The Third Craft
Page 46
A man-made peninsula jutted out into the river. It was a lengthy paved dock about half a mile in length. To the north, across the river, was a panoramic view of the nation’s capital.
Stell turned his back to the building and surveyed the area to his west. It was virtually deserted. He walked several hundred feet and found the first of two roads leading to the large dock. From here, the dock was obscured by trees. He walked along the short roadway and then onto the dock itself.
This was no ordinary pier. The dock was a massive paved affair located about twenty feet offshore from Bolling air force base. It was easily a hundred and fifty feet wide. This asphalt runway peninsula served the navy for their ships and the air force for their aircraft. The exit roads served as taxiways to the massive hangar directly opposite. The building was as long as the dock and twice as wide.
There were no ships or planes around today. It was deserted, and that was fine with him. Stell turned left and walked toward the south end of the dock. He put his sunglasses on and was now able to distinguish the outline of a smallish figure standing at the side of the dock. The dock had a series of stripes along each side, like those on a car parking lot. Sixty feet to the south of the entrance road, where the stranger stood, a huge “X” was marked on the pavement. The stranger’s face could not be seen, hidden by the hood of a cloak.
As Stell neared, the hood fell away. It was Amonda.
Stell increased his pace to a trot. He broke out into a huge grin, shaking his head back and forth. “It’s been so long. So long! You have no idea what it’s like to have you here.”
He made a motion toward her, but she backed up hesitantly.
“This is very strange,” she said. “By your Signature, I know it’s you, Stell. But your transitioned body … it’s so different, so primitive.”
Stell’s smile froze on his face. His eyes searched hers. He moved toward her again. “Don’t be silly! You know we had to transition.”
She held up her pale spindly hand, as if to ward off evil. “Give me a moment to adjust.”
The pair stared at each other for a few moments. Seeing the joy in his eyes at their reunion soon melted her heart, and she came forward to embrace him. But she pulled back yet again and stretched out her slender arms, holding his shoulders. Examining him as if from a great distance, she said, “Let me look at you, brother. My, how you have changed.”
Stell laughed. “Amonda. How you have not! You look as stunning as ever.”
They embraced again. Amonda was taken aback by the show of emotion from the usually stoic Stell. He had changed both physically and emotionally. His integration into another human body had humbled him somewhat. Amonda could sense his loneliness. Although the drizzle had almost abated, he was damp and wet. He brushed away the water with his sleeve.
“How was your trip?” he asked, and then laughed at the inadequacy of the question. “It makes it sound as if you’ve just flown in from Boston.”
“I understand. It was fine,” Amonda replied. “The fleet is in perfect shape. Yours?”
He shrugged, trying to sound unconcerned. “We crash landed.”
“You survived.”
“We did. No thanks to our nav system.”
As they walked down the dock, Amonda related how she had been awoken during the flight and had received Stell’s beacon message. “I was pleased to learn how you had successfully completed this stage of the mission. Do you feel that it’s a suitable place to transfer the rest of the ships?”
“It’s perfect for our needs, Amonda.”
“That’s great news. However, I must share a concern with you. I found the rest of your message somewhat disturbing. I’m not comfortable with the fact that you ordered Gamma III to break off from the other two ships and secretly steer toward this new planet.”
“I see. Did you do as I asked?”
“Yes. I’m happy that you have discovered this planet and have claimed it for the House of Abishot. But what of Crown Prince Kor? I understand that Alpha I, Kor’s ship, crashed, totally destroyed, and that the third ship, Alpha III, has just been recovered.”
“That’s right. Don’t concern yourself with them.”
“What of Kor and the surviving crewmembers?”
“They are of no consequence. I claim this planet and I alone will rule here.”
“What of Kor? Does he live or not? He is the crown prince of our planet.”
“Was the crown prince. That was another planet and another time.”
“Where is Kor? Is he alive?”
“Yes, he lives. He’s in hiding.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s afraid to confront me.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Kor I knew.”
“Do you doubt my word? Forget Kor, and forget our planet. This is a new beginning for all of the House of Abishot. Kor is irrelevant here. I was here and functional long before Kor was transitioned. I …”
“I understand, Stell, but it is Kor’s mission …”
“Was his mission. Kor has been marginalized. I claim the rights to Earth. The Abishot will rule over these people. The Narok no longer have a throne. They are not welcome here.”
“You realize that Prince Kor will not allow this.”
“No doubt he would try to stop me, but he’s in no position to do anything. He had his chance and failed.”
“Stell, what have you done?”
“Always the mind reader, aren’t you? Kor is my prisoner. He’s being detained in order for me to firmly establish my people and the rule of the Abishot.”
“Prisoner? You’ve dared imprison the Prince of the House of Narok? By whose authority?”
“By my own authority. I don’t need anyone’s direction, sister. I am my own sovereign here. The rules have changed. I claim this planet. I claim the right to govern.”
