by Siegel, Alex
"The system was down for most of the time, but we did capture a few useful images at the beginning. A big man with brown hair and a black woman were the primary aggressors."
Knox had a cold feeling. He had badly underestimated the aliens' capabilities and determination.
Eisan added, "They demonstrated inhuman speed and strength. The man was shot and didn't care. I can only conclude they were more aliens. How many of these things are out there?"
"Only four on Earth, as far as I know. The two you were holding and the two who rescued them. You interrogated your prisoners, right? Did they tell you anything?"
"No. Nothing. Colonel Knox, I'm very upset with you. Good soldiers died tonight. Many are in the hospital. You should've warned me of the danger."
"I assumed you knew what you were doing," Knox said. "The A.D.I.C.S. Facility was built for this specific purpose. Nobody else on my staff knew the aliens were there. I don't know what else I could've done."
"You could've warned me. Something like, 'oh, by the way, there are two more monsters from outer space running around, and they will rip apart your security like it isn't even there.'"
"They aren't that tough. My people captured two of them after all."
Eisan's voice became louder. "Not that tough? I don't know whether you're incompetent, ignorant, or oblivious. Four alien invaders are on Earth! Our best security can't stop them. Yet you're treating this matter with a casual indifference which I find dismaying."
"That's simply not true. I have several squads of Special Forces operatives here. We have been investigating and pursuing these aliens since they were discovered. No effort was spared."
"Yet you still failed."
"I caught two of them!" Knox said. "You're the guy who let them go."
"I'm going to write a report right now and send it to Washington. It will recommend that the Army assign a much more senior officer to this matter. Clearly, a mere colonel is inadequate to handle a problem of this magnitude. We are talking about national security, even planetary security! The President must be made aware."
Knox closed his eyes. "I suppose there is nothing I can say which will stop you from writing that report."
"Nothing at all."
There was a click, and he heard a dial tone.
He stood up. It was time to talk to Dr. Harlow.
* * *
Mei put down her headset. She was grinning like she had won the lottery.
"You seem pleased," Cat said.
They were still hiding in the telephone exchange building. Night had fallen, and chilly air was blowing in through the broken window. It was quiet outside.
"I just tapped a very interesting phone call. Want to hear it?" Mei said.
"Sure."
Mei played the call through the speakers on her laptop.
Cat was thoughtful afterwards. "This is big."
"The good news is it sounds like the operation was a success. My friends were rescued. You were part of it and should feel proud of yourself. And now I have Colonel Knox's phone number, which means I have his address. As soon as we get back to Chicago, he'll have some unexpected visitors."
* * *
Dr. Harlow's eyes were drooping. He shook himself awake. There was no time for rest. He was building a radiation sensor package for his new spacesuit, and the small parts were troublesome. A tiny gold component slipped out of his tweezers and landed on his workbench. He grunted with annoyance.
He stood up straight and stretched his neck. His laboratory was crowded and buzzing with activity. Colonel Knox had summoned additional technicians and equipment from Washington to supplement Harlow's existing resources. The church nave was big, but there was still hardly enough room for everybody to work. The racket from titanium plates being cut, shaped, and welded was constant.
Harlow saw Colonel Knox walk over with a very grim expression. Harlow put down his tools.
"We have a problem," Knox said in a low voice. "The two captured aliens were rescued."
A chill went down Harlow's spine. "All four of them are on the loose again?"
"It appears so, and we have no idea where they are."
Harlow rubbed his eyes. He was too worn down to handle any more stress.
"And that's not all," Knox added. "An Air Force general is up in arms about it. He is going to send a scathing report to Washington. I'm still dealing with the fallout from the Navy Pier debacle. We'll have time for one more experiment, maybe, and then it is game over for us. How is the suit coming?"
"It should be assembled within hours if we don't stop working."
"Don't rest until it's done."
Harlow nodded. "Yes, sir."
