Scotty and the others did as asked. For the first time, he saw acknowledgment in the adults’ eyes. The adults turned their larger, taller bodies around to glance either this way or that way to see them all. But there were no smiles on their faces; no friendly nodding of heads that he expected to see. If anything, mild irritation was their most common noted expression.
“For the first time we have gotten far enough ahead of the gamma ray. So, each adult here has an important job to do; one that determines if the Human race can survive the changes coming. Look at them. They are nervous their individual efforts will not be enough … that there won’t be sufficient time. Time to complete their job responsibilities prior to the eventual migration of Earth beings to Hope, all within a timespan of eighteen years. That is when the gamma ray burst will impact your solar system—Earth. This planet needs to be made far more hospitable. Transporting large and dangerous life forms from all around this world to a separate, secluded, continent must be completed, one we call Tyline. Other adults here are working to lower the surface radiation levels being emitted from Spar and Lore, our nearby stars, through manipulation of meteorological climate variables. Others here are devising new and advanced technologies that will allow for large masses of people to rapidly undergo the genetic alterations that will be necessary for survival on Hope. This Vallic/Human metamorphosis is called Dyad-Geneses. I have gone through this metamorphosis and so have my colleagues here.”
As if on cue, those on the platform simultaneously changed again into their Human forms. Horran stepped forward and began to speak. “We, those you see up here upon this dais, were required to go through a form of Dyad-Geneses. We all did so, so we could better interact with the beings back on Earth through the whole selection process. We looked Human to those there because we were both Human and Vallic. There is no technology available that will allow one species’ genome to completely convert to another. Technology available today will only append another genome onto one’s own. Do you understand?”
Heads nodded. Some children said, “Yes,” or “Yeah,” or “Uh huh.”
“Now … here on Hope, because the daytime radiation levels are still so high, our Vallic forms are necessary. This way, we are less affected. But it truly is a hostile, dangerous, world for Humans. Thousands of Humans have died here. Subsequently, the surviving Human adults on Hope have all undergone Dyad-Geneses.”
As if on cue, within that same single instant, each adult standing within the arena became transformed. Scotty took in the thousands of faintly glowing, bluish energy forms around them. The kids in unison roared and cheered and clapped.
Seve raised her palms higher into the air. Within several moments the room had again quieted. “Children, starting today you will be called to relinquish your earthly Humanity. And you will accept becoming something new, something completely different. Something we call, Vallic-Human. I too am Vallic-Human. Horran and the others up here are Vallic-Human. And all the adults out there, originally Human, are now Human-Vallic. Understand, it is a medical transformative process, one that is relatively quick. It also is incredibly painful and debilitating for several days … maybe even weeks. You must be prepared for that. I propose that you have never experienced anything like it before. I am sorry for that. And I am sorry that not all of you will survive. The Dyad-Geneses process, this technology, is very new and being used far earlier than it should be. But we have no choice … you have no choice. Unfortunately, less than one-half of you will survive.” She let her words take hold on the quiet, subdued children.
Scotty had heard these same dire words spoken before. Somehow, until then, he’d dealt okay with the increased levels of stress and tension building up within him by doing something akin to compartmentalizing, terminology he would learn much more about later in life. He was unconsciously adept at relegating some portion of his mind over to the alien craziness while still remaining sane. For now, though, he just closed it off, like shutting an annoying, yipping puppy behind a closed door. Sure, you could still hear him, but it was somewhat more bearable. Perhaps being with the other kids now made it all easier to handle. They were in this together; he wasn’t alone. There was a common strength in their sheer numbers. But growing anxiety—just how and when this Dyad-Geneses thing would take place—was making it hard for him to breathe. It was all too unbelievable—asking much too much of young children. First, they’d been forcibly kidnapped, and now they had to undergo some kind of excruciatingly painful procedure. One that necessitated them never really being a hundred percent Human again!
