Machines of the Gods

by William B Lyons

  “Hello?” Eddie answered after a few seconds.

  “Hey, Neil here. Listen, I’m in the hallway next to the large security door that leads to the hanger. There are no cameras at this location, but you do have control over the systems in my office. I need help.”

  Eddie waited a few seconds before responding. “I’m about to break through the last firewall. Once I do that, everything will go dark for about seven minutes and then the system will reboot. By the way, how are you able to get through? All cell phone transmissions down this far have been blocked since the tower above was blasted.”

  Neil glanced at the small device attached to the back of his phone and smiled. “There is no time to explain, but you can thank alien technology. Anyway, how long will it be before this freaking security door is unlocked?”

  “Just a few minutes. The last firewall is about to go. After it falls, Jack will not be able to regain control of any part of the system. It’ll be just between you and him.”

  “That’s good news. I just hope I can handle that maniac alone. With the cloak gear and those power gloves at his disposal, my gun may not be enough. I have to at least be able to see my target.”

  “I have some more good news.” Eddie then swallowed, breathing more rapidly. “The lower control room he’s in is filled with all types of sensors—radiation detectors, gas detectors, microwave monitors, just about everything. I can read data on all of that stuff from here.”

  “So?”

  “According to my instruments, that cloak gear is only radiating ten percent of the microwaves that it should be. What I’m saying is that the suit has not been charged in a long while. Perhaps it was only at half power when he put it on three hours ago. In any event, he’ll not be able to stay invisible for more than a few minutes. If you go into that chamber, just stay hidden until the suit runs out of power. He’ll become visible.”

  Neil nodded. He then suddenly had another idea too. “Cut the lights in the control room from up there? Give me about ten minutes.”

  “Okay, I’m ready to get started now.”

  “Also, set off the sprinklers to distract him. The water may also knock out those power gloves too. Perhaps, in all of the confusion, I’ll get off a good shot at him.”

  “Sure thing, “ Eddie replied. “Be careful. Remember, he may have other devices on him we don’t know about yet. And don’t forget about the space bugs either. They can swarm out at any moment from anywhere.”

  Neil paused. “Yes, I know, but we have to stay positive. Let’s take care of one problem at a time.”

  “I agree.” Eddie switched off.

  Neil put the cell phone back into his pocket and waited. There was much to consider. Diamond Jack was ready to destroy the Earth. He himself had to protect the many secrets of this place from the world. Finally, he had to find a way of keeping Agent Miller quiet as well. The man was a loose cannon who could be problems for all of them. He’d been able to handle Agent Miller before, but it would be more difficult this time. World security was at stake too.

  The lights around him suddenly dimmed. The alarms that had been going on and off for the last ten minutes stopped completely. Several of the doors leading to this chamber opened half way and then paused. The lights were now flickering as the internal systems started to fail.

  Neil swallowed. He knew that the last firewall must have just gone down. He looked at his watch again. Fifty more ticks and the giant door to the hanger would unlock too. He withdrew the pistol from his shoulder holster and waited for the system to shut down. His hands had started to shake too as sweat streamed down his forehead. Ice now ran through his veins. It was no telling where Diamond Jack was. The hanger was large, but had few hiding places. However, the control room beyond that was a different story. Not only were there several offices filled with rows of computers, but also doors and hidden passages that led to connecting hallways with additional chambers. And with that cloak gear still working, that maniac could strike at any moment from any place.

  The steel door ahead clicked as the security levers slowly turned.

  “Well, this is it,” Neil said to himself, swallowed again, and stepped back. Maybe Diamond Jack had not brought a gun down here. There was always the chance that the man had gotten over confident and missed this point. Neil at least hoped that this was the case.

  The lights then shut off just as all of the computers went down. Everything was silent. Now was the chance. He could hear the giant door opening completely. Then, the cool breeze from the hanger fluttered his hair as the chamber became as dark as a tomb .

  He reached into his pocket and withdrew the last alien device at his disposal—the innocent-looking sun shades that had also been found on the alien craft too. The lens on these sun shades actually trapped light of any kind—like a battery traps power—and redirected the light so that the user could see in total darkness.

  He put the shades on and looked around. The area was instantly as bright as day. Every small detail could be seen. Maybe, one day, these shades could be reproduced on a mass scale and be used as car windshields, as deep- sea goggles, and lots of other things. There would be no more need to spend money on bulky lighting equipment of any kind. This little invention by itself was worth millions. However, that would have to come later. The issue of Diamond Jack was the primary concern now. But where was this maniac now?

  Neil walked past the steel door and into the hanger. This huge room looked particular haunting. In fact, he’d never seen it vacant before. The scores of people working to restore the alien craft were all gone. The craft’s bright metal exterior shined against the dark walls to create ghostly shadows. Wow, he’d not known that shadows could be seen in total darkness with the right kind of equipment available.

