V_The 2nd Generation

by Kenneth Johnson

  The Resistance team communicated to each other with hand signals about the best approach, then Street-C began to quietly use a heavy bolt cutter on a section of the fence closest to him.

  IN THE MURKY, FOUL-SMELLING STORM SEWERS RUBY WAS AGGRAvated that she still couldn't get a signal to warn Julie. She shook the radio in her hands. "Come on, dammit!"

  Kayta was dressing the areas on Mike's knees where she had just operated on him. Blind in his left eye, he was still recovering from the excruciating medical treatments, but now that they were behind him he was focused on grilling her, "You're not from Altair, are you?" The way in which Kayta glanced away, ashamed, confirmed his thesis. "Right. You're from a binary star system much closer. My guess is that you got our distress call a long time ago, huh? You could've come to help us a lot sooner!" Kayta maintained a grim silence as Mike seethed, "You Zedti just watched us going to hell, but you didn't give a shit, until you thought the Visitors were threatening you."

  Her violet eyes finally looked directly into his with surprising strength of purpose. "Yes, Mike. That is all true. Now try to stand. We must hurry if we're to save your friends."

  AT CANDLESTICK PARK THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HAD SOFTLY BEgun accompanying Emma as she sang the stirring new "Battle Hymn" and as Emma began the next verse the hundred-strong voices of the chorus also softly joined with hers to create a feeling of deep, almost spiritual anticipation.

  The people and Visitors gathered within the enormous bowl reacted with surprise as beams of high-intensity searchlights positioned outside the stadium suddenly shot up into the dark sky and trained upon a startling object.

  It was a spacecraft, approaching at a ceremonial, measured pace. Though clearly of Visitor design, it was unlike any that had ever been seen before. The sleek, beautiful craft was golden.

  An audible gasp escaped from the entire assemblage. The symphony and chorus built steadily upon the triumphant song and then the lyrics appeared conveniently on all the screens of the stadium so that everyone present could join in. It was an astounding sound: a full symphony orchestra supporting the massed voices of one hundred thousand humans and Visitors. The music was transformed stupendously into a glorious choral hymn of welcome.

  The craft glided closer and lower, reaching an altitude of less than a thousand feet over the eager multitude. In the brilliance of the searchlights the surface of the ship looked like liquid gold. And as the thousands of Visitors within Candlestick Park saw the side hatch begin to open, they raised a mighty chant, "All hail our Great Leader!"

  There was a moment's pause, then the Leader appeared in the hatch of the golden craft and stepped out into midair, causing the entire gathering to catch its breath. Flanked by four airborne honor guards like attending angels, the Visitor Leader floated downward.

  She was a striking, mature beauty. By earthly standards she appeared to be about fifty years of age. Her hair was thick and dark with a few streaks of gray, drawn to the sides of her head and fastened so that it might fall to its full length midway down her back and in front of her well-shaped bosom. She wore the Visitor ivory blouse and dark pants, but with a magnificent, flowing, purple robe of state that caught the wind and billowed outward. Her face was strong with high cheekbones, her lips full and, some would have said, sensuous. Her eyes were large, expressive, and a very dark blue. There were smile lines radiating from the corners of them. She combined the warm, inviting, and assuring smile of the Madonna with the supremely confident bearing of an archangel. She seemed strong as forged steel, yet blessed with effortless benevolence. There was a primal force inherent in her, a magnetism, a gravity that was undeniable. She was every inch a charismatic.

  The symphony orchestra continued the inspiring music that accompanied her arrival, each aspect and detail of which had been carefully designed by Diana to achieve the most potent and inspiring psychological impact on the hundred thousand gathered at Candlestick Park and the billions of others watching across the entire planet.

  Huge billboard screens on the walls of buildings worldwide displayed the Leader's strikingly august image to awestruck humans and Visitors. People everywhere watched intently as she slowly descended from the starry night sky like a veritable goddess, smiling and greeting the cheering throng below. She looked delighted as thousands of camera strobes flashed and sparkled like the facets of so many diamonds, capturing her image.

