Alien Invasion: and the origins of mankind

by Mark Douglas Doran

in the arrest. The military doesn’t want innocent people getting in the way”

  Timmy nodded “Yeah, Kyle is right. It makes sense. Some massive criminal empire is going down, right here in our forest and the army has come in to get it done, sweet. I bet that’s why the military is here in the first place. It’s no met and greet, that’s just a cover story. The real reason why their here is the huge take down. They’re just using the meet and greet as a smoke screen not to scare off the criminals. I’m telling you, Kyle is right on this”

  Sam felt shock as he took it all in “Never thought a criminal empire would have a secret meeting in the woods of our small town”

  Timmy looked over to Sam “Maybe that’s what criminals do, they meet in isolated areas. If they met up in the city the cops would be all over them, whereas out here they can meet in large numbers and get away with it.”

  Kyle nodded “Like a Little Bohemia Lodge”

  “Makes sense to me” Sam said. “I bet the media will be all over this town after the arrest happens. I bet these criminals are really bad if the army has to be called in to take them down.”

  Bobby looked worried “Just one problem. What if the criminals run from the military and run straight into our town? They could threaten to hurt our families. You know how criminals are when they run from the law, they take hostages, I’ve seen it a million times on TV. They could take this entire town hostage that could lead to a massive shoot out. Our whole town could be destroyed ”

  The kids looked at each other worried.

  “Good point Bobby. This isn’t sounding so good all of a sudden,” Kyle said.

  “Lets not panic” Sam said “The military will stop the criminals before they run into our town, I’m sure of it. They are professionals, they know what they’re doing”

  “The woods are dark and thick.” Bobby said “They military might get lost in there”

  “He has a point” Kyle said, “The military has never been here before, they might loose there way in the dark woods. They might even fall off dead mans cliff while running around in the dark. Then who’ll save the town?” he looked at each of them “You guys thinking what I’m thinking? The military might need our help”

  Bobby nearly fell back in shock “Are you crazy? What do you mean? No way on earth can we team up with the military. Where just kids, they’ll laugh at us. Tell us to head home”

  “No, I don’t mean team up with them, I mean us hiding out in the forest under the cover of darkness, watching from a distance” Kyle said “If the criminals make a run for it, we can help out by following and telling the military were they went. Its not like were going to wrestle the criminals to the ground ourselves. Just point the military in the right direction. We know the forest around here better then anyone. We can move around out there in the dark. We can even warn them if they get to close to dead man’s cliff. They’ll be able to arrest the criminals before they reach town. They will thank us for helping out. I can see it in my mind as clear as day. It’s time to be heroes. Hero’s don’t run from danger, they run to it. We’ve been called wimps in this town for too long, its time to prove to everyone here, were not losers, were brave ”

  They all paused for a moment and looked at each other with nervous concern.

  Sam looked at the others “Well, we can’t get involved unless it’s absolutely necessary. We’ll stay in the shadows and watch from a safe distance and only help if the criminals make a run for it in the direction of town and the military is getting to close to dead man’s cliff. No other reason”

  Kyle nodded and had a huge smile “And at the variety show on Saturday we’ll be called up on stage by the General to a hero’s applause from everyone in town. I bet we’ll even get honorary badges.”

  “Badges?” Bobby said eyes his eyes lit up “Really? I’d love a badge. It would look so cool. We can show it off in the faces of Warren and his gang.”

  Timmy agreed, “Not only will we be called hero’s, we’ll be sure to get in the newspaper. Even on the front cover. Not just the front cover in our town, but in the big city as well. This really is turning into the greatest weekend ever.”

  Kyle looked at Bobby “Megan is sure to talk to you afterwards”

  “Oh yeah” Bobby said excited and started dancing where he stood. Anyone watching him from a distance would think he was just enjoying the songs by Fly by Night

  The other kids found it hard to contain their excitement as well.

  “This is going to be the coolest night of our lives” Bobby said.

