"He claims to know things, like he was from the future or something."
Carver laughed. "He's delusional. I sent him down to the psych ward for observation."
"Can I see him?" she asked.
Carver shook his head. "Absolutely not!"
"He also told me you're keeping secrets about my father from me. What secrets?"
"There aren't any secrets. You have my full cooperation and resources. If someone is after your android, I'm sure we'll know about it."
"If you're keeping something from me, and I find out, you can forget about my father helping you with any projects in the future. I'll also report you to the commission."
"That sounds like a threat," Carver jested. "Are you sure you want to go down that path, Ms. Avery?"
"Come on, Angel," Major Walker said, and tugged her arm. "Leave it alone!"
"You better listen to your fiancé," Carver said. "If you make threats, you better be able to back them up."
"Let's go, Angel," Tom said to her. "Now! Sir, I apologize for my finance's behavior. She's very passionate about her work."
"Perhaps she should be more passionate about her future husband," he remarked, and reentered the banquet hall.
Dr. Avery, who just prepared to head towards the research area was
approached by Carver as he entered the hall.
"Is the particle accelerator ready for the demonstration?" Carver asked him.
"Yes, of course, General," he answered. "I've also prepared the space warp electromagnetic simulation as well."
"You sure there's no danger involved?"
"There isn't sufficient enough power to actually distort space time. It will appear as a slight warping of the space in front of the device."
"Then how do you know it will work?"
"It will work, trust me."
"Another lesson you learned from your Grey friend?"
"Sir, forgive me, but aren't you being a little brazen, discussing that in here."
"You're right," Carver corrected himself. "It's just that your daughter is getting a little suspicious of my intentions. She thinks just because this Barkley character says her android is going to be tampered with, it's true."
"Who is he anyway?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Carver muttered. "He came here about a week ago from the space station. He claims to be from the future."
"From the future?" Avery said, as he raised his left eyebrow.
"That's what he said. He also said he was here to stop us from launching the rockets. Something about an alien race you created from
another universe."
"That I created?"
"Yes," Carver laughed. "Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
"I hope you sent him down for observation?"
"Yes, but he did seem to know a great deal about what we're doing here. Do you think he could be our old friend in disguise?"
"No, if it were him, he would've communicated with me."
"I don't know about that one. Last time he was here, he left pretty angry."
"He wasn't angry with me. He and I have an understanding."
"And one day he and I will reach an understanding as well."
"You military people will never understand the scientific mind. He wants only peace for both our races."
"Then why did he kill three of my men?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Three hours ago, a rescue team found three soldiers in the desert. They also found a missing jeep just about a quarter mile from the base."
"And you think Varloo did it?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll find out."
"I've been meaning to ask you, General. How is my sister? Any change?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Do you think after all this time, she'll ever be normal again?"
"I don't know."
"When can I see her? Soon, I hope?"
"After January, when our project is finished."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to blackmail me into finishing this project. You've done this my whole life, and frankly I'm getting a little tired of it. Now, if you want me to work with you, you'll have to let me see my sister."
"Are you threatening me too?" Carver asked.
"No," he said. "I just want to see my sister, if you don't mind."
Carver grabbed him by the collar of his lab coat.
"Now, you listen to me, you rocket scientist, Brat, " Carver snapped." If it wasn't for me, your sister would've been dead years ago with your parents. While you were flying around the universe with your little friend, I was raising her. So don't tell me what to do. I'm in charge, here, got it? I can just as easily arrange for someone to pull the plug on her at any time. Is that what you want?"
"No," Avery said. "Of course not."
"Then go get the demonstration ready, and talk to your daughter. She's threatened to turn me into the commission, and if she does that, I'll make sure both your names are added to any indictments they may have against me."
"Yes, Sir," Avery said.
Just then, Dr. Reynolds walked over, and Avery left the room. "We have a situation, Sir," he said. "In the secret research division."
He waved for him to come out into the hallway where it was quieter, and more private.
"What's going on?" he asked Reynolds.
"We found another extraterrestrial outside the base," Reynolds answered. "He's in some kind of coma."
"Another Grey?"
"Yes."
"Is it Varloo?"
"No way of knowing until we get a blood sample. He's been exposed to quite a bit of radiation. We're detoxifying him now."
"Well, by all means, get one! I'll meet you down there in ten minutes."
The General went back into the banquet hall, and addressed his other guests.
"I'm sorry, but an urgent matter has come to my attention," he stated. "I won't be able to join you for the demonstration. Any questions can be directed to Major Walker or Dr. Avery. Enjoy yourself, and thank you for coming."
He then walked out of the room, and towards the secret research division. He thought he heard someone behind him in the hallway just outside, but turned and no one was there. He continued on, punched in the code, walked down the stairway, and into the same lab where the Grey attacked him thirty five years earlier. Inside, the new Grey was on the table strapped down. Dr. Reynolds was present, running some diagnostic tests on him.
