A Chance of Light

Author

Prologue

The opalescent spot of light appeared suddenly in the night sky, piercing the surrounding darkness. Its curved path took it silently downward, its descent rapid, but jagged.

Some who witnessed it gazed at the sky in awe. Others shook their heads in fear. A few pointed to the light, amazed by its brightness and speed.

The image also appeared on military radar. An Air Force officer frowned as he studied the unexplained sighting. He grabbed his phone and speed-dialed a number. Sir, you need to get over here right away, he said.

Moments later, the image on the screen vanished as if swallowed by the night.

*  *  *

Miles away, two women stood in a garden, looking up at the sky.

We have a problem, said the taller of the two, as she pushed her fingers through her thick auburn hair.

What are we going to do? asked the young blonde woman next to her, her face taut with concern.

I’m not sure. But we have to do something. The potential consequences are immense.

But we don’t have the resources to deal with this, countered the blonde. It’s too dangerous.

That’s precisely why something needs to be done, and soon, replied the auburn-haired woman. If we don’t take this on, many people could get hurt. In fact, this could change the course of human history.

If we seek help, we could change the course of history ourselves. How are we supposed to explain who we are and what we know?

We don’t have a choice. There’s too much at stake now.

It won’t be easy, said the blonde woman, crossing her arms. A lot of dangerous people will be after the same thing we are. Already, the forces against us are coming together.

I know someone who can help. Or who might at least be able to connect us with people who can.

Who?

Caitlin Raine.

Good idea, said the blonde.

I understand Caitlin has a friend of some influence with the skills and resources we need, said her companion. He also understands who we are and how we operate. That could save us a lot of awkward questions.

"Who is he?

Ryan Cole.

I’ve heard of him. Do you think he’d be willing to help us?

The auburn-haired woman shrugged. Perhaps, with Caitlin’s influence.

Caitlin might not appreciate our getting her friends mixed up in something like this. People could get killed.

The other woman offered no reply as she stared into the darkness.

So how are we going to find him? asked the blonde.

The auburn-haired woman gave her a tight smile. All we have to do is find Caitlin.

The blonde nodded grimly. And she will lead us to Cole.

*  *  *

Caitlin Raine stirred from the depths of sleep, feeling a sudden chill. She glanced at the open bedroom window and shivered. The curtains fluttered in the cool breeze. Caitlin didn’t know what had prompted her to wake, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

She lay in the darkness, listening to the sounds that filtered through the window, but she heard only the wind rustling through the trees. There was nothing that indicated any cause for alarm.

Caitlin gave a soft sigh, troubled by her unexpected feelings of anxiety. She tugged the blanket around her more tightly, but its warmth did little to ward off her chill.

Caitlin observed that whatever had disrupted her slumber had not disturbed the man asleep beside her. It was a reassuring observation. Ryan Cole was a light sleeper and would typically awaken quickly if anything around him seemed amiss. So perhaps there was no need for concern.

But Caitlin trusted her instincts, and she was certain that somewhere trouble was brewing, even if it had yet to make its presence known. She sensed she and Cole were now the focus of unwanted attention and that some unnamed danger lingered in the darkness.

Caitlin glanced at Cole’s sleeping form, her lips forming a soft smile as she observed him. He was lying on his back, his face framed by dark, tousled hair. His broad, muscular chest was partly covered by the blanket.

Caitlin willed herself to relax. She knew that even if trouble were looming, they would deal with it. Cole was one of the most resourceful people she knew.

She curled her body next to his, closing the space in the bed between them, savoring the warmth of his body next to hers. Finally, weariness triumphed over unease, and she closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her once more.

But for good measure, she kept one hand resting securely on Cole’s shoulder.

Chapter 1

Ryan Cole glanced out the window of his office at the gray morning sky. Dark clouds promising more rain were a familiar sight to those who called Seattle home. But as the voice on the phone asserted, sometimes what came from the sky could be more foreboding than rain.

Cole was the head of field operations for Sigma Scientific, a research and security firm with a diverse range of clients. While some of Sigma’s cases dealt with mainstream issues such as corporate security and industrial espionage, many involved addressing more unconventional challenges, including helping the United States military recover and decipher alien technology.

