AREA 51: IMORTUM

by Stone,Kord

  “SILENCE!” Jason commanded in a reverberating bellow.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jerren couldn’t help but let a shiver lose when Jason shouted his command. Looking from side to side, it was apparent the others felt the same.

  Jason approached the cells and addressed the commander in chief first, “This meeting will be brief and to the point,” Jason looked between each of their guests and stated, “The United States of America in collusion with an outlaw alien named Anubisis, who also went by the name Bias U’san, have created Weapons of Galactic destruction—”

  “We haven’t!” the Senate majority leader shouted.

  “You can’t Prove—” the director of the CIA yelled.

  “ENOUGH! This is not a discussion or a negotiation, this is an edict. Dark matter Weapons were made on Earth and we confiscated them, and the materials you possessed to create more. Anubisis has been apprehended and executed for his crimes already. This is your one and only warning. Never delve into dark matter weapons again!” Jason said firmly, and his body seemed to crackle with energy.

  “We have the right —”

  Jason moved to stand in front of the man speaking. “You’re the director of the National Security Agency,” Jason cut him off, “You haven’t got a clue! Your people aren’t even capable of traveling amongst the planets in this solar system, yet each of the three weapons you had on the planet was capable of destroying this entire Galaxy.

  “One of the weapons you made four years ago was detonated recently and it resulted in significant damage to a neighboring Galaxy that cannot be repaired! You’re never to create them again… Is that understood!?” Jason shouted to the fearful looking panel who nodded briskly, “Now that we’re understood, be aware that we know to look here and we will check in from time to time, if we ever find these materials or weapons on Earth again, human life will cease to exist on this planet! I will send you back now. Inform the leaders of the other countries and remember what I said!” Jason extended his arms and with a flash the cells were empty.

  Jerren dropped his armor and said, “Damn… you can be intimidating when you want to be, you may want to clean the floor.”

  Looking in the direction Jerren just pointed, Jason shook his head in apparent disgust. And a moment later the room was cleaned and back to looking like a meeting room again. “I’ll go over and speak with General Green to see what he knows.” Jerren stated.

  Alise sighed, “I will send our probe out and scan ahead, just to make sure they don’t do it again. Now that the Imortum battle ship is gone, we should be able to detect any dark matter on the planet. Let us know when the girls have finished with their visitation with the general, and are ready to set course for Daregon.”

  Jerren nodded, “Will do.” He said then turned and headed for his ship.

  *****

  Jerren entered his ship and looking into the medical unit, he found that only the CIA spook was still there. Jerren approached him then placed a hand on his forehead and proceeded to sift through his memories. Jerren had to let out a chuckle, every CIA operative he had ever dealt with called himself Mister Smith, and this idiot really went by the name Smith. Something struck Jerren as odd and when he dug a little deeper his anger began to build as Jerren saw who Smith really was, and what he had been doing recently.

  Returning his focus on what he was looking for Jerren found the memory regarding his brother’s capture and his blood began to boil. The whole mission was arranged so the group who were currently calling themselves the ‘Commission’ could get possession of the Soviet SS-25 warhead. Jerren looked deeper and saw their plans, along with some of their other schemes that had failed in the past, along with some plans that were still in the works. Jerren removed his hand from Smith and shaking his head in frustration Jerren was about to bring him out of stasis and pronounce judgement on him as well, but Inola’s weakened voice halted him.

  “It is not his time yet, send him back to Earth, and please do not tell anyone who he is yet either.”

  Jerren wasn’t happy about it and asked, “Is there at least something I can do to help the people he is hunting in Colorado Springs?” Jerren asked.

  Inola seemed to sigh and was silent a moment, as if she was calculating what to tell him, then she said, “There is nothing you can do for Jax, he chosen his path and if we alter ours, then nothing bodes well.”

  Jerren looked down at Smith and said, “I thought Anubisis and Bias U’san were bad, but if this guy gets ahold of…”

  “You need to stay on task, and do not interfere. We are walking a fine line here and this is our final option. Do what you came to do, then transport him back to Earth.”

