“Enough formalities!” Malone said, as he pointed the gun at Angelica. “Now start explaining who you are and why you’re here or I’ll kill you right now!”
“My name is Angelica Avery," she sighed. “My father was supposed to meet me here. I came from Earth.” She tried to untie herself, but found it extremely difficult.
“Here?” another human asked, as he stepped forward. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and Angelica was immediately drawn by his handsome appearance. She could sense he had a little compassion for her. “On this planet? That’s impossible.”
“It’s very possible,” Cely said. “And very factual as well.”
“Tell your android buddy to keep quiet, or I’ll have Gorzar rip off his other arm,” Malone snapped, as he pointed the Beretta back at its owner.
“Let’s get on with it,” the blonde man snapped at Malone, annoyed by his attitude.
“Anyway,” Angelica continued. “I received a beacon signal from him that he was here.”
“There’s nothing left here but us and what’s left of this horrific civilization,” the blonde haired man said. “Hello, my name is Rollings. It’s a pleasure to see such a pretty face around here. Gorzar, please untie our guest.” Rollings continued to explain as Gorzar followed his order. “They left us here for dead with little food and water, other than what we could salvage. There were many more of us, but as you can guess, we had to resort to desperate means.”
“Who left you?” Angelica asked. “What desperate means?”
“The Republic,” Rollings said, his eyes narrowing in anger. “The Galactic Republic of Peaceful Planets.”
“That doesn’t seem like something that a Galactic Republic of Peace would do,” she quipped.
“That’s exactly what they did,” Malone barked. “You must have come on a ship of some kind. Are you going to do the same to us?”
“Of course not,” Angelica said. “Unfortunately, my ship was destroyed when I landed. We are as stranded as you are.”
“You and that hunk of metal you call an android?” Malone sneered.
“Enough,” Rollings snarled. It was plain to see he was the leader of the group. “If she says her ship was destroyed, than it was destroyed.”
“If I may interrupt, “Cely remarked. Rollings nodded to him. “Before I came down here, I was able to contact one of your Republic ships called the Starlighter. They are en route as we speak.”
“Are you out of your mind, you stupid fucking robot?” Malone yelled. “The Starlighter is a Tolarion ship! You sent them right to our damn doorstep!”
“What could they possibly want from us?” Rollings asked Malone. “Other than to finish our extermination!”
“Perhaps they seek the energy source I detect nearby,” Cely reported. “It is what’s left of a fusion reactor system.”
Rollings thought about what he said for a minute, and then realized the seriousness of the situation.
“They want the reactors!” he said. “Balta! He must still be alive!”
“Who’s Balta?” Cely asked.
“He is the leader of the Tolarion government,” Rollings answered. “He was supposedly killed before the explosion here. There used to be a large civilization here. It was destroyed by a massive fusion explosion, and the only survivors were those who could escape to the lower floors of this complex. It knocked the planet off orbit. This used to be a warmer place. It was still unlivable for humans, though. Only down here we’re safe. He wants the reactors to recreate his weapon. They are encased in cobalt shells which keep them safe from exploding. Even one of them can destroy what’s left of this planet in a matter of seconds if the power is harnessed correctly.”
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Angelica interrupted. “But what about my father? Have you seen him, his name is Dr. Louis Avery?”
“Never heard of him,” Rollings said. “You still haven’t explained why he would even be here, or how you could have possibly came from Earth-it was destroyed long ago.”
“He was trying to find a planet suitable for his experiments,” Angelica explained, still reluctant to give out too much information. “I’ve been asleep for eighty years in suspended animation.”
“What kind of experiments?” Rollings asked.
“Human cloning,” she sighed, as she folded her arms across her chest.
She was nervous because of the way the other human men were staring at her, having not seen a woman in a long time. Angelica could be a strong, fearless woman, but nothing in the NASA space academy prepared her for this.
“We’re the only humans here, and we were brought here from other planets,” Malone stated.
“By who?” Angelica asked.
“The Tolarions,” Rollings answered. They brought us here to be their work slaves. How could your father know humans would even be here?”
“I don’t know,” Angelica answered. “I just know what he told me before he disappeared.”
“Wait a minute,” Rollings said. “Avery… Akros. Your father was Akros!”
Malone rose, agitated, and leaned on his chair due to the pain of his flesh wound.
“This just keeps getting better and better!” he laughed. “Why don’t we just kill her now? She’s already given us away to them!”
“Another word, Malone, and I’ll break your other foot!” Rollings yelled. “Ms. Avery, Are you aware that your father is the reason why we’re here?”
Angelica didn’t quite understand what he was getting at.
“What do you mean?”
“He created this place, with the help of his clone army,” Rollings said. “They were far from being human though. They were ape-like creatures and extremely powerful.”
“Like Gorzar?” Cely asked.
“No,” Malone answered. “He was a mutation. You’ll soon find that he is more human, than the monstrosities that they are.”
Angelica looked up at the beast while he was standing behind her, and he smiled at her.
