Sure enough, Kevin could see figures in military uniform moving forward, moving in unison, obviously under the aliens control.
He ran for the airlock and used the key Dr. Levin had given him to open it. Beyond, the girl was there waiting, while the former soldiers were closing in now, breaking into a run.
Quick, inside! Kevin said. He pulled the girl inside the airlock, because there was no time to waste. He went to pull the door closed, knowing that they would be safe the moment it was there between them and the controlled who advanced on the base.
It didnt budge.
Help me, Kevin shouted to her, hauling on the door and feeling the solidity of the steel beneath his hands. The girl grabbed hold of it with him, pulling at the door, throwing her weight back to try to move it.
A little way away, the former soldiers were advancing at a run, and it was all Kevin could do to keep his attention on the door, not on them. It was the only way he could keep his terror at bay and focus on throwing his own weight back, pulling at the door.
Finally, it gave way, grinding into motion as they dragged it closed. Kevin heard the echo of it as it slammed, locking with a click that rang around the airlock.
Decontamination Procedure Starting, an electronic voice said, the way it had when Kevin and Luna had first arrived. There was the rush of the air being cleaned by the bunkers filters around them.
Hi, Im Kevin, he said. He suspected that there should be something more dramatic to say at a moment like this, but he couldnt think of it.
The girl was silent for a moment or two, then seemed to realize that Kevin might be expecting an answer. Im Chloe.
Its good to meet you, Chloe, Kevin said.
She looked at him quietly, as though assessing him, and seemed almost ready to run. Yeah, I guess.
The other door to the airlock clicked open. Luna was waiting for them, smiling her most welcoming smile, even though shed been the one arguing against letting Chloe in.
Hello, Luna said. She held out a hand. Im Luna.
Chloe stared at it, then shrugged without taking it.
This is Chloe, Kevin said for her.
Chloe nodded in not very enthusiastic agreement, looking around warily.
Where is everyone? she demanded at last.
Theres no everyone, Luna replied. Theres just us. Me and Kevin.
She stepped over next to Kevin as if to emphasize that they were a team. She even put a hand on his shoulder.
Just you two? Chloe said. She sat down on one of the command centers chairs, shaking her head. All this way, and its just you two?
Where have you come from? Kevin asked.
That doesnt matter, Chloe said, not looking at them.
I think it kind of matters a bit, Luna shot back. I mean, youve shown up out of nowhere, and youre asking us to trust you.
Chloe looked over sharply, shrugged again, and then walked out of the room. Kevin went after her, mostly because he suspected that if Luna went after her there might be some kind of argument, and also because there was something intriguing about Chloe. There were so many things they didnt know about her.
You dont need to follow me, Chloe said, looking back as Kevin followed her along one of the corridors.
I thought I could show you round, Kevin said. You know if you want.
Chloe shrugged once more. There seemed to be nuances to her shrugs, and it seemed that this one meant okay. Kevin wasnt quite sure what to make of her.
Weve been looking around since we got here, Kevin said. Theres a kitchen and a storeroom down here, and some bathrooms here. This is the dormitory where were sleeping. Pick out a bed if you want. Im down that way, and so is Luna.
Chloe picked a bed. It was the other side of the room from the ones Luna and Kevin had chosen.
Its not that I dont trust you, she said, but I dont know you, and She shook her head, not finishing that. There was a haunted look to her as she did it.
Are you okay? Kevin asked.
Im fine, Chloe shot back, but then softened her voice a little. Im fine. Ive just been used to looking after myself for a while. I guess Im not very good at opening up to people.
Okay, Kevin said. He stepped back toward the door. I can go if you dont want to
I ran away from home, Chloe said. It was enough to stop Kevin where he was.
What?
I mean, before the aliens came, Chloe continued. My mom shouted at me all the time, and my dad was well, some stuff happened, and they all said I was crazy anyway, I have a cousin up north. I thought if I could get to him, Id be okay, and then the aliens came.
To Kevin, it sounded like she was skimming over a lot of stuff, but he let it go. A lot of the pauses had the feeling of gaps that hid the kind of stuff that hurt too much, as if pretending would make it all go away. He knew about that. Like if he pretended everything was fine, his illness wasnt really there.
