Strike Force Black

by C T Glatte

  The eyes, the beautiful blue eyes were open and staring up at her own consciousness. There was a glimmer of mischief she delighted in. She leaned forward and entered this body, this vessel which fit so well, so perfectly formed for her unleashed consciousness.

  MaryAnn sat up, the energy arcs disabled with a thought. She was inside the bare padded room again. She noticed a quivering presence, another human, shaking and exuding so much fear, it made MaryAnn worry for the poor thing’s heart, but a quick thought put her mind at ease. She was a healthy, although leashed human.

  MaryAnn hopped off the metal slab and landed lightly on her feet. There was a knocking, as though someone, or something, was trying to enter her mind. She blocked it easily, not wanting the intruder, more interested in quelling the woman’s fear.

  She walked to her, exuding calmness to the woman like wafting smoke from incense. The woman immediately calmed and looked at MaryAnn and smiled. The relief, the fear leaving and being replaced with hope and love, strengthened MaryAnn, as though a drop helping to fill a vast ocean. She touched the woman’s arm and she felt her soul. It was beautiful, yet scarred.

  The metal slab flipped upright suddenly and started to spin. MaryAnn looked at it, seeing the molecules coalescing to harm her body. Energy lanced out aiming for her heart, but it seemed to happen in slow motion. She easily avoided the sluggish movement, stepping aside and watching the energy miss. More were snaking her way, but like the first she easily avoided the blasts. She saw the human being targeted and moved her out of the way easily. The woman looked startled, but her touch calmed her.

  MaryAnn deconstructed the arc molecules and reformed them, turning them benign. The table stopped spinning and the arcs of energy fizzed and sparked and faded like a child acting out and being put in a corner.

  She felt another presence outside the walls. She looked through and saw three Korth. Their heads were flat and black as night. One held a weapon of considerable power. She could sense the weapon was tapped into the power emanating from the ship they were on.

  The Korth clicked and hummed and MaryAnn felt the translator in her neck trying to work, she expelled it from her body with a simple thought and answered the Korth, who she could understand perfectly well without it. “Yes, it worked. Thank you.”

  TR Cinter and Gruncy watched in fascination mixed with horror as the human known as MaryAnn Larkin, expelled the embedded translator as though it were a child’s toy. The wound in her neck quickly healed and sealed, leaving no sign it had ever been there.

  Cinter had activated MaryAnn’s termination after he tried to enter the human’s consciousness and been summarily rebuffed. If MaryAnn could so easily keep her out, the unleashing had worked too well, making her more powerful than even the TRs.

  It was a possibility he knew existed but didn’t think would actually happen. Watching MaryAnn move with unimaginable speed as the energy arcs reached for her and missed, told Cinter everything he needed to know. The human was powerful and most definitely a threat that need to be squashed or contained.

  Despite the attack though, the human wasn’t exhibiting danger or animosity, quite the opposite in fact. She was emitting only goodwill and Cinter wondered if perhaps her memory had been erased and she had no recollection they were enemies.

  Cinter returned MaryAnn’s steady gaze. The human hadn’t tried probing her mind, but he didn’t want it to get that far. He needed to get control of the situation before MaryAnn decided the Korth were threats and needed to be eliminated.

  The doorway in the wall opened without it being activated and Private Trokon lowered his weapon and aimed at the human who gave him a disarming smirk, as though he were a child holding a bath toy, instead of a hardened Korth warrior holding a laz-blaster.

  The TRs signaled each other and meshed their brains into a powerful meld but before they could force control over MaryAnn, she spoke. “Don’t.” She held up her hand and shook her head slightly.

  The TRs kept their minds melded but Cinter halted hostile action. Gruncy wanted to continue but Cinter was more powerful and arrested her aggression. She spoke to MaryAnn. “The unleashing worked. You are the first of your kind. Congratulations, MaryAnn Larkin.”

