Disclosing the Secret

by Vincent Amato

  The scientist considered the question a long moment. “The technology of the ETs allows them to travel thousands of light years while we still use radio waves to communicate. SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, sweeps the sky for distant radio waves. It’s analogous to you and I searching for a sailing ship transporting a message in a bottle for proof of human existence, while all this time the people we are looking for are bouncing signals off satellites. The SETI scientists won’t find anything, and that will be the accepted scientific conclusion. Again, the misinformation machine is working!”

  Charles now leaned closer to Jake and smiled, as if to stress his next point. “If they want to find something, they should be looking around, not up in the sky.”

  “Like on earth?” Jake was puzzled.

  “They should be looking for something almost unearthly. Something we still find difficult to explain. Something we couldn’t duplicate even if we tried.”

  Charles waited a moment while Jake collected his thoughts, trying to connect the dots. His thoughts churned as he stared at the ground.

  Jake then slowly looked up at the scientist, his eyes filling with realization. “Giza!”

  “Giza,” Charles repeated, almost impressed, a broad smile crossing his face.

  The scientist wondered if he knew it was no coincidence that the pyramids’ alignment across the Giza plateau mirrored that of Orion’s Belt across the sky. Or that the size of the pyramids correlated to the brightness of the stars in Orion’s Belt. Not many people knew that the Giza monuments were set out on the ground in an exact image of how the Egyptian night sky looked during 10,500 BC.

  With the pyramids’ bases perfectly aligned to magnetic north as opposed to geometric north, something mankind has only been able to accurately measure in the last four decades, it should be no surprise to the population that we had a little external help building them. Mankind simply does not possess the technology to delicately maneuver massive limestone blocks around the sand. But mainstream scientists and historians have been too afraid to face the big question.

  “You were on the inside,” Jake blurted. “You had access to ET tech. Can’t you expose this group controlling the government? Can’t you get them to share their technology?”

  Reilly knew the question was coming. He slumped back on the bench looking troubled. “Imagine a signed affidavit from former Secretary of State Colin Powell about the ET presence, to only be opened after his death. Or one from George Bush Sr., or even Bill Clinton. In fact, we have one from the very man who issued the military press release about the Roswell crash in 1947. It doesn’t get closer to the truth than that. But no-one took notice. It didn’t shake the media.”

  Jake had no idea where this was headed.

  “Apollo 14 Astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell,” Reilly continued, “has a PhD from MIT and was the fifth man to walk on the moon, declared that the ET presence was real. His statements should have held significant weight on the question of the ET presence. But again, it has since gone relatively unreported by the mass media. The walls of secrecy are never going to be smashed from above. It has to come from a grassroots level.”

  “But decades have passed,” Jake finally managed. “You should be able to finally release the ET-derived energy technologies you’ve been working on over the last seven decades. It would benefit everyone!”

  Charles was nodding, a wide smile crossing his face. “That I agree with. But disclosure has to be triggered by the people, not by the leaders keeping the secrets.”

  The scientist now sensed a rising eagerness within Jake. He turned to lock eyes with the younger man. “We need a piece of evidence, one not in the government’s control, to be scrutinized in the public domain. It has to be undeniable proof of non-human technologies that cannot be explained away by government scientists.”

  “Now that sounds like science fiction.” Jake was looking skeptical.

  For the first time Charles’s tone was intense. “Be that as it may,” he said, “but the secret itself has been deemed to be a threat to national security, social order and economic stability.”

  “I’ve been listening to you but it sounds so…so surreal.” Jake was shaking his head. “I always had my suspicions, but the big picture is…it’s so profound. The problem is so big, so complicated. I mean the implications… It will affect every single person on the globe. And I still can’t believe this has been happening on the same planet I live on!”

  Charles drew a tired breath. “Contingency plans for misinformation campaigns to target the public, media, government, intelligence and foreign relations have all been developed. They’re ready to be deployed should ‘Project Disclosure’ unfold sooner than they would like. I think you may have the ability to short circuit the entire event.”

  Jake looked startled. “How?”

  “It has to start at the UN then unfold from there.” Charles’s tone was unwavering.

  “But everything you’ve said, you have firsthand experience with ET tech because of your work with the government. If you’re on the inside, don’t you have the power to bring it to the surface? Couldn’t you just find a journalist who would want to get this story out? Couldn’t you give them some proof?”

  “You don’t understand, Jake. Everything that I have shared thus far will sound implausible. Everything I know comes from sources outside the public domain. So anything I disclose, any proof I present, could never be corroborated. It could never be verified. And that’s the problem, that’s how the misinformation campaigns work. It has to happen from the outside. It has to happen independently of the government agencies, outside their control. And it has to start with the United Nations.”

  Jake was silent now, fully engrossed.

  “There needs to be a trigger event so undeniable that it shifts the momentum from secrecy to openness. When that happens, there will be an avalanche that will change the day-to-day reality for every single person on this planet.”

  “Jake, you come from a family that had contact with the Corona crash site. Almost 70 years later a member of the same family produces, or is involved with the application of ET geometry in a commercial building. It’s more than a coincidence. I am willing to bet your family has in their possession a piece of the crash debris, kept hidden from society all these years. Jake, I think you have the potential to start a chain reaction…if given the right direction. And with the right evidence.”

