Galactic Satori Chronicles: Book 1 - Earth

by Nick Braker

  “Thank you, James,” Brandon said, making a pretend motion to hand him a tip.

  “My name--”

  “Do not engage them, Samuel,” Tom said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Dude, are you starting already?” Weston said, elbowing Brandon and shaking his head at him.

  They loaded into the limousine with Brandon getting in last. Tom looked preoccupied with a report he picked up in the limo.

  “I want to say home, James, at some point,” Brandon joked. “Hey, boss man, can Lurch hear us through the glass?”

  “No, you have to use-- never mind,” Tom said.

  It was late evening in Washington and the traffic was light. The ride was quiet with everyone but Tom staring outside the windows as the nation’s capital moved by. The bright lights of the various historic buildings passed by in silence. They exchanged glances with each other several times but said nothing.

  The limousine brought them to the rear of a large building and descended a ramp to a parking garage. Its exterior was mainly dark blue glass but it also had white elliptical edges from the main floor to its very top on both ends of the elongated building. The building was fifteen stories high and its middle section on both sides revealed four exterior elevators enclosed in the dark blue glass.

  “Tom,” Brandon said. “This building says Reagan Commercial Complex. Does Lurch need directions?” he asked.

  Greg sighed.

  “Probably a cover name, Brandon,” Greg answered. “Tom, how far do you take this subterfuge? Does the building offer any real services?”

  “No, we rent office space to several phony commercial businesses and our WSO employees use that space to work. For example, our research department is housed on the second and third floors. In total, those two floors have five fake businesses on record as renters,” Tom explained.

  “And that actually works?” Greg asked.

  “With the kind of money and resources we possess, it does.”

  “Cool,” Weston said. “So those on the outside just see this place as a commercial business.”

  “We’re hiding in plain sight,” Tom told him.

  The World Security Organization building was magnificent. The stunning architecture and landscaping made it stand out from the other buildings nearby but Tom told them that was irrelevant. It was just another building, among the thousands in the D.C. area. Tom explained nearly everything about the setup as they moved through the facility, starting with the parking garage. Its interior had a security gate but the guy working it was nondescript. He gave no indication of the ultra, high level security in place and instead, he looked like a normal Joe hired from a local rent-a-cop company. He would turn anyone away that was not authorized. While the facade was quite real looking, anyone trying to get in would be met with escalating lethal force. They exited the vehicle and took one of the internal elevators to the top floor. Tom led them down a spacious hallway to one end of the building. There on a large door was a placard, Alexandria Thompson, WSO Director. Tom seemed to know what they were thinking.

  “No one gets up here that shouldn’t be up here. The plaque doesn’t give anything away.”

  They entered a large room which turned out to be the secretary’s office. A woman came around to greet each of them. She was in her fifties with dark blond hair. Her long red skirt and white blouse told Asher she had an eye for color because the entire ensemble, including shoes and jewelry, matched perfectly. Her dark brown eyes were genuine, full of warmth and charm. She hadn’t said a word but he liked her already. She was sophisticated and intelligent.

  “Tom, so good to have you back.” Taria said. “We missed you, of course.”

  “Thank you, Taria. This is Asher, Brandon, Greg and Weston. Guys, this is Taria Smith. She is Alexandria’s executive assistant.”

  Taria smiled warmly at each of them.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard many great things about each of you. Please forgive me for rushing you but Alexandria is waiting. Take these packets. I have one for each of you. They contain your new identification, badges and, more importantly, your new backgrounds. Give me your old wallets in exchange. I will return everything of any personal nature but we cannot have any of your old identities lying around.”

  She exchanged her packets for their wallets and then ushered them into Alexandria’s office.

  “She is expecting you,” she continued.

  “New identities?” Brandon asked. “What the hell? Okay, if we have to do this, I want Bond, Brandon Bond. Double ‘O’ freaking seven.”

  “Alexandria did say we would get new identities,” Greg said. “Sorry Brandon, she already mentioned your new name would be Agent Festus Pores. I’m just saying.”

  “You need a good ass whooping, boy,” Brandon told him, letting out a whistle as he examined Alexandria’s extravagant office. “Dudes, the city block my house is on isn’t as big as this office. The ceilings in here are at least thirty feet tall,” he said.

  “This way, gentlemen,” Tom said.

  The group crossed the length of the room, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor. They sat down in several cushioned chairs positioned in front of her desk. The chairs were placed on a rug that was as large as their compartments at Devils Shores.

  “Taria, thank you for staying. You may leave if you need,” Alexandria hung up the phone, turning her attention to them. “You made it, gentlemen. I hope you’re doing well?” she asked.

  She walked around to the front of her desk, leaning back against it.

  “We’re hoping no desk jobs for you four. Tom and I agree, you will likely go into the field as soon as you finish the final round of training and the tests that follow. The training is short but the results of the tests will determine your role in the organization. I don’t want to break up this team so I hope they go well.”

