Tarizon, Conquest Earth, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 3

by William Manchee

  Chapter 26

  Grateful Return

  Leek Lanzia peered out the front portal of ES 26 with great anticipation. He’d never in his wildest daydreams ever imagined himself seeing Earth from outer space. Yet that was his expectation today. He squinted at the small speck of blue ahead. Captain Shilling smiled at him and pushed a button on her console. The big monitor blinked on, displaying a frontal view of space. She pushed another button and the image enlarged. She continued to zoom in until Earth was plainly visible in its full splendor and glory. Leek gasped in delight.

  Tears welled in his eyes. “You don’t know how I’ve prayed for this day,” he said, choking on the words.

  Captain Shilling nodded. “I know.”

  Lucinda came up from behind and put her arms around him. “It is a beautiful planet. I can’t wait to get there.”

  “I wish I could take you to see my parents. I so want you to meet them.”

  “I will in time. Don’t worry.”

  Leek took her hand and squeezed it. She laid her head on his shoulder. “When will we rendezvous with Earth’s Destiny?” he asked.

  “In about two kyloons,” Captain Shilling said. “They’re in a stationary orbit over Earth right now.”

  “Any sign of the Fleet?”

  “Tam said he expects to see them any time now. They barely beat them here due to the attack near Saturn.”

  “Yeah, that was a miracle, huh?”

  “Yes, it would seem so. Who’d have thought they’d try something so foolish as boarding and capturing an attack cruiser?”

  “They must have thought everyone aboard was dead or too far gone to resist,” Leek suggested.

  “Well, the ship took quite a hit from that suicide fighter.”

  “They must be desperate to force one of their pilots to do that.”

  “They are desperate,” Captain Shilling said. “Earth is their last hope. They’ll conquer it or die trying. That’s the way fanatics are.”

  Several kyloons later, Earth’s Destiny was centered in ES 26’s main monitor. Leek was on the launching platform, helping to ferry fighters over to the big attack cruiser. It had lost over eighty fighters, so they needed all they could get. ES 26 had 102 fighters in total aboard, so ninety-two were sent over. Ten were left on board for use in the shuttle’s defense. Once the transfer had been completed, ES 26 made its descent to the Earth’s surface.

  Captain Shilling elected to land on Cactus Island at Possum Kingdom Lake. She told Leek she was familiar with the Texas site. The ground there was soft, which would allow them to burrow underground quickly during the night to conceal the shuttle. They talked about the caves under the lake that allowed undetected pedestrian travel to the shore. Leek told her the cave entrance had been blown up and probably wasn’t passable.

  “Then I can land and let you and Dr. Gerhardt out in a desolate spot near the lake; then I’ll go to the island to wait for you. We’ll worry about restoring the cave system later.”

  “Right. That will work.”

  Leek left the bridge and went to the cargo hold, where the Mercury Grand Marquis look-alike awaited him. Lucinda was leaning against it with Tokin in her arms. He went up her and took Tokin from her. He tossed his son up in the air and twirled him around playfully. Tokin giggled and smiled down at him.

  “I hate to leave you. I wish you were coming,” he said to Lucinda.

  “I know. Go and save Earth. That’s got to be your first priority.”

  “You are such a strong woman. I don’t know how you’ve put up with having me as a mate.”

  She shrugged. “I can’t say it’s been a ‘piece of cake,’ as you say on Earth, but I can’t imagine not having you and Tokin in my life. I’d do anything for both of you.”

  They embraced and then got in the car and buckled up for the landing. A few loons later they felt a gentle bump and the ship went silent. A few tiks later the cargo hold door began to open. They got out again and said their last goodbyes while they waited for Dr. Gerhardt to arrive.

  Leek looked out at the expanse of countryside near the lake where they’d landed. He was back. Peter Turner had returned home.

  He turned and saw Dr. Gerhardt standing beside him. “So, did you ever think you’d see Earth again, Doctor?” Peter asked.

  “No, not really. I kept telling myself I would someday get home, but deep down I didn’t believe it.”

  “Well, we’re here, so let’s get rolling.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  They got in the big Mercury station wagon, and Peter cranked the engine. It turned over immediately and they rolled down the landing ramp. Lucinda stood at the entrance to the cargo hold with Tokin in her arms. She waved to them before the ramp closed again.

  Captain Shilling had landed near a dirt road that led to the main highway to Mineral Wells. Peter floored it and flew down the road, leaving a trail of dust. Two and a half hours later they were traveling on Interstate 20. Soon, they saw the Ft. Worth skyline in the distance.

  “Well, where do you want me to drop you off?” Peter asked.

  “Take me to my house. I can’t wait to see my wife’s face.”