How did you survive out there? Kevin asked.
I did what I had to, Chloe said, sounding defensive, and also kind of haunted again. Wait, you mean when everyone else changed? I was I guess it was just luck. I was inside away from everyone when it started happening, and people said there was a gas or something, but by the time I got out, it was just those things trying to grab people and breathe on them.
By the time you got out? Kevin said.
This butcher locked me in his meat locker. Said I was trying to steal from him.
Was that somewhere that might keep the alien vapor out? Did it mean that Luna and he didnt need their masks anymore?
It will be okay, Kevin said.
Chloe gave him another of those shrugs. Youre the kid on TV, arent you? When you said your name was Kevin, I didnt get it, but I think I recognize you. Is that why youre here? They stashed you in a safe place because youre the boy who knows about aliens?
Kevin shook his head, moving back over to her. They didnt put me here. Dr. Levin gave me a key to fit the bunkers they have, and told me about the one under the NASA research center, but that went wrong. Luna and I had to find this place by ourselves.
Chloe nodded. Luna is she your girlfriend?
People were always assuming that. Kevin couldnt understand why. It seemed obvious to him that Luna would never be his girlfriend.
Shes my friend, Kevin said. Were not I mean
It was weird how talking about aliens was easier than talking about exactly what he and Luna were.
Strange, Chloe said. I mean, you seem nice. I definitely wouldnt leave you as just a friend. I wonder
Kevin didnt get to find out what she wondered, though, because a pointed cough came from the doorway. Almost as pointed as the look Luna gave them when Kevin turned around.
I wanted to see what was taking you both so long, she said, and she didnt sound happy. She looked almost jealous, and that didnt make sense, because nothing was happening here, and in any case, Kevin and Luna werent like that. Were they?
Hi, Luna, Kevin said. Chloe was just telling me about herself.
I bet she was, Luna said. Maybe she can tell me some of it too. And maybe, while were doing that, we can work out what were all going to do next.
***They went through to the kitchen area, because none of them had eaten breakfast yet. Kevin went to get supplies from the storeroom, not entirely sure if he should leave Luna and Chloe alone right then.
They went through to the kitchen area, because none of them had eaten breakfast yet. Kevin went to get supplies from the storeroom, not entirely sure if he should leave Luna and Chloe alone right then.
Kevin picked out a packet that claimed to be blueberry pancakes, and took it out to them. They were quiet, which was kind of worrying in itselfLuna was almost never quiet.
I found blueberry pancakes, he said.
Thats great, Luna said. I love blueberry pancakes.
I like them too, Chloe said, although Kevin got the feeling shed only said it because Luna had.
Well, I dont know how good theyll be, Kevin said.
The answer to that was simple: they tasted like something that had been in a packet in a storeroom for longer than they should have been. Even so, he was hungry enough by then to eat all of his.
How did you hear about this place? Kevin asked Chloe while they were eating.
My dad his job meant that he heard things, she said, but didnt expand on it more than that. Kevin suspected that if Luna had asked rather than him, she wouldnt have said even that much.
So you trekked here, and battered on the door until someone let you in? Luna said. She didnt sound to Kevin as though she believed it much.
I had to go somewhere, Chloe said.
I wonder if there are other places like this where people have managed to hide out, Kevin said before that could turn into an argument. He wanted them to get along, if they were stuck there.
If there are, we cant contact them, Luna said. Theres still no signal coming in through the screens, and all those communications devices are useless if we dont know who were connecting to.
Maybe youre just not turning them on right, Chloe said.
Luna gave her a pointed look.
We can stay here as long as we need to, anyway, Luna said. Were safe here. We talked about this yesterday, Kevin.
They had, and it had been a comforting thought at the time, but was that it? Were the three of them just going to stay there for the rest of their lives?
I might know about a place, Chloe said, between mouthfuls of pancake.
You just happen to know about somewhere? Luna said. The same way that you heard about here?
To Kevin, she sounded suspicious. He wanted to give Chloe the benefit of the doubt, but Luna sounded much less like she trusted her.