  Her hand was extended, palm up, in peaceful greeting. The elated crowd, including Debra Stein among her fellow Teammates, saluted her in kind. Thousands of arms outstretched, palm upward in the direction of the Great Leader.

  The humans, who had not known what to expect, beheld her imperial, portentous, otherworldly arrival with wonder. Some, like Emma and Mark, felt a tightening in their throats and recognized a faintly metallic taste in their mouths. It was fear.

  27

  THE PATROLLER GUARDS OUTSIDE THE MARIN COMM LINK WERE SO focused on their vid player showing the telecast from Candlestick that they never knew what hit them. Street-C, Margarita, and several of the militarily trained Resistance team silently and efficiently dispatched them from behind.

  Street-C was jazzed, but as Julie came up the hill to join them he saw the concerned expression on her face. "What's up, Doc?"

  Julie looked around worriedly. "This almost feels too easy." Her radio crackled and she reached for it. "Yes? Hello?" But there was only static.

  Street-C pointed up at the big dish antenna looming over them. "Too much interference up this close."

  KAYTA'S AIRBIKE WAS AIRBORNE AND FLYING NORTH TOWARD MARIN County in an effort to intercept and warn Julie, Margarita, and their team. As the airbike sailed out over the Golden Gate Bridge, lights of tiny cars glittered below. Ruby was on the seat directly behind Kayta, and Mike sat behind them both. Ruby frantically adjusted her radio. "Mom? Can you hear me? Mom!"

  "I thought you had her for a second there," Mike said tensely. "Keep trying, Rube."

  AT CANDLESTICK PARK, DIANA AND JEREMY WERE BOTH WATCHING with gleaming eyes as the Leader descended lower until she skimmed just overtop the people on the field. The symphonic music continued. She had already made a transit over the entire upper level of the stadium, acknowledging the up-reaching hands of the standing people. Now she drifted lower still so that a few lucky ones on the field might touch the hem of her flowing purple cape.

  Diana and Jeremy had risen along with everyone else. Now they stepped forward to greet the Leader as she descended through the night sky punctuated by thousands of camera flashes. The brilliant, narrow spotlight beams cut through the dark air and followed her down to the dais. She alighted like a lovely feather. As the masses applauded, Shawn was pleased to see the Leader cast a very intimate glance at Jeremy. But to Shawn's surprise, Diana was gifted with an equally intimate look from the deep blue imperial eyes.

  The Leader turned toward the eager masses, who again brought forth a grand ovation with whistles and shouts accompanied by the strong chant from her fellow Visitors, "All hail our Great Leader!" She accepted their cheers and applause graciously.

  As the grand reception continued undiminished for many minutes, Diana glanced at the mammoth vid screens, which flashed close-ups of the Leader's compelling face. They showed her clear, soulful eyes and her kind, caring countenance. Diana had personally selected and approved each of the camera positions. Those capturing the closest shots were all somewhat below the Leader's eye line, which made her appear just slightly taller and above all of those whom she addressed. It also lent a subtly heroic stature to the Leader's image. It was a tried and true device long employed by classic filmmakers. John Ford and Orson Welles had used it. So had Leni Riefenstahl in her stunning, provocative works of Nazi propaganda. Like Riefenstahl and the skillful media wizards who orchestrated the coverage of giant American political conventions, Diana sought to convey all the persuasive aspects of the intense gathering by placing other cameras high and wide to illustrate the expansive grandeur of the adoring masses. Still other came
ras were handheld down among the breathless multitude, capturing glimpses of the exuberant human faces in the Teammate units, the solidarity and brave confidence of Visitors in their neatly formed squads, the elation of earthly civilians and Players who were thrilled to be in the presence of, and an integral part of, such dazzling power and greatness. These were the images seen around the world.

  With self-effacing modesty, the Leader graciously accepted the adulation of the people whose cheers might have continued for many more minutes. But finally by merely standing still, she slowly quieted them with the easy friendliness of a Great Communicator.

