by J E Grace
I had been at STRC about two weeks now and was feeling more and more isolated. I had to get to Jeanette without being detected. I hated the thought of what I was about to do. She would never come with me willingly. She didn’t remember me and even if she did, she most certainly wouldn’t any longer. Although I hated it, I would have to drug her. I’d need William to help to get her here.
I was really impressed with William’s resolve in keeping it all together. With the other member’s expertise, we had the best monitoring equipment and were kept abreast of Interplay’s every move. I had checked the monitors earlier that morning and watched civilians being ushered like cattle towards the scanning devices. Some were led away in shackles kicking and screaming obscenities at their assailants. Apparently, they didn’t have the proper identification and who knew what fate lies ahead of them. We had to move fast to rescue as many as we could.
~
It was late in the afternoon when Reginald took the call. There was a problem at the center. Equipment was malfunctioning, and even the automated checking software used to monitor the system only detected that the problem existed, but not what was causing it. Somehow the signal from their satellite deep in space had quit sending data. It was as if it suddenly no longer existed.
Even the monitors in the communication center had gone black. All power to everything had been severed. People scurried about flipping switches in hopes of restoring everything to some level of normalcy. Power to every part of Interplay had been extinguished.
At STRC, William was watching the monitors of Interplay headquarters when he saw the giant spaceships surround the entire compound. They seemed to hover in place, ominous and unnerving. His heart began to pound violently in his chest. His pulse raced and a hefty lump formed in his throat.
“Davis, come quick. You have to see this!”
“It’s begun. The Zarion warned me that it would come to this. I have to get to Interplay and locate Reginald. He will know where Jeanette is. Can your people handle things here? I really need you with me on this one.”
“No problem. The people need to prepare to go below. If they are under attack at Interplay, it’s just a matter of time before they find us.” Said William reaching for the hand radio.
~
The sky was turning a hazy orange in the direction of Interplay. We sat in silence as we rode along the rough mountain roadway, keeping a lookout for anything suspicious. Through the air vents inside the SUV, seeped an odor that was unmistakable. It was one of death and destruction.
Reaching the highway, we realized that we would most definitely have to take the back way through the hills into Interplay. In the distance, we could see smoke rising from what was left of Interplay’s observatory. It had been obliterated.
William parked the SUV alongside the back entrance. He grabbed two of the gas masks from behind the seat and handed me one.
“You better put this on. The air is a bit thin,” William said coughing. “You’ll need one of these too,” he said handing me an automatic weapon.
The conference center adjoining the main building was partially intact. It seemed as though the commissary and medical center were gone. Yet, there was no mass confusion. There were no people running around in a state of shock. Where were all the employees? Were they all dead?
Just as we were about to pull open the heavy metal door, we heard a loud whirring sound coming from above our heads. We made a quick dash inside and could hear things flying apart overhead. Loud explosions rocked the walls of the compound, and we hugged the pavement below lying as flat as we could. After a few minutes, everything was quiet again, and we slowly rose to our feet.
I could barely make out the end of a dark hallway. Faint lights were streaming in where there once was a window, and smoke swirled in the air as it entered from outside making our visibility even worse.
We crept along holding onto the side of the wall. Finally, at the end was an open doorway. It was like stepping from a dark cave into the bright expanse of the outdoors. The light blinded both of us for a matter of seconds as we fought to regain our vision. There was rubble everywhere. One whole side of the room where the windows used to be was gone. I heard a distinct moan from somewhere in the room.
William and I started to move beams, books, and whatever happened to be in the direction of the noise.
“Reginald, can you hear me?’
“Someone help me, please.”
I saw a hand push its way up from under some rubble in the corner of the room. William and I fought our way over to where he was and began removing the debris that covered him.
“Reginald, where are you hurt?” I asked glancing down at his crippled form.
“Who are you?” said Reginald as he fought for every breath. “Don’t move me. It’s too late.”
“It’s Davis. I have to know where Jeanette is. Is she still on the base?
“Is it really you? I was told you were dead. I had Jeanette moved to town. Hiding her from…. A gush of hot, steamy blood dripped down the corner of his mouth, and a gurgling sound escaped his lips. Then he was gone.
“Well, what’s your plan now? I guess there isn’t much else we can do here,” said William as he rose from over Reginald’s body. “Who knows if the attack is over?”
“We have to find Jeanette. Check the room and see if you can find any sign of a file cabinet. Maybe by some strange stroke of luck, her file is here somewhere.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Within Washington D. C., the military was making their rounds. Morning Star Military Base had also been heavily hit, and they were in the middle of relocating it into the hills surrounding the city. With the loss at Interplay, the government had to move fast to bring the city and its nearby communities under control. Everywhere citizens were in a state of panic.
In the wee hours of the morning, another strike had been made on San Francisco on the Pacific Coast and also another in New York on the Atlantic. The inhabitants were taken completely unaware.
