Earth vs Alien

by Ronald D Thompson

  Omalius was officially the next in command during Daxzus’ and Annaluce’s absences. He called the meeting to relay his concerns regarding the upkeep and purpose of the clone warehouse. With a deficiency in any kind of authority, due to the absence of both Daxzus and his daughter, decisions needed to be made. Urgently.

  The grand hall in the main square was the designated meeting place. Larquiston, considered the ultimate of all the 37 capitals, was a fitting venue. All delegates had flown in; all 36 had negotiated the great wall and the force field, each had passed over the region outside the wall − housing the squalors, without any remorse or consideration for the plight that they had bestowed on these poor citizens. With the machines safely parked in the designated area, the bubble provided adequate transport to the venue, for the delegates.

  The venue was equipped to provide the finest food available for a banquet scheduled to be held following this momentous gathering. Meticulous planning had seen the great hall adorned with the finest and most beautiful Zaagans Larquiston had to offer.

  The table was long, the room huge. Surrounding the room were transparent plasma screens, provided for the sole purpose of viewing footage of the two independent kidnappings; first Daxzus, then strangely, a separate kidnapping of Annaluce, as well as the rescue of a prisoner strapped to a death baiter catapult on the great wall. A discussion was needed. What did this all mean and what to do next?

  The opulence of the great hall was a stark alternative to a squalor’s existence. The entrance encapsulated the most sophisticated face recognition technology, whilst displaying all that was pretentious about the materialistic power-crazy elite. Gold is the theme; great statues of figureheads lined the entrance, water features as tall as the ceiling up to 15 metres high set the opulent tone. Each guest marvelled at the entrance through which the solid gold doors, richly engraved, set the bar. There were rumours that Larquiston was the epicentre of Zarduzian − it certainly wasn’t failing to impress the delegates.

  ‘Honourable guests, may I thank you for attending this most important of gatherings. I cannot remember when Larquiston last hosted such a meeting of upmost importance,’ said Omalius. Usually a spectator who left such meetings to his commander-in-chief, he found this experience surreal. Those around the table; a large, solid, black imposing table made from Zarduzian’s equivalent of polished marble; looked on in eager anticipation, each with an expression of deep concern.

  The delegates looked eagerly at the holographic image portrayed individually in front; the image could be moved with a touch, expanded or zoomed in on, depending on how each delegate wished to explore the data. Plasma screens depicted key stills with hieroglyphics and precise information relating to each segment of footage displayed.

  Omalius continued:

  ‘Daxzus is missing, Annaluce is missing. As the third in command it is my duty to act in the absence of our commander-in-chief. We have decisions to make regarding the alien warehouse. As you are all aware, Daxzus Zaetsalsae controlled the inter-planetary programme. In his absence, Annaluce was designated as second in command to observe the programme. In her absence, that responsibility now rests with me,’ stated Omalius, who was now warming to his new-found power.

  So far so good, the meeting was underway. In reality, none of the delegates had an inkling as to how to deal with this tragic development.

  Omalius, following a brief pause, continued:

  ‘The current operation involves 56 missions, all at various stages of development. The programme was working perfectly until a recent raid. A race known as the Undarthians successfully rescued seven abductees from the Death Chambers who originated from a planet known as Earth. I am sure you are all familiar?’ asked Omalius as the visual of planet Earth appeared in hologram form. Data relating to the planet’s distance from Zarduzian, 8.6 million light years, plus other facts including the wealth of resources the planet had to offer, was impressively displayed in the hologram in front of each delegate. Omalius continued: ‘The beings inhabiting this planet are at level one; in theory, a straightforward operation. We abducted seven individuals and planted an alien craft that would represent a threat to the survival of its inhabitants. This was all administered without a hitch. Just one problem − the ship which Daxzus used as the alien threat to Earth, which the clones would unwittingly uncover, was Undarthian.’

  The delegates began to realise the problem unfolding.

  ‘The Undarthian ship which we planted on Earth was one which we had captured in battle from the Undarthians on a previous expedition. Our problem is that they have propagation rights which complicates matters and they are not happy.’

