by Clayborn, JJ
The Sheriff’s office was bustling with activity as hundreds of people set about different tasks. Some people were tracking sightings of robots and trying to update the maps. Others were working with Dr. Kosnick to try to understand the robots.
James was on a video call with Chad Dickhaut, the astronomer who had discovered the asteroid.
“I really hoped I’d be famous,” Chad admitted. “But I’m not sure that I want to be remembered for being the one to discover that we’re all fucked.”
“Chad, no one is saying that we’re doomed just yet.” James shrugged. “Besides, if we really are doomed, then no one will be around to remember you anyway.”
Chad frowned. “That’s really not helping. I can’t see how you are so optimistic about this.”
James shrugged an “I don’t know” shrug. “I can’t see how you are so pessimistic about this.”
“How can I not be?” Chad pulled up a large map on the wall of his room. “Since we talked last at least eight more impacts have happened all over the world. That brings the total number of crash sites to twelve. Twelve sites...” He paused for effect. “Your site is causing your whole area to be overrun and taken over. I have to assume that the other sites are experiencing the same thing.”
James frowned. “Don’t you know?”
Chad shook his head. “I have no idea. Yours is the only site that I’ve been able to maintain any sort of regular contact with.”
James sighed. “Julia.” He knew that she probably succumbed to the same fate as Sheriff Long or Edgar. And it was his fault because he specifically asked her to go. He had no idea what he was asking her to do, and now she’s probably dead.
“What?” Chad asked, confused.
James rubbed his forehead. “Sorry,” he said composing himself. “Someone I cared about went poking around the crash site in North Carolina. I haven’t heard from her either. I can only assume the worst.”
“I’m sorry, James.” Chad continued. “I’m worried that everyone will end up like her. We don’t even know how to stop them.”
“We’re working on that,” James offered
“How? We don’t know anything about them,” Chad said. “I’m only just now beginning to extrapolate where they came from.”
James gave a half-hearted smile. “We’ve managed to capture a specimen and we’re studying it now.”
Chad stared at James with his mouth agape. “You have one? Operational?”
James nodded.
“Can I see it?” Chad asked, filled with a mixture of fear and excitement.
“No, Chad.” James shook his head. “Trust me; you really don’t want to see this.”
Chad sighed. “Fine. I just really hope that you are able to figure something out before it’s too late.”
“Me too, Chad. Keep me posted if you see any more sightings.”
“I will, James.” Chad waved and signed off.
James sat, lost in his thoughts. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he was interrupted by someone asking about ammunition and general supplies. James directed them to see Sean Herbert. He looked at the clock and then picked up the phone. He dialed the Governor’s Office as a video call. After several rings the phone answered, but not the video. “This is Governor Smith,” the voice came from off-screen.
“Governor, it is Ranger Hutchinson, nice to talk with you,” James offered
“What can I do for you, Ranger?” The governor asked impatiently.
“I’m calling to follow up on the discussion that you had with Sheriff Long a few days ago,” James explained.
“Oh, yes. Something about a mysterious fog that was infecting people,” the Governor’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “What is it now, Ranger? Would you like to report a sighting of big foot? Should I call in the National Guard for a chupacabra?”
“I’m afraid it’s worse,” James said seriously.
“Worse than a chupacabra?” the governor scoffed.
“Much worse,” James said indignantly. “This is a real threat.”
“And what, pray tell, is this threat?” The governor asked, clearly annoyed.
“Aliens,” James stated.
“I’ve had enough of your antics,” the governor bristled. “If you call me again about…”
James lost his composure and shouted at the phone. “Shut the fuck up and listen, you arrogant, pompous buffoon! I’m not talking about imaginary aliens, I’m talking about honest to god actual aliens from another planet that are here attacking people …and I can prove it.”
There was a tense silence from the governor’s side. The video screen showed an empty desk, but it was a placeholder image. “You can prove that?” The governor asked with disbelief. “How?”
“Yes, I can prove it. We have pictures and video of them,” James said.
“Those things can be faked,” the Governor countered. “For all I know you’re all crazy up there in Holly Springs.”
“Governor, we have captured one of them. If you don’t do something about it, I’m going to call every national newspaper I can reach and offer them the chance to interview it.”
“You can’t do that,” the governor sounded panicked.
“Why not?” James asked, curiously.
“Because it’ll ruin my chances for re-election. Let me make a press conference,” the governor said.
James nodded to himself, feeling somewhat relieved. “So you’ll mobilize the national guard to contain this?”
“No, Ranger Hutchinson.” The governor’s voice was cold and distant.
“No?” James felt like the floor had dropped away beneath him.
“No. I’m going to mobilize the National Guard to your location to seize that robot for further study.”
There was a long pause. “I didn’t tell you it was a robot.” James observed.
“I read the paper,” Governor Smith fired back.
“If you read the article in the paper, then why didn’t you take the threat seriously and respond appropriately?”
