“No, but it’s much more dangerous out there than in here,” he said, and pointed to the road they had followed into the camp. “We attacked one of the alien bunkers and now we are preparing for their retaliation.” The General turned toward the control building and put his hands on his hips, “Given what they have done so far, they are certain to attack and we will be prepared.” He put his arms down, “I have to get back to work. I’ll see you all soon.”
The General walked away and a few people followed him. From the crowd, four people emerged and stepped toward the group. Ethen tapped Ben on the shoulder, “Guess who you’re with. Follow me.”
DAY 26
ONE WEEK PRIOR TO ATTACK
THE ELLIPSE
The Ellipse was firmly settled in orbit. The computer system calculated the feasibility of life on the planet and declared it as viable for the Syrsyrian race. The first step of Phase One was complete. The second step was to release essential Syrsyrians from their blue vats. The first members freed from their long slumber were the engineers. Originally, their initial task was to perform secondary checks to ensure the computer’s assessment was correct.
But these were not the same Syrsyrians that had escaped their dying star. These were Syrsyrians that had been replaced with the nanocytes and had a different set of tasks to perform. One of them approached the computer interface and issued the command Release Syrsyrian Omega. Upon verification of the command, the computer unlocked Omega from its blue vat.
The blue liquid burst from the vat and fell into grating in the floor. The grates were designed to capture excess liquid and recycle the nanocytes. Omega’s body, on the other hand, was gently craned to the floor. The being labored to take its first breath as it had been almost half a millennium since it last used its lungs. The nanocyte brain had never needed to take a breath, but similar to an infant, it figured it out.
Omega’s muscles were weak. Even though the nanocytes had replaced the muscle tissue, the movements were foreign to the brain. After falling a few times, its body was able to stand. It cautiously took a step and then another. It was slow and cumbersome but after a few tentative steps, Omega was able to stride.
One of the engineers approached Omega and was grabbed by Omega’s claw. Omega began to speak to it through the nanocytes.
Where is the information? Omega demanded.
It is ahead. The engineer replied.
Take me to it.
The engineer had better eyesight than Omega. It led Omega to the computer interface and Omega wrapped its claws around it.
Information. Omega demanded from the computer.
Access denied. The computer responded
Omega’s disposition showed frustration as it did not get what it wanted. Omega grabbed the engineer.
You get information.
The engineer grabbed the interface and started to receive the information about Earth. Through the nanocytes, the information transferred from the engineer to Omega. The computer had accessed and translated all of the languages of Earth. The history of the Syrsyrians was also passed to Omega. Every intricate detail about the spaceship was now known by the new leader of the Syrsyrians. Omega’s commands became more refined.
Set total access for Omega.
The engineer granted Omega full access and once Omega knew the process was complete, it threw the engineer to the side. Omega began to interface with the computer without a proxy.
Likelihood of conquest.
Omega probed the computer analysis of Earth. In the brief time that it transferred the information from the engineer, it already knew that the greatest resistance to conquest would be the humans.
Calculating… the computer was figuring out the odds …67%.
Through the information it demanded, Omega knew that those odds were good and that the probability of finding another habitable planet after being in orbit around Earth was nearly impossible.
Initiate Phase One? Awaiting command.
Omega was going to start Phase One but wanted to include its own directive into the programming. Omega knew that the Syrsyrians were limited in number and wanted to expand its brood.
Change to Phase One directive. Assimilate humans using nanocytes. Eliminate humans that oppose assimilation.
The computer responded.
Confirm directive change for Phase One?
Omega did not want it just for Phase One but for all of the phases. Omega verified the change of directive for all phases. The computer acknowledged but came back with a denial.
Error. It is not possible to assimilate humans with nanocytes. There is no medium known for assimilation.
Omega, once again, changed the directive.
Find medium for human assimilation, then assimilate all humans for all phases.
The computer reviewed the change in directive and asked for confirmation again. Omega verified the change in directive. This time the computer accepted the change.
Change in directive accepted. Initiate Phase One?
The computer asked for confirmation. Omega was satisfied with the changes and confirmed the commencement of Phase One.
The computer started by opening several blue vats. Each Syrsyrian came out the same way as Omega. With difficulty breathing and even more difficult first steps, the Phase One participants were prepared for their tasking.
Omega tasked each one of the newly freed Syrsyrians either directly or by a secondary body giving the order. The Phase One attackers and defenders located the launchers that they were assigned. The launchers held the bunkers that would be used to eliminate, or now, assimilate the threats on the Earth, the humans. These bunkers would be able to recharge the nanocytes in each of the attackers and would also be able to implant the nanocytes into any captured human.
After the launch of Phase One, every bunker would make continual reports to the Ellipse. Omega would take all of that information and update new directives to the ground forces. Omega would decide when the next phases launched. The Syrsyrians were one collective mind serving one figure. The takeover of the nanocytes made the process easy for the queen.