  MaryAnn considered her words and shook her head. “I am not the first. There was another unleashing. I can sense it. They left this world millennia ago and I cannot track where they went. Far, far away.” She looked wistfully beyond, then her blue eyes refocused on the Korth. “I feel reborn. Although I know there was another life before this, it seems distant and difficult to see, even so near.”

  Cinter nodded. “We have unleashed you. We are your benefactors responsible for your new life of enlightenment.” Two of Cinter’s arms extended to Gruncy and Trokon. “Us and every Korth.”

  MaryAnn nodded and stepped through the doorway, pulling the human orderly along with her. The orderly never took her eyes from MaryAnn as though she were witnessing the coming of the Messiah. It made Cinter wonder, not for the first time, if perhaps the religious figures they fawned over were actually unleashed humans. All the goodwill and light pouring from MaryAnn certainly increased her suspicions.

  Cinter said, “We’ll get you some clothes.”

  MaryAnn shrugged, “I’ve no need, I have control of my body, but it’s the norm to be clothed, so yes.”

  Cinter tweaked Trokon’s brain to get him to move. He grunted and reluctantly lowered his weapon and went to gather clothes. The doorway leading to the hall opened and in stepped six more TRs. They moved quickly beside Gruncy and Cinter and their minds were soon melded to one another in a tight, strong mesh.

  MaryAnn dressed and looked the new arrivals over. She continued to exude goodwill and light. Cinter clicked and hummed. “We need to study you, MaryAnn. Thank you.” All eight reached out and pried into MaryAnn’s consciousness.

  MaryAnn felt the unwanted presence but was unable to turn them away. They were too powerful together. She pushed back and felt pain. The memory of which assaulted her senses and forced her back. Forced her to retreat. The TRs completed their encirclement and closed her inside her own mind.

  MaryAnn didn’t like the feeling of being trapped. The memory of pain made her seek her old memories. She accessed them like a movie. The Korth, she used to call them Scalps, her benefactors were actually not her friends, that much was clear.

  19

  Rex was stuffed and could hardly move. After his fate was decided, there was a huge feast celebrating Joe’s return to the village. Rex danced, ate and drank an awful concoction that burned his throat but made him feel good. The more he drank the better he felt, but now he was suffering. He felt as though a group of tribesmen were pounding his head like the drums they never stopped drumming.

  He must’ve slept, the last he saw it was dark and now it was light. The great hall was littered with other party-goers some sleeping, some cleaning and he was pretty sure there was a couple in the corner, screwing.

  He stepped outside and squinted and covered his eyes. He’d slept much longer than he thought, the sun was straight overhead and the blistering heat nearly sent him to his knees.

  He stumbled his way toward the hut he’d been imprisoned in, wanting to lay on the dirt floor and sleep without interruption, but Joe was suddenly beside him slapping his shoulder with his huge hand. He seemed to be fully recovered from the past few days. “You’re finally awake! Thought you might sleep the week away. Come, there’s much to do. You must have questions.”

  Rex had no idea how he could be so chipper. He’d drank as much of the vile stuff as he had, yet he didn’t seem to be hung over at all. Rex answered haltingly, “Yes, yes of course, only I don’t feel well. I need to piss and probably throw up.”

  Joe laughed uproariously, throwing his head back. He slapped his back again and Rex thought he should’ve killed him when he had the chance. “Go piss and throw up.” He pointed to a likely spot, “Over there. Then I’ll accompany you to the oasis for a refreshing swim and bath.”
>
  The short ride to the oasis nearly killed him, but he had to admit when he immersed himself in the cool water, he felt one hundred times better. He floated and looked up at the blue sky. The rim of the crater shimmered with heat, but the oasis was twenty degrees cooler, and the water was invigorating and he felt he could stay there forever.

  He noticed Talib making his way down the path. Joe greeted him and Rex exited the water and stood naked and dripping. He wrapped himself with his white loose-fitting clothes and joined them beneath a copse of palm trees near the water’s edge. He sat on sculpted boulders and leaned into the perfectly shaped rock chairs.