  ‘Why was this not brought to our attention earlier?’ asked Jenga Christan representing the capital Ronnex, one of the furthest from Larquiston, in the South. He had travelled far − the continent, one of three, called ‘The land of ice’, a far cry from the heat of the continent of the great Larquiston, aptly named ‘The land of gold’, the central of the three continents.

  ‘Daxzus decided it wasn’t necessary to report,’ replied Omalius, clearly not wishing to face the delegates’ anger.

  ‘This is not the first. We all know he flirts with the rules. The Council of the Light have already threatened sanctions since the Elacture fiasco,’ said Jenga, to a ‘Hear, hear!’ from the other delegates.

  ‘That may well be the case, but we have a much greater problem,’ said Omalius, who needed to tame the gathering. ‘With Daxzus and Annaluce accosted we need to decide on a plan of action.’

  Of the delegates, eight were female. It had long been the way; females held great positions of power but were constantly at loggerheads with their male equivalents. This was deemed the downfall and demise of the Zarduzians as true warriors. Some of the male delegates still despised the ruling to allow females to hold positions of political power. Nevertheless, their voice needed to be heard.

  One of the more strong-willed delegates was female, a certain Juliaze Veradius. The most beautiful of the delegates who despised the adoring attention. Tall at 1.8 metres in height with blonde flowing locks, green eyes and perfect unblemished skin, she wore a tightly hugging, white catsuit-type garment, complete with emblem representing the city and capital named Zooka. It was time for Juliaze to show her authority.

  ‘I speak for the good and prosperity of Zooka, ‘The land of light’. We have observed the misdoings of Daxzus Zaetsalsae for too long. For that matter, Annaluce Zaetsalsae also. Omalius Sousa, we recognise you as an honourable servant merely clearing up these misgivings of your commander-in-chief. Are we to assume that the Undarthians are a threat and, if so, are we dealing with Dane Vhastek?’ A question straight to the heart of the problem. A little earlier than Omalius was hoping.

  A deathly silence ensued. Each and every delegate feared Dane; each and every delegate sorely wished the answer to be anything but affirmative.

  Omalius looked down at the glowing white table and, with almost a sense of guilt at being part of the dilemma, reluctantly replied:

  ‘I am afraid to say, that is the case,’ replied Omalius. ‘Your holograms will show the capture of Annaluce. Of those involved in the abduction, Dane Vhastek has been identified.’

  ‘Then we have a war on our hands,’ replied Juliaze.

  ‘A war that we neither want nor deserve,’ interrupted Jenga. ‘This is all Daxzus Zaetsalsae’s brainchild. We were supposed to be locating a new homeland. He and Annaluce went off on a deviant path. The vote within the 37 capitals was the narrowest of victories in favour of overpowering level one, or below species, and look where it has led us. War! We have enough domestic issues with our ever-growing population, particularly the squalors.’

  ‘We don’t know for certain that any conflict will arise here on Zarduzian,’ said Omalius, trying to bring the proceedings back in order. The delegates were certainly working themselves up into an unhealthy frenzy. ‘But we do need to agree a way forward where alien cloning is concerned.’

  ‘Shut it d
own immediately,’ insisted Juliaze. ‘Let us concentrate on our defences against an attack.’

  ‘May I remind you all that Earth was voted unanimously as the most suitable planet for evacuation. Daxzus cannot be held responsible for carrying out the delegates’ wishes,’ replied Omalius. ‘Our sun is dying, the squalors will rebel at some point and we are barricaded into ever over-populated gated capitals.’

  The room went silent as the delegates pondered over the valid points raised by the chairman.

  Elgan Pleaedus came to the forefront. As the most influential person, occupying a prominent capital in the north, Trellame, Elgan felt the need to offer a valid perspective.

  ‘We cannot keep blaming Daxzus Zaetsalsae for all our problems. We are all aware of how fickle we have become. The dangers are all around us. We need the great walls to save us from our own − the squalors. They are our own people. We have become a species of self-centred cowards. Daxzus is the only remaining warrior. That is why we voted for him to find us a new planet regardless of his methods. The munika are the only brave Zaagans left,’ said Elgan. Heads lowered as the truth hit the delegates like a heavy mist expanding in the room.

