“I have to make this fast, David,” Martin said. His face tired, a bit worn. “I had expected you sooner; I only hope it is you that finds this. It’s been one year nine days since you were to land, and the drop occurred. Your ship disappeared from the screen. I only hope the blast of the ships moved you outward into space, because it seems you were approaching when this occurred.”
David turned to Reese and mouthed the words, “The ships?”
Martin continued, “Contained in this box are the video diaries. The power supplies are drained now and I hope these batteries keep. You’ll find a map to SC, and the entrance. SC stands for Southern California, the original meeting place of survivors, but it was destroyed. We were hanging back here until SC was complete, but seems my camp is targeted next, so we are leaving immediately. Smoke the cigarettes, someone must constantly be smoking. It’s like bitter apple to a dog. The toxins in cigarettes are poison to them and they avoid the smell. David . . .” Martin looked seriously into the screen. “They’re aliens. At the time of this we are battling the second wave. It’s the third wave, we don’t know when is arriving, but smoke the cigarettes. God be with you. Hopefully, I will see you soon, my friend.”
“Did he say, ‘alien’?” Reese asked. “Like outer space?”
David nodded. “Explains a lot, missing ocean, draining resources.”
“Gene’s been smoking, could be why we haven’t see any.”
David nodded and reached into the box. He pulled out the map and handed it to Thaddeus, and then pulled out the other white sheet of paper.
Lucy asked, “What is it?”
“It’s a list of those from our families and contacts that made it.” David skimmed through. “Your son is on this list.”
Lucy grabbed her chest and gasped out. “That means at that time, Ben went with Martin.”
David nodded, and folded the note. “OK, let’s head out. Thad, which way do we go?”
“West,” Thaddeus answered. “It looks like it’s about a six hour drive.”
“Hold it,” Gene spoke up. “Hawk, any . . . any mention of my family on that list?”
David hesitated before answering. “I’m sorry, Gene. Your name is here, the words ‘never responded’ were next to your daughter’s name.”
Gene nodded solemnly. “I figured as much.” He sniffed and reached for the box, "Could I have one of those cigarettes?”
David handed him the pack. “Help yourself. All right people.” He replaced the lid to the box and tucked it within his arms. “Let’s do this. Let’s go to SC.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SC 11
Mas may not have been born on the earth, but he loved it as much as if he were. Embedded decades before the ‘drop’ to attempt to create an antidote for the human race. Create the antidote, deliver it, save most of the population so they could prepare and fight the impending alien invasion.
It was to come in three waves.
The virus, the creatures, and then the Loomis. The Loomis were the ones that would drain the earth, perhaps eventually prep it for their inhabitation, then move on.
Mas’ people received a distress signal from Mas, and were in route to help the human race. Unfortunately, according to transmissions, they had gotten caught in a solar storm that now has them even further behind schedule. They would arrive, any day, any week. Until then …
Man was left on his own. Well, not completely, they had the help of Mas and a few other of his kind that remained. They knew the Loomis technology and weaknesses. Mas also was technologically brilliant, hundreds of years beyond any intelligence earth had achieved.
The antidote that Mas created saved a small portion of the human race. But a portion strong enough to grow and start a resistance. With Mas’ help, their weaponry, communications and other things, kept the resistance alive.
That had a downside.
The second wave, the insect like beings, Atranda, weren’t cleaning house as the Loomis hoped and before they had landed, they sent another creature species. This one an earth binder. It lived under the soil and ground, it fed from human beings.
Thankfully, those creatures mainly stayed east. Only a few were out west.
Nothing went as Mas hoped or predicted. The virus killed too many humans, the antidote failed to deliver as he hoped, the second wave didn’t disperse and remained to aid the Loomis, who had begun to arrive. Not in full waves, but they had landed.
Aside from the cigarette smoking, the only other thing the Loomis avoided was their own second wave creatures. Both the Atranda and the earth binders were just as deadly to them.
Mas was still figuring out a way to use them to their advantage. He would. Especially since they had already inadvertently worked in Mas’ favor.
One of the young, BJ, was stung by an Atranda and while he was healed, he absorbed some of it. And as he got older, his DNA began to change. Not that BJ looked mutant or like an Atranda, but he had agility and gravity defying abilities. Hence, why at fifteen years old he was working the tunnel entrances. He could smell the Loomis and scurry away. Plus, the Loomis could smell him and feared him like they did the Atranda.
Robi, Jeb and the others had left for the Nevada Tunnel. They asked that Mas secure communications, which he did, but he wanted to stay put, to find out.
Find out who or what was traveling toward the tunnel.
“The bracelet is leaving Orange Julius now,” Bishop stated, taking a seat next to Mas and looking at the controls.
“Then, Robi you told Orange Julius the travelers went.”
Bishop moistened his lips. “I told her they were in the area, yes. She knew they were near there, though.”
“Ah, but left she did, arrive she did know not at Orange Julius.”
“True.” Bishop said, then there was silence. “She took Martha.”