Scotty’s spiraling, out of control thoughts squirmed through the tiny cracks and spaces around and beneath the closed door of his mind. He knew he was on the brink of totally losing it. Maybe he should permit the tears to freely well up in his eyes—to overflow and make wet tracks down his cheeks—and let the dripping snot run rivers out of his nose. Yes … he could then fall to the ground, a whimpering mess. Curl into a tight ball, screaming and shrieking for his mother to come … save me, Mommy!
“That is going to be so cool! Look at them … they’re like … like fucking superheros up there!”
Scotty paused in his internal, emotional landslide just long enough to shoot an angry glance toward Ernesto. The brash black kid’s excitement was definitely real—he wasn’t faking it. How the kid could solely lock onto the more positive aspects of Seve’s speech, ignoring all the horrific other prospects—probable death, following ensured agony—he had no idea. But clearly, he had managed to do so. Now taking in Ernesto’s raptured, smiling grin, made Scotty almost want to laugh out loud. The total absurdity of it all. But then, suddenly pulled back from the brink, Scotty discovered his moment of terror and anguish had gone. Scanning other children’s faces, those near and far, it was clearly evident that some kids were already toppling into a bleak emotional abyss. This too was just another test, he was certain of that. Immediately thinking of young Thomas on the ship, he wanted to yell out to them. Don’t fall apart … don’t crumble … be strong!
Chapter 35
At least with a school assembly, the school principal would tell you when it’s over. Tell you to stay with your class and go back to your classroom. This gathering, or whatever this was, ended with no further instruction. No steps to follow; no directives on where everyone was to go next. The raised platform was now empty and all the adults in the room were quickly filing toward the exit. What remained behind were small islands of children. A number of them had begun to cry. Other children were folding into themselves—lowering their bodies down onto the rock surface beneath their feet.
“Don’t they know that’s a real bad idea,” Ernesto muttered, under his breath.
Only then did Scotty see Horran, and several of the others who’d been up on the platform, lurking amongst them, partially cloaked within their Vallic energy forms.
Scotty was startled by Tori’s sudden outburst: “Get up everybody and stop your whimpering!” Heads turned in their direction—uncomprehending faces cemented in various expressions of misery.
Scotty found himself chiming in before he even realized he was doing so: “They’ll kill you! They have no use for the weak here. We’ve seen it happen. It’s a test … everything is a test. Get up!”
“Try to be brave … or at least act like you are,” Tori added.
Scotty was encouraged. Their words seemed to have an effect. Kids now were indeed rising to their feet. Most of the whimpering had subsided, except for two children still crouched down on the ground at the far side of the arena. Scotty and Tori, after exchanging a concerned glance, started walking in their direction. Horran’s unmistakable Vallic form was also on the move.
Running now, moving through and around various clusters of kids, Scotty yelled out, “Hey … get up! Just stop crying, we’re going to help you!”
The two kids, a boy and a girl—both probably about his age—had fallen deeper into total despair. Their earlier whimpering and crying had escalated into a loud sobbing an
d wailing. The boy, certainly used to the same attention-getting act working on typical adults, was now screeching—flailing his arms and legs about. It was a full-on tantrum. Not to be outdone, the girl began to mimic his loud screeches, only hers were far worse—a shrill, eardrum-shattering sound that went far beyond irritating.
Scotty was the first one to reach her. When he and Tori knelt beside her, Tori’s arms quickly encircled the screeching girl. Immediately, she began quieting down, sobbing into Tori’s embrace.
By now, Horran, and one of the other Vallic, had reached the yelling boy. They each grabbed an arm then raised the bellowing child off the floor with such ferocity he squealed out before quieting in shock. But his silence came much too late. Greedily, the towering Horran forcibly jerked the boy closer to himself.
Scotty whispered, “Oh no … please … you can’t … ” but his words were cut short. He watched as the boy’s body began to swing around in circles, held onto by a single frail arm. Around and around—faster and faster—and as the centrifugal forces were just reaching an apex of speed …
“Horran!” Seve, visible in her Human form, suddenly appeared relatively close to Horran and the doomed boy. Horran hadn’t yet released the stricken boy’s arm. Hadn’t killed the child as he most assuredly intended to do.