  Inola’s voice crackled and sounded even more weakened than before. “Are you alright?” Jerren asked with mounting concern.

  “For now yes, I have to rest though. Do not mention this conversation, and especially Anubisis and Bias U’san to anyone, even Eneria.”

  Inola’s voice cut out, and although Jerren was unhappy about it, he did as she asked and transported Smith back to the planet, albeit to the lowest survivable hell hole of a pocket he could find at Area 51.

  Jerren went to the control room and performed a scan for the nukes the ‘commission’ had hidden away and dematerialized them.

  Letting out a sigh Jerren called in mind to Eneria, “Where are you?”

  “We are up on level two, the girls are almost finished saying their goodbyes,” Eneria replied.

  *****

  Jerren arrived on the second level and was a bit startled to find himself being pulled into a tight hug. He had no recollection of a military officer acting this way before and was not quite sure how to proceed. Jerren heard one of the sisters attempt to introduce him but she was drowned out.

  “I have to thank you for saving my girls… they’re all I have…” the general managed to croak out. “I was at a loss for what to do, they restricted me to the lower levels of the base so I couldn’t contact anyone for help. I think they sent me down there in hopes that another accident would kill me as well.”

  Jerren nodded knowing full well the intent behind keeping General Green on the lower levels, and what Smith had planned for him if the general managed to survive, “My name is Jerren, and yes that was their intent. Do you have any idea how far up the chain Terrah’s incident went?” Jerren asked wanting to see what he knew about Bias, Smith and Anubisis.

  “So sorry, my name is Lloyd, but you can call me Pops, and I’ve no idea. I was removed as the medical director years ago, and even when I had command clearance I was only given information on a need to know basis. It has to be at least to the base commander Major General Hallance, but he was taking some of his orders from the Liaison from DARPA, that’s who they brought in to interrogate Terrah, his name is Bias U’san. I’ve had to deal with the aftermath of his interrogations trying to prevent his victims from dying, and knowing what that man is capable of…well, it terrified me what he was going to do to my little girl.”

  Jerren looked Green directly in the eyes and asked, “Would you mind?” as he raised his hand to Lloyd’s forehead.

  “No, go right ahead,” Lloyd said as a man with nothing left to hide.

  Jerren made contact and sifted a few minutes, then with a smile Jerren opened his eyes and said, “You knew about the girls all along… I heard you tell Smith that you were there when they were brought home from the hospital, and there’s no need to worry about Bias U’san anymore, he’s been dealt with.”

  Lloyd looked confused and said, “I’ve no recollection of telling Smith about any of them.”

  Jerren nodded toward Terrah and her sisters and asked, “Did they tell you what these ships can do?” Lloyd nodded and Jerren continued, “We’re about a half hour before that conversation in that old timeline.”

  Lloyd, or Pops as he insisted on being called, appeared to be placated by the explanation and he continued, “Their father saved my life in Vietnam and we became the best of friends.
The girls told you what happened?” Pops asked of Jerren.

  Jerren nodded and Pops continued. “Well the night it happened, I was the first and only one Robert called. Celeste, his wife had just arrived on base late that day and Rob took her to the Palomar Observatory. She so loved space and he surprised her with a private tour.”

  “Well it happened on their way back to base, the twenty-second strategic hospital at March Air Force base was his first command and after he explained what had happened, Rob asked if I would help him. At the time, I wasn’t sure what to believe, but because Rob said he delivered his daughters on a roadside he needed another officer’s signature on the birth certificates, so I did it.

  “I’m ashamed to say it, but I never really believed their tale until the day of Rob and Celeste’s deaths.”

  Pops looked into Jerren’s gaze with a hint of a tear forming.

  Pops looked at Terrah, Saleria and Vellia quickly, and then continued, “They were coming up on nine years old when the accident that killed their parents occurred, I watched as they boarded the plane. It took off and within moments the plane exploded and crashed a mile away.”

