by J C Ryan
They sat in silence, each considering the possibilities and consequences. Robert stared into his cup, mesmerized.
“It’s no wonder we can’t sleep,” Siasha finally whispered, breaking the silence.
Robert agreed. “I just wish these nightmares would stop.”
“Maybe if you talk about them it will help,” Rebecca suggested.
Robert paused to consider the idea. “I guess it can’t hurt. They are strange. Set in a rain forest, and there’s a volcano erupting…”
Rebecca laughed. “Robert, I don’t think one has to be clairvoyant to say your dreams are a result of what’s been happening lately.”
“Yeah, well, it gets weird. There are people gathered, and someone receives a great honor, and then I see someone fall into the volcano.”
“That’s terrible!” Rebecca exclaimed.
“The weird thing is that it seems familiar to me somehow, like I’ve been there or had the dream before, like I know something.” Robert shook his head. “I don’t get it.”
“Robert,” Siasha said softly. “Perhaps it’s something Tawndo remembers.”
“I’m not Tawndo,” he snapped.
“I know that, Robert,” she responded patiently. “However, you have Tawndo’s memories buried inside you. I was going to suggest that you try to access them; they might help you understand.”
“No,” he responded firmly getting to his feet. “I am Robert, and Tawndo is gone; he no longer exists, and I won’t do anything to bring him back,” he finished, almost shouting the last few words.
“That is your choice,” Siasha said quietly as he stalked off.
Robert found himself following the familiar path to the Oasis sanctuary and allowed himself to wander once he got there.
I am not Tawndo, and I won’t let him interfere with me OR my dreams.
Unconsciously, his wandering took him to Tawndo’s favorite tree. Recognizing where he was, he angrily started to walk away, but then he stopped.
Ah hell. Might as well.
He sat down under the tree, closed his eyes, and dreamed.
CHAPTER 58
Washington, DC
WHEN SALOME LEFT the Oval Office, she got hold of Cliff Willis, the Secretary of Defense, and asked him if she could see him as a matter of urgency. He immediately cleared his schedule and invited her to come over.
On the way to his office, she had a bit of time to organize her thoughts and strategy.
Trustworthy as Willis was, there was no way she could give him a full brief about the looming Re’an threat. First of all, there was not enough time to explain it to him—it would take hours. Second, was the need-to-know principle; and for Willis to do what she wanted, he didn’t need to know it all.
In fact, she thought as she stared out the window from the back seat of her official vehicle, he doesn’t have to know anything. Which means I’d have to lie to him. But I guess the end might justify the means in this case.
She had her story ready when she walked into his office. Over her second coffee of the morning, she told Willis that she was acting on Daniel’s orders to retrieve seven scientists who had been working on a top-secret program for the Russians from a US Navy ship, en route to Kitsap Naval Base. She told him that Daniel had arranged for the Itinerant to pick them up at night on the East Coast of Russia, but due to the disaster caused by the tsunami, Daniel needed to give his full attention to that and asked her to step in for him.
When he prompted her for more details, she told him that she knew nothing of the details, of the work the scientists were doing, or how it came about that they’d decided to leave Russia in such an unorthodox manner.
“Maybe it shows how sensitive the program is that they’ve been working on,” she said with a shrug.
She almost heaved a sigh of relief when Willis said, “I guess we’ll be filled in with the details if and when the President thinks it necessary.”
Within the hour, Willis called Salome to let her know that he had a CH 47 Chinook helicopter ready at Kitsap Naval Base, waiting for take-off instructions.
In the meantime, Salome had been in contact with the captain of the Mystic Sea to make the necessary arrangements for the airlifting of the scientists. The captain told her that they were about two hours from the rendezvous point and gave her the coordinates.
She then got in touch with Owen at the canyon site and arranged with him to fly the Metroliner up to Kitsap Naval Base, pick up Telestra and company, and transport them to the canyon site.
Two and a half hours later, she got the thumbs up from the captain of the Mystic Sea, and she asked Willis to dispatch the helicopter.
Then, she phoned Daniel on the mirror phone and filled him in on everything she’d done. She also warned him about the story she had spun to Willis which soon had Daniel chuckling.
“Salome, if I didn’t hear it from your own mouth, I wouldn’t believe it if anyone told me you are such an accomplished liar.”
“Yeah, well I was in a tight spot, and of course I was under orders from the President of the United States.”
Daniel was still smiling broadly when he said, “Thanks, Salome, you did great. Don’t worry about Willis. It is as you’ve said, on a need-to-know basis, and for now, he doesn’t need to know.”
About three hours after the call to Daniel, Salome got word from Owen that he had collected the seven L’gundo scientists, they were all safe and about to take off to head back to the canyon.
* * *
Bremerton, Washington State to Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
IN THE PASSENGER area of the Metroliner, the L’gundo scientists were welcomed by Owen, Doug, JR, and Rebecca.
“Welcome to America. I am Rebecca Rossler, and this is my husband, Joshua Rossler, everyone calls him JR, and these are our friends Owen and Doug, the pilots,” Rebecca said.