Chloe put down her fork. I heard about it on the way here from some people I met. I figured that this was closer, and safer. But if theres no one here
Were here, Luna said. Were safe here.
Are we? Chloe demanded, looking around at Kevin as if for confirmation. Theres supposed to be a group toward LA who are helping refugees gather together and stay safe. They call themselves the Survivors.
So you want us to go all the way to LA and look for these people? Luna asked.
Whats your plan? Just sit here and wait for things to get better?
Kevin looked from one to the other, trying to work out the best way to keep all of this calm.
We have enough food to last forever, and maybe well get the radio working soon. We cant just go out there when there could be anything.
Chloe shook her head. Things dont get better. Trust me.
Trust you? Luna said. We dont even know you. Were staying here.
Kevin knew that tone. It meant that Luna wasnt backing down.
Listen to the perfect little cheerleader, thinking shes in charge, Chloe shot back.
You know nothing about me, Luna insisted, in a dangerous tone of voice.
Kevin could barely work out why they were arguing. Hed been trying not to get involved, but now it seemed as though he might have to.
He stood to say something, but stopped, because pain shot through his head, along with something else, a feeling he hadnt had in days now.
Kevin? Luna said. Are you all right?
Kevin shook his head. I think I think theres another signal coming through.
CHAPTER THREE
Numbers flashed through Kevins mind, bursting through it in rapid sequence, seeming almost to burn themselves onto his brain. They seemed too fast to hold onto, but Kevin knew he had to try. He grabbed for them
Kevin woke, blinking up at the top bunk of the bed hed chosen from the floor. His head ached like hed been hit on it, but it wasnt that. It was just the pain that came as his body tried to process an alien signal it couldnt handle, trying vainly to grasp onto it. He put a hand to his nose and it came away stained by a thin stream of blood.
Here, Luna said, handing him a cloth.
Thanks, Kevin replied.
Chloe was watching him from the other side of the bunkbed, as though it was a barrier between her and Luna.
Are you okay? she asked. What happened?
I told you what happened, Luna said. Kevin could hear the annoyance there.
Chloe shook her head. I want to hear it from him.
Kevin swallowed. I think I think theres a transmission.
I told you, Luna said, with a certain satisfaction, then looked back to Kevin. Wait, you think theres one?
Kevin could understand that uncertainty. Before, the transmissions had all been so clear.
There werent any words, Kevin said. It was all numbers.
Like the first time, Luna said.
Kevin nodded, struggling to sit up. When he blinked, he could see the numbers clearly, burning behind his eyelids, there whether he wanted to see them or not.
So this is how it happens? Chloe asked, sounding almost excited about it. You get actual transmissions into your brain?
I get hints of things, Kevin said, but the actual transmissions come through NASAs radio telescopes. Im just able to translate them.
Thats amazing, Chloe said.
It was easy to forget that there were people out there who hadnt seen him doing this plenty of times before.
Its not something fun, Luna said. You can see what it does to Kevin. And all the trouble thats come from it too not just the aliens coming here. Weve had people threaten us, try to kill us, people not believe Kevin. Do you know what its like, not being believed when youre telling the truth? Being told that youre crazy?
Chloe had been looking increasingly angry as Luna spoke, but once she said that, Chloe went quiet.
Yeah, she said softly. Yeah, I do.
She went and sat down on the corner of one of the other beds, and Kevin saw her fingers drumming together as though there was a lot she wanted to say, but didnt. Kevin might have asked her what was wrong, but Luna was speaking to him again.
So this means that theres another message waiting? she asked. Another transmission from the aliens?
Kevin nodded. Not the ones who invaded, though. This felt more like the way it did with the other ones. The ones who tried to warn us.
I guessed that, Luna said. I mean, what are the invaders going to say now? Surrender and be destroyed, puny humans? Resistance is futile? What kind of aliens gloat when theyve already beaten you?
Everyone else does, Chloe muttered, then stood up and walked out.
Luna made a face at her retreating back. Whats her problem?
Kevin shook his head. I dont know. I get the feeling that something pretty bad happened before she came here.