by Saxon Andrew
Elle thought for a moment, “You mean you expand to the size of the universe to move around it?”
“For a unit of time that is too small to measure, I do exactly that and return to my normal size when I arrive at a designated location.”
“Is the universe infinite?”
“For all intents and purposes, it is.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“My builders also didn’t have an answer to that question either. Let’s say you wanted to move from your chair to the far wall. One way of doing that is for your body to fill all the space in the room and return to your normal size at the wall. Now during the unit of time that happens, you would have no way of measuring just how large you became to make the move because it would happen faster than any instrument could measure.”
“I think I understand at one level. It’s getting my mind wrapped around infinity where I lose it.”
“No intelligence is capable of grasping infinity.”
“Are you being condescending?”
“Think about it; you get a picture in your mind of what infinity looks like and then you add another galaxy to it. Then another, and another.”
“Until you have another infinity reaching out ahead of you.”
“By its very definition, infinity has no limits. Intelligent beings live by using limits to understand what’s around them. Almost everything an intelligent species does is understood by its limitations. They measure things constantly and assign values to it. In your species case; a mile, ten miles, a light year, a billion light years and so on. Infinity has no limits.”
Elle looked up, “How do you deal with the concept?”
“I ignore it. It has no effect on me in the time I exist.”
“How did the Neman find my planet?”
“When a nuclear device is detonated, at the core of the explosion, a few particles will expand briefly to the size of the universe before they degenerate. Our sensors can detect that and locate where it happened.”
“So they knew we had nuclear bombs before one was dropped on Hiroshima.”
“Most intelligent species discover nuclear energy during their early developmental period. Those species are watched to see if they use nuclear energy as a weapon. If they do use one to kill, they are placed on the watch list and given fifty of your years to turn away from using them as weapons of war.”
“We only used it once.”
“Not really.”
“Well, we did drop two in our last world war, but have refrained from using them again.”
“I believe if you look back no further than three weeks ago, you launched two nuclear weapons at Q ships above your planet. Does that look like your species has turned from using them as weapons? What does that say about their use if your species attains faster than light technology and encounter another species they view as a danger?”
Elle sighed, “That doesn’t paint a very good picture of who we are.”
“I’m not an artist; I’m a photographer. I don’t paint a picture; I show what is there.”
“What are you saying?”
“You now control me. I believe I now have the capability to remove any danger to your species and they will have FTL technology if you take me back to be studied by your scientists. Do you think they will go out and embrace other civilizations in peace?”
Jess said, “We will never allow that to happen, Pete.” Jess sat up in his chair and looked at Elle. “I’ve thought about this and he’s right. We cannot allow humans to have this technology.”
“Are you saying they’re right to destroy Earth?”
“I’m not going that far. However, would you want a government controlled by the military to come to your home questioning your loyalty to them?”
“Jess, humans have fought each other since the time they started walking erect. Aggression is part of our DNA.”
“Would you want tigers to be armed with machine guns and taught how to use them?”
“That’s stretching it, Jess.”
“No it’s not. If we’re inherently dangerous to all we contact, we have to be quarantined until we change our survival instincts. Aggression is a survival trait we learned by evolving on a dangerous planet. We have to unlearn that part of us and find a different set of survival behaviors.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“You may be right, Elle. But consider this; if an aggressive alien civilization targets Earth for conquest and will either enslave our populations or use us as a food source, would you want them stopped at all costs?” Elle just stared at Jess. Jess continued, “I’d blast them out of existence if I could. However, I’m beginning to think the right path might be to eliminate their ability to endanger anyone else until they’ve changed their behavior.”
Elle stared at Jess and heard Pete say, “I will share whatever I see.”
Elle said, “What?”
“I see you are developing wisdom. I hope you can find a means of resolving the current issues confronting you.”
Jess looked at Elle, “Do you see it, Elle?”
Elle looked into Jess’ eyes and saw his concern. She stared at him and after a moment, nodded.
• • •
“Mike, you can’t be serious.”
“Janet, have I ever been dishonest with you?”
“No, but this is beyond reality.”
“Did you see the news report on the Colonel that committed suicide?” Janet nodded. “His daughter was killed by a group of five men who came to kill Tilly and me in the hospital. They killed everyone on the floor where she was being treated. The Colonel’s daughter was one of those they shot in the head. He didn’t know she was at the hospital when the attack took place.”
Janet stared at Mike and took a deep breath, “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m going to be in a tough place shortly and I need you to contact Tilly each day and make sure she’s ok.”
“Where is she?”
“Hiding in the desert outside Phoenix.”
“What can I do if something happens?”
“I’m giving you a telephone number. I want you to call it and give whoever answers Tilly’s phone number. They will have to respond to her.”
“You haven’t given them the number already?”
“I’m not going to take a risk unless I am absolutely forced to do it.”
“Will you let me know if you’re successful in whatever it is you’re doing?”
