by James Harris
“We need to talk,” she whispered. The two stood outside H’s office.
“Let’s go back to the roof. We will await the queen in the transporter.”
Suddenly there was shouting. “What the hell?” a voice rang out. “Has nobody noticed that a bloody alien is lurking in the halls of America’s top intelligence agency?”
The man seemed to be shouting at no one in particular. “Is it just me or has the world gone mad?”
Stell whirled and saw H standing there – barely standing. It was more like a wobble. He had aged. He seemed like a rickety old man weaving on his feet.
“H, it’s me, Wixon. I have returned to my original body.”
“Wixon?” H looked puzzled, but was calming down.
“H, remember? I explained to you that I was an alien. I gave you lots of information over the years.”
H seemed slow on the uptake. He stared hard at Stell. “You’re Wixon?”
“Yes, H, we have known each other for over twenty five years. Get past what my body looks like now.”
H walked up to Stell and examined him. “You really are an alien. You know what? You are not the first in-the-flesh alien I have ever seen in my life, but you are the first that I have known as someone else. You told me who you were, but I guess I never worked it through. You look quite … different than I had imagined.”
“Well, I’m the same person that you’ve known for twenty-five years. Different body, that’s all.”
H took comfort in that. He seemed to recover his senses in a flash of clarity. “Wixon, we should talk.”
“Why aren’t you in the strategy session, H?”
“I’m a hundred-proof human, that’s why! Only the half-breeds, the integrates, are allowed to visit with the queen. I’m on the outs with her now.”
“You mean the infiltrates?”
“Who gives a shit what they’re called. We know what they are.”
Stell gently led H toward the stairwell. “Come with us. We will talk upstairs.”
The trio opened the exit door and walked out into the pleasant rooftop garden area set aside for employees.
Nestled in among the garden planters, totally out of place, was the gleaming blue-white transporter craft from Gamma III. The boxy craft rested there majestically like a nesting bird.
H was impressed with the transporter. He ran his hand over the skin, mumbling about how the outer covering of the fuselage felt like the skin of a dolphin.
They went inside and swung the command chairs inward to facilitate their conversation.
“So, tell me, what the hell has happened here while I was gone?” Stell said.
H composed himself and collected his thoughts. He was aboard an alien spacecraft. To put himself in the right frame of mind, he imagined he was giving a report to the Joint Chiefs.
“The queen has been clandestinely working behind your back since the day she arrived. She has orchestrated the infiltration of the top ranks of the government, the intelligence networks, and the media.”
“What about the White House?”
“If you mean the President and his immediate staff, the answer is ‘no.’ Think about it. The queen doesn’t have to. She controls the conduit of information coming into the White House. Her half-breed infiltrates control the bureaucracy. White House staff believe that they are making wise decisions when, in truth, they are basing their activity on information fabricated and distorted to serve the plans of the queen.”
“They are puppets?”
“No. Not really. They make the decisions and control both governing Houses. It’s the information base of those decisions that are controlled and manipulated by the very people they trust and count on to feed them accurate data. Their senior people, the ones with the ear of the White House, have been infiltrated. They serve one person …”
“… the queen, not the President.”
“Yes, the queen.”
Stell spoke up. “And what of me? I helped transition many of these people. I was the one who spent all those years in the service of the U.S. government. Their allegiance was to be to me, not her. They owe me!”
H shrugged. “I am sorry, but your plans are on hold. The queen is clearly in charge now. She works round the clock, seemingly without rest or sleep, to engage in the promotion of subversive religious-based criminal actions. The plan is to escalate ethnic and religious hatred to encourage chaos throughout the world. The queen’s council will encourage and incite insurgents to attack each other and depopulate ethnic areas. Then the world will not interfere as the U.S. military moves in to stabilize the area.
“In reality, they will have invaded sovereign countries. The world will beg them to stabilize the countries to protect the interconnected world economy. The military will then become entrenched as a permanent force of stability. They occupy by simply not leaving until an infiltrate is put in power. It is like a coup from the outside.”
“The plan was for me to rule a populated Earth, not a decimated battleground of corpses.”
“I am sorry to inform you, but I can only see your role as secondary to the queen. Everyone reports to her now.”
“I’ve been used! We all have been used by the queen, haven’t we Amonda?” Stell looked toward his sister.
“I am responsible. I freed her,” Amonda said. She shook her head slowly. “But I am powerless to resist her. Blame me, but pity me for I am linked physically and spiritually to this Ancient creature. She is powerful beyond belief.”
“So are we!” Stell said. “We’re her offspring. She is old; we are young. I had plans, Amonda.”
“Plans? What plans did you have? World domination, perhaps? Don’t make me laugh, Stell.”
“I have what it takes!” Stell roared.
“Don’t be ridiculous! It takes a monstrous ego and an insatiable desire for power to pull off the dreams you talk of. The kind of dreams that are executed without mercy and without conscience.”
“I deserve power! I am the Prince of the mighty House of Abishot.”