“Prince Kor is your sovereign. It was an agreed-upon provision of the evacuation treaty that in exchange for the lives of the Abishot evacuees, including you and me, all Abishot would subjugate themselves to the crown of the House of Narok.”
“The rules changed after the crash landing of the three ships. I don’t recognize Kor as my sovereign.”
“What are your plans for Kor? You know I won’t be a party to murder.”
“He’s alive and under sedation. You’ll be pleased to hear that I need him alive. I plan to use him as a lure to capture his two children.”
“Children? Kor has children?”
“His transitioned body propagated quickly after the change. He found a female to mate with.”
“And you? Did you mate?”
Stell screwed up his face. “No. I do not find these primitives attractive.”
“Tell me about Kor’s children. You realize that they are heirs to the throne.”
“Heirs to what throne? The House of Narok is no longer relevant.”
“Based on our laws, and you know them well, you must be subservient to his children. They are royalty.”
“Only while they live”
“Stell, I warned you …”
“Only kidding. I won’t kill them or their father. Unless …”
“Unless what?”
“Unless they attack me first. If there is fighting, a war of the two Houses, then I would be justified to kill them in battle, wouldn’t I?”
“That’s true. But only in battle. Not murder. Not poisoning, or any such thing. I will turn against you if you defile our laws, is that clear?”
“Fine. All right. But won’t you join me in establishing a strong House of Abishot on this planet?”
“You are my brother. Of course I will help. It’s just that I am concerned about the outcome of your confrontation with the House of Narok.”
“What do your wizard skills tell you?”
She stepped forward and grasped his hands and looked deep into his eyes. “I see an unsettled and indecisive future for you and for our House.”
“You see failure in my future?”
“I fear no one.”
“Bravely spoken, Stell.”
Stell looked at the overcast sky. He took a deep breath and wiped his face with his hand. “Let me tell you my plans for this place.”
“I am very interested.”
“Before I begin, did you do exactly as I asked?”
“Yes. I told you I did. I took command of Gamma III. I activated the manual controls and guided the cruiser toward Earth’s co-ordinates. And now, as you can plainly see, I am here.”
“Good. My plan is simple enough. You and I will oversee the assimilation of the entire contingent of the House of Abishot with the native population. There are ten thousand Abishot crypt-orbs aboard Gamma III.”
“What about the Narok orbs?”
“They will not be assimilated.”
“How can you …?”
“Let me finish. The assimilation will guarantee the superiority of the Abishot. It will give the small group of infiltrates a superior advantage over the rest of the population. The Abishot infiltrates will govern the planet eventually.”
“You see the House of Abishot beginning a fresh new dynasty here?”
“Exactly. Even though our numbers are few, no one can resist our superior intellect and powers. Yes, powers, Amonda. Our Gifts are transferable into our human hosts. Although not as strong, we are able to use many of our gifts.”
“And you believe this possible?”
“Already proven with a handful of crew, Amonda. We can lead them away from their present path of global destruction. I see us as a lifesaving force.”
“As opposed to an alien invasion.”
“Of course. Don’t be so negative. We’ll be good for this place, you’ll see.”
“I cannot foresee such a result as you envision. There are many forces at work here that could alter the outcome.”
“That troubles me, sister, but I believe I am right. I’ll leave the outcome up to fate.”
“You have little choice. Now, can you answer a question for me?”
“Go ahead.”
“What of the remaining cruisers? What is to become of them?”
“Their welfare has to be left to chance.”
“Stell, with no marker beacon to guide the ships, they will continue to journey into space toward the predetermined co-ordinates. But what if the targets fail to materialize or they are missed? If the selected solar systems are missed, evacuees could be trapped on board for eternity. Without a directional beacon to guide them, the ships might drift in space forever. They need the Alpha series spaceships to guide them.”
Amonda turned away, looking toward the government buildings on the far shore. A fresh breeze was blowing off the Potomac. Her damp hood fluttered gently in the wind.
Finally, she addressed Stell again. “You simply must reconsider. We are morally obligated to let Gamma I and Gamma II find this planet. Send up a message to the nearest beacon. Transmit these co-ordinates. It’s too risky for the ships to fly to some unknown solar system without scout ships, especially when we know there is a safe haven here.”
“No. I will not share this place with the Narok. There are too many of them. They will marginalize my rule.”
Amonda began walking away.
“Please don’t be angry with me, Amonda. By guiding you here, I did what I thought was best for the Family.”
“Always the Family!”
“I couldn’t change anything, even if I wanted.”
“Liar! You have no will to change anything. You would see a civilization, no, a species die out, and all because of your vanity. I pity you, Stell.”
“We are the species, Amonda. We are the civilized world come to this planet. We, the Family Abishot!”