  ‘Do you have a useful suggestion to offer?’ asked Omalius.

  ‘Let me answer that with a question,’ continued Elgan. ‘Of the 56 other missions, is there a suitable planet for occupation? Preferably one which won’t involve conflict.’

  ‘No,’ replied Omalius emphatically, ‘but there may be some hope.’

  ‘Enlighten us,’ requested Elgan.

  Omalius offered the scene in Annaluce’s apartment following the abduction of Daxzus. The hologram had perfectly captured the footage of Dane Vhastek evacuating the building with Annaluce in his arms. His demeanour did not suggest that he was kidnapping her.

  ‘I think you will all agree these are the actions of an alien wanting to rescue Annaluce, not kidnap her. This might be our bargaining position. Maybe we can ally with the Undarthians? We may even negotiate favourable propagation rights.’

  ‘What of the other alien race who kidnapped Daxzus? Why didn’t they kill him?’

  ‘It is too sensitive to project the images, Elgan,’ replied Omalius. ‘We do not recognise the alien source. It is not a species registered with the Council of the Light. Our computer DNA simulation from our laser imagery detects a strange phenomenon. The alien species seems to have originated from Earth.’

  ‘Dane Vhastek and an unknown alien source have infiltrated our main capital, all courtesy of Daxzus’ schemes,’ added Juliaze.

  ‘Precisely,’ agreed Omalius. ‘The enemies are gathering around us but surely Annaluce holds the key to a possible solution.’

  The cowards within the room pondered; they may have a way out.

  *****************************

  Annaluce awoke. She had been administered a drug and it was almost 12 Earth hours since her last glimpse of Dane riding off on the dorker to dock with the spaceship; Oosapeth’s craft.

  Her blurred vision began to come into focus − Qudor Volkan.

  ‘Annuluce, good to see you again,’ said Qudor. He had thought it through and had provided Annaluce with a translator. He wanted to savour every moment and ensure that his torments would get the reaction he desired.

  ‘Qudor,’ greeted Annaluce somewhat wearily. The picture began to emerge. She was trapped.

  ‘I’m sorry you couldn’t share this moment with your beloved. You see, he escaped − for the moment, at least.’ A smirk appeared on the interrogator’s gloating face.

  Annaluce began to focus more; she was inside a space ship. Probably the same ship in which her father perished. The bad breath smell indicated that the Drayzaks were not too far away.

  ‘I apologise for the bad odour. My pets haven’t eaten in a while. Their breath gets worse the hungrier they get − it’s strange, really. We never have quite worked out why that is the case. Needless to say, it merely confirms that they are hungry. Very hungry.’

  ‘You killed my father this way, the same way you will kill me, no doubt. I wouldn’t want to be you when Dane finds you. My death will be tame by comparison of what you can expect.’

  ‘An angry opponent is a fool who doesn’t think rationally. Keep calm and maintain control of the situation. I understand your anger, Annaluce, believe me, I do. There was a time when things were different between us,’ said Qudor.

  ‘Now I have found love,’ replied Annaluce, knowing that it would strike Qudor straight at the heart.

  ‘Ah, love, of course, something we didn’t have. Is that what you are saying?’

  ‘I never loved you − too short, too ugly! No, it was just business,’ confirmed Annaluce with real venom in her words.

  ‘Business. Yes, I understand. You’ll forgive me then for saying that this is just business?’

  ‘You know what I wish, Qudor? I wish I could see the look in your eyes when Dane grabs you by the throat and lifts you into the air, gasping for your last breath,’ said Annaluce.

  ‘Would you like to see your father die? It’s no trouble, we can show it on the screen,’ replied Qudor. ‘You know, that gives me an idea. Maybe I should send Dane…’ he paused only to tease his victim further, ‘…an image of the look of pleasure on my face − as you die.’

  A military guard entered the room, uninvited.

  ‘We have a problem,’ said the guard.

  ‘Not now!’ shouted Qudor.

  ‘I have orders that you must follow me.’

  ‘Dane!’ Annaluce deduced, ‘I wouldn’t want to be you.’

