“Sure. That was the easy part. Now the real fun begins.”
As promised, there were large crowds gathered for the day’s events. They eventually found a parking lot with no one in sight then took turns changing in the backseat, while the other stood on the lookout for anyone who might wander by.
Grace stepped into the parking lot and made her first appearance to the world as Airman First Class Smith. She looked at herself in the car window to examine the tight bun in her hair. It looked perfect, just as Melissa had taught her.
“You look great,” Eddie said, from behind.
She took one last glance at herself in the window and then turned to him. “I do?” The compliment caused her pulse to beat faster.
“Absolutely. I’d believe you’re in the Air Force.”
She looked him up and down, in careful examination. He was stunning in Ian’s uniform. To complete the ensemble, Ian had given Eddie’s hair a short buzz cut, and Grace admitted to herself that he pulled the look off well.
She couldn’t tell him that he looked ‘hot’, so instead she said, “You’re nametag’s a little crooked. Here, let me adjust it.” She reached out, adjusted the nameplate, and then gave him a firm pat on the arm. In her manliest voice, she said, “There you go, Sergeant Martinez. You look good. Don’t forget your hat.”
“Thanks. I guess we might as well do this thing, huh?”
She let out a deep breath. “I guess so. It’s now or never.”
They got back in the car and followed Ian’s instructions until they located the building that housed the office of Colonel Davis. After they had exited the car and ensured that their hats appeared straight and proper, they strode toward the entrance.
Grace had been curious why Ian had possessed an Air Force uniform. He had explained that it had been a necessary disguise, for certain missions. “Martinez was the best name that they could come up with for you?” Grace had asked. She observed his red hair and freckles. “You don’t look much like a Martinez.”
“Well, people often believe what they read,” Ian had said. “If anyone ever noticed anything odd, they probably didn’t want to insult me.”
Luckily, Eddie did look like he could be named Martinez; at least that was one less concern. They had decided that Melissa’s last name, Smith, was generic enough so they wouldn’t have to worry about tracing the uniform back to her, if Grace should happen to be caught.
They located a directory board and saw that Colonel Davis’s office was located on the second floor. They rode the elevator up together, and when they stepped off, Eddie said, “I’ll be just a few steps behind you.”
“All right,” Grace said with a forced smile. She was acutely aware of each step as her dress shoes clicked on the shiny floor. She glanced over her shoulder once to make sure that Eddie still followed. He offered a smile of encouragement. At least he had her back.
It was Sunday, and very few people were working. She realized that any time she passed someone she held her breath in anxious anticipation. She didn’t want to obviously stare as she tried to observe the rank on each uniform but worried that she would neglect to salute an officer and get stopped for reprimand. Along the way, she received a few smiles and friendly nods, but no one stopped to question her presence. As she continued in the direction of Colonel Davis’s office, the conversation she’d had with Ian continued to play in her head.
“Colonel Davis is the main liaison between the IIA and the Air Force,” Ian had explained.
“The Air Force is also a part of the IIA?” Eddie had asked.
“They play a small role. The Air Force makes it their business to be involved with anything that has to do with aliens. If the IIA discovers a genetic link between Star Children and extraterrestrials, the Air Force wants to be the first to know. So, they’ve made a point to make themselves a part of the IIA. In turn, the IIA gets unlimited access to the secret underground tunnel system.
“Secret, underground, tunnel system?” Grace questioned.
“Yep, it branches off in several directions. One of the main branches spans from Edwards Air Force Base to Area 51.”
“You’re serious?” Eddie asked. “Area 51? That’s not where we’re going is it?”
“No, but the tunnel has several branches that lead to a variety of locations. You’ll start off in the main tunnel that leads north, toward Area 51, but then you’ll branch off and head east. That’s where the main IIA office is located, about forty miles northeast of the base.”
“There’s a tunnel that runs for forty miles?” Eddie asked.