  Asher caught the implication so he knew Greg did as well.

  “Glad to be here. I gather we are sorely needed?” Greg said.

  Alexandria glared at Greg, maintaining eye contact with him for several seconds. The look and the message behind it was crystal clear. She was not happy with the news of their eavesdropping. Asher was equally sure Greg didn’t seem bothered by it. He had changed and not all of it for the good.

  “As you know, the aliens are certainly on the ground and scattered across the globe. No place is safe in our estimation but they do seem to still be focused on the demographics we’ve already discussed. No change there,” she said.

  “Is there still no commonality among those that have been killed?” Weston asked.

  Alexandria’s face look confused.

  “Sorry, I mean the locations of where they died?” he added.

  “Ah. Nothing we can discern. If there is, I believe the aliens are intentionally covering that up, killing random people in the process. We just do not know,” she changed the topic. “We can discuss more tomorrow. I just wanted to meet with you before you settled in and tell you that if there is anything I can do, just let me know,” she offered.

  Asher was sorely tempted to ask if she really meant anything but he bit his tongue. Greg smiled at him and winked.

  Damn, he can practically read my mind. Read this, suckah.

  Asher discretely flipped him the bird. Greg scratched the corner of his eye with his middle finger.

  “Thank you,” Weston replied. “We will.”

  “Tom, show them their new apartments. Send Max over to help them. I want you rested for tomorrow, so try to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow will be a long day for all of us.”

  “Meetings with the Secretary?” he asked.

  “And the cabinet,” she said. “Oh, gentleman. Get used to your new names and backgrounds. Starting in the morning, I don’t want to hear your old names again. Besides, I picked your new names out myself.”

  They got up to leave but Alexandria motioned Greg to stay.

  “Greg will join you all a little later. He and I have something t
o discuss.”

  Greg looked at Tom feigning shock.

  “What? No warning? I thought you had my back?”

  “I do,” Tom said. “But it was your action, not mine.”

  Alexandria sat across from Greg on the arm of one of the other chairs.

  “You’ve changed in many ways,” she said, watching him intently.

  He nodded.

  “Would you tell me what happened?” she asked.

  Greg shifted forward and placed his hands together, with his elbows resting on his knees.

  “It was like an open circuit was there my whole life and I found a way to close it. I’m me but this new part is more of me. The circuit is flowing with electricity and it feels like it’s feeding a computer inside my head. There was nothing added to me. I was simply changed. Enhanced. I could say that my brain’s wiring was repaired and now it’s working at peak efficiency. I know that is about as chaotic a summation as I’ve ever uttered since my change but I find it difficult to put into words something that simply cannot be described.”

  He lowered his head, staring at the floor initially but looked up at her, meeting her eyes directly. He rarely did that before his change and his ability to look right at her and speak meant his confidence and self-assuredness had also increased.

  “Well, I am glad you told me that but I was really interested in your relationship with Seph and the sudden interest you both found in breaking the rules and, more importantly, the security in our systems,” she said.

  Greg nodded at her.

  “I know but I wanted to get that off my chest. I wasn’t avoiding your question as I intend to answer it. I just want you to know, I’m all human being, through and through. No one is in control of me but me. I know you will not believe that completely and, as a result, you will always be wary of Asher and I and, ultimately, Warren and Brock.”

  “True. We are both on the same page and, as promised, I’m keeping you informed as much as I can. I’m sure you will do the same,” she said, putting a subtle warning into it.

  “I hear you,” he said but then changed the subject on her. “I studied computer science as a career before the abduction. I had a passion for it then and now I find I want to know even more. I believe my background with computer software was augmented and I have found lately that it is child’s play for me now. Perhaps it would be better stated that my ability to learn has provided me the ease in learning. It isn’t just computer science I’m better at. Anyway, when I look at the security of your systems today, it’s laughable, Alexandria. You really need me to help get your systems secured first and as soon as possible.”

  Alexandria did a mental double take but she kept her face neutral.

  “Sounds like a desk job to me.”

  “I can do both, so don’t hold me to a desk job. I’ll deliver your enhanced security and work with whatever team you put me with in the field. I don’t want just a desk job but you already knew that,” he said.

  “What is the minimum amount of sleep you require now?” she asked.

  “Two hours a day. I can’t force myself much past that. I’d rather be up and working with computers or learning about field operations,” he said. “Obviously, I have devoted my free time to learning. I read faster now and am looking at ways to increase the rate at which I can learn. I have a great deal of catching up to do.”

  She nodded, touching her throat.

  “Alexandria, you already know Magnus, AKA Asher, changed first. This is not news to you or Tom.”

  He’s already using their new names, meaning he’s already read through all or some of his new ID packet. He used Weston and Brandon’s new names earlier and I didn’t even notice.

