by Paul Moxham
With his tall, athletic build, his wavy, blond hair, and bright blue eyes, many girls would have welcomed the chance to go on a date with him, but after having his heart broken by his high school sweetheart, he had put romance aside and focused on his career. It was only after he had gone to Syria and seen how precious life was that he decided to start dating again. Now, one month after his twenty-ninth birthday, he was preparing to get married to the woman he believed was the love of his life.
After hearing the door open, he left the bathroom and caught sight of his younger brother entering the penthouse. With his rugged looks and chiseled face, Kenneth had also been popular with the girls. Unlike Logan, he’d had numerous girlfriends, but still hadn’t found someone to settle down with. Though at twenty-seven years old, he still had plenty of time to find a wife.
Logan walked over to a chair and put on the jacket that had been draped over it. “How did Dad do it?”
“Do what?”
“You know what I mean. Pretend that everything was all right when he was dying on the inside.”
Kenneth frowned. “Do you still have the nightmares?”
“Every single friggin’ night. I’ve been taking those pills for the past three months, but they’ve barely made a difference.”
“Have you told Lucy?”
Logan shook his head. “No. If she knew, she’d want me to go to the hospital, and I’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.”
He opened the glass door, walked onto the balcony, and gazed out at the scenery. The bay and the bridges, and even Alcatraz, looked beautiful on this winter day. San Francisco was always a wonderful sight to see, especially when the morning sun hit the skyscrapers.
He closed his eyes and tried to picture his soon-to-be wife, but all he could see were the war-torn fields of Syria. He could also picture Leonard, Joshua, and Will. They had been the best of friends, right up until a car bomb had torn them to shreds.
A person rushed toward Logan, a knife in his hand. A moment later, a hand descended upon his shoulder. He wrestled the man to the ground, only to discover that it was Kenneth. Apologizing profusely, he quickly helped his brother to his feet. “Sorry, I thought—”
“I was an enemy soldier.”
Logan slowly nodded as he turned and gazed at the city as the wind started to whip at his face. A storm was building across the bay. Massive dark clouds drifted slowly toward the city.
“Better get going before the storm hits,” Kenneth said. “It wouldn’t be good to be late for your own wedding.”
~*~*~
With a swishing of rotor blades, the dark red helicopter rose into the air and headed across the city. It didn’t take long to get to their destination.
Known as The View, it was one of the most well-known skyscrapers, not least for the fact that it was the tallest in the city. The five-star hotel, with its luxurious penthouse suites, also commanded one of the most beautiful views of the area.
The helicopter touched down on the private helipad and Logan couldn’t help but grin as he put all his fears aside. He had first set eyes on Lucy when her father, Donald Thorn, had hosted a fundraiser in support of all that Logan and others like him had done in Syria.
The event was a massive success, raising over a million dollars in less than twenty-four hours. All the money made on that night had been donated to a charity that was very close to Logan’s heart. The sole aim of the Wounded Soldiers Fund was to help returning soldiers find a way to move on from the trauma and devastation they had encountered while fighting.
Seeing Lucy speak about the charity made him realize how similar they were. Talking to her afterward had only strengthened his belief that the two of them were meant to be together. Dating her had been a magical and unbelievable experience. Strolling in the park, swimming in the ocean, and hiking in the Golden Gate Recreation Area were just some of the awesome dates that they had been on. Even watching the sun going down over the city had been an experience he would never forget. The way her hair glinted in the fading sun, and the way her eyes sparkled when he talked to her. Everything about their dates had been wonderful—more than he could have ever imagined.
Unfortunately, he’d been assigned to go to Syria for another tour of duty, but that hadn’t diminished the love the two of them shared. It had only blossomed during their Skype sessions. Even though they were thousands of miles apart, just the sight of each other’s faces made both of them beam with delight. And so, when Logan returned to the States, he had wasted no time in proposing to Lucy.
Logan climbed out of the helicopter as Donald, a tiny thimble of a man with thick-rimmed glasses, walked over.
They shook hands. “Good to see you, Logan.” Donald smiled and clapped his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Feeling good, are we?”
“He’s fine, just a touch of nerves,” Kenneth said as he glanced across the roof and saw that the decorations were already being put up for the party later that night. It had been Donald’s idea to have the wedding at the beach and then have the reception on the roof and Logan had readily accepted.
Logan smiled at his soon-to-be father-in-law. “Lucy means the world to me, and I wouldn’t want to live my life without her.”
“Good to hear. You know I’ve always been a fan of yours, and I couldn’t have asked for a better man to wed my daughter.” Donald glanced at his watch. “I’ve got people at the beach setting it all up, and the guests are scheduled to arrive there in forty minutes, so I’ve just got time to give you something.”
Kenneth and Logan followed Donald down the steps and into his penthouse suite. The spacious lounge room had a magnificent view of San Francisco Bay. In one corner there was a bar, and in the middle, a large pool table.
“This is my home away from home,” Donald said. “I still have my lodge at Stinson Beach, but I’ve been staying here quite a lot since Linda passed away.”