  Peter smiled. “Yeah, she’s going to be shocked.”

  Thirty minutes later they were in Grand Prairie and traveling down Dr. Gerhardt’s street. Peter remembered it, having first learned of the alien presence on Earth in Dr. Gerhardt’s den. Before he got to the house Dr. Gerhardt told him to stop. Dr. Gerhardt’s wife was washing her car in the driveway. A man was with her and they were having a water fight with the hose. Peter and Dr. Gerhardt watched them intently. They were laughing and chasing each other around. Finally, the man caught her. He dropped the hose and they embraced and kissed passionately.

  Dr. Gerhardt covered his face with his hands. “Oh God! I’ve lost her. Turn around. Get me out of here!”

  Peter swallowed hard, then turned the station wagon around and drove away. He couldn’t imagine what was going on in Dr. Gerhardt’s mind. He felt guilty because it was partially his fault that the psychiatrist had been abducted to Tarizon. When he got to the end of the street he pulled over and parked.

  “So, what are you going to do?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve lost everything.”

  “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s just fate. I loved Julia, but I don’t blame her for moving on. She had no reason to expect I’d ever be back.”

  “I guess not.”

  “How about I go with you?” Dr. Gerhardt suggested. “You could use some help, couldn’t you?”

  Peter shrugged. “Sure, but it would be dangerous and I’d hate to get you killed.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got nothing to lose, and, if you save the planet, I’ll get a hell of a book deal.”

  Peter laughed. “Okay. You might come in handy if we have to interrogate any witnesses who’ve been subjected to the blue light.”

  “Right. I know how to use a gun, too.”

  “Do you?”

  “Of course. I’m a Vietnam vet.”

  “Great. I’ve got an extra laser pistol I’ll give you. It’s silent, and you can turn it to stun mode if you just want to put somebody out for a few minutes.”

  “That’ll do.”

  Peter got back on the freeway and headed toward his father’s office. He thought the best way to make contact would be to wait in the parking garage until he came out. That way he could be sure his father wasn’t being followed. They parked across the street in another office building parking lot and crossed the street on foot. They walked through the parking garage, looking for his father’s car, but didn’t see it.

  “He’s probably out somewhere. We’ll just have to hang around, I guess,” Peter said.

  “Doesn’t the building have security?” Dr. Gerhardt said. “Won’t it look suspicious if we keep hanging around?”

  “Yeah,” Peter said then froze. “Wait, I see one of Dad’s legal assista
nts. I know her. She’ll get word to my father. Wait here.”

  Peter walked toward the tall woman who was walking to her car. She was very pretty and Peter remembered having a crush on her after they’d first met. She did a double take when she saw him.

  “Peter! Is that you? Oh, my God!”

  “Hi, Jodie.”

  “How did you get here? I heard you were alive, but—”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “I bet. Get in the car. They’re looking for you.”

  “Who?”

  “Kulchz and his goons.”

  “They knew I was coming?”

  “Yes. Apparently so. They’ve had your father staked out for the last year or so. Mo warned him they were looking for you.”

  “Where is my father? I need to talk to him.”

  “In DC, I think. At least that’s where Mo said he was taking him.”

  “So, the government knows the Fleet is coming?”

  “I don’t know, but they are worried about something. Is there a fleet coming?”

  “Yes, four attack cruisers and over a thousand fighters.”

  “What do they want?”

  “To conquer Earth, I’m afraid.”

  Jodie just stared at Peter a moment. “Seriously?”

  Peter nodded.

  “Do they have that kind of capability?”

  “Not from the Fleet alone, but I suspect there is a large organization here on Earth that will help them. That’s why I need to find my father, so I can make contact with the government.”

  “Oh, my God. I know where Mark and Reggie are. I can get you in touch with them.”

  “That’s great. I want to see them, but—”

  “They’re staking out Kulchz—trying to get information.”

  “Huh? Why would my brothers be doing that?”

  Jodie told Peter about his family going into hiding, Paul’s murder, and everything else she knew, and gave him her cell phone to call Paul’s security consultant, Jerry. He dialed the number. Jerry picked up immediately.

  “Jerry?” Peter asked.

  “Yeah. Who’s this?”

  “Ah. Jodie gave me your number. Is Reggie with you?”

  Jerry shrugged and looked over at Reggie, who was eating a hamburger Mo had brought them for lunch. Jerry handed him the phone.

  “For me? Who is it?”

  Jerry shrugged, and Reggie took the phone. “Hello?”

  “Reggie.”

  “Yeah?”

  “It’s me. Peter.”

  Tears suddenly welled in Reggie’s eyes.

  “Peter? Is it really you?” he said, barely able to speak.