The governor cleared his throat and his attitude changed. “The National Guard will be arriving to seize control of the robot. I am also signing an Order stripping your law enforcement duties…”
“Which you can’t legally do because I’m a Federal employee.” James tried to counter.
“…and I’m issuing a warrant for your arrest. I’m also authorizing the arrest of anyone found associating with you in any way.”
“On what grounds?” James shouted.
“Inciting civil unrest,” Governor Smith said.
James clicked off the video conference and shouted incoherently at the screen. He turned to one of the people walking past. “Hey, do me a favor. Go find Sean and tell him that we need to pack up and get ready to move out ASAP. Then spread the word to the captains.”
“Yes, Ranger,” the man said as he scurried off.
Elvin appeared just moments later. “What’s this about moving out?”
“I’m almost certain that the governor’s office has been subverted,” James explained.
“The Governor?” Elvin shook his head. “No way; he’s nowhere near the crater. That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I just called him for an update. I asked him to send in the National Guard,” James explained.
“And he said no, so now he’s an alien?” Elvin asked.
“No. He said no, and then said he was rolling out National Guard to seize control of the robot and place me under arrest, along with anyone who associates with me.”
Elvin whistled. “Well that’s odd.”
“And, he knew we had a robot, but I didn’t tell him. He claims he read it in the paper, but if that’s true, then why didn’t he act on that information?” James pressed.
Elvin shook his head. “I don’t know. It seems strange to me, but politics has always been strange to me.”
James cracked a half smile. “Tell me about it.” His smile quickly faded. “Still, I can’t help but feel that so
mething is off. He’s not acting claiming that it would hurt his chances for re-election, but then also saying that he’s acting against us because I’ll expose him for not acting – which will also hurt his chance for re-election.”
James and the others began frantically packing up their operation. They crated up as much equipment as they could and loaded them into a convoy of trucks that Daley supplied.
Dr. Kosnick packed up all of the science equipment personally. She didn’t want to take any chances. She loaded that equipment into a smaller van that she would drive. She didn’t trust the big truck to keep the equipment safe.
All of the most important equipment had been loaded first; all of the ammo, all the guns they could find that they weren’t carrying, extra radios, binoculars, batteries, as well as some random explosive devices – everything they needed to fight a war.
In a different truck was medical equipment. Several of Resistance members worked in healthcare and raided the places they worked. They had hundreds of exam gloves, bandages, needles and suture material, gauze, iodine, antibiotics and pain killers. Elvin’s brother, Frederick Gleason, was an Emergency Room nurse who specialized in trauma. He and Elvin converted one of Sean Herbert’s box trucks into a mobile surgical unit. It wasn’t pristine like in the hospitals, but they could do major surgery in the field if they had to. They even set up a partition in the front side to treat minor injuries a mobile clinic.
Another truck carried the bulk of their food and water supplies. Every truck had some food and water in it, just in case something happened to this one, but the bulk of their rations were loaded into a full sized semi-truck.
James and several of the Resistance members were scavenging the main part of the Sheriff’s office looking for anything that might be useful. James had found a .50 caliber Desert Eagle handgun in the evidence locker. He always thought that they seemed like such a ridiculous weapon, but just now he was starting to have a change of heart.
He was searching through Larry’s office next to the bull pen. All of the hairs on James’ neck stood on end and a queasy feeling washed over him as the sound of a chime lingered in the air. He almost didn’t hear it with all of the commotion of people searching for supplies. Even when he did hear it, it took a moment to register what it was; the front door sensor. The next sound James heard stopped him in his tracks.
Elvin fired off a series of questions. “Sheriff Long! We all thought you were dead. How did you get back? Where have you been? What happened to you?”
James dropped the box he was holding onto Larry’s desk and slowly turned around. There, through the office window, stood Larry Long in the flesh. The Sheriff was standing there just inside the door. He seemed a little disoriented.
“Why would you think I was dead?” Larry looked around. “Where is everyone? Who are you? And more importantly, where is a phone?”
Elvin frowned. “There’s no use calling the governor, we already tried that.”
Larry shook his head. “The governor? No man, I need to call my mother.”
James burst out of the side office, flinging the door open. He walked purposefully over to Larry and blocked his path. “I can’t let you do that, Sheriff.”
“Get out of my way, this is my office. You have no business being here,” Larry shouted.
James scoffed. “No business?” James found this highly amusing. “No business?” he laughed. “You have no business being here!”
Larry stopped and stared hard at James. “This is my god damn office. I have every business being here.”
“What’s the last thing you remember, Sheriff?” James asked, motioning for the others to circle around and block him in. The others shrugged, but circled around.
“It’s none of your damn business, now get out of my way, you punk kid,” Larry shouted.
“Punk kid?” James laughed. “Punk kid?!” He shouted angrily. “What’s my name?”
Larry quickly scanned him over. “Ranger Hutchinson, now move.”
“You deduced that,” James yelled. “You read my nametag. What’s my first name?”
Larry stared wide-eyed at James. “How the hell should I know?”
