“You’re free to join us, Mister Charles,” said Maclean. “But make sure you understand that I’m the one giving the orders, and if you or what’s left of your mercenary band looks at Sergeant Wright or me the wrong way, I’ll have that person killed on the spot.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” said Charles, walking out of the shadows.
“Okay then,” said Maclean. “Gentlemen, let’s talk.”
48
Kassim’s six-wheeled vehicle stopped outside a guarded steel door. She got out of her seat, walked over, and flashed her ID before entering her passcode in a panel on the wall. A red light blinked above the door as it slid open.
“Follow me,” said Kassim.
Grant could see the armed men eyeing him suspiciously. A second later, Elena squeezed his arm tightly.
“I’m scared,” whispered Elena.
“It’ll be okay,” he replied. Truth be told, he was just as scared and nervous as she. They walked behind Kassim down a corridor cut through the rock. At the far end was another sealed door. The guards verified Kassim’s ID and opened the door.
“After you, Captain,” said Kassim, stepping aside.
Grant smiled and made his way inside. In front of him was a large, reinforced glass window, which allowed him to see inside a hermetically sealed laboratory. He could see a couple of technicians in white medical scrubs, wearing masks over their mouths and caps over their hair, working with high-powered microscopes.
“Very impressive setup,” said Hayes to Kassim. “How many people do you have working at your lab?”
“There are two eight-hour shifts, each with four technicians on at a time,” explained Kassim.
“How many eggs do you fertilize in a day?” asked Elena.
“I’m not sure. I’ll try to find out for you. The only statistic I’m aware of is they claim to have a ninety percent success rate.”
Grant clenched his jaw so tight it hurt. He couldn’t understand his colleagues’ fascination with the laboratory setup. The thought of what was going on only a few meters away made him sick to his stomach.
A door at the back of the lab opened, and an older technician wearing a white lab coat walked in carrying a clipboard in her hands. Walking beside her was a gray-skinned alien, wearing a black, one-piece uniform. The alien was half the woman’s height and looked like the ones drawn by Susan. It had an elongated, hairless head, with a small, slender nose, and a slit for a mouth.
“Is…is that one of them?” stammered Elena.
“Yes,” replied Kassim, smiling. “That is one of The Founders. There are always a couple of them here on the base to help oversee the fertility processing.”
Grant’s skin crawled when he looked at the alien’s wide, black eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of a soulless creature. Regardless of what Vogel and Niskala thought, Grant knew the aliens weren’t here for any benevolent purpose. They were exploiting the human race for their own purposes.
“Do you know where they come from?” Hayes asked.
“The Zeta Reticuli Star System,” answered Kassim.
“How far away is this star system from us?” asked Grant.
“It’s thirty-nine light-years away from Earth,” said Kassim.
“How do they get here?”
“Their ships are capable of traveling through stable wormholes, which allow them to transit great distances of space in a small amount of time.”
“I’ve seen enough,” said Grant. “Please take us to our rooms, so we can rest up for a couple of hours.”
“Captain, there’s so much more to see,” protested Hayes. “I still have dozens of questions that need to be answered.”
Grant looked squarely into his colleague’s eyes. “No, Jeremy, we’ve seen enough for one day. Let’s take this opportunity to rest up before more of The Founders arrive.”
Hayes bit his lip and nodded.
“Ms. Kassim, we’re ready to go now,” said Grant to their guide.
“As you wish,” replied Kassim, leading them back to their ride. She dropped them off at a slender, one-story prefab building. Inside, there were four military cots and a small bathroom at the back.
“Hardly a four-star hotel,” muttered Hayes.
“It’ll do us nicely,” said Grant.
“I’ll be back to pick you up for supper,” said Kassim as she left.
Grant ushered his friends inside their accommodations and closed the door behind them.
“Captain, I could see in your eyes that you weren’t going to bend,” said Hayes. “But why did we have to cut our tour short?”
“Because I’d seen enough,” he replied. “This place is abhorrent, and as far as I’m concerned, the people helping them are traitors to the human race.”
“David, that’s a little harsh,” said Elena.
Grant’s voice grew loud, “Really, think about it. These parasites come to Earth in the distant past to genetically modify the human race so they can come back later and harvest people with A-negative blood. They tinkered with Susan’s ancestors, so they could one day take her eggs from her. She’s only a child, goddammit. She should be allowed to grow up free from these monsters. What these aliens are doing is no different than rape. If that doesn’t piss you off, I’m not sure what will.”
Elena looked away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you angry.”
Grant realized he’d gone too far. He hugged Elena’s shoulders. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to take my frustration out on you.”
“You’re right, though. I guess I just got caught up in the moment.”
“As did I,” said Hayes. “It’s our job to protect people, and I lost sight of that.”
“Folks, no one is to blame here,” said Grant. “The question is, what do we do next?”
“What can we do?” asked Elena. “Sergeant Maclean is locked up somewhere, and come tomorrow morning, if we don’t agree to join them, we’ll end up in prison with him.”
“Don’t worry about Jim; we planned this in advance.”
