“Still sleeping?” Layla asked, entering the room with a latte for Denise and herself.
“He’s stirring.”
There was a bright light shining on Les from above, the rest of the room in an ambient light that made those in it visible, but the spotlight was obviously on the captive.
“Hnngghhh,” Les moaned, moving his head back and forth.
“Was it a bit too much?” Layla whispered.
“No, perfect timing.”
His eyes finally opened. “What the fuck? Where am I?”
“You’re not here to ask questions Les,” Denise said.
He struggled to get free but could not move. “What? What have you done to me? Where am I?”
“You’ve been taken for a ride Les,” Layla said. “You know what a ride is don’t you?”
“Of course I do. Whatta ya want?”
“Now that is a good question Les, because there is something we want.”
“Oh yeah? What is it me?” he asked, motioning with his head down to his lack of clothing.
“You’re not in Texas anymore Les.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Where is our crew member?” Denise asked.
“You’re what? “
“I want to know where you are keeping our crew member.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you are talking about.”
“Les, I want to call your attention to the wall above our heads.” Layla activated the window in the hull to reveal Planet Earth in the distance.
“Great. You’re going to show a movie. Is it porn?”
“That is no movie Les. It is a window, of our ship, in orbit, far above your planet.”
“I’m not buying it.”
“Do you remember what you were wearing when we brought you here tonight Les?” Layla asked.
“Course I do.”
Layla opened three more windows in the hull. “Pay close attention now.”
Trepa.
Denise.
Eject the pants.
Of course.
Les watched as the pants he had been wearing slowly floated by all four opened windows, passing over the view of the Earth when they floated by the fourth one.
“Recognize what just floated by Les?” Layla asked.
He did not answer.
“Can you tell where Texas is from here? No, of course you can’t. It’s nighttime in Texas, so let me help you,” Denise said. She got up, walked to the window, and pointed to the area of the globe where Texas was. “That is Texas right down there Les, and that right there is Brownsville.”
Les remained silent.
“Les, where is our crew member. We know you were there, tonight, with Terry.”
“I don’t know no Terry and I don’t know nothing about no crew member.”
Trepa.
Denise.
The left boot this time.
Ok.
“Les, do you recognize what is going to be coming by the windows in a few seconds?” Denise asked.
“This is not an Imax Theater,” Layla said.
Les watched as his left boot tumbled slowly by, again spilling over the view of Earth in the fourth window.
“Where is our crew member being held Les?” Denise asked again.
“I told you I don’t know about no crew member.”
“Do you know what happens to the human body when it is released, unprotected, into the vacuum of space Les?”
He did not answer.
“Did you ever see Total Recall?”
“Yeah.”
“Well that doesn’t happen when an unprotected human body is released into the vacuum of space. No. If you hold your breath you will damage your lungs. If you don’t hold your breath, exposure for oh about a half-minute with produce permanent injury to your lungs. You do not explode. Your blood does not boil. You do not freeze. You do not lose consciousness immediately.”
Les was listening intently.
“It’s nice to see we have your attention. After about ten seconds the light from our sun will cause extreme sunburn to exposed skin causing swelling to underlying tissue. Mind you now Les, you are still conscious for about twenty seconds or more before you lose consciousness, and that Les, is when you start dying. The limits of how long it actually takes for you to die are still unknown.”
“What you telling me this for?”
“Where is our crew member being kept Les, where did you go with Terry tonight?”
“I can’t remember.”
“Les. You are one boot away from us watching you float by those windows. We will bring you up here one at a time, and one of you will talk. Someone always talks. Where is our crew member being held?”
He just sat there staring at the floor.
Trepa.
Yes.
Send the other boot.
Ok Denise.
“Les this is your other boot, the right boot to be specific, that you see tumbling past the windows now.”
Les raised his head and watched as his boot slowly passed all four windows.
“I am ONLY going to ask you one last time Les. Where is our crew member being held?”
He returned his gaze to the floor.
Trepa, send in the muscle.
Okay.
The door shimmered open and in walked two male crewmembers Denise had never met. They each took up a position on either side of Les.
“He refuses to tell us what we want to know,” Denise said. She motioned for them to remove him. They activated something and Les and the chair he was bound to hovered above the floor. They started for the door.
“I can’t tell you. If I do I am a dead man anyway,” he screamed.
“You may have a chance if you return to Earth. You will have absolutely no chance of surviving when we spit you out into space.” She motioned again for them to take him away.
“I’ll tell ya, I’ll tell ya. I’ll fucking tell ya,” he cried. “Just don’t do this to me, please.”
They released whatever hold they had on his chair and returned it to the ground.
“Bring him closer if you will please.”
Layla activated a screen that showed a detailed image of Brownsville Texas. “Release his left arm please,” Layla said.