Seve looked away—disgusted. Her gaze fell upon Scotty. She said, almost imperceptivity, “I apologize. It will take time for us to fully assimilate Human DNA into our … beingness.”
Scotty wasn’t aware that a number of other children had come closer until he heard someone choking-back sobs. He looked back to see who it was. Tiffany. Something in Scotty’s warning glare caused her to quiet down. Ernesto, moving closer to her, whispered something in her ear. She sniffed once, then silently nodded. By the time Scotty turned back around, Horran was already dragging the boy away by one arm. Wide-eyed, the boy stared back at them in terror, a winding river of urine trailing behind. Scotty was keenly aware that Horran’s action was nothing less than another show of force, almost identical to what befell poor Thomas. Another example of what would happen should any of them act badly. He didn’t know if the boy would survive. Maybe Seve somehow would be able to save him.
When Scotty turned back, Seve was gone. Now he took in the hundreds of faces surrounding them, all children, no one older than eleven or twelve. They’d gotten the message—loud and clear.
Ernesto asked, “What now? We supposed to hang around here or what? Should we leave like the adults?”
“I think we need to find a place to live,” Tori said.
Scotty said, “The caves … that’s where everyone lives here.”
“And just how would you know that?” Courtney asked, tightly clutching the arm of a very uncomfortable-looking Trent.
“He’s right,” Tori said. Where else would people live around here? The building we passed when we arrived here is like way too small to house all the adults and kids.” Tori lowered her voice so only those closest around her could hear: “We need to find a vacant cave. Now, before everyone else gets the same idea.”
Ernesto asked, “Hey you … crybaby girl, what’s your name?”
The small girl physically shrank away from the renewed attention. Scotty recognized her as the same Asian kid who’d exited the port-a-potty just prior to him going in. She looked like a perfect China doll. Her hair, so black and shiny, had perfectly trimmed bangs hanging just above her eyes. Wondering if she was wearing a wig, he quickly dismissed the idea as stupid. When she spoke, English words weren’t leaving her mouth. Scotty had no idea what language it was. She was still jabbering when Ernesto, looking annoyed, held up a silencing hand. “You need to find your group—your own people. Someone who can understand what the hell you’re saying.”
She stared back at him. First looking hurt, then something akin to a rising sense of defiance showed in her expression. In broken English, she said, “I understand you an asshole. And my name is Jill.”
Scotty said, “Let’s just go. Um … start heading for the archway. But make it seem casual-like.” Nods all around, the group began walking, like they weren’t in any particular hurry. Someone, from another cluster of kids, yelled out, “Where you guys going?”
“Just taking a look at something over here for a minute,” Tori replied back, as the five children kept moving ahead. Then Jill was hurrying after them, making it six.
Ernesto spoke without moving his lips, “Boy … that didn’t sound at all lame … ”
Once they’d reached the arena’s arched entrance, Scotty turned, giving an aloof glance over his shoulder, and found a fast-moving stampede of kids sprinting after them. He yelled, “Run! The secrets out!”
“Where are we going? Tori yelled back, sounding out of breath, the first to enter into the garage.
Scotty hadn’t noticed another way in or out of the garage other than the way they had arrived. He said, “We need a Romper.” He watched as Tori, still in the lead, veered left down an aisle of the tightly parked teardrop shaped crafts. “Where you going?” he yelled, hearing hordes of kids coming though the archway behind them.
Tori spun around—just long enough to shoot back an angry-looking face. “To our Romper! You just said … ” then she got it. It didn’t matter which Romper they took. They were all the same.
Ernesto hurried through the open sliding door of the closest Romper, the others pushing and shoving in behind him. The door remained open. They looked at one another with bewildered expressions.
“Terrific!” Tiffany said, gesturing out to the other Rompers, also filling up with kids.