Cole and his team were highly regarded for their expertise in dealing with beings and weapons from other worlds. Cole had gained significant exposure to alien weapons and technology when he had been a member of Colonel Simon Beecham’s military unit. His more recent work at Sigma had deepened that experience even further.

But Cole had not been expecting a call from his former Air Force commander that morning.

How significant a threat is this? Cole asked, threading his hand through his dark brown hair.

Until we know more, we’re treating this as a high-level threat, said Beecham. The spaceship was on radar for about ten seconds before it disappeared. From what we’ve extrapolated from our data, the craft is fairly large.

Beecham now led a covert special investigations unit that responded to potential alien threats. The unit operated under the cover name Orion Technology.

A ship like that would have weapons far superior to ours, said Beecham. You know from experience what it’s like to tangle with beings who have us outgunned. So this has the Pentagon very worried.

Cole understood Beecham’s concern. He knew the risks associated with alien technology. He had worked to keep such technology out of the wrong hands when he had been a key member of Beecham’s unit. That had been before Sigma’s owner Theo Warren had offered Cole a job and Cole had left the military to join Sigma. But through Sigma, Cole was able to continue partnering with Beecham on key investigations.

And you’re sure the spaceship landed? asked Cole.

Landed or crashed. It was moving fast and following a fairly steep downward trajectory. I doubt it changed course after we lost track of it. Regardless, we’re moving forward on the assumption something landed here and now represents a significant threat to national security.

I understand, said Cole. So how can we help?

I need you to help us find that ship and neutralize the threat, if there is one.

I appreciate the gravity of the situation, Colonel, said Cole. But I’m not sure what we can do for you that your own unit can’t.

Your people at Sigma are the best at this sort of thing. I won’t even get into how you were once one of the best the military had to offer.

Much to Beecham’s chagrin, Cole was not the only member of his unit that Theo Warren had recruited. Mark Dalton, Cole’s long-time friend and military colleague, had followed Cole to Sigma, joining the organization as head of security. Dalton, in turn, had recruited Kyle Williams, then a lieutenant in Beecham’s unit, to join Sigma as his second in command.

Besides, you have an ace up your sleeve that no one else has, Beecham noted.

You mean Caitlin, Cole observed with a frown.

Precisely, said Beecham. She’s better qualified than anyone I know to help us understand what’s going on. Well, at least better qualified than anyone else on our side.

Cole sighed. Caitlin Raine was ostensibly a researcher on loan to Sigma from another organization. She had been with Sigma for just over a year. It was a cover Warren had established for her, so she could work side by side with his people.

It was only in recent months that Cole had discovered one of Caitlin’s more startling secrets. She was from a distant galaxy and had taken on a human existence to be of service to the planet. She wanted to help counter the dangerous beings from other worlds that sought to influence how events unfolded on Earth.

The revelation had been quite a surprise. But it hadn’t dampened Cole’s growing feelings for Caitlin.

Beecham had also recently discovered Caitlin’s unusual pedigree. While he had promised to keep her unique attributes a secret, that didn’t stop him from wanting to leverage her talents.

Okay, said Cole. You know we’ll do what we can. Based on the craft’s trajectory when you had it on radar, where do you think it landed?

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert.

Ah, said Cole. That’s a lot of ground to cover.

Yeah, said Beecham. What I don’t get is why alien craft always seem to head there.

If you want to land without being noticed, you don’t head for Times Square.

True, said Beecham. And maybe this works in our favor as well. If the ship is stuck in the desert someplace, maybe it poses less of an immediate threat. That may buy us some time to find it.

And it’s also less likely others will stumble upon it, Cole added. Like Beecham, he could think of quite a few people who would jump at the chance to get their hands on advanced military hardware of alien origin.

How are you doing at keeping this under wraps? asked Cole. He hadn’t seen any press coverage about unexplained sightings of lights in the sky.

We’ve heard some rumblings. Although ten seconds isn’t a lot of time, it was long enough for at least a few people to see something unusual in the sky. There were a few inquiries to the National Weather Service and some minor media interest. But so far, the incident isn’t drawing a lot of attention.

