Distance was an abstract concept at this point, as was time. Alex felt that for as long as she and Jim had been riding, they should have been closer. The extent of the meteor’s influence was difficult to distinguish, but Alex knew it was responsible.
Whatever was inside the meteor was much more powerful than Holmorth had been, and extremely dangerous.
Alex felt like an insignificant speck compared to the sheer size of the meteor. It was nearly as big as an island. She couldn’t see where it began or where it ended. Finding the spot where they had broken off a chunk earlier was impossible.
Jim’s voice crackled over the comm. “That’s not normal, is it?”
“Nope. That thing is definitely not normal.”
Alex stopped flying. She just floated, watching the meteor above her. It was entrancing. She didn’t know why, but she could keep looking at it forever.
Jim rested next to her. “How long have we been flying?”
Alex looked down at her dragon anchor. “Says here we’ve been flying for twelve hours,” she murmured.
“No freaking way! We just took off. We did just take off, didn’t we?”
Alex sat down on Chine’s back and shrugged. “I have no idea. Nothing up here makes any sense. Like that,” she said, pointing to the little bit of sky that could be seen behind the meteor, or perhaps the place where the meteor was most sky-like. “What the hell is that?”
A sharp pain pulsed through Alex’s head, the same one that had brought her to the ground earlier. There was more pain this time, a hot flash, and then a sledgehammer cracking her skull open. Alex didn’t fall down this time. She stayed conscious as her nose started to bleed.
It knew she was coming. Alex couldn’t tell if whatever the meteor hid was scared or angry.
“You ever think you were going to die young?” Jim asked.
Up above, stars streaked by across the surface of the meteor, flaming balls of fire. “Not really,” Alex answered. “I didn’t really think about dying before. I guess it seemed like it was still pretty far away. My parents are pretty young, so it’s not like it was on their mind or anything.”
“My dad was afraid I was going to die young. You know, I don’t think I ever told you this, but I almost died when I was a kid. Hospital ER and everything.”
Alex glanced at Jim, who was poking his head out of his cockpit. He seemed so far away, as if his face were dragging miles and miles behind him. “No, we don’t talk about a lot of personal stuff,” she said. “What happened?”
Jim was quiet for a little bit, but when he started talking, Alex could hardly understand him. She didn’t have to, though. Up above Jim’s head, something like a movie was playing. She saw a small child waiting at a crosswalk. The child was reading a book, completely absorbed.
The child looked both ways, then stuck one foot out onto the street. Then the other. As the child crossed the street, a car came rocketing around the corner. It struck the child, and then everything was red. Everything was fractured.
Alex caught the last thing Jim said. “That’s why everyone calls me Jaws,” he explained. “Cause of the metal jaw I got.”
“Did you talk to your parents? Before we left?”
Jim looked sad when he answered. “No, I didn’t. And I didn’t leave a message. I know my dad. It would mess him up pretty bad to hear it from me. My voice and stuff. It’d be better if the military told him. He could handle that.”
Something like a projection of waves moving back and forth could be seen across the meteor. They were dancing with each other. Part of Alex wished the rest of the squad could see what she was seeing. It was beautiful.
The waves continued rolling, crashing against a large white wall. A cliff. There was someone standing atop the cliff. Alex. She was watching the waves. They were calling to her.
Alex watched as the waves parted. Her body lay on the ocean floor—broken, her eyes staring at her other self. Then the waves shifted and covered her corpse.
“We’re still here, right?” Alex asked.
Jim was staring at the meteor. “I think so. It’s hard to tell. This isn’t anything like the last time we were up here,” he answered. “This is…really freaky.”
Chine’s voice came through Alex’s head, fuzzy and clear at the same time, like something crawling around in her skull. It’s a psychic projection. Whatever is inside the meteor is boosting the psychic connection of everything around it.
Alex had no idea what any of that meant. Could you say it in English, please?
Our bond is psychic. The meteor is binding everything together. Somewhat. Not as strong as our bond, but there is a connection, and it’s dripping into the air.
Do you think they can see it down below?
Definitely, but it looks different to them. Much like it looks different to each of us.
Is it an attack?
I’m not certain. It could be, but it’s difficult to tell. Be on your guard.
Jim turned to Alex. His face was the only thing that made sense under the sway of the meteor above. At least Jim was constant. “I wouldn’t have thought this would be the result of me playing a video game.” He chuckled.
Alex giggled despite herself, despite where she was, despite the world falling apart around her. “Yeah, I wouldn’t have guessed this would have come from that either,” she admitted. “I’d probably get a refund if I could.”
“You know, if I was ever going to do a heroic, hardcore, one-life playthrough, it would have been with you.” Jim’s face had gone serious, and he clenched and unclenched his fists. “You know, I kinda like you. A lot.”
The lump in Alex’s throat disappeared. “Yeah, I know. I like you too. A lot.”
“Cool. Would it be corny if
