V_The 2nd Generation

by Kenneth Johnson

  Street-C muttered to Ysabel, "Long as the suckers prove themselves to me one at a time."

  AT THE CHEMICAL FACTORY A WALL SCREEN WAS CARRYING THE scene from the Flagship. J. D. Oliver, sporting a slight film of nervous perspiration, stood among his employees who were watching. He gestured toward the screen with his pulpy hand and boasted to some workers. "You know I was with the Resistance from the beginning. I've been working secretly with them the whole time." He smiled proudly until he noticed that Charles Elgin and Gary were striding purposefully toward him. Similar scenes were taking place from Paris to Buenos Aires to Osaka. Collaborators everywhere were finally being brought to justice.

  IN THE HANGAR BAY, NATHAN CONTINUED. "WE'LL KEEP THE MAJORity of their Motherships as defense against the Visitors ever 'visiting' again."

  "And," Margarita elaborated, "as operational platforms for restoring the Earth."

  Mike brought forward the Zedti commander and the willowy blonde with the violet eyes. "Contrary to the Visitor propaganda you heard, the Zedti are not an enemy to us. They are our powerful allies. They were not preparing an assault against the Earth, but merely to defend their own race and their planet from attack by the Visitors." He put his hand on Kayta's shoulder. "This is Kayta, a wonderful new friend, and Ayden, the Zedti commander. They both risked their lives repeatedly to save us. It was Ayden who called off their fleet and prevented a nuclear holocaust from destroying the Earth."

  There was extended applause and cheering for the two Zedti, who merely nodded and accepted the adulation stoically.

  As the applause faded, Julie said, "We're pleased that Ayden, representing all the Zedti, agrees with our overall plan."

  "Which I do," Ayden confirmed, "in principle."

  Julie and many others glanced at him, wondering what exactly that meant.

  He understood their unasked question and said, "We feel that the current situation won't be satisfactorily resolved until all Visitor holdouts are rounded up and all human prisoners have been returned. The Zedti fleet will gladly oversee peacekeeping here on Earth during this period of . . . untidiness."

  That comment raised several eyebrows among the Resistance leaders. And they weren't alone. Many astute people around the world who were just coming out from beneath twenty years of oppressive occupation by a totalitarian regime were keenly sensitive to any phrases that portended anything of that sort in the future. They listened very carefully as Ayden presented his reasoning, "This oversight is of particular importance since I have learned that several of your countries—France, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—have already nationalized the Motherships over their territories."

  Margarita sought to quell people's unease. "Which of course causes all of us concern as well, but we're determined to resolve any differences by peaceful, diplomatic means."

  Ayden nodded agreement. "That would always be our first choice as well."

  Julie recognized how his statement implied that a second choice existed, but she chose to skirt the issue. "We ask assistance from all our friends in the long-suppressed international scientific community. Please come forward immediately and help supervise the restoration of our water and the peaceful uses of Visitor technology."

  Then Nathan concluded, "There will be another broadcast tomorrow at this time with further updates." Then he looked to Julie for any final words. As she stepped to the microphone, the serious expression on her careworn face brought absolute silence to the huge hangar bay.

  "There is no one on Earth who hasn't been touched by what happened to us over the last twenty years," Julie said. "Many thousands have died, one at a time, in the cause that brought us to this day. And while it's certainly a day for celebration and will be every year from now on, I would hope that we'll always take time to remember the fallen victims and heroes, the loved ones and all those unknown to us who were killed or who sacrificed themselves so that humanity could survive." Julie looked out across the quiet faces and bowed her head. All the men and women in the hangar bay followed her example as did the billions who were watching. Around the entire planet there was a long moment of silent tribute.

  Then Julie raised her head and took a breath. "Thank you very much."

  Applause began and quickly grew into loud joyous cheers for Julie and the Resistance and Freedom. The happiness and ovations were not in the hangar bay alone, but came also from the billions of individuals watching in cities, towns, and villages across their reborn Earth.

