Don't Cross This Line (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 14)

by Michael Anderle

  The two stopped and bowed slightly to Ztopik, who paused, then bowed back.

  Patrick spoke first. “We appreciate you interrupting your research to hear us, Ambassador Ztopik.”

  Even more curious, he thought, rarely was Overseer Patrick this formal. He nodded his understanding so Patrick would continue.

  “We have had setbacks and believe there might be an effort to locate this base, and if successful, to attack it.”

  “By who? The US Government?” Ztopik asked.

  “No, by TQB,” Eva blurted out.

  Ztopik turned towards the human woman, “TQB again? I thought they were a technology challenge, not a warlike group.”

  “We…ahh…we might have been a little more mistaken on that,” Patrick answered, licking his lips.

  Ztopik’s unblinking stare returned to Patrick, “Overseer Patrick, was this an intellectual mistake, or perhaps inadequate information shared on your part?”

  “Patrick!” Eva hissed, “Now is not the time to play word games.”

  Patrick’s mouth pressed together before he spoke, “Ztopik, TQB has superior technology, and our many efforts to acquire their technology have failed.”

  “How could a group with Earth’s technology protect themselves from Majestic 12?” Ztopik asked, “I seek clarity here if you are asking me to help.”

  Eva shot Patrick a dark look and provided more information, “Ztopik, their people have stopped an ambush that would have killed a normal human. Paula used a large group of armed men to attack and not only did they fail, TQB’s people killed a lot of them in the process.”

  Patrick, feeling Eva’s concern, finally broke through his hesitancy. “They’ve found and destroyed XJ-03 in outer space and on multiple occasions tracked our ships coming closer and closer to locating this base.”

  Ztopik’s long, sinewy arm went up held a hand out to Eva, causing her to stop what she was about to say. “Overseer Patrick, this group is in outer space?” Patrick nodded, “How long have they had this capability?”

  Patrick’s eyes closed.

  He opened them, resignation that his previous efforts to hide TQB from Ztopik was a mistake, “Years.”

  “What was XJ-03 attacking?” Ztopik asked.

  “A battle station. TQB has built a battle station in an Asteroid,” he admitted.

  “A battle station? They have built something for war?” Ztopik asked.

  “Actually, a lot of somethings!” Eva hissed, more concerned about TQB coming to their base than the fear she felt for Ztopik.

  Ztopik ignored the woman’s outburst.

  Patrick agreed, “Yes, it is for war. I have documents which suggest they are heading for a different solar system to fight another alien group.”

  “The name.” Ztopik asked.

  “Bethany Anne,” Patrick answered.

  “That does not sound like an alien’s name,” Ztopik responded.

  “Yollins,” Patrick corrected.

  “Yollins?” Ztopik thought for a second, “Yes, I know of this group. Powerful, but not very creative in their martial efforts. They seek to expand their systems by subjugating the local intelligent species as slave labor and returning the raw materials necessary for their own species to manage and expand.” He didn’t say anything for a few moments and Patrick and Eve looked at each other.

  “I am thinking,” he told the two, interrupting their failure at mind communication, “if your TQB group is geared up to fight the Yollins, then they must have found and overcome a Yollin research vessel. Otherwise, the Yollins would have either left the system and reported that this was a poor choice for subjugation.”

  Ztopik looked to both humans spending a moment or two for each. “Unlikely.”

  Then, he looked up into the ceiling as if weighing different possibilities. “Or, the Yollins would have been back in force and nothing we would have built to date would have been enough against a mass assault.” Ztopik was annoyed.

  His enjoyment of the research into the easily mutable human, DNA crossed with so many different species, had allowed him to become complacent. He didn’t fear anything from this planet, but a concerted effort by a large enough space going competitor would mean that all of his work to date would be in vain. He hadn’t left his world and hidden on this horrible little planet to stay in the background.

  The Kurtherians played the great game, and Ztopik wished to prove himself against the masters of DNA manipulation and species on species war.

  “The Yollin’s abilities would explain how they built in an asteroid and some of their war capabilities. The problem, I believe, is their ignorance. They need more than a battle station to save this planet from subjugation. With Yollins, you either hide your abilities so their research vessel leaves ...” He paused a second, “that option is not available. Or you create a suitably strong enough military to cause the Yollins to consider you too much difficulty to battle.”

  There was another pause as Ztopik’s head swayed back and forth on his thin neck. “Then you continue to build your military and try to stay ahead of them.”

  Patrick’s tablet beeped, “My Apologies, I’m expecting a video from Paula to share,” he pulled out his handheld and looked at the private message., “Well, shit.”