  Joe addressed Rex. “You feel better, yes?” Rex nodded emphatically. “Good, good. The waters are said to have healing power, particularly in curing headaches from too much imbibing.”

  “I would agree with that,” said Rex.

  Joe opened his arms and said, “Ask your questions, Rex. I’m sure you have many.”

  Rex nodded, “I guess my first question is: how is it that The Branch doesn’t know who you are? As far as they’re concerned no one’s ever come out of Africa since the aliens. You seem to be a regular here, yet I met you on St. Helena.”

  Joe grinned, “The Branch doesn’t know much and we like to keep it that way. We haven’t found them to be overly helpful, so we simply don’t tell them things. The Scalps don’t pay us much attention down here. They have units placed here and there, but mostly in South Africa. They came through and implanted these, of course,” he touched his translator, “but left soon after. As long as we don’t cause trouble, they don’t bother us. My father sent me away years ago to connect with the outside world, but he didn’t want me to tell them where I came from. We didn’t want to attract their attention. I lived on St. Helena for many years and was soon considered a local. I met members of The Branch when they’d bring agents through and I’d help them like I helped you.

  “Soon they offered to train me in the same way you were and I became an agent myself. That training ended five years ago and as far as The Branch is concerned, I’m strictly used to help with insertions. Yours was the first time I was actually sent onto the continent.” He shrugged, “And you are right, I was sent to watch you. They don’t trust you completely, but they do respect your skills.”

  “So this is the first you’ve been back to your village?”

  Joe shook his head and smiled, “No, of course not. I’ve been back many times but only briefly. I bring weapons mostly, and news.”

  “And you’re not missed? Where do you get the weapons?”

  Joe shook his head, “No, I’m careful. They don’t know when I leave. As for your second question,” he smiled ruefully. “I’ll keep that to myself.”

  “You mentioned a resistance?”

  He nodded and looked at his father. Talib nodded slightly giving him the okay to continue. Joe leaned forward. “Our land has changed dramatically since the Korth arrived. This area used to be lush. This oasis was one of many. Wildlife everywhere eating fields of green grass.” He shook his head, “Now it’s a desert wasteland.”

  “What happened? What’s changed?”

  Joe shrugged, “The Korth arrived. My father wanted to know the answers too. He and a group of warriors traveled north. The Korth don’t allow open travel, so they were careful and moved slow. Like I said they don’t come down here much.

  “The further north they went the more changes they found. Once thriving towns were either completely gone, or well on their way to being so. My father described walking ghosts, like they’d had their skin blanched gray. Hair loss, wasting away, sick all the time and death, lots of death. He inquired, asking old friends for information. They told him many people had been taken north by soldiers. None of them returned. He heard about some kind of massive project. He didn’t venture farther, but he was convinced there was something going on and it was being caused by the Korth. So, he carefully gathered trusted friends and have put together a resistance of sorts.

  “Extracting the translators was the first thing they achieved, making it so they can take them out and insert them when they suspect Korth are nearby. That one act led them to realize something, the translators aren’t only translators. They also have an effect on the brain. My father and others immediately felt more like themselves, clearer. They were convinced the devices were controlling them, keeping them dumbed down, but it happened so slowly they never noticed until they were removed.”

  Rex nodded and rubbed his chin. “You mentioned weapons? Are you planning some sort of operation? I mean what can you possibly achieve faced with such an enemy?”

  Joe nodded slowly and looked at his father. Talib spoke in his deep baritone, “They are not as invincible as you think. The Korth are strong but they underestimate us.”

  Rex asked, “And what about the millions of people they command? Armies, Navies, indeed we’ve seen their ability to wage war first-hand.”

  Joe looked at his father who nodded allowing him to proceed. Joe said, “The only way we’ll succeed in kicking the Korth out and regaining our freedom is to convince the rest of humanity that the Korth are not here to help us. Whatever they are doing is killing the earth. The only way to defeat them is if all humanity rises up to oppose them. There’s no other way.”

  Rex nodded and considered his words. “So your plan is to expose whatever it is they’re doing. Do you have a plan for doing so?”