"By the way, the wreckage of Rena Penn's airplane was found in the mountains of Virginia. A nosedive straight into the ground. No survivors. The cause of the crash is unclear."
"Tragic. My heart goes out to her family. Now, if you'll excuse me, sir, I need to get back to work."
"Of course." Knox walked off.
Instead of returning to his workbench, Harlow went to his electron microscope which was standing in the corner. The brass tubes gleamed dully and needed a good polishing. He took his silver coin out of his pocket and placed it into the microscope's specimen holder. He pushed in the drawer and turned on the power.
While he waited for the air pumps to create a hard vacuum, he watched the activity in his lab. The parts of the suit were coming together. Seeing his vision becoming reality was fun despite the desperate circumstances. Medieval plate mail had inspired the design, and he expected to look like a knight in shining armor, except the burnished titanium would give it a rainbow hue.
The microscope was finally ready. Harlow put his eye against the eyepiece.
"Hello?" he whispered.
An abstract face formed on the phosphor screen. "Dr. Harlow," it said, "these conversations are becoming more frequent and less useful. Don't you have work to do?"
The sounds in the laboratory suddenly stopped. Harlow glanced over his shoulder and saw that time had frozen.
"Our adversaries escaped," he said.
"I'm aware."
"They're coming for me."
"Indeed," the face said.
"Aren't you worried? Why don't you do something about it?"
"My life isn't at risk. They don't know who I am."
Harlow became angry. The face couldn't care less what happened to him.
"What if I told them?"
"Dr. Harlow," the face said, "I don't respond to threats. If you deviate from my instructions, I will throw you to the wolves, body and soul."
"I don't understand why you're doing this. I never have. What's your angle?"
"Just work on your precious spacesuit. Your small, selfish mind is incapable of understanding my objectives."
Harlow clenched his fists. He was being played for a fool, but there was nothing he could do about it. The face held all the cards. Sneaking into Heaven was the only way to escape eternal damnation, and he couldn't pull that off without the face's help.
"What happens after I finish the suit? You haven't told me where the new passage is."
"I've decided you'll use an old one," the face said. "It's famous actually. The Rocket to Heaven ride at Aladdin's Castle."
"What is that?"
"A children's amusement park. It's quite lovely. The ride is guarded by an old man who isn't really a man at all. Now pay attention. This is what you must do...."
* * *
Kyle parked the ambulance behind the telephone exchange building where Cat and Mei were stationed. He had already turned off the sirens and lights. He tucked the vehicle into some nice dark shadows where it wouldn't be seen from the road.
Everybody got out. A chilly breeze was blowing, and it cut through the lightweight paramedic costume Kyle was still wearing. The team walked around to the front of the small building. Their stolen minivan was parked in the tiny lot.
He knocked on the door. "It's me."
Cat opened
the door. She was smiling, and her perfect white teeth almost gleamed. She surprised him by giving him a hug.
"You made it," she said. "Was it tough?"
"No worse than expected," Virgil said.
Everybody crowded into the building and closed the door. Stacks of computers and telephone switching equipment were all around. There was barely room to move.
"Listen to this," Mei said.
She played a recording of a phone call. Kyle recognized Colonel Knox's voice, and he sounded very tired.
"Nice job," Virgil said. "That answers a few lingering questions."
"Colonel Knox took the call at the Riverside Cavalry Church of Christ," Mei said. "The church has been closed for a few years. I called the owner, and he said new renters just took possession of the place."
"Great. We'll drive through the night and should be there by morning. We already have all the weapons we need. Capturing Colonel Knox is a primary objective, but I'm most interested in talking to Dr. Harlow. He is the key to this mystery. Move out."
Kyle sighed. He would be sleeping in the car again, but at least he would get some sleep. That was a luxury on a mission.
* * *
Colonel Knox took a big gulp from his cup of coffee. He didn't know how much coffee he had drunk during the long night, but it certainly wasn't a healthy amount.