  Jake paused, looking conflicted. “But I don’t think we have anything that can be used as proof.”

  Charles’s eyes illuminated with anticipation. “I know that you don’t think that you have anything in your possession at the moment.”

  Jake’s gaze swung back over the park. What does he mean? Did he know something that I didn’t? Was he implying that Grandpa may have kept something hidden all this time?

  Charles sensed Jake connecting the dots. “Ask the question, Jake.”

  “How do we stop them?” Jake said, feeling his admiration for the scientist now growing with each passing moment.

  A warm smile crossed Charles’s face. “Both your father and grandfather once let something slip through their hands that could have changed everything. Our hopes, our beliefs…even what it means to be a member of the human race.”

  Dr. Reilly’s expression now turned serious. “How do we stop them you ask? Listen very carefully, because I’m going to dare you to do better.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Sitting across the road from the park and out of view from Jake and Dr. Reilly were two agents in dark suits parked in a plain-colored sedan. One was holding a digital SLR camera fitted with a telephoto zoom lens. Its shutter thrashed wildly, capturing images as the agent watched Jake and the scientist through the viewfinder.

  Three hundred feet away from the car the shutter of another digital SLR clicked in sporadic bursts. This one, however, was trained on the two agents. Unseen and out of view, Mark had climbed one of the park’s trees and sat clicking shots of the agen
ts, who were in turn photographing the meeting being held by Jake and the scientist.

  CHAPTER 35

  “Is that what Men in Black look like?” Mark was studying the images he had taken from up in the tree while Jake met with Dr. Charles Reilly for the second time.

  Mark and Jake were back in Mark’s study clicking through digital images taken of Reilly and the two inconspicuous men parked across the road photographing Jake’s meeting with the scientist. They both cocked their heads to the side as Mark zoomed in with the mouse.

  “They kinda look…well, nerdy!” Mark sounded surprised.

  After clicking through a dozen more shots he turned to face Jake. “Well, they’ve definitely got you under surveillance, that’s for damn sure.”

  “Dr. Reilly did say they’d be watching. That seems to be one thing that checks out,” Jake said, his voice trailing off as if in deep thought.

  Mark looked dubious. “Do you think you can trust him?”

  Jake’s eyes shot toward Mark’s; a heavy silence settled around them for a number of heart beats.

  Finally Jake spoke: “My instinct tells me I can. But everything I know about the military and their government agencies tells me to stay clear.”

  Mark’s face filled with confusion, and he searched Jake’s eyes for clarity. Although he opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out.

  “I know… But I think he might be right. Dad said something the other day that’s been rattling around my head: ‘Your grandfather took his secret to the grave’.”

  Mark’s expression became even more confused as he considered it.

  “And today,” Jake continued, “this ex-black government scientist tells me he is adamant that our family has possession of something that does not belong to…”

  Jake stopped short mid-sentence as a sudden realization washed over him. His eyes shot back toward Mark’s, his voice resonating with excitement. “I think I know where a piece of the crash is!”

  He spun to rush for the door. Mark lunged off his chair, instantly forcing himself between Jake and the study entry.

  “I know that look! Whatever you’re planning to do, remember…” Mark pointed to the image of the agents’ car on his screen, “they’re tracking you. You’re going to need help.”

  CHAPTER 36

  The line to the front entry of the nightclub called Capitalism stretched down the footpath of the bustling inner city street. A popular night spot, the club was renowned not only for the leggy beauties that frequented the venue but also for its reputation as a safe stronghold for celebrities dodging the flashes of paparazzi cameras. But there was another peculiarity that differentiated it from other similarly popular nightclubs – its second entrance.

  Riding in formation, five fierce-looking motorcycles approached the busy night spot. They rolled past the front line to turn into a small side laneway. Their engines resonated with a deep hum felt by the young patrons lined up at the venue’s front entrance.

  The second entrance to the venue faced into the side laneway. Two mammoth guards flanked the wide entry; one held a clipboard, the other clasped a handheld RF chip reader. Similar to the security screeners at retail stores, the device was waved at the first approaching motorcycle, gesturing the bike to stop.

  The device chirped as he waved the chip reader over a necklace pendant worn by the rider. Information flashed on its small screen showing information about the rider:

  Member: Jake Marcel. Age: 28.

  The guard’s gaze then flashed up to study the rider’s pillion passenger. He was met with a striking pair of female eyes that smiled back at him through her helmet.

  He spoke after a short pause. “Go through.”

  Jake eased the throttle to gently roll through the entry. Inside another guard directed him toward a metal ramp that led up to a catwalk suspended over the side of the main dance floor. Behind him the mammoth guard was now checking Mark’s ID necklace.

  On the catwalk the rumble of Jake’s engine was swallowed by the booming dance track that filled the venue. Capitalism was a chaotic explosion of sound and lighting. What made the nightclub unique was how it encouraged its members to park their motorbikes on the suspended catwalks that circled the main dance floor.