  He then dashed across the hanger and up to the control room door. Everything was still quiet. He slowly opened this door and looked inside. The blue lights coming from the dozens of mainframe monitors greeted him. The power was still on in this room. But how? Ahead, this place resembled a digital maze that led to a back wall that had been converted into a giant smart monitor. The image on this thing was that of the flaming wreakage of the recently destroyed military base. It appeared that this animal had been gloating over the hell he’d just created.

  Above, water suddenly started raining down from the sprinkler system. Yep, Eddie was right on schedule. It would be interesting to see Diamond Jack’s reaction to this little distraction.

  Neil tipped behind one of the large mainframes and looked around. This room was as large as a football field. The two dozen workstations between him and the wall formed a new kind of maze. With sparks now dancing about from the water on the high-tech equipment, it was more difficult to see movement. He’d have to stay mobile to avoid being seen himself. He then darted across the room and hid behind one of the largest computers that was up near the rear wall.

  He looked about again. Something was wrong. Where was Diamond Jack? That maniac had to know that he was here by now. Where was that fool hiding? Was his cloak gear still operating?

  Suddenly, the image on the front smart board was of himself. A camera from somewhere above had focused in on him. Then, the computer monitors all over the room showed the same image. His hiding place had been exposed.

  Neil stepped from behind the main computer, realizing that hiding would do no good anymore. It didn’t matter, this strange game had gone on long enough anyway. He now stood in full view. “Okay, you want me?” He stretched out his arms. “Here I am!”

  The screen’s image changed again. It now showed a world of endless rubble. The skies were dark with black smoke and ash. Strange-looking buildings were in the rear. These structures had tens of thousands of those giant bugs clustered on them. Beyond all of this, hundreds of melted war machines littered the miles of broken roads that extended into the distant horizon. Three moons hovered above this alien landscape.


  “This is the future of our world!” echoed Diamond Jack’s voice from the many speakers throughout this room. “According to these alien’s history files, this world was destroyed by war even before those things from Signus IV were released to finish up the job. The beings of the world behind you actually found a way to open up the alien ark that landed on their world. The result was destruction and death on a global scale. They destroyed themselves within six months of building and using just some of this ancient alien technology contained on the orbs they found. The same thing could happen to man too. However, I will not permit it.”

  Neil withdrew his pistol and backed against the large mainframe behind him. “Show yourself. Maybe we can work something out?”

  “Work something out!” Diamond Jack screamed. “After what you did to me, you want to work something out? I’ve only allowed you to get this far because I want to kill you personally. Oh yes, you will die in agony just like my mother did. I’m going to make you suffer as much as I have!”

  “Bring it on!” Neil shouted. “I’m ready!”

  A bolt of energy shot from the right side of the room and struck Neil square in the chest. The force of the impact lifted him three feet into the air and sent him crashing over a table and on to the floor. A wave of blue energy washed over his body before vanishing into the darkness.

  Neil would have screamed out in pain, but it hurt too much. The air was gone from his chest and was replaced by a paralyzing numbness. Then, the convulsions started as his body tried to react to this unfamiliar type of agony. His hand had also lost its grip on the gun as well. Although the weapon was only a few inches away, his fingers were lifeless. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

  “Stings, doesn’t it?” echoed Diamond Jack’s voice from the many speakers in this vast room. “And that was only at one third power. How about if I pump up the voltage, huh?”

  Neil’s body was in full paralysis, but his eyes could see Diamond Jack’s image flickering under the cloak gear. The water from the sprinkler system was reacting with the electronic device’s filtering system. He could also see his foe’s glowing hands. Those electric gloves were again charging up for a fatal strike. He knew that there was no way that he’d survive another jolt. Maybe Steve and Jenny could stop this maniac, maybe?

  Diamond Jack slowly approached his wounded enemy. The man was no longer convulsing, but he was still helpless. This was almost too easy. Jack smiled, showing his steel teeth. “I could kill you now. However, that would be letting you off the hook too soon. You must suffer before dying.”

  Neil gazed up at Diamond Jack as the cloak gear finally failed completely. His eyes focused on his foe as the rage started swelling. His mouth then opened and let out a raspy sound. “Go to hell…”

  “No, my friend, you first!” Jack yelled before kicking Neil in the head. He then focused on the power gloves again, smiling as they lit up with energy. “Hey, you’re just going to love this,” he joyfully said. “These things not only magnify energy, but gravitity too. I can aim this basic force in any direction that I wish. Let me show you.” He reached out into the air with the glowing gloves sparking again and pointed at his victim. “Let’s play!”

  Neil was suddenly lifted up off the floor by an invisible force and thrown into one of the cubicle walls. He crashed through, landed on a table behind the divider—which collapsed and knocked over a desktop computer—before hitting the floor.

  Diamond Jack slowly walked over and looked down at his foe again. He didn’t want this to end too quickly. This man must die in agony. Neil had been the one who’d made him watch his own mother’s death over and over again. Now, it was this man’s turn to feel pain—both physically and mentally. In rage, he straddled Neil’s chest and started hitting him in the face with both of his fists. He struck again and again until Neil’s face was a bloody mess. “Faggot!”

