by Nick Braker
“They’ll be here in a few minutes. We’ll be safe and out of the country soon,” Magnus said.
“You are to return with the evac team,” she said. “That is an order, Agent Carson.”
Grep’s arm shook but he managed to tap Magnus’ shoulder, pointing to the horizon. Magnus examined the sky where Grep indicated, but Magnus didn’t see anything. Grep had to be hallucinating as the evac team would be another few minutes.
“They’re almost here,” Grep whispered.
Grep’s eyes rolled in his head, unfocused.
“Alexandria, Grep is hurt worse than he let on. I gotta go.”
“Go,” she said.
Alexandria wouldn’t argue with him, not with Grep’s life on the line. Magnus tapped behind his ear again, disconnecting them. He examined Grep. If Brock were alive, Brock needed Magnus too, but Grep’s state demanded his immediate attention. Magnus searched Grep’s head, neck and then limbs. He lifted his shirt.
Damn it.
There, just beneath the surface of his skin, Grep was bleeding. A purple mass about the size of his hand lay just beneath Grep’s ribcage. He pushed on it. It felt hard to the touch. He grabbed Grep, holding him in his arms. Magnus leaned back against the air conditioning unit. He couldn’t do a thing for Grep except wait for the evac team.
How did he keep doing the wrong things and getting his friends killed? He got out of WSO for this very reason, but Grep had told him he’d be back. Grep had even predicted the day Magnus wouldn’t be able to take it anymore and would finally relent and return. That was just two days ago and now Magnus sat here holding his dying friend, unable to do a damned thing to help anyone. Magnus reflected on Grep’s prediction he’d given at the coffee shop.
Earth - Washington, DC
Sunday, October 11, 1987 - 08:30pm
Magnus
“This is bullshit,” Magnus told himself, standing outside Grep’s WSO apartment.
Grep had asked Magnus to pick up a 1958 bottle of Brunello di Montalcino and, being a hard liquor kind of guy, he struggled to find someone who knew what he was talking about. Magnus found a store in the downtown district of D.C. and, after some considerable reassurances that he indeed wanted the wine, the owner was able to acquire the correct vintage. The bottle of wine had been expensive. He sighed. It was not something he would willingly spend his money on.
After Warren’s death, Magnus had left WSO determined to move on with his life, but the alien’s disappearance had gnawed at him for weeks. Magnus couldn’t walk away, not from the very creature responsible for Beth’s death. Accident or not, it was responsible. Grep knew Magnus would change his mind and had asked him to bring them all a bottle of wine to celebrate his return.
Satirra, the Omarii agent from the planet Kron, was the one who had murdered Beth, the only woman he’d ever loved. The aliens had chosen her as one of the first human hosts to control as part of their species’ reconnaissance of Earth; all of it done so they could ultimately wipe humanity from the face of the planet. While the Omarii’s first attempt had failed, Magnus knew she would try again, especially since she had successfully fled and gone underground. Even with WSO’s incredible resources, the alien had effectively disappeared.
Magnus wanted out. He wanted to leave the government’s service, but Satirra’s existence on his home planet and his promise to Beth was the catalyst for his return. Magnus would find Satirra.
So here he was standing outside his friend’s place, a bottle of wine in one hand and a virtual shaker of salt in the other for the crow he was about to eat. Magnus promised Beth he’d never forget her and that meant not giving up, ever. Her murderer would be found and-
The door opened.
“Oh, hello Magnus,” Seph said, smiling.
She motioned him in, taking the bottle of wine in one hand and his jacket in the other. The bottle was gift wrapped and tied with a red ribbon.
“This is sweet of you,” she continued.
Seph’s hair, auburn red, was pulled back and tied into a pony tail. It bounced easily as she moved since she kept it long. Seph ushered him inside.
“Have a seat. I will get Grep for you,” she said.
Magnus wondered how long he could go before he had to say anything aloud. The two of them, augmented by alien technology, could generally predict his next words; frustrating, to say the least.