“You are not some psychopath who would stop at nothing to dominate everyone else,” Amonda said, her voice rising to a crescendo. “You don’t have that cold-blooded disregard for people’s lives. That takes a psychotic kind of person, and you don’t have what it takes!”
H began to shrink away from the two embroiled siblings.
“Listen to me. I planned this whole planet takeover. I can lead the people!”
“You can’t execute the plan, Stell. Not you, you don’t have what it takes!”
“The hell I don’t!”
“The hell you do!” Amonda pushed in frustration.
Stell flew backward out of his chair and rolled on the floor. He jumped up and began to raise his hands, green sparks of energy snaking out from his fingers.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Amonda said. “That was an accident! Stell, sit down. Please.”
Sulking, Stell obeyed.
H was cringing in his seat, trying to be as small as possible.
“Brother, let me explain, please. When I said that you didn’t have what it took, I meant it as a compliment.”
Stell’s shoulders collapsed and he looked perplexed. “A compliment? How?”
“To dominate a planet and enslave its population requires a ruthless, cold-blooded person. You are not that kind of person. You are a superior human being that is the result of millions of years of evolution. Your genes have evolved through countless centuries of barbaric conflict, hatred, ignorance, and intolerance. You are not made of the same stuff as the queen. You are more evolved than she is in many respects. While she, the Ancient One, focuses on Death, you focus on Life. That is the essential difference. That is what makes you better than her.”
Amonda took a breath and said, “I fear she is quite mad with power. You are not.”
That statement settled Stell down.
“I have more to say. I have been trying to find the words to tell you, but somehow I just couldn’t. I think that
now is the right time. There is something that you must know; it may change the rest of your life.”
Stell flushed with eagerness. “What is it?”
Just at that moment, the portal door opened with a soft hiss.
“Amonda, do tell us, what is it?” the hooded shadow croaked.
CHAPTER70
“Washington is in sight,” Joe said. He was standing at the helm staring at the city skyline coming quickly into view. “Are you sure you want to land there?”
“It is where we must go,” Kor said.
“I realize that, but we risk being spotted by civilians.”
“It’s a chance we have to take. Stell is there; so is the queen. We must put an end to this attack on Earth before she has a chance to bring more Abishot down from Gamma III. My fear is that she may liquidate the crypt-orbs of the Narok out of spite and to isolate us on the planet’s surface.”
“We’re close,” Joe said. “Where do you want to land?”
“The Pentagon,” Kor said.
“The Pentagon?” Joe couldn’t believe his ears. “When I think of landing without being seen, the Pentagon isn’t top of my list.”
“There is a place I know.”
“You want the helm?”
“No, you’re doing fine. Don’t slow down. Head toward the main building.”
“Sonic radar detected,” interrupted the computer.
“Capture (the waves) and cloak,” Kor replied.
“Done.”
“Render the vessel invisible. Absorb light.”
“Affirmative.”
“That will render us invisible to radar and sightings.” Kor smiled as he looked over at Joe. “We are landing close to the Pentagon. Can’t have the DoD scrambling jets now, can we?”
The spacecraft swooped in from the south, banked low over a cluster of parked trucks, and reversed direction.
“This building has been my base of operations for some time. I managed to lease this small hanger with the help of my friends in the department.”
“Stell and the queen haven’t found you yet?”
“I guess not. I don’t remain here for very long at any one time. But it is handy having my base right under their noses.”
The door facing north was open and they slipped silently inside, settling down on the damp concrete floor like a falling leaf. The door closed behind them.
Hawk got up and stretched. “OK. What’s the battle plan?”
The three of them began to plan their attack.
Amonda gasped at the sight of the queen as she stood at the threshold of the transporter. She and Stell exchanged glances. The queen entered the vessel with her arms outstretched inquisitively.
“Tell us, daughter. Tell all of us what Stell must know.”
“It’s not that important,” Amonda mumbled.
“You said it was vital, remember. Never mind me. Tell Stell this important piece of information.”
“Maybe later.” She looked at Stell. “Maybe never.”
“How sad. Stell may never know something. Aren’t you curious, Stell?”
All but forgotten, H rose quietly from his seat. “Maybe I should leave you family members alone to chat,” H said. He backed out of the transporter and disappeared into the rooftop doorway of the brownstone.
The queen spoke. “We have to rid ourselves of Kor once and for all. Stell, put the military on high alert. I want that scout ship of Kor’s tracked. We’ll lay a trap that he can’t get out of this time. The secret will be to split Kor’s family up. Their combined powers may be troublesome.”
“Stell, I want you to remain with the transporter on the roof. Stay out of sight. Amonda, you come with me.”
The queen no longer trusted Amonda. Amonda knew too many secrets, and some of those secrets should not be shared with Stell. They could ruin everything.
The queen captured both of them in her sights. “And no more chatting between the two of you. No more little secrets. From now on, if either of you has anything to say, it will be in my presence. Understood?”
