Dimension Lapse II: Return to Doomsday (Dimension Lapse Series Book 2)

by Nicholas Davis

  "Any sign of our Garlician friends?" she asked.

  "Not yet, " Cely said. "But I am picking up a rather large craft about 2.5 light years from us. It doesn't appear to be a fleet, more like one large ship."

  "Probably a Republic battle cruiser," Rollings stated. "They won't be receptive towards us. As far as they know, we're the enemy."

  "Then we'll have to communicate with them," Angelica said. "Are the communications systems working yet?"

  "Not yet," Cely answered. "I'm still working on that as well."

  "How soon before they rendezvous?" she asked.

  "Two days," Cely answered.

  "Well, we don't have to worry about them yet, " Angelica sighed.

  Cely pressed a couple of buttons, and then turned to his leader. "Ms. Avery, I just detected a small fleet of ships tailing us."

  "How long before they catch up with us?"

  "If we continue at our present speed, I would approximate four hours."

  "Will you have weapons systems up by then?" Rollings asked.

  "Negative, " Cely answered. "Only minor photon lasers.

  The fusion weapon will not be operative, and neither will the EMP device. But I will have communications up by then."

  "Then we have no choice but to surrender," Varloo said, as he entered the bridge.

  "I can't let them have this weapon. It needs to be destroyed," Angelica said. "There has to be another way."

  "Only if you can make them break off the attack," Varloo said. "Maybe convince them you have a hostage."

  "They don't care," she said. "Balta said they'll attack anyway. Especially if they don't hear from him."

  "Well, then," Varloo remarked. "We'll have to get him to talk with them."

  "And how are you going to do that?"

  "Surely I have some influence over him that you do not, " Varloo said. "After all, I can actually get inside his head."

  "And what would you tell him if you did?"

  "That he has no choice," Varloo said. "I'll tell him he'll die if he doesn't."

  "He doesn't care," Angelica reminded him.

  "Then I'll convince him that I'll kill you if he doesn't."

  "What?" Rollings asked. "Varloo, what are you saying?"

  Malone just laughed at this suggestion, and Angelica gave him a dirty look.

  "I'll merely convince him of that," Varloo explained. "It's obvious he needs your genes for the purpose of cloning his race. If he knows I'll kill her, he might cooperate."

  "How are you going to do that?" Angelica asked.

  "With the power of suggestion," Varloo explained. "Just like I made Malone faint."

  "Well anything is worth a shot," Rollings said.

  "I'll need total privacy," Varloo said. "Especially Malone. Make sure he's no where near us."

  "We'll keep him up here with us," Angelica promised. "Cely, work on the communications. It's vital we get them working. I'll stay outside the brig with Garlona."

  "I cannot have a human presence near me," Varloo insisted. "You must stay up here. Please trust me. Garlona will be right outside the brig if anything goes wrong."

  "Well," she said, suspicious. "All right. Holler if you need me."

  The Grey then exited the bridge, and as she watched him leave had a slight woman's intuition that something wasn't quite right about him. On one hand, he seemed gentle and benevolent, and on the other seemed as evil as Balta. She knew she couldn't trust Malone, but he seemed to be more of an annoyance than a threat to her. She could take him out with one punch if she had to, now that his eight feet bodyguard was eliminated on Tolaria. The Grey, however, seemed different, almost too close to home to her.

  Having heard the stories of alien abductions before the earth was contaminated, and her father's tale of his own experience as a boy, it gave her a very uneasy feeling about her companion. His father talked of the burning, evil eyes, and now that she came face to face with one, she realized his fear. She began to wonder if a Grey somehow invaded her father's mind, and caused him to go insane, and that maybe NASA was right about him after all. She turned to Rollings, who was still at his panel.

  "Can I trust him?"

  "Yes," Rollings answered. "I've lived with him for almost two years, and he's never done anything to harm me."

  "Or me," Malone added.

  "I hope you're right," she said. "I'd hate to have to kill him too."