“How’s-”
“Grep is doing well,” Seph said. “He told me you might be dropping in today, though he was unable to predict your arrival time.” She paused. “Magnus, he does miss you and your friendship, though he will never admit it to you directly.”
“He sure-”
“-and so do you,” she said.
“May I ask a favor?” he said.
“Oh dear, I was doing it again,” she said. “Sorry, I am distracted today.”
“It’s okay. Still speaking without contractions?” Magnus asked.
She grinned.
“Another example of how neither of us can truly predict another human beings’ response. Correct. I am,” she said, still grinning. “By choice, of course. I can use them if I wish.”
Seph was genuine. Her emotions were on display, good or bad. She was glad to see Magnus. Neither of the two could hide their reactions, making it even easier for Magnus to read them. While they might both be able to predict someone’s responses, Magnus understood people on a far deeper level. It was something the aliens had given him. Magnus didn’t like it, but he would use it to find Beth’s killer.
Seph’s eyelids had several extra-long lashes on the outside edges. For Seph, the effect worked, giving her beauty an unearthly quality. All five of the women that the Aliri had augmented were perfect in many ways. Zara, short for Zarabeythe, Seph, short for Josephina, Jules and Mira were augmented at the age of five. The Aliri aliens had chosen those four to help keep Earth safe. While they had many theories on the augmentation process, none of which Alara would verify, they believed their physical beauty was a side effect of the procedure itself. Each of them had been gifted an ability the Aliri deemed necessary to save Earth from destruction.
The fifth human, Alara, her name derived from the race that had adopted her, had told them she was taken from her family at birth, but Alara’s role would ultimately be that of an ambassador between the two species. Alara had clear instructions of what she could say and do for humanity, rules imposed upon her by her Aliri caretaker. Her adopted father was an enigma that she also would not speak of, not even his name. The four young women were to meet Magnus and his three friends along the way and together increase the odds of Earth’s and humanity’s survival. How could this alien race know, twenty years ago, what to do and who to do it to was also something Alara would not speak of. Perhaps she didn’t know?
Alara had joined WSO, working as an ambassador between her native people, humans, and the race that had kidnapped her as a baby, the Aliri. While few within the organization trusted Alara, each side understood the importance of a liaison between the races. After all, Earth’s ambassadors between countries had been in place for centuries. Why not one that represented another species entirely?
“Ah, there you are,” Grep said, walking into the room. “Take a seat. I need to catch you up on current events.”
“Straight to the point and barking orders, as usual. What? No, Hi, how are you?” Magnus said.
“Both of you, stop,” Seph interrupted, holding up her hand.
They both switched targets, looking at Seph. Her face turned red. Magnus kept his face neutral but Grep’s eyes dropped, staring at the floor. Magnus knew Grep hated upsetting Seph.
“The world is in danger again and while you do not have to be friends, you two can at least be civil with each other,” she said.
“You’re correct,” Grep said. “Perhaps-”
Seph nodded, opening the bottle of wine. She allowed the wine to breathe for several minutes before she poured them each a glass from behind the bar. Magnus took a seat in the r
ecliner near the couch watching her. He used Seph as a distraction to avoid talking with Grep. Magnus was sure Grep was doing the same. The quiet in the room stretched to the awkward point.
“Gentleman,” Seph said. “We have made additional progress on our EP technology. At some point, you will need to return to WSO’s hospital and get your old one replaced.”
“Replaced by two newer units,” Grep added. “I’m sure Tom will make it a requirement eventually.”
Magnus’ brows furrowed.
“Why two?” he asked, taking a glass of wine from Seph.
Seph handed one to Grep before sitting down next to him on the couch. Grep swirled the wine in his glass and sniffed the aroma. He nodded at Magnus.
“Several reasons, one of which will be considered a dangerous beginning in the evolution of man.”
“Okay, Mr. Einstein, keep it simple,” Magnus said.