  “Before we tell you anymore, we need to know where you stand. You said you wanted to make your way back to America, to your wife and son. If that is what you want to do, we will not stand in your way, but we will part ways here and now.”

  Rex had a strong sense that if he didn’t choose correctly, he might already know too much. Joe was trained the same way he was, if roles were reversed, Rex knew he’d be considering whether or not to kill Joe. He eyed Joe who’s bloodshot eyes looked menacingly back. “The cadre didn’t teach you this way, Joe.”

  Joe smiled but it didn’t make it to his eyes. “I was trained the same as you, but like you, I still control my own mind. You and I are different from other Branch agents, I think.”

  “Hmm, I wonder. What became of the other agents sent here? I know of at least five. Did you let them walk away, or are they a part of this?”

  “I told you, you were the first I accompanied to shore. The others I helped insert but did not follow.”

  “You must’ve warned your father of their coming? Did you kill them then?” he asked Talib.

  Rex wondered if he’d offended the old leader, but thought there was no point pussy-footing around the subject. His own life was at stake, he was certain of it. Talib took time to answer and finally said, “No, I did not, but I doubt any are still alive. They went in various directions and have not been heard from since.”

  Joe chimed in. “None were told of the resistance or the plan to expose the Korth.”

  “Then why tell me?”

  “Like I said you and I are different. You are the only agent who is not here to mindlessly do the bidding of The Branch. You attacked me, against orders. Not the usual protocol taught by the cadre.” He looked hard at Rex. “Now it is time for you to decide, Rex.”

  Rex looked over the sparkling water. A light breeze rippled the surface and he thought it might be the prettiest spot he’d ever seen. A soon to be wasteland, if these men were to be believed. He pursed his lips and nodded. “The shock of me returning to my doorstep might give poor Miriam a heart-attack. Or she could be shacked up with another guy by now.” He tried to grin and chuckle but it was forced.

  Joe nodded. “If we survive, there will be time to return home.”

  Rex shook his head. “It was a pipe-dream. I’ll join your resistance, if you’ll have me.”

  Joe smiled and extended his hand. “It will be good to work with you again, Rex.”

  Rex stood at the bottom of a hidden flight of stairs beneath the floor of a mud-hut. Joe waved him forward and the smell of well-oiled metal wafted fr
om the cellar. Joe hit a switch and a string of lights lit up a long corridor. Along each side was every weapon Rex had ever seen: everything from pistols to hand grenades to bazookas.

  His mouth fell open and he gasped, “Holy shit.” He walked along, running his hands along the smooth, metal barrels and polished wood stocks. He hefted a German StG44. “These are hard to come by. German design. How’d you do it?”

  Joe smiled pleased with Rex’s stunned reaction. “Like I said before, I’ll keep that secret. But rest assured, these weapons are all in perfect working order and my people have been trained how to use them.”

  Rex nodded but turned toward him, concern on his face. “But this isn’t the plan. I mean perhaps these will be useful in an uprising, but not now.”

  Joe nodded and guided him back up the stairs. “Yes, you’re correct. I just wanted you to see them in case you were questioning our resolve or resources.”

  “So, what is the plan?”

  Joe closed the hatch in floor and latched it. The borders fit perfectly in the grooves making the lines nearly impossible to see. He spread an old ragged rug over the floor and stood to his full height. “Remember how my father told you of all the people transported away, presumably to work on the secret project?”

  Rex nodded and when Joe stopped talking put the rest together. “You and I are going to be on the next transport north?”

  Joe grinned and nodded. “Exactly. We’ll let them take us to the project. No need to waste time sneaking around looking suspicious. Once we’re inside, we’ll see what’s happening and we can escape, hopefully with evidence, and come back here.”

  Rex grinned and spread his hands out as if entertaining a child. “Easy.” His grin changed and he shook his head. “Thought you said no one’s ever been seen again and what about all the sick and dying people? If that’s from the project, what makes you think we won’t be affected? That’s not a plan, that’s suicide.”