Amonda stood back and examined him. “You haven’t changed, have you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this egotistical selfishness. Initially, right after your escape from the Narok palace, you weren’t like this. You changed gradually while you governed at home. What of my brother the prince? Where is he? Stell, how can you believe that you’re a leader of men, yet show no mercy or compassion for those you see as enemies?”
“They are my enemies!”
“Really? Look closer to home, young princeling. Your true enemy is closer than you think!”
“What are you saying?”
Amonda gathered her robes about her body and turned away again. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.” She watched the traffic stream east along 295. “But do this one thing for me. Alert the fleet before it’s too late. Rise above this insane bitterness you have toward the Narok. This hatred will destroy you if you are not careful. It will eat you from the inside out.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I foresee this hatred becoming your downfall.”
“You can foresee this?”
“Yes. This hatred is in your mind. It’s your mind that suffers. Let go of the hate and save the fleet. Stell, remember the saying we have back home? When you hold onto anger it’s like clutching a hot coal to throw at your enemy – you are the one who gets burned.”
“I remember. It’s just that it’s so hard to forget …”
“I’m not asking you to forget, or even forgive. I’m asking you to move on with your life, for your own sake. This rivalry with the Narok is blinding you.”
“All right, I’ll do it. For you … and for me, I guess.”
Amonda spun around and looked into his eyes for verification. “You will? Oh Stell, you won’t be sorry.”
“I know, because there are conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“Swear first that you will abide by the conditions.”
“I can’t swear unconditionally”
“Do you want to save these people or not?”
“Of course I do. You know that.”
“Then swear, or by God the fleet flies into deep space for all eternity.”
“All right, I swear. But if there are tricks, the deal is off.”
“Done. First, you pledge sole allegiance to me and the Family.”
“My allegiance is to the queen.”
“The queen? You mean our mother? What has she got to do …”
Stell had not considered this eventuality. He needed time to think. Had the queen escaped their dying planet? “What of the queen? Is she here as well?”
“She awaits. You should know that there was an assassination attempt on her life. It failed, but everyone believes she is dead. It happened just after you and Kor were transitioned for the journey here.”
“All right then, allegiance to the queen and then me. None other.”
“You have my pledge that I shall serve no other human.”
“OK, good. The other condition is that you help me build up our House of Abishot within this society in secret. No one is to know. We will begin to assimilate the American population immediately.”
“Why the hurry?”
“We have a tiny core group of possible dissidents. Nothing more than an annoying distraction.”
“Who might they be?”
“Kor’s crew, transitioned of course, and his spawn.”
“Where are they now?”
“I’ve set a trap. They should be in our custody any time now.”
“Remember my warning about killing them. Any more conditions?”
“No. I’ll transmit a signal directly to both cruisers in ten years. The signal will change the autopilot.”
“Ten years! You never mentioned that there would be such a delay. Why so long a wait?”
“Think about it, Amonda. We need time to establish our Abishot culture throughout the planet.”
“How much time?”
“Two hundred years. By the time the signal reaches the fleet, they arrive here, two hundred years will have passed.”
; Amonda looked hard at Stell. “What do you plan on doing when they arrive here after all those years?”
“We will supervise their assimilation into societies throughout the world.”
“Societies under the control of the Abishot, of course.”
“Yes, of course, Amonda. By then we will have successfully infiltrated the governments of the most powerful societies on the planet.”
“What of the crypt-orbs from the House of Narok stored aboard Gamma III? How are you planning to transition them?”
Stell spun on his heels and turned back toward the entrance road to the dock. The rain had stopped. “I plan to do it slowly. I need loyalty. No, I demand loyalty. I can’t have them launch some kind of revolution.”
“How will you control them?”
“They will be placed in mainstream society as powerless lower class people. We will introduce security issues through false media communications. Or we might band them electronically.”
“You mean they will be guarded. They will be imprisoned, like slaves.”
“Not as badly as we were treated back home by the House of Narok. At least here they will have the illusion of freedom.”
“You mean delusion, don’t you?”
“You don’t approve?”
“I’m not saying that. You offer them a soft captivity.”
“Exactly. The illusion will be that they can go where they please. The reality is that we will control exactly where they feel they want to go. Their free will is moldable.”
“And eventually …”
“Eventually we transition all of Gamma III’s digital crypt-orb cargo and will have a subservient population made up, in part, of our former rulers back home.”
“The Narok.”
“Yes, the Narok.”
“Do you think you can control the will of an entire society with such a small percentage of Abishot?”
“Yes, because I will control the timing of the integration, Abishot and Narok, into society. We will place more and more Abishot into positions of wealth and political power. This is a new beginning. Now it’s our show.”
CHAPTER62
Dejected over their failure, the twins retrieved their ship, left D.C., and returned to Colorado. They housed the spaceship along with their Cessna in a hangar they rented at Boulder Municipal Airport on the outskirts of town.