Mas nodded. “Wise it is. Possible it is, that Loomis they be. Or … Follow do the Loomis of the travelers.”
“What do you think?” Bishop asked.
Mas sighed out. “Hopeful I am, them that it is. After all, time warp have many been caught. Travelers of such also got caught, is possible.”
Bishop gave Mas a partial smile then continued to monitor the bracelet. It moved steady, almost as if in a vehicle. Without a doubt, they were headed toward the Nevada entrance. Or at least it appeared so.
It wouldn’t be long, both Bishop and Mas knew, when they’d find out exactly who or what had the bracelet.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Burgess gave them directions to an entrance of SC, the closest one to Texas. And while it was only six to eight hours travel time, it started to get dark and they stopped for the night.
Thaddeus wasn’t letting go of the bracelet. He kept examining it, wondering how technology came so far in five years in a country that was pretty much barren.
Those in SC had it together, at least it seemed that way. Their own prison system, punishment. He wondered what it was like, where they lived. How they lived.
They arrived at a small town just before the Nevada border and found an apartment building. It was only three floors, but Reese didn’t want them on ground level and in light of recent discoveries, didn’t want them in the open.
At least they weren’t cornered in. The quaint old apartment had a rear back porch. Lots of steps, but a way to escape if need be.
He sat by the bay window, staring out, bracelet in his hand when Kip approached.
“See anything in the sky, dude?” Kip asked.
“You mean like aliens?”
“Yep. Can’t say I was surprised it’s like out outer world enemies coming to get us.”
“Well, no, you have that sixth sense.”
“And seventh?”
Thaddeus peered at Kip, then Kip laughed, causing Thaddeus to laugh as well.
“Do you think they’ll let us in?” Kip asked.
“Yeah, I do. So, why aren’t you sleeping?” Thaddeus asked. “You said you were tired. Hawk and Gene
are.”
“Nah, one of us got to smoke.”
Thaddeus chuckled. “Cigarettes, Kip, Cigarettes, not marijuana.”
“I’m on it, I’m on it.” He held up a cigarette. “Although, we better get there soon, we’ll be out before long.”
“I have a question, Kip. Use that six and seventh sense of yours right now. If we run out of cigarettes before we hit the tunnel entrance. Will whatever they keep away get us.”
Kip shrugged. “I don’t know. Dude, I’m not psychic, really. I just see things.”
“What do you see?”
“I don’t really see … things.” Kip pointed to his eyes. “I kind of get impressions.”
“What is your impression?”
“Ok, I wouldn’t really call it an impression, it’s more like …”
“Kip!”
Kip jumped and shrieked at the sudden scream from Thaddeus.
Then of course, both Reese and Lucy hissed a loud ‘Shh’, their way.
“Sorry,” Thaddeus whispered and held up his hand. “Kip, is there any vision, impression, whatever you call it rolling around recently in that stoned brain.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Okay, no comments that I’m too young, but I ordered all the 1970’s bionic man videos from eBay. And I see the episode of bionic man when he chases Bigfoot.”
Thaddeus moistened his lips. “Bionic man and bigfoot.”
“Yes.”
Thaddeus nodded. “So basically if this is one of your visions, then our alien invaders are mechanical or Bigfoot.”
“Yes.”
“I see.” With a nod, Thaddeus returned to looking out the window. “Forget I asked.”
Lucy sipped a cup of coffee. Not the best but it would do. Instant granules added to water that was heated over a Sterno. Reese was on watch, and that made her feel safe. He had to be as antsy as she was.
She took her mug and joined him by the window. “Did you want a sip?”
“Oh, no thank you.” He merely shifted his eyes to her then back out the window. “You drink. How are you?”
“Nervous. Worried. Anxious. You name it.”
“I would be too.”
“You’re not?” Lucy asked.
“Obviously this community exists. Hawk’s friend went there. Hopefully, and I have a good feeling, that he has your son.”
Lucy breathed out heavily. “Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome for that. This time tomorrow, we’ll know. At least I hope we do. I mean, there’s no doubt that SC exists. So why wouldn’t we know.”
“Do you have questions you’d like to have answered?”
Again, Reese looked at Lucy only briefly. “Actually I do.”
“What are they?”
“We’ve been gone five years. They used a virus to kill of a good bit of the population. They sent these things to wipe out the rest. You have this thriving, technological community. Alien invasion. Where’s the destruction?”
“What do you mean? Burgess’ lab …”
“That was one place. Aside from nature, where’s the destruction. Where are the signs of war?” Reese said. “Five years. Five years battling aliens?” Reese shrugged. “I would think the human race is resilient enough to fight, to at least show signs of a fight. The aliens didn’t win, because if they did, we’d see them or things would be different.”
“Then maybe we kicked their asses.”
Reese shook his head. “No. If we did, why are we hiding somewhere?”
“Do you have a theory?”
Reese nodded. “Yeah, I do. I don’t think the main invasion happened yet.”
“How can that be?” Lucy asked.
