Custodian_Monster of Earth Book One

by Patrick F. Johnson

  “That won't happen. They are probably inside the dome rounding up as much cattle as they can carry. My guess is they have a lot of Mingrein either at the moon base or on the way.”

  “Let's pick a spot to drop me off, and then you go up in orbit and take a sneaky peek. I'd like to know what's up there.”

  “Mistress?”

  “We should do as he suggests. For whatever reason we are unable to detect their ships.”

  “Here, put me right over this spot.” He pointed to a spot between the line of military vehicles and the fog dome.

  “Okay, no one knows we're here. We can change plans at any time.”

  “Can you open the door here and let me take a look?” Frank set down the tablet and walked over next to the red circle. It opened up as he crouched down to brace himself on the edge of the hole. As he peered out the hatch, he witnessed a group of soldiers march up to the dome. One of them reached up to touch it and his hand passed through it. He made a signal to the others and they marched right in.

  “.....several workers are reported have been in the general vicinity when the dome appeared......”

  “Well, shit.” Frank paused and looked back at Phildan and the orb. The sounds of gun fire were heard through the hatch, reflecting off the smooth interior walls of the boat. “Here goes nothing.” Frank jumped through the hole.

  5.

  “What's the meaning of this? If you wanted more cattle, all you had to do was ask.” The Senator had plenty of reason to be agitated. If the media ever found out about his involvement with the attack in Texas, he would most likely be charged with treason, that is, if he wasn't lynched first.

  “That last batch of cattle was substandard. Our needs have grown so we took matters into our own hands. Don't worry Senator, you will still hold a high position among your people.”

  “There was a clear need for discretion. There's no possible way to cover this up. The whole world now knows of your existence.”

  “They were going to find out soon enough, Senator. Please arrange another delivery. Just pigs this time. We anticipate being well supplied with cattle and people. The usual time and place. And payment of course.”

  “I understand you asking for livestock, but what are you doing with the people?”

  There was the familiar laughter. Then the call was ended.

  * * *

  The drop from the boat took even longer this time. Frank was all too aware that this was most likely a one way trip. He had every intention of dying today. Was it suicide to die valiantly trying to defend one's planet? A death wish is a funny thing. He had felt the remaining few fibers of his sanity unraveling ever since the test. Those monsters hadn't been real. But now he was charging into the unknown. The report of possible innocent victims was the final bit of incentive to allow him to commit himself to this course of suicide. He hoped to at least save a few people before he was eaten.

  Frank's fall slowed and as usual he landed gracefully on his feet. Ten feet in front of him stood the barrier. It was a hot sunny day. It was a dry heat but the gentle breeze coming out of the west made it bearable. But the wall of steam didn't move. The wind had no effect on it whatsoever. Frank turned to look at the line of military vehicles several hundred yards back. He wondered what their next move was going to be. If he could hear the gunfire way up in the boat, they undoubtedly could hear it back on their line. As he was turning back to the barrier, he caught a glint of something metallic shining up on the hill where the pasture sloped up to meet a small stand of trees. He was somehow able to make out what appeared to be a news crew that had sneaked in for a closer shot. He hoped they didn't zoom in on his face. Shrugging it off, he unzipped his hoodie, removed it, and dropped it on the ground.

  Frank started off in a jog and within three steps he punched through the barrier. Now it was clear why it was called a fog dome. He couldn't see more than fifteen or twenty feet in front of him. All he could hope for, as he was running into the unknown, was them being as blind as he was.

  “Frank!” Gladosanthos called out from behind him.

  “Shh, keep your voice down. You shouldn't be here. You might get your ball shot off.”

  She wasn't fazed by his joke. “We haven't tested your velocity shield yet. I want to make sure I made the proper adjustments for your physiology.”

  “Well, consider this a test run. Can you see through this fog?”

  “My visibility is limited but I can guide us to the center where their craft will be.”

  They went another twenty feet before Frank heard a moan. He followed the sound until he found an injured Marine laying on the ground, clutching his rifle. “Are you okay? Can you walk?”

  The soldier looked confused. He didn't seem to notice the orb. “I'm hit in the leg. Those little gray bastards hit us from all sides. They shot everyone low.”

  “Where's the rest of the men?”

  “They dragged them off. I have a bad feeling they'll be coming back for me.”

  With surprising ease, Frank hoisted the wounded Marine up onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry. “I'll get you outta here, and then I'll see about getting your guys.”

  Frank burst out of the barrier in full sprint, with the extra weight of the soldier unnoticeable. He took him about fifty feet out of the fog and gently placed him on the ground. “Who are you?” the Marine asked.

  “Name's Frank.” He turned and sprinted back into the dome.

  A short time later Gladosanthos relocated him. “This way,” she said, taking the point position.

  “Holy shit, how big is this thing?”

  “I didn't take time to measure it. We should be nearing the center soon.”

  Frank stopped to see if he could hear anything. The sounds of laughter came from off in the same distance they were heading. He realized it was the same laugh he had heard during his test. “I know that tune.” Just then he heard several screams from the direction perpendicular, to the left of the direction they were traveling. “Shit.” Frank sprinted in the direction of the screams.

