Earth Before Man

by Allan E Petersen

  “What I have done to you? I killed the Duchess and set you free.”

  That explanation was not enough to suppress Niko’s anger. The voice in Santo’s head grew louder and echoed painfully in his skull.

  “Set me free? No, Captain, you sent me to my doom. Look at me, I am dead and die many times in this wretched form. Die? I wish I could die only once. A human is not meant to die many times. It is inhumane and painful.”

  Not understanding the rambling, Santo said,

  “Show yourself and talk to me man to man.”

  The voice in his head grew louder and more painful. Niko was laughing so hard that Santo though his head would explode. He brought his hands to his ears to null the intensity but because it was in his head, deafening the ears did nothing to stem the pain. He heard,

  “Man to man? There is only one man here Captain, and that is you.”

  There was resentment and anger in Niko’s voice as he suddenly boomed forth,

  “Show myself? You are looking at me.”

  Santo’s eyes carefully scanned the forest of pillars looking for any hint of a deranged computer scientist. His right hand instinctively, albeit slowly drifted up toward his shoulder holster and AK BASIC special. Everything will be okay as long as it is in his hand. Santo heard,

  “A gun? Really Captain? I am well beyond any damage that a primitive bullet can do to me.”

  Santo tensed and was prepared to put that boast to test. Once again he commanded,

  “Show yourself.”

  Again, a maniacal high-pitched laughter echoed inside Santo’s skull. He managed to make out the words,

  “Myself? Thanks to you, there is no more of myself to show. I told you, you are looking at me. The best I can do to show myself to you is this.”

  With sharp eyes, Santo stared hard at the forest of pillars hoping to see him step out from behind one of them. He heard,

  “Here I come Captain. Are you watching?”

  All Santo saw were the pillars shimming while surrounded by a strange out of focus haze. Then, as if a television set of old turning on, the wavering started to take form. In the haze between the pillars the face of Niko Waltz formed. The 3D face was massive, easily half the height of the pillars. Colossal eyes that Santo mistook for anger were in fact eyes of anguish. Niko’s temperament now changed from rage to despondency. A sad voice echoed,

  “Do you see me Captain? Do you see what I have become?” Do you see what you have done to me? This is what happened to me when commanding one of your flunkies to dump me on a deserted island.”

  Recognizing that his pistol was not going to get him out of this predicament, he eased the tension in his right hand and lowered his arm. There was honest concern in his question.

  “But how did this happen to you?”

  Normalcy returned to Niko’s voice. Sounding less revengeful he said,

  “It is by the curse of the Great Gray computer, those dreadful creatures who released the Duchess and gave her a computer that controlled the Sentinel Satellite. Explaining it to you would be a futile task but suffice to say that it works on what the Anunnaki have connected to my brain wave frequency. Did you know that they can interface brainwave frequencies to the Universal Frequency? What flows through my synaptic pathways is incomprehensible. I am not in control of my brain or thoughts. These pillars are me. I am the Anunnaki’s connection to all the computers in the world.”

  Niko’s diabolical side then resurfaced and yelled,

  “You are looking at me.”

  Santo’s head was spinning with more than just the impossible vision in front of him. He was awash with confusion. Synaptic brain wave functions linked to the vibration of the universe? Brain frequencies operating a computer linked to another dimension? All he could gather was that apparently Anunnaki had the technical knowledge to sync human brainwave frequencies to their quantum processors. The technology was not near the powerful Universal Vibration Processors of the Great Grays but certainly a thousand times more powerful than the best computers on Earth. All he could do was shake his head and hope Jessika would be able to understand what the recorder hidden under his shirt was secretly recording.

  Wanting to get information that he could understand, Santo asked a more pragmatic question.

  “But why are the Anunnaki doing this? What are they after?”

  A strong determined voice boomed forth.

  “It is all because of that dam woman you profess to love. She is the one responsible for all this. She is the one responsible for torturing me.”

  Santo could only say one thing.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Of course you don’t you buffoon. By her tinkering with the human genetic code, she discovered what the Anunnaki were really up to when first coming to the Sumer people. In the time of the Sumerian civilization, it was told that the Anunnaki came to Earth looking for gold. It was just something the humans were told in order to hide their real intent. Truth of the matter, there is more gold on asteroids free floating through the universe than on all the inhabited planets in this universe. Some humans even believed the story about the Anunnaki creating a race of humans to labor in the fictitious gold mines.”

  Again, maniacal laughter echoed in Santo’s head.

  “You fool. They did not come here for gold or to create a different man from mud as the Sumerian legends claimed. They came to destroy humans. Their DNA sequencing came to a natural end. After almost a million years of replicating and carrying the gene of the great Anunnaki, their DNA code started to deteriorate. They knew that their time was at an end and so began to make bold plans to continue their species. They came here to start a new genetic strain on Earth, theirs. As that troublesome woman of yours has discovered, they implanted an aggressive Anunnaki chromosome into your code designed to slowly morph humans into Anunnaki. Passive Genetic Colonization was a diabolical plot started by the Anunnaki generations ago to conquer this planet by reshaping humans into their image. ‘We shall make man into our image.’ Does that not sound familiar to you Captain?”