“What do you mean by that?” said Hayes.
“Back on the sub, we agreed to split up and find a way out of here,” explained Grant. “I wasn’t sure how we could go our separate ways without drawing attention. So, when he started to argue with Vogel, I knew what he was up to.”
“Which was?”
“To plan a prison break. Let’s face it, the only way out of here is via a submarine. Since none of us has any experience onboard a sub, we’re going to need the original crew to help us get away.”
“If they’re still alive,”
“Let’s just hope they are, or we’re going to be spending the rest of our lives working as slaves for these fanatics.”
“I need to lay down and rest my feet,” said Elena, sitting down on one of the cots.
“Good idea,” said Grant. “The next twenty-four hours or so could be stressful. I’m going to get a couple of hours’ sleep before our host sends for us.”
Hayes groaned. “I’ll never get to sleep. My mind has too many questions floating around in it.”
“If you’re not going to rest, put your big brain to work and see if you can come up with a way out of here should our attempt to steal the sub fail.”
Hayes sat down on his cot and let out a resigned sigh. “I’ll give it a try.”
“That’s what I need to hear,” said Grant, laying down. “If I do fall asleep, please wake me up in a couple of hours.”
“Pleasant dreams, Captain,” said Elena.
“I wish.”
For as far as Grant could see, the world was engulfed in a cool, swirling mist. Slowly the fog parted. On the ground in front of him was the damaged orb he and Maclean had found in Libya, and just beyond that was Susan’s home in Montana. He started to walk toward the old house when it disappeared and was replaced by the ancient temple they discovered in Bolivia. Grant stopped as Bouvet Island appeared before him for a few seconds before fa
ding away. Then, the Antarctic pyramid rose out of the ground, dwarfing him.
Just out of sight, a young woman’s voice called to him.
“Hello? Who’s out there?” said Grant.
“It’s me, David,” said a teenage girl, stepping out of the fog.
For a second, Grant wasn’t sure who she was. She was dressed in jeans, a denim shirt, and cowboy boots. Her face looked familiar. As soon as he saw her warm brown eyes, he smiled. “Susan. It’s nice to see you again. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she responded. “They’re treating me like I’m a celebrity. I want for nothing.”
“I don’t understand; why do you look older?”
“Time is a human construct. It helps people make sense of their lives. Without it, most people would be lost. But here in the void, it doesn’t matter what age I appear to be; I’m still the young girl from Montana that you know.” Susan’s face changed. Her hair turned gray, wrinkles grew on her face, and crow’s feet appeared next to her weary eyes. Her shoulders drooped, and her clothes changed to a white skirt with a floral shirt.
“What is the void?”
“It’s the space between my mind and yours.”
Grant shook his head. “Susan, I’m not sure I fully get what you’re trying to tell me.”
Susan reached out and rested a hand on his arm. This time she was in her late twenties, holding a child with the other arm. Both were dressed in rumpled sweats. “David, because of my modified A-negative blood, I have been blessed with psychic abilities far beyond the average person. In fact, The Founders have no idea how powerful I am becoming. If they did, they would terminate me without hesitation. My growing psychic abilities allow me to reach out and talk to you in your subconscious.”
Grant looked down at Susan as a child in her pajamas. “What do you need me to do?”
“For my visits to end, you have to destroy this place.”
“How will that help?”
Teenage Susan reappeared. “If you stop them from taking away the thousands of embryos they have with them, the chain will be broken, and people all around the world like myself will be set free.”
“I want to help, Susan, but I’m not sure how to do what you’re asking me to do.”
Susan smiled. “I know you’ll find a way. I’ve brought you this far, but you’re on your own now. Carus is coming, and if he were to discover how strong my powers have become, he’d kill me himself.”
“Who is Carus?”
“He’s the alien currently in charge of the human-hybrid program. Be careful. He’s highly psychic and will try to read your thoughts. David, please help me. My future and that of my daughter are in your hands.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“I know you will,” said the elder Susan. “Watch over the lives of your friends. They are in grave danger, too.”
“I shall.”
“Goodbye, you big silly,” said Susan as she faded back into the mist.
“David, are you all right?” said a different voice in Grant’s mind.
The fog dissipated. The world turned black. Someone was shaking Grant’s shoulders.
“David, wake up.”
Grant opened his eyes and sat straight up on his cot. He blinked and saw Elena sitting on the side of his bed. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You tell me,” replied Elena. “You were talking in your sleep. Who’s Carus?”
Grant struggled to remember what he had been dreaming about, but there was nothing but darkness. “I’m not sure. What else did I say?”
“You made it sound like you were talking with Susan.”
“If I was, I’m sure there’s a reason why I can’t recall a thing.”
“Such as?”
“Beats me, but Susan must have thought it to be important enough to erase my memory.”
“David, if she erased your memory, what was the purpose of her visit?”
Grant shrugged. “I have no idea, but I’m sure when the time is right it’ll come back to me.”
Elena patted Grant on the hand. “I hope so. You might want to get cleaned up before Lieutenant Kassim comes back. We should try to look our best when we meet The Founders.”