“You’ll know.”
Janet nodded slowly and said, “Give me the number.” Mike gave her the two telephone numbers and Janet said, “You came here for another reason you haven’t told me.”
Mike smiled, “You’ve always been able to read me like a book.”
“What is it?”
“I’m expecting a call and don’t want to be interrupted.”
“Who’s calling?”
“The young man who hijacked a star ship.”
“Now that should be an interesting call.”
“You can listen in and I want you to send a copy of it to that phone number I gave you.”
“Won’t that place me in danger?”
“Come on, Janet.”
Janet sighed, “I’ll take precautions.”
“That’s really why I’m here. You’re the only one I know that could stay hidden.”
“You found me.”
“If you didn’t love that old Studebaker Pickup, I never would have. By the way, where is it?”
Janet smiled, “In the barn to keep it from prying eyes.”
“The eyes are blind now.”
“You never know.” Mike smiled.
• • •
The next morning Mike and Janet sat at the dining room table with Mike’s cell phone in the center. A recorder was next to a speaker and Mike hoped Jess would make the call. “What time is this supposed to happen?”
“Nine o’clock mountain time.”
Janet looked at her watch
, “Eleven?” Mike nodded. The clock on the wall hit eleven and nothing happened. Mike leaned back in his chair and sighed. “My clock is set five minutes fast.”
“Why would you do that?”
“To make sure I’m on time.”
“But you know its five minutes fast; how can that help you?”
“It just does; ok.”
“If you say so.”
The clock hit five after eleven and the cell phone rang. Mike reached forward and pressed connect and then pressed speaker. He pushed the recorder and said, “Hello.”
“I was wondering if you would be there.”
“Wouldn’t miss it; how are you?”
“Elle and I are learning everything we can about this ship. How about you?”
“I’m entangled in a morass of the Military wanting to overthrow the government and take power.”
“You can’t let that happen.”
“Why not?”
“Earth will be destroyed if it continues on its present path. The planet is going to have to disarm and learn to live in peace. I don’t know if the aliens are going to keep putting off the destruction if Earth becomes an even bigger danger.”
“Jess, I need some proof that what you’re saying is accurate.” The cell phone beeped twice and Mike heard, “I’ve just sent you two images in a text message. One is of a planet that was destroyed for its warlike behaviors. The second image is what it looked like after the destruction. Tell whoever will listen that is what is going to happen to Earth if something isn’t done.”
“I could use some help.”
“If I tried to intervene, this ship would be placed in jeopardy. It’s the only thing preventing the planet’s destruction, I can’t risk it.”
“I understand.”
“Use this information. I’ll contact you in two weeks; we need to disappear right now.”
The call ended and Mike pulled up the text message. Janet moved and looked over his shoulder, “That isn’t Earth.”
“No; but it looks a lot like it. The continents are all different.” Janet nodded and Mike pulled up the second image. Janet fell into a chair beside Mike, “Oh My God!”
Mike stared at the image and played the recording. He captured it in his cellphone and sent the recording and the two images as an attachment to the President’s phone number. He activated the short wave phone and heard a beep. He pressed a four digit code and a voice said, “The boys will be dropping Friday at nine pm.”
“I have to go.”
“Will you stay in touch?”
“As much as I can. Check on Tilly.”
“I will.”
Mike ran out to the small helicopter and started the rotor turning. He looked at the satellite photos around Fort Gordon and saw a place in a forest where he could land. He waited until the engine was at operating temperature and lifted until he was just above the trees. He waved to Janet and disappeared.
Janet packed a bag and put her forty five caliber pistol in the cab of the Studebaker. She backed out of the barn and pulled out of the driveway. She drove down highway 80 to I-475 and turned north. Atlanta was an hour and a half away. She knew Mike’s cell phone had to be traceable. She reached behind the seat of the old truck and pulled out a blonde wig. She put it on and then put a cowboy hat on over it. She put on a big pair of sunglasses and saw three black SUV’s come roaring down the south bound exit ramp at Zebulon Road. She sighed and hoped they didn’t burn her house. She put the worry aside. The eight million dollars she had taken from a drug lord would pay for any future residence. She smiled and turned on the AM radio and found a country music station. She hated to leave Lizella; it was such a laid back community.
She arrived in Atlanta and rented a storage space and paid six months in advance. She backed the Studebaker into it and closed the door. She put a lock on it and asked the proprietor to call her a cab. She rode down to Peachtree Center in the heart of Atlanta and went to an internet café. She reserved an airline ticket on Southwest for that afternoon. She boarded the Marta train and arrived at the airport with an hour to spare. She used one of her four sets of identities to board the plane and sat beside a nurse who talked the entire trip. She really didn’t mind; it was good to hear another’s voice after her self-imposed isolation. She landed, claimed her bag, and took a cab to downtown. It was the third gun store before she found what she needed. She looked at her list and left for Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy some hunting clothes. Her green splotched fatigues wouldn’t work in the desert. She loaded her purchases into the cab that was waiting for her and called Tilly.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Tilly, I’m a friend of Mike’s and he’s asked me to look out for you.”