DAY 282
BARRON THE MEDIC
CAMP PHOENIX
Barron was approached by a man in a laboratory coat. He was fit, not the thick glasses, pocket protector type. He had a nametag that was written in marker, “Joel.” He walked up to Barron and extended his hand, “I’m sorry, what is your name?” Joel asked. Barron thought that this was probably not a stellar introduction.
“Barron, my name is Barron,” he said. He looked at Joel’s nametag and then looked him in the eyes, “Joel.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not good with names. Or faces. But I have my strengths,” Joel apologized.
Barron was going to ask but thought it better not to do so, “No problem,” was the least insulting thing that came to mind. “So I guess you’re here to show me the ropes, huh? Strap a gun on me or have me wait in a truck for casualties.” Memories of his first days in the Avalon Militia were filling his thoughts. Joel pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.
“No, actually, I’m to show you to your desk and bring you to your files,” he told Barron. No guns, no military service, Barron was confused.
“My files, what do you have on me? Are you setting me up?” Barron asked. Joel handed him the sheet of paper and Barron unfolded it.
He read the header of the sheet:
In the case of Survivor of AB-103, the subject has been verified as ‘modified’ by the alien experimentation. Indications show that the subject is consistent with levels shown by other…
Barron skipped down to the bottom:
The following individuals will test, assess, and provide preventative care of the subject until termination is necessary or death:
Signed
Dr. F. Q. McCluskey, III
Asst. Barron R. Johnson
Barron’s mouth opened as he read. Mac had been very intentional about including him with Maddie and had told him there were other
vested parties. Barron realized that Mac didn’t want there to be an information gap just in case something happened. Barron was Mac’s backup plan.
Joel held out his hand and Barron gave him the paper. “So then, where am I supposed to go and what am I supposed to do?” Barron asked. Joel tucked the paper back into his pocket.
“I’ll take you to the third level and get you set up, show you around the place, and take you to intakes so you can monitor your subject,” Joel answered, and headed for the building as Barron followed.
“Maddie, you should call her Maddie. Trust me, she doesn’t like being called other names,” Barron said.
“You’ll have to write that down in your reports. You’re missing quite a few days and need to catch up,” Joel informed him.
Barron approached his desk on the third level. There was a medical coat hanging on the back of his chair. He picked it up and looked at the nametag attached to it. The name “Sam” was crossed out with three lines from a black grease pencil and “Barron” was written in small letters underneath.
“What happened to Sam?” Barron asked Joel. Joel shook his head and let out a long breath.
“Sam was another monitor. His subject was too far gone and his body was taken over by the cells in his blood, what we call ‘Specs.’ His subject turned violent and killed Sam during testing,” Joel said. The thought of Maddie killing him made Barron shiver.
“What did you do with the subject?” he asked. Joel walked to another door and opened it.
“This is where his remains are. We had to stop him before he killed someone else,” Joel said. Barron looked inside and saw various body parts stored in freezers with glass doors.
“This has happened more than once?” he asked when he saw several hands in one of the freezers. Joel moved back and closed the door.
“A few times, but most of the parts were recovered from other bunkers. They are charred and mostly unusable for Spec research,” he said.
Joel walked Barron back to his desk and pointed at the pen and paper. “Please catch up on your subject’s history. She’ll be doing her intake shortly and you need to observe it. She’ll be coming in there.” Joel pointed through a glass panel to the room next to them. “And welcome Barron, we’re glad to have you here, especially since we’re shorthanded.” Joel went to the intake room and Barron started writing.
Barron began to make his first notes. Subject’s name is Madison Sharrow and then he stopped. On the one hand, he felt honored that Mac had wanted him to continue to monitor Maddie. But one thing that he had read in the letter bothered him. Until termination is necessary resonated through his mind. The thought of the Specs taking over Maddie and making her a killer bothered him. She was already showing tendencies toward violence. Maybe she was like that before, but he assumed that the Specs were changing her.
His thoughts quickly dissipated when Maddie walked into the other room. He stood up and watched her through the glass panel as a man and another girl accompanied her. The other girl pointed at him and he went white as Maddie stormed up to the glass. She knocked on the glass and mouthed something to him he could not make out. She turned back to join the couple and Joel started to give her a physical.
Once Joel had completed the physical, Maddie and her companions left. Maddie looked again at Barron and he felt her stare burning through his chest. He went back to his desk and started writing again. He couldn’t humanize her if he was supposed to monitor her. The subject has continued to show streaks of violence to those around her. Barron wrote one more sentence and the door behind him opened.
“Joel, I’ll never catch up if I keep getting interrupted every time I begin to write,” Barron called. A different voice came from behind him. It was a woman’s voice with a deep southern drawl. The voice was the sweetest, sexiest voice that he had heard since, ever.
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I see him,” she said. Barron turned around to see who it was. His swivel chair stopped and he saw a beautiful woman dressed like any other monitor, but she made it look good. He scanned from her face to her feet and back to her face. He was left speechless at the sight of this beauty. His mouth opened as he stared at her. “I’m Dr. Snodgrass and I am your supervisor,” the woman snapped.