There was a moment of tense silence. “How, indeed. I’ll ask you again. What’s the last thing you remember?” James shouted angrily. “Where have you been the last three days? How’d you get back?” James stepped closer as he challenged Larry. The others in the circle were sensing what James picked up on and moved closer as well.
“What the blue blazes are you going on about? I’ve been here, working. We’ve been looking into that McGlasson kid on the outskirts of town. We got reports he was looking up bombs and fusion reactors and crazy stuff on the internet. Then I went home, watched TV and fell asleep on the couch. I got woken up by a phone call…” he face squinted. “I don’t remember who though. I think it was a wrong number.” He paused, then continued. “I took the bus in. I thought someone stole my truck, but then I saw it out front, so I must have gotten a ride home, but I don’t remember that.”
James shook his head and the others exchanged nervous glances. “Sheriff, I’m afraid I must take you into custody,” James said.
“For what?” Larry said, posturing taller.
“You’ve been subverted by an alien force and you’re acting very strange,” James said.
“You’re acting strange. Get out of my way!” Larry yelled. Sheriff Long stepped forward.
“The last time I saw you, Sheriff, you were dead,” James said flatly.
“Do I look dead to you?” He shouted, patting his hands to his chest, making a spectacle.
“All the same, I left you in the woods three days ago, 30 miles from here. And you were dead. And you have no explanation for how you got here and no recollection of the event,” James said.
Larry stood in silence for a minute. “I am Sheriff Long. I’m not dead.” He gave James a hard, cold stare. “You betrayed me.”
“I didn’t betray you, you were dead!” James shouted. Even as the words spilled from his mouth a moment of doubt flashed through his mind. Was he really dead? Did he leave him behind? It can’t be true, he reassured himself. Even if he were alive, the robots would have killed him. He clenched his jaw and squared his stance. “You need to come with us.”
“Or what?” Sheriff Long challenged.
“We don’t want to hurt you. But we can’t have you running around.” James said.
“Let me pass,” Sheriff Long commanded.
One of the men from beside the Sheriff stepped forward and moved to place him under arrest. The Sheriff spun and delivered a backhand blow to the man’s head. A loud crunch echoed through the room and the man flew sideways, smashing his broken skull into the floor with enough force to split it open like a melon.
There was a moment of shocked silence and then one of the other men grabbed a nearby metal tray and swung it at Larry.
A loud clang reverberated through the room. It sounded like someone struck a gong.
James yelled out. “Hey!”
The sheriff whirled around to see what the shouting was about. In one fluid motion James pulled the .50 caliber pistol and fired right between Larry’s eyes.
Larry stood perfectly still for a moment. His head didn’t explode like a human head should have. He just stood there, staring blankly with a large hole right at the bridge of his nose. Thick, blue fluid began seeping from the hole.
“Why do you betray me?” The thing that looked like Larry asked.
“What did you do with Larry?” James shouted, waving the large pistol at the imposter. “Why are you dressed up like him?”
The robot cocked its head. “Dressed up? I don’t understand. I am …Larry.” Sparks flashed inside the hole in his head and smoke tendrils billowed out. Robot Larry fell face-first on the ground with a clang.
There was awkward silence as everyone present processed what happened. They all stared at the inactive robot dressed up as the Sheriff and at the man who’s skull the impo
ster robot split open.
“What the fuck just happened?” One of the men asked, shaking and upset.
Elvin responded. “I think the more important question is how did they learn to make fake skin so quickly and why are they dressing up as people?”
A wave of dizziness washed over James. He closed his eyes and clutched a nearby desk for support.
“Are you okay?” Elvin asked him.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” he said, pointing at robot Larry.
“What?” The others looked at each other in confusion. “What are you looking at?”
James slumped against the desk and sat down. “I know what the first robot meant. I know what he means,” he said in shock looking at the floor. He looked up at Elvin. “They want to be us.”
“Right, the robot said that,” Elvin agreed.
“No, he means literally be us. They want to become us, to assume our identities.”
Elvin frowned. “I don’t follow.”
James shook his head. “That’s not a replica of Sheriff Long – that is Sheriff Long.”
Elvin raised an eyebrow. “…that was a robot,” he said with a dismissive wave toward the mechanical corpse.
James stood and walked to the robot, turning it over. “You see these lacerations to the hands and fingers? And this bruising, here on the neck, and on the clavicle, and around the eye?”
Elvin and the others nodded.
“Sheriff Long sustained these exact same injuries when we were fighting the robots right before he died.”
Elvin’s face scrunched in confusion. “So, they replicated his injuries? Why would they do that?”
James shook his head. “No. No, this isn’t a replica. Feel it – this is skin. This is the sheriff’s skin. The robot skinned the sheriff’s corpse and was walking around wearing his skin like a suit.”
Quiet filled the room as the gravity of what James said hit them. The realization was slow to dawn on them. Most of them went pale and got queasy. A couple of them threw up behind a desk or into nearby trashcans.