"Yes," Batar said. "But first we have to get past the security codes."
"That won't be easy," Lori stated. "I've heard the Andronian codes are notorious for being unbreakable."
"Ah, Yes," Batar said. "But that's why you brought me along, isn't it? He's my brother, and I know how he thinks."
"Your brother?" Lori and Angelica asked at the same time.
"Yes," a now awake Jeff Walker said. "His brother."
"Jeff, you're all right!" Lori yelled in tears, and hugged him tight.
"Well," Angelica said. "That does explain why he didn't kill you."
"He can be evil, but not in the way you think," Batar explained. "He does have some compassion, otherwise he wouldn't have left Jeff with any water."
"Yea," Jeff joked. "About a quart and a half! Do you know what it's like to only have a couple of drops a day?"
"Well, at least you're all right now," Lori cried.
"What about this brother bit?" Angelica asked. "How long have you known about this? Did you know it when you communicated to me?"
"Yes, but I felt it would be best to tell you face to face so you would see that I am not like he is."
"We're still messing around with the future. What'll happen when we find out one hundred years from now there's another race of beings on
Mars who got there before we did?"
"That's a small price to pay for the other events that will come into play if we do not stop your father and Varloo."
"You didn't answer my question."
"They'll probably treat them at first with aggression. The beings there are part of an interstellar network of peaceful civilizations. They will know what to do under those circumstances, and they won't attack, even if your kind strikes first."
"You people from the future are so smart, aren't you?" she remarked. "You have it all figured out. Well, if you figured it out, why did you have to come back here? Why did you have to mess around with my damn
life?"
She began to cry, and left the room very upset. Lori came out behind her into the hallway to comfort her. Jeff looked at Batar. "Let them talk," he said. "We've got work to do." he nodded, and followed him to the panels.
"Look," Lori said, as she put her hand on her shoulder. "I can't change what Carver did to your father, your aunt, or you, but I'm here to help you to have a future, with a husband, children, or grandchildren."
"Like Jeff?" she joked.
"Yea, well I don't know if that's meant to be or not, but it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing. He's awfully fond of your accomplishments."
"This is just all so crazy. The abduction of my father, the capture of aliens, time and space travel. It's just all seems so unbelievable."
"One day in mankind's future it will commonplace. We had several space colonies in the solar system before the Tolarions attacked us on Mars. And where we ended up, there were hundreds."
"Before you married Jeff, what was he like?"
"Stubborn, defiant, but kind of sweet. He had his own way of doing things."
"Just like Tom."
"He also was a hopeless romantic."
"Just like Tom. I thought there was a resemblance when I first met him."
"The events of the past have changed. You still have a chance for a life with him."
"I won't if they send him up in that spaceship."
"What are you talking about?"
"They're using him as the pilot instead of me in one of the ships."
She grabbed her by the arm, and brought her into the bridge. "Tell them what you just told me."
"What is it?" Jeff asked, as he turned in his seat towards the women.
"They're going to send my fiancé up in one of the ships," Angelica said.
"If Major Walker goes up in that ship, Captain Walker will never be born," Batar informed them.
"We've got to stop him from getting on that ship!" Jeff said. "Why did they pick him, he's only an engineer."
"They've apparently run out of options," Batar said. "When Ms. Avery went AWOL, it gave them no choice. With Dr. Reynolds killed,
there is no one else next to Avery who is familiar with the project."
"Wait," Jeff said. "Dr. Reynolds has been killed?"
"Yes," Batar said. "Not to elaborate, but Varloo gave him a splitting headache."
"I'll bet. Well, we'll have to somehow keep him off that ship, while I get on, and if need be, I want you stop the first ship at all costs."
"They'll both be carrying payloads of cryogenically frozen hybrid embryos. If we can't stop them before they launch, then I want you to take the other craft. I'll try to stop Avery from entering the wormhole."
"And how are you going to stop Varloo from entering the wormhole?"
"By destroying his ship. Lori and Wilson will stay here. To stop him from taking the ship, and if they fail, I will destroy him with the other ship."
"What?" Lori asked. "We're no match for his power!
"He'll be considerably weakened by the time we reach him, and he's out of Triachilite," Batar stated. "He can't get anymore unless he goes back to the other universe. Once we get the antidote, he temporarily won't even have telepathic powers. You do still have the antidote, don't you, Ms. Avery?"
"Yes."
"I'll take it now. We must get it into him just before the launch, if possible."
"How are we going to do that?" Angelica asked, and handed it to him.
"He's my brother, leave that to me," Batar answered.
"Are you sure it's going to be enough to do the job?"
"It will have to be," Batar said. "Hopefully, he'll be weakened enough for it to be effective."
"Lori, you stay up front, while Wilson watches in the back," Jeff said. "If you see anything coming, let her know. We still have about a week and
a half before the actual launch. We'll leave the night before. In the meantime, I want all the weaponry we can round up around here. It seemed to me I saw some cryoguns around here. If we can get enough of them up and running again, maybe we can hit him from different angles. He can't get all of us."