Denise zoomed the image in to the Resaca de la Palma housing complex. “We know she is being held here,” she said pointing to the map. “I ask you one last time Les. Where is our crew member being held?”
Les lifted his shaky left arm and pointed to a house that Denise at least was able to confirm by the location of the water behind the house and the empty grass covered lot across from it.
“If I discover that you have lied to us, we are going to find you and bring you right back here, only this time there will be no questions asked. You will be sent traveling through space for eternity bare ass naked,” Denise said.
“In case you think you can hide, don’t. We have placed a device in your body that can track you anywhere on your planet. We can find you in minutes,” Layla said.
Tears. I see tears, Denise said.
He might be human after all, Layla laughed.
“Can you please give him something to wear for a long walk,” Denise said as she and Layla headed towards the door.
“With pleasure,” one of the crewmembers smiled.
The door shimmered closed behind them as they walked to a meeting with Nola.
Chapter 50
Storm Clouds
Nola pointed to a map of the Gulf region. “The storm is growing in intensity and rapidly approaching the area.”
“We could move now, I suppose, but I would rather confirm that Myla is there and safe before we show our hand,” Denise said.
“That is understandable. When this hits land, even though it should hit between Brownsville and Corpus Christie, we may not be able to offer you assistance from above,” Nola said.
“My Virgo brain has thought about that. We’ll be able to move, in stealth, with Myla. We will
travel the shortest fastest route to get out of the storm area.”
“Is that safe?”
“Safer than any means of flying that’s for sure. You’ve put together a magnificent vehicle. I think we’ll be fine.”
“Will you have the extra medallion ready by first light?” Layla asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact.” Nola summoned Senn. “Senn has made an interesting discovery.”
Senn arrived quickly. “Here you are,” he said, handing the medallion to Nola. She motioned for him to give it to Layla. He also handed each of their medallions back to them. “The reason your mind control was not effective was being caused by the activated medallions. It creates a rather powerful field around you that prevents those thoughts from getting out. You can however, communicate with each other when your suits are activated. I cannot modify them to allow you to use that power when you have them activated, but I will continue working on it.”
“All activation?” Layla asked.
“Yes unfortunately, stealth, change of appearance, voice, all of it. To use that power you must deactivate your medallion.”
“Well I’m happy you got that figured out. I was concerned that I was losing it,” Denise smiled.
“Good luck,” Senn said.
“Thank you.”
“It’s been a long day. Can we put in a wake up call for five a.m.,” Denise asked.
“Of course,” Nola said.
“We want to go over the growing possibility we’ll be on our own on the ground until we meet you out west. We can track the exact path of the storm in the morning and plan from there.”
“Have a peaceful rest.”
“Sweet dreams,” Layla said.
They left the meeting and made their way back to Denise’s quarters.
“I wonder how Les is doing?” Denise asked.
“I heard they put him to sleep so he did not get into trouble,” Layla grinned.
“Sleep sounds nice.”
“Sleep sounds fabulous.”
Five a.m. came too fast. Denise and Layla showered and dressed, then made their way to a biscuits and gravy breakfast.
Nearly every member of the crew they had met was present for breakfast with them.
“Judging from the intensity and location of the storm, we cannot risk losing a shuttle, especially after all you have been through,” Nola said.
“That is understandable, and Layla and I have been preparing for this day, indeed for this scenario for some time,” Denise said.
“I offer myself and everyone seated at this table to be there with you on the ground tonight,” Aren said.
“That won’t be necessary. Your presence outside the storm area is far more important.”
They discussed what Denise and Layla had planned and agreed that at this late stage in the game, they would be better off working alone. “Less is more,” Layla smiled.
“We shall be there for you tonight and tomorrow in full force,” Mari said.
“We know you will. It ends tonight,” Denise said.
The rest of the breakfast meeting passed casually and with some humor. When they were finished, Denise and Layla packed it up and headed to the Mustang where Mari would take them back to drop off Les and get them as close as possible to Brownsville without endangering the shuttle.
Les was restrained in his seat but now conscious.
“Would you like a view of what I certainly hope is your last trip in space?” Denise asked.
Mari activated the screen showing a rapidly growing Planet Earth. She headed to the coordinates Denise picked in New Mexico. She released the restraints that kept Les in his seat.
“This way Les,” Layla said, pointing to a door that opened in a way that had Les shy away from it. “Don’t worry, we are on the ground, well almost anyway.”
They walked through the doorway and down a dimly lit corridor to the ramp. The Mustang was cloaked so he could not describe it. The ramp opened and Layla led him down followed by Denise. “You are one day away from any civilization no matter what direction you choose to walk in,” Denise said, handing him a backpack. “There is water and some food in this, more than you will need unless you choose to walk in circles.”