  Jake dismounted and Mark took the next adjacent park space overlooking the bar and dance floor. Behind him followed Chris, Paul then TJ. Natasha was the first to shed her riding jacket, helmet and gloves. She used the Ducati’s mirrors to touch up her hair and make-up while the others took their helmets off.

  She turned and spoke to Jake, her voice barely audible. “Let’s find Jackie.”

  *

  After collecting Jackie the group got themselves a round of drinks and claimed a small area near one of the numerous bars within the club. The girls were chatting among themselves while the guys engaged in their usual banter.

  Mark had noticed TJ’s fixation on Jackie since they located her in the club. He struggled to converse with TJ above the music. “How the hell do you think you’re going to score with that?”

  The question jolted TJ from his daydream. His response was a boastful retort: “Shock and awe.”

  Listening in, Chris’s rebuttal was instantaneous. “More like smoke and mirrors!”

  Shooting a seething stare at Chris, TJ took an ominous step toward Jackie in a valiant attempt to defend his manhood. Jackie sensed his bulking frame looming behind, but before she could react, he was already upon her.

  He wrapped his powerful arms around Jackie, embracing her in a tight hug. “Don’t fight it; you know we’ve both been thinking about this.”

  Now struggling to loosen his grip, she said, “You couldn’t be any more wrong, you eff’ing Wookie!”

  There was a collective reaction from Natasha and the rest of the boys: “Ooohhh!”

  Jake couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. “Eff’ing? Interesting use of the vernacular!”

  After watching Jackie struggle against the largest of the boys, Jake’s smirk was promptly wiped off by Natasha’s elbow jamming into his side.

  “Jake, do something!” she insisted.

  Jake’s focus never left the sparring pair. “She needs to learn how to handle rough guys on her own.”

  “Really? Does he need to be so rough? Come on!” Her annoyance at TJ was now being redirected toward Jake.

  He flashed a set of mischievous eyes accompanied by a lopsided smirk at Natasha before approaching Jackie. She was still struggling against TJ, whose forceful embrace could not be shaken.

  “Jack!” Jake’s voice boomed over the music.

  Instantly she stopped struggling, whipping her head toward the direction of his voice. Her expression was somewhere between annoyance and anger.

  “He’s three times your size,” Jake began. “You don’t stand a chance. Instead, hold onto him and take a step forward. Shift him off his balance.”

  She immediately complied. With what little leverage she had, Jackie gripped his muscular forearms and stepped forward. TJ was now leaning forward still gripping her in a bear hug, but awkwardly off his center of gravity.

  Stepping closer, Jake now spoke directly in her ear, lowering his voice a notch: “Scrape the heel of your stiletto down the length of his shin. The rush of pain will make him loosen his grip for just a second. When he does, you’ll have just enough room to slam your elbow into his chest; aim to hit just under his sternum. It’ll make him buckle over, which will give you a little more room to shift your shoulder under his. He’ll be off balance, and if you time it right, you’ll be able lift him with your legs. Use your upper body to throw him over your shoulder. Size has nothing to do this, it’s all about balance, timing and surprise.”

  Jake stepped back to give himself room to watch. Jackie shot him an uncertain glance, which was met with a reassuring nod, as if Jake was saying, ‘You can do it.’

  At that moment TJ understood. His eyes went wide but it was too late.

  A searing bolt of white hot pain shot down th
e front of TJ’s shin bone. He then felt the air being driven violently from his lungs as he buckled forward, an involuntary reflex resulting from the blow to his solar plexus. In the next half-second the sensation of being airborne shifted his focus from his burning shin and loss of breath. TJ was now a passenger; Jackie’s upwards thrust into his armpit had thrown his weight forward. Now travelling through the air he was being flipped over Jackie’s shoulder. His impact on the ground was met with a cheer and round of applause from the surrounding group.

  As he lay on his back, the floating stars in TJ’s vision slowly cleared as he blinked back his focus. Jackie was staring back down at him, her hands covering her mouth in an expression of shocked surprise.

  Recomposing herself as if the defense maneuver was planned all along, she took a confident stride toward her fallen opponent. “There’s your shock and awe…freak!”

  The men reacted with a triumphant cheer for Jackie.

  Not believing what she had just witnessed, Natasha now had her hands covering her mouth. She watched in amazement as TJ picked himself up off the floor to tower over Jackie.

  Looking lost for words, he smiled down at her. “Impressive.”

  TJ now stepped toward a nearby booth to take a seat, his movements the slow, delicate actions of a wounded animal retreating to a corner. The amused group followed his lead, all jamming into the booth to fill the seats around him.

  Chris considered TJ’s bruised ego. “Dry your eyes, princess, you’ve taken a hell of a lot more beatings than that.”

  Turning to Jake, Chris’s face now changed to one of quizzical concern. “Mark mentioned you need a hand to collect something.”

  “Yeah, I heard some aliens left their anal probe inside Mark!” TJ was chuckling.

  Everyone except for Mark burst into another fit of laughter.

  “That’s right, TJ!” Mark snapped. “They crossed trillions and trillions of miles to stick a probe up my ass. Tell me, what could possibly be lodged up there that eff’ing interesting? Huh?”