  Neil wheezed, coughing up blood. “You’re killing me!”

  “Oh no!” Jack yelled. “I’m just getting started, punk!” He then punched Neil in the chest and in the side. After quickly standing up, he started kicking Neil in the stomach, groin, and back. Then, with gritted teeth, he slammed his boot into Neil’s outstretched hand, snapping the man’s fingers.

  Neil screamed in agony. “You broke my hand!”

  Jack grabbed Neil’s leg and twisted it, rolling the man over. He then kicked Neil in the groin again and in the side of this head, breaking the man’s jaw. “Come on, suffer!”

  Neil attempted to turn over and crawl away.

  “Leaving so soon?” Jack roared. He then picked up a wooden chair that was nearby and broke it over Neil’s back. Then, he took the broken chair leg and hit the man over and over again until there was no movement or sound from Neil at all. Still his rage continued to build. “Get up, punk! Don’t die on me now. You haven’t suffered enough—not nearly enough. Get up, you stupid faggot! Wake up!”

  ***

  The lights on the lower floors came back on, and the soft hum of the complex’s engines came to life. Slowly, the turbines and cooling system’s rotary blades started to spin too. Air blew through the vents as some of the computer screens snapped back on.

  Steve walked over to the exit door in the chamber and pulled on it again. “Oh hell, this thing is still locked.”

  Jenny stood up from the couch and hugged him from behind. “It’s only been ten minutes. Besides, I can hear that the system is rebooting. We’ll be on our way soon.”

  He took her hands away and turned around. “You don’t give up easily. I’m a married man and will never see you in a romantic way. Besides, we have too much to worry about to even think about love of any kind.”

  “I have faith in people.” She spun around, looking him straight in the eyes. “Eddie has done his job. Neil is already in the control room above. He will kill Diamond Jack. Finally, the military base has jets headed this way. They are armed with Termicide bombs that will take care of those flying beasts.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Once all of this is over, we can live like kings in a new and amazing world. I want to share all of it with you.”

  Steve gazed directly at her for ten full seconds before responding. What strange game was this woman playing, he wondered. Her eyes reflected deceit. However, he would play along to see what the true agenda was. “You don’t know me. How can you even ask such a thing?”

  “You remind me so much of my ex-husband,” she purred. “He had your attitude, ambition, and style. The man was very good looking too.”

  “Why did you let him go?”

  She looked down in sadness and then turned away. “I don’t want to talk about it now. Just know that it was something that had to be done.”

  Steve shrugged and moved away from the door. Her personal life was a distant issue to what was going on at the moment. Besides, time was running out. Those jets with the Termicide would soon be headed their way—that is if those space bugs didn’t kill them first. Finally, Diamond Jack’s sky weapon could again start raining death down from above at any moment. However, there were still a lot of questions to be answered. Maybe now, she could give him some information that would put all of this together. “I don’t know why this maniac came back here anyway? After that factory blew up, he could have just kept going. He had the orb, a man who could read the blueprints, a mysterious financial supplier, and time. Diamond Jack had everything.”

  “He wants revenge against all of us,” she said. “It’s all about simple revenge.”

  “No, that still doesn’t make sense. He could have escaped and come back later to finish the job. Remember, he has no time limit to do any of this. Why now? What aren’t you telling me?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t explain the thoughts of an insane man.”

  “Fine, if that’s the way you want to play this game, so be it.” He turned away.

  “Steve….”


  The sound of the door latch clicking shot through the room.

  “We’ll talk about this later.” Steve moved back over to the door. He touched the room’s control panel and it lit up. “Listen, I think the system has fully rebooted. Even the air conditioning units are on.”

  Jenny moved around him and touched the vent on the side of the door. The cool breeze proved Steve’s theory. “Oh yeah, Eddie has done it. Now we can get into the lower chamber.”

  He picked up the flame gun from the floor and pressed a button above the trigger to ignite the thing. “Like I said earlier, let’s get this door open and fry some bugs.”

  She moved over to the door panel and punched in a code number. “We must be ready once this door opens. These new creatures have not encountered people before, so they may be startled at first. That’s when we strike.”

  He nodded. “I’m going after the queen first. If they are like bees, they’ll try to protect her at all costs. Once that thing is dead, they’ll be lost without her.”

  She stepped back, withdrawing her automatic pistol and waiting for the door to open. “How much fuel is left in that thing?”

  He glanced at the electronic meter on top. “It’s down to fifty-one percent.”

  “Oh Lord, I hope that’s enough.”

  The door started opening.

  She took a deep breath. “Remember, short bursts to conserve fuel.”

  He lifted the flame gun. “Stay behind me and make sure that none of those things come at us from the rear. We both know how they’ve been known to ambush before.”

  The door finally opened completely, and they got their first look inside the secret bio-chamber.

  “Oh my God!” she screamed at the horrible sight ahead. “This can’t be real!”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Two flowers above, the sprinkler system no longer rained water down into the lower control room and the lights had come back on. The many sparking computers had shut off as the smart board in the rear just showed static.