Aftershock

In the aftermath of a war whose cause is never explained, Commander Eastern seizes control of a futuristic city and imposes a fascist regime. Citizens are branded with bar code tattoos and are expected to obey without question. A state-backed radio host named Big Sister extols the regime while paramilitary groups patrol the streets.

A rebel faction forms around Col. Slater, determined to end fascist rule. Willie and Danny, two prisoners, symbolize the regime's repression and inspire the resistance to act. From secret locations, the rebels begin to coordinate efforts against the city’s security forces.

Sabrina, an alien observer, travels to Earth after her people misinterpret a NASA probe. She hopes to learn from Earth and return with knowledge to improve her own world. Her arrival draws attention from both sides as the struggle intensifies.

Sabrina is captured by security forces and taken to an interrogation led by Oliver Quinn, the head of the paramilitary. Her inability to understand English makes it hard to answer questions, frustrating the interrogator. The exchange places the alien at the center of the power struggle.

Sabrina ends up in prison alongside several rebels, including Willie and Danny. She explains, in broken English, that her people misread NASA data and she must reach her landing site to return home. The revelation deepens the bond between Sabrina and the prisoners as they plan their fate.

Willie, Danny, and Sabrina break out of their cells and escape with the rebels' help. They hurry toward the rebels’ headquarters to regroup and mount a counter-move. The breakout forces Quinn to shift toward a direct assault on the rebel base.

Quinn moves to crush the uprising by planning an assault on the rebel base, coordinating with security forces and marshalled troops. The looming attack heightens the rebels' urgency as they brace for a confrontation. The city edges closer to a full-blown clash.

A bounty hunter named Chris De Rose captures Sabrina and delivers her to Quinn. The capture strengthens the regime’s leverage over the rebels and sets back Sabrina’s hope of returning home. The tense exchange underscores the personal risks everyone faces in the capital's power struggle.

Sabrina escapes again after being handed to Quinn and returns to the rebel base. There she begins to repair the rebels' computers, restoring essential communication and data capabilities. Her technical work helps the rebels coordinate their next moves more effectively.

With Sabrina's help, the rebels get their computer systems back online and plan a counter-offensive against fascist forces. The restored networks enable better coordination and strategic planning, boosting morale among the fighters. The balance of power begins to tilt toward the resistance.

The rebels launch their assault on fascist forces, leveraging the rebuilt communications to strike more effectively. The attack tests the regime's defenses and demonstrates the rebels' commitment to continuing the fight. Sabrina prepares to return to her home world as the conflict continues outside.

Following the clash, Sabrina uses a space-energy cycle at her landing site to return to her planet. Her departure marks a bittersweet victory for the rebels, who vow to carry on the fight against tyranny. The story closes with the sense that Earth’s struggle is just one front in a larger, ongoing conflict.