  “Yeah, it’s me. I’m in Dallas with Jodie.”

  “Oh, my God!”

  “Is that Peter?” Mark exclaimed. “Let me talk to him!”

  Mark grabbed the phone out of Reggie’s hand. Reggie was too much in shock to resist.

  “Oh, my God!” Mark said. “I can’t believe this. When did you get back?”

  “Just a few hours ago.”

  “Hey, Peter. We found Kulchz and have been staking him out. Dad and Mo are with us, and there’s an FBI agent named Snead. Are you in a safe place? They’ve got aliens out looking for you.”

  “So I heard. Is Dad around? I need to talk to him right away.”

  “No. He went with Snead somewhere, but Mo is here. He’ll talk to you.”

  Mo, who’d come in the room when he heard all the excitement, walked over and took the phone. “Peter. So, you did make it back.”

  “Yeah, I did. I’m still in shock, though. It seems like I’ve been gone forever.”

  “Be careful what you say on this line,” Mo warned. “Cell phone transmissions can easily be monitored.”

  “Right.”

  “Is there a heliport anywhere near where you are?”

  Peter thought about it and then remembered one at Medical City Hospital, which was just around the corner.

  “Yes. I know of one.”

  “Go there immediately and have them call the FBI emergency number and give the location.”

  “Okay.”

  “There’ll be a chopper in the air by the time we hang up.”

  “Right. We’re on our way.”

  Peter hung up and handed Jodie her phone back. “Thanks, Jodie. The FBI is coming to pick us up.”

  He slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out the keys to the Mercury Grand Marquis. He handed them to Jodie.

  “What’s this?”

  “The keys to my car. It looks like a Mercury Grand Marquis but it’s something quite different. Take care of it for me. Dr. Gerhardt and I will go to the hospital on foot.”

  Jodie studied the keys Peter had given her. “Does it drive like a regular car?”

  “Yes, but don’t try to put gas in it. It won’t need refueling for several months. Watch your speed, too; it’s got a lot of power.”

  “Okay. Peter, I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  “Oh, where’re my mother and Marcia?” Peter asked.

  “They’re at a motel somewhere. I’m not even sure where. We can’t discuss locations over the phone, but I know they’re okay. Bored, but okay.”

  “Good. I want to see them. I hope the CIA will give me time to do that.”

  “I doubt they’ll be able to help. They don’t even know where your mom and sister are,” Jodie replied. “Your Dad doesn’t trust the CIA entirely.”

  Peter smiled. “For good reason, I’m sure.”

  Peter got out of Jodie’s car and rushed over to where Dr. Gerhardt was waiting. He told him he’d contacted the government and that a helicopter was coming to pick them up at the hospital down the street. They looked around to be sure no one was watching them and then walked to the hospital.

  At the emergency room they found the person in charge of the heliport and told him to call the FBI. He resisted a little but finally looked in his manual for guidance, and then found the number. A few minutes later an FBI chopper landed and two agents came rushing out.

  “Peter Turner?” one of them asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Hi. Special Agent Franklin Norris.”

  Looking at Dr. Gerhardt, Peter said. “This is Dr. Gerhardt. He’s with me.”

  Norris nodded and motioned for them to get aboard. They picked up their luggage, passed it up to the co-pilot, and then climbed in. Once they were in the air, Norris advised them they were headed for Addison Airport to catch a Lear jet to DC.

  The helicopter vibrated a lot, and Peter thought how much smoother the copters were back on Tarizon. He wondered if the FBI would search him or his luggage; he had brought diamonds and precious stones to convert to money and also had some weapons they’d probably want to confiscate if they saw them. He pulled his bag in close to him and put his foot on the strap.

  When they got to Addison Airport, however, nobody searched him or seemed concerned about his luggage, so once aboard Peter relaxed and tried to get some sleep. Dr. Gerhardt seemed fascinated by the flight; he sat up close to the window where he could see out. Noticing his interest, one of the agents took him up the cockpit and let him sit with the pilot for a while.

  When they finally arrived at Washington National Airport, a limo and a police escort were waiting for them. An hour later they were checked in to the Watergate Hotel.

  After Peter had gotten settled in his room there was a knock on the door. He looked out the peephole then smiled and quickly opened the door.

  “Dad! Oh, I’m so glad to see you.”

  Stan stepped into the room and hugged his son. Mark and Reggie followed him in and closed the door behind them. When Stan let Peter go, Mark gave him a hug, too. Reggie just stared at him with a big grin on his face.

  “I was afraid I’d never see you again,” Stan said.

  Peter nodded. “I know the feeling.”

  “So, how did you make it back?”

  Peter sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “That
’s all right. We don’t have to meet the President until tomorrow morning.”