That’s good, said Cole.

Yeah. But if somebody comes across a crashed alien spaceship in the desert, that will make headlines everywhere. So we need to find that thing, fast.

What have you come up with so far?

We’ve established a search grid based on the radar information and the data collected from visual sightings. And we’ve sent out ground troops and air surveillance to investigate anything that turned up as irregular on our satellite footage at the time the craft went down, said Beecham.

We’re also maintaining satellite surveillance in case the ship moves or becomes airborne again, he added. I’ll send you a copy of everything we have, including the radar and satellite footage. Maybe your people will see something we’ve missed.

Good, Cole replied. We’ll get working on that as soon as it arrives.

So far, one thing we haven’t come up with is any sign of wreckage. So for the moment, it appears the ship is still intact, said Beecham. Unfortunately.

You have reason to suspect that whoever is on the ship has less than friendly intentions? asked Cole.

I suspect everyone and everything I come in contact with as potentially having less than friendly intentions, replied Beecham.

Cole contemplated Beecham’s assertion with a frown. Beecham’s tendency to shoot first and ask questions later was an ongoing concern. Cole understood the need for caution, but firing on an emissary from a friendly planet hardly represented a good way to manage nascent relationships with alien beings.

Speaking of unfriendly intentions, we have it on good authority that we’re not the only ones searching for the downed craft, said Beecham.

Antoine Drake? asked Cole.

You know it. If there’s alien technology up for grabs, we can’t be surprised that Drake is hot on its trail.

Drake was a familiar figure to both Cole and Beecham. He was a powerful international arms dealer with a fondness for alien weapons and technology. Of even greater concern, he had an expansive global network that included alien allies.

Drake’s passion for weapons of alien origin resulted in his periodically crossing swords with both Beecham and Cole. There was no doubt a downed spaceship, complete with advanced weaponry, would attract Drake’s attention.

And let’s not forget his mistress of darkness Cassandra Chase, added Beecham.

Cassandra Chase was more than just a soldier of fortune. As Cole’s team had discovered in their most recent encounter with her, she hailed from another world. Like Caitlin, she had taken a human form and could blend naturally with the inhabitants of Earth.

Unlike Caitlin, Cassandra had an agenda that did not bode well for Earth’s inhabitants. Her alliance with Drake made him all the more dangerous.

I’m troubled that there have been no further sightings of the craft, said Beecham. Spaceships don’t just disappear.

Well, it is alien technology, countered Cole. As you said, it’s much more advanced than anything we have. So it probably has stealth technology that enables it to hide in plain sight.

Beecham grunted in dismay as he concluded his call. If that ship has advanced stealth capabilities—and it’s unfriendly—we’re in a lot of trouble.

*  *  *

Cole updated Theo Warren on his call with Beecham and scheduled an emergency meeting with his core team. They needed to mobilize quickly if they hoped to pick up the trail of the downed spaceship.

As he worked, his phone rang again. He saw the caller was Amber Larkin, a science reporter he had met during a recent assignment.

Amber, said Cole as he took the call.

Ryan. Have I caught you at a bad time?

Just on my way out. What’s up?

I wanted to see if you had any information on the flying saucer that crashed last night in the Mojave Desert.

Ah, said Cole. Amber didn’t miss a trick. It was a good thing she was on friendly terms with Sigma. Of course, it helped that she had a budding romance with Mark Dalton.

I don’t know anything about a crashed flying saucer, said Cole. And by the way, in military parlance, we generally just use the term spacecraft. Especially since they’re not necessarily round.

Well, thanks for the tip, said Amber wryly.

So what makes you think something went down in the Mojave Desert? asked Cole.

Because one of my reporter friends who works for a paper in Las Vegas called to tell me he had seen a strange light in the sky. He said it looked like some sort of ship, and he was going to investigate further. But I haven’t heard anything more from him.

You know, a lot of things can cause people to see lights in the sky, said Cole. They’re usually explainable.

Ryan Cole, given all I’ve learned about you and Sigma, you know I’m not going to take any crap from you about weather balloons and atmospheric disturbances.