“Because I think, the main invasion … I think they got caught in the same storm, warp thing we did.” He looked at Lucy.
She gasped slightly. “Then that means.”
“Right behind us. We didn’t miss the alien war.” Reese returned to staring out the window. “We just landed right before it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
NV 5
Robi knew she and the crew would arrive at Nevada Entrance five long before their expected travelers. But she wanted to be ready. Their signal, according to Bishop was a mere two hours away at the rate of their travel. They had stopped. More than likely for the night.
There wasn’t an ounce of Robi’s being that believed they were Loomis. Loomis didn’t stop with regularity as the signal did.
While they killed the criminals who wore the bracelets, the Loomis just didn’t shoot their victims in the head. Or rather prey. Humans were their prey and the criminal, at least one, was shot in the head. The only way the device could have been detonated like it was.
No, the Loomis were different.
They stunned their prey with a paralyzing weapon, then they captured them, and while they were still alive, began the process of draining all the blood,
Finally, after the prey or human was drained of blood and dead, they either ate them or preserved them for later consumption.
The Loomis didn’t need the humans for food; humans were more of a delicacy.
Other resources they needed. Water, gold, oil, fertile soil.
All of which they were taking.
Robi knew, the longer the travelers were out in the open, the more chance they had of running into the Loomis and the closer they got to NV 5, the more chance they had of leading the Loomis to SC.
Because the bracelets they carried were not just designed to keep the prisoners away, part of the punishment was the bracelet called the Loomis.
Only the worst of criminals were condemned to that sort of death.
Now the innocent travelers unknowingly carried the same death sentence. A death sentence they didn’t deserve.
It was a huge debate on whether or not to send Tate and Jeb out looking for the travelers.
But the decision was made that Jeb and Tate would emerge for the travelers once they were close enough to protect.
Once the travelers started moving, then Robi and the other would be ready.
For the time being it was a matter of waiting.
Robi sat in the office off the tunnels of NV 5. It was dusty and it hadn’t been used in years.
NV 5 was one of the first tunnels constructed. It was actually partially completed decades before when Area 51 was in full operation.
But no one used the tunnels.
Most survivors who made it to SC came years earlier before the initial farming invaders and Loomis soldiers arrived.
They were the ones who arrived shortly after the Earth binders and Atranda. Before the Loomis farmers, doctors, the ones prepping the earth.
The larger invasion and the colonist hadn’t arrived.
They should have.
Robi figure they, like Mas’ people were caught in that storm that caused a time lapse.
The time lapse and worm hole was the exact reason Robi was hopeful about the identity of the travelers.
She was well aware of the Galaxy and how it was to return home the day of the drop.
She always wondered about the crew and passengers.
She held hope the ship would arrive one day, especially after she learned about the time hole.
Robi had left the small office only briefly and that was to check on Martha, her daughter. While Martha wasn’t biologically hers, she was no less Robi and Jeb’s daughter. Five years old and Martha looked three. She, like Mas was an alien. But unlike Mas, she was special. She had the ability to heal people with her touch.
Even though it was dangerous, her healing ability was the sole reason Robi brought her along.
Something was up and Robi felt it.
Building SC to what it was took a lot of hard work and fights. For the past year they seemed to be in a quiet state. She figured the Loomis were too engrossed with pulling the earth’s resources and waiting on the remaining settlers. But two things happened that made Robi worry. The travel distance of the p
risoners and the travelers.
It was feasible that the Loomis were still north to stay cool. Having been from a very cold planet, earth was too warm for them. The heat slowed them down, made them ill. Possibly the Loomis hadn’t migrated for the year and were still in Canada.
Even in the quiet state and warm months, prisoners never made it very far. The most recent criminals from SC made it to New York. Not only that, the travelers safely made it all the way across the country.
No, Robi believed something was going on.
And she believed like her husband that it was a set up. The Loomis were allowing the travelers to make it to SC, so they could get the resistance.
For that, Robi was ready.
Jeb and Tate had a plan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Nevada
They changed vehicles just before the last sixty miles of the journey. The van was proving too cramped and as they hit the hot air of the desert, it started to overheat.
They located a jeep, switched the battery, siphoned gas and got it running.
Kip road in the back portion, holding on to the bar.
It was warm, but the wind from the moving jeep aided in keeping them cool.
Reese realized it wasn’t the van itself; it was the lack of being used for any vehicle. Five years was a long time and a part of him was wishing they kept the van.
He watched the indicator on the jeep begin to rise.
It too, wasn’t handling the heat. At least they didn’t have far to go. Not if Burgess’ direction were correct. They should run right into sign that would indicate the hidden entrance to SC.
Not much longer. But Reese didn’t see any signs, only small ranges of mountains.
Hawk had enough. Kip was directly behind his head and he kept singing the theme from Speed Racer. He asked him why, after all they weren’t going that fast, and Kip only shrugged.
After about forty miles of continuous cartoon music, Hawk asked Gene if he’d switch for a moment.
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