Custodian_Monster of Earth Book One

by Patrick F. Johnson

  Between stories, Frank pulled Dave to the side. “Looks like I'm going hunting for cabalists tomorrow. Maybe you and the Crew should mobilize and get better acquainted with the locals.”

  “So, those ships are still holding steady over D.C. and New York?”

  “Yes, no change. I'll be in Washington anyway. So you take New York.”

  “Do you want to take one of the guys with you?”

  “Nah. You'll need them all. New York has a lot more civilians to worry about. If a few politicians get eaten, well, no big loss there.”

  After he was done laughing, Dave replied, “Well, I feel sorry for those guys if they decide to invade D.C.” He turned to go alert Potts. But then he decided it could wait until morning.

  “Hiro, a word?” Frank called to him and gestured outside. The young man was happy to comply with his request. Once they were out of earshot, Frank said, “I'm leaving for Washington tomorrow and the Crew is going to New York. I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Yes, Frank. Anything.”

  “Denise will be staying here. I want you to look after her. I trust Bett. He saved my life. But if for any reason he goes rogue, you'll have to put him down.”

  “I've grown to really like Bett. I hope it doesn't come to that.”

  “Me too.”

  * * *

  “Constanthos, please play the one marked 'college girl'.”

  “Yes, sister. I don't understand what more you hope to learn.”

  * * *

  Frank and Hiro got an early morning sparring session in before everyone prepared for their missions. Phildan spent a couple of hours transferring some of his equipment into the other boat. The Crew made the last minute inspections of their equipment and Potts called ahead for coordinates and additional ammo and supplies. They said their farewells and the crew boarded their boat.

  Frank raised into his boat and found Bett waiting for him in the living room. “What can I do for you, Bett?”

  “Phildan and I have prepared a new suit for you.”

  “Thanks. But what was wrong with the old one?”

  “Nothing. This one works the same way except with the addition of this mask,” Bett presented him with what resembled a diving mask with air canisters fastened to it. “This will allow you to survive in the vacuum of space.”

  “Wow. You guys think of everything. How does it operate?”

  “When you wear the mask, a gesture will cause the suit to form up over your head and seal. It will cover your hands and feet as well. Each canister is good for about ten Earth minutes of breathing.”

  “May I ask what made you think of this?”

  “Might I have a word in private?” Bett asked, glancing at the orb.

  “Certainly. Gladys, please excuse us.” They went to the red circles and dropped down to the sand. They walked a way down the beach before Bett began.

  “I believe you will need to visit the base on the moon at some point.”

  “I guess I hadn't given it much thought.”

  “I don't believe that, Frank.”

  “You got me. I didn't know how to approach the topic with Gladys.”

  “Do you intend to kill every Mingrein, Frank?”

  “I don't want to. But what are the chances of them learning to play nice?”

  “There is a way, but your timing has to be just right.”

  * * *

  Frank raised back into the boat and sat heavily on the couch, trying to process what Bett had just proposed. He resolved himself to find a different solution.

  “Is everything okay, Frank?”

  “Yes, Gladys. You've been quiet. Is everything okay with you?”

  “Yes, I was making preparations of my own. I'm anxious to try out the modification to my remote.”

  “I'm going to call ahead and let them know we're coming.”

  * * *

  “After we drop, the boat will park itself over there above that clearing.”

  “It can do that?” Frank asked.

  “Well, I'll be helping it along.” She didn't want to tell him that someone else had agreed to control it for her, so she could focus on Frank's needs.

  “Okay, we'll drop here near the Washington Monument and set out on foot.”

  “Shall I ride in your pocket?”

  “Not this time. We don't need to hide any more.”

  They dropped to the ground and landed in a grassy area near the monument. The area was almost desolate. Where there were usually thousands of tourists milling about, there were only a few, as most people were taking the alert quite seriously. But there are always people that choose to ignore such warnings. Frank walked toward the Capitol Building with a sword in his hand and one strapped to his back. His pouches were full of shuriken and his pocketknives were in their places.

  “That's the White House down that way. The President won't travel too far from his bunker, I'd imagine.”

  “Could the cabalist be there? A member of his staff perhaps?”

  “That just doesn't feel right. I think we should head down toward the Capitol Building. That's where the majority of the crooks are.”

  “Have you lost all hope for your government?”

  “Most of it. It's a great idea in theory. Democracy. But greed and corruption is all too common. That's the nature of man.”

  “Not just man, I'm afraid.”

  “Well that's not very encouraging.”

  “But without greed and corruption, you and I would have not met. So it can't be all bad.”

  “You're the sweetest. I can't wait to meet you in person,” he said with another wink in her direction. Frank found himself enjoying their walk together. He always had a fascination with the architecture of the nation's capital. They had made their way most of the way up Independence Avenue, almost to the Capital Building. “Shall I give our friend a call?”

  “Go ahead. I'm ready.” He pressed the send button and within a couple of moments she said, “I have a hit. It's coming from that building.”

