a fancy name for a shack selling all kinds of themed stuff. Entering the store, Zora and Capricorn drew a few curious glances, given they still wore filthy hospital scrubs and slippers on their feet. It didn’t help they stank of smoke and probably gunpowder, but then again, they weren’t the oddest folk. The man wearing flashing antennas and contacts that made his eyes a bright slitted yellow took the prize.

Capricorn charmed the tattooed young lady behind the counter into letting him use her phone and soon returned to Zora, who browsed some metal artwork inside a glass display case.

“Get a hold of your friend?” she asked.

“Yup. He’s booking us a room at a motel nearby and making arrangements to get us some cash.”

“Did you call the cops and tell them about Cetus?”

“What would be the point?”

Her lips pursed. “Putting that fucker in jail.”

“Come on, we both know that wouldn’t happen.”

“Maybe not, but I hate letting Crius get off without punishment.”

“Don’t you worry about that fucker. He’ll get what’s coming to him.” A dark promise that gave her a shiver of delight.

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