“Robotic enhancements usually start benign,” Grep said. “The two EP implants will work in tandem offering binaural qualities, allowing us to locate each other in two ways. One, an enhancement to our own natural sound locating ability and two, locating each other by the EP’s tachyon transmissions. The device uses these particles to send and receive spoken word or sounds instead of radio frequencies commonly used today.”
“Okay,” Magnus said. “Brock isn’t here, so I’ll say it. You’re making my head hurt already.”
Seph laughed.
“The range on the devices has been extended as well, Magnus,” Seph added. “Mainly because we were able to increase the sensitivity-”
“Okay, you two,” Magnus said, cutting them off.
They were getting too deep into the details of something he cared nothing about. Magnus would propose a toast to finding the Omarii on Earth.
“A toast, Magnus?” Seph asked. She giggled, looking to the side and displaying a face full of the innocence of a newborn.
“Are you going to let me make the toast or do you want to just read my mind?” Magnus asked.
“Sorry, dear, I’m trying to lighten things up.” Seph said. “Did you notice the contraction?”
“My heart skipped a beat,” Magnus mused. “A toast.”
Magnus cleared his throat and raised his glass. The two of them followed suit.
“Fuck the Kron.”
Grep rolled his eyes. “So elegant...”
Earth - Managua, Nicaragua
Tuesday, October 13, 1987 - 08:41pm
Magnus
The wind picked up around him. At first, it felt like a mild breeze, but the force of it grew quickly. The sounds of numerous chopper blades, slicing through the air, drowned everything else out. He lifted Grep, ignoring the pain. Nothing else mattered but getting his friend medical attention. He wasn’t going with Grep because the world depended on him. Magnus couldn’t do anything for Grep anyway. His only contribution lay in saving them all from an insane bunch of murderous aliens.
Soon, Beth. Soon.
Helicopters surrounded the building, guarding the one that landed atop it. Magnus worked his way around the cooling units and other equipment on the roof. Grep’s eyes stared blankly through him, his mouth moving. Magnus leaned in, listening, still carrying Grep to the chopper.
“Tell my wife... I never stopped loving her,” Grep whispered.
“Hold on, Grep. Hold on,” Magnus said, racing for the chopper.
A man jumped out, dragging a bag with him.
“Get him on the stretcher and climb in,” the man said.
Two more joined him and they secured Grep to the stretcher.
“Take care of him,” Magnus yelled. “I’m fine. You have your orders.”
The man hesitated, preparing to say something, but Magnus didn’t want to hear it.
“His right arm is broken and he has several fractures but I don’t know where. He has internal bleeding here,” Magnus said, lifting Grep’s shirt.
“Sir-”
“Send whoever you can to find Agent Stone in the collapsed building, but get the hell out of here now with my friend. Do we understand each other?” Magnus asked.
The medic didn’t hesitate, motioning to the pilot to go. It was a waste of time to search for Brock; something in his gut told him Brock had died. He turned, pulled out his pistol and entered the access door for the roof. Magnus would find the Omarii. He touched his sides again, feeling along the bones for damage. He winced. His ribs hurt like hell. Grep was partially right, he was damaged, but they didn’t feel broken.
I’ve felt worse.
The stairs were an option, but so was the elevator. He took the elevator. Magnus checked his equipment on the ride down, returning both weapons to their holsters, one on his hip and the other on his left chest.
Elevator music played on the way down. It had a rumba beat to it, but he didn’t understand the language. To him, it was just sound, nothing more. He was numb inside. Brock was dead. He knew that the moment Brock’s EP device had stopped transmitting. The rage had burned out and all that remained was his promise to Beth. Beth’s death weighed on him even now. He could still see her lying in a pool of her own blood, slowly dying in his arms. He wiped his eyes with both sleeves. “Forget me?” She had asked.
Never. Damn it. Never.
“You fuckers are all going to die.”
