The air felt heavier than it should, as if the atmosphere carried an unspoken weight. Shay's vision blurred at the edges as a sharp dizziness swept over her. Her notebook slipped from her fingers, and she barely registered Drake's alarmed voice before everything faded to black.
When she came to, the world felt distant and surreal. A bitter taste lingered in her mouth, and she realized someone had placed a small pill under her tongue. Her eyes opened to find Shay2 leaning over her, her expression unreadable but vaguely amused.
"You'll be fine in a moment," said Shay2, her voice calm but carrying an undertone that Shay couldn't quite place. "The air here takes some getting used to. Our bodies need help to process it."
Drake groaned beside her, his hand instinctively reaching for hers. His eyes locked onto hers for a fleeting second before shifting to Shay2. "What… happened?"
"It's the air," said Alena2, kneeling beside Alena, who was just beginning to stir. "Your physiology isn't adapted to Htrae's atmosphere. We gave you temporary supplements to stabilize your system."
Marcus sat up slowly, rubbing his temple as he glanced warily at Marcus2, who stood at a deliberate distance, arms crossed. "Convenient," Marcus muttered. "What else aren't you telling us?"
"Plenty," Marcus2 shot back. "But we're not the enemy here."
Shay pushed herself upright, her body feeling sluggish, yet functional. Her eyes darted to Drake, who looked equally skeptical. "We'll take that under advisement," she said dryly, brushing dust from her pants.
"You should keep taking the supplements," Shay2 advised. "Without them, you'll experience… complications."
"We'll think about it," said Drake, his voice measured but firm. His eyes lingered on Shay2 for a moment before turning to the others. "Let's move."
The farmhouse came into view, its rustic exterior a mirror image of the one back on Earth, yet undeniably alien. The architecture was slightly different, the angles sharper and the materials unfamiliar, though they looked like wood and stone.
Shay's mind raced as she took it all in, noting every detail. The radio towers in the distance emitted a pulse that seemed to vibrate in her chest.
"Welcome to our base," said Shay2, gesturing toward the building. "It's not much, but it's held up through more than a few storms."
"That's a great thing," said Alena, her tone neutral as she looked around at the mechanical systems integrated into the structure, crank-operated elevators, exposed analog wiring, and intricate gears that seemed to hum.
Drake stepped closer to Shay, his presence grounding her as they approached the farmhouse. "Stay sharp," he mumbled under his breath.
"Absolutely," said Shay.
Inside, the farmhouse was busy with activity. Counterparts moved with purpose, their faces focused and fatigued. Shay2 led them to a central meeting room, its walls lined with faded maps and schematics. At the head of the table stood an older, alternate version of Grandma Shay, her eyes sharp and weary like her Grandma Shay back on Earth.
"You must have questions," said Grandma Shay2, her voice carrying a weight of experience that silenced the room. "I'll answer what I can, but know this… your arrival here changes everything."
Shay glanced at Drake, whose expression remained unreadable. She turned back to her elder counterpart. "Changes everything how?"
"Htrae is on the brink," said Grandma Shay2. "The Masks have pushed us to the edge of collapse. Every move we make is a gamble, and every loss sets us back months, if not years. Your presence here isn't just a coincidence. It's an opportunity."
"An opportunity for what?" asked Drake.
"To fix what we couldn't," said Shay2. Her gaze swept over the group, lingering on Shay. "You see, we were supposed to be the solution, the ones who held the galaxy together. But we failed."
Marcus crossed his arms, his skepticism clear. "And what exactly do you expect us to do about it?"
"Succeed where we fell short. The Masks have consolidated their power by exploiting weaknesses we didn't see until it was too late. Your fresh perspective might be the edge we need," said Grandma Shay2.
"What makes you think we're any better equipped to handle this than you are?" asked Alena.
"Because you haven't been broken yet," said Shay2, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "You still have hope. You still believe you can win."
The room fell silent. The weight of her words settled over them like a heavy shroud. Shay glanced at her team, her mind focused and thinking. counterparts felt… off. Their words carried conviction, but their expressions betrayed something else—doubt, fear, or perhaps something more sinister.
Grandma Shay2 broke the silence. "For now, get some rest. We'll reconvene in the morning. There's much to discuss."
As the group dispersed, Shay lingered near the doorway, her gaze fixed on the schematics spread across the table. She felt Drake's hand on her shoulder, a silent reassurance.
"We need to talk," he whispered.
"Later," she replied, her voice low. "First, we need to figure out who we can trust."
The large barn was at the edge of the property, with its weathered exterior a stark contrast to the faint hum of unseen energy pulsing from within. Shay, Drake, Alena, and Marcus followed their counterparts as the late afternoon light filtered through cracks in the barn's walls.
"Why the barn?" asked Shay2, her arms crossed, skepticism lacing her voice. Marcus2 stood close behind her, his posture rigid, while Alena2 and Drake2 lingered near the entrance, their watchful eyes never leaving the Earth team.
"We're curious," said Shay, keeping her tone neutral. "Our barn serves as a defensive hub. We wanted to see how yours compares."
"Fine. But don't touch anything," asked Shay2.