Logan walked around and admired the room. “It certainly dwarfs the places I’ve been sleeping in.”
“Talking about Syria, are you?” Donald poured himself a glass of brandy and offered one to Logan.
“Yes. No, thanks.” Logan sat down on a highly expensive settee and looked out at the skyline. He couldn’t get over the room’s beauty.
Kenneth got himself a glass of brandy and joined him. “You should have a drink. It’ll calm your nerves.”
Logan shook his head. “I swore off the stuff ten months ago and I haven’t looked back since.”
Donald sipped his drink as he riffled through his desk drawers. It took him a minute or two, but he finally pulled out an envelope and threw it to Logan.
Logan caught it. “What’s this?”
“It’s your wedding present.”
“But I’m not married yet,” Logan said.
Donald waved his hand dismissively. “You’ll be married in less than two hours. Besides, I want you to read it now, when there aren’t hundreds of people around.”
Logan tried to hand back the envelope, but Donald just laughed. “Just open the damn thing.”
Logan gave in, broke the seal on the envelope, and tore it open. He had expected a card, maybe some money, but nothing like this. It was a single piece of paper, a letter addressed to him.
As he quickly read it, he shook his head. He looked up at Donald. “I’m sorry, I can’t accept this gift.” He put the paper back into the envelope and tried to hand it back to his future father-in-law.
Donald folded his arms in defiance. “I’ve already made up my mind. It’s yours, whether you like it or not.”
“What’s in the letter?” Kenneth asked.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m giving it back,” Logan said.
“Don’t you love my daughter?”
“Of course!” Logan answered. “More than anything in the world.”
“Then accept what’s in that letter,” Donald replied and finished off his brandy.
Just as he did so, the door opened and a charming Asian woman with a sweet smile and l
ong, black hair stepped inside. “Lucy is ready, sir.”
Donald nodded. “Thanks.” He turned to the brothers. “Knowing Lucy, we’ll be another five minutes, but you can go on ahead.” He walked after the woman but paused a moment later. Turning, he pulled out something from his pocket and handed it to Logan. “This key pass will open up any door in the building.” He slapped a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “You can thank me afterwards for providing you with a future.” He paused for a moment and gazed deep into his bright blue eyes. “Just promise me that you’ll take care of her, whatever happens.”
“I promise,” Logan replied.
As Donald left the room, Kenneth turned to his brother. “What was all that about?”
Logan handed him the letter as he turned to the window and gazed out.
Kenneth’s eyes opened wide as he read it. “Whoa. You’re going to be rich.”
“I’m no businessman,” Logan stated.
Kenneth laughed. “With this amount of money, you don’t need to be. Heck, you could be a high school dropout and still have a few hundred grand left when you die.”
Logan shook his head. “I don’t want the money.”
Kenneth grinned. “Then give me a million or two.”
“I don’t want control of Thorn Industries,” Logan said. “I’m not that type of guy.”
“What type of guy are you then?” Kenneth stared at his brother. “Your army days are over. It’s time to move on.”
Logan thumped the nearby desk with his right fist. “I don’t want to move on.” Emotion showed in his voice and he sat back down on the settee. He covered his face with his hands as he continued talking. “Leonard, Joshua, and Will were good guys. And so were the rest of the group. I don’t want their deaths to be in vain.”
Kenneth walked over and sat down. He put his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “It’s been three years. It’s time to move on. Besides, according to the letter, you don’t get full control of the company until Mr. Thorn passes away, and I doubt that’s going to be anytime soon.” He stood up. “Come on. I’m sure Lucy must be ready by now.”
Logan sighed and followed his brother out of the room and up the steps to the roof. They climbed into the helicopter. The blades swung round and round. As the machine rose in the air, another helicopter, this one black, touched down.
Logan looked down and saw Donald and Lucy walking across the roof toward the helicopter.
Kenneth tried to cover Logan’s eyes to prevent him from seeing Lucy. “It’s bad luck seeing the bride before the wedding.”
Logan pulled Kenneth’s hands away and stared down at his soon-to-be wife. She was gorgeous to look at. With long, blonde hair and an athletic figure from her days as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers, Logan thought that she was the most beautiful person alive. It wasn’t just that she was easy to look at, though he had often become mesmerized while staring into her stunning blue eyes; she also had a kind heart. As a nurse, she spent most of her evenings at the local hospital, cheering up the children by telling them jokes.
Logan smiled. “Relax. What could happen?”
“Uh, we could get a storm.” Kenneth glanced at the bay where the clouds had quickly built into a huge thunderstorm.
“How could a storm grow that quickly?” Logan asked, worried.
“I don’t know, but it’s coming this way,” Kenneth said.
Logan frowned. “They look like storm clouds, but something doesn’t seem right. It shouldn’t be developing that fast.”
Kenneth leaned forward and yelled at the pilot, “Let’s get going.”
The pilot nodded, and the helicopter turned toward the coast.
As the helicopter turned toward the coast, Logan glanced back and noted with satisfaction that the black helicopter was not far behind. He stared as he saw something exit the clouds. “What the hell …”
Logan looked on as he saw a sleek, black aircraft the length of three football fields emerge from the storm clouds. It was a triangular shape and looked futuristic and shiny and similar to a B-2 Stealth Bomber, but much larger.