  Holding the phone to his ear he said, “Well, they aren't answering. They probably don't answer if they don't recognize the caller. I think that's a senate office building. Let's get closer and try again.”

  They entered the building and were stopped instantly at a security check. “Sir, you can't carry weapons in here,” a guard told him.

  “Hold on, he's good. We got a memo that he was going to be out and about in the area,” another guard said.

  “We can't let a guy with a samurai sword just walk in!”

  “Look!” the second guard said, pointing at the orb. “He's the Gray Man. The President said he can pretty much do what he wants.”

  “I just need to have a look around,” Frank told them.

  “Are there aliens in here?” the first guard asked anxiously.

  “No, something far worse. Politicians.” They let Frank and the orb pass. The metal detector went off as he walked through. “Thanks,” he said as he walked on without looking back. To Gladosanthos he said, “Let's go to the center of the floor and try again.”

  They made their way to what seemed to be the center of the main floor and Frank tried the number again. “Third floor,” Gladosanthos said. They opted to take the stairs.

  The third floor seemed to be mostly deserted. Most people had cleared out as the city was such a target for an invasion. Only a few die hard workers remained. They were making their way toward where the call had pinged her scanner when they heard a voice call to them.

  “Mr. Ford?”

  Frank turned to see an older man in a fine three-piece suit waving. “Yes?”

  “I'm Senator Horace Spears. Might I have a word with you?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Please step into my office.” Frank entered and Spears closed the door behind him. The orb hung silently over his left shoulder. The Senator gestured toward a chair. Frank sat down. Instead of sitting down in his own chair, the Senator opted to half sit on the edge of his desk. He re
minded Frank of someone's grandfather. His manner was that of a man that was about to pick up his grandchildren and take them out for ice cream.

  “Mr, Ford,” he started.

  “Please call me Frank.”

  “Okay, Frank. What brings you to Washington?”

  “I am searching for a cabalist, sir.”

  “A cabalist? That sounds serious.”

  “It is. There is a group of people that are aiding the aliens.”

  “And you think they are here, in this building?”

  “I am certain of it.”

  “I was speaking with some of my colleagues about you just the other day. They are concerned about the security risks involved with letting you run around unchecked. I told them that if the President trusts you then that's good enough for me. But there is much we don't know about you.”

  “I'm just a guy. I was picked by the good aliens for the job. I have a Marine task force assigned to me. They keep me in line.”

  “But what's in it for you, Frank?”

  “Once I learned what the invaders had planned for us, I accepted the job. Once we turn them away, I will probably return to my old job and try to forget any of this ever happened.” Frank was tiring of the conversation and wanted to get back to his hunt.

  “Can I offer you a drink? I'm afraid all I have is scotch.”

  “That sounds good, actually.” The man had been rather polite during his questioning and Frank didn't want to be rude. And he'd never tried good scotch before. Spears went to a small table where the glasses and bottle were.

  “I've had this bottle here since I started this job over twenty-five years ago. I only get into it for special occasions,” he said with his back to Frank.

  “I've never tried scotch. I hope it's not too strong.”

  Spears turned and handed Frank the glass. “I think you'll find that it goes down rather smooth.”

  Frank raised the glass and drank deeply. “That is smooth,” he said as he lowered his glass. But then he felt a burning in his throat as an almond aftertaste hit from the back of his mouth. He realized he had been poisoned as he dropped out of the chair and ended up on his hands and knees, fighting to remain conscious.

  “By now, you probably realize you've found your...'cabalist'. Soon I will be known as the new president. But with the confusion of an alien invasion, no one will find your body.” Frank was trying to get back up. Spears picked up a sharp letter opener from his desk. “You are a tough one, aren't you?” he asked as he stabbed Frank deeply in his neck. Frank crumbled to the floor as Spears stepped over him and left the room.

  * * *

  Terrelle made his way out of the tent where the Crew had placed him when he had become too drunk to function. He walked into the tiki bar to find Denise, Deon, Hiro and Bett all watching television. “Oh my head. I haven't drank that much since.....never. What's on TV?”

  “It's a live feed from Gladys. Frank just got poisoned and stabbed in the neck,” Deon said.

  Terrelle realized just then the seriousness of the situation. Even Bett wore a worried look on his face. “Who did it?”

  “Senator Spears.”

  “The old man? Have you called it in? Have you reported it to anyone?” Terrelle was becoming agitated. He had finally begun to make amends with Frank, and now he might be dying.

  “It just now happened,” Deon said. “I'm calling now.”

  23.

  Spears made his way down the back stairwell to the basement and headed for the tunnel that led to the Capitol Building. He had that other phone in his pocket but knew better than to call now, as he could almost never get a signal in the tunnel. The train wasn't running due to the state of emergency, so he had to walk the distance. None of the guards stopped him as they had all known him for years, and his reputation was stellar. After making his way by yet another checkpoint in the basement of the Capitol, he traversed another set of steps to the ground level, then made his way to the back door. Once outside and feeling quite proud of himself, he pressed the send button on the phone.

