"General Carver?" he asked. "Would it be too forward to ask how those rockets work? I am, after all, a pilot."
"I guess not," Carver said. "The theory's been around quite a few years, but it wasn't until Dr. Martin Avery came up with his development in fusion and anti-matter technology that we started exploring the possibilities. It was his son, Dr' Louis Avery, who really made the dream a reality."
"And what dream would that be?"
"Why faster than light travel, of course. The idea is to create a
field around the ship that warps space and time, and allows the ship to jump from one area in space to another."
"Yes, I'm quite familiar with the concept, and Dr. Avery and his father's theories. They were part of my training at the space academy."
"Another thing you remember now that you didn't remember earlier, Barkley?"
"Yea, something like that." Dr. Reynolds gave the general a look of disbelief. "Isn't there a similar theory involving wormholes?"
"Yes, but we've never been able to produce the amount of exotic matter that's involved."
"Do you really think you should be telling him all this?" Dr. Reynolds asked. "Sir, security protocol states-"'
"I'm well aware of what it states, Dr. Reynolds," Carver snapped.
"Besides," Jeff interrupted. "You're going to need a pilot, and I'm the best you got."
"Oh," Carver retorted. "What makes you think you can fly this ship?"
"I'm well versed in fusion technology," Jeff said. "And I have a masters in physics and in the area of particle acceleration."
"Impressive," Carver stated. "Where did you study?" Jeff was silent for a moment as he was unable to answer the question. "Well, Mr. Barkley? I'm waiting for your answer."
He thought for a moment, and a name entered his mind, almost as if it came out of nowhere. "Boston University."
"Who was your physics instructor?"
"Gabe. Gabe Ravella." Jeff couldn't understand how he knew the things he did, but he guessed one of the Greys' psychic intervention was involved.
"Ah," Carver smiled. "I know him well. He's stationed at the Vector base near Washington. He'll be coming here tomorrow as my guest, you can catch up on old times then. He won't be here in time for the first presentation tomorrow, but he'll be here during the luncheon. You sound interested in Avery's ideas, how would you like to meet him?"
"I'd like that very much, I'm a great admirer of his ideas. That is if you still trust me?"
"At the moment, I feel there's no other choice," Carver admitted. "The only one so far that can understand the full functions of the two rockets are Avery's daughter and Avery himself."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Reynolds reminded him.
"Well, until I find out if he's the real Barkley or not, I guess I'll have to trust him. Welcome aboard, Lt. Barkley." He reached his hand to Jeff
and shook it."
"Does that mean I can lose the henchmen?" Jeff quipped.
"Not just yet," Carver said. "After lunch tomorrow, we'll talk. If I feel I can still trust you, we'll proceed in the training. Otherwise, get used to eating the same crap everyday, and staring at four walls. The men will show you back to your room."
As Jeff started with the MP's, Carver turned towards Reynolds. "Better keep a close eye on him," he said. "Have my daughter in law get him out of the room for a while for exercise or something, and place a couple of infrared cameras in his room.
"What about Sarah, Sir?" Reynolds asked. "Avery isn't going to agree
to anything until you take her out of the coma."
"He will, or I'll end her life in a minute."
"Sir, it's been thirty five years! Even if she does wake up, she'll be a vegetable. The damage is already done."
"I don't care, as long as she's in the coma, he'll do what we want."
"What if his friend comes back? And how do we know Barkley isn't his friend in disguise? You know there's been cases of shape-shifters."
"Nonsense," Carver barked. "If he comes back, I'll deal with him."
"How? You couldn't deal with him the last time, and he got away."
"This time I have a weapon. Dr. Tiahurst has come up with a liquid nitrogen based gun that'll freeze our friend if he decides to attack."
"I hardly think that's a match for his telepathic and telekinetic abilities. I'm afraid you've really got in over your head on this one, Al."
"Well, Frank," Carver said. "If he does decide to return, he'll have to face a whole army."
"He will, Sir. He will," Reynolds lectured. "And when he does, I'm afraid none of us are going to like the outcome."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jeff's friends closed in on the orbit of Earth, and now that Varloo landed on the surface, Wilson checked the scanners again to determine his location. "He's landed five miles from the base, in the desert," Wilson reported.
"We'll land about two miles away, in the ravine nearby," Batar said. "Our vessel is small enough to land in the dried up river bed near there."
"Won't his scanners pick us up?" Lori asked.
"Not necessarily," the Grey answered. "If he's left the ship, he wouldn't have access to them."
"But Garlona's also on board," Lori retorted.
"That's if he's even with him."
"You said before he was."
"I should be able to pick up his thought transmissions, but apparently
I'm not picking up either one of them."
"Are you picking up Jeff's?" Lori asked.
"Yes, and don't worry he's being treated well, and everything is going as planned. He's going to meet with Dr. Avery and Ms. Avery tomorrow for lunch with General Carver."
"Sir," Wilson said. "I'm picking up signals from the NASA base. They're saying the rescue ship's mission had complications, and veered off course, just as you planned it."
"I didn't suggest they veer off course."
"Then who did?" Wilson asked.
"Varloo, of course."