“That’s nothing. The tunnel from Edwards Air Force Base to Area 51 is about three hundred miles or so.”
“How have they managed to keep it a secret?”
“Just like any other military secrets, there have been some leaks and rumors, but they’ve always been negated. The military claims that the tunnels are just stories. It’s been said that the tunnels couldn’t possibly exist because a tunnel of that extreme length wouldn’t have enough air ventilation.”
“That’s right though, isn’t it? How do they have enough air?”
“There are several substations and outlets along the way through various other military and government installations. Some are through secret tunnels and caves in the desert. The IIA offices are an example of one the stops.”
“Why can’t we just go straight to the IIA office?” Grace asked. “Wouldn’t it save a step?”
“You wouldn’t be allowed in, especially without identification. Security is tight, and military personnel never come through the front gate. The military doesn’t want anyone to know that they have ties or connections with the IIA. If you arrive in uniform through the tunnel, no one should question your presence. Of course, there’s always the possibility that a tracker could be there and might recognize you, so try your best to stay unseen.”
The plan was simple—in theory. Inside Colonel Davis’s office, inside of a locked cabinet, was a special IIA pass that would allow them access into the guarded tunnel entrance. Ian had explained that Colonel Davis never worked on Sundays, and his secretary usually didn’t either. As a cover, Grace carried a plastic garment bag with uniforms. If questioned to explain her presence, she would say that she had been asked to deliver his dry cleaning. Eddie followed at a distance, just in case someone happened to be there. Grace would be able to explain her presence, but it didn’t take two people to deliver dry cleaning. If the Colonel’s secretary was there, Grace would draw her away, so that Eddie could gain access.
When they rounded the corner, they were pleased to discover that the Colonel’s office waited in darkness. They glanced up and down the hall, but it remained vacant. Grace tried the door and discovered that it was locked as expected. She stepped aside, and Eddie placed his hand on the doorknob. A few moments later, the doorknob easily turned, and they were allowed access inside.
After Eddie quietly closed the door, behind them, Grace smiled in admiration and whispered, “That was amazing!”
They made their way through the first room, past the secretary’s desk, and entered a second room. On the door was a gold engraved nameplate that proclaimed it to be Colonel Davis’s office. They left the lights out; the sunlight that shone through the window provided enough light. A large desk in the middle of the room showcased several framed pictures of a woman and teenage children, whom she assumed to be the Colonel’s family. They skirted the desk and continued toward a tall, metal wall cabinet with two doors.
When Eddie jiggled the handle, he found it to be locked as well. Grace watched with fascination as he effortlessly opened it. There were four IIA badges hanging on lanyards from a hook on the inside of the door. Eddie removed two and handed one to Grace. She placed it around her neck and then tucked it under her shirt so that it would remain undetected. They wouldn’t have an opportunity to return to the Colonel’s office, and Grace hoped that he wouldn’t notice the absence of the badges anytime soon.
After Eddie close
d the cabinet door, he held his hand over the handle once more and then checked to make sure that it was locked. He made sure to relock the office door as well, and then they retraced their footsteps down the hall.
Grace stopped at the first restroom they came to and left the garment bag hanging on a hook, in a bathroom stall. She looked in the bathroom mirror, to see if anything about her appearance looked out of the ordinary, but she had to admit that she did look the part. She patted her bun to make sure that she didn’t have any hairs dangling out of place and then turned for the door to meet Eddie and begin the next round of their adventure.
*****
After a few wrong turns and a couple of stops to look at the map, they arrived to the north side of a dry lake bed located in the southwest corner within the base boundaries. From a distance they could see small airplanes land and take off. The lake bed appeared to house a small airport. Ian had explained that certain government officials and various other dignitaries, who wanted to keep their arrivals anonymous, were given special permission to fly in. The lake bed provided more anonymity than the more public and visual area of the runways on the main part of the base.