Why, Amber, you’ve certainly come a long way, said Cole, in a teasing tone. I believe when we first met, you would have been outraged by the suggestion that lights in the sky might be anything but a weather balloon or an atmospheric disturbance.

Yeah, well, people change, said Amber. So what’s the story?

There’s no story.

At least not anything you can tell me, said Amber.

And what makes you think I’d be in the know if there were a story? asked Cole. It’s not like we saw strange lights over Seattle.

Very funny, said Amber. Remember, I still have a thick dossier on you covering your distinguished military career and your connection to a certain Air Force colonel. I’ve even discovered there are classified files on you and Mark that I can’t access. So if there’s something going on involving things that are, shall we say, unconventional, then there’s more than a good chance you know about it.

I see, said Cole. So tell me, why don’t you call Dalton with questions like these?

You know I don’t like to mix business with pleasure.

Gee, does that mean you don’t find dealing with me a pleasure?

Of course I do, said Amber. And it would give me shivers if you told me about the crashed flying… I mean spacecraft.

If I learn anything of interest, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Thank you. And if my friend turns up anything interesting, I’ll let you know, said Amber.

I would expect no less.

After his call with Amber, Cole contemplated how best to brief his team. Beecham wasn’t the only one who found Caitlin’s unique background of value.

Cole made his way to Caitlin’s office, pausing at her door. She was absorbed in her work, her fingers nimbly tapping across her computer keyboard. She stopped for a moment to review what she had been writing, absently twirling a strand of golden hair around a finger.

Caitlin had been an unexpected gift in his life. Despite her off-world origins, she somehow managed to represent the very best of humanity. Just watching her brought him joy.

He knocked on the door to get her attention.

Caitlin looked up and smiled in acknowledgment. Ryan, she greeted, beckoning him to enter.

The warmth and affection in her eyes bolstered him like nothing else could. Cole took a seat by her desk and updated her on his call with Beecham.

So how can I help? asked Caitlin.

I want the team to be able to take advantage of any insights you might have.

No problem, said Caitlin. At least I think that’s no problem. Who will be at the meeting?

The usual suspects. Cole paused. And that would include Jackson.

Ah, said Caitlin. David Jackson was the head of research at Sigma, and he worked closely with Cole on many assignments. But unlike other members of Cole’s core team, Jackson didn’t know about Caitlin’s unique attributes.

Exactly, said Cole. He’s going to need to know about you if we want to have a candid discussion about what’s going on with that spaceship.

I don’t have a problem with that.

Good. Cole met Caitlin’s gaze. That brings me to my next question. Who should tell him?

I should, said Caitlin. I’ve been working closely with him all these months. I think it should come from me.

Okay, said Cole. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

I will, said Caitlin. But I’m sure it will be fine. At least, she hoped it would be.

*  *  *

After returning to his office, Cole saw that an encrypted file had arrived in his e-mail. Beecham was being unusually open about sharing information. He had to be really concerned about the downed spaceship.

Cole reviewed the file and then forwarded the documents to James Ashcroft, Sigma’s top computer forensics expert and a key member of Cole’s team. Cole instructed the young man to prepare the materials for the upcoming briefing.

Ten minutes later, Cole’s phone rang.

Wow, said Ashcroft, his voice brimming with excitement. I’ve gone through the files you sent.

What do you think? asked Cole.

Who’d have thought lights in the sky could be something like this?

We don’t know what exactly we’re dealing with yet, Cole cautioned.

But if it is more than a hundred feet long, it’s probably not a weather balloon.

No, probably not.

And since these are military files we’re looking at, chances are whatever this is probably has the capacity to shoot things.

You catch on quick, said Cole. Ashcroft was two years out of MIT, where he had graduated at the top of his class. He was second to none when it came to deciphering technology, and he had also developed an interest in doing fieldwork.

I did a search through our databases to see if I could find anything that might be helpful, noted Ashcroft.

And?

And even though I can now access classified government databases on the subject of alien technology, I didn’t come up with anything, Ashcroft noted with disappointment. Although it was nice of Beecham to get me that security clearance.

It’s easier than you hacking into their system all the time, Cole noted.