Telestra smiled and said, “Thank you. We are relieved to finally be here. I am Telestra, and these are my colleagues: Dekka, Rauel, Tellek, Baynor, Jezza, and Naamin.”
“Get a seat and buckle up. Make sure you tighten those belts,” Owen said as he and Doug started moving toward the cockpit after all the handshaking was over.
“If you are God-fearing people, now would be a good time to start praying because this is my first flight ever. I haven’t even been a passenger on an airplane before.
“But I’m under orders from the President of this country to fly you to some place I’ve never even heard of. To tell you the truth, I am not even sure I know which country we’re in and in which direction I should fly. That’s if I can get us in the air to start with.”
Several gasps of shock and bewilderment could be heard from the seven newcomers, who were staring at each other and at the cockpit door through which Owen and Doug had disappeared.
Rebecca immediately saw the consternation Owen had caused among their guests and realized that the L’gundo probably didn’t have the same sense of humor as they had, not to mention Owen’s sense of humor. He was a walking, never-ending string of pranks and jokes.
JR was laughing so hard he had doubled over, holding his stomach.
“JR, stop it!” Rebecca hissed into his ear. “Go up to that cockpit and tell Owen Bell he’d better stop clowning around or he’ll find himself gagged and hogtied in the cargo area, and Doug will be flying this plane.
“These people think he’s serious, they obviously don’t understand his raillery.”
JR stopped laughing and got out of his seat. “I guess over a period of seventy-thousand or so years, people’s sense of humor might change a little.”
The look in his wife’s eyes made him lose the grin on his face and scurry to the front.
Rebecca got up, went to Telestra and company with a big smile on her face, and explained to them that Owen was a very good pilot, and an eternal jokester. She assured them they had nothing to fear and seeing Rebecca so relaxed and friendly quickly put them all at ease.
The rest of the flight happened wit
hout so much as a squeak out of the cockpit from Owen.
When they reached cruising altitude, Doug told them over the intercom they were welcome to unfasten their seatbelts and use the toilet or kitchen if they had need of it. Rebecca took over and played hostess to the guests, ordering JR to make the coffee and tea, get out the snacks, and serve them, which he did without any objection… even in his facial expressions.
“On the way from the ship in the helicopter, we were told there is some increasing seismic activity in the Pacific,” Telestra said to Rebecca.
“Yes, scientists are monitoring an increase of minor earthquakes in the vicinity of the Aleutian Trench and increased pressure and some sub-surface volcanic activity along the Aleutian Islands as well. Our resident expert on volcanoes is Robert; you will meet him when we get to the canyon site, and he will be able to explain much better what has been happening.
Dekka looked at Telestra and spoke to her with his mind. I wonder if the explosion of the site is to blame; if we have brought this turmoil on the world.
I doubt it, she said.
How can you be sure?
I’m not. I’m going to discuss it with Jezza as soon as I get the chance. She is a geoscientist too, and we can evaluate it together.
Good idea.
Four hours later, shortly after dark, Rebecca, JR, Doug, and a very subdued Owen, led the seven L’gundo scientists into the canyon facility where they received a cheering welcome from everyone.
Deszik hugged his crying mother, who’d run to him the moment she saw him. A few seconds later, Siasha wormed herself into their hug and started crying when she put her arms around her sister’s neck and whispered, “Telestra, Telestra, I thought we would never see each other again.”
Dekka approached Deszik, laying his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “You did very well. I’m proud of you!”
“Thank you, Dekka.”
Dekka, smiling, turned to speak with Korda and Linkola.
“I’ve been told there’s a welcome dinner waiting for us. I suggest we head that direction and continue getting acquainted and re-acquainted while we eat!” Rebecca said through the excited voices.
They talked late into the night as the newcomers were briefed on the events of the past few days, not only at the canyon site but also across America. Although Telestra and company celebrated their escape from Viktor and the destruction of the Tunguska site with their hosts, everyone knew it was not over yet. They would not be able to relax until the last of Viktor’s Re’an were also eliminated.
When they finally adjourned in the early hours of the morning, Telestra entered her room and lay down on the unfamiliar bed.
After several minutes of trying to get comfortable, she was up, slowly pacing the room. Why am I uneasy? She continued moving about the room, first sitting on the couch, then in the chair at the desk. Finally, she identified the source of her uneasiness and left the room.
Knocking on the door of the room down from hers, she softly called his name, and Dekka opened the door.
Stepping inside, Telestra spoke. “I…” She didn’t know how to finish the sentence.
“I’m glad you came,” Dekka said. “I’m lonely too.”
“I love you, Dekka. I always have. I’ve waited a long time to say that.”
“I know,” he replied. “I’ve always known. I love you too and am glad I can finally say it.” He leaned to kiss her.
As she put her arms around his neck, she felt a quickening of her heart.
None of the canyon dwellers would have fallen asleep if they’d known that Viktor’s taskforce was on their way to their first targets.
Thirty-five hundred miles to the northwest, pressure began building beneath the mountains of Alaska, and a small, almost undetectable earthquake rolled through northern Washington.