"But why would he do that?"
"To distract them so he could land, just as we needed a distraction. Prepare reverse thrusters, and calculate our trajectory," Batar commanded.
"Yes, Commander," Wilson said, and pressed the necessary buttons.
"There is a sixty second burn period after we enter the atmosphere," Batar said. "We'll probably show up on their radar."
"Won't they shoot us down?" Lori asked.
"Defense systems are inoperative," Wilson said. "Apparently he's taken care of that as well."
"It's almost as if he's inviting us to chase him," Lori surmised.
"He probably is," Batar replied. "He figures there's nothing we can do to stop him, so he's inviting us to watch as he change's mankind's future."
"Not on Jeff's watch," Lori snapped. "If anybody can stop him, Jeff can!"
"You put a lot of faith in your husband," Batar laughed. "Are you sure
he's up to the challenge? He wouldn't have killed Balta without the help of the android."
"Yes!" she hesitantly answered, annoyed by his negativity.
"Besides his job is to stop Avery, not Varloo. And Varloo doesn't really have an issue with Captain Walker. He has an issue with humans in general. As I told you before, let me deal with him."
"We're beginning to descend, Commander," Wilson said.
"Switch on reverse thrusters," Batar ordered.
The ship began to slow as it reached the ionosphere, and glowed a bright red against the dark gray and black sky. They came closer to the surface, as Lori glared at the barren and desolate landscape, and imagined a great civilization once being here. She couldn't believe this world once looked the same as Ventros, although Earth wasn't quite as warm then. It
was different now, even hotter, and a barren and useless world. The air was noxious, and the radiation level too high to be out for any extended length of time.
The ship safely passed through the atmosphere, and the landing rockets slowed down to a slight hover, as it d
escended into the ravine over the river bed. Wilson piloted the craft to a gentle landing on the dried up area. She shut the engines down, as Batar put his hand on her shoulder. "Excellent job, as usual," he told her.
"Sensors indicate no life readings from the other ship," Wilson said. "Life reading exactly 3.5 miles from us, to the south in the desert."
"Can he make it that far being exposed to radiation?" Lori asked.
"He can if he's learned to levitate himself with his telekinesis," Batar said. "I'll wear one of the special suits, and follow him. There isn't enough radiation to affect me too soon. I estimate three hours."
"You're only four feet tall," Wilson reminded him. "Can you walk seven miles in three hours with a suit on?"
"I guess we'll find out," Batar stated. "Once I get there, I'll send you a telepathic signal. Do not attempt to follow me, you will die in less than two hours out there."
"If you see Jeff, tell him I love him," Lori said. "And tell him good luck."
"My goal is not to be seen by anyone except Varloo, and I don't even want him to see me until I'm able to handle him!"
"Good luck, Commander Batar," Wilson said, as she put her hand on his shoulder. "If you don't return, it's been a pleasure to serve with you."
"I intend on returning," Batar said. "Alive and with Varloo as my prisoner, although I don't know how I'm going to do it."
"Batar, wait," Lori cried.
"What is it, Major?"
"It's something Jeff told me when we were on the island," she said. "Something about an antidote for the triachilite."
"I've never been aware of an antidote for the drug," Batar said. "Did he say where it came from?"
"It was on Tolaria," she explained. "In the laboratory on Dr. Avery's base. Zarcon injected Riona with it to stop him."
"Riona wasn't a telepathic being to begin with," Batar retorted. "There's no way of telling how powerful a telepathic being can become with the drug. Any antidote may still be ineffective against such powers.
However, thanks for the insight. Remember, if you value your life, you will not leave the ship. Understood?"
"Affirmative, Sir," Wilson said, as Batar left the bridge, and headed towards the cargo bay.
He suited himself into the specially designed spacesuit, which was more bulky than the others; especially on his four feet frame, but still provided way more protection against the heat and radioactivity. He opened the lower compartment to the space hatch, and pressurized himself to the correct gravity and pressure. He then opened the hatch and climbed out. Wind and dust blew around him, as he started to walk towards the end of the ravine and into the open desert towards the direction of the ship and base.
Walking through it reminded him of his home planet on Aldron, which was a hot, barren, mountainous world as well, except for a few fertile marsh regions near the equator. These were the areas his civilization thrived in, and where the Aldronians originated.
He knew, however, this wasn't always the case. Both planets had chances to flourish as a race, but allowed their petty differences to destroy their planets to the point they were almost uninhabitable. Aldron learned to adapt, however, and weed out the bad seeds like Varloo. Most of the undesirables sided either with the Tolarions or Garlicians, or followed their own agendas.
After about an hour of heavy wading through sand and rocks, the gigantic half mile spaceship came into view. The red, green, and blue lights flashed around the base of the vehicle in a circular pattern. He was well accustomed to his style of craft; Andronian in nature, and one of three different models with different shapes, which were triangular, round, or cylindrical in nature. Its hieroglyphic language on the side of the craft stood out, but only Batar understood what it meant, because humans had no comprehension of the Andronian language.