  “Shouldn't we disable the generator?” Gladosanthos asked.

  “I don't know. That scream sounded like a kid.”

  They found a road and Frank could make out a mailbox up ahead. He ran up the driveway and ducked behind a pickup truck to survey the scene. The fog wasn't quite as thick here, and Frank was almost shocked when he saw them. Mingrein. There were two of the beasts standing about forty feet apart from each other, overseeing a group of Rotinoms that were dragging people out of a house.

  “Nice house,” Frank whispered as he took note of the layout. Gladosanthos didn't answer and he left her behind when he drew both of his bigger knives and charged up the walk. He leaped onto the back of the nearest Mingrein and savagely slit his throat. He reminded himself to thank Phildan again if he made it out of this. His knife went very deep into the thick neck of the alien and then he followed through with his other hand, making a crisscrossing wound that caused the reptilian neck flesh to fly off in chunks. It had been a fluid motion and Frank was amazed at how fast he was able to accomplish his goal. He rolled through his landing and popped back to his feet as three of the Rotinoms turned and opened fire.

  These three had stood separate from the group to provide additional coverage. Frank noticed that they were wearing backpacks that were obviously packed full of ammo, as he could make out something tethered to their small rifles through the fog. There was a loud odd hiss coming from their rifles, and the bubble of the velocity shield was almost visible as thousands of rounds were fired at him. Frank had seen machine guns fired on full auto. These alien rifles fired so fast that it was as if one solid rail of projectile was hitting him. It was quite shocking and it was cause for him to pause briefly. Then something knocked him off his feet.

  Frank rolled through his landing again, this time to his left. He realized he had been hit by a larger caliber weapon. He looked over to see the other Mingrein brandishing a much larger gun than the Rotinoms were c
arrying.

  “This one has some fight in him. I think I'll let him watch me eat his legs.” The beast laughed as the comm chip translated its words inside Frank's head on the fly. Just then another Mingrein appeared in the door of the house grasping the upper arm of a little girl. She appeared to be about seven or eight years old.

  “Just kill him so we can be on our way. We need to stay on schedule.”

  Seeing the child inspired Frank. He had seen Terrelle and Wendy's two children at the funeral and was devastated. Wendy hadn't found him fit, and then turned to Terrelle as he was more of what she had thought of as stable and gainfully employed. But now, all the world was his responsibility. He sprinted toward the other Mingrein out in the yard, with the full onslaught of the torrent of rounds being fired upon him in tow. As he neared the monster, he broke left and the Mingrein was struck with several hundred rounds in a split second. He was dead before he hit the ground.

  Frank turned to face the porch where the hostages were being held for the moment. Looks of fearful shock were across their faces as they alternately looked back an forth between him and their captors. Frank began a slow march toward the house.

  “Don't these assholes ever run out of bullets?” he asked himself out loud.

  The remaining Mingrein looked confused. He was trying to decide whether he should keep hold of the girl, or let her go and reach for his gun when the Rotinoms finally ran out of ammo. Frank took two quick steps and was on the porch. The small gray aliens held their empty weapons as if they were still shooting. Frank side-kicked the nearest one and he flew back an knocked down three more. As the Mingrein finally decided to let go of the girl and go for his gun, Frank was there and with one powerful swipe of his blade, he amputated the monster's gun hand at what must have been its wrist. The clawed hand was still clutching the gun as Frank plunged his other knife straight into the lizard's eye. He turned the blade violently as he pulled it out, killing the Mingrein.

  “Are there any more in the house?” he asked the man he assumed was the father. The man was staring at the slain monster on his front porch and could only shake his head no. “Get your family inside and lock yourselves in the basement. The military should be by in a few. You got any more people out here anywhere?” Again he shook his head.

  With one leap Frank was off the porch and sprinting back down the driveway. “Get me to that generator,” he said with an uncharacteristic seriousness. Gladosanthos' orb again took point, saying nothing.

  A short time later they reached the craft. It was a long rectangular chunk of metal with rounded corners. Frank mused to himself that none of these spaceships looked anything like spaceships. There was a wide ramp on the end that was lowered while unarmed Rotinoms were herding cattle into the hold. Nearby, others were dragging some injured soldiers up a side ramp. They were being overseen by three more Mingrein, and covered by half a dozen backpack wearing Rotinoms.

  “You're not putting them in with the cows, are ya?” Frank directed his words at the Mingrein and was shocked to hear them sound like strange hissing mixed with croaking. The Mingrein turned to regard him as he quickly decided to take them head on. Both blades out, he lunged at the middle lizard before he could pull his gun. As he reached up to stab the beast in the neck he felt his right arm burn all over and then quickly go numb. The knife fell from his hand. The monster was hit with a fury of alien bullets before Frank could realize he'd been shot in the arm. He fell back to survey the damage as his shield repelled the continuing volley of rounds. He was shocked to see several pellets pushing themselves out of his skin and falling to the ground, as if his body had somehow rejected them.

  “Someone has some explaining to do.” He directed his words up toward the orb and then turned his attention back to the battle. The top of the craft was about twenty feet up and he had to find some way to get up there. “Gladys, I need to find a way up there!”