  Then came some jeers aimed at the reptilian Visitor Leader and Jeremy who were being led away, their faces and futures in tatters. The two of them were glaring at Julie, Nathan, Margarita, and the Resistance Team with harsh yellow eyes that vowed revenge. Julie turned away from them. Then she realized that Kayta and Mike were looking at her with great sadness. Julie immediately knew from their expressions that something was very wrong.

  IN THE OUTER CHAMBER OF THE FLAGSHIP COMPUTER MAINFRAME, Ruby lay at peace. Her eyes were closed and her last wistful smile was still on her bright face. Julie was barely breathing, overcome with emotion, as she knelt slowly beside her adopted daughter. With the back of her fingers Julie touched Ruby's scaly cheek, then stroked her tousled chestnut hair. Kayta came to stand nearby as Mike knelt down beside Julie. He watched as she touched Ruby's little fingers, which still formed the letter that had always been the symbol of Resistance, determination, and ultimate victory. Mike's voice was very soft. "She told me you taught her how we all came from the stars . . . She said she'll be out there among them . . . waiting for you."

  Tears dimmed Julie's eyes. She continued to gently stroke the hair of her treasured, incredibly brave, and irreplaceable little girl.

  EPILOGUE

  THE NEXT DAY WAS BRILLIANTLY SUNNY AS THE HUGE, GLEAMING Visitor Flagship glided out past the Golden Gate Bridge and over the Pacific Desert.

  On the command deck in the Flagship Centcom stood the Prime Resistance Team including Mike, Robert Maxwell, Ysabel, and numerous others. Also present were the Secretary-General and his wife. Martin captained the great ship. His Executive Officer was the teenage half-breed genius, Jon. Beside Jon stood his proud human mother, whom he had freed from her tomb along with the grateful millions of others.

  "All ahead one-third, Jon," Martin said.

  "Ahead one-third, aye, sir." The boy's misshapen mouth twisted into a grand smile as he transmitted the order and glanced at his mother.

  Lee was serving as communications officer. "Martin, all Motherships confirm they are ready to begin the operation."

  Martin turned to look at Margarita, Julie, Mike, and Nathan, whose arm was in a cast. "Who wants to give the order?"

  Margarita deferred to Julie, who thought a moment, then turned to look toward Charles Elgin.

  The scientist was surprised and moved. His father stood to one side of him and his wife Mary was on the other. She squeezed Charles's arm with quiet pride and encouragement.

  Charles stepped forward, his emotions running so high that he could barely find his voice as he spoke haltingly into the microphone, "On behalf of all my fellow scientists on Earth, and their families, I am exceedingly honored to say: Decompression and release to begin on my mark. Three . . . two . . . one . . . Mark."

  On the bottom of the Flagship alarms sounded as an enormous panel slid open. And then the water began to emerge, more and more of it being decompressed within the Flagship and flowing out until it became a huge waterfall pouring down toward the dry scrub beneath.

  Around the entire planet, in both the daytime and nighttime hemispheres, Motherships everywhere followed suit. Water cascaded forth into the vast, half-empty oceanic basins. Simultaneously all the church bells of Earth began to ring out.

  From some Motherships the water became wind-whipped, quickly developing into massive storms bringing magnificently torrential rainfall. And rainbows. Rainbows were seen everywhere.

  On the streets of the planet's cities from Bangladesh to Brooklyn people gloried in the downpour of water. They d
elighted in the transfusion of lifeblood that had been stolen and was now flowing back to a grateful Mother Earth.

  Danny Stein's reunited mother and father, Stella and Sidney, were standing on their front steps in the showering rain with renewed appreciation for their unique world and for each other. Like children everywhere, Danny frolicked gleefully in the soaking rainfall, splashing in the puddles. Then Danny realized that someone was looking at him from down the street. It was Thomas Murakami, whose face was contrite and apologetic. He tentatively raised his hand and gave Danny a hopeful thumbs-up. Danny stared back at him through the falling rain and finally responded with a simple nod.