  "You're awful sure of yourself, aren't you?" Malone questioned.

  "Only when I have to be."

  "Remind me never to piss you off...again."

  She smiled, as she turned to Cely. "What do you think our chances are?"

  "For living, or dying?" the android asked.

  "You know what I mean!"

  "Well, if I can gain full control of the systems in three and a half hours," he stated. "We might have a chance. It will still be a struggle, however, because we'll be heading towards hostile territory. If the Republic thinks we're Tolarion, even if we communicate with them, they may still attack."

  "And even though the Republic takes prisoners," Rollings said. "I've heard the Garlicians don't."

  "How long will this thought transference take?" she asked.

  "I have no idea," Rollings said. "Not long."

  "Why don't you get some sleep, Ms. Avery," Cely said. "Rollings and I have things under control up here."

  "I can't sleep knowing that monster is back there," she said. "I'm getting bad vibes from the Grey as well."

  "Typical human behavior," Cely stated. "You fear what you don't understand. I've detected that the gray's bodily functions are similar to you own. The brain capacity is more advanced, however, but he's basically a humanoid like you."

  "Something about his eyes," she said. "They look evil."

  "Superstition," Malone muttered.

  "What I really need is something to eat," she remarked. "I'm getting light headed."

  "The Tolarions eat mostly fruit, but they have developed a taste for meat I've heard," Malone jested. "Human meat!"

  "I've had about enough of that!" Angelica yelled, and pointed the laser at his head. "Just because I'm a woman, don't think I won't kill you."

  "Okay," he snarled. "Can't you take a little joke?"

  "Right now is not the time for joking," Rollings said, as he rose from his seat. He gently grabbed her arm, and guided the gun back in its holster. "We have to work together."

  She gave him half of a smile. "Yes, you're right. I just need some food, that's all."

  "Once Varloo is done, there is some fruit in the back room, just beyond the brig," Cely said. "In the small kitchen."

  An hour went by, and there was no sign of Varloo, which made her a little suspicious. She started to leave the bridge, when she was addressed by Cely.

  "Ms. Avery," he said. "I've detected that the Garlician ships have increased in speed."

  "Can we increase ours any more?"

  "Not enough to compensate. They will be upon us in approximately one hour and twenty minutes."

  "What about weapons systems?"

  "Still only photons."

  "What are we going to do now?" Malone asked, worried.

  "I'm going back to see what's taking Varloo so long," Angelica remarked. "Stay up here, and keep on guard. I don't trust your friend Varloo."

  "You want me to go with you?" Cely asked.

  "No," she said. "I need you up here with Rollings to run the ship. I can handle him myself."

  "You should let me go with you," Rollings said. "At least take Malone with you."

  "Absolutely not," she insisted. "I don't trust him anymore than Varloo!" Malone seemed to be a little hurt by her statement, but shrugged it off just the same.

  She walked up the stairway, and into the hallway back towards the brig. She became even more suspicious when she found that Garlona was nowhere to be found. She looked in the side window of the brig, and saw Varloo talking to Balta, although she couldn't make out what they were saying. She then walked a littl
e past the brig, and pulled out her laser. She opened the door to the kitchenette, and saw that no one was in there. The apples and bananas that sat on the counter made her hungry, so she grabbed one of each. She hadn't eaten much since their departure two weeks ago. Balta's crew gave them some food, but barely enough to survive. She was getting dizzy and weak, just what Balta wanted to make her as complacent as possible.

  She devoured the apple, then the banana, and left the room heading towards the lower deck of the ship, curious to see where Garlona went. This was where the engines were kept, and the fusion weapon as well. As she climbed down the stairs, she found herself fascinated with this weapon of mass destruction, amazed at its design. She put her laser away and opened the compartment next to the controls to see if there was a way to dismantle it. As she went to touch one of the wires, she felt a laser pointed at the back of her head, and someone took her gun from its sheath.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the voice said. "Unless you want to kill all of us right now."