~
We had been lucky enough to retrieve the file on Jeanette. She had been moved to a motel in a remote corner of the city. Now, we just had to find a way around all the checkpoints. Things were definitely heating up around Washington. We would be lucky to even get in without being stopped.
As we left Interplay, I took one last look at what was left. It wasn’t that long ago that it had been bustling with activity, now it looked like a ghost town with streams of vapor mixed with the smell of death.
We made our way across the hills as the sun began its nightly departure. With the haze on the horizon, it could barely be seen.
“I have to try to make contact with STRC. I have to know that they are okay.”
“With what has taken place, I would be surprised to find my cabin still intact when we get there. They most likely hit it too.”
“Hello, Tom. Are there any problems? Interplay was just hit. Everything is practically gone. Yes, Morningstar too.”
“We’ve had some destruction here too. I don’t know how, but our hideout was found. Luckily, most of us made it underground,” said Tom shaking as he spoke. “My, my wife and son didn’t make it!” he said breaking down in tears.
“Okay, Tom. I know it’s rough, but we knew this could happen. We have to make a couple of stops. Keep everyone underground until I give other orders. Try to help everyone stay calm. They have stepped up the checkpoints and ID matching. People are going crazy everywhere,” said William as he clicked the transmission off.
I decided that it would be best not to talk to him. He needed a moment to grasp all that had happened. William was close to his people. They had become an extended family, and the loss was a personal one to him. He needed a few moments to grieve before taking on the challenges that lie ahead. At this point, we didn’t even know what they were. We had to be prepared for anything.
We drove on in the dark of night. Up ahead we could see the lights of Brockwood and the surrounding community. It didn’t
seem to be as brightly lit as usual. People apparently were under a curfew and were confined indoors.
We made a left off the Interstate and took the backway in. We would have to park several blocks away and walk in on foot to avoid being stopped and questioned. Parking behind an empty building, we quietly exited the vehicle, our weapons at our side.
Nearby, a dog yelped out in pain as if being kicked or hit by something. Then a clatter and someone yelled, “Get out of here, you! Go on!”
Nervously we made our way along neighboring yards, being careful not to get in the light emitted from the buildings.
We weaved in and out of alleys without even a soul in sight. We were only reminded momentarily that human habitation even existed, except for the voices drifting in the night air from inside of the houses as we passed by.
As we approached the street where the motel was located, we spotted military vehicles out front. They were canvassing the area to see that everyone who had checked in had the proper identification. We hid in the shadows beneath the nearby trees to watch, wait, and hope fate was on our side.
After a half hour of monitoring the front of the Lazy C Motel, it seemed they were finally pulling out. It was approaching midnight, and we had to move quickly. We watched as the motel sign went out and then the office lights blinked off.
We quickly checked the numbers above the doors. Luckily, all the rooms were on one level with adjoining patios at the back. It was just a matter of locating Jeanette’s room and counting on the fact that maybe she left a window ajar.
William followed close behind as we made our way to the side of the building hugging close to its cold, rough surface. We readied our guns so we wouldn’t be taken by surprise.
My nerves were stretched beyond their limit. I motioned for William to get the solution ready and quietly reached for the slider. To my surprise, I felt it give slightly.
I waited for a split second just to make sure no one had heard the movement and then continued moving it back. I quickly slipped inside, followed by William. We stood motionless and waited.
I could see a dim light from across the room. We crept up to the door which was slightly ajar. I looked inside barely able to make out the form on the bed. There was no movement, just steady breathing. Jeanette was sound asleep.
I motioned for William to move to the other side of the bed. In the darkness, each of us closed in on the helpless form before us. Then with one swift movement William quickly placed the cloth over her face, and before she could even begin to struggle, she was unconscious.
I looked around the room and found an overnight bag. I filled it with whatever I could locate in a hurry. It would have to do.
We were able to get her back to the SUV without being detected. The effects of the sedative would put her in a peaceful sleep for a matter of hours which gave me time to think of what we were going to tell her when she woke up. It wouldn’t be easy convincing her that our intervention was in her best interests. Well, I would have to cross that bridge when I came to it. Things were different now.
We drove back towards my cabin. I would stop just long enough to see if it was still intact and grab some extra clothes. We had to get to the compound and figure out our next plan of action.
~
Luther watched the destruction on the monitors as the spaceships ejected their penetrating blows on the unsuspecting population of Washington D. C. The streets were filled with panic-stricken citizens and military police running for cover wherever they could find it. It was useless; there was nowhere to hide. It wouldn’t be long now, and it would all be over. Interplay was reduced to a pile of rubble. Nothing could have survived the blows.
Luther’s concentration was broken by a whirling sound outside. He walked to the large picture window overlooking his docks just in time to see them disappear from view. Pilings and pieces of his precious yacht were sent upwards into the air in all directions. Next to go was his supply warehouse. It created a blast so loud that the windows in front of him rattled.