CHAPTER 59
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
ABOUT ONE-HUNDRED and fifty miles to the south of the canyon site, in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, a lone figure moved carefully through the early morning darkness, his dark clothes concealing him in the shadows. Proud to be one of the first to receive an assignment, he was careful not to do anything to put his mission in jeopardy.
Few lights were illuminated in the large nursing home facility. Only the kitchen area was bustling with activity.
Looking back at the facility with his enhanced eyes, he checked the timers on the devices he had placed and activated fifteen minutes earlier.
Two minutes.
Entering his car, he spent the time thinking of his comrades in other cities across the nation who were carrying out similar missions at the same time.
The multiple targets varied in size, and thus the teams dispatched varied in number. His target was small, requiring only one person to carry it out.
Although all teams reported losing contact with headquarters two days ago, and nothing had come through from Viktor since, their operational procedures had been laid down, execute your orders, and their orders were clear. Today they began, and over the next days and weeks, the same action would be taken in other cities as well. This was only the first wave of strikes, many more would follow in the days to come.
Ten seconds!
He adjusted his vision to protect his eyes just before an inferno erupted, consuming the Saguaro Sun nursing facility in Phoenix.
Knowing he was far enough away not to be associated with the site, he watched for a time while emergency vehicles arrived, contained the fire, and locked down the area. When he was satisfied that he’d done his job well, he started the car and drove away, returning to the rental house where the rest of his team awaited his return.
He arrived to find them all watching the news report covering the incident.
“Well done!” his commander said. “They are reporting that it appears to have been a gas explosion.”
He smiled, knowing there were other cities where reporters were also going to be citing ‘gas explosion’ or other equipment malfunctions as an explanation for similar incidents.
He was right. That night, news reports in the targeted cities confirmed that officials had determined the cause of the disasters to be a gas explosion caused by failing equipment.
Footage of bodies in bags being carried from the charred remains played as newscasters reported no survivors.
Turning the news off, the tall, muscular commander stood to address his team. “We have done well! Tonight, ten nursing homes, five hospitals, six homeless shelters, and four Head Start schools have been eliminated along with the aged, infirm, and undesirables in them.”
After the team’s cheers died down, he continued. “Tomorrow, more institutions will be eliminated, and the next day, and the next. We will continue until all those unfit to become Re’an have been eradicated!”
A big burly soldier exclaimed, “And then we will begin the assimilation process on the others!”
“Yeah!” shouted another. “We will build an army – an unstoppable, undefeatable army.”
“…and rule the world!” a short broad-shouldered soldier finished for him.
Nodding, their leader added, “That we will. We most certainly will.” Looking proudly at his team, he said, “Let’s get busy; we want to be ready for tomorrow.”
Moving as one, the team members scattered to various locations in the house and focused on assembling their destructive devices, packing them carefully for transportation to the destination sites.
CHAPTER 60
Washington, DC
DANIEL WAS A bundle of nerves as he listened to the rants of various members of the National Security Council about the country-wide attacks. He was on the edge of the cliff of one of the biggest, if not the biggest, presidential transgressions in the existence of the republic. He had been withholding crucial information about national security, from the council and his cabinet. Sometimes presidents had to, in the interest of national security, withhold information from various persons, departments, and agencies, but Daniel’s dilemma was
that he might have withheld it for too long.
Since the news of the attacks broke in the early hours of the morning, Daniel had been doing a lot of soul-searching. Was it time to come clean? If he did, how would they respond? He had no illusions that he would immediately lose the bipartisan loyalty he had been able to build during his short tenure in office. It was this unprecedented cooperation between politicians from both sides of the aisle that was helping to get the country back on its feet after the mayhem caused, first by John Brideaux and his Supreme Council, and then the mercifully short dictatorship of General Thomas Hayden.
However, he had no doubt that he would be expected to step down as President immediately, and he was sure he would become the subject of an investigation. It would be a scandal of epic proportions.
He was brutally honest with himself when he asked himself the question; Is this about you and your presidency, or is it about what’s in the best interest of the American people? He was relieved when he could honestly answer; It’s not about me, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the American people, and nothing else.
He and Salome, the only member of the National Security Council who knew as much as he did, had been discussing the dilemma for hours before the meeting. They had concluded that there were only two options; either they tell the members what was really going on or they didn’t.
“Daniel, if you tell them you knew what was going to happen, you’ll have to step down; otherwise, you’ll be investigated and impeached. If that happens, you’ll very likely be the first President to go to jail. And it’s not just you we’re talking about. The rest of the Rosslerites will be made out as a secret government within the government and be charged with conspiracy. We’ll all go to jail.”
Daniel had nodded slowly, and said, “Salome, I will take the fall for all of us.”
“That’s very noble of you Daniel,” she had interjected, “and I knew you were going to say that. But be assured they will be out for blood. They won’t be satisfied to have just your head; they’ll want the heads of each and every one of the Rosslerites. Just like you, I’m prepared to take the fall as I’m sure many of the Rosslerites are, but that’s not the main issue.”