by Bill Bush
She made no apologies for the ruthlessness of the plan.
Allison didn’t say anything as they toured the cells. She felt like she was going to be sick several times as she saw thousands of humans and Gudes, all who had been locked up for most, if not all, of their lives. And this wasn’t the only facility like this. President Charles explained how they had others. The one that got Allison’s attention was when she mentioned one similar to this underneath Carlsbad Caverns. That’s where she thought Finn and Damien had taken them.
President Charles asked Allison, “What do you hope to accomplish by being here?”
“Just gathering information so we’ll know how to defeat you,” Allison shrugged.
President Charles chuckled. They stopped in front of a door while two Secret Service men checked out the room on the other side. “No matter what you learn here, child, you are still going to wake up in a cell and won’t be able to do anything about it.”
President Charles seemed to take great delight with the sullen look on Allison's face.
They stepped into the room and Allison's blood boiled. She glared at Finn and Damien and her cheeks turned as red as her hair. She took a couple of quick steps toward them but the two secret service men each grabbed an arm. They shoved her into an empty chair against the wall.
Finn and Damien sat opposite of Chili at a large conference table. When the President had entered the room they stood until she took her seat at the head of the table.
Although it was closer to sit beside Chili, Red Fox walked around the table to the lone empty chair beside Damien. Fungus took a seat at the end of the table, leaving an empty chair between himself and Chili.
The President greeted the trio.
Other than the Secret Service men, who took their positions on either side of the only door, there was only one other human in the room besides Finn and Damien. He pushed his thick glasses up his nose just like Flipper. He was tall, thin, had short, curly hair and looked out of place standing in the back corner.
President Charles introduced each of the participants to Allison, which Allison thought was odd. “And finally, this is Fungus, whom you met at Camp David, and Red Fox, the leader of the underground Snaders.”
“Yes, I know them,” Allison said.
“What do you mean them?” Red Fox looked at her. “We have never met.”
“Well, I…”
“I think you are going to be surprised at how much Miss Allison knows,” President Charles said to Red Fox.
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, along with Allison here, Finn and Damien captured two humans, five Gudes, and a Snader. Your brother, Dyson.”
Red Fox jumped to his feet, knocking his chair to the ground. Allison thought he was going to come after her, but he funneled his anger another direction.
“I knew he was going to turn on us when he refused to come. That no good… ” Red Fox ranted for a few minutes and Allison did her best to tune him out. She was thankful, because he was so distracted by his brother that Red Fox seemed to forget all about her saying she knew him. She didn’t want to tell him about her and Josh's spy trip. Red Fox would blame them for Stark and Endu's deaths.
When Red Fox finished his tirade he picked up his chair and took his place at the table. It looked like President Charles was going to start the meeting and there was still one person she hadn’t introduced, so Allison asked, “Who is he?”
She had pointed to the man in the back corner, where everyone immediately turned their attention. The geeky looking man with thick glasses stared at her with bulging eyes.
“Who are you talking about?” President Charles asked.
The Secret Service men were tense and confused.
Allison looked back and forth between President Charles and the man in the back. “Him.”
Everyone at the table stood. The Secret Service men drew their guns, and the man in the corner was frantically shaking his head at Allison.
She felt dizzy and steadied herself with an arm around the back of the chair. “You can’t see him?” It dawned on her a second too late. Not until the words were out of her mouth did she realize that that was exactly what was going on. She was the only one who could see him.
Chapter 30
Eric didn’t know why Allison could see him, but he didn’t have time to figure it out. He quickly ran behind the Secret Service men that were inching toward the corner, anxiously pointing their guns in random directions. He grabbed a taser from one of their belts and stunned him. The sight of a floating taser and one of their own lying on the ground put the others on a frantic chase of the man they couldn’t see.
One of the men fired and Eric heard the bullet whiz by. Allison screamed and dove under a chair.
Eric tossed the taser toward the table. Another shot brought a scathing rebuke from President Charles.
”Stop shooting at something you can't see!” She said from underneath the table, as the trio of Finn, Damien, and Chili tried to shield her.
It was no use. With the upper hand of invisibility, Eric quickly tased all four of the Secret Service men. Red Fox and Fungus didn’t waste any time trying to do what the Secret Service couldn’t, but their effort resulted in the same fate.
Eric grabbed Allison's hand and quietly commanded, “Come with me.”
Allison hesitated, but Eric had given her six stunned bodies to convince her to follow. She ran with him out the door, Finn and Damien closely behind.
Eric led Allison down the hallway to an elevator. They got in and started heading up. According to the buttons they were a hundred stories below ground.
Eric ripped open a panel of the elevator and connected his handheld computer to the wiring.
”Are you okay?”
Allison removed the mostly red towel and ice pack and studied them like they might answer for her. “Yeah, I'm fine.”
“So you're invisible?”
“I developed a special bracelet that makes me invisible,” Eric said holding up his arm so Allison could see his bracelet. “You’re the first person who has ever been able to see me.”
“Why would I be able to see you?” She asked.