  “The President?” Peter asked, somewhat surprised.

  “Yeah,” Stan said. “It took a while, but we finally convinced him the aliens were a real threat.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.”

  “No. We don’t know much of anything.”

  “Okay, you might want to order in some room service. Like I said, it’s a long story.”

  Stan called room service and had a variety of foods brought up. Then he pulled out a tape recorder and plugged it in.

  “We might as well tape this for Mo. He’ll want to listen to it before we meet with the President.”

  “Sure,” Peter said. “That will save time, and we don’t have much of it.”

  For the next few hours, Peter told his dad and brothers the entire story of his abduction, the Prophecy, his adoption by the Loyalist Party, his military training, and the Tarizon Civil War. They all sat mesmerized by the incredible story as the tape rolled on. Later that evening Mo stopped by and picked up the tape.

  “I hope this is good. It’s going to be analyzed by at least five government agencies before morning.”

  Stan smiled. “I don’t think anyone will be disappointed.”

  “Probably not,” Mo conceded. “Oh, one more thing. Peter, I presume you speak Tari.”

  Peter nodded. “Yeah, I went to a language school just after I arrived on Tarizon.”

  “Good. We’ve got a tape of a meeting I need you to translate.”

  “Sure.”

  Mo put a tape recorder on the table and replayed the portion of the secret meeting that had been conducted in Tari. Peter listened to it and took notes. When he was done he gave them a grim look.

  “What’s the bad news?” Stan asked.

  “Apparently Kulchz is in charge of a unit that has been assigned the job of kidnaping the President, vice president, and Speaker of the House once the Fleet arrives. They’re talking about how that will be accomplished.”

  “How are they planning to do it?” Mo asked.

  “They’re going to knock out power and communications to the White House, then use their memory guns to get by security.”

  “Is that possible?”

  Peter nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

  Mo looked thoughtful. “We better not wait until morning to alert the President. We don’t know when this will be going down.”

  “You’re right,” Peter agreed. “The Fleet could be here anytime.”

  “Then I’ll call the President right now.”

  “Wait,” Peter said. “That’s not all. A second unit is preparing to take the Speaker of the House at an upcoming funeral. Also, the conspirators have infiltrated the Pentagon and the Secret Service. They didn’t mention the CIA or FBI, but I would presume you have some moles there as well. The aliens already have control over several newspapers and TV stations, and that will give them the ability to communicate with the American people once the government falls.”

  Mo looked at Peter. “So, they think by taking out the President and the next two in the line of succession that the government will be left in chaos?”

  “That or they like the next person in line,” Peter replied.

  Mo thought a moment. “The next in line is the president pro tem of the Senate. I don’t remember who that is.”

  “Senator Ralph Rubio,” Reggie said. “I’m taking political science this semester.”

  “Isn’t that the senator who was at the meeting with Kulchz?” Mark asked.

  “I think you’re right,” Mo moaned. “Oh, Jesus. Rubio’s an alien.”

  “Then he’s not actually qualified,” Reggie said. “He can’t be president if he’s not a natural born citizen.”

  “He might be an Earthchild,” Peter said. “If so, he is a naturally born U.S. citizen, having been born here. Even if he wasn’t born here, who would challenge his citizenship and live to tell about it? That’s why I came all the way here from Tarizon. I wanted to warn you and help you defend yourselves.

  “You better make that call,” he said to Mo. “We may not have much time.”

  “Why kidnap all of them? Why not just assassinate them?” Stan asked.

  Mo looked at Stan thoughtfully. “I don’t know. Perhaps they want to use them as leverage—threaten to kill them if everyone doesn’t go along with the takeover.”

  Peter nodded. “Plus the uncertainty of not knowing if they are alive or dead will create even more anxiety and chaos. If they’re killed outright it would just create anger, hostility, and rebellion.”

  Mo pulled out his cell phone and made the call. After he hung up he said, “My office is trying to move up the meeting to late tonight. They’ll get back with me in a minute.”

  “Good,” Peter said. “Like I told you earlier, we have an attack cruiser and three shuttles. The Purists started with six attack cruisers but we managed to steal one from them and destroy another. I don’t know how many shuttles they have.”

  “Those odds don’t sound too good,” Stan said.

  Peter nodded. “Except we may have a slight technological advantage. That’s how we were able to destroy one of their attack cruisers, while ours survived.”

  He explained how Rossi Sincini had managed to build plasma cannons for Earth’s Destiny. While he was talking, Mo’s cell phone rang. Mo picked it up and listened. His face turned grim then went pale. He hung up slowly and looked up.

  “They can’t find the President! He was in the Oval Office and then he wasn’t. They’ve searched everywhere but he’s nowhere to be found.”