Inside the barn was a blend of rustic simplicity and intricate mechanical systems. Tools hung neatly on the walls, and strange metallic tubes crisscrossed the ceiling. The faint energy hum grew louder as they moved deeper inside.
"Efficient," remarked Drake, his gaze sweeping over the machinery. "But some of this looks… patched together."
Marcus gestured toward a stack of coiled wires near the far wall. "Looks functional, but barely. I'm seeing gaps in what critical systems should be."
Alena's eyes searched the room for anything strange; she approached a console with a cracked display. "This doesn't even look like it's connected to anything."
Shay scribbled quick notes in her notebook, her abstract mind already piecing together the inconsistencies. "It's like they're trying to give the appearance of strength, but the details don't hold up."
Shay2 and Drake2 exchanged a glance. "If you're done sightseeing, maybe you'd like to share your insights," said Shay2, her tone sharp.
"We're just observing," said Drake. "That's all."
Satisfied that they'd pushed the limits of their hosts' patience, Shay suggested they inspect the outside for a better understanding of the barn's defenses. Shay2 hesitated, but eventually waved them off. "Fine. Don't take too long."
As soon as the counterparts retreated to the barn's entrance, Drake pulled out a sleek silver device from his belt. The Galiexian truth-detection tool emitted a faint pulse, its surface glowing softly. He swept the barn methodically, searching for any listening devices or hidden interference.
"It's clear," he said after a moment. "We can talk."
Shay glanced back toward the entrance before stepping closer to her team. "Something's off. Shay2's tone, Marcus2's focus on Marcus… it's like they're hiding something."
"Alena2 won't make eye contact," added Alena. "And she's barely spoken since we arrived. That's not normal."
"Do you think they're compromised?" asked Marcus. His voice was calm, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his concern.
"It's possible," said Shay. "Or maybe they're not like us at all. What if they're not immortals—or what if they're something entirely different?"
Drake studied the device in his hand, turning it over thoughtfully. "Grandma Shay mentioned this might help. It can detect deception, even if someone is under external control. If it fails to work, it means something deeper is wrong."
"Deception or control. That's a wide margin," said Alena.
Shay looked between them, her mind racing in overdrive. Her mind seeing possible patterns. "We'll need to test it. Discreetly. They already don't trust us, and we can't afford to lose what little ground we've gained."
Marcus crossed his arms. "I'm not comfortable using this on them without their knowledge."
"We don't have a choice," said Alena. "If they're compromised, we're in more danger than we realize."
Drake met Shay's eyes. "We'll test it the next chance we get. But we'll stay subtle."
Before they could continue, the sound of footsteps on gravel alerted them. Shay2 appeared in the barn doorway.
"I hope you found what you were looking for," she said, her tone laced with ambiguity. Her gaze lingered on Shay before shifting to Drake, then Marcus.
Drake subtly pressed a button on the device in his hand. The soft glow lit briefly before stabilizing, then lit again, as though struggling to function. His grip tightened.
"Yeah," said Shay, her voice even. "We're ready to head back."
"Good," said Shay2. "Dinner's almost ready. We'll talk strategy afterwards." Her words were neutral, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable.
As the Earth team followed her back to the farmhouse, Drake slipped the device into his pocket, his mind echoing Grandma Shay's warning: If it doesn't work, assume the worst.
The farmhouse command room buzzed with a quiet intensity, the soft hum of Galiexian projections casting a faint blue glow. Grandma Shay stood at the head of the table, her presence commanding yet calm, as Grandpa Mitch paced slowly, his gaze flickering between the holographic displays.
"Let's cut to it," said Grandma Shay. Her voice was steady, but carried a note of urgency. "The Galiexians have intercepted communications that Force has been experimenting with advanced alien tech."
Aunt Martha leaned forward, her brow furrowing as she gestured to the projection. "What kind of tech are we talking about?"
Grandma Shay tapped the console, bringing up a schematic of a sleek, angular device emitting faint pulses of energy. "Dimensional rift generators. He's using them to open and manipulate portals."
"That's not just tech; that's war-grade equipment," said Uncle Ted.
"Exactly," said Grandma Shay. "The rifts he's opening aren't stable, but they're already causing ripples across dimensions. Htrae is his prime target."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling over the group. Grandpa Mitch stopped pacing and turned to face the table. "If he's targeting Htrae, it's not just to spy. He might be planning to send the Slenvexials there."
Aunt Martha adjusted her glasses and studied the schematic. "These are similar to the blueprints we recovered from the warehouse. They're not complete, but they suggest a device capable of breaching interdimensional barriers."
"That's what worries me," said Grandma Shay. "If Force perfects this, he won't need to rely on infiltration. He'll send an army straight through."
"So, what's the plan? Take out Force now or wait for more intel?" asked Detective Ques.
"We strike now. If we wait, we're giving him time to solidify his plans," said Uncle Ted.
"No," said Grandpa Mitch firmly. "We act too soon, and we tip our hand. Force isn't the only player here. The Masks are behind him, and they'll use any misstep to their advantage."
Grandma Shay nodded in agreement. "This isn't just about Force. It's about the entire operation. If we move prematurely, we risk losing everything."