by Nick Braker
“By your own hand. They have limited resources and a low population. They are certainly capable militarily but they will not risk their home world by leaving it wide open to attack another civilization. Instead, they developed the technology to take mental control of any sentient species over vast distances.”
“The blackouts,” Brock exclaimed.
“Yes, they can control almost anyone. You are of course aware of reported blackouts by several researchers within top secret installations. Those researchers were compromised by what the Kron call the Omarii. The Omarii are highly trained agents able to take over any mind, especially if they have time to plan. They prepare and learn using average civilians which typically go unnoticed. You would be surprised to learn that all species have remarkably similar cultures and social behaviors. When the Omarii sever the connection, the host remembers nothing and generally suffer no ill effects.”
She made sense but there were so many missing pieces. Who are the aliens killing humans? Why are they harvesting glands?
“You are wondering why humans are being killed? It is because the Aliri are trying to delay and control the Kron’s progress. Without it, you would have lost already.”
Magnus could see Alexandria’s body tense.
“What do you mean control and delay? How are they doing that?” she asked, alarmed.
Alara’s body slumped subtly but Magnus caught it.
“The Aliri are the aliens responsible for killing your people.”
Warren jumped at her.
“What the hell? You crazy bitch. You’re nuts if you think we would be okay with that.”
“Easy, Warren,” Alexandria put a hand up, clearly telling him to back down.
“I know. It’s hard to accept,” she said, her voice growing softer, more subdued. “If you knew that the lives of millions of people could be saved if you sacrificed one single human being, would you do it knowing that if you did not those millions would certainly die?”
Magnus saw the logic in it but his emotional human side did not. It was abhorrent.
“What if that person were knowingly killing millions? Perhaps someone like Hitler or Stalin? Would you kill that person? In this case, those single human beings are unknowingly bringing your planet to destruction but, in the end, the result is the same, the extinction of the human race.”
“Holy shit, lady,” Brock said, his anger visible for everyone to see. “Your alien friends have been doing all the killing? Why not warn us instead?”
“Because that timeline would have a much lower chance of success. Our species, humans, are very suspicious creatures. Earth’s leaders would immediately begin a campaign of securing the development of the wormhole project and defending Earth, under the misguided belief that the Aliri are lying and simply want to prevent Earth from advancing technologically. That timeline and all variations of it end in Earth’s destruction.”
She knows about the wormhole project.
“What wormhole project?” Alexandria lied.
“The one in France that the Kron plan to use to commit human genocide. I can answer no other questions on that subject or I risk changing this timeline.”
“That is shit, lady. We would be suspicious but you could prove the Kron are involved and that you are genuine,” Brock said.
“Of course, but in the end the result is the same. The Timeline Analytic System is very accurate and the Aliri always choose the time-line with the greatest chance of success. I know it is hard to fathom so I will keep it simple. The Aliri’s system accurately predicts the future. We either follow the timeline that has the highest chance of success or we follow the ones that will likely result in Earth’s destruction.”
“Holy shit...” Brock said.
“This computer system can process massive amounts of information and deliver probable outcomes vigintillions of times per second.”
“How many is that?” Brock asked.
Alexandria motioned Brock to be quiet.
“You said greatest chance of success. Does that mean this timeline of yours can fail?” Alexandria asked.
“Yes it does. Nothing is guaranteed. The Kron have a less powerful version of the Timeline Analytic System which gives them the ability to change important milestones. We should not go into the science behind this right now. Instead, let me prove what I’m saying is accurate.”
“How?”
Alara seemed relieved. She was making progress with them.
I am getting better at reading people. Yeah. But if she’s simply good at lying, what then?
“Your president will order you to surrender me for interrogation. You will get that order within the hour and, in fact, the President has already sent a group of your best men and women to escort me. He feels WSO personnel are compromised and cannot be trusted. He plans to use any means necessary to extract the truth out of me.”
Hell no. This is bullshit. Torture?
Magnus felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t imagine this woman being tortured. Did he have some kind of connection with her? Was she chosen because the Aliri knew how she would affect him? Of course, that means this timeline system worked.
To hell with it.
“Alexandria, we need to confirm what she is saying. It would go a long way to proving she is genuine,” Magnus said.
“Outside, everyone,” Alexandria ordered.
They left the room, leaving Alara alone again.
“Magnus,” Alexandria said. “It would lend credibility but not proof. These aliens have eluded us for over a year, secretly taking over humans and killing our best and brightest. I cringe thinking of what they have done, all of it supposedly to help Earth. It’s hard to take.”
“Girl,” Brock said. “You bet your britches. She’s lying and both of these alien shitheads need some good old fashioned human ass whooping. We don’t need any help.”
Magnus loved Brock’s directness at times. This was one of them.
“Brock, Warren, locate Tom and see if you two can help get Grep back here. They’ve been gone too long,” Alexandria ordered.
Warren nodded and grabbed Brock.