  “What is it, Senator?” the voice asked, sounding perturbed.

  “I want to let you know that I just killed Frank Ford.”

  “You did it yourself?”

  “Yes. I poisoned him, and then I stabbed him. Please tell Groll that I did it.”

  “I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you.”

  “Well I did it. Would you please tell Groll?”

  “I am unable to tell him at this time. Perhaps you can tell him yourself when he gets there.”

  “Wait. Why is he coming here?”

  “He's leading the Washington phase of the invasion himself.”

  “Are you coming as well?” Spears felt his chest start to tighten with anxiety.

  “Battles really aren't my thing.”

  “Then who is going to translate for Groll?”

  “I'm sure you can all figure it out.” The line went dead and the Senator realized that he had been played the whole time. The original group of aliens had been so much more civilized.

  * * *

  Gladosanthos sat in her high backed chair feeling more powerless than she had ever felt before in her very long life. She could do nothing except call out to Frank as he lay in a heap in the office floor.

  “How could I have been such a fool. I've led him to his death!”

  “He is still alive, sister.”

  “But for how long? If I could get him here I could save him.”

  “Don't lose hope so quickly. There are other pressing matters.”

  “What is more pressing than this?”

  “There is another ship and it's coming in hot. Look at the other image.”

  Gladosanthos looked over to see a smaller than average Li ship emerge and drop into orbit near the moon base. “I don't recognize that configuration.”

  “Neither do I.”

  They watched as another smaller craft left the base and flew straight to the new ship. It attached itself to the larger ship's hull and they then continued to join the two ships that were locked in orbit directly above Washington D.C. She zoomed in just as every ship in orbit shed itself of the smaller craft. Hundreds of vessels of various configurations began their long slow descent into the upper atmosphere.

  * * *

  Deon had just hung up the phone from his short conversation with Taylor when the orb appeared. Frank was still laying motionless in the floor of the Senator's office.

  “It's beginning. They are on their way. Four ships unloading over New York City. Another three over Washington D.C. The other seven are hanging back. I think they will be a second wave.”

  “What about Frank?” he asked. This was more than he was accustomed to dealing with.

  “You must warn the people of Earth, Deon.”

  “Yeah, okay.” He pulled his phone back out and called Taylor back. As he was relaying the message, they watched as Frank rolled over onto his back. Gladosanthos parked her orb so she could switch back to the one in the office.

  “How is he still alive?” Denise asked incredulously.

  Bett became stoic. “He carries the Curse of the Sessik. I believe it will take a lot more than that to kill him.”

  They watched as Frank reached up and pulled the letter opener out of his neck. Blood began to flow heavily and spurt across the room. But within a few moments the bleeding seemed to stop. Holding up one finger as if to say, “Give me a minute,” he opened his eyes and searched around until he spotted the orb. He then sat up, holding his throat. He appeared to try to be speaking but Gladosanthos had muted the audio.

  * * *

  “Frank. Oh my Frank. I was afraid you were dying. They are coming, Frank. We should just run far away and try to forget about this place.”

  Air raid sirens were starting to go off and Frank attempted to speak. After a few more minutes his larynx was fully healed and he rose to his feet. “Is the audio muted?”

  “Yes. Are you angry?”

  �
��Yes, but not at you. I want to say, first, that I appreciate the sentiment. I have grown quite fond of you, and I would freak the fuck out if you were put into this kind of danger. But I signed on for this. I can't bail on them now when they need me the most. Now when this is all over, we can discuss running off together.”

  “I am sorry, Frank. I don't want you to think I was doubting your resolve.” She watched as Frank walked to the table where Spears kept his scotch.

  “It would be arrogant to even worry about stuff like that.” He picked up a small, empty vial that was laying on its side, next to the bottle of scotch. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled lightly. “I'm pretty sure this was cyanide. A good healthy dose. Or unhealthy, anyway. Are they watching back at the tiki bar?”

  “Yes, Frank.”

  He raised the bottle of scotch, pulled off the lid. Looking directly at the orb, and thereby staring into the camera of the live feed, he raised the bottle and drank deeply as if he was drinking a toast to his continued survival.

  “Is this a good time for that?” Gladosanthos asked.

  “Gladys, my dear, I am a simple man. And there is always time to stop and smell the roses. How much time do we have?”

  “About ten minutes.”

  “Well, fuck those roses!” He took another deep drink then tossed the bottle over his shoulder and made his way out the door. They went back down the way they came and stopped off at security to ask if they had seen the Senator come out.

  “Sir, are you okay?” the guard asked, instead of answering the question. Frank looked down to see that his favorite hoodie was once again covered in blood.

  “Yes, I'm fine. Senator Spears poisoned me and stabbed me in the neck with a letter opener. So have you seen him?”

  “Uh, no sir!”

  “He may have gone out the tunnel,” the second guard added.