Symphony of Descension

by Robert D. Armstrong

  The Omega drifted through dust, staring down at Lang. The camera feed began to pulse up and down as Lang’s breathing accelerated. The Omega took a quick glance at the tank he’d destroyed, then back at Lang.

  “They can you see, can they?” it asked as a tentacle stretched toward Lang’s helmet. The stiff metallic-coned end tapped the camera mounted atop Lang’s head.

  “W-what? Yes. Yes! D-do you have anything you’d like to say? Why are you doing this?” Lang struggled to sit up.

  The Omega glared into the cyclone as the winds calmed slightly. “I do have something to say.” It paused, landing right in front of Lang.

  Keith closed his eyes for a moment. “Ah, I don’t think I can watch this.” He attempted to summon the strength to reopen his eyes.

  “Firstly, I’m not of this world. Whatever propaganda your government has fabricated about Russia, while effective to some, is false.”

  “Uh, wha— I don’t— You’re not Russian?” Lang asked.

  “Far from it. Your species is at least forty thousand years from anything remotely similar to myself. I have the means to destroy you if I so chose. It just so happens that terrorism is something you respond to, a slow infectious fear that begins with delusion that this will not reach your doorstep. Understand that I cannot be stopped, and the rate at which I destroy will only accelerate from this point.”

  “W-what— What do you want?” Lang asked.

  “If you can hear me, Colonel Ritter, I suggest you return what belongs to me or more blood will be on your hands,” the Omega demanded.

  “What belongs to y-you?” Lang asked.

  “Colonel Ritter, return what is mine,” the Omega repeated, glancing around him as the storm subsided. Debris rained from the sky as the Omega created a shield around itself. As rubble pummeled Lang, he screamed as he was beaten to death.

  “Off! Turn off the feed!” Keith yelled, pulling his hair back. The feed slowly faded into his living as Mia ran downstairs.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I have to call Michael and Vala. Wherever they are, they need to hurry.”

  Chapter Nine

  “How much longer?” Iris asked from the backseat.

  “About three minutes. Almost there,” Michael replied.

  “There’s nothing out here but melted snow, and it’s really flat,” Iris said.

  “We’ve never been to Minnesota either, but yeah, it looks pretty boring,” Vala said.

  “Boring? I think that’s the point. The less attention, the better.” Michael gazed out at the pastures. “I’ve heard there’s a lot of hills in other parts of the state. It’s not all flat like this.”

  “Why are we here again?” Iris asked.

  “Kind of a road trip, but we’re stopping to see some friends while we’re here. We won’t be here long, right, Mike?”

  “Uh, no, I don’t think so.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel.

  “Good,” Vala said.

  Michael slowed to take right turn. “This road will take us straight there,” he said.

  Vala gazed over at Michael as the early morning sunlight gleamed on his face. “Excited to see your buddy?” She cracked a smile.

  Michael slowly turned toward Vala. “Sort of. What about you?”

  “I’m neutral really. I just want this over with,” she said. Michael braked, observing an old white two-story farmhouse in the distance with a wraparound porch.

  “That’s the place?” She gestured toward it.

  “Yeah.”

  “Looks pretty old,” Vala observed. The paint was chipping on the house and the wooden fence posts that surrounded the yard seemed rotten and had fallen over in places, either by animals running through it or from age.

  “Do they have any animals? I love animals!” Iris laughed.

  “Not sure about that, Iris. Probably not anymore.” Michael zoomed in, examining one of the porch columns that had a worn American flag stirring in the wind. Its red had faded to pink and the fabric was frayed. Beside it was an old red barn with a giant hole in the roof. Inside the barn was black 1980s Chevrolet Silverado step-side truck. It appeared to be in good shape, possibly restored or well maintained.

  “Did they get a lot of radiation here from the bombs?” Vala asked.

  “Very little, best I remember,” Michael replied. In front of the house was a black Humvee and another pickup, a newer blue Ford. As Michael turned in the driveway, his Audi’s tires crumbled through the muddy, snowy path, dipping into the ruts as he crept forward in all wheel drive.

