It was no secret that their species lived to eat. With a metabolic rate double or triple that of most similarly sized species, the Wikk possessed a physiology that required near-constant feeding. They were voracious, insatiable. Numerous worlds within the galaxy had already been conquered—the sole purpose of each conquest was to supply future sustenance for the Wikk’s ravenous appetite back on their home planet, Wikkam. For these explorers, conquering new worlds provided indefinitely producing food farms for their masses, which by now measured in the trillions. She suspected it was not so different from the way humans maintained their farms on Earth, for the breeding of cattle, swine or fowl. The goal was not extermination, but an organized, sustainable subjugation.
As with all assignments, Prime had spent time en route learning more about the species she would be interacting with. She’d studied past drone reports. Had learned that humans were a selfish organism, oblivious to the catastrophic damage they were precipitating to their own world. Not so different from others in the universe. The Wikk would be the best thing to happen to this mess of a planet. The Wikk were saviors. They would put the humans where they belonged.
Prime had learned that her insectile race resembled, strictly for comparison reasons, a small insect species on Earth, Mantis Religiosa, commonly known as the Praying Mantis. So, so similar, she mused. She made a mental note to capture several of these small, wonderful creatures. What a unique gift for her young offspring back on Wickham.
Of course, there were many differences. The adult Wikk, standing erect, was greater in height than the average human, ranging from six-foot-five to seven-foot-five. Although, some Wikk were much, much, larger. The Wikk were a winged species, yet, typically, could not fly. And they possessed seven, not six, appendages. One, dedicated to the organism’s capacity to outwardly communicate, strummed a series of small, hair-like villi upon the sternum, whereby a broad range of musical chords could become audible. The Wikk literally communicated through a selected emergence of musical vibrations. She wondered how the Praying Mantis communicated.
Similarly, they both had hard exoskeletal outer surfaces. The Wikk were superior creatures to most, she thought, recounting their countless infiltrations of alien worlds. Her kind were uniquely robust—hard to kill, even with energy-based weaponry. And their physiology’s sturdiness made them highly adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions. In an odd similarity to these barbaric humans, the Wikk too breathed air primarily comprised of nitrogen and oxygen—the chief elements found on Earth. However, the Wikk’s superior constitution could also adapt to an atmosphere containing higher levels of methane, argon, or hydrogen—given time, they could adapt to almost any chemical elements they encountered.
Her attention was now back on the view screen. Her compound eyes scanned those placid, obtuse faces. She’d learned that this species had once hunted and foraged for food—but had become fat and lazy over time. They had lost what little capacity they had for true primal survival many centuries past. Were the Wikk, with their growing number of interstellar food farms, in jeopardy of making the same mistake?
She shook her head. No, the Wikk were not like these humans. The Wikk were still magnificent hunters. She thought lovingly of the hunt. With remarkably fast-moving appendages, their intended quarry typically had no time to react, let alone escape. Two darting, forward-extended legs could get a solid hold on any desired prey within one-tenth of a second. Notably, a Wikk’s head was two-and-a-half times the size of an average human’s, with a mouth that always appeared to be smiling—one that was remarkably elastic. Feeding took place immediately upon capture. The Wikk preferred to dine on prey still alive and kicking.
Although she would never outwardly admit it, if there was one major flaw to the Wikk physiology, as a whole. their kind were not particularly great, independent thinkers. Of course, the Wikk had superior intelligence—a highly evolved ability to calculate and remember things—but perhaps they lacked certain creativity that other species (yes, even these bumbling humans) maintained.
She, Commander Prime Strength, had been bred for this command. Wikkam society had honored her with the responsibility to lead the crew of the Dominate. Nearly two miles in length, it was a fine vessel. And it was now, thankfully, almost full. She’d collected an assortment of species from around the cosmos. Now, after this final mission, it was time to return to Wikkam. She was tired and glad that most of the ship’s holding pens were occupied.