  “I just want to reiterate that he is capable of much more than he currently shows. His skills are in leadership mainly. He knows people. He knows what drives them and what motivates them. If he asked someone to follow him off the edge of a cliff, I think they would do it. People will naturally want to follow him. He’s strong physically and mentally. He can take a lot of physical hardship and keep going. His interrogation by Tom is an example. Something inside his mind allows him to take a great deal of pain. I know you are attracted to--”

  “Enough of that. You don’t know everything, obviously,” she blurted out.

  “If you say so.” Greg said, not fazed by her reaction. “Didn’t you just mention something about keeping me informed as much as you can and expecting the same? Look, I’ll keep that part to myself, of course. Magnus has probably figured it out anyway and is already working on you.”

  “How much more arrogant can either one of you get?” she asked.

  “It’s a slippery slope, ma’am. I struggle with it and it’s only been a few days. The girls have learned over the years but I just got these gifts. I don’t yet know how to behave except to hang on to who I was as a person. Yet, I find that more and more difficult each day.”

  “Try harder. I won’t put up with that superiority complex you are building,” she demanded.

  “Agreed. What of Seph?” Greg asked.

  “Government regulations are clear on the matter, so I can order you two to end the relationship or put you under arrest if you do not comply. I would normally discharge you both from service but we know that can’t happen, which is why you’ll end up confined to Devils Shores or some other secure facility. You know too much,” she said softening her tone. “But, I am going to make an exception if you two can be discrete enough to ensure no one else finds out.”

  “That we can do. Now, about our snooping?” he asked.

  “Stop doing it,” she ordered.

  “Well, you should just upgrade our security clearance.”

  She stared at him, unable to speak. She was clearly angry and now she was even angrier for letting him get to her. She mentally relaxed and her body followed.

  “Upgrade it to what?” she asked, controlling her tone.

  “Your security level, of course.”

  “My security level doesn’t have the access you need to the computer--”

  “I’m not talking about computer access. I already have that. Seph and I compromised all of your systems and gave ourselves complete access. I’m talking about a different form of security. We need authorization to see highly classified data and information. While our access to that information is already in our hands, it is not official. At some point, someone will get lucky and find out what we’ve done. Keep in mind, I’m going to lock down our country’s computer systems so that humans and aliens alike will not be able to compromise them. To do that will require complete access to all current and future computer systems. The current stuff will soon be replaced and security will be too much for a normal human to keep up with and they could only do that if they were involved with the new alien technology. In short, Seph and I get access or we cannot do the jobs you’re going to assign us to do. You are reluctant to bring too many people into the mix with this new technology so we are your nearly perfect candidates.”

  “Nearly perfect, because I don’t know if I can trust either of you,” she said.

  “Correct,” he nodded. “But as I hear it, we’re worth the chance.”

  “Is there anything you don’t know?” she said sarcastically.

  “I considered not answering you as I realize you didn’t really want an answer but now is as good a time as any to discuss an idea I’ve had,” Greg said, tapping his finger to his temple.

  This was the longest he’d kept his mouth shut since the conversation started. What could keep him silent this long?

  “Yeah, yeah,” Greg said, annoyed with her. “I know I’m being quiet. Give me a second.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” she exclaimed.

  “But you were thinking it, and no I didn’t read your mind,” he said, obviously even more annoyed. “Okay, here it is. You give me all the data you have on the aliens, people involved, those that are dead, locations, family connections, jobs, hobbies--”

  “I get it.
You want everything. Why?” she asked but then realized where he was going.

  “You already know now, so I won’t answer,” he said, smiling ear to ear.

  “Damn it, Greg. This is frustrating. You can have a conversation with yourself while I sit here and just make facial reactions?”

  “Asher reads people. I can loosely predict them,” he said.

  “Same result.”

  “Well? Do we have a deal?” Greg asked.

  “You’re going to find the common denominator? Find out why the aliens are doing this?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’ll get to the bottom of it as long as your information is correct. If any of the alien species involved don’t want us to know something, then it is possible they could conceal the truth by leaving bad information.”

  “Our best minds haven’t been able to do that in nearly a year and you--”

  Greg interrupted her again.

  “Your best mind for the job is here in this room and four more are in Devils Shores, so you are in error,” he said.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “Tom will have a car ready for you. It’s time for you to leave.”

  “I’m going to start right now,” he said. “I’m not sleepy.”

  She had to pull her eyes off him lest she drill a hole through him. His behavior floored her. He was rude and arrogant and his superiority complex was already well established. This was not the Greg she met over two months ago. She’d dealt with worse, though, and Tom had proved he could be managed with the proper diversion. She was still convinced Magnus was telling her the truth.

  Greg tapped his foot on the floor and drummed his hands on the armchair, staring at Alexandria. The length of time it took to get someone else to understand his position and the things he needed was annoying. Everything was taking too much time... too much wasted time. He sighed, forcing his hand to stop tapping. Alexandria pushed a button on her phone.

  “Bea?”

  A woman on the other end of the phone responded. Judging by her voice, she was in her late fifties, non-smoker, heavyset, and was born in or around Boston. Her accent was clear.