  “So, you took the girls home and raised them?” Jerren asked.

  Pops shook his head, “You don’t understand. The girls were on that flight with their parents. I rushed to the crash site and all three of them were sitting dazed in the midst of the wreckage. Their clothes had been seared off of them, but there was not a scratch or burn on any of them, so I scooped them up and got them the hell out of there.

  “When the OSI investigator came by to inquire as to why the girls were not on the plane, I told them the girls weren’t feeling well so their parents left them with me until they got back. I had been their god father since their births, and nobody questioned it.”

  Pops seemed to hesitate a moment then continued, “The following day, the girls disappeared right in front of me. I took a leave of absence trying to figure out what had happened and three months later they showed up in the exact location, in the same clothes and the same time of day they went missing.”

  Jerren had a sinking feeling and furrowing his brows he asked, “What did they say happened?”

  Pops wiped the tear from his eye and replied, “They told me they went on a grand adventure with their imaginary friend, Ilola …no Inola. Why?”

  Jerren was shocked and had to sit down, he gestured for Pops to have a seat and Jerren explained, “The exact same thing happened to my brothers and me, we disappeared for three months as well and we returned exactly one month before our ninth birthday. All we could recall was being on a grand adventure with our imaginary friend Inola.”

  Pops seemed to be counting to himself, “You know, I didn’t realize it but they were returned a month before their ninth birthday as well. That’s strange.”

  Jerren looked between his sisters, “Did you tell him yet?”

  Terrah shook her head, “No not yet, you can if you like.”

  Jerren looked back to Lloyd and said, “Terrah, Saleria, and Vellia have brothers… their names are Jason, Justin, and Jerren.”

  Apparently it took a moment for it to set in then Pops asked, “You said your name is Jerren, right?”

  Smiling Jerren said, “Yes, and Jason and Justin are my brothers, we’re triplets as well. After we saved Terrah… Alise, Calia and Eneria, they’re the AI’s on these ships. They noticed Terrah’s genetic code was a match for ours before we came aboard the ship. It was a ninety-nine point three percent match, and the markers placed them as direct siblings.”

  Lloyd had a puzzled look and asked, “So you three were born in the same fashion?”

  Shaking his head Jerren said, “No, our mother was hit by lightning and died at the hospital the day we were born.” Jerren liked pops, and he could almost feel the sorrow emanating from his sisters at the thought that their visit was about to come to an end.

  Jerren peered at his sisters who looked like they were about to cry at the thought of their separation, and knowing the situation Pops would be in if he returned him to Earth, not to mention the sacrifices he made to keep his sisters safe, Jerren turned to Lloyd and asked, “Would you like to go on an adventure?”

  Pops looked to be excited at the prospect of having an adventure at his age and said, “If I can be near my girls, then I’m up for anything.”

  Jerren smiled, figuring he could ask pops about Area 51 and DARPA later, Jerren said, “Okay, I need to get Terrah to the master control room so we can set course for Daregon, and once we’re on our way, we will be back to settle all of you on one of these ships until Terrah’s ship is ready.”

  Terrah asked, “Are we taking Johnathan Smith with us? I saw him down in medical when we woke Pops here.”

  Repressing a snarl, Jerren forced a serene expression and said, “No, I took care of him. He’s not going with us; he’s back at Area 51.”

  Pops sighed, “That’s good, there was something not quite right in that boy’s head.”

  After seeing what was in Smith’s head firsthand Jerren silently agreed and led Terrah to the master control room.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  All four of the TDS ships had set course for Daregon. Jerren and Terrah had gone to TDS 3 to set up living quarters for her, Pops, Saleria and Vellia, and asked if Jerren could collect Vellia, Saleria and Lloyd or Pops as he kept insisting they call him, and bring them to TDS 3. They had just entered the master control room when Vellia called out, “how long will it take us to get to Daregon?”