Prime left the ship’s bridge to stretch out her six legs—get the blood flowing and moving. This voyage had been long and full of challenges. It took her close to twenty minutes to reach the lower decks. Now, as she walked along the high, narrow catwalks, she peered down below, gazing into one holding pen after another, at a variety of different species. Unconsciously, drool had begun to seep out her always-smiling chops. She stopped—looked down over the metal railing—and stared into a pen holding seventy or eighty naked humanoids. Hmmm, yes, perhaps a quick snack before returning to the bridge . . .
Chapter 16
Officer Lori Tedesco
Lori tried to swallow. Her throat was as dry as the Sahara. There he was, stepping out on all fours, upon spindly legs that were hinged all wrong—divergent, somehow, from how they should be. He wore a silver uniform like Dominic’s, and now fully out of the spacecraft, was standing on his hind legs.
Dominic smiled and gestured for the alien to come closer and stand next to him. “I’d like to introduce you to Hannig. He is my friend. I hope he can be your friend, too. He is gentle, I assure you, and in no way is here to harm anyone.”
Georgina looked tongue-tied. Although her lips parted, no words came out.
Dominic said, “Hannig, this is my wife, Anna, and that’s my daughter over there, hiding behind my mother-in-law. You can call her Nonna. This is my boss, Georgina Middleton, and this is Officer Lori Tedesco.”
Lori said, “Okay, this is beyond weird. Never thought I’d be introduced like this to someone from another planet.” She looked to Dominic. “So you’re telling us, out of the seven billion souls here on Earth, he chose you to befriend?”
Dominic shrugged and turned to Hannig. “Um, you want to say something?”
Lori continued to study the alien’s heavily creased face. She was reminded of a puppy she had as a kid—a Shar Pei, a Chinese breed of dog that had a similarly smushed and wrinkled visage. Hannig’s eyes, though, were very much human-like. There appeared to be a kindness there.
“Thank you for not shooting me,” the alien began in perfect English. “As Dominic mentioned, my name is Hannig. I am from a far-distant world, called Khantam Lom. Please believe me when I say I pose no danger to you, nor anyone else. I am here as an observer. An observer who had fully intended to remain out of view, to not interfere.”
“So how’s that working for you, honey?” Georgina said wryly.
Hannig smiled—a smile that reached into his eyes. But then the alien went serious. “I have chosen to . . . help. Although, I am sorry to say, it may be too late for that.”
“You’re speaking of the other ship? Out there in space?” Lori said. “So they are not friendly. They mean to do us harm? Us humans?”
“Oh yes, they are a most despicable species.”
“Why are they here? What do they want?” Georgina asked.
Hannig looked reluctant to answer. “To conquer. To acquire samples.”
“What kind of samples . . . geological? Atmospheric?” Lori asked, already knowing her question was off the mark.
“Human samples,” Hannig said. “The Wikk, that is their name, have a, um, taste for humanoid flesh.”
Lori exchanged foreboding glances with the others. Anna, who up to now had been quiet as a mouse, said, “You’re fucking kidding us, right? They’re here to . . . eat us?” Realizing what she’d said aloud, she looked sympathetically over to Valentina. The little girl didn’t react, didn’t squirm. Lori suspected she was far more like her father than her mother.
“Yes, probably sent drones ahead. But that is not how they know of humans . . . On other worlds, similar to Earth, humanoids thrive. Many, if not most of those worlds, have already been invaded by the Wikk.”
“And will more ships like that one be coming?” Lori asked.
“Oh yes. Many more. A fleet of Wikk ships.”
“And your people, the um, Khant . . .”
“Khantam Lom,” Hannig said. “This particular section of space, well, it is at the farthest reaches of our territory. Understand, we protect our territory by staying technologically more advanced than our closest neighbors. But our resources are not unlimited. Determinations need to be made as to who will or will not receive our help.”
“What kind of determinations?” Georgina said, a definitive edge to her voice.