"Let me remind you he incinerated forty five men," Batar said. "Even with limited powers, he'll still be dangerous. Caution is the key, and timing is the most important."
"Are you sure you never heard of Confucius?" Angelica asked.
"Confucius ain't got nothin' on him," Jeff jested.
"There is one thing- as I was surveying Varloo's records while I was
here," Batar said. "Something you're not going to like."
"Which is?"
"It appears my brother has been extremely busy abducting over 5,000 species of alien life forms, extracting their DNA and embryos, and sometimes crossbreeding them. Some of them are humanoids, reptilians, Garlicians and Zacharians."
"For what purpose?"
"To infect them with viruses that may kill their species, or genes to improve their species, I just don't know. My brother has strayed so far from the purpose of the real Andronian way, I don't know him anymore."
"Well, I may not like it, but it helps explain a lot of things. It looks like we have our work cut out for us. Here's my plan: We'll go back to the base, get inside through the vents like we've been doing."
"They already know about them, they saw us escaping through them," Angelica said.
"Exactly, make them come to us. While they're doing that, Batar will be finding Varloo and injecting him with the antidote. After that, we'll get to the rocket propulsion center and stop Avery and Tom from taking off with the ships. We'll get back to the ship before he does, place the ship on self destruct, and get back to Mars using the three ships in the cargo bay."
"If those ships don't leave, we'll all still die," Angelica sighed.
"No you won't. Our race are survivors, and you will find a way to one day reach the stars again, and you yourself will one day find the key to you and your father's disease. You will see. I may even meet your great granddaughter someday."
"That
would be nice," Angelica said, and smiled. "What'll happen if you don't get back?"
"Well," Batar said. "Given the fact Captain Walker, Major Walker and Lieutenant Wilson were neither supposed to be in my future, or your
past, they will basically be trapped in this time, with no real identity. But that's not to say Captain Walker may someday have a great grandson as well who is named Jeff Walker. That's the problem with time travel, there are so many different possibilities, and not all of them are on a certain path."
"It's the here and now that's important," Jeff said. "And in the here and now, we've only got one chance to change the fate of humanity, so we better not blow it!"
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Within the time they escaped the base, Carver returned to Varloo to report what just happened. He knew he wasn't going to like it, and feared death at this point. He regained some control over his own mind, and sensed Varloo's power had weakened some. If it weren't for the fact Jeff Walker left with the antidote, he may have had a chance at ending this mentally hostile takeover. He approached the Grey in the propulsion section, where he talked with Dr. Avery about the liftoff procedures and launch telemetry.
"You let them escape, didn't you?" Varloo asked.
"She was very clever," Carver answered.
"Clever, my ass," Dr. Avery said. "She just got the better of you, as she always does. You're getting to be slow in your old age, General Carver."
"And expendable," Varloo said. "One more slip up, and I'll make a special place for you in my lab."
"I'm sorry," Carver lied. "It won't happen again."
"How are the hybrids coming, Dr? Are they ready for loading?"
"Yes, they will be loaded on both ships tomorrow as planned. The virus has been administered to thirty five people so far."
"Another task you failed to perform, Carver?" Varloo snapped. "I honestly don't know why I've kept you around so long. Maybe to see you suffer the way my mother and I did."
"Your mother?" Carver asked. "I don't know your mother."
"Oh yes you do," Varloo stated. "In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a hybrid as well, and partially human. My mother was human."
"Who was she?"
"I won't reveal that information to you. You're not worthy of it, and I'll only tell Dr. Avery and his daughter about it."
"What are you hiding?"
"That's none of your concern. Your concern is getting those rockets ready for launch. What about the androids, Louis?"
"They're operational, even though I had to finish them myself," Dr. Avery said. "But they lack the correct AI chips. It seemed my daughter
outfoxed the general again as far as the codes go."
"Does she know the launch codes?"
"Only part of one of them. The one to the second rocket, and I know the one to the first."
"Well that makes us even," Varloo said. "Even if the androids don't have AI chips, they will be useful. Put three of them onboard my ship, and Cely on the other."
"You're going to put her android on the ship you want Major Walker to fly. Why?" Carver asked.
"Maybe if she knows her android is leaving, she'll return for it," Varloo jested. "Believe me, when it comes down to it, she cares more about that hunk of metal and hydraulic fluid than she'll ever care about Major Walker. They will arrive here about ten hours before the launch. They are to be hunted down and killed, except Ms. Avery. You are to capture her alive. Do you understand?"
"That won't be easy," Carver said. "She's quick as lightning with a Beretta, and just as deadly as a knife."
"I know all about her training," Varloo said. "And I know about yours. I know for the past forty years you've been getting soft and weak. You don't have the stomach anymore for all these alien investigations, and you're getting sick of doing the government's dirty work. All the more reason you need to join our cause to wipe out this prison you've called a society. The only difference between your government and the Tolarions is you don't have an insane maniac running it. Or do you?"
"I wouldn't know. I've never met the president of the government council."