They located the small, lone garage. Just as Ian had described, a few military vehicles were randomly parked around its perimeter. A man in camouflage sat in a metal folding chair next to the front door. With a coffee cup in hand, he casually flipped through a magazine and appeared to be on break, but Grace knew better. Ian had explained that this building was guarded twenty-four hours a day. Inside, she knew they would find at least one more guard, who would hopefully grant access to the elevator that would lead to the masked tunnel below.
Grace was thankful that, in their pretense of uniforms, Eddie outranked her. As Technical Sergeant, he would naturally explain the purpose of their visit, and she, as an Airman First Class, would hopefully nod and smile and follow quietly behind.
The guard closed his magazine and eyed them closely, as they neared the building. Grace held her head high and strode forward with what she hoped was a confident look that said she had every reason to be there.
“Good morning,” Eddie said. He pulled out his IIA badge and held it up for the guard to examine. Grace noticed the guard’s rank and quickly joggled her memory of Ian’s rank identification lesson. The guard was a Staff Sergeant, which was one rank below Eddie. This could be a good sign; it would hopefully mean that he wouldn’t question Eddie’s presence.
“Morning,” the guard replied. He set his magazine on the folding chair and examined the badge closely. “You’re new?”
Eddie glanced casually at Grace and nodded with a smile. “That’s right. Just transferred from Nellis, about a month ago. I’m working under Colonel Davis.”
At hearing the Colonel’s name, the guard seemed to relax slightly and turned to Grace. “You new around here, too?”
Thankful that they had role-played various scenarios on the drive from Roswell, she was prepared for the questioning. “Oh no, I’ve been here since basic.”
She noticed the guard eye the rank on her uniform. “You plan on going in, too?” he asked warily. “We don’t usually get many visitors through here.”
Grace showed the guard her badge and was thankful when Eddie spoke for her.
“She’s been assigned to me. Colonel Davis has some business he needs me to attend to, and I’ve brought her along to type up some documents once we get to our destination.”
The guard’s aura had begun to show signs of suspicion. It was time to turn on the charm. She focused on his energy while Eddie continued to talk. When his aura brightened, she smiled sweetly and said, “You must get awfully bored sitting out here by yourself all day, Sergeant.”
The guard looked at her and she was relieved when he smiled. “You’re right. It does get pretty boring. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to when we get visitors through here.”
“Well, good. Then you’ll have something to look forward to when we return.”
“I will definitely look forward to that. When you go inside, you’ll want to head to the back of the building. Sergeant McDaniel will ask you to sign in. Make sure you have your badges ready to show.”
The guard picked up his walkie-talkie and said, “McDaniel, I’ve got a couple of visitors for you.” He was answered by a buzz and a click at the door. “Go ahead. He’ll be waiting.”
She followed Eddie into a large garage. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust from the sunlight to the dim lighting. Once she could see again, she noticed that the room was fairly bare. There was a tall, red toolbox, some stacked tires, and three Humvees parked within. Ian had said that the garage had to be presentable as a working repair shop, in case of any surprise inspections by uninvited guests. She suspected that the Humvees were present, just for show.
The clicking of her dress shoes on the cement floor seemed to echo throughout the metal building and up to the tall, tin roof above. It was a good thing that they weren’t sneaking in, because Sergeant McDaniel could surely hear their approach.
He stood beside a small table and folding chair and examined an expansive terrain map of the base that covered approximately ten feet of wall space and reached about seven feet tall. Grace guessed that his examination of the local topography was merely feigned interest so that he could gauge their approach, without appearing anxious.
When the sounds of their footsteps neared, he turned to greet them with a frown and a stern voice. “How can I help you?” He appeared to be in his early fifties. A few inches shorter than Grace, he had a stout but muscular build and a short mustache. His beady eyes seemed to judge their every move. His suspicion of their presence was obvious, and she worried that it might prove more difficult to charm their way past him.