  Ztopik held out his long, white arm and Patrick handed the tablet to him. He touched a couple of buttons and then both could hear the video’s audio play a second time. He pointed to the tablet, “Who is this female?”

  “That,” Patrick admitted, “Is the CEO of TQB.”

  Ztopik viewed the video a third time. He stopped before playing a fourth because the value of seeking new information was offset by a rather unfamiliar emotion for him to feel since he had come to this world.

  Heavy concern.

  Secret Meeting, UN Building, New York - USA

  Ambassadors Zhou, Emeka and Franklin waited for a fourth to join them as they sipped coffee in the private room.

  All three had used what technology they had to confirm this room bug free and all had left their electronics outside.

  Ambassador Zhou started, “While we wait for our fourth party, have you read the eyewitness accounts?”

  Ambassador Emeka nodded, “If true, then she is a demon and we must do something to protect Earth from her and her kind.”

  “Do we believe them, though?” Ambassador Franklin asked. “We have no video to prove any of this.”

  “What good would video be?” Zhou countered, “it is too easy to doctor video and you end up having to trust the people providing the information as to the veracity of the information. No, we are trusting those who have been under great duress, and the evidence acquired by the police after the attack.”

  “What do we know, for sure?” Emeka asked Zhou.

  “We know that two terrorists were indeed killed by an unknown weapon of devastating power. It burnt their flesh and fried their nervous systems. Either one of these two effects would have killed those men. Well, and the kinetic punch that slammed their bodies against the wall behind them. That probably would have killed them due to internal bleeding.”

  “What weapon does she posses which can accomplish this?” Franklin murmured, more to himself, wondering what TQB must have built.

  “Unknown,” Zhou answered the question anyway. “But more intriguing, she was shot and not killed. Multiple gunshots to her back and witnesses suggest they saw at least two wounds in the front of her shirt.”

  “She can’t be killed?” Emeka scoffed.

  Zhou shrugged, “We believe she can be killed. But, is that the best solution?” He asked.

  “I can’t think of a better solution at this moment, Zhou. Why would we leave such a danger to challenge the World’s will?”

  “Who said we would leave that danger walking free?” Zhou replied, “She obviously has physical abilities which we can harness to help mankind learn to survive such physical harm.” He looked to the two men. “She professes desire to help mankind? How about she provides the
secret to eternal youth and physical health she is withholding from us?”

  “That is not something she is going to willingly provide us,” Emeka scoffed.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Ambassador Zhou got up from his chair and leaned over to Emeka and Franklin and whispered, “Who said we planned on asking for her permission?”

  Zhou opened the door and welcomed in a fourth to this meeting in the super early hours of the morning. Once he made sure the hallway was empty, Zhou closed the door.

  Emeka’s eyes opened in surprise. Franklin looked over to him and both had the same thought.

  Why was the Ambassador of the United States joining them?

  Outside Chicago, Illinois - USA

  “Honey,” the ex-President’s wife joined him in his study. Dawn was creeping up over the trees and soon, the new day would begin.

  But, would it?

  Who do you trust, those who are like you, or those whose actions match yours?

  He turned towards her as she walked around his desk to stand next to his chair, “Yes, sweetheart?”

  She reached down and pulled him closer, “I’m thankful you came back to us.” A teardrop moistened his forehead, and then her fingers as she wiped it off of him. “I can’t believe David is dead,” she whispered and he felt her hug tighten.

  He rested his head on her chest and looked out the window to the dark trees, nothing but outlines and darkness.

  No answers, just like the questions going through his head at the moment.

  He hadn’t received one call from the White House directly. He had received messages, but not one personal connection. He thought as his eyes looked through the glass. Thinking about the options as he watched a helicopter pass by in the distance once more. He was being watched and they could say all they wanted, he knew they weren’t protecting him from Bethany Anne.

  No, they wanted to catch her coming back and jail her. Then, they would figure out how to keep her legally.

  He didn’t bother telling them not to try. This wasn’t his operation and he had been trying for three years to explain that change didn’t come about by creating a military state where might makes right. Especially not when the one with the most might wasn’t you.

  He sighed. They had picked up David’s body two hours before and now his secret service attachment was itching to have a conversation with TQB. If David shot her, then it was warranted.

  It was a no win situation and it happened because he asked Bethany Anne one more time to try communication. A request originating from the White House, and then an ambush happened. He let that percolate around in his mind. At this point, he wasn’t willing to ignore any possibilities.

  “Did he deserve to die?” his wife asked.

  He focused and realized she had asked the question more than once. “For his actions, yes.” He answered her. “But, he didn’t do it of his own free will,” he told her, quietly, “he had been brainwashed by another group. Bethany Anne didn’t know this until David had shot her. Then he shot Anna Elizabeth when she tried to stop him from shooting Bethany Anne again while she was down.”