  ‘This is merely an inconvenience; my pets will keep you company whilst I’m away. I promise you that this is not over.’

  The second Qudor exited, Annaluce broke down in tears. She had lost her loved one, Dane Vhastek. He had abandoned her and now she was left at the mercy − of which there was none – of an evil being.

  Qudor entered the cockpit area of the craft saying, ‘This had better be important!’

  There, staring straight back at Qudor, was the image of his adversary. How had Dane Vhastek sent this message?

  ‘Shall I allow this communication, Commander?’ asked the flight engineer.

  ‘Allow it,’ replied Qudor.

  The translator software had been activated. Allowing access meant that both parties could view each other.

  ‘You have just a few moments to agree to our demands. We have tracked you, Qudor. Return Annaluce and we will give you a momentary reprieve this time. My word is my honour,’ said Dane.

  ‘I wasn’t aware that kindness was part of your makeup, Dane. Let me see, I surrender Annaluce and you give me a reprieve. As tempting as that might be, I didn’t class you as such an amateur. Now, if you had said that in return for surrendering your beloved you would retreat back to the hovel of a planet you belong, well, that might have been more appealing. I would have given it my full attention. A reprieve?’

  ‘You either surrender Annaluce or she dies my way − alongside you as we demolish your fleet,’ stated Dane.

  ‘Love is so blind, so weak.’

  Qudor shut off communication and spoke with his engineer.

  ‘They must be close; have we spotted Vhastek in close vicinity?’ asked Qudor.

  ‘Negative, but they could be in the planet’s orbit. They could have us in their sights,’ replied the flight engineer.

  ‘Dane Vhastek is not going to risk killing Annaluce. Ignore him! He’s bluffing. Anyway, I am far too busy.’ In reality, Qudor was unsettled but in his usual arrogant fashion, he wasn’t going to show weakness.

  Qudor quietly made his exit from the flight deck to continue his business below.

  CHAPTER 8

  HOME VISIT – 2018

  Dane Vhastek, Oosapeth and the human contingent that had made the trip back to Earth to stave off Qudor Volkan, were safely inside the secret ice caves in Antarctica. Serenix had joined the small gathering, on the insistence that she hook up with James as soon as was safe to do so, agre
ed reluctantly by her father. She had been humiliated, forced to travel in a separate spacecraft to James Eaton. She would make up for the lost time later.

  Bella Laurent was somewhat surplus to needs; the males were busy negotiating strategic battle permutations now that the battleground was laid bare before them. Serenix wouldn’t leave James’ side; Dane was fretting over the safety of Annaluce and Oosapeth was wondering how he had got himself tied up in such a complicated confrontation with the dastardly Qudor Volkan.

  Bella was the most sensitive and caring − the least likely warrior within the group. Colmar, her home town, was now more remote than ever. She found herself at another new alien base in Antarctica. In the space of only a few short weeks she had been abducted and then rescued from a distant planet called Zarduzian, had visited Zanakisco and, on top of all that, living in an ice cave and an alien base inside a volcano. All so surreal.

  Planet Earth was at war, confronting the very real possibility of annihilation by unsavoury alien monsters roaming the planet at will, decimating everyone in its path.

  Bella’s first and only thought now was for her mother, Michelle. The world felt like a lonely, desolate place at the moment.

  The ice caves were pretty much as she had previously witnessed, at the now destroyed base of Dane Vhastek in Antarctica. These alien races had the technology to carve out spectacular caves, deep beneath the ice, seemingly at will. Bella had an empathy with these alien creatures’ fascination with the Arctic; it was the same intrigue that led Bella to work at the research station. Her obsessions were saving the environment, monitoring the natural habitat of the region but the aliens had a different agenda, however − to monitor creatures of a different kind − humans.

  Bella made her way to the room where the male contingency was busy dealing with the major problems facing the plight to save Earth. Who would have guessed that just a few weeks ago, the fight to save our planet from alien occupation would seem a normal day’s work for Bella Laurent?

  Bella caught the attention of Scott McCabe − James and Serenix were too engrossed in each other to notice. Scott sensed a problem. He knew instinctively from the forlorn look on her innocent face exactly what the problem was. He walked swiftly towards her.