Right, said Ashcroft clearing his throat. But that’s just between you and me. Right?

Of course, said Cole. You and me, the U.S. Air Force, and the CIA.

The things they don’t teach you in school, sighed Ashcroft. So we will review these files at our meeting?

You got it. The meeting is in half an hour. Be ready to share Beecham’s files with the team.

I’m on it. Ashcroft paused. And then what?

Then we’re going to find whatever people saw in the sky last night.

Cool.

Chapter 2

Caitlin found David Jackson in his office. He was reading a report on his computer screen, his bearded chin perched in one of his hands.

Hey, she noted as he looked up from his computer. Do you have a minute?

You bet, said Jackson, gesturing for Caitlin to enter. What can I do for you?

Caitlin smiled. We’re meeting with Ryan in half an hour.

I saw that, said Jackson. He sighed. There’s nothing like the possibility of an alien threat to make us appreciate regular human bad guys.

Caitlin winced at his observation.

Ryan wants us to have a candid discussion at the meeting about what this might mean, she observed.

Jackson raised an eyebrow. I’ve never known us to have conversations that were anything but.

Yeah, but in order for today’s discussion to work, there’s something you need to know, Caitlin noted, meeting Jackson’s eyes. About me.

Jackson gave her a quizzical look. Like what?

Caitlin sat down in a chair in front of Jackson’s desk. You know how we’ve learned that some beings from other worlds can take on a human form?

Yeah, said Jackson. I understand that’s the case for a few of Drake’s soldiers.

It is.

All right, Jackson responded with a nod. But what does that have to do with you? Do you have some inside track on what Drake is up to?

In a way.

Jackson frowned. I’m not following you. Have you been doing some undercover work I’m not aware of?

No, nothing like that.

Then what?

Caitlin drew in a deep breath. What I’m trying to say is I have first-hand knowledge of what that means.

Jackson looked at Caitlin thoughtfully, his brows furrowing over puzzled brown eyes. So you’re saying…

Yeah. I’m one of those beings, Caitlin observed softly. She watched Jackson closely, noting his expression. She had told Cole she could handle this conversation. But she really wasn’t sure how Jackson would react.

Caitlin was banking on the fact that, as a scientist, Jackson was naturally curious and generally kept an open mind. But human reactions were always variable and frequently hard to predict, especially on encountering situations that went beyond the bounds of their experience.

Whoa, said Jackson. He leaned back in his chair and looked at Caitlin as though seeing her for the first time.

Yeah, Caitlin replied, glancing down at the top of Jackson’s desk.

Shit, said Jackson, shaking his head slowly. I don’t know what to say. You seem so human.

At this point, I am human, Caitlin replied. It’s just that while you were born into the species in a human form, I originated someplace else first.

So why did you come here?

You already know people like Drake are leveraging both alien technology and alien allies to advance their agendas… agendas that generally don’t serve the highest interests of humanity.

Yeah, I get that.

Well, said Caitlin, with a small grin. You could say I’m here to help even the odds.

Ah, nice, said Jackson, with a nod of understanding.

Caitlin blew out a small breath. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.

No worries. I’m glad you’re telling me now. Jackson glanced at her with a frown. So who else knows?

Just a few people. Theo has known since the beginning. He helped me set up my cover here. And Ryan knows.

Jackson gave Caitlin a wry smile. He seems to be taking the news in stride.

He has. Mark also knows. And Kyle and James, and Colonel Beecham, they all found out by accident, by seeing things that kind of gave it away.

Anyone else? asked Jackson, his tone reflecting his growing irritation.

Sarah knows.

Because Sarah just knows things, said Jackson. Sarah Jennings was not only one of Sigma’s researchers, but also the team’s resident clairvoyant.

Yeah.

Wow, said Jackson softly. Talk about not being number one on the speed dial.

I’m sorry, said Caitlin. As I said, most of the people who know learned inadvertently.

How did they find out?

A few weeks ago, when we had our encounter with Cassandra Chase and her people, I had to use an alien weapon I recovered from one of her soldiers.

An alien weapon. As in the type of weapon we know cannot be operated by humans?

Exactly, sighed Caitlin. That made my true nature self-evident.