It slowed down as it approached the city and then, for some reason, it stopped. A few moments later, two massive doors slid open.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Kenneth muttered.
A moment later, a number of smaller crafts glided out of the gaping hole. They were roughly the length of four helicopters and were circular in shape. A few seconds later, a rocket shot out of the main aircraft and hurtled toward San Francisco. It hit one of the tallest skyscrapers and, within seconds, the entire structure collapsed on itself.
As mini-mushroom clouds engulfed the city, Logan noticed one of the smaller crafts heading toward them. As it got closer, it opened fire, shooting a red energy bolt. The deadly energy whipped past his window, barely missing them.
Going as fast as they could, the helicopters headed away from the city, with the mysterious craft right behind them. As more red bolts passed, Logan realized that luck was against them.
As they flew over the Golden Gate Recreation Area, the mysterious craft released another rocket. It headed straight for Donald’s helicopter and smashed into the tail. The machine veered down and hurtled toward the ground.
“No!” Logan punched the roof. The wounded craft tried to pull up.
They had almost made it. Logan could only stare on as it slammed into the trees.
As the seconds passed, he wondered if there were any survivors. However, due to the pine trees, it was impossible to see. He was contemplating where their helicopter could land, when the crashed chopper exploded, showering fragments in every direction.
Logan wanted more than anything to land, but he knew that if they did, they’d suffer the same fate as the other helicopter. As long as they kept on moving from side to side, they stood a chance. He clapped the pilot’s shoulder. “Take her low through the city.”
Kenneth frowned. “But only a madman would attempt that.”
“The man’s right,” the pilot pointed out as he jinked the helicopter to the side to avoid another red bolt.
“If we don’t try something different, we are all going to die!” Logan shouted.
The pilot thought for a brief moment and then, seeing that their pursuers were not giving up the chase, reluctantly did as Logan suggested. He tilted the nose down and raced back across the Golden Gate Bridge and headed toward the skyscrapers that dotted the city, with the mysterious craft in pursuit.
Logan and Kenneth clutched onto their seats as the pilot ducked the helicopter between buildings. But red bolts still followed their every move. While none struck the aircraft directly, one of the rotor blades had been hit, and as the controls became harder to handle, the pilot glanced at Logan. “If we get hit again, that might be the end of us.”
Logan punched the side of the machine in frustration and anger as he gazed back at the mysterious craft. He had hoped that whoever was behind the controls would give up, but this clearly hadn’t happened.
Just like their helicopter, the small craft zigzagged between buildings, firing red bolts whenever it had a clear shot, which was a lot more frequently than Logan would have liked.
Suddenly, one of the red bolts hit the tail. As a beeping noise rang out and lights flashed, the pilot glanced back at the brothers. “Hang on, we’re going to crash.”
Logan and Kenneth held on tight as the helicopter veered toward the city streets. The pilot tried to avoid the line of vehicles that covered the entire stretch of road, but by doing so he crashed onto the sidewalk.
Glass shattered as the machine thundered through the shop window of a Chinese restaurant. Logan clambered out of the machine and then realized that the pilot hadn’t moved a muscle. So, with Kenneth by his side, the two of them helped carry the pilot out onto the sidewalk just as a red bolt tore toward them.
Logan flung himself to the ground as the helicopter exploded. Dazed and bruised, he staggered to his feet a few moments later, half expecting to see another re
d bolt tearing toward him.
But the mysterious craft was no longer in view. Confused, but thanking his lucky stars, Logan helped Kenneth to his feet and, together, they helped move the pilot away from the restaurant that was still burning fiercely.
As the three of them rested against the side of a car, they observed the sight in front of them. People were hurrying as fast as they could in every direction, while those in cars were stalled on the road due to the mass of traffic. It was ten times worse than peak hour in New York City.
Fires burned in a number of buildings, while gunshots rang out every minute or so. Emergency personnel were helping as many people as they could, but with red bolts striking the buildings and causing them to break apart, they were fighting a losing battle.
Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the red bolts stopped and the crafts disappeared from view. Logan gazed around, searching for a reason why the shooting had stopped.
“The military must have arrived,” Kenneth stated.
Logan shook his head. “I don’t think so. As tough as the military is, I don’t think it would scare away these creatures, whoever they are.”
“Well, there must be a reason why …” Kenneth paused as the sky was blotted out as the sleek, black aircraft they had seen earlier flew overhead. The side of the aircraft opened and a smaller one emerged.
Unlike the circular ones that had been firing red bolts, this craft was shaped like a glider. It moved much slower than the others as well, and as it descended toward the burning buildings, a computer-generated voice rang out.
“Welcome humans. We are Seods from the planet Dratimid. We came to Earth to get something, and when we do, we will leave. If you decide to fight, we will fight back. If you decide to be peaceful, we will be the same. Your fate is in your hands.”
As the glider flew to another part of the city, Kenneth looked at the others in disbelief. “What was all that about?”
