Now the troopers turned to fire at their enemies, but it was too late. Eddie was firing first, taking out half a dozen of the guards with almost super-human accuracy before any of them got a single shot off.
Red brought up his energy cannon as he dropped to one knee, resting the heavy weapon there as he fired. The sound was like standing next to a rocket at lift off, and the results were just as catastrophic, as the purple skinned guards were scattered across the warehouse-like room
Then Dan was there, leaping from across the empty room in one angry motion, landing the midst of their enemies, his powerful legs exploding downward into the concrete and steel reinforced floor, shattering it and sending shockwaves that scattered their enemies like tenpins.
Instantly the President, Red and Eddie took defensive positions behind crates that were scattered about the huge room and began firing as Mark joined them, having picked up a gun one of the enemy lettuce-heads had dropped, with Ariel hanging on to his shoulder for support.
The room was alive with bolts of energy flying every which way, as stunned guards tried to fight their way to their feet, but Dan would simply stomp on the floor with incredible strength sending shockwaves through the very ground, scattering them.
Ariel looked up and inhaled sharply, drawing in her breath. Then she turned to Mark and finally spoke, “I’ve got this,” she stated with an almost feline growl as she walked away from Mark, put both hands on either side of her head and suddenly concentrated.
Every alien within the room suddenly dropped to the ground like puppets with their strings cut. Ari stumbled a second as blood began to run down from her nose, and Mark quickly caught her once again.
“I’ve got you Ari, I’ve got you,” he reiterated reassuringly.
“We leavin’?” Dan asked as he rubbed his hands together, dispelling dust.
“Yes we are, Mr. Sledge,” Mark replied as he tapped his sleeve, bringing up a 3D image of the cells and the entire underground compound. “This way,” he stated flatly and pointed.
The entire team, including the President, began to run when suddenly the underground base shook violently.
“What the hell?” grunted Dan.
“We’re under attack,” Red shouted.
“Not us, this base,” Eddied replied.
“Less talk, just run.” Mark ordered, as everyone raced towards the staircase leading to the upper levels.
“Danny, take point and clear the way for us.”
“You got it, Mark,” Sledge replied as he barreled through half a dozen guards who suddenly appeared before them from an adjacent hallway. They were scattered and down before any of them drew a weapon as Dan Sledge tore through them like they were made of paper.
“Steel doorway to the outside ahead,” Mark advised as they ran.
“Not for long,” Red acknowledged as he brought up the cannon once again, “Danny, down!” Red yelled, as Dan hit the deck, barely avoiding a blast from the hand-held cannon which obliterated the bulkhead door, while the entire facility shook yet again from the continuing barrage from the outside.
“Everyone try to raise the ship, we have no idea how high up it is, or even where it is exactly. They could be doing this from orbit for all we know,” Mark commanded.
“Not quite, Mark. Look!” Eddie shouted as he pointed above them.
The Cagliostro shot across the sky stopping almost directly overhead as a small hatch opened up on the bottom of the ship and a magnetic tractor beam grasped onto them all, drawing them into the ship.
Red and Dan each placed a hand on the Presidents upper arms, holding him lightly as they floated upward.
“How is this even possible? I have no metal on.” The President stared in wonder as he floated upward.
“The beam is pulling you upward by the iron in your blood and whatever magnetic material is in our suits alone. It’s that powerful, but it’s also gentle. You’re not feeling a tug or any pain. It’s all calculated accordingly,” Mark explained as they entered the ship through the belly hatch they were drawn up through.
Seconds later the entire group was running through the ship toward the forward maglovator and from there to the control deck.
They burst onto the control deck as the secondary crew all stood, all except the man in the command chair.
“You’re all relieved people, good job,” Mark began, but stopped when he saw the General sitting in his chair, “General, where’s Mr. Marek?”
“In sick bay, Johnson. You had a traitor on board. She tried to kill your second in command, but I showed her the error of her ways,” the General concluded, rubbing his fist ominously.
“Who was the traitor? Reynolds? From life sciences?”
The General raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Good instincts Johnson, yes that’s the one. Pretty red haired tart too.”
“Auburn sir, her hair color is auburn. I’ve been concerned about her since we got her back from that prison facility. According to the crew she made some comments on the Stargrazer that seemed a bit out of place for her. Where is she now?”
“The brig, nursing a black eye and one nasty headache I hear.” He laughed quietly in memory of his arrival and subsequent knockout blow to the traitors jaw.
“Good, let her stay there and stew awhile.” He turned to Ariel who was seated at her console, “You’re going to the med bay, I’m taking you there myself. Mr. President, find a seat please.”
At Mark’s comment all on the command deck turned their heads suddenly to the maglovator doors, General Abruzzi included, who immediately stood and saluted the President.
“Mr. President! I apologize sir, I did not realize you were standing there,” Abruzzi offered sincerely.
“At ease General, this is not a formal meeting. These people just saved my life. Believe me I’m not going to stand on circumstance at the moment. I’ve been in a cell for the past few weeks.”
Then the President stopped, “Wait Abruzzi, what are you doing here?”