"My point exactly. Major Walker's been trained to operate some of the systems onboard of the second ship. I will be assisting him in the launch. You will be on board the other ship with Dr. Avery."
"Me?" Carver asked, shocked. "But I'm not a pilot. I'm the general of this base!"
"You were the general of this base. Once everyone is infected, there will no longer be a use for this government. Let this planet die, General. The human race has outlived its usefulness."
"Well, I guess I haven't got a choice while you're in charge. Which won't be for long once Angel gets back."
"That little girl is no match for me, and neither is Batar. Do I need to give you another demonstration, Carver?"
"No," the worried general said. "I believe you. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Well, General, that's more like it. Tell Major Walker to come up here, it's time for him to meet me."
Carver went below, and came back with the Major. When Tom came face to face with the alien, he was startled, but not surprised from the way Angel described him.
"You must be Varloo?"
"And you must be Major Thomas Walker. Pleased to meet you."
"I wish I could say the same."
"I can see where Jeff Walker got his humor from. Tell me, do you still think you and Ms. Avery are destined to be together?"
"Yes, that's our plan. I don't see what business of yours that is, however."
"Well plans change, and as humans say, people change. It was something never meant to be."
"What are you talking about?"
"Once we go through that wormhole, your world here will cease to exist, and she will as well. She will be lost to you forever."
"You can't make me do this."
"I can, and I will. You won't be able to resist my mind if you try to fight me. As I explained to Carver, you will be flying with me in the second ship, and Carver will be in the first ship with Dr. Avery."
Major Walker began to laugh. "It isn't easy taking orders from someone else, is it General?"
"Shut up, Walker, or I'll-"
"Enough of this nonsense," Varloo said. "I want the wormhole generator done in two days, Carver, and I want a full militia brigade at the front entrance fifteen hours before the launch. Louis, what about the codes to the other ship? Anyway they can be deciphered?"
"I'll get on it right away."
"I'd hate to have to hurt Ms. Avery to get them from her, but I'll do what I have to," Varloo grumbled. "In the meantime, let's get things done!"
He and Dr. Avery walked away from the area, which left Carver and Tom Walker there to stare at each other with blank faces.
"How does it feel being slaves of the same master?" Tom asked.
"Not for long. We have to find a way out of this."
"How? They're expecting the others to just come marching right in."
"Angel won't do that, if I know her."
"I probably know her better than you do. She's my fiancé."
"No offense, Junior, but I can remember her mother changing her diapers like it was yesterday. If I say she won't do that, she won't do that!"
Tom shook his head. "Okay, okay. What's with you lately? It's like you're becoming unglued. What's that alien done to you anyway?"
"That's just the thing, I don't know what I've said or done in the past two days, but I do know something's happened to his mind, like it's weakened. He's only able to hold me under his mental bind for a short time."
"If he's weakened, there may be a way to kill him. How do you know he's not reading our thoughts right now?"
"I don't really, but I think now he's more focused on his project anyway."
"Which is?"
"To infect the human race with a virus, and take both the rockets with alien hybrid embryos into the other universe."
"Why?"
"To wipe out humans here, and to do
the same where he comes from."
"This whole thing is wild. How did this all start, General?"
"Well, about forty five years ago, an eight year old was abducted by Varloo. That eight year old was Dr. Avery. He returned ten years after, when the Grey's ship crashed, and we took both the boy and the alien under observation. The alien escaped, but Avery remained. I believe he's came back to finish what he started."
"And how does this Barkley character fit into this?"
"His real name is Jeff Walker. He's your grandson, and from the future."
Tom laughed. "You've got to be kidding!" he said. "You're as nutty as the rest of them."
"I'm telling the truth. He told me himself, and Angelica knows as well. They're here to stop Varloo. At first, I didn't believe them either, but I'm beyond convinced now."
"My grandson from the future? Wow, imagine that. Well, what are we going to do about this?"
"Well, right now, we can't do anything, until I figure out a way to get Varloo alone and in a vulnerable position. If the others can get here, we
might have a better chance. We'll bide our time for now, and pretend like we're going through with their plans. Try not to focus on this discussion while you're down here working. I'm supposed to have an armed militia down by the entrance to stop them."
"If you don't do what he says, General, he'll kill you."
"I know, but I already have children and grandchildren, and he can't change their futures."
"He already has by infecting others. Eventually, it may pass to their blood as well."
"I'm an old man, Tom. Let me have one last glory. My whole life I've been nothing but a man who takes orders, and does horrible things in the name of science and the government. Do you realize it was because of me that Angel's Aunt Sarah laid in a coma for those thirty five years, all because she knew too much about our research?"
"What?" Tom said, flabbergasted. "I thought she had an aneurysm?"
"That's what I told Avery and his daughter."
Tom's anger got the better of him, so he struck him across the jaw hard and knocked him onto the floor.
"I guess I deserved that," he said as he rubbed his jaw.
Dimension Lapse III: Dimensional Breakdown (Dimension Lapse Series Book 3) Page 23