Still, in shock, he watched as one of the spaceships hovered in the air directly in front of him. For a split second, his mind quit functioning. This wasn’t the plan. He had an agreement with Lucius. He knew he should take cover in his underground shelter, but it was the last thought he would ever have. The next ray of bright light flashed and what was once Luther’s expansive sanctuary was now only one large hole in the ground. There would be no sharing of authority.
Chapter Thirty-Six
William pulled up in front of my cabin. I entered and quickly gathered what I needed. As I placed the bag of items into the back, I looked over at Jeanette who was still sleeping soundly in the back seat.
“Looks like that shot did a number on her,” I said as I shut the door and got in.
“Yeah, hopefully, she doesn’t wake up in a really nasty mood. You still have to convince her it was for her own good.”
“I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that one yet. After all, Jeanette’s not going to recognize either one of us, so how is she going to be willing to trust what we say. I hope she doesn’t wake up until we get back to the STRC compound. We might need the assistance of the doctors there.”
“I sure hope that everyone else was able to take cover below. I hate to think of what could have happened. I’m counting on them not returning for a follow-up attack, but maybe that’s a little premature at this point.”
“The Fallen, from what I’ve seen, will stop at nothing. Since Interplay was obliterated, I’m assuming that they no longer need their assistance and that the takeover is almost complete. I don’t know how much longer we have and I can’t see any way of stopping all this.”
My mind wandered back to the picture of the creature on the video screen from before and what kind of cruel tortures they were really capable of. I shuddered to think of what that might be.
We made our way along the deserted streets. The military had cleaned out all the suburbs and how we managed to sneak in was beyond my comprehension. Maybe the Zarion were protecting us without our knowledge. At least I hoped so.
Everywhere we looked vehicles were sitting halfway into the street, doors open, as if someone had attempted to make a quick getaway. Houses stood, some with their roofs gone, some with windows blasted out, and others in a pile of smoldering embers. There was not one single block of buildings intact
William knew all the back roads virtually untraveled by most people. They had even cleared some areas to make roads where none existed. The air grew thick, and we decided it was time for our face protection. I carefully placed a mask on Jeanette. I didn’t want her to inhale any toxic vapors in her incapacitated condition. She might never wake up.
With masks in place, we continued up the mountain road deep into the hills. The higher we got to the top, the air seemed to clear somewhat, but still emitted a golden glow which indicated a toxic substance in the air. We were about to go around a turn when a gruesome male figure walked in front of the SUV. He was smoldering and looked as though every part of his flesh had been melted to his bones. Wide, scared eyes which seemed to look right through us, peered in through the window. He staggered towards the SUV trying to grab for the door, as William swerved to avoid contact with him.
“What a sight. Was that a blast casualty or exposure to radiation?” asked William as he turned the wheel sharply to the right.
“By the looks of him, I’d say a little of both. You did the right thing by just getting us out of here.”
“I sure hope we don’t see any of our people looking like that."
~
It had been hours since we had arrived at STRC headquarters. Outside it was much like what we had expected. All that remained was the enclosure into the compound. William hit the switch on his remote, and the door quickly rolled aside long enough for us to enter. We had to get in as soon as we could and then run the decontamination program to clean the air that had come from the outside.
We had placed Jeanette in the make
shift hospital that had been set up to take care of any injuries. The doctors and staff of nurses had by some miracle arrived just before the initial blast and were quickly at work doing what they were trained for. Some of the people had sustained minor burns and injuries, but only six deaths so far. The underground facility had lived up to its expectations. Now if they could just hold out until the surface was safe.
I was just finishing up some final preparations for the repair of the monitors when William summoned me. Jeanette was awake and was very frightened. I entered the hospital area and found her in restraints. She had been out of control, and they were unsure of whether or not she was harmful to herself or others. It hurt me to see her that way.
“Jeanette, don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. I know you’re frightened, but I’m only here to help,” I said as I slowly approached the bed.
“Who are you? Where am I?"
“I know you don’t recognize me. I’m Davis. I care very much about your safety. You’re in an underground compound. We’re under attack, and it’s important that you stay here,” I said waiting to see a reaction. “There are about 200 men, women, and children that have chosen to seek shelter here. The Fallen have attacked much of Washington, and we don’t know at this point how much farther the attacks have spread.”
Jeanette tried to take in what this stranger was saying “Could you please take these restraints off? They are cutting into my wrists.”
“Just one minute and I’ll call someone. The last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable,” I said as I punched the intercom button.
In a matter of minutes, a hospital staff worker entered the room. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his eyes were glassy as if he hadn’t slept in days. He walked towards Jeanette and in a soothing voice stated,” “Well, Davis here feels it would be okay to take these restraints off. Do I have your word that you will stay calm?”