"Is he sedated?" Carver asked.
"No need," Reynolds answered. "He's apparently in some kind of self induced coma."
"How do you know that?"
"Because our drugs to revive him haven't worked, his brain waves are
elevated, and as you know from before, we're not dealing with a human here."
"The question is, is he the same one."
"I'll have the answer in a matter of minutes. As soon as Dr. Learaby has the results, he'll send them via database. He did have two test tube vials on him, however. One has a green liquid, and the other a blue liquid."
"Any idea what they were?"
"Well the samples I sent indicate they're an unknown type of substance. They're definitely alien from anything we've examined before."
"Is there any of it left?"
"Yes, I only used a quarter of a vial of each."
"Perhaps it's something that could bring him out of the coma?"
"I wouldn't know, and I wouldn't attempt to find out. It could be disastrous."
"Take half of each and store them in the cryogenic freezer. The other half keep on hand in case our friend explains what they're for. I'd like to
keep this one extremely quiet, with only a minimal staff. The less people that know about it the better, especially that nosy Avery and his daughter. She's getting suspicious, and he's getting impatient."
"I told you it was wrong to keep his sister like a vegetable. You'll never get him to finish the project if she dies."
"She won't die as long as you
keep giving her the right dosage. Never mind that right now. Do you really think this Jack Barkley or Jeff Walker, or whoever he calls himself, is from the future?"
"That would mean he's perfected time travel within the next one hundred years. Do you really think that's possible?"
"No, of course not," he said. "But just the same, I've got him under observation. He won't be able to make a move without us seeing it."
"Did you ever find out what happened to the ISS?"
"No, I still haven't heard back from them. Do you think the Grey has anything to do with it?"
A soldier came and knocked on the window. Carver went to the doorway, and opened the door. "Can't you see we're busy, Corporal," he said. "What is it?"
"We've found the remains of a smaller space craft five miles from here," he said. "We also found a large one intact, but it's way too big to be transported."
"How big are we talking about?" Carver asked.
"2500 feet, Sir," he said.
"2500 feet!" Carver yelled in disbelief. "What is the shape of the craft?"
"It is a triangular shaped craft, dark gray color."
"Were they able to enter it?"
"No, Sir. It appears to have a highly advanced security system."
"Get a full detail on it, about fifty soldiers. Make sure they're armed with the liquid nitrogen weapons. If they see anything out of the ordinary, tell them to shoot to kill."
"Yes, Sir," he said, and left the area to execute the order.
Carver turned to Dr. Reynolds.
"If this isn't Varloo, I want to make sure he doesn't make it here."
"The war has begun," jested Reynolds. "I'm getting the results now." He read the computer screen carefully, and then turned to Carver. "This is not the same alien. His blood is different from the other one."
"You mean the DNA chain in the blood is different, or he has a different species blood type altogether?"
"Both. His blood is completely different from the other one. It has a coagulant in it that's different from Varloo's blood. If you remember, he injected some of the blood into you, which is why both you and Dr. Avery have an alien virus. This blood is different from that."
"Didn't Avery's wife contract the same virus which killed her? How did it pass to her?"
"Through a blood transfusion," Reynolds said. "There was an accident, and she needed blood, so he gave it to her. He was the only compatible donor."
"But he knew his blood was contaminated," Carver said. "Why would he kill her by injecting it into her only to make her sicker."
"He must have been desperate," Reynolds said. "There is also something else that's interesting about our friend. His blood appears to be an opposite configuration than Varloo's blood, an anti virus if you will. I won't know for sure until I get a blood sample from you."
"Yes, of course," Carver said, and rolled up his sleeve. "Anything else I should know about our new guest?"
"His brain patterns are similar to Varloo's. The diagnostic indicates a high level of telepathy, but nothing on the telekinetic scale. He's probably reading our thoughts right now."
"While he's in a coma?"
"Why not? We know very little about these beings." He injected the needle into Carver's vein to draw three vials of blood. After that, he placed
them in a tray. "I'll have these tested, and let you know the results."
"Barkley mentioned some gibberish about Avery creating a race of simian aliens. It might be best to keep Avery away from the chimpanzees and gorillas in the genetic division, just in case. He's been spending a lot of time down there lately instead of working on the vessels. I wouldn't want him to get off the main reason why we're here, if you know what I mean?"
"I hear you," Reynolds said. "Beginning to think maybe Walker's telling the truth?"
"You said it, not me," Carver replied. "I just don't want Avery to get any ideas."
"Agreed. I think you don't have to worry about this one. He's harmless."
"Very good. Once we get inside his craft, we'll be able to find out more."
"Assuming it is his craft. What if he was in the other one that was destroyed?"
"Well, either way, we know there are at least two of them. We need to find the other one. I think it's time to pay Mr. Walker another visit."
"Do you think there's any connection between Walker and this Grey?"