Why did you do it then? Use the weapon, I mean. Knowing, as you say, that it would reveal your secret.

Because Cassandra Chase had blasted Ryan with one of those weapons and two of her soldiers were closing in on him. I couldn’t very well let them kill him. So I grabbed the first weapon I could find. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Jackson frowned. Cole and Dalton had certainly been circumspect in recounting what had happened during the battle. Now he understood why.

I see. Based on what you’ve shared, I know Sigma owes you a debt of gratitude for your actions. But I’m saddened that no one took me into their confidence before this.

I know. We talked about it. Ryan thought I should lie low for a while until we confirmed that Colonel Beecham wasn’t going to make this an issue. But we both realized we couldn’t keep you out of the loop for long. You’re a vital member of the team. So it wasn’t really fair to you.

No, it wasn’t, said Jackson. But I understand.

Are we good now, though? asked Caitlin.

Jackson sighed. He couldn’t resist her earnest blue eyes and gentle smile.

I think it’s going to take me a bit to digest all this. But, yeah, I think we’re good, he replied. In fact, we’re more than good. You took on enemy soldiers single-handedly to cover Cole when he was down. So that makes you a pretty vital member of the team yourself.

Caitlin smiled in relief. Thank you.

And thank you for telling me, Jackson replied. Although now that I know, you may be in for a rough time.

How so?

Well, I am a scientist. So the need for scientific inquiry will demand that I ask you a lot of questions.

Not a problem, said Caitlin. That’s why Ryan wanted you to know about this before we debriefed on the spaceship that went down in the desert. While I may not have answers for all your questions, I will share what I know.

Good, said Jackson. So can I ask you a few questions now?

Of course.

So when you say you’re in human form, just how human are you? I understand the military has come across bodies of beings from other worlds that looked human, but autopsies quickly proved otherwise.

I’m just as human as you, right down to the DNA, Caitlin replied. But sometimes beings come here intending to stay for just a short period. So they attempt to look human, but they don’t change their baseline form at a cellular level.

Since you’re in human form now, does that mean you’ll lead a regular human life here, just like us?

Exactly, said Caitlin. I’m in it for the long haul. Well, long at least in terms of a human life on Earth.

Jackson nodded, bringing his hand to his chin in thoughtful contemplation.

And do you have any superpowers?

Superpowers?

You know. Are you faster than a speeding bullet? Can you fly or turn invisible?

Ah, no. Although Ryan says I make a mean martini. I’m adept at using some forms of alien technology, and I seem to be proficient with some of your Earth weapons as well.

Ah, said Jackson. Something tells me I will be hearing a lot about that. Dalton tells me I’ve set a new world record for having a lousy aim.

It’s all in the breathing, Caitlin offered with a smile.

Right. So I have another question. Since you took on a human form in mid-stream as it were, did you have some say regarding how you would appear?

Sure. We just envision what we want to look like and then take on that form.

Huh. That’s interesting.

What is?

Well, of course, I only have sample of two beings from other worlds I know who have taken a human form—you and Cassandra Chase. But I’d say you’ve chosen forms that are really quite ah… attractive, by Earth standards.

Why, thank you.

Yeah. So what was your inspiration? asked Jackson. What kind of research did you do?

I checked out the Victoria’s Secret website.

You’re kidding, right?

Caitlin gave Jackson a mischievous grin.

I’m sorry. I’m afraid that information is classified.

*  *  *

After Caitlin left his office, Jackson found himself staring at his computer screen, contemplating what she had told him. It was hard to process it all. But those who had already discovered Caitlin’s secret seemed to be taking it in stride. Especially Cole, all things considered.

The sound of someone knocking on his office door interrupted his thoughts. He looked up to see Cole.

I was wondering when you’d pop by, said Jackson, gesturing for Cole to enter. So Caitlin told you she and I talked?

Yeah, said Cole. He rubbed his temples wearily. I realize I haven’t been managing this whole thing very well. I’m sorry.

Jackson exhaled softly. "Look, I was a bit bent out of shape because I didn’t find out sooner. It means a lot to me to have your trust, and I was worried that somehow I’d