Ground and satellite photos of the Aladdin's Castle Amusement Park were spread out across his desk. He had drawn a red circle around the Rocket to Heaven ride in the back corner of the park. According to Dr. Harlow, it was the secret portal.
That fact had made Knox wonder what was really going on. Why would aliens hide a gateway to their home world in a kiddie ride? Were the opposition really aliens at all? He still hadn't seen the slightest evidence of advanced technology. The four strangers certainly had extraordinary physical abilities, but that observation didn't necessarily imply they were aliens.
Knox couldn't think of a credible alternative though. He pushed aside his doubts and focused on the photographs. He had made a career out of fighting onward in the face of doubt.
He couldn't ignore his security problems as easily. He had to make sure nothing interfered with the final experiment of the Crusader Special Unit. A successful result might salvage his career, and failure would certainly doom him. Keeping out the civilians would be easy, but if the police got involved, he might have another Navy Pier situation on his hands. He couldn't let that happen.
Of course, Knox's biggest fear was the four aliens showing up.
The amusement park had a rectangular shape which occupied ten acres in a residential area. The land was perfectly flat, but buildings and trees offered scattered cover. Most of the rides were in the center of the park, and they were small enough for young children. The photographs showed a kid-size train track, a petting zoo, a food court, and a duck pond.
A screen of bushes and trees separated the Rocket to Heaven ride from the rest of the park. Just a narrow path provided access. The isolation couldn't have been accidental.
The sound of footsteps made Knox look up. His chief of security, Major Weber, was approaching. The big man looked dangerous in forest green Army fatigues. As always, he wore orange safety goggles.
"Did you figure out a plan yet, sir?" Weber said.
"Mostly," Knox said. "We'll show up before the park opens. We'll keep any civilians out by claiming there is a natural gas leak."
"Some of us will have to be disguised as gas workers."
"Yes. We'll all be disguised. The important thing is to be prepared for any kind of trouble. I want every available soldier on site."
"What about the operatives in Chinatown?" Weber said.
"Bring everybody, including technicians. I'm committing every resource to the experiment. If the aliens show up, I want them to get a big reception."
"Which brings up the reason I came here, sir. I heard a rumor that the two we caught have escaped."
Knox frowned. "I'm afraid that's the case. They were rescued. I was keeping that information under wraps because it might discourage the men."
"There was also the trouble at Navy Pier."
"What's your point?"
Weber hesitated. "The project isn't going well, sir. Not well at all."
"Are you suggesting our failures are my fault?" Knox stood up from his desk. "I have done everything in my power to lead this unit to victory! I have not shirked my duty in the slightest. Go before I accuse you of insolence. Get everybody ready to move out. As soon as the spacesuit is ready, we're leaving."
"Yes, sir." Weber turned sharply and marched off.
* * *
Dr. Harlow stood back and admired his new suit. Despite its hurried, stressful construction, it was a thing of beauty. The gleaming plates had a slightly blue tint. All the parts were carefully shaped to fit his body without hampering movement. They locked together to create an impervious skin. The helmet was a polycarbonate sphere reinforced with a metal shell around the top and back. A translucent gold film would protect him from radiation. An integrated backpack supplied oxygen, power, and cooling. Sensors and recording systems decorated the suit like Christmas tree ornaments
"Well done." Harlow looked at the large crowd of scientists and technicians gathered around the suit. "Very well done. If this doesn't work, I don't know what will. Unfortunately, there is no time for a dress rehearsal. Let's pack this thing up and get out of here. We have an alien world to discover!"
* * *
Virgil parked the minivan a block away from the Riverside Cavalry Church of Christ. He got out and looked around.
Riverside was a pleasant suburb west of Chicago. Most of the homes had two stories and were made of brick. Decorative stonework framed windows and doors. Winter had turned the grass yellow and had stripped the leaves from the trees, but somehow, the landscaping still looked good.