"I'm almost certain of it," Carver said, as he proceeded to leave the room.
He walked to the shuttle port that would take him to the far side of the base, which was ten miles to the north. The psychiatric division was where they kept the mentally ill, and prisoners they wanted to keep away from the general public. The only way to get there was to jump on the mag-lev tram that went there. He got on, and grabbed a seat, along with ten other passengers.
The tram started off, and he began to think of his grandchildren, and what legacy they were leaving them. He hoped for a brighter future, but could only see starvation and despair. The truth was this was his last hoorah, and if these new vessels weren't functional, it not only meant the end of his career, but the end of mankind as well. Sure, they would survive for a while, but eventually the food, air, and water would run out. It just wasn't sustainable without true sunlight, and drinkable, potable water.
Now the Averys gave him trouble as well, and without them, there would be no spaceships. He was a man in control, but this recent
development put him in a terribly awkward position. He decided in his mind, that maybe he was going at this whole situation the wrong way, and maybe he should give in to a few of their demands, just to appease them into cooperating. Perhaps Reynolds was right about Sarah, and it was time to revive her after thirty five years. Maybe then, if Walker was right about the simian DNA, Avery wouldn't go through with the cloning process. Then there was the possibly of a cure as Reynolds suggested, maybe from this new Grey. That could change everything; he and Avery would be cured from the side effect from his contact with the extraterrestrial Varloo.
"Denver Psychiatric Division, next stop," he heard the voice say over the speaker. He jumped out of the tram, walked up the stairway, and into the main hallway of the hospital. He then walked up to the main desk, and took off his hat.
"Morning, General," the desk nurse said.
"Morning, Mrs. Richmond," he said. "I'm here to meet with the new man brought down yesterday, Jack Barkley. He's forty eight, 5' 10", sandy
brown hair.
"Yes," she said. "I remember. Let's see. He's in room 125."
"Thank you," he said, and bowed his head slightly.
He walked down the hallway, as the two orderlies followed him. They came to the room, and one unlocked the door. Jeff was leaning against the wall, lying on the bed, on the right side of the all white, windowless room. He turned his head in disgust at the general.
"Morning, Mr. Walker," he said. Jeff ignored him. "I said good morning!"
Jeff turned toward him. "You and I have nothing more to discuss," he told him.
"I think we do," Carver said. "I'm afraid I need your help."
"You need my help?" Jeff laughed. "That's a joke! I thought you had all the answers already!"
"We have another visitor."
"Another visitor? Who?"
"It's not so much who as what. We found another Grey."
"Really?" Jeff asked, suspecting they captured either Varloo or Batar. "Has he communicated with you yet?"
"No, not yet," Carver said. "He appears to be in a coma of some kind."
"So what do you want from me? I'm out of my mind, remember?"
"Yes, I'm sorry about that. We need to know if you know anything about these creatures."
"What makes you think I do?"
"Well, you claim to be from the future, and from what you told us earlier about Avery, we just need to be sure they aren't a threat to us."
"Oh, they're no threat to you," Jeff jested. "You're a threat to them."
"In what way?"
"I'm
not answering any more questions until I get out of here!" Jeff yelled.
"I'm afraid I can't do that just yet."
"Why the hell not?"
"I need to know you're not working with the extraterrestrial."
"Then I think our conversation is over. Good day, General."
"Wait a minute," Carver said, hesitating. "If I agree to let you back to your old room, will you promise not to sneak around my air ducts?"
"Maybe."
"And will you promise to help me with any information I might need?"
"Yea, I guess. I've got nothing to hide now. But I want the guards away from my door, and I want free access to anywhere in the facility. I know you're whole plant blueprints anyway."
"Now wait just a damn minute!" Carver yelled.
"Either agree to it, or we don't have a deal!"
"Very well, Mr. Walker. You drive a hard bargain, but be aware, most of the areas are under surveillance, so if you're thinking about any kind of sabotage, forget it!"
"The only sabotage I'm concerned about is that those rockets don't leave the ground."
"Let me explain something to you, Mr. Walker. Those rockets have to leave the ground if we're to survive as a species."
"Then you must make sure Dr. Avery is not flying either one of them."
"He, Ms. Avery, and her android are the only ones who know how to fly it. The rest of my staff can't figure it out without their help. Perhaps you could help in that department?"
"In what way?"
"Do you think you could fly one?"
"Not without the launch codes. I've had some experience with alien craft that contain wormhole generators as well as warp drive engines, and
of course the old traditional fusion rockets that you're just starting to use, but they all have launch codes."
"Why should I believe a word you're telling me?"
"Because you have no choice. You're a desperate man with a problem, and you're looking for a solution. I'm that solution."
"Tomorrow I want you to start working closely with Dr. Avery and his daughter. I want to make sure what you're telling me is true."
Dimension Lapse III: Dimensional Breakdown (Dimension Lapse Series Book 3) Page 13