“Thank you.”
“You are not going to remember any of this Les. You will be able to claim whatever you like for your disappearance.”
“I would suggest you keep walking towards those mountains on the horizon. That will take you to Roswell,” Layla said.
Les, kneel down and place your hands over your eyes.
Les did as Denise suggested.
You will remember none of what has happened to you. You will not remember us, you will not remember any of it. Count to 100. When you are finished you can put your hands down, get up, and start walking.
They quickly got back on the shuttle that left without a sound. Denise had Mari drop them off outside San Antonio. She did not want to risk any detection or damage to the shuttle, and it was a short enough ride that would help her think and try to reach Myla.
“I have a good feeling about tonight,” Layla said.
“I wish I did. I hope they think Les went out with some babe and haven’t beefed up security at the house.”
“There is a factor that might be at play tonight that I really hope is not.”
“And what would that be?”
“The Asians,” Layla said, as she turned the Mustang into a silver Ford Taurus and sped south down Highway 37 into the gathering storm, in the opposite direction of a steady stream of vehicles with their headlights on heading in the opposite direction.
Chapter 51
Riders On The Storm
The rain was falling heavily by the time they reached Brownsville. “I don’t like that these gates can close. They may close them or they may be closed to keep looters out during the storm,” Denise said, looking at a view in Google Earth of the building Myla was being kept in.
“How is she doing?” Layla asked.
“She seems good. Says she is a little weak but anxious to try just about anything to be freed.”
“How does it look outside the gate?”
“Good. I grew up in Chicago. One had to learn how to hop fences at a young age, especially around Halloween.”
“Yeah. Halloween. It used to be so much fun.”
“I still like the candy,” Denise laughed.
“Me too.”
“I think we should go straight to the hotel, pack it up, try to hang out as long as we can before checking out.”
“I agree. They may kick us out if a mandatory evacuation has been ordered.”
“Should we put on the radio to find out?”
“Nah. We’re not going anywhere too soon anyway.”
The wind was whipping the rain into a horizontal frenzy. They almost got hit by a garbage can flying across the street and could not help laughing hysterically.
“Hey, are they open?” Denise asked, pointing to a Popeye’s Chicken Restaurant.
“Sure looks like it. Mobile cooked food, you know it’s going to get pretty hard to find something to eat.”
“Well darling, let’s get us a big bucket and some sides before we go back to the hotel.”
“Sounds good.”
They left with a shopping bag of food and put it in the back seat.
“Can you do your thing while driving Supergirl?” Denise asked.
“I think so.”
“Pull over and let me drive.”
“Okay.”
Denise piloted the Mustang in stealth around to Coffee Port Road. “It should be right up here. That chicken sure smells good.”
“Yes it does.”
“This is it. They are left of this entrance,” Denise said, slowly moving by a rusty Earth tone house. There was a construction crew securing some equipment in the large lot to the right of the house. “Bracing for the storm no doubt.”
“Yep.”
“Judging from the view I have seen, she must be in that t
ower of sorts,” Denise said.
“Kind of peculiar that the house in windowless no?”
“It is a bit odd. Reminds me of the gangster houses near Sox Park in Chicago. All windowless or long thin windows that do not open, like gun ports.”
Myla.
Denizen.
We think we are close to you.
Five others here now.
Are you in the small tower on the top floor?
Yes.
“Do your thing Supergirl, gently.”
Layla opened her window and forced a small burst at the windows in the tower forcing them to rattle.
Myla, did you hear that at your window?
Yes Denizen.
“Again Supergirl.”
Layla again lowered her window just long enough to send another small burst.
Myla did you hear that again?
Yes Denizen, but I have company and they heard it too.
It is ok. They will think it was the storm.
Yes. That is what he just said.
I will contact you shortly about tonight.
Yes.
Denise pulled away slowly and made a U-turn to exit the complex. “We’ll park right there tonight, what do you think?”
“It looks good.”
“Make us a VW again sweetie,” Denise said as they rode down Coffee Port Road towards the hotel.
“Not a lot of traffic is there?”
“You could say the conditions are perfect.”
Chapter 52
Bucket
“The roads are clogged. There are only two main highways out of here,” Denise said between nibbles on her chicken wing.
“We can hunker down here until it blows over,” Layla said before dipping her mashed potatoes into the coleslaw.
“I thought about that. It might be best, but do you really feel like spending a night in the car?”
“Emergency centers?”
“Absolutely, positively, NO WAY.”
“We could head south. Look at the path of the storm,” Layla said, getting up to walk over to the television and pointing to the swirl. “Most of the heavy rains fall on the east side of the storm.”
“South huh?”
“Yes. We can head for Mexico City. Normally we would stand out like a sore thumb, but with these medallions we can avoid that.”
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