  A man exited the house in a red and navy-blue flannel shirt. He had long white hair on top that tapered down around the sides and a thick beard. He walked with a bit of a limb, and his arm was in a sling. He braced himself along the railing, staring out at them.

  “There’s Lucas,” Michael said.

  “What happened to your friend?” Iris asked in a childlike voice.

  “I don’t know, but by the looks of New Mexico and Arizona, I’m surprised he’s even alive,” Vala replied.

  “He looks very strong. I can see it in his eyes,” Iris mumbled.

  “He’s no slouch,” Michael said. Lucas waved and smiled as Michael parked beside the Humvee.

  “Let’s do this,” Vala whispered, glancing at Michael.

  “These are our friends, Iris, good people,” Vala said before stepping out.

  “Hey, long-time strangers,” Lucas said.

  “Yeah, what the heck happened to you?” Vala asked.

  “Hey. Well, I had a bad fall. Coulda been worse, I suppose.” He grinned.

  “Hadn’t heard much out of you since we went public with the files,” Vala said.

  Lucas slumped his head for moment. “Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy.”

  “I know the feeling.” Vala raised her eyebrows.

  “Whoa, got yourself a new friend?” Lucas asked, gesturing at Iris.

  “This is Iris, she’s with us,” Vala said.

  Lucas squinted at the girl. His pupils bounced away from her and back again. “Well, hello there,” he said. Lucas extended his hand.

  Iris stepped behind Michael, peeking around him and waving at Lucas bashfully. Vala turned and noticed she was nestled next to him. Michael did a double take as he noticed her, hesitantly putting his arm around her. He looked up at Vala. She flashed a full smile, then batted a wink. “Stop,” he mouthed.

  Michael shook Lucas’ good hand. “Good to see ya,” Lucas said.

  “Likewise.”

  “Nice shirt.” Michael turned to Lucas.

  “Yeah? Flannel’s not my thing, it was Keith’s father in-law’s, apparently. Quite the farmer, they say. He had about fifteen hundred acres up here.”

  “Wow. So, uh, where’s Keith? Can we get started?” Vala asked.

  “Yep, we’re ready to get this show on the road. Come on inside, they’re eating.” Lucas hobbled over the entrance, opening the screen door as it squeaked. They entered the old farmhouse, stepping right into the living room lit by candles on the coffee table.

  Most of the furniture was covered in white sheets. The ceilings were high, and the wallpaper had a small bronze flowery design spaced evenly atop the off-white background. It was peeling all over, and there were a few holes in the sheetrock.

  “This whole thing is an antique,” Vala said.

  “Over a hundred years old, built in the nineteen seventies,” Lucas replied.

  A set of chairs scooted across the old hardwood floors in the room ahead as Keith and Mia entered the room with Garza in tow. “Hey.” Keith closed the distance, shaking Michael’s hand. “Good to see you, old friend.”

  Keith pulled himself in to Michael, embracing him. He hugged Vala, then turned back to Mia. “Guys, this is my beautiful wife Mia. This is her father’s home.”

  “Hi.” Mia waved, tucking her hair behind her ears. She stared at Michael, but looked away in a hurry, closing her dropped jaw. “Ahem, sorry. This place might not be ideal, but it’s
the only option we had apparently.” She glanced at Keith.

  “No problem. No longer than this should take we’ll be fine,” Vala said.

  “And of course, Michael, you remember Staff Sergeant Garza from the Crucible?” Lucas said. Garza stepped forward confidently, but respectfully. She stopped two feet away and stared Michael dead in the eyes without a word. There was an awkward silence.

  She extended her hand. “Nice to actually meet you.” She gulped.

  “Garza.” Michael nodded, shaking her hand. Keith cut his eyes at them and grinned.

  “Everyone, this is Iris, she’s with us,” Michael said, putting his hand on top of the back of her head, careful not to touch her headdress. She grinned and waved at everyone.

  Lucas leaned in. “Michael, you got a minute? We need to move in on this situation quickly, but I need to speak with you first.” He nodded toward the porch.