  When she spoke, her voice, with its resonant alien quality, proved to be uniquely mellow. It projected a calm demeanor and infinite charm. She spoke in English, but as the scene was transmitted globally her words passed through an auto-translator in the Flagship Centcom so that her own confidence-inspiring voice was heard in every human language worldwide. The quality of her voice was consistent in every language: melodious, caring, like balm.

  "My dear, dear friends," she began with a beguiling, humble smile, "how I have longed to be among you. For I consider myself to be thrice blessed." Her bright eyes twinkled with anticipation. "Firstly, I am privileged to lead"—her voice swelled with pride—"the mighty race from my home planet."

  The legions of Visitors instantly took their cue like sworn delegates at a political convention. They raised a mighty cheer that lasted for two full minutes and only quieted when the Leader slightly lifted a finger.

  She spoke directly to her adoring troops. "You are a true hyper-power." She paused, knowing that they would again raise a cheer, which they did. Mark, a veteran of many political gatherings, recognized the Leader's tremendous natural skill at being able to play to, and with, an admiring audience. Her hand swept over her people as if in blessing. "You are destined to be masters of all that you survey." Again, an ovation affirmed her statement and that her faith in her legions was well placed.

  In their cheap tenement in the Sci Section, the Elgins' old TV displayed the thrilled reaction of the Leader's troops, panning across their strong faces. Charles and his father were intent on the screen and were both frowning. Mary, wearing a thin chenille bathrobe, watched stoically, until Charles looked over at her. She instantly took a deep cleansing breath and smiled. "Fascinating, huh? But I think I'd rather take a bath." She stood and kissed both her father-in-law and her husband on the forehead. Then she looked into Charles's eyes lovingly, ran her fingers through his hair, and kissed him a second time.

  The TV drew Charles's attention as Mary quietly exited. The smiling Leader had begun to speak further to her uniformed compatriots. "You are a race unique in the universe. But what wonderful helpmates you have found here . . ."

  From the dais in the center of the stadium her voice boomed out, "Among the wonderful people of Earth!" The humans in the huge audience responded to their own cue and cheered loudly. The Leader spread her arms wide and turned in a complete circle as if to symbolically embrace those on all sides of her.

  Some of the humans like J. D. Oliver and Teammate Debra Stein were intensely passionate and exuberant; others, like Mark, were polite but not swept away, and a few were entirely silent. Mark noted that Emma was one of the latter.

  In the Steins' modest house Danny and Stella were watching the rally unfold on their TV. Danny sniped angrily, "At least among the people of Earth you haven't captured or killed." His mother glanced at him, but Danny wouldn't return her look.

  At Candlestick Park, the Leader continued to draw everyone into her grand plan. "Let me be very clear about this: I want all humans to join our society and help us claim new worlds as part of our mutual dominion." Her eyes sought out the eyes of specific humans on the field nearest her. "I want you, and you, and you"—she then looked directly into the camera she knew to be carrying her close-up, speaking directly through it to the billions of humans watching around the world—"and YOU—to share in the vast riches to be found across space. By uniting with my own extraordinary race each one of you here on Earth has absolutely everything to gain!"

  Mary Elgin stood in the small bathroom of their tenement. Cheers from the stadium echoed from the TV in her living room as well as from other TVs and radios in nearby apartments outside her window. Mary was looking at her drawn face in the bathroom mirror, which had a small crack on one side. She gazed searchingly into her own tired brown eyes, looking for something that she couldn't seem to find. Then she sighed and looked down at the stained, pitted sink. She sat down on the edge of the bathtub, which was equally as distressed as the sink. She turned the tub's squeaky, rusting faucet. It sputtered as always, then began to fill the tub. The basket of sweet-smelling bath soaps and gels that Emma had brought rested on the small, cracked octagonal tiles of the floor. Mary lifted the basket into her lap and began to unwrap one of the gels. But her eyes were not focused on it; she stared right past it, her breathing shallow, measured.

  THE SMALL STAFF OF VISITORS AND HUMANS INSIDE THE MARIN communications Link was startled as Margarita and company suddenly swept in like professional soldiers, surprising them. Margarita was in the lead, pulse pistol held in both hands at arm's length in front of her as she commanded, "Everyone on the floor!"