“Let’s go, dude. We got orders.”
“To hell with that,” Brock said. “This is more important.”
He didn’t resist though and followed Warren. Magnus waited until the two were in the elevator.
“You got rid of them on purpose,” Magnus said.
Alexandria paused, making sure they could not be heard by the guards.
“It’s safe to talk here. Yes, I did. I know you very well. Have you already planned it out?”
“I don’t want you involved,” he told her.
“You’ll need my help to get her out,” she said.
Hell, she does know me.
“You’re okay with this? You’ve been helping us from the beginning. Why?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have any issues with torture when it comes to saving lives. I simply know she’s not lying and we can never talk about how I know.”
She squeezed his arm.
“Be ready when I contact you,” she said, tapping his ear.
“I gather they don’t log our EP devices?”
“Mira will cover it. Those girl’s loyalties are to you mainly but they’ve figured out I can be trusted too. I’ll contact you soon.”
Alexandria stopped to tell one of the guards something along the way and continued on to the elevator. He watched her go before entering the room again.
“Are we ready to go?” Alara asked.
“You know what I’m going to do?”
“Of course, the Aliri have taught me much regarding this timeline,” she said.
“If you already know what I’m going to do, are we successful?”
“I can’t answer that because if I give you an answer one way or the other, the answer will change your actions.”
This is going to make my head spin. I just know it.
“Then tell me ahead of time.”
“Magnus, it
won’t work. You’re actions and choices include reactions and timing. I will not be able to help you in this way. Also, let’s keep this knowledge of timelines to a minimum as anyone knowing this information can compromise their decisions.”
He half-rolled his eyes.
“Grep was right,” she snickered. “You should really go ahead and roll your eyes fully.”
“But you know what is going to happen, doesn’t that change the future?”
She laughed and Magnus had to take a deep breath. He found her even more charming. Her laugh and her smile were a dangerous combination.
“Trained all my life,” she said. “I understand what to do. It’s easy though. I stand back and let you and your team make all the decisions.”
“And if you do that, we succeed?”
“Not necessarily. The Aliri find it hard to predict human beings. They’ve been working on this with humans for decades but their algorithms can’t handle us,” she smiled sweetly pointing her thumbs at herself. The chains rattled in response.
“We need to get you out of those,” he said.
“Yeah, you have the key. You knew you might have to take these off, didn’t you?”
“Boy Scout training,” he said, unlocking the chains.
“You were never a Boy Scout,” she said.
She winked at him, smiling infectiously.
She’s flirting with me.
“Yes, I am dear.”
“You’re reading my mind?” he asked, surprised.
“No, you will tell me what you were thinking today in the future.”
“That’s impossible,” he said.
She took his arm in hers, holding it.
“Not really. Between the information I have from the timelines, my knowledge of you, and your obvious facial reaction to my flirtatious nature, it was easy to read your mind.”
“Strange, I’m more interested in your comment about flirting than the Aliri’s ability to predict what I’m going to say next.”
This time she giggled at him.
“Come now, we both know that isn’t strange.”
He heard the familiar blip in his ear. He tapped the EP device just behind his right ear. It was Alexandria, speaking as low as possible.
“Magnus, I can’t talk much. Washington guards on their way. Out of time.”
“Copy,” he said.
He checked the hallway. The elevator was seconds from opening.
“Put the chains back on and make sure you get to use the bathroom before you leave but do it on the main floor.”
“I will, dear,” she said.
“Wait, why did you let me take the chains off if you knew I would ask you to put them back on?”
She blushed.
“I wanted to hold your arm, even if for a moment,” she said. “I’ve waited a long time to meet you. Move quickly. You do not have any time left.”
Magnus closed the door.
The door automatically locked as Magnus stepped out and headed to the elevator. He was halfway down the hall when the elevator doors parted. Several men in military clothing stepped out following Alexandria and one other man.
“At ease, gentlemen,” she said to her guards. “Is the prisoner secure, Magnus?”
“Yes, ma’am. Ready for transport.”
“Thank you. That will be all.”
They walked past, ignoring him. Magnus pushed the button for the ground level. He had to move fast to get prepared and since they had arrived earlier than expected, he couldn’t do it alone. He double tapped his EP, calling his team.
“Warren here.”
“Brock here.”
Magnus waited for Grep to respond but he didn’t.
“Guys, I need your help but I’m going to become a wanted felon and therefore so will--”
“I’m in,” Brock interrupted.
“Count me in, bro,” Warren said.
Magnus smiled.
“I figured. Here’s the plan. We are going to break Alara out, steal the Aliri spaceship and save the world.” The elevator doors opened and he headed straight to the women’s bathroom. “They plan to torture her and I’m convinced she’s here to help us. The President is way off base on this one and we need to make the call if we’re going to save humanity. The Kron are preparing to use the wormhole project to kill us all.”
“What do you need?” Warren asked.