“Determinations of worthiness. Please do not take offense, but humans are a violent people. Squabbles often turn to outright war here. Killing is condoned for political reasons. You justify mass killings yourselves to put food on your dinner tables. In the eyes of my superiors, Humans and Wikk are not so dissimilar.”
“Then why do you want to help us?” Lori asked.
This time, Dominic chimed in. “He’s come to realize we’re not all ruthless and barbaric. That there’s still hope for humankind.”
Hannig seemed to weigh what Dominic had said, and then slowly nodded.
“Well, we need to get you and this spacecraft of yours to our government. I can call my supervisor, get things rolling—”
Dominic interrupted. “Officer Tedesco—”
“Call me Lori.”
“Okay, Lori, that’s exactly what I proposed. That is, until I thought it through. No one’s going to believe Hannig is here to help us . . . it’ll be assumed, right off the bat, that he’s one of them, a Wikk. He’ll be thrown into a lab, poked and prodded—his ship will be disassembled.”
She splayed her open palms apologetically. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m sorry, Hannig, but—”
Dominic interrupted. “But we have no time. No time for things to get ironed out. The Wikk are on their way, and fast. Look, there’s no one that’s going to help us. Not in time, anyway.”
“So what other options are there? You think just because Hannig here has loaned you one of his shiny little costumes, you can fight the bad aliens all on your own?”
“Dommy’s a bit of a war hero, young lady,” Georgina said, coming to his defense. “But I like your moxie.”
“No, not all on my own,” Dominic said, staring defiantly at Lori.
She didn’t like where this was going. “No. No way . . .”
“Hold on Missy, let’s hear the boy out,” Georgina said.
Dominic stepped closer to the window. He raised his chin to the bleak skies outside. “Soon, the police and National Guard will be stretched to their limits. Militaries around the globe are rallying their forces for that approaching ship. It’ll be us or no one. And there’s a few others I’d like to reach out to.”
“You’re talking about your mob shmucks,” Anna spat.
“Wait . . . you’re serious? You want to go up against that ship up there? And do so with a gang of hoodlums?” Lori glowered at Dominic, who was shaking his head.
“Not just my hoodlum friends. You and Georgina know about this now—you might as well join. Unless you’d rather sit this one out. It’ll be dangerous.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Lori said, knowing perfectly well when she was being manipulated. She looked at the spaceship. Its appearance was remarkable, but it seemed kind of small—though the edges of what she could see faded into a kind of shimmery invisibility toward the walls of the room. Perhaps it was much larger than it appeared. She put her next question to Hannig. “What kind of weapons does this ship have?
“Weapons?” Hannig repeated.
Lori, biting her lower lip, couldn’t help but laugh. “This is crazy. You know that this is crazy, right?”
“Well, count me in,” Georgina said. “This is my planet, and my city. And I own a small part of it. You want a bad-ass middle-aged woman’s help to fight a bunch of carnivorous ETs, well, I’m your gal.”
Hannig appraised Georgina with an expression that was somewhere between skepticism and awe.
“I still don’t see how you expect a small band of humans to do any real damage to those aliens,” Lori said to no one in particular.
“And neither will they . . .” Dominic said.
She didn’t want to smile. Hell, she didn’t want to even look at him, those dimples, those big brown eyes. And boy, was he in shape. She needed to get a grip. Shit, the man’s wife and child were right here.
“So, tell me what you want me to do,” she said, already regretting her words.
Chapter 17
Dominic Moretti
I knew I was asking a lot of my boss and also of this young cop. To trust me, to blindly go along with what was clearly a hare-brained scheme.
“You want me to just up and walk out on my job? A job where people are counting on me, and other cops, too?” Lori asked.
Before I could answer, Georgina said, “Hey, no one’s forcing you to do anything. But someday, when you’re being marched to slaughter by these alien invaders, wondering how you got there, you’ll remember, and think back, ‘Oh yeah, I was too afraid to take a chance. To do the right thing.’”
“That’s bullshit, lady! You’re not going to guilt me into making such an important decision.”