Virgil faced east and squinted. The sun had just started to peek over the horizon. He preferred to work under the cloak of darkness, but he couldn't stop the sunrise.
He poked his head back into the minivan. "Lisa and I will check it out. We'll call once we see what we're up against."
"Be careful," Mei said.
He smiled at her. "Sure."
Lisa hopped out on the other side of the minivan.
Both of them were still wearing blue and gray camouflage Air Force fatigues. They opened up the back of the van and retrieved their weapons. Virgil checked for witnesses as he buckled on his gun belt, but the street was quiet.
"Ready to go?" he said.
Lisa nodded. "But I wish I had my swords. I left them behind at the truck stop."
They left the street and ran behind the nearest house. They worked their way towards the church, sneaking from backyard to backyard. Virgil had seen the location by using the map in his phone, so he knew where he was going.
He soon spotted the church between the trees. It was made of rough gray stone and slate. The stained glass windows would've looked nice if they had been clean. The lawn needed mowing and weeding.
"I don't see any security," Virgil said.
"Me neither," Lisa said. "Not even a camera."
"They haven't been here for long. Maybe they haven't had time to install a surveillance system."
"I hope so, or maybe Mei made a mistake. We could be looking at the wrong place."
"Let's get closer," he said.
They crept forward on their bellies. The frozen grass crunched beneath Virgil's hands.
He and Lisa reached the wall of the church and peeked through a window. He expected to see pews, but instead equipment filled the nave of the church. He recognized some laboratory instruments, but he also saw lathes, saws, drill presses, and welding equipment.
"I see stuff," Virgil whispered, "but no people."
* * *
Colonel Knox arrived at Aladdin's Castle in Elmhurst. He stepped out of his car and zipped up his coat. The morning air had a biting chill.
Major Weber got out on the dr
iver's side. Both of them were wearing blue workman's uniforms and gas masks. Knox was also carrying a voltmeter he had borrowed from Dr. Harlow.
They went to the front gate which was closed and locked with a chain. Knox saw rides through the wire screen. One looked like a pirate ship, and it could swing on a giant hinge. A tiny Ferris wheel with just six bench seats reminded him of the Navy Pier fiasco.
"Hey!" Knox yelled. "Anybody here? It's an emergency!"
A night watchman emerged from a small building. He had drooping eyelids and a big, sagging gut. His green uniform looked authoritative, but his only weapon was a nightstick.
"What's wrong?" he said.
"You have a major natural gas leak!" Knox waved his voltmeter in the air and studied the display. "Two thousand giga-radons and rising. We tried to call, but nobody answered."
"Uh, I didn't hear any phone ring."
"Get out of here before you die!"
"But...." The night watchman looked back at the park.
"Seriously," Knox said, "you need to run, or you'll get elephantiasis. Don't worry about this place. We won't let anybody get in. We have an emergency crew coming."
The watchman grimaced. After a moment of thought, he ran to a car parked in the lot, climbed in, and drove off.
Knox shook his head sadly. Coward didn't even ask to see identification.
He spoke into a microphone concealed under his collar, "All clear. Come in."
A caravan of cars and trucks began to arrive. The entire Crusader Special Unit was coming for the experiment, down to the last man and woman.
* * *
Virgil was climbing the three-story bell tower on the side of the church. The rough stones offered good handholds, but crumbling mortar worried him. He was afraid the stones would come out in his hands.
He finally reached the top of the tower and squeezed in through an opening. Lisa was already standing inside.
"Slowpoke," she whispered.
"You're lighter and therefore quicker," he replied.
"Sure. Whatever you say."
Virgil and Lisa walked down an old wooden staircase which went around the interior of the tower. He tried his best to avoid making the wood creak.
They reached the bottom of the tower and arrived in some kind of control room. Each position had multiple displays and a computer keyboard, but nobody was sitting in the ergonomic chairs. All the screens were turned off.