The elevator doors opened. A crowd of people huddled in groups in the lobby, fleeing the explosions and the cloud of dust outside. The bombs had created a panic and those outside had run, taking cover inside. He moved through the throng of people, navigating his way to the buildings’ entrance. Magnus didn’t need to speak their language to know what they were saying. They were lamenting their dead. He counted eight along his path, their loved ones crying over them. His hands clenched into fists. There was nothing he could do for them. He reached the door, pushing on it. Magnus stopped. Did he hear correctly?
Did someone just say ‘Miguel’?
Magnus turned back, scanning the crowd. An older man, perhaps in his fifties, relayed a story Magnus could not understand to several others standing around him. White ash covered the older man but he seemed unconcerned about his appearance. Magnus turned, approaching the crowd. He gently pushed two of the bystanders aside.
“Do you understand English?” Magnus asked, speaking to the old man.
“Yes. My name is Jose Armando. Why do you ask?”
“Could we speak privately, sir?” Magnus asked.
Jose studied him, his eyes narrowing. Magnus watched Jose’s posture change, shifting away from him slightly. The man swallowed. Magnus already knew Jose’s loyalties. Magnus pulled him aside, smiling.
“I’m no friend of Miguel,” Magnus said, “and I’m pretty sure you aren’t either.”
“What do you want?”
“Just so you know, Miguel is responsible for blowing up that building and for the death of these people.” Magnus paused, letting his words sink in.
“I thought so,” Jose said. “He ran through here laughing and smiling while the rest of us were running for our lives, screaming. Some of us dying.”
The man’s eyes shifted to one of the bodies in the room.
“Which way did he go?” Magnus asked. Magnus moved his jacket aside, revealing his shoulder pistol. He stared, locking eyes with Jose. Magnus continued. “I promise you. I will make him pay.”
“Two things,” Jose said, nodding. “He went south along the sidewalk. He wore goggles and a breathing mask, but I know it was him. I have never forgotten what he looks like.”
Magnus could see the man had a history with Miguel and it was not a good one.
“And the second?”
“Speak to Amanda,” he whispered. “She owns the coffee shop along the way. Do not leave the main street, her shop is on the left.”
“Why?” Magnus asked.
“Because, my friend, she will help you kill Miguel.”
Earth - Managua, Nicaragua
Tuesday, October 13, 1987 - 09:05pm
Katerra
Katerra listened to the computer’s countdown.
“Three,”
“Two,”
“One.”
The cerulean light darkened and winked out. Her world thinned to a single point in front of her and her consciousness entered it, streaking across the universe. Katerra knew the same would happen to the child, but the process’ design prevented that memory from getting recorded in the child’s brain and she would remember nothing upon her return. The child might be filled with amazement or fear during her experience, but once she returned she would recall neither.
The universe, as black as it was, filled her eyes with wonders few would ever experience. In the distance, a blue dwarf star streaked by her, leaving a trail of white light in its wake. A black hole, an enigma in the vast expanse, also flew by but nothing followed it. It simply existed, revealing its presence upon the universe as an absence of all things. Katerra relaxed. She had thirty seconds of perfect safety and she savored each moment. Enemies were everywhere in her universe, except here. Nothing, not even the nothingness of a black hole, could reach her here. The process that swapped her consciousness with her target was automatic and could not be affected externally. Peace. True peace, existed only in this moment.
A yellow star ahead of her, expanded, filling her view. She cut through it, catching a glimpse of its bright core and then the blackness returned, only to be filled again by blue. Wispy white clouds floated above a sea of blue-green water ahead of her. It too expanded, completely filling her vision. Earth. She opened her eyes standing on a hard walkway.
Fast moving vehicles filled the air with angry sounds of various tones and rhythms. Blue, red, and white cars sat motionless in front of her.
Car horns.
They emitted foul smelling gases, too. Katerra’s face grimaced and she covered her mouth. Her host’s mind brought forth the images and words the young child had been taught. None of them truly made sense to the child, but the child remembered them.
Car exhaust.
Someone bumped her. She reacted, bringing her hand up to strike the person across the throat. She withheld the blow inches from the young male’s throat. The older boy laughed as he and several of his friends walked by her on the sidewalk.