  She turned to find Garlona with the laser in his hand, completely surprised. "You?" she said.

  "Yes," he stated. ""Me. And Varloo. Now shall we go back up to see Balta?"

  "What about Rollings and Malone? Are they spies too?"

  "No, Rollings is a loyalist, and Malone is just a plain idiot! Now move!"

  She saw no point in arguing with him for he was twice her size and strength. She walked up to where Balta and Varloo stood, at the top of the stairs. Balta grabbed her by the arm and walked towards the bridge, as all three of them pointed their weapons at her.

  When they reached the bridge, Rollings and Malone turned around, shocked to learn what just happened.

  "Drop your Weapons!" Balta commanded, as he pointed his gun at Angelica's head. They complied, and the three of them backed away from their panels.

  "Varloo, Garlona?" Malone said, also amazed. "What the hell?"

  "We have our reasons for hating the Republic, just as you have yours," Garlona remarked.

  "Yea," Malone answered. "But to work for the enemy?"

  "Enough chatter," Balta remarked. "Back to your stations. I'm in command now. Garlona, put her in feet and hand restraints, and sit her in the chair over there." Garlona followed his command, as Cely tried to determine what his next move, if any, would be.

  "The Garlicians ships are ten minutes out, and they are armed to attack us," Cely said. "Do you expect to sacrifice this ship for your mission, whatever it may be?"

  "That's exactly what I expect to do," Balta laughed. "Unless, Ms. Avery does whatever I say."

  "No way," she said. "Not now, not ever."

  "You are as stubborn as your father! Then since you don't care enough about these humans to help them," Balta said, and pointed the laser at Cely. "I'll destroy the one thing you do care about!"

  "No!" Angelica screamed. "Please don't!"

  "Then you'll help me?" Balta asked.

  "Yes!" She wriggled to get free, but couldn't. Garlona held her in the chair.

  "Photon one hundred thousand meters," Cely reported.

  "Very well," Balta said. Balta walked over to Cely's panel. He turned on the shields, and averted the beam by veering the vessel to the left. He pressed some buttons to regain helm and weapon control, and then turned to Rollings.

  "Open communications."

  He followed his order in reluctance.

  "Garlician Commander Akira, this is Balta. I have regained control, break off attack."

  "Acknowledged, your excellency," Akira said. "Welcome to Garlician territory. We are looking forward to your visit. We'll escort you to Garlicia."

  "Thank you," Balta said. "I'm looking forward to working with you. I have a gift for you. Two Republic spies."

  "Liar!" Malone yelled, and rose from his chair.

  Balta turned towards Varloo, who pointed his gun at Malone.

  "If he speaks again, kill him!"

  He nodded, and Malone sat back down. The Garlician commander returned the transmission.

  "Splendid," Akira answered. "We will be pleased to see them executed. Is there anything else we can assist you with before we reach Garlicia?"

  "No," Balta said, as he glanced around the room at his stunned captives. "I believe I have things under control here. I had a slight disturbance, but I took care of it. I'll contact you if I need anything else."

  "Very well, your excellency."

  Balta looked at Garlona, and then at Rollings.

  "Take Rollings and Malone to the brig. Varloo, you take Rolling's station. Garlona, if they give you any problems, kill them both."

  "Yes, Sir," Garlona said, and gestured for the two of them to head up the stairs.

  They left the room, and Angelica stared in anger at the simian creature, who sat down at the station next to her, and pointed his laser at her.

  "Why don't you put me back in the brig too?" she asked, as she fought back the pain of the restraints.

  "You're too unpredictable," was his answer. "I need to keep an eye on you, actually both of you. If you try to escape, I'll destroy your android, if he tries to escape, I'll kill you. At least until we get to our destination."

  "You promised me no one would get killed," she said, knowing damn well he wouldn't keep his word.

  "All that changed when you decided to kill all my men. The game has changed."

  "I wasn't aware we were playing a game."