Scotty and Tori moved forward to the front of the craft then stared down at the darkened dashboard. She poked it in different places, but nothing happened. Scotty noticed a raised yellow circle, smack dab in the middle of the dashboard; placing his open palm onto its surface, he was quickly rewarded when it illuminated enough to silhouette his hand. Little lights and indicators on the dashboard had awakened—the Romper was coming alive.
Chapter 36
A pleasant feminine voice emanated all around the confined space—a voice speaking rapidly in an unfamiliar foreign language. Tori leaned in over the dashboard and asked, far louder than necessary, “Romper, can you speak English?”
“Yes, that is within my linguistic capabilities. How may I assist you?”
Scotty leaned in, and asked, “Can you take off? Like right now? Get us in the air … take us out of here?”
Tori, first throwing a furrowed-brow-scowl his way, added, “Can you take us to the caves?” Scotty then instantly felt a subtle vibration, emanating from somewhere beneath them.
“Hey, we’re going up!” Tiffany exclaimed, stating the obvious.
Steadily lifting, above all the other, still-parked, crafts, Scotty watched as heads spun around to follow their progress. All showed exasperated faces; several children were silently yelling, pointing their fingers up—emphasizing they’re getting away!
The Romper scurried along through the subterranean space—pretty much at a consistent speed. Obviously a self-driving vehicle, since there was no gas pedal, steering wheel, or anything like that evident, Scotty wished there was something he could do to make it go faster.
“I feel guilty … that we didn’t help any of the other kids,” Courtney said, her voice coming from somewhere in the back.
Scotty shrugged. He’d experienced a fleeting pang of guilt too but pushed it aside. Once again, he recalled Seve’s parting words: You are not here to make friends. You are not there to form a community. You Humans have a saying that I like: ‘Hit the ground running.’ Let there be no mistake about what you have been chosen to do, and that is to win.
“Looks like someone else figured it out,” Ernesto said, glancing back through the Romper’s clear glasslike membrane. Scotty, following his gaze, found not just one, but three Rompers, close behind them.
Their own Romper slowed, then hovered and began to rise. A golden swath of daylight poured in from above. Sc
otty, looking upward, could see the wide- open, big metal doors now come into view. Within seconds, they ascended outside through the opening, traversing around the same buildings he’d noticed earlier. With both stars higher in the sky, the brightened valley was alive in a carpet of brilliant emerald green. What Scotty had surmised earlier to be a field of tall grasses, clearly, now, were treetops instead—trees so densely packed together that one was almost indiscernible from another. He wondered how tall the forest trees were; how far below them was the ground?
“There must be, like, a few hundred caves. Some clearly occupied,” Tori said, “You can see people milling about over there in that one, and look … over there, too.”
Scotty, following her outstretched finger, noticed a few dark figures moving about in the darkness. He scanned the towering cliff side, then asked, “Romper … take us to an unoccupied cave, okay?”
The same pleasant voice replied, “There are currently twenty-two unoccupied settlement dwellings. Direct access to any of the dwellings is not permitted.”
“Well, then, how do we get to them?” Scotty asked.
“If you wish, I can transport you to the bedrock platform. From there you can make your way to individual dwelling sites. Those that are unoccupied will be so indicated.”
“Whatever that means,” Tiffany commented.
By now a long procession of Romper craft were following closely, though several moved away in an adjacent direction.
“Go! Take us to the, um, the bedrock platform,” Tori ordered.
Their Romper changed course, heading now in the same direction as six or so other Rompers. Approaching the cliff, they swooped lower, dropping beneath the emerald-colored treetops. Scotty was surprised, noting the trees’ height—really tall. The ground was another few hundred feet below them. The dense forest appeared dark and ominous. From his new vantage point he could see what must be the bedrock platform—a flat stone outcropping that already had twenty or thirty Rompers parked atop it. Those who’d arrived were already filing out of two of the craft.
Boy Gone Page 15