  “Ok, here’s the plan” Sam said as he whispered, “After the fireworks we’ll head home and act as though nothing is different. Don’t act odd around your parents. Just act like it’s a normal night. At ten thirty we’ll meet up at the playground. We’ll head out into the forest. Tell your parents you’re leaving the house to play video games at each other’s house, but don’t say which house”

  They looked at each other and silently nodded in agreement and went back to watching the fireworks. There faces lit up by the countless bright firework shooting into the night sky. Fly by Night rocked on with the crowd cheering as each of the cry wolves members were lost in their own daydream. Picturing themselves on stage at the end of the variety show, the General handing them their own honorary badges as everyone in town stood up from their seats giving them a rousing ovation.

  Sam was convinced it would lead to a life as in actor in blockbuster movies. He could see countless reporters from all over the world rushing to his town to interview him on how he stopped the criminals from making their way into his town. He was sure a big movie producer would see the interviews and come calling. He could see himself on a movie set. Standing in front of a camera surrounded by bright spotlights and pretty woman, getting ready for a big action scene jumping from a tall building to a hanging ladder from a helicopter, or jumping from a fast moving car before it fires off a massive cliff. He saw himself on stage accepting an award for his performance as thousands appalled. It was just a matter of time.

  Timmy stood next to him trying to focus on the fireworks, but he couldn’t help but see himself on a racetrack with a hundred thousand spectators filling the grandstand cheering his name. Inside the car with his helmet pulled down tight as his eyes bore down on the car in front of him, his hands gripping the steering wheel. The car sounding like thunder as the post from the metal fence flew by in a blink of an eye. He knew he could win any race. He could see himself on the winner podium thanking all his fans as the crowd cheered and chanted his name as the confetti fell all around him. He pictured a reporter running up to him asking a million questions and his witty answering making the viewers at home laugh. He knew millions of kids around the world would want to be just like him. He could see an endless row of hot sports cars in his driveway.

  Bobby watched the fireworks shoot into the sky and pictured himself living in a golden mansion with countless rooms and hallways. He could see himself lying in the middle a massive three story high room surrounded by millions of comic books all autographed by they creators. Bright sunlight pouring through the massive tall windows on all sides of the room with his cell phone constantly ringing with reporters wanting an interview to ask about the day he stopped the criminals from entering his small town. How he acted so bravely in telling the military the direction the bad guys took off running in. He imagined a comic book staring himself as the superhero. Kids all over the world would want to be just like him, looking up to him and calling him a hero. He was convinced a movie would be made of this night and he would play himself, maybe even wearing a superhero outfit. Of course he didn’t have a superhero outfit right now, but a few changes could be made for the shake of the movie. He could attend comic book conventions all over the world and sign autographs for his countless fans. The very moment he would walk into any convention hall everyone in the packed room would part the sea creating a path for him to walk forward. Greeting everyone with a smile, as they all cheered his name.

  Kyl
e could see himself surrounded by movie stars and beautiful woman as he walked down the red carpet of a blockbuster movie premier. All the reporters calling out his name wanted his picture. All the other movie stars in awe over the sight of a real life hero. He knew tonight would change his life. No one was going to threaten his town. He would do whatever it takes to defined and save it.

  Operation Stand Ground was quiet as a few soldiers patrolled the perimeter next to the highway wearing infrared goggles allowing them to see anything that moved in the darkness. No cars were moving along the highway. The last train had passed on hour ago. The river was quiet as the water gently flowed by. The moonlight lit up the area.

  The quiet, dark complex was suddenly lit up as a row of army jeeps thundering down the highway. Their headlights lighting up the road in front of them. They pulled off the highway and came to a stop. The driver of the General’s jeep stopped a few feet from the main tent. The General got out fixed his hat and made his way inside.

  He turned to solider 12 who was typing on his computer laptop. “I’ve just completed the meeting with the scientists. They pointed out on the map the location of where the saucer will be landing. Apparently the aliens have information to hand over to the scientists which