  "Life is a game, is it not? Come now, Ms. Avery, you didn't think I didn't have a backup plan, in case you decided to revolt? For someone so intelligent, you are awful naive. It must be the age of your human life span, perhaps your brain hasn't developed enough to relate."

  "Cely, did he just say I was stupid?"

  "I'm afraid so," the android answered.

  "I'm not trying to insult you," Balta explained. "I actually envy your intelligence, but your decisions sometimes are driven by human emotion."

  "He just did it again," she snarled. "And yours are not?"

  "But of course they are," Balta said. "After all, I am also part human. "When we reach Garlicia, I will direct you to the research laboratory. There you will work on developing DNA from yours and my glands to reproduce more clones. You will also work on a formula to develop more of the drug Triachilite. You will eat there, sleep there, and work there. If you leave the area, you will be killed."

  "And if we refuse?"

  "Then, I'll just kill you both right here and now."

  Cely turned his head toward them. "Do not try to assist her with any tricks," Varloo said, his laser still focused on him.

  "You don't have quite a human mind, but I can still decipher your computations through telepathy."

  "I was merely going to point out to Ms. Avery she had no choice but to listen to him," Cely said.

  "You should listen to your android," Balta stated.

  "Sir," Varloo said. "I'm detecting a Republic battle cruiser about two light years away."

  "Tell the Garlician fleet. We'll move to intercept, and destroy it a piece at a time if we have to," Balta said. "When Garlona gets back up here, have him put the android in restraints as well."

  Varloo nodded, and sent the transmission.

  "You're mad," Angelica said, as he put his gun back in its sheath.

  "And you're getting tiresome, Ms. Avery," he recanted, pulling out a syringe.

  "What's that?"

  "Something to make you sleep for a while," he said, and injected her right arm with it. "You're much too volatile to deal with under these conditions. This will make you more compliant.'

  "Truth serum?" she asked, as she began to become drowsy. "I don't know anything about the Republic, the Tolarions, or anything..." By then, she was fast asleep and restrained in the chair.

  "What do you propose to do with me?" Cely asked.

  "Put you on ice for awhile," Balta answered. "Varloo, do you know where his power source is located?"

  "I do indeed," he answered, and walked over to the android.
/>   Garlona returned to the bridge, his green, leathery skin reflecting from the starlight from the distant yellow giant sun. Matai. "Garlona, put the android in restraints," he said, as he placed the syringe back in his suit. The creature did so, and Varloo then opened Cely's back panel and removed the battery pack. Cely completely froze in this position.

  "He's now deactivated," Varloo said, and handed him the three inch panel, which he placed in his pocket.

  "Excellent," he said. "Now no one can stop us, not even the Republic. Tomorrow will be a new day, a new alliance, and new force for the Tolarions, the Garlicians, the Andronians. We shall call it the Imperial Alliance of Planets, and our mission will be to crush their puny republic and take control of this whole galaxy." With that, he laughed, and his two friends joined him, as Angelica and Cely were helpless to stop them.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Rollings sat silent in the brig, as he thought about how this all began. It was 2159, and he was stationed in the research division in sector 14 of the Martian land base. He was working on development of a ram-fusion controlled rocket system that would allow the colonists to actually travel to the nearest star within a lifetime., and a terra-forming system that would allow actual growth of plants in Martian soil.

  They heard news of an attack and disappearances of some of the scout ships by alien craft similar to earlier reports of flying saucers during the twentieth century. He normally didn't heed these, as he thought they were just optical illusions that light played of various celestial objects. That was a mistake on his part; as later that day, there was a major attack on the base, which left it partially destroyed.

  Rollings just checked the biosensors of the ten Self Replication System devices that were supposed to start regenerating themselves across the planet. Large mirrors were recently constructed by the Endromis space station, and positioned around the poles to absorb solar light, directing it towards them, and releasing Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere causing a greenhouse effects in hopes of creating an atmosphere. It was a method that would theoretically increase the amount of Oxygen to a minimal level of 150 millibars; thin, but suitable to humans.