  “I’ll be right back.” Michael looked down at Iris, then glanced at Vala.

  “Sure,” Vala said.

  Lucas limped outside with Michael in tow. Keith noticed them and followed, leaving the women inside. Lucas walked out of earshot as Keith closed the door behind them. “Where’s this artifact?’ Michael asked.

  “It’s in a safe place. We’ll get to that.” Keith gestured behind him.

  “That’s not why I called you out here, Michael. Ah, yeah, gotta couple of things we need to clear up,” Lucas said.

  “Okay.”

  “Who’s the girl?” Lucas snapped toward Michael.

  Michael sighed, glancing at the ceiling. “We found her. Not sure if you’re familiar with our situation, but we’ve been on the run. We were attacked and stopped at a house, she was living there, alone.”

  “Really.” Lucas asked and glanced away.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why would you bring her here considering the gravity of the situation?” Keith questioned.

  “Didn’t really have much choice,” Michael said.

  “The reason I ask is that she matches the description of a girl my men ran into on a Star Rust contract. They found her hiding in tunnel, like an underground cave we were hunting Star Rust. She hurled a shovel at them at the speed of sound, tore straight through a tree and scared the shit outta them.”

  “Hmm. Yep, that’s sounds a lot like her. That headdress, it gives her telekinetic abilities. I’ve seen them first hand.” Michael shook his head.

  “Okay. Yeah, that’s a problem, Michael. In a very short amount of time, we’ll be host to the most advanced creature this planet has ever seen. We don’t need any wildcards. Everyone that’s here, other than Keith’s wife, I know them well enough to trust,” Lucas explained.

  “And I’m sending Mia home soon, anyway,” Keith said.

  “So, that just leaves us with the girl,” Lucas said.

  “She won’t be an issue. I’ll lock her in one of these bedrooms with Vala,” Michael said.

  Lucas turned toward Keith, nodding his head. “Alright, how far away is the area where we’re doing the transfer with the Omega?” he asked.

  Keith pointed behind the house. “We’ll hand over the artifact in the old cattle barn. It’s about twelve hundred yards in the back. Far enough away no one will notice the transfer, hopefully.”

  “Do you know the range of the girl’s telekinesis?” Lucas asked.

  “No. I’m thinking we’ll play it off and she won’t even know what’s going on,” Michael replied.

  “That might work. What about removing the headband?” Lucas asked.

  “No go, not worth the risk,” Michael replied.

  “Wait. What if I send Vala and Iris for a ride, like an errand. Maybe they can take Mia home while the Omega’s here?” Michael asked.

  Keith nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. Town is a good drive from here.”

  “That’s settled then,” Lucas said.

  “The only issue is, I’m not sure how comfortable I am about sending Mia off with them. Maybe they can follow her,” Keith said.

  “That’s fine. We don’t need anyone here other than myself and Michael, of course. Keith, you don’t have to be here either. After you show us how to turn it on, go be with your wife,” Lucas said.

  “You realize you’re not my boss anymore, right?” Keith smiled. “I’m staying, just in case. My knowledge of the translations could be useful,” Keith said. Lucas put his hand in his pocket and stared at the ground for several seconds, squinting in deep thought.

  “There’s one other thing, Michael,” Lucas said.

  “Now’s the time,” Michael said.

  “Earlier, when we attempted to hand over the artifact to the Omega the first time, we were betrayed by Colonel Ritter. He had an engineer that turned on the device using a glove constructed from the same materials you’re made from.”

  “Shocking, human beings betraying one another.” Michael shook his head.

  “The important thing for you is that the engineer that turned it on wore a special space-type suit, like an astronaut. He was also inside a protective bubble to shield everyone outside him,” Lucas said.

  “Michael, when I worked around the artifact, I had an extreme amount of protection, too, so what Lucas is communicating is the organic portions of your body, your heart and brain, we’re not sure if you’ll have adequate protection from the electronic shockwave emitted, especially since you don’t have your wings. Those were designed to layer over your vitals and shield you in the event you were subjected to an electric blast,” Keith explained.