  Street-C shoved one recalcitrant Visitor down. "You heard the lady! Now!"

  Julie's voice was more calming. "Just take it easy and no one will get hurt, I promise." Julie went to a bank of equipment. She sought out the unit she needed and inserted their Resistance vid disk that now included the Secretary-General's powerful revelations. She clicked the unit onto standby.

  ON AYDEN'S AIRBIKE, NATHAN PEERED OVER THE ZEDTI'S SHOULDER. He saw they were already passing over the old Bethlehem Shipyards five hundred feet below them. He could also see the searchlights of Candlestick Park crisscrossing the night sky in the distance. "Shouldn't you be switching to stealth mode?"

  "Soon," Ayden said, nodding.

  Nathan saw Ayden reach down and subtly activate a small control. A tiny indicator light on the airbike control console switched from yellow to blinking red. Something about the indicator coupled with Ayden's secretive body language troubled Nathan. He pulled the radiation sensor card from his pocket and saw that it, too, had turned red, connoting that intense radioactivity had initiated nearby. Nathan realized that the Zedti had armed the missile. "Ayden! We agreed no nuke!"

  "I'm sorry," Ayden said unemotionally, "but it's the best way."

  "No, God damn it!" Nathan reached around for the missile controller, but was no match for the Zedti's strength. Ayden grabbed Nathan's shoulder and leveraged him right off of the bike. Nathan yelped as he fell. He barely managed to grab a handhold on the side of the bike, but he was dangling five hundred feet above the ground. Ayden was trying to steady the flying bike that had been thrown out of balance by Nathan's predicament. Nathan realized his face was right beside the handle of the Zedti sonic weapon in its storage sheath by Ayden's leg. He whipped out the sonic pistol and fired it at Ayden.

  The startled Zedti commander took the vortex concussion full against his side. The shock wave blew him off of his seat, away from the bike, and into free fall. The bike began to fishtail wildly, threatening to shake Nathan off.

  As Ayden swiftly gathered velocity toward the ground a small device popped from his belt and snapped outward to form a triangular parasail. He swung down beneath it and grabbed the guidance straps that allowed him to maneuver it as he glided down toward a rooftop. He glared up into the distance and saw the airbike was out of control and spiraling downward quickly.

  Nathan strained against his own dead weight and the powerful centrifugal force of the spinning airbike. Only with a mighty effort was he able to pull himself back up onto it. He grasped the controls and brought the nose of the bike up just yards above the shipyard's weathered concrete. Breathing hard, he gained altitude and saw Ayden drifting downward beneath his parasail. Nathan grumbled angrily, "Good idea: go fly a kite."

  Then he deactiva
ted the nuclear missile and switched the airbike into camouflaged stealth mode as he flew on quickly toward Candlestick Park.

  WALL-SIZED VID SCREENS FROM AMSTERDAM TO PHILADELPHIA TO Tokyo were carrying the live image of the Leader, who had been speaking fondly of the Visitor connection to Earth's women, men, and children. As the applause to her latest words died down, she drew a breath and a particularly earnest expression appeared on her face. "But I said that I was thrice blessed. And so I am. I now address both those of my own race and of the human race about a subject that is very important and dear to me. Because in addition to embracing all of you into our grand new community, I also open my heart to the newest members of our two races"—her voice took on an earnest tenderness—"those of mixed heritage—our wonderful half-breeds."

  A murmur of surprise mixed with slight disenchantment rippled across the stadium. Lowest-caste half-breeds everywhere suddenly grew more attentive, including the mute girl Jon had encountered aboard the Flagship. She was watching in the steamy, overcrowded barrack that housed her and many others of her kind.

  "These youth have been too long ignored. Too long disenfranchised and demeaned. But I ask you, my friends, was it their fault to have been born of mixed heritage?" She looked strongly into her audience's eyes, prompting them, "Well, was it their fault?"

  The Leader paused and heard scores of shouts from across the expansive stadium crying, "No! No, it wasn't!"

  "Did those mixed-race children choose to be born? Did they?"