But I saw conflict in Lori’s eyes. Clearly, she was wrestling with what was best to do. I hugged Anna and gave her a kiss on her forehead. “I hope we can talk more when I get back.”
She hugged me tight and murmured into my chest, “You need to know, Dommy. I truly love you. But what we had . . . it’s over now. I’m sorry.” She looked up, tears in her eyes.
“And Val?”
“She will always be your daughter. We’ll work all of that out . . . But Dommy . . . I admire that you always do what you think is right. That you care so much. I really do. But you’re also so damn reckless. I know what you’re doing is trying to fix things, to make a better world for everyone, for our daughter. But are you thinking about how you’ll likely just be creating a world without you in it?”
“I have to try. I’ve never been a ‘wait-on-the-sidelines’-type person. You know that, Anna. But I promise you this: Nothing is more important to me than to come back here, for my little girl.” There was real conviction in my voice, but truth was, I had my doubts I’d ever see my wife and child again. I strode over to Nonna and my daughter.
“You really doing this?” Nonna asked, looking both angry and perplexed. “You going with this strange . . . facciabrutt?” she asked, using the Italian slang word for ‘ugly face’ as she glanced toward Hannig.
I gave Nonna a peck on the cheek in response.
My little Val, still standing behind her grandmother, did not look happy. “Can you take me with you, Daddy?”
“Sorry, baby girl, but you need to stay here with Momma and Nonna. They would miss you way too much.” I picked her up and hugged her tight. “You be a good girl.” I held her away from me so I could better see her face—I wanted to rememorize every detail before I left—but I found she was looking at Hannig and not at me.
“Hannig is a good alien?”
“Yeah, he’s good.”
“And you’re going to stop the bad aliens?”
“That’s right.”
“You and your boss?”
I pivoted both of us around to better look at Georgina. “Yeah, she’s going with us.”
“But the police lady? She doesn’t want to help . . .”
“I don’t know, Val.”
Lori made a face. “Fine! I’m going. God, it’s like a conspiracy in here.”
I kissed my little girl, then set her down next to her Nonna.
“Maybe I sho
uld call in first, though . . . let dispatch know I’ll be 10-7, out of service for a while,” Lori said, looking introspective. “Although if I do that, there’s a good chance I won’t have a job when I get back. If I get back.”
“Christ, we don’t need to know your every little thought, girlie,” Georgina said. “Next, you’ll be asking permission to go wee-wee.”
“Oh, screw you, you red heifer,” Lori retorted back, with a glare that could have melted steel. She glanced over at Hannig, then toward the spaceship. “So are we actually going to do this, or just stand around and chitchat all day?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But first you both need to knock it off. Deal with whatever it is that’s going on between the two of you.”
Georgina smiled innocently, while Lori just looked impatient to get going.
Hannig’s demeanor was hard to read, yet it seemed as though he was somehow enjoying the tense situation, studying it. He motioned for us to follow behind him. “Come, let me show you my Watcher Craft.” Down on all fours again, he disappeared into the open hatchway at the rear of the vessel.
Tentatively, Lori followed right behind him, but not before casting a sneer back in Georgina’s direction. Georgina followed after her, and I brought up the rear.
I could hear Hannig’s voice up ahead, explaining things to the two women in front of me. Much of it I’d already heard. And as badly as I wanted to tell the alien to just get us out of here, get us moving, I knew both women would be far better off in the long run being as informed as possible about what they were dealing with. This adventure would be like nothing any of us had ever experienced, and I knew both of them were scared shitless. Hell, I was too.
Soon we were all standing within the forward section of the craft, and Hannig was back at the controls. He’d reoriented the ship, so the compartment now faced the apartment, visible. I took the opportunity to glance through the large portal window at Anna, who was holding Val in her arms. I smiled and waved. Both waved back. My new heart ached. At the present moment, there was little certainty in my life—except for the fact I had just lost my wife. That and the fact that I may never see them, see these two people, the most important in my life, ever again.
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