“Well,” Rollings said, nervous. “I don’t know how to break this to you, but he was killed in the explosion.”
“Killed?” Angelica asked, as she rose from her seat. “When?"
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
He reached for her shoulder to console her, but she pulled away from him.
“Ms. Avery, it’s a miracle he could have even survived the wormhole,” Cely said. “Either one of you could have died just traveling through it. There wasn’t any guarantee his theory would even work. He wanted you to finish what he started if he didn’t make it. That’s why he sent you through afterwards.”
“Why didn’t you explain that to me earlier, Cely?” she asked, as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“He told me not to. He didn't want you to have false hope,” he answered. “You can be as determined as he was.”
“Speaking of wormholes,” Rollings asked. “How did your father know of such technology? Nobody on Earth had this technology eighty years ago?”
“How would you know that?” she asked.
"My dear lady,” he said. “I know that because I’m from Mars. Most of are either from Mars, Zeloria or Andomis.”
“Mars?” she asked, bewildered. “Zeloria, Andomis?”
“Mars was colonized in 2102. Zeloria and Andomis are from this galaxy.”
“My father was right.”
“About what?” asked Rollings.
“That they would colonize Mars next.”
“It was the logical choice,” Cely added.
“Why don’t we get back to the matter at hand?” Malone remarked. “What are we going to do about the Tolarions?”
“Shut up. Malone!” Rollings snapped. “I asked her a question, and I’m waiting for an answer. How did your father know about that technology?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I only helped him build the device; I don’t know exactly how it works. He didn’t tell me everything!”
“She's lying!” Malone barked, but Rolli
ngs just ignored him.
“Well,” Rollings said. “That’s not important right now. What is important is whether the device is still onboard your ship?”
“Yes, but it’s probably no longer functional,” she answered.
“If the Tolarions find it, we’re in trouble,” Rollings said. He addressed an Afro-American man in the room, also under his command. He had several scars on his face, longer curly hair, and stood about six feet. “Tamar, take ten men and head towards the main entrance. Gorzar, take five men and go to the hatch. Malone and I we’ll stay here with our guests. If you see anyone try to get down here, shoot first. Understand?”
They nodded and left the room. Angelica turned towards Rollings.
“Would it be possible to get our weapons back?” she asked him.
“No,” he said. “Not just yet. I’m not quite convinced I believe your story. If they come back in one piece, we’ll talk. Besides, they won’t be any good against laser pistols. Since we don’t have an adequate suit to go on the surface, you will have to retrieve the wormhole device yourself, but not until we know that Balta hasn’t brought an armada with him.”
“What relationship did this Balta have with my father?” Angelica asked.
“He was his second in command,” Rollings told her. “Akros’ right hand man, if you pardon the expression. Really he’s not a man at all, but a vicious, ruthless monster and dictator.”
“Why do you keep calling my father Akros? And why are you saying those awful things about him?”
“That was his name.”
“That doesn’t make sense!” Angelica stated. “Why would he change his name?”
“Maybe he had something to hide?” Rollings suggested.
“It appears that he hid many secrets from me,” she said, bewildered. “And I always thought we were closer than that. How come you know so much about Balta and my father?”
“One doesn’t get to be Director of Martian Intelligence without knowing things,” Rollings said.
“There are several alien life forms entering the complex from the hatch and the main entrance,” Cely reported.” His self repairing functions of his sensory banks were starting to do their job.
“How does he know that?” Malone asked.
“He has a sensory system on him,” Angelica explained. “What he’s telling you is the truth.”
Rollings grabbed a hand held radio on the table.
“Tamar, are you there?” he asked.
“Tamar here,” the subordinate answered.
“Any sign of Tolarions?”
“Not yet,” Tamar reported. “We’re about a half mile from the main entrance, next to the landing bay. Nothing to report yet.”
“Keep on your toes,” Rollings told him. “The android says they’re right around the corner. Be careful.”
“Are you going to listen to that damn robot?” Malone asked. Rollings ignored his pessimism.
“Yes, Sir,” Tamar said, as he put his radio back in his belt.
During this time, Tamar just rounded the corner nearest to the landing bay area, and main entrance, which was exposed to the elements. They put on their oxygen masks and suits before they ventured into the landing bay area, which was exposed to the coldness of the atmosphere. Tamar directed two men to go to the left side of the bay, three to the right, and the other two up towards a catwalk. The other three stayed back by him, next to the main control center.
When they were all in position, three canisters of green gas were thrown into the area by their unknown intruders. This of course blinded their sight, as a barrage of laser fire came from Tamar’s men and the main entrance.
“Retreat!” the Afro-American yelled, but it was too late. An explosive device killed seven of the men instantly, and the three that were with Tamar were injured badly, torn apart from the intensity of heat. All he could see was red blasts through the green light as he ran towards the catwalk. Coming from Gorzar's direction were several other Tolarion soldiers with their lasers all pointed at him. Tamar dropped his laser to the floor in desperation.