“Let’s get down to it,” Kor said. “I have contacted the crew and they are en route.”
“We have to deal with the military,” Joe said.
“The military is staying neutral. I’ve been in contact with the Secretary of Defense.”
“How’d that go?” Hawk asked.
“He’s playing both sides. Same with the CIA. They want to appear neutral.”
“Have you told him anything?”
“Only that I have to deal with Stell and the queen and it’s a matter of national security. The Secretary knows what has been going on because I’ve kept him up to date. The problem lies with others. We’re not sure who is an infiltrate and who can be trusted.”
“So he couldn’t give orders to the military to help us without running the risk of tipping our hand,” Hawk said.
“Right. We lose the element of surprise and that’s our only weapon.”
“So we attack their headquarters?” Joe asked.
“Breach the security with you two first. That way they can’t detect my Signature.”
“Once you’ve broken through, we support you.”
“But we can’t attack Stell or the queen?” Joe asked.
“No! They would kill you. You wait for me, just infiltrate and weaken their defenses. We will be right behind you.”
Joe’s eyes shifted to the main screen. “Guys, you’re not going to believe this. Look at the monitor.”
CHAPTER71
Sharp and clear, Stell’s image had flashed onto the screen, with Amonda behind him.
Stell looked subdued, almost child-like.
“Don’t panic, Kor,” he said reassuringly. “I need to talk.”
“God, you have me under surveillance, don’t you?”
“Yes, but if it’s any consolation, we only just discovered your covert headquarters a few days ago. Very clever, right under our noses.”
Kor scowled. “Talk? You’ve got to be kidding me. You and I and that thing you call a mother are at war. You tried to kill me and my family. Now you want to talk?”
He reached over and activated a full shield for Alpha III. “I’m on to you Stell. Fire your strongest weapon. This ship can handle it.”
The statement was more swagger than science, and they both knew it.
Amonda moved into the frame. She walked up and placed her spindly hand on Stell’s shoulder. He reached back and clutched it.
“Kor, don’t blame him, blame me,” she said.
Kor wasn’t sure where this whole conversation was going. “For what?”
“For everything wrong that has happened since you two were boys together.”
Kor suspected a trick. “What riddles are these? What are you both talking about?”
Stell answered. “Amonda has explained everything to me. We have been deceived. We have all been deceived.”
“About what?”
“About almost everything,” Stell lamented. “We have been misled to believe things that were not true and many people have suffered because of it.”
“Stell, if this is one of your tricks, forget it. I’m onto you, OK?”
Stell took a deep, long breath. “I can’t blame you. I wouldn’t trust me either if I were in your shoes. All I can do is tell you the truth and hope you believe me.”
He looked over at Amonda. “She is a wizard. You know that. You know the oath of the wizards. She will verify what I have to say.”
“How can I be sure that it is true? Any of it?”
“Because it was she who told me certain truths that she felt I must know, now, immediately before this thing went any further.”
“And what great revelation was that?” Kor asked.
“She revealed that we are brothers,” he emphasized dramatically, but the effect was lost on Kor.
“Yes, yes, we know all that. You rejected me, remember, when you found out that you had been kidnapped. I never knew about the kidnapping, a
nd you never believed me.”
“And for that I beg your forgiveness. I was wrong about that. I was wrong about many things. I believed what I was told by people I trusted.”
“And not me. You never believed me when I pleaded innocence. But, of course, I was no family of yours.”
“But you are. Don’t you get it? That was where I made the first of many mistakes.”
“Stell, we aren’t related.”
Stell looked back at Amonda. “Oh, but we are! We are truly brothers, well, half-brothers.”
“Explain yourself.”
“Amonda discovered that you and I have the same father, your father, the King of the House of Narok. She withheld the information all these years in fear of the queen.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“We figured you wouldn’t. Amonda has downloaded my gene-code onto your ship’s computer.”
Kor looked at the monitor. Numbers were scrolling across. They stopped.
“Genetic match. Siblings” the computer said.
Kor slowly raised his eyes and looked at the two pairs of eyes studying him. It would take more than this to convince him that Stell, a treacherous traitor, should now suddenly be trustworthy. It seemed so unlikely that Stell would turn from mortal enemy to someone who would be willing to forgive and forget.
Amonda shook her head. “You are not convinced.”
“Even if it were true that the rogue Stell is my biological brother, why should I trust him now? What has really changed?”
“A common enemy, the queen mother. It will take your combined power to stop her,” Amonda said.
“So you say. It could be more treachery.”
“It could, but it isn’t.”
“I’m sorry, Stell. After what I have suffered because of you, there’s nothing you can say or do to convince me of your sudden change of heart, your change of alliance. History teaches a great deal about sibling treachery.”
“Kor, I am a wizard attached to the House of Abishot,” Amonda said.
“And as such your allegiance and loyalty is clear. You will support your prince above all else, will you not?”
“That is true. My sole allegiance is to Prince Stell.”
“Exactly. If he is trying to trick me, you will not stop him.”