“I don’t know. How did you just appear beside the President earlier?”
“I’m a Dreamer. I’m actually asleep right now in a prison facility a lot like this one. I have the ability to visit people or places while I sleep.”
“So when you wake up you won’t be here any longer?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you make yourself wake up?”
“I haven’t got that part figured out yet,” Allison confessed. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to keep those two thugs from catching us.”
Allison watched him for a minute. “You’re the one that recorded the President and the Snaders and put it on the internet!”
“Hang on.”
The elevator stopped. They were still several stories below ground. Eric unhooked his computer, grabbed Allison’s hand and led her through a maze of dimly lit halls and into a dark office. He found a lamp and turned it on. He locked the door and motioned for Allison to have a seat in the plush chair behind the desk.
“What are we doing?” She asked.
“We are hiding out until you wake up. It’s too risky for you to try to escape.”
“But then you will still be here.”
“Yes, but I can get out easily enough because no one here can see me.”
”Oh. Oh yeah. What if Finn and Damien find us?”
Eric chuckled. “They’ll be busy for quite a while. I rigged all of the elevators to stop at every floor but not open the doors. It’s going to take someone a while to fix the problem, once they figure out what is going on.”
Allison laughed. “So, why are you spying on the President?” Allison asked.
“I have believed all my life that aliens existed. That isn’t a popular belief in the scientific community. For years I was ostracized by
my peers. It hindered my research opportunities and my credibility. A few years ago a very wealthy gentleman hired me to do research. He has provided resources and allowed me to experiment in areas I have always wanted to—unimaginable things, like invisibility.
“I have never met this man, but he has supplied me with information and technology that has helped me make some incredible discoveries. I have spied on the government for a long time because I believe they have been hiding information regarding aliens. Since the assassinations happened I have been sneaking in and listening to the President’s meetings, especially the ones with the Snaders. I recorded what is going on and put it out on the internet, but most people think my recordings are a hoax, that I doctored them. Some powerful men destroyed my lab and my house.”
Eric reflected a minute. “If you can go anywhere you want in your dreams, why choose to be with the President?” Eric asked.
Allison started her story back on Halloween when Flipper was kidnapped. She quickly told Eric all that had happened—Her and Josh’s adventure of discovering the underground Snaders that Red Fox was now leading, Flipper helping the Gudes defeat the Snaders on the planet Vetrix, and how Flipper and their parents were taken and how she and Josh and five Gudes and a Snader had been arrested and locked up in cells in New Mexico.
Eric hung on every word.
Chapter 31
Allison bolted awake. Her head throbbed. She felt the knot that remained from the secret service thugs slamming her into the wall three days ago. It frightened her. She returned with the ice pack and the head injury. She could be seriously hurt!
Shortly after that visit, the Snaders separated Allison from Alya and put her in an isolated room. For three days she unsuccessfully tried to use her dreams to visit Flipper. Since her visit to the mine she hadn't had any dreams. The days dragged.
She closed her eyes and began to drift blissfully alseep. Suddenly she sat up, startled. The light was on and the door open. She stood and wanted to flee, but hesitated due to the strange circumstances.
“Hurry, let’s go.”
She recognized the voice. “Eric?”
“Yes it’s me. Let’s go!”
“I can’t see you.”
Eric pulled his bracelet off and he appeared in his black outfit. “So you weren’t able to see me just now?”
“No.” Allison pondered. “And my dreams … ever since I saw you a few days ago I haven’t been able to dream either.”
“I think someone’s coming!” Flipper said in an emphatic whisper.
He rushed into the room and Allison screamed, “Flipper!” and hugged him tight.
“Well now someone's definitely coming,” Flipper said hugging her back.
Eric slipped on his bracelet and disappeared. Allison and Flipper backed up against the wall.
“What’s this light doing on?” A deep, rough voice yelled out just before a large human filled the doorway.
“What are you doing here? How did you get out of your cell?” He came at Flipper with a baseball bat.
The man took two steps then screamed and dropped to his knees as the sound of electrical currents told Allison that Eric still carried the taser. His eyes opened wide for a brief second before they rolled up into the back of his head. His body convulsed then collapsed onto the floor.
Eric reappeared with taser in hand.
“Is that the same taser you used on Finn and Damien?” Allison asked.
Eric beamed. “It was nice of them to donate to the cause, don't you think? Actually, I modified it so it puts people to sleep for several hours.”
“Nice!” Flipper acknowledged.
As they raced to free the others, Eric said, “The reason you can’t dream is because the Snaders have been drugging you. Maybe that's also why you can't see me when I'm invisible. Or my other theory is that you can only see me when I'm invisible while you're dreaming. I really don't know.”
This wasn't the time for theories on seeing the invisible. “What do you mean they are drugging me?”
Eric opened a cell door and stepped inside with Allison while Flipper stayed in the hall to be a lookout.
Nicole sat up. “Allison, it’s great to see you! Did I hear you talking to someone?”
“Yes, Eric’s here with me, but he’s invisible.”
Eric removed the bracelet. His voice was awestruck. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nicole.”
