Beneath Unknown Skies 76

 

They came out of the sewers into the fresh air. Looking back, Joon felt likethey'd been underground forever. The sky was blue. It was Earth, even if they did tell him it was 2472. He shook his head wearily, breathing in fresh air as Hiller and Trish's people fanned out, scouting the area. The access tunnel they had emerged from had a trip sensor, to alert Sanctuary of intrusion, but Trish's people knew their way around that. There were seven of them, including Trish, who had accompanied them here. Strength in numbers, they were told, but not so many that they would attract attention, hopefully. 

The ruined city rose in the distance, great towers reaching for the sky, festooned with vegetation. That was their destination, Trish had said. That was the true Refuge. Joon had commented that it was ironic- they were seeking a safe haven from a place called Sanctuary. Trish had nodded grimly- the irony was lost on none of them. 

Joon had mixed feelings- about running, about what had happened back in Sanctuary. Should he have stayed? The Scholars were going to take them into custody, but he would have been closer to the Gate. To alt Joon, to Yvette and Jack. Maybe they could have protected him. By running he may have just doomed himself and Hillier. But his instinct had told him to go. Then again, his instinct had told him to follow the beacon to 2472, and look how that was turning out. 

And Maia. He was having mixed feelings about her, too. Not his Maia. The one, rather, who had tried to kill him. Or co- opt his mind, which was arguably worse. Maia- 25. An alternate Maia, from another world. But why? And if he were honest, he had to admit to guilt. He had been seduced, in a way, by this other Maia. No, they hadn't acted on it, but he'd thought about it. He was ashamed. 

"Hey," Hillier broke him out of his reverie. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"Don't hurt yourself," she smiled. "Let's go."

The team was already moving, with scouts going a little ahead, the rest falling into a protective cordon around Joon and Trish. They were all armed heavily, with Trish and another woman armed with purloined energy weapons, the rest with older projectile weapons. Joon was just glad to have a gun in his hand. 

The land was wild, with an occasional stone foundation or remnant of road to show that civilzation once existed here, but they saw little wildlife. The ever present danger of mutants was their primary concern. The land and the nearby city were crawling with them, and it would take them a good day or so to reach the city. Luckily there was a safehouse along the way. 

It was quiet as they went. Joon was still sore from their encounter with the tracking dog that had almost finished them, but Hillier seemed in good spirits. Her and Trish seemed to get on well. He was curious to know more about Trish- he was intrigued that she had come here with Jack. She must have been part of the team, then, that had come with he and Yvette. How many of Jack's team were there? He wished he had examined the dossier Stella had given him more closely. 

He had asked Trish what city they were approaching, and was surprised to learn that she had no idea. It's name was lost to time, and if the Scholars knew they had not shared the information. He didn't even know what part of the world they were in. America, at least. But this Sanctuary was not necessarily the Sanctuary he was from, back home. He could be anywhere. 

As evening fell they reached the safehouse. Which was actually an old bunker, with a hatch giving access to stairs leading down, cleverly hidden in a copse of trees. The hatch opened with a groan, and rusty metal flakes fell away as they opened it. Stale musty air could be detected as they climbed down. Trish activated a portable lamp and they lit torches, the flickering flames revealing a spacious haven filled with canned goods and dusty furniture, as well as a cache of weapons and some wilderness supplies. At least they would eat. 

"How many mutants are there?" Joon asked as he and Trish ate out of a can after surveying the place. 

"We don't really know," she replied. "Numerous. It's like bad zombie movies from our time. But they're not zombies. They're not human, either. Not anymore. The way it was explained to me is that they were... changed. By the Incursions. Whatever was released, whatever dimensional chaos was unleashed, it made them into... things. They're savages. Bloodthirsty. Running in packs. Same with the weather. And plants. We call them Aberrants. Aberrant flora, aberrant weather. It changed the world. And it all comes back to the Gates." 

Joon digested this. 

"If that's the case, why would Yvette and Jack think it's okay to keep using...?"

"Stella still sends teams out, right?" interrupted Trish. "None of them ever learn."

*******

Later as they slept Joon thought back to his visit with Mallory. Or Mallory- 3, as it were. She was different than Mallory back home, or so Hillier said. She seemed the same to him. Swept into his room after the attack, hugged him warmly. 

"Thank God you're alright."

He could see Hillier rolling her eyes as he hugged her back. 

It was odd- Hillier had a point- this version of Mallory had hardly acknowledged him since his arrival. Why so effusive now? But they had a nice visit. Joon had lots of questions. Why was she here? For that matter, why were there so many alternate versions of people he knew here? Mallory said she had the same thoughts, that she'd been meaning to ask Jack or Yvette that very question. It was all very strange, almost like alternate versions... congregating here. 

Of course they weren't alternates to themselves. 

Everyone thinks of themself as the prime "me". 

Malory was also shocked that Maia- 25 was the assailant. The Maia she knew was quiet, sweet. What could make her go rogue? 

It was a little awkward too because Joon and Mallory had had a brief fling back on Earth. Or earth in the 21st, he corrected himself inwardly. Did this Mallory know that? Had it happened where she was from? 

After she left Hillier came over. 

"Well, wasn't that nice?"

"Are you sure you're not seeing shadows everywhere?"

"She's playing you."

"I suppose," Joon admitted. "Can anyone be trusted?"

Hillier smiled. 

*******

Denver was a mess, Tentacles from the sky, chaos. People being pulled into the air and then dropped. Or pulled screaming into the rift in the air, to Lord knows where. The city was aflame. A state of emergency had been announced, and it wasn't Denver alone. There were reports coming in all over. Strange creatures had been reported all over. And above it all were the strange, unearthly calls from... something in the sky over Denver. Almost like something calling out to another. 

And most chilling of all, an answering call seemed to be coming from within the complex.