The General smiled slowly, “You were held the past several weeks sir, here. Johnson and his people found me thousands of light years from here held in an alien prison, where I’d been trapped for months or maybe even years. I guess we both owe them much,” he concluded with a slow nod.
The President turned to Mark who was forcibly making Ariel leave her station and go with him to the medical bay.
“So I was correct, Mr. Johnson? We had a traitor in our midst, an imposter, besides the one who took my place?”
Mark nodded as the young woman who had taken Ariel’s place at the communications console returned and did so once again. Mark led Ariel away. It was obvious she was still in pain from her ordeal. “Yes, Mr. President. You were right on all accounts. It was the General as we had surmised earlier who was replaced by the Aliens.”
“Mark, get yourself looked at also, you look like hell, you know,” the President stated.
“I feel like hell plus some,” Mark replied, a slight grin in place.
“Danny, take the command chair, head to Washington. I’ll be back in a few minutes. If attacked, don’t fire on any of our own planes. Follow the Presidents orders.”
Mark stopped a moment in thought as he looked at the view screen before him then turned back to Dan Sledge, “in fact belay that and head for orbit. Keep the reflective skin energized, Mr. President, please come with us, you too General. Red come with us and get yourself looked at.”
“Mark,” Red began, “I’m okay. Let me stay here while you’re in the med bay. I’ll go after you come back, is that okay with you?”
“All right, Red, I’ll make sure you head down there the minute we’re back on the deck, though. Mr. President, with us please?”
The President stopped and looked at Johnson quizzically, “What reason, Mark?”
“We have that little DNA test we were discussing earlier to administer. I think we all should take it to alleviate any doubts to everyone around us we are who we claim to be. Any of us who were captured b
y these aliens could have been cloned and replaced. Let’s make sure the air is cleared and no one on board has doubts about any of us.”
The General began to argue, but thought better of it and followed the President, Mark, and Ariel into the maglovator, exiting twenty seconds later in the medical bay.
Doctor, I have a couple of patients for you. First and foremost look to Ariel, then I need DNA tests administered to all of us, to make sure we’re all who we claim to be, if anything, for the peace of mind of the crew.”
“Never mind that, boss.” Troiano began, “you look like hell yourself, get up on an exam table pronto.”
“Ari first,” Mark insisted.
Troiano shook her head disgustedly and heeded his wishes. Ariel painfully slid up onto the med gurney, wincing a few times as she did.
“Johnson, Abruzzi a moment please,” the President called both men to his side.
“What is it Mr. President?” Mark asked as both men joined him in a corner of the medical facility.
“I have a thought as to how these DNA tests can serve two purposes. Let us have them performed on a live channel feed to the world. Can you do that?”
Mark thought a half second, then replied, “Yes we can bounce the signal off a satellite relay and blanket the world.”
“Good. I can make an announcement about my imposter the instant the test is complete, and we can have both clones arrested on the spot.”
“It may not be that easy, sir. It will be our word versus theirs and they could easily say a video DNA test was rigged.”
“Perhaps, but it will instill doubt, and that could be all we need.”
All three men agreed.
“Excuse me, Mark.” The three men looked up as the doctor approached, her face serious, “I have Ariel stabilized. She’s beat up, but nothing’s broken. She needs rest. Now it’s your turn, I need you on an exam table.”
He nodded in agreement and turned back to the President and the General, “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, my Doctor needs to see me. The Doctor will need to see you too, Mr. President.”
“That’s right I will, so don’t go anywhere, Mr. President.” Troiano affirmed.
A nurse walked over and led the President to an examination table. The general stood quietly nearby watching, his face impassive.
“You were very lucky today, Mr. Johnson.” Troiano began, “You all were. The med scanner doesn’t show any breaks, just a lot of bruising. They held back on all of you.”
He laughed and replied, “It didn’t feel like it.”
“Maybe not, but they didn’t kill you.”
“No they were torturing us, they wanted information.”
He turned and looked at Ariel who was in the bed next to him, her eyes closed. “How is she, really?” He spoke in a lowered voice.
“She’s hurting. They were brutal with her. She’s scarred both mentally and physically. She needs to relax for a few days at least.”
‘No!’ Ariel’s voice shouted in both their minds, almost doubling them over with the strength of her psychic voice. ‘I can rest after this is over with. The nation, hell, the planet needs us, all of us, myself included.’
“Ari-” Mark interrupted.
‘No, no Mark, you will not put me on the sidelines for this one. I can take a nice long vacation after this is all over. For now the Doctor can medicate me or whatever. But I’m not sitting on the sidelines. I’m seeing this through to the end.’
Johnson nodded finally after meeting her gaze for a moment. “Doc, fix her up. I do need her, we all do. She’s right.”
Troiano shook her head, “I must protest Mr. Johnson, she’s my patient and she needs her rest.”