Nicole met his hand and they shook.
Eric was awestruck. “I've seen so many aliens the last few days, but you're the first I've had the privilege to meet.” He left his bracelet off.
“What did you mean they have been drugging me?” Allison hadn’t forgotten her earlier question.
“They’ve been giving you a chemical in your food that prevents you from using your dreaming ability.”
“You haven’t been able to dream?” Nicole asked.
“No, I’ve tried over and over but nothing.”
They opened the next cell and stepped inside. Dyson stood and yawned. Eric pulled a gun out and pointed it at him. “Hold it! Don’t move!”
Allison quickly grabbed his arm. “It’s okay, Eric. He’s with us.”
Eric resisted Allison's attempt to push his arm away from the line toward Dyson. She put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll explain it all later, but in short, he is Red Fox’s brother. He helped us escape from the underground Snaders — twice. He doesn't agree with the Snader's violent tactics and he's helping us.”
“I disapprove of what my brother and people are doing,” Dyson assured him. “I’m willing to do whatever I can to stop them.”
Eric looked from Allison to Dyson and back to Allison. He reluctantly returned his gun to its holster. He led them through the prison as they freed Alya, Josh, Chezlor, and Fox.
“What’s the safest way out of here?” Fox asked.
“We can leave the way I came in—through the front doors. I tasered the guards so we should be clear for a while, but I’m going to go invisible again in case we run into trouble.”
Eric put the bracelet back on and they ran for the elevator.
Ten was a tight fit. A second elevator was available but they chose not to split up.
“It’s good to see you again, Flipper,” Chezlor patted his back.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Alya said sweetly as she briefly placed a hand on his arm.
Flipper blushed.
“What happened?” Jake asked.
Flipper took his phone out of his pocket and played the video from Finn and Damien. “I was trying to help my dad and you guys.”
“Finn and Damien can’t be trusted,” Fox said.
“Yeah, I know that now,” Flipper said.
“We’re just excited we found you,” Nicole said.
“I would have done the same thing,” Jake assured him.
“I’m sorry, uh, Flipper, but I don’t recall seeing any signs that your dad is here,” Eric said.
“No, he isn’t … .anymore.”
“How do you know?” Josh asked.
“My great-grandpa told me that Dell came and took him.”
Flipper got the shocked reaction he expected. He smiled then gave them a brief summary of his encounter with Robb.
“How fascinating!” Allison exclaimed.
The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and they loaded up in Eric’s van, stepping over sleeping guards in the process.
Fox sat in the front seat, ready to face resistance, but they made it out of the facility without any further trouble.
Fox had the only passenger seat in the van. The others — Flipper, Allison, Josh, Jake, Chezlor, Alya, Dyson, and Nicole — sat on the floorboard in the back. The van was roomy, but Eric had a few boxes with tools, supplies, and chemicals taking up space. The smell gave away the fact that Eric often performed experiments in the van.
Allison noticed Flipper's pale face. “Are you okay?
He nodded unconvincingly.
”What's wrong?” Alya
asked.
”Flipper gets car sick pretty easily,” Allison said. “I'm sure the odor isn't helping.”
Alya placed her hand on his knee. “You're going to be fine, Flipper. Let us know if we need to stop.”
Allison noticed a brief smile from Flipper. Oh my goodness! He had a crush on Alya!
Flipper spent the first hour of the drive filling in details from his story about Robb and answering dozens of questions, most of which came from Fox, Nicole, and Dyson. Robb was a historical figure they had known about all their lives. Flipper did his best to recall as much as he could.
Finally the conversation lagged, and Josh asked Eric, “How did you find us?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of snooping the last few days,” Eric said. “It’s amazing what you can learn when you're invisible. Besides, Allison gave me a good idea where you were when we met.”
Allison explained to them how she dreamed, toured the underground Snader training facilities, then accidentally exposed Eric when she didn’t know he was invisible to everyone except her.
“Ever since then, though, I haven’t been able to dream. I tried to come see Flipper and Nicole, but I couldn’t.”
“Before I rescued you I found a chart in one of the security offices,” Eric explained. It detailed how they were trying an experimental drug on Allison to try to prevent her from Dreaming. They were putting it in her food.”
Fox turned to Eric. “Catch us up. What has been going on with the Snaders the last few days?”
“The President has invited all of the world leaders to Washington D.C. for a summit,” Eric said.
“They’re not coming, are they?” Dyson asked.
“Yes, the majority of them are.”
“Why would they all get together in one place?” Nicole said, more as a statement than a question. “That is risky and foolish during a time of invasion, no matter who they think are the invaders.”
“President Charles and the Snaders have a way of getting what they want,” Eric said. “I’ve watched them the last few days. The Snaders have bred with humans for decades, and now have hundreds, if not thousands, of people that look just like ordinary Americans but are actually in part Snaders, in places of influence and power. These people are spread all over the country as well as are heavily involved in Washington D.C. The President is one of them. They have everyone convinced that their strategy is what is best to battle the Gudes, and the people aren’t seeing the obvious risks.”