Grant ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose if we’re going to represent the human race, I should clean the dirt off my face.”
49
A small delegation assembled at the docks. Doctor Vogel stood just off to one side, while a squad of guards kept a close watch on Grant, Elena, and Hayes.
Grant glanced at his watch. It was 1930 hours. He half-expected the lights to dim and music to be played as The Founders arrived. Instead, a woman’s voice came over the base’s intercom. “Everyone, I am pleased to report that The Founders have arrived.”
The water behind the docked Swedish sub began to glow orange. Steam rose as the water looked like it was about to boil. A couple of seconds later, a large, silvery disc emerged and hovered silently in the air before flying over to an open spot on the quay and landing.
Grant’s heart began to beat faster. His palms became sweaty. He ran his hands down his pants and willed himself to remain calm.
A door on the craft opened and dropped to the concrete floor. A half dozen small gray aliens were the first to exit. They walked straight past Vogel and headed for the base’s laboratory. Next, a tall, slender alien walked out of the craft. He was Grant’s height and wore a gray-speckled camouflage uniform. On his hip was a long dagger. His skin was light gray and his head was somewhat larger than an average human’s, with large black eyes. The creature’s nose was slender and slightly turned up at the end. He had thin lips and a pointed chin. His short hair was as black as coal and stood up.
“Good day, Carus, it’s always good to see you,” said Vogel in greeting.
“You too, Doctor Vogel,” replied Carus in perfect English. “I see you have guests.”
“Yes, we do.” Vogel looked over at Grant. “They are, however, proving to be most troublesome.”
Carus canted his head. “I’m sure they are nothing you can’t handle.”
Vogel hesitated for a second. “They’re here because of Susan.”
“How interesting. I wondered when they would get here. Introduce me to them.”
Grant saw them coming and straightened. He intended to look right into the odd-looking alien’s cold, black eyes.
Vogel said, “Carus, I’d like you to meet Doctors Leon and Hayes, as well as—”
“Captain David Grant,” said Carus. “I hope you realize that you’re proving to be quite a thorn in my side.”
“That was never my intention,” replied Grant. “I’m just doing my job, and right now that includes taking Susan Dove home to her grandmother.”
“Ah, yes, Susan. She is quite a rare specimen. I have never yet come across a human whose mind I couldn’t read. I’m looking forward to spending some time with her during my stay here.”
“Why don’t you just give her to us, and we can be on our way.”
“I’m sorry, Captain, it doesn’t work that way. I’m sure Doctor Vogel explained it to you when you arrived. You’re either on our side, or you’re not. And if you’re not, you can still be useful as slave labor.”
“I’m sure you already know our answer.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be too hasty with you three. I see great potential in all of you. Let me try to convince you to see things our way.”
Grant wanted to tell Carus to go to hell. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders. “What do you think, Elena?”
“I’m with you, David, but I don’t see the harm in waiting a little while longer before we’re thrown in jail for the rest of our lives.”
“Jeremy?”
“I agree with, Elena,” said Hayes. “You know me; I have a ton of questions that need to be answered.”
Grant fixed his eyes on Carus. “We’re all yours.”
Carus reached over and placed a hand on Grant’s shoulder. His fingers were long and
slender. “I can sense that you care deeply about Susan’s well-being. So much so that you’d be willing to give your life for hers.”
“Yes, I would. She’s just a child and doesn’t belong here with you.”
“We’ll see.” Carus looked at Vogel. “Have them sent back to their quarters until later.”
Vogel nodded and gave the order.
Carus watched as the prisoners marched out of sight. His hand still tingled from where he had touched Grant. The man’s mind had been easy to read, but there were several chambers in Grant’s subconscious that were closed to Carus, and that bothered him. He didn’t think Grant had the ability to block him. Someone else had already been there and locked away certain memories. It could only be Susan. He was positive that she was playing a game with him. Carus clenched his fist. She would be made to tell him the truth, or her friends would die, one by one, in front of her eyes.
Grant sat down on his cot as the door to their cabin was locked from the outside.
“I thought I was going to lose control of my bladder when Carus climbed down from his craft,” said Hayes. “I can handle the small ones, but Carus is a different kettle of fish altogether. I don’t know why, but he makes my skin crawl.”
“He’s a hybrid,” pointed out Elena.
“He’s a what?” stammered Hayes.
“Look at him. He has human and alien characteristics mixed together.”
“Please, he could be a person like you and me with an abnormal skin pigmentation.”
“Then why’s he with the bad guys?” asked Grant.
“He’s a disciple like the rest of the people here,” replied Hayes.
“I don’t like him,” said Elena. “He’s a killer; I can see it in his eyes.”
“I got chills looking into them,” said Grant. “They’re inhuman.”
“Listen to us,” said Hayes. “We’re not being very PC.”
“Screw political correctness,” responded Grant. “Whatever Carus is, he’s not human and doesn’t deserve to be thought of that way. Folks, he’s the enemy, and we need to keep reminding ourselves of that fact.”
The Founders Page 23