  Still awash by things he did not understand, Santo stood stunned. However, he did remember what Maria had told him about Passive Genetic Colonization. He remembered telling her because that plan had been initiated well over six thousand years ago, either the Anunnaki was a very patient race or what they had initiated failed. He expressed the same thought to whomever he was really talking to.

  “But that was over six thousand years ago.”

  More laughter echoed in Santo’s head. This time there was arrogance in Niko’s tone.

  “Yes you fool. Six thousand years to us but only a few years to them. Your simple mind has forgotten that they live in a different dimension with different dimensional time. Thousands of years to us were merely a few years to them. Soon, when they come back to this planet, we as humans will be no more. We will be Anunnaki and they will have saved their race from extinction.”

  Santo asked,

  “But what has this got to do with Maria? Why is she responsible for something started thousands of years ago?”

  “Because she is the fool who discovered the passive genetic colonization the Anunnaki had initiated. The ancient Grays who had occupied your planet way back then had recorded their discovery in the book Zak is now decoding. The secret to stopping the Anannaki is in that book. If that fool Zak Zanders continues to translate the third book of the Great Grays, he will eventually discover how to neutralize the plot and tell that cursed woman of yours how to return the human mutation back to the original intent of the creation.”

  Confused, Santo asked,

  “But how do you know all this?”

  “I am connected to your matrix. If it is entered in your computers, I know everything.”

  Shaking his head at what was way above it, Santo said,

  “But that information is on secure computers. How do you know what Zak is researching?”

  “Your intelligence is very limited Captain. I told you
already. If entered into the realm of the matrix, then I have that information in my memory and transmitted to the Anannaki home world. When the Great Grays first came here, they did not understand why if the same God created you, then why were you not praying to God. You were idolaters, pagans, and killers. The inferior Grays wanted to create a better human by manipulating the human genome. They wanted to discover and delete the section in your DNA that made you killers. They called it a flaw in the creation, the ‘Killer Gene’. Now, because of her, the re-colonization program is in danger of discovery and eradication. They intend to stop Zak Zander from translating what he has referred to as the Rosetta Book and stop Maria from preventing the re-colonization of this planet. When all humans become full Anannaki, hatred toward the Great Grays will survive. A great planetary war will begin and the hated Grays will be no more.”

  What little was left of Niko Waltz’s human brain slowly reverted to anarchy. His image started to flicker and fade. It was clear to Santo that the image was either losing power or he was losing his mind. After a great burst of laughter Niko confessed,

  “But that will not happen for another generation or two. Enjoy your present form for it shall not be yours for long. Enjoy the pleasures of your lover for soon that will change as well. Enjoy your daughter. Watch her grow up and see the changes in her. See her become an alien.”

  Anger in Santo boiled over. He had already killed the Duchess for threatening to kill his daughter. Despite hearing a great threat to humanity, the only thing on his mind now was how he was going to kill Niko Waltz and protect his daughter. Niko again sneered,

  “In the meantime, before the complete transformation, I intend to shut down the World Wide Web. I will turn this electronic age back to the Stone Age. I will make every computer in the world along with what they control useless. Then, I’ll turn it back on using only my programs.”

  Santo scoffed,

  “And then you will be Master of the World I suppose.”

  Niko snapped,

  “Yes. Look at me. Everything will be transmitted through me. I will become the matrix. I will become the new god for the masses.”

  Although Santo did not understand the ramifications of what Niko was rambling on about, He did understand lunacy.

  Santo thought he had heard enough. His intent was to back away from Niko in the same manner a victim should back away from a crouching snarling lion. He understood that with any animal perched for attack, if you turn your back and run, claws and teeth will quickly be in your throat. After only a few backward steps, his right hand was at the ready to snap out his AK handgun. It was then that he saw a strange transformation in Niko’s 3D projection. The harsh lines were fading and a softer Niko was taking shape.

  As if from a man of normal conversation, Niko softly asked,

  “Are you leaving me Captain?”

  Not sure if it was a threat, or as it sounded, a plea, Santo also turned his reply to softness.

  “Just for a while. I find everything you have said to be overwhelming. I will go to the shore and try to understand it all better.”

  Then the image of Niko said something that stopped Santo’s escape in his tracks. He heard a pleading tone.

  “Then would you be so kind as to close the door on your way out.”

  As if the conversation had not been confusing enough, Santo became engulfed in a tangled mess. What door? As if the answer might be there, he looked hard at Niko who was strangely staring back at him. He seemed to be mouthing the words, at least as Santo understood them, ‘kill me’. Because it was clear that Niko wanted the communication to be secret, Santo shrugged his shoulders in confusion. Again, Niko over exaggerated the silent words, ‘kill me’. Santo remembered what Niko had said at the beginning, ‘a human is not meant to die many times. It is inhumane and painful’.