“She can rest in her quarters until I need her, then I’ll call for her. That’s the only compromise I’m willing to make. You’re both right, and you’ll both have to sign onto it, whether you like it or not, especially you Ari. Doc, don’t over medicate her, when the time comes I’ll need her sharp. Literally the fate of the world may depend on it.” He turned to Ariel now as both the President and General Abruzzi looked on in interest, “I’m not comfortable doing this Ari. But I do need you and I understand your desire to be in on the rest of this crazy mission we’re on. But I will not allow you to be hurt again. If things start to look bad I’m pulling the plug and taking you out of the action, understood?”
Ariel sighed and nodded affirmatively. “Okay, I agree to your terms,” she answered, exasperated.
“Good, now Doctor Troiano, there’s a matter of DNA tests for myself, the General and President Scaleia. We have a broadcast to make to the world.
Chapter Twenty Two
Video equipment was quickly set up in the medical bay as the ships engineers, under Dan Sledge’s attention, fed the video feed into the ships powerful communications array.
“We’re all set, Mark,” Dan called, as he plugged the final connection into the hovering camera, which floated about in front of the three men, while being controlled by Dan.
“All right Dan, thanks. Gentlemen, it’s show time,” he announced grimly.
“Lighting it all up in 3, 2, 1- You’re live.” Dan pointed towards them.
“People of the United States of America, as well as all of the Earth. My name is Mark Johnson. I’m sure in the past several weeks you have heard certain…disparaging rumors about me, and my friends and co-workers here at Johnson aerospace. I am here with President Scaleia as well as General Abruzzi, two of the most powerful men in the nation, and on the planet to dispel those rumors.”
Sledge watched his control panel as the drone camera floated about the three men, concentrating its focus right now on Mark.
Its signal was being streamed off a Johnson Aero satellite and from there, sent all over the world hitting communications satellite after satellite. Even if their enemies shut some of the feeds down they would not be able to sever them all. Someone, somewhere of importance would see this message. At least that’s what was hoped.
“We are here to prove to the American people as well as the world that we three are the real, true people we appear to be. You see, these two men beside me, President Scaleia and General Abruzzi, have both been captured by forces beyond our world and replaced with clones. We are going to do a live DNA test right now on the three of us to prove we are who we claim to be. Mr. President, you will be first.”
The President nodded stoically and held his arm out as Dr. Troiano quickly took blood and then a culture from the inside of his mouth. She ran a scanner over them and the results were instantaneous. This was the real President according to information that was on file in the ships database.
“Next, General Abruzzi,” Mark continued, “and after him I will be tested as well.”
Troiano continued her testing on both remaining subjects with the same result each time.
Then it was the Presidents turn to speak, “My fellow Americans, the man sitting in the White House is not the man you elected. He is a clone of myself, a replacement programmed to destroy our great nation and even further, our great world. There has been a clandestine scheme enacted by an alien race to subjugate mankind. This is not some wild lame-brained tale by some discredited tab-feed. This is reality. Secret Service, I implore you to take the man in the White House into custody. I am calling on my three most trusted personal guards, Jenkins, Shlesinger, and Moroni. That man may wear my skin, but he does not wear my soul. His intentions are dire. Arrest him now, and do not hesitate to do so. I’m ordering the men who are with the imposter claiming to be General Abruzzi to do the same. Arrest him, do not let him escape custody. The fate of the world literally relies on you doing so.”
Suddenly, Red’s voice interrupted over the ships comm system, “They found us Mark, we have incoming, missiles headed our way, as well as two rapier class war ships.”
“Destroy the missiles, full spread with the solar cannons, do not, I repeat do not fire on the war ships,” Mark commanded.
The President continued, “T
his is not a lie, this is not desperate men trying to confuse or befuddle you. Even now the enemies of mankind fire upon us. I am the President of the United States of America, and I implore you to heed my words. The fate of the world’s future is in your hands, and only you can assure that future. I can only guarantee that our world is lost if you do not heed my words at this very moment. Everything relies on what the people of Earth do within the next few scant minutes. This is our turning point as a planet, this is the moment we either climb to greatness, or are forced back into the mud by the boot heel of an enigmatic oppressor who fears us. Seize the future, seize it now, or there will not be a future, for any of us.”
As he was speaking electronic data from the entire mission was being sent on every conceivable frequency across the world.
The ship rocked violently as the missiles shot at it were destroyed, but still they exploded powerfully and closely.
“We still have those rapier class ships incoming, Boss.” Red barked over the comm.
“Are they arming weapons?”
“They have been armed, Mark.”
“Continue broadcasting all vital information about this mission, loop it and send the damned information package to every receiver on the planet, I don’t have to tell you to make sure it’s all over the ultranet as well, I’m sure.”
“Already done, boss,” Dan replied.
“More missiles incoming!” Red snapped, the tension in his voice apparent. “Mark, there’s waves of them heading toward us!”
“Fire at will, destroy them,” Mark ordered as tension filled the ship, and was readily apparent over the video feed.
“Both those ships are moving on us now. They’re trying to cut us off,” Red shouted.
“Evasive maneuvers,” Mark replied.
“Boss, should I keep transmitting?” Sledge asked.
“Yes, keep it going, I want the world to be watching this right up until our very last minutes if need be. The planet has to learn we are who we say we are and the extent of the trouble that’s coming to us.”
The Cagliostro Chronicles Page 15