  The water continued to flood forth from the Motherships, returning to churn and froth and replenish the oceans.

  On the Embarcadero that evening, Margarita and Nathan stood in the rain among thousands of other celebrating San Franciscans. He and Margarita laughed together in the warm rainfall. Then they looked appreciatively into each other's eyes and finally enjoyed their first kiss.

  SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SKY WAS STILL OVERCAST AS THE KEY members of the Resistance gathered at a hilltop cemetery overlooking San Francisco to honor their fallen comrades.

  Ayden and Kayta stood quietly to one side. Their hands were in front of them, their fingers interlaced. They saw Mike slowly approaching up the hill and saw the expression of sorrow clouding his face. Kayta noted particularly his unfocused, vacant, downcast gaze. Ayden inclined his head closer to Kayta, asking quietly, "Is there still no news of Donovan's son?" Kayta's eyes never left Mike as she sadly shook her head.

  Willy and Harmy watched their son Ted step slowly forward. He knelt and reverently placed a wreath against a marble headstone upon which was engraved simply, Bryke. Ted remained there, his head bowed, his fingers touching the top of the stone.

  A light rain began to fall again. Dr. Robert Maxwell and the others in the group looked skyward into it, welcoming the rain as being appropriate to bless the heartfelt memorial service.

  Street-C stood beside his adopted mother Ysabel who took Gary's arm on which there was a black mourning band for the loss of his dear Eric. Gary smiled sadly at her. Her warmth comforted his melancholia.

  Emma stood with her arm around Mark's waist.

  Nathan had his good hand on Margarita's shoulder. She leaned against him as she looked toward Julie with heartache.

  Julie stood alone beside another marble grave marker where the name Ruby Parish was carved in stone for generations yet unborn to visit and to honor.

  Julie felt a man's hand slip gently into her own. Her eyes rose to meet Mike's and she held his poignant gaze. Their feelings of loss, of connection, of affection were beyond words. Mike saw that on a delicate gold chain around her neck Julie was wearing a small golden locket, which he had given her in recent days. Julie had determined it would always be there, close to her heart. Within it she had placed a lock of Ruby's chestnut hair.

  As they stood on the hilltop, breathing the rain-freshened air, they slowly became aware of a low rumble that was gradually increasing in intensity. It sounded like thunder at first but it didn't diminish and pass. It grew steadily stronger.

  The group looked up at the dark, billowing, cumulonimbus storm clouds that stretched from above them to the horizon and flashed with lightning. Then, slowly appearing through the clouds, came the mountainous Zedti Flagship, being seen by human eyes for the very first time. It was literally filling the sky.

  Far larger than a Visitor Mothership, the asymmetrical, organic nature of the Zedti Flagship emphasized the impression that it had been somehow grown or daubed together rather than built. It had an inherently menacing aspect.

  The gigantic, fearsome-looking interstellar warship was an overpowering spectacle. Even after all the truly remarkable sights and events humanity had witnessed over the last twenty years, none of the people looking up at it had ever been more awestruck.

  After a long moment of astonishment and wonder, Nathan spoke, his voice very low, "Good thing they're on our side, huh?"

  Margarita pondered the question as she stared up at it, also speaking quietly, "Yes . . . It certainly is . . ."

  The gargantuan, extremely alien Flagship glided slowly toward them. Margarita, Nathan, Emma, Mike, Julie, and the others all studied it carefully.

  They were trying to envision the future.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kenneth Johnson is the award-winning writer, director, and producer of numerous television shows, TV movies, and feature films. He is the creator of the original V miniseries, and produced such TV series as The Incredible Hulk, Alien Nation, and The Bionic Woman, and has directed the feature films Short Circuit 2 and Steel. He also cowrote a novel, An Affair of State, with David Welch. Johnson is the winner of the prestigious Viewers for Quality Television Award, multiple Saturn Awards, the Sci-Fi Universe Life Achievement Award, and has been nominated for Writers Guild and Mystery Writers of America Awards. He lives in Los Angeles.