  “Step on the remote,” she finally answered as she lowered her remote to about six feet from the ground, dead center of the action, about ten feet from the hull. Frank ran and jumped and was surprised to find the small ball was stable. It was like standing on top of a pole that was firmly planted into the ground. Before he could lose his balance, the orb rose quickly, propelling him onto the top of the Mingrein freighter.

  “Over here, Frank,” she said leading him to a plain looking metal box that had clearly been added to the craft. “I think you'll have to somehow remove the cover.”

  Frank ran and drop kicked the box. He landed on his side to survey the damage when the bullets starting bouncing off of his shield again. The Rotinoms had moved out away from the craft in order to get a clear shot. Frank ducked behind the box.

  “You don't need to duck. Your shield seems to be working fine.”

  Frank looked up at the orb with a devious grin as the continuous fire upon the same spot of the box finally penetrated the outer case and struck the mechanisms within. There was a quiet click, then Frank could feel the breeze on his face again. The little gray idiots had disabled the generator for him.

  “Grab what you can and get aboard!” Frank heard the Mingrein below yell. He leaped down upon another lizard and stabbed it straight through the top of its skull. The beast fell to its knees, and then flat on its face. Frank had to brace the monster's head with his foot to pull the blade out. Fetching the knife he had dropped earlier, he raced toward the fallen soldiers. Two soldiers were still laying on the ground as a third was being pulled into the freighter by two Rotinoms. Frank bashed their heads together and grabbed the man before he could fall to the ground.

  “Can any of you walk?” he yelled to them as all the hatches were closing and the ship was starting to raise. Only one of them started to stand. Frank noticed they had all been shot in the leg. He helped the other two to their feet, one with each arm and turned to help them get clear of the ship. Grasping each Marine across their back and underneath their opposite arm he half pulled, half carried them to safety. The other Marine was close behind as the ship lifted straight up and was quickly out of site. The steam was starting to blow away as Frank lowered the two men to the ground. “Your friends should be here soon. How many Marines were taken?”

  “Eight,” one was able to answer, wincing in pain, “and our sergeant was wounded at the point of entry.” Frank admired how collected he was.

  “He's safe. I carried him out.” Frank turned to leave. He broke into a fast jog with Gladosanthos' orb following closely behind.

  “You should signal Phildan for pickup.”

  “I will as soon as I grab my hoodie.”

  “We need to go. They'll want to detain you and we don't have time for that.”

  “But it's my favorite hoodie.”

  * * *

  With the haze of the fog almost totally dissipated, Frank located the spot where he had dropped his favorite gray hoodie. He was painfully aware of all the eyes upon him as he bent over to pick it up. He grabbed his hoodie in one hand and a pile of dirt with the other. He stood up and took note of the military vehicles that had now moved closer. Not far behind them were members of the media, vying for the best angle to get a clear shot of him. He just then noticed that he was covered in sweat. His clothes were completely saturated. It must have been over one hundred twenty degrees inside the dome.

  “You there,” someone in the distance shouted to him as he pushed the button on his bracelet. A few seconds later the light showed green, and he felt himself being pulled upward to the landing boat. As the hatch closed itself under his feet, Frank looked up to see Phildan with his scales contorted into that familiar smile. The orb was just over his right shoulder.

  “So, how'd I do?”

  * * *

  That phone was ringing again. The Senator muted the television and answered.

  “Senator, it would seem we have a small problem.” There was no laughter this time

  “Yes, I was watching it live on the news. They are saying one man kicked your asses and sent you packin
g.”

  “It would seem an old enemy has infiltrated human society. You are to use your resources and see to it that he is eliminated.”

  “Are you sure there is only one man?”

  “That is our belief. He used secret technology that we have been unable to duplicate. I want his body delivered to me. Am I making myself clear?”

  “Crystal clear.” They ended the call and the Senator picked up his personal phone.

  “Yes,” the voice on the other end answered.

  “Jason, I have a special mission of the utmost importance for you. Bring your gear. It's going to get wet.”

  “Now that's what I like to hear.”

  6.

  “Give me a map.” Frank used tones that were neither forceful nor polite. Gladosanthos' orb obliged and projected an image of the nearby area. They were flying low, slowly toward the east, deciding on a heading. “Blow up this part here....” Frank pointed to a small town. “More here please.” After repeating the process a few more times he said, “Put me down right here behind this building. I'll just be a minute.” By now he had gained Phildan's complete trust, and he was more than happy to comply to the request. “I'll just be a minute,” he repeated and stepped on the red circle and subsequently dropped toward the ground.

  “Mistress, Frank would appear to be a true warrior.”

  “Yes, it would appear so. But I wonder how he's going to feel about our mission once he learns the whole truth.”

  A short time later, Frank signaled for pickup. He came up into the boat carrying a box. “Whatya say we head back to the island for a few?”

  “That's a fine idea, Frank. I would like to bathe in the ocean again. Quite soothing.”

  “Yeah, me too.” They were then silent for some time. Frank opened the box and pulled out a beer, cracked it open, and drained it in one long drink. He belched loudly, not attempting to subdue the noise a single bit, and opened another.