“How do I know you’re being honest?”
“I’m the one who disappeared from his team.”
“Why did you disappear?”
“Seems it had something to do with drugs.”
“What do you want?”
“I need to know where I should go to meet you.”
Tilly thought for a moment and then started giving Janet instructions. Janet wrote them down and said, “Thanks; I’ll be there soon.”
“You can’t bring a vehicle.”
“I won’t.” Janet pressed end and said, “I have one more stop and then you can take me where I need to go.” The taxi driver nodded and wondered what this crazy woman was up to. The cab pulled off and arrived at a grocery store. Janet brought three large bags out and put them in the trunk. The cab pulled out and headed east.
• • •
Janet stopped the taxi at the two large boulders and had the driver turn the car around on the left side of the road. She went to the trunk and the driver began unloading her purchases. Janet pulled out the collapsible three wheel cart and unfolded it. It had barely fit in the trunk, but she had selected a Ford Crown Victoria taxi. The cart expanded and she began loading the bags into it. The taxi driver helped her and she tipped him a hundred dollars. “Lady, this isn’t a good place.”
Janet looked at the sun and said, “My partner will be here in about another hour. I’m here a little early so I should be fine.”
“If you say so.”
“Listen, Jose. We’re out here looking for artifacts and I don’t want anyone to know I’m here; comprende?”
“Si.”
“Good.”
She handed him another hundred and Jose said, “I’m off the clock anyway. I’ll keep this to myself.”
“You’re a good man. Thanks for your patience.”
“No problem.” Jose got in the cab and pulled off. He saw Janet sit down on the cart and use an expandable fan to cool her face. He went around the curve and Janet jumped up and grabbed the cart’s handle. The trail into the desert had been packed down by all the vehicles that went in to investigate the landing site and it was easier going than she thought.
The cart’s wheels were wide and designed to be used in the desert. The sun was on the horizon when she arrived at the top of the long rise from the road and she took a piece of paper out of her pocket. She read it and looked to the left. She saw the mountain several miles away and started toward it. It was getting dark when she heard, “That’s far enough.” Janet froze and said, “Tilly, I know Mike didn’t call you to tell you I was coming. Matter of fact, he didn’t know I was coming.”
“Then why are you here?”
“He asked me to watch out for you and make sure you’re safe. He gave me a telephone number to call if you ran into trouble but he knew I would have to come here to make sure you were alright.”
“What was the number?” Janet pulled a penlight out of her pocket and called out the number. Tilly stood up from behind a rock and said, “I can use the company.”
Janet saw the rifle in her hands and whistled, “Wow! Mike told me you had one of these and I really didn’t believe him.”
“What?”
“That rifle is supposedly a top secret.”
“Mike took it from a snip
er trying to get a shot off at him.”
“That is a government rifle, Tilly. It violates the Geneva Conventions about ammunition and would cause a firestorm at the United Nations if anyone knew about its existence.”
“What makes it illegal?”
“All sniper ammunition must be the same caliber as those used by a country’s standard military rifles. That one uses a more powerful round and has nearly twice the range of the 7.62 rounds of most U.S. sniper rifles.”
“I think there’s another one here.”
“I’d be surprised if there wasn’t. Mike made a point of telling me the ammunition it uses. I think he was suggesting I pick up some additional rounds. I’ve gotta tell ya, finding that round wasn’t easy.”
Tilly looked at Janet, “Why do you say Mike was suggesting you pick up additional rounds?”
“Mike thinks ten steps ahead of everyone else. Either he was planning to use it or he knew I would come to ensure your safety. He couldn’t bring himself to ask me to do this; but I know he hoped I would. By the way, that silencer/muzzle suppressor on the end is also a military secret. Most silencers can be heard from a hundred yards. The distance goes down to fifty yards in a city with urban noise, but most people don’t understand that silencers aren’t silent. That one can’t be heard unless you’re less than thirty yards away. You’ve got some expensive hardware here.”
“Whoever stocked the helicopter had an identical case to the one this gun came out of put in with the food. What did you bring?”
“I brought some things I hope we don’t have to use. Tilly shined a flashlight into the grocery bags and said, “What’s this; three bags of beef jerky.”
“I confess I have a weakness.”
Tilly laughed, “This proves to me you are who you say you are.”
“How’s that?”
“No one in their right mind would lug this much beef jerky up that hill unless they intended to be here a while.”
Janet smiled, “Let’s get our things undercover.”
Tilly saw a large, white, rolled up mat, “What’s this large mat?”
“They use it in Florida to stop large objects blown by hurricane winds.”
“Why do we need it here?”
“We probably don’t. It’s just Mike said two Air Force Eagles tried to take him out. I like to be prepared.”