DAY 282
WILL OR QUILL EASTON?
CAMP PHOENIX
Will heard the General say that they were preparing for retaliation. This was the cue that aliens, Grapplers, Trolls, or whatever were going to attack. His heart started to beat fast and deep. He felt the urge to swallow but couldn’t. He wiped his brow as sweat started to form. His head jerked to the side and then his body began to relax. His shoulders were slumped over and his docile face turned into a frown.
One of the soldiers that was standing behind the General approached Will. “I’m Greg. As your squad leader, I’m here to show you the ropes and get you outfitted. That is, if you want to fight with us.”
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes,” Quill’s raspy voice came out.
“Alright then, let’s not waste time,” Greg said, and passed Maddie as they began their walk to the control building. “This is where the orders come from and this is where we sleep,” Greg’s arm swept across Quill’s field of vision, introducing the building. After Quill walked into the building, Greg directed him to an elevator. “We’re going down to the second level,” he informed Quill, “that’s where we get all of our gear.”
They entered the elevator and the doors closed shortly after Greg pressed the “-2” button. The elevator descended.
“I’ve waited a long time for this. What do I get?” Quill asked. Greg was slightly worried by his voice, posture, and his overall view of what he was going to do.
“Are you okay?” he asked. Quill blinked and his head quivered. He couldn’t believe he had just been asked that question.
“I have been hunted by those things since they landed. Of course I am okay. If you had been in my place, then you would understand what it’s like for them to come and go without being able to do anything about it,” Quill said, and asked his question again. “So, what do I get and will I look like a killer? I’m tired of wearing these rags.” Quill draped his arms over his clothes. They were Will’s style, old and tattered, and had not been maintained. His pants were worn and loose and the collar of his t-shirt looked as if it had been pulled to the point where it would never return to its original form.
“Yes, you’ll get a full tactical outfit to wear,” Greg let him know.
The elevator dinged as it stopped on the second level. Quill looked around and was in heaven. The first of the items that caught his eye were the survival knifes. He picked one up and examined it, checking both sides of the blade.
“I want one of these,” he said, and kept the knife in his hand as he ran to another item, a tactical vest. He picked it up with his forearm, “And one of these.”
Greg watched as Quill went to every set of gear and his response was, “I want one of these.” Quill had completed his round and walked up to Greg. All of his selections were in his arms, in his hands, on his shoulders, and even tucked into his waistband. “Can you help me carry these?” Quill asked, and extended one of his arms. Greg took some of the items and directed Quill to a man, an inventory manager, in the back of the room.
“We have to inventory your stuff with that guy,” he said as they walked over to the man and he began to go through his checklist. Each additional check caused the man’s eyebrow to rise until it couldn’t get any higher.
Quill had all of his gear and was ready to put it all on. Greg took him to the elevator, “Next stop is the berthing area.” They entered the elevator and “-4” was the selection. When the doors opened, mechanical noises reached Quill’s ears and he looked inside to identify the source. He saw huge generators with beds scattered between them. At the foot of each bed was a large locker with plenty of space for the few items that Quill would not be wearing. Greg approached a bed and said, “This is your bunk. Go ah
ead and get dressed and I’ll be back in 10 minutes. I’ll introduce you to your squad after that.”
New clothes, new weapons, new gear, Quill was excited to put it all on. He stripped off his shoddy clothes and went immediately for the basic uniform items. He wished that he had a mirror to admire himself as he stroked his shirt to straighten it out. He put on his vest and then started to clip on all of the weaponry he had selected. “I can’t believe they gave all this stuff to a crazy man,” he said to himself as he continued to admire all of the war-gear. Finally, he was fully dressed out with time to spare. He perched himself on his bunk and started to practice taking out his knives and opening the Velcro on his vest.
Greg came up to Quill, “You ready to meet your squad?” Quill jumped up and walked to Greg.
“I sure am,” he told Greg with happiness exuding from his raspy voice. They entered the elevator and went to the ground floor. Greg led him outside and they started to walk towards the tanks. Quill’s smile grew and grew. He knew that he was going to be in a tank. He knew those aliens were going to get what was coming to them. They walked past Marcus and Tony and approached the tanks. But right before they got to the tanks, Greg took a hard left and Quill followed. Quill saw before him a group of soldiers digging a ditch. His wide smile went back to a frown. He knew he wasn’t going to be in a tank. He wasn’t going to be as effective as he had hoped.
Greg pointed to the guys in the ditch, “Meet your new squad.” One of the soldiers noticed them standing above them.
“Hey, when you get a chance. If you don’t mind. Can you take off that vest and help us out?” the soldier asked.
“We all work our way up around here. Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance. But for now, we have to take care of Supreme Command before the aliens’ attack,” Greg told Quill.
Quill took off his prized tactical vest in a humph. “When they do come, I’ll take my chance. Just watch and you’ll see,” Quill told Greg as he jumped into the ditch. Quill was going to show them.
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