“Floor plans from the ground level women’s bathroom.”
“Now you’re talking, dude. Are we going to do some bathroom spying?” Brock laughed.
“Later, but right now I’m going to break her out from there.”
Magnus made sure no one saw him enter the ladies’ bathroom. The main area was clear so he checked each stall and found them empty. The duct work in the building was just large enough for a person to crawl through and the corner stall sat underneath that.
“Where does the back stall duct work lead?” he asked.
“On it,” Warren said.
“Brock, we’re going to need a travel plan.”
“Got it. I’ll contact you ASAP.”
He pulled his keychain out and started working on the vent cover using an attached mini-screw driver.
Alexandria, I hope you are creating a delay for me.
He didn’t dare contact her or she could be implicated. Someone would see her talking or listening, finding her actions strange.
“Warren, do you have eyes on the main hallway, ground floor?” Magnus asked.
“Sorry man, I’m in our SUV outside. I got the plans up but no way to access the interior cameras remotely. We could really use Grep. Damn, did I just say that??”
“I hear voices outside and I’m on the last bolt. If they walk in right now...”
He loosed the last bolt so it swung open to the side. Magnus climbed in feet first and pulled the vent cover back into place. The restroom door opened. A female in military clothing entered.
I didn’t see her in the first group.
She checked the room and then each stall.
“Clear,” she yelled.
Alara entered. Her wrists were handcuffed in the front. The guard held the first stall door open for her and motioned her in. It was the furthest from him.
Damn. That’s going to make it tougher.
“Thank you,” Alara said. “I haven’t--”
“Pipe down,” the guard ordered. “Let’s get this over with.” She was all business. “You got thirty seconds.”
Think, man.
“There is no toilet paper in this stall,” Alara said. “Would you--”
“Wipe it with your clothes. I’m not going into any stall. I’m about to drag your ass out of there. Ten seconds left,” she said.
He was working through various ideas but they all were very dangerous. That guards’ automatic weapon would make short work of both of them.
“Would you get me some paper towels at least?” she asked. “Please?”
“For fuck’s sake,” she said.
The guard backed up slowly still facing the stall. Without taking her eyes off of it, she pulled some paper towels from the dispenser. He started to drop the vent cover slowly when three of Alara’s fingers popped up just over the top lip of the partition. He could see them but the guard could not. Now it was two, one....
The guard stepped forward, wadded the paper towels in one hand and started to throw them. Alara vaulted over the stall door head first, clearing the small space between it and the ceiling.
What the hell?
She brought her knees in, letting it spin her and then landed butt first on the guard’s shoulders, squeezing the woman’s neck with her legs. The guard hit the floor, struggling to free herself. Magnus dropped down and rushed to help. He cleared the stall door and saw the guard had managed to position her gun in Alara’s back. He dove but she had already pulled the trigger. He cringed, waiting for the blast.
Nothing.
Magnus landed on the woman’s torso and ripped the gun from her
hands. Alara didn’t flinch, the pressure from her legs depriving the woman of consciousness. Alara stood, reaching down to give Magnus a hand up.
“That was dangerous,” he exclaimed quietly.
“Not really. I flipped the safety on. Look, she’ll be unconscious longer than the guards outside will wait--”
“We need to move now,” he said.
The two of them crawled into the ventilation system.
“Warren?”
“Yeah, man. Go right, then all the way to the end and a left. Break open the vent panel in front of you. You’ll be in the maintenance room. It has an exit outside but it is secured. You’ll set off alarms when you go through but I’ll be outside in the SUV.”
Magnus half crawled and half slid through the duct work. He made the first right, moving faster through the long stretch. He didn’t hear Alara behind him. He stopped to look back.
“I’m here,” she said.
“You’re so damned quiet.”
“Warren and Brock can move like I do. Why does that surprise you?” Alara asked.
A look of confusion came over his face. He made the left, stopping in front of the panel. He peered inside but didn’t see anyone. Magnus slammed the vent with both hands. The vent cover fell to the floor, skidding to a halt.
“That’s a lot of noise,” Alara said.
“We’re in a hurry.”
She nodded.
“Right.”
Both of them climbed down. The room was large and offered lots of cover. They moved through the equipment, finding the door.
“Here we go,” he said.
He pushed and the alarms sounded. The screeching, piercing wail of sound faded as they dashed across the landscaping. The rear door of the SUV was open and they jumped in. Warren floored it.
Warren punched the accelerator, driving the black SUV out of the parking lot and down the street.
“Do we have a plan, Mag?” Warren asked.
“Not from here we don’t,” he said, tapping his EP. “Brock, what do you have?”
“Dude, I got us a plane ready,” Brock said. “I figured we wouldn’t be able to use any of the major airports so I chartered a flight. Problem is, you three have to get here, fast.”
Warren took the on-ramp to the highway.
“Get Warren the directions. We’re going to have a tail very soon. These people are not amateurs.”