  “Oh no, did he kill her?”

  “Almost, she would have died if not for Bethany Anne. Hell, we all would have died if not for Bethany Anne.”

  “Don’t you mean you all would have died because of her?” she asked him.

  “What, because they attacked us because she was there?” he replied.

  “Yes.”

  “Honey, I was the one who talked her into attending. Are you suggesting I killed David?”

  “No!” He felt her clench her hand into a fist and tapped it on his shoulder. “Dammit! Stop being so civil.”

  “You want this to be her fault, why?” He asked.

  “Because I can’t change the Government!” She told him, “I’ve been in those halls. I’ve been around those people. If this isn’t her fault, then what?”

  His eyes drew together and he realized he was ignoring the smaller picture. There comes a time in every man’s life when the clarity of the situation becomes stark and unyielding.

  This wasn’t about the world, or the United States or the people in the United States. He had given eight years of his life working to make his country the best he could. He had spent another three years trying to mitigate the friction between the present administration and TQB. Now he needed to protect his family and be on the right side of this conflict. A war between what the government and TQB.

  Unfortunately, he wasn’t going to be allowed to sit out this fight. He looked up to his wife, “You know I love you, right?”

  She smiled down at him and placed a hand on his face, “You’ve got that look in your eyes.” She searched him, seeking insight into what he was thinking. “I’m not going to be happy with this, am I?”

  “I’ll accept the punishment as I have to.“ The ex-President stood up. “Wake the girls, I’ve got a call to make.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  ArchAngel Orbiting outside L2

  The room was holding fifty humans and six Yollins.

  General Lance Reynolds looked over his people and nodded to Dan, “You guys ready for this?”

  Dan smiled, “Lance, can’t wait to get back into the field again.”

  “Shit!” Peter called out from the first row, “You know Bethany Anne’s coming, right?” There were a few chuckles in the group.

  Kiel leaned forward from his position behind Peter and tapped him on the shoulder. Trying to be quiet, but failing miserably, he asked Peter in his clicks and twirls before the translation kicked in, “Why is the fact that Bethany Anne is participating something to laugh at?” The Yollin looked around and realized everyone was listening to him. He articulated his shoulders as he had picked up from watching the humans over the last three years. “I’m sorry, but I am curious.”

  “I think I understand your confusion, Kiel.” Lance answered. “Captain Kael-ven T’chmon and Dan here are going to be in the back, commanding through your people and directing communications and tactics as we clear out the base. You are wondering what does it matter that Bethany Anne would be in the back?”

  Kiel turned towards the front. “Yes, General Reynolds, that is the core of my question.”

  “Oh,” Peter replied finally understanding the Yollin’s question. “I’m sorry, Kiel. I forgot that you and your people haven’t been on an operation with Bethany Anne and the Bitches yet.”

  “Yeah, sometime I’ll have to give you the play by play of the Downtown operation after the Everglades operation,” Dan interjected, “You would have a better understanding with that information.”

  “Or the Chinese base operation,” another voice called out from behind Kiel and the alien turned to see who spoke up.

  Dan’s voice caused Kiel to turn back around, “or the ambush by David that time in the mountains.”

  “What they are all mentioning, without really telling you Kiel,” Lance broke into those flinging out battle stories, “is that Bethany Anne will be on the Tip of the Spear, as we call it. She won’t be in the back.”

  “That is the place for those of us who are trained,” Kiel answered.

  Lance didn’t take it as condemnation, so much as ignorance. “Kiel, how long have you studied the martial arts, since how old?”

  “Since I was young, when I first left my parent’s home I went straight into the military.”

  “Right. You know I’m Bethany Anne’s father, right?” Lance wanted to make sure Kiel understood.

  “Yes,” he nodded.

  “Bethany Anne has been training to fight since she went into school. She was going to competitive fights and kicking ass when other girls were starting to figure out they liked boys. She has been a warrior in training for almost her whole life. You can’t tell her not to be in the front of the group. There isn’t anyone here faster, stronger or more deadly than Bethany Anne. If she believes she needs to be in a fight? She will be in it.”

  Dan spoke up, “Captain Kael
-ven T’chmon and myself will fight as called on, but our role is to get down there and run the operation so you and your warriors are most effective. What Peter alluded to is if we don’t get our fight in first, we might be considered the mop up crew.”

  Kiel thought for a moment, “So, going into battle with Bethany Anne is a race?”

  “Ahhh,” Dan thought about it for a second. “Not so much a race, as an opportunity to be a part of one of the deadliest tactical teams in existence.”

  “But, isn’t that a bit premature?” Kiel asked, “Don’t get me wrong, but you have fought only humans.”