Meanwhile, Rollings tried to raise him again. “Tamar? Are you there? “Tamar?” he yelled. Rollings grabbed his laser quick and handed two more to the other men. He turned towards Angelica, handing her and Cely their pistols back from the table. “Whatever happens, do not leave this room.” He exited, leaving her, Cely, Malone and the two aliens, who all had weapons.
“Cely what did I get myself into?” she asked.
“I cannot answer that at this time,” he said. “However, I have a theory, if I can elaborate.”
“Sure, go ahead.” She wiped her forehead, which sweated a little from the suit.
“Perhaps your father was working on cloning experiments here and was using the chimpanzee’s DNA because it was the closest to humans. Something could've went wrong.”
“That still doesn’t explain him building this place,” she said. “He must have had help.”
“That is true,” Cely said. “The effect could not come before the cause.”
“Could it have been this Republic?”
“That wouldn't be likely if they had came to attack the place,” Cely said. “More likely he had outside help of some kind; but not this Republic. It had to be somebody else.”
After ten minutes more, Tamar and Rollings entered with a stranger who was wearing a spacesuit, his face hidden by his helmet. There were two others with him also wore suits and carrying laser pistols pointed at the two humans, who pushed them into the room. Before anyone could fire on them the leader lifted his laser pistol at everyone in the room.
“No one make any sudden moves!” he said. Much to Angelica’s surprise, he spoke in English as well. How come even these aliens were fluent in this language? Was English the common language in this galaxy?
“Everyone drop your weapons, sit down and relax!” the leader ordered.
They complied, the leader lifted his helmet visor, and revealed the ugliest sight Angelica ever saw. If this was truly her father’s creation, he made a fatal error of judgment. It was a hairy creature with fangs and only one eye, with a face resembling that of a gorilla or chimpanzee. What became of his beloved chimps, Rocco and Clyde? Were they also casualties of his experiments gone wrong, or ancestors of these creatures?
He walked over and put his left hand on Rollings shoulder in a tight grip. He pointed the laser at his head.
“So!” he hissed at the human. “You thought you could ambush me, heh? I keep telling you humans that you are the ones who should be serving us. You’re inferior, in every form of the word.”
“Then why did you lose the war?” Rollings asked him. He had his right hand over the black eye which Balta gave him before they returned to the room.
“We haven’t lost yet,” he said. “I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. The reactors are being boarded on my ship as we speak.”
“Same old Balta,” Malone said. “Still hanging on to the past. I thought you were dead, killed by Jeff Walker?”
“He was not successful,” Balta answered. “Although I will give him credit. He was one of my toughest adversaries that I've faced yet. He gave me a nasty acid burn on my hand.”
“Those reactors won’t do you any good,” Rollings explained. “Only two work, and that won’t be enough to achieve your purpose.”
“And what purpose do you think I’m trying to achieve?” Balta asked.
“A fusion laser weapon that destroys planets,” Rollings answered. “You’re too predictable. You also don’t have the plans to build such a weapon because they were lost along with Walker’s friend, the Belorion.”
“That’s what you think,” Balta said. “Anyway, you’ll never live to tell anyone about it.”
He struck him across the face with his left hand. Starting to back up, he pointed his laser at Rollings.
“Stop!” Angelica pleaded. “You can’t do this! This is all my fault!”
“Who is this?” Balta asked Rollings. “One of
your people?”
“I’m Angelica Avery!” she blurted, not knowing what else to do. She didn’t want anyone to die, especially Rollings, who at least tried to be nice to her.
“Avery?’ he said, smiling at her, as he remembered the not too distant past. “You’re Akros’ daughter. Well, it is a pleasure. Maybe I might be able to find a use for you at least. As for Rollings…”
“I won’t help you at all if you kill anyone else,” she told him. “You’ll have to kill me first!” He lowered his pistol and put it back into its holster.
“You put me in an awkward position, Ms. Avery,” he said.
“I guess I’ll have to let you all live for now.” It was obvious to Angelica that he needed her alive for some reason.
At the moment, it was the only bargaining chip that she had.
Rollings looked over at Tamar. “What happened to Gorzar?” he asked.
“Your mutant friend has been exterminated,” Balta reported. “Along with your other friends. I see that you also have an android with you as well. Where did you come from? There were no operational androids on this planet.”
“He’s mine!” Angelica answered. “His name is Cely. I created him.”
“Pleasure to meet you as well,” Balta laughed. “Akros’ little girl is even more intelligent than I expected! You will be very useful to me as well. Now, shall we all head out to the Starlighter?"
They rose from their seats, and were directed into the hallway, where ten more guards were waiting. They were guided into the lower entrance of the landing bay not exposed to the elements, where Balta’s crew landed their craft earlier.
Angelica couldn't believe her eyes; the ship looked very similar to the old flying orbs that were sometimes seen orbiting the moon and near Earth. It was black and spherical in shape, had fins on the side and top, and landing gears on the bottom. She didn’t believe in the alien stories she had heard-until now.
Dimension Lapse II: Return to Doomsday (Dimension Lapse Series Book 2) Page 3