  Eneria came up beside Jerren taking his hand and spoke, “a little over seven days at our current speed.”

  “How far away is it?” Vellia asked excitedly.

  “The planet Daregon orbits the Star Mintaka. It is one of the three that you refer to as Orion’s belt. Daregon is roughly nine hundred and sixteen light years from Earth,” Eneria added.

  “Wow! That’s almost five and a half light years per hour,” Vellia said with obvious amazement.

  “Yes well, we are escorting TDS 4 so we are only going as fast as it can go with the power constraints,” Eneria said to Vellia’s disbelieving awe.

  “At optimum power it can take a little over thirty hours to traverse. It can be done a lot faster, but your energy stores will deplete rapidly,” Eneria ended with a smirk.

  Jerren figured if the speed impressed Vellia then he would floor her with the next statement, “if you begin to go stir crazy on Justin’s ship, you can come back in to the master control room and the time will pass much faster.”

  “What?” Vellia asked.

  Jerren chuckled and said, “Alise forgot to mention that there’s a time differential between the TDS ships and this room, this room is at a negative eight TD.”

  “Are you saying time passes eight times faster when you’re in here?”

  Jerren smirked, “Yup, kind of. Time is constant, but in here time passes eight times slower, so the time on the ships will pass faster than in here. Just wait until we explain linear and nonlinear time, it will be interesting to wrap your head around that one…”

  Vellia asked, “Why do you say that?”

  Jerren chuckled and said, “I was conflicted when I was down on Earth…” he could see their confusion so he continued, “The date was August First Two thousand Eleven, and theoretically I was still in the Air Force at that time and could’ve been court martialed for what I did. The whole defend the country against enemies foreign and domestic was running through my head at the time.

  “In the mindset of the US government I would’ve been the enemy as I invaded their base, but in doing so I removed the bombs that could’ve destroyed everything in this galaxy… so in the end I resolved to perform my duties for the greater good, without being seen. I can only imagine the trouble my past self would’ve been in if I was recognized.”

  Vellia laughed a moment then asked, “So if Two thousand eleven was in your past, then what is the real year for you?”

  Jerren chuckled again and said,
“You get this far better than I did at first. For me the year is Two thousand twenty, but for Jason it’s Two thousand twenty-one.”

  “Why is it different for him?” Saleria asked.

  Jerren turned to Saleria and said, “You remember Alise telling you that Justin and I were almost killed?” she nodded and he continued, “Well we actually were dead for a year before Jason and Alise rescued us, or did they? It’s the whole chicken egg thing. We survived because Jason simulated our deaths and healed us, but was it always like that? Or were we actually dead then he rescued us?”

  Vellia chuckled and said, “It’s a paradox, only someone who is aware of all potential timelines and actions could answer that definitively.”

  Jerren nodded and gestured for everyone to enter TDS 3, and then he followed.

  Jerren and Eneria had all just entered TDS 3 and Terrah was waiting for them. Jerren smiled at the group and said, “Well I think it’s time for us,” Jerren took Eneria’s hand in his, “To get back to our ship. Call if you need anything.”

  Jerren and Eneria stepped through the archway and into the master control room to head for their ship. Jerren put his arm around Eneria’s waist, “Well, that was an interesting day.”

  Eneria laughed, “I would say so. It is not every day you find out you have triplet sisters, safely retrieve dangerous weapons, make a friend for life, capture and punish a maniac and give political leaders the set down.”

  Jerren chuckled, “Like I said it was an interesting day, but that last one was all Jason, not that I wouldn’t have done it. He was just in the right ship at the right time. And it was you who captured Bias U’san…” Jerren grinned down at Eneria, “Come to think of it, I do believe I should reward you for saving my brothers lives.”

  Eneria grinned up at Jerren, “Would the reward have anything to do with our bed?” she asked with an impish grin.

  “You know, it just may at that,” Jerren swept Eneria off of her feet, stepped through the archway to their ship and once there he transported them to the bedroom and said, “Now where to begin.”