  Quick to understand what Niko was trying to convey was for his ears only, he wondered who else might be listening. Keeping within the shrouded cloak, Santo said,

  “I would be glad to. Where is the door?”

  Niko’s eyes drifted to one of the posts, the one strangely standing to the side. He said,

  “Be kind and take the key out of the lock.”

  Draped in heavy confusion, Santo took slow hesitant steps toward the indicated pillar.

  Upon inspection, it was no different from the other posts. He remembered that there was pain involved when touching it and therefore turned to ask,

  “Where is the key?”

  He did not like the response.

  “Inside the post. Just reach in and pull it out for me.”

  Still looking at Niko, Santo heard the words,

  “Protect your daughter.”

  Because Niko’s rant had threatened not only his daughter but also all of humanity, killing him was something he was not adverse to do. It was for that reason he braved the pain of electrical shock and reached deep into the post.

  When up to his elbow, he felt something solid inside the shimmering intangible post. He heard Niko’s pleading voice again. There was urgency in it.

  “Pull it out before they realize what you are doing. Quickly pull it out.”

  When he did, Santo saw that he was holding the missing piece from the Great Gray computer chip that Niko had stolen from the fortress of the Duchess. Confused, he looked back to Niko’s image and saw that it was breaking up. He heard the warning from a contorted mouth, “Run.” Although not understanding why, he was quick to heed the warning. He turned and ran out of the circle of posts. When at a safe distance he stopped and looked back.

  What he saw amazed and confused him. All the posts were flickering and waving as if a streamer in the wind, except there was no wind. Then they all violently defragmented as if a picture puzzle blown apart by an unseen bomb. Shrapnel exploded and came at him faster than even quick reflexes could avoid. However, they harmlessly flew right through him as if dimensional junk. Once again he heard a voice in his head yell, “Run.”

  Chapter 27

  The diminutive Pia was struggling to reach shelves and tabletops swabbing everything for remnants of DNA for what she thought must have been very tall people. At least to her, it seemed like a futile task. Clearly, everything in the cave was abandoned hundreds if not thousands of years ago. She understood that DNA spirals would fragment and breakdown after such a long time. However, orders from the boss were clear, ‘collect DNA samples’. Pia heard that Maria was a genius with DNA but still thought it was impossible to regenerate stagnant and scattered codes after such a long time. Cleary she did not understand Maria’s true brilliance.

  On the other side of the cave, far from where Pia was swabbing for DNA, Jessika was held captive by a slanted desk that she understood to be a central computer command arrangement. Although filled with levers and what looked like computer keys, there were no markings on them. Each key had a different shape and rose higher or lower than the one next to it. It soon became apparent that a combination of height and shape were the identifying features of each key. It was the same for the levers. Instead of simply back and forth, their direction was in geometrical shapes, circles, rectangles, zig-zag as well as many other strange configurations. Obviously, each direction initiated a unique command. Knowing that there was power in the cave and therefore to the control panel, Jessika thought she had a fair understanding of the coding.

  She reached out for one of the switches but suddenly halted in mid reach. Something was wrong. It was not a clear and obvious ‘something was wrong’ feeling but it was there. She felt a chill wash over her like a door to the outside winter cold had just opened up. It was enough of an intuitive feeling to pull her hand back from the switch. To add to the creepiness, for no apparent reason, a strand of her hair dropped down over her eyes. A slow hand rose to swipe it back in place.

  Kirk and Otto were standing at the far wall scanning it with the thermal camera used to image infinitesimal heat variances. He explained to Otto that the ground penetrating satellite had detected a small
er cave attached to this one. Yet, despite the satellite readying, they could not locate a door or anything that would gain access to it. It was clear by the reading that there was a room back there but the mystery was how to get to it. Although Otto was kidding, he said,

  “A couple of C-4 packs ought to blow a hole right through there.”

  “Yes,” said Kirk, “but with an ancient and unstable cave, maybe it would bring everything down with it as well.”

  Just as Kirk was saying that, something strange happened to the wall. It started to glow and shimmer as if it were a gentle wave. Both stared at it in disbelief. Slowly, the solid rock wall became translucent as if turning to glass. When the shimmering stopped and visibility through the wall was attained, both men stood staring deep into a large well-lit cavern.

  Standing mute, they saw seven vehicles in there easily interpreted as spacecrafts. Kirk saw metal tables and on top were what he assumed were tools and computers. It was clear to both that they were looking at a garage making repairs to extraterrestrial spacecraft. With that discovery, Kirk understood this cave was more than a field hospitable. It was an Anannaki fortress. If Zak was right about there once being a great Earth war, this cave and the secret entrance was the perfect fortress.

  Otto risked a poking finger at the jelly-like clearing, testing if it was possible to enter. His answer was an electric jolt zapping right through him. A quick withdrawal of his hand to his chest indicated that it was not safe to enter. Kirk pointed another instrument at the anomaly scanning for alpha radiation, radiant or nuclear energy. Nothing showed up on the instrument. He turned to Otto and asked,