He approached with caution, even though Wilson stated he was no longer in the vessel, for fear the reptilian Garlona would be on board. He drew his laser, and walked up to where the landing bay was. He entered through a nearby hatch, which was left open, and climbed up a ramp and into the landing bay area. The intruder alert went off when he entered, and the bay was flooded with poisonous gas. Fortunately, the suit protected
him from their harmful vapors.
There were three large scout ships inside, even bigger than their scout ship. The bay itself was at least 1000 feet wide. There was a large sign which directed him into the next area, and he climbed the stairs.
He walked through the engineering section, and into a long hallway. He pressed a button next to an airlock, and couldn't believe what he saw. Lying on the floor in front of him was the decomposed bones of a reptilian creature that stood upright to about six feet tall. His jaw was broken if half, and dried blood was still on the floor of the hallway. His head was crushed, possibly from the power of Varloo's mind. This was Garlona, the creature who betrayed Varloo to help them defeat the Garlician-Tolarion alliance. Apparently, he received his just reward.
He reluctantly stepped around the fallen corpse, and headed in the direction of the bridge. He walked down the long hallway which led there, and wondered himself how he could operate such a large craft without a crew. He surmised, however, telekinetic powers could help him achieve this task. This scared him because he knew if Varloo was capable of running the ship with his mind, he could easily be dealt with as well. The only solution for Batar was to somehow get a hold of some triachilite himself, or the antidote.
When he stepped on the bridge, he noticed most of the functions were
still operating. He turned on the main viewing screen, and noticed some sort of rover type vehicle heading his way outside. He couldn't tell if it was manned or not, but human life forms were indicated farther away, just outside of the base. He guessed this was a drone vehicle, and the real welcoming party would be coming shortly.
He consulted the computer for an antidote, but was unsuccessful at doing so; because Varloo placed a security code within the system he was unable to decipher in such a short time. His biggest fear was getting caught by these primitive humans and not being able to defend himself. Sure, he could get inside their minds, but if they were able to incapacitate him long enough to sedate him, he was done for. He didn't want any altercations if he could help it.
Whatever Varloo was planning, he did a good job at hiding it from
everyone else, which made him wonder if he put the code in the android to begin with. He was almost certain of this now, and the dates which Lori spoke of earlier were indeed known by Varloo, before he entered the Einstein-Rosen bridge. He needed to stop Varloo from doing this by reprogramming the android's artificial intelligence chip just before the launch, and to make sure Avery didn't make another one prior to their entry into the wormhole.
He could see a response vehicle pull up outside, as well as a large, square flat crane-like vehicle with a flatbed in back. He left the bridge, and went into the infirmary section to see if there was any blue fluid around the room similar to the color of the triachilite, but found none. He found a steel compartment below a counter which was locked, and backed up far enough so he could fire his laser at it.
He fired, but it didn't phase the box. By this time the men gathered around the ship, their guns drawn and radiation suits on. Batar decided if he could somehow stole away on board, he would get on the base much easier. He quickly found a small compartment within the medical section and climbed inside, as he could hear men's voices for several minutes throughout the hallway of the ship. He heard them come closer, and eventually fade away, and exit the ship.
When they did, he heard one speak to the others after finding Garlona. "Hey, look at this, will you?" one asked.
"What the hell is that?" the other asked.
"It looks like some kind of lizard."
"It's a reptilian."
"What's that?"
"An ancient extraterrestrial reptilian race. Some people say they've evolved right along with us, and are really descendants of dinosaurs."
"You
don't believe in that bullshit, do you?"
"No, but it does appear to be an alien of some kind, don't you think? We have to inform General Carver on what we found out here. Tell Captain Olsen and the team not to hook up the craft. We won't be able to bring it back to the base because of its size. I'll go back to the response vehicle and radio General Carver."
When they left, Batar sighed, and climbed out of the compartment. He wondered if they ran across Varloo yet, or if he somehow diverted himself
away from them using an underground system or something of similar nature. He eyed the burnt compartment again, trying to figure a way to get it open. He walked out of the medical lab, and back towards the engineering section, and found a robotics lab of some kind. He walked in, looked around at all the circuit boards and parts, and grabbed part of a robotic arm. He began to wonder what Varloo was doing in here as well. Perhaps he was building an android of his own; he couldn't tell from what he saw.
He left the room, and headed back to the medical lab with the laser in one hand, and the robotic arm in the other. He fired his laser at the metal compartment again until it glowed bright red, and then he slammed the arm several times against it until it was somewhat dented in. This opened the box just a crack, but he still couldn't get the door off, even after he grabbed it and tried to pull it back; the metal was just too solid. He grabbed what was left of the arm, used it as a pry bar, and finally got it back enough to pull it off. When he opened it, he was both shocked and relieved at what he found.
The case was full of the triachilite, and the green colored antidote. Some of the vials were broken and had a rather pungent odor to them. 'Jackpot,' he thought to himself, as he grabbed one of each, and four syringes as well. He decided to destroy the rest so no one else could use it, especially Varloo. He took vile after vile and threw them either against the wall or onto the floor, until they were all gone. He wanted to send Varloo
Dimension Lapse III: Dimensional Breakdown (Dimension Lapse Series Book 3) Page 9
