Hunted

Chapter 25: Storm Clouds

Kevin McDade's face was pale, and that made Wayne Gilger's heart race with fearful anticipation. When he and Robert Clark had received a coded message requesting a videoconference at 1400 hours, Gilger knew it wasn't going to be the usual "Everything is going according to plan" updates they had been getting for more than a week. But Gilger hadn't thought anything, not even facing the Grim Reaper himself, could rattle McDade to the point where the color would drain from his face like it had.

Gilger inched his chair over to the right, improving his view of Clark's profile. The videophone they were using was hidden in one drawer of the wood-covered filing cabinets that sat in the wall behind Clark's desk, and Clark essentially had to turn his back to the original position of Gilger's chair to use it. Gilger wanted to be able to see the subtle nuances of Clark's reaction to whatever news was forthcoming.

"Go ahead," Clark said in a low, steady voice. It was obvious that he had interpreted the stunned look on McDade's face as well. "The channel is secure. Speak freely."

"We've lost three more team members," McDade said directly. Nothing like getting right to the point.

Clark pursed his lips ever so slightly. "Haley again?" he asked in a voice revealing none of the emotions that might be boiling inside him.

"Not exactly, sir. They found Haley, but Haley himself didn't kill them."

Clark drummed his fingers on his leg. "Alright, McDade, why don't you just tell me in your usual succinct way what happened. I'll hold off on the questions until you're done."

McDade gave a quick nod. "The four people assigned to Haley had been working in sweeps of ever-expanding size. They focused mainly on uninhabited or lightly populated worlds, since these seem to be Haley's preferred hiding places. They were rotating positions, with three doing the physical searches and one serving as communication link here at the base.

"They found Haley several hours ago on a planet called Chanos. He was among a small tribe of villagers that inhabit the world. The team was sweeping through the tents the locals live in when they were struck and killed by a species native to the world, something the locals call a Lumen."

"What in the name of-" Clark burst out. He caught himself and eased back in his chair. "I'm sorry. Go ahead."

"The Lumen are sphere-shaped energy beings. They exist in the region of space we access with the STB, and can also travel in the physical plane. We didn't even know of their existence until the second team went to investigate."

"You sent another team after the first had been killed!" Clark shouted. "That could have jeopardized the mission on Malu III!"

"I'm aware of that, sir. But I felt the unknown could jeopardize the mission as well. When the second team was sent, we had no idea what happened to the first, which means we weren't certain they were dead. It was possible that Haley had found some way to use the STB against us, and if we didn't investigate-"

Clark held up a hand and blew out a short angry breath. "I get your point. Go on."

"When the second team arrived, these Lumen came at them in STB space. They did not attack our people, but they swirled about them in a manner the team felt was threatening. They let our people approach Chanos, but when they tried to materialize, the Lumen raced in to attack. The team phased out again before any damage was done and reported back here. Since then, we've planted long-range surveillance beacons in space around Chanos, and have pieced together much of what happened from the conversations of the villagers. Haley is gone, and he took a pulse rifle and the STBs with him. The locals have buried the three members of the original team."

Clark rubbed a bead of sweat from his brow with a gently trembling hand. "Anything on where Haley went?"

"Not yet, sir, but we're still monitoring Chanos. I'm afraid the rifle might lead him in the right direction though. He's getting more and more pieces of the puzzle."