Free Sacrifice:The Shenkar War by Seth Libby Page B

of this Shelecore is unknown to us. It will be their toughest, most intelligent warrior, although the council members tend to be of their scientist caste.”
    After p ressing something on a handheld computer, a screen descended behind Jaera. The lights dimmed and an image of a tall humanoid appeared on the screen. The humanoid was heavily muscled with blue, scale-like skin and straight, shoulder-length black hair. Its arms, Liam noticed, were slightly longer than a human’s, and the being appeared to have a mouth full of needle-like teeth. For the most part--except for the scaly skin, elongated arms, and needle teeth--it looked very much like a human. Then, with a second look, Liam noticed the eyes; they were solid black. This gave the being a most sinister look--a look of evil.
                  “ This is what a typical Shenkar shock trooper looks like. They are the fighter pilots and the ground troops. They are the backbone of the Shenkar military, and they are all clones.”
                  The words took a second to register in Liam’s head. He heard Crystal speak to Tim as others whispered in soft tones around them.
                  “ Clones? Jaera did say clones, right?”
                  “ Yes, how very interesting that is,” said Tim in a subdued voice.
    Jaera waited for the murmuring to subside before it once again spoke.
                  “ Yes, you heard me correctly. The Shenkar use cloning technology for their military. That is what makes them so dangerous.               They cannot be reasoned with; they are bred to be killers and to follow orders. This also makes them very predictable.”
                  Over the next few hours, the class droned on. Liam took it all in, but he soon grew restless. Sure, it was knowledge that would be required, yet he wanted to be back in the simulator, working his way to the real thing. After what seemed like an eternity, the class finally broke and everyone made their way to the dormitory where their quarters were located. After saying his good nights to Evan, Crystal, and the rest, Liam entered his quarters. He stripped off his uniform, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then climbed into bed, sighing as he relaxed. As he drifted off to sleep, he wondered what the next day would bring.

July 7, 2012, 3:36 a.m. EST
    Hanscom Air Force Base
     
                  Her face was blurred as it swam across his vision--who was she to torment him this way? He ran down a dark hallway toward her, but she managed to stay just out of his reach. He would be just about on her when she would round a corner; when Liam would round the same corner, she would have jumped thirty feet forward. Her laugh was like magic in his ears yet tormented his very soul for the need to touch and hold her. He knew her yet couldn’t remember how. He had to tell her something but didn’t know what.
                  “Liam, why did you leave me without a good-bye?” said the blurred woman in a pained voice.
                  “Who are you? Why do you run from me?” exclaimed Liam.
                  She disappeared from sight, yet Liam could still somehow sense her nearby. Turning in a circle, Liam looked at his surroundings. He was in a dark room with no exits except for the door he had entered through. The voice came again, yet he couldn’t find where it came from.
                  “Why, Liam? Why did you leave without telling me you love me?” the disembodied voice said.
                  “WHO ARE YOU?!?!” wailed Liam.
                  “Liam!” came a loud whisper from behind him.
                  Liam spun to see a Shenkar warrior holding a beautiful woman a couple of feet off the ground. She struggled against her captor’s vise-like grip around her throat. Her image was blurry, yet Liam was sure he knew her; he knew he loved