“We have a pass from Colonel Davis,” Eddie explained. He held out the badge, and Grace did the same. Sergeant McDaniel took his time and examined each badge with care. Then he picked up a small gadget that looked like a retail scanner and scanned the back of each one.
Grace held her breath in anticipation, but they seemed to have passed the guard’s test. “Go ahead and sign in,” he said. “Make sure you notate the correct date and exact time.”
She signed her name—or rather Airman First Class Smith’s name—below Eddie’s signature, noting the time from a small digital clock that hung on the wall, above the table.
“Where are you headed today?” McDaniel asked.
Ian had made sure to run them through this part of the charade several times until they knew it by heart. Any alteration in the order of their words and not only would they not be admitted, but several armed men would burst through the doors to question them and take them into custody.
“We’re on our way to Disneyland for the day,” Eddie told him.
“Very good, Sergeant. Have a good trip.” McDaniel pressed a small, obscure button located beside the map. The wall and map slid sideways and exposed a large door. The sergeant then pushed another button, and the door silently slid open to reveal an elevator big enough for a vehicle, an elevator that offered admittance to the unknown world below.
Eddie and Grace stepped in simultaneously. There was only one button. The door slid silently closed after Eddie pushed it, and she felt the elevator slowly descend. She glanced discreetly at one of two cameras mounted on the ceiling and waited impatiently to reach the bottom. Claustrophobia started to set in, and she grew anxious for the door to reopen. It occurred to her that the telepathic abilities shared by Tyler and Liliana would be a useful gift at the moment. She wanted to talk to Eddie but knew that their every word would be monitored, so they stood side by side, in silence. If the IIA ever reviewed the video footage from the elevator, they would be instantly recognized, but hopefully, their mission would be accomplished before then, and the discovery of their intrusion into the tunnel would be of no consequence.
“We’re going to Disneyland?” she had asked Ian with a chuckle when he had explained the password.
“Yep,�
�� he’d replied. “Every destination within the tunnel requires a different password. If you’re going to Area 51, you say that you’re going to visit some friends from Mexico.”
“Mexico?”
“Sure. The big talk these days is about illegal aliens venturing into the U.S. from Mexico. If you’re going to Area 51, you’re going to see aliens. It’s their idea at a sense of humor.”
“Nice.” Grace had chuckled and shook her head. “So what’s the meaning behind Disneyland?”
“IIA is for Indigo Children. Children go to Disneyland.”
“Hmmm, creative.”
“Yeah, well, at least it makes it easy to remember. Every destination has a password that sort of makes sense. If you travel to multiple destinations, frequently, you don’t want to get the passwords confused.”
“Well, now at least I’ll be prepared if I want to visit Area 51, anytime soon,” Grace had joked.
When the elevator touched bottom, a door opposite the side they had entered slid open. They stepped out onto well packed dirt and looked around. They found themselves standing in a tunnel that was about twelve feet wide and ten feet tall. The fluorescent lights that lined the ceiling, about every ten feet buzzed slightly. Thankfully, there was no one in sight.
As expected, they found three electric golf carts parked and waiting. They picked the first one and climbed in. Safe out of the eyes and ears of the elevator, Eddie turned to her and said, “That was nice back there. What you did with the guard outside, I mean. I could sense that he suspected something unusual about us, and you…you did something, didn’t you? I recognized it, because I’ve done that trick myself. You tapped into his energy to convince him to let us through?”
Grace grinned. “You're not the only one around here with a few talents.”
“I can see that.” Eddie smiled in return, and inwardly Grace jumped for joy. She had been sitting idly by the last few days as she had hopelessly watched Eddie pine after Sarah. Now that they were alone, she hoped that he might finally notice her.
He turned the key and pulled the map and directions out of his pocket. The tunnel ran in two directions. After double-checking the map, he handed it to Grace and headed the golf cart in the direction they hoped would lead them to the IIA facility.
Indigo Incite (The Indigo Trilogy) Page 20
