by M. L. WILSON
CHAPTER 74
AFTER ALL THAT’S happened today, nothing can surprise Bishop. Christine told them of an FBI agent’s involvement, and he wonders just how deep this conspiracy goes. He knows the Promelian is Agent Breer. That’s the only FBI agent he’s been in contact with, which presents another problem. Captain Danvers sent him to see Breer. Does Danvers know Breer’s an alien? Worse, is Danvers one himself?
All signs point to Danvers being the traitor.
It’s one thing to betray those you are sworn to protect. It’s something entirely different to betray the entire human race.
“FBI agent,” Bishop says. “What’s the agent’s name?”
“Special Agent Benjamin Breer.”
Bishop just shakes his head and smiles a what else can go wrong kind of smile. “Thought so,” he says with frustration. Christine and Saunders are both confused.
“Do you know him, Ken?” Saunders asks.
“Yeah,” Justice answers. “We met with him to see if the bureau could shed a little light on the situation. Captain Danvers gave us his name and told us he might be able to help.”
“Danvers?” Saunders asks with surprise. “You mean your captain is the one who is setting us up?”
“We don’t know that for sure,” Justice says.
“BULL!” Bishop says angrily. “He sold us out, and so did you. You knew what Phipps was all along, but you didn’t say anything.”
“I told you, I couldn’t.”
“We’ve been through this already, Detective,” Christine says as she steps between Bishop and Justice.
“So, this FBI agent...Agent Breer. He’s a Promelian?” Saunders asks.
“Yes. Sources tell us he is high up in the Promelian ranks. He will be able to tell us where the Promelians are.”
“Okay. Let’s go get him and make him talk.” Saunders says excitedly. Bishop just shakes his head at Saunders suggestion. “Simple as that, eh, Doc?”
“Bishop is right, Doctor,” Justice says. “Promelians are physically and intellectually superior to humans.”
“Okay, so they’re stronger and smarter. What about you?” Saunders asks Justice and Christine, suggesting they can help even the odds against them. “You can handle them one on one, can’t you?”
“You don’t understand, Doctor. They are engineered killers, programmed for violence. We are not that way.”
“Well, that’s damn convenient, isn’t it?” Bishop says angrily. “You come to our planet, dump your problems on us, and now you’re saying you can’t help?”
“Detective, please. We—”
“To hell with that, Christine. They followed your people here. They never even knew we existed, and now, because of you, they’re going to make the human race extinct. And you can’t do anything about it?”
“We’re not a violent race, Detective. We’re no match for them.”
“I’m with you, partner,” Justice says. He may not be human, but he has learned human ways and beliefs. As a cop, there is one belief that he embraces wholeheartedly: loyalty.
“Is that a fact?” Bishop says sarcastically.
“Yeah, I’m with you.”
“Well, there’s nothing anyone can do right now,” Christine says. “Why don’t you try and get some sleep? We’ll figure things out tomorrow. And don’t worry. You’re safe here with us.”
CHAPTER 75
Get some sleep.
THAT’S FAR EASIER said than done. Bishop lies on the bed and stares at the ceiling, trying to digest all that’s happened. He keeps his weapon at his side, just in case. He appreciates his hosts’ hospitality, but considering the fact that they aren’t even human, a little prudence seems to be in order.
Saunders, on the other hand, sits anxiously on the edge of the bed, thinking about how mankind’s history will be rewritten. She always wondered if aliens had ever been to Earth. Now she knows, they’ve always been here.
“Aliens,” Saunders says in disbelief. “Real life, living, breathing, actual aliens from another planet.”
“Yeah,” Bishop says.
“Hey, you all right?” Saunders asks as she notices Bishop’s concern.
“Hell no, Doc!’ Bishop says as he sits up on the edge of the bed. “I saw something tonight that I didn’t think was possible. My so-called partner isn’t who he says he is, and now, we’re in the middle of the greatest conspiracy the world has ever known. No, Doc, I’m far from being all right!”
Bishop starts pacing the floor, hoping a way of reconciling everything will miraculously come to him. Saunders understands his concern, but decides to ease the tension by changing the subject.
“I’m worried about my kitten.”
“What?” Bishop asks.
“My kitten. I found him in the alley where Phipps was killed, so I took him home.”
“A kitten?”
“Yeah. I haven’t given him a name yet, though.”
“After all that’s happened, you’re worried about a damn cat?” Bishop angrily asks.
“That damn cat, as you so eloquently put it, is the only thing in this world I have to care for,” Saunders says. “I don’t have a husband who’s worried sick about me. Don’t have kids that are wondering when mommy’s coming home.”
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Forget about it,” Saunders realizes that everything she wants, Bishop has already had and lost.
“Kinda...selfish of me, anyway.”
“Whaddaya you say we take Christine’s advice and get some sleep?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Saunders kicks off her shoes and stretches across the bed. “By the way, where’s your partner?”
“Probably bonding with his people.”
“You’re still not sure if he’s with us, are you?”
“I don’t know. I wish I did.” Bishop lays down and puts his gun on the nightstand. He knows Saunders is feeling a little guilty right now, so he decides to try to lighten the mood.
“By the way, what’s your cat’s name?”
“Excuse me?” Saunders says with surprise.
“Your cat. What’s his name?”
Saunders smiles. “Actually, I haven’t given him a name yet. Any suggestions?”
“Sorry, I’m fresh out of animal names. But whatever you do, don’t call him Mr. Whiskers. I hate that name.”
Saunders laughs because Mr. Whiskers is on the top of her list of names. At least it was.