  Lucas stared into Michael’s eyes. “We’re not sure if the race of aliens that your materials are made from we’re organic based or not. The point is, you might not survive.”

  Michael dipped his head. He turned and nodded, glaring through the window at Vala. She was talking to Mia. He reached out to touch the handrail. His hand trembled as his fingertips met the old wood railing. He closed his eyes, using his seismic detection to pry for her heart rate. Her resting heart rate was much lower than a normal human. He isolated her cadence., Da-dam…. Da-dum…. Da-dum….

  Keith stepped forward. “I know this is tough, Michael, but we need an answer. I need to know you can do this. Do you want me to bring Vala out so she can—”

  “No!” Michael roared. “Don’t you dare tell her!” He stabbed his finger at Lucas as his plasma saber ignited.

  “Whoa, Michael!” Keith said.

  Michael quickly retracted the blade, glancing down at his reflex. Michael stared out into the landscape for a few moments. “I-I’ll do it. I have to.” He fell to one knee as Keith attempted to scoop him up.

  “Hey, buddy, I’m here. You’re alright.”

  Vala ran outside. “What happened?” she demanded, assisting Keith as Michael outstretched his arms.

  “I’m okay! Really, I’m fine,” he said. Garza, Mia, and Iris stared out the window at the commotion.

  “He’s probably exhausted. He still requires sleep even though there’s little human tissue left inside him,” Keith said.

  “Oh, there’s plenty,” Lucas mumbled.

  They ushered Michael inside, sitting him on the couch. He stared intensely at Vala, taking in every little detail. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “For what? You’re tired. I should have driven those last hours, but you’re so stubborn,” she said.

  “And that’s how you’ll…remember me: s-stubborn.” Michael began to drift off.

  “What?” Vala narrowed her eyes, then glanced at Lucas.

  He cut his eyes over at Keith, checking his watch. “How much time do you think he’ll need?” he whispered.

  “Maybe a half hour.” Keith shrugged.

  “Every second we wait, people are dying.”

  “Believe me, I know, but what do you want me to do?” Keith asked.

  “I don’t think we have an option until he’s recharged,” Lucas said.

  Iris strolled over the couch and stood in front of Michael. She tapped her foot on the floo
r. “He’s really sleepy huh?” She smiled.

  “Yes, very.” Vala smiled.

  Keith leaned over to Vala, you wouldn’t mind following Mia home in a little bit, and would you, maybe take Iris along for the ride?” he asked.

  “Um, I think I should wait until Michael wakes up,” she replied.

  Keith nodded. “Alright, fair enough.”

  ***

  Michael opened his eyes with Vala kneeling in front of him. “Mike, hunny, we’re following Mia home. I’ll be back soon so we can do this,” she said.

  “I thought we were doing it now?” Michael said.

  Lucas stared out the window. He glanced over his shoulder. “When you, Mia, and Iris leave, that’s when we’ll start,” he said. Keith stood up from his chair, pacing back and forth, displaying a face full of worry.

  “Wait, what’s going on here? You guys are acting strange,” Vala probed. She spun around and stared at Keith as he shook his head without a word. “The artifact, it’s going to hurt you, isn’t it? That’s what they told you?” She cocked her head looking at Mike.

  “It’s possible it could injure me.”

  “Possible? Explain,” Vala said.

  “Well, we’re not sure, but the possibly is there. The device emits a multitude of signals and an electric shock the original creators were probably immune to. Unfortunately, Michael still has vital organs that will be at risk,” Keith said. Garza walked into the room and stood behind them, crossing her arms.

  Vala closed her eyes for a moment. “H-how can you not be sure, Keith? Didn’t you work with the artifact? Why in the world would you drag us through this, put Mike at risk after everything we’ve been through? I put my trust in you.” Her pupils showed a faint hint of red in the center.

  “Vala, we’re not sure because the last person who used the device had protection. The problem is, we don’t have the luxury of time.” Lucas stepped toward her.

  Vala yanked her submachinegun free, stabbing it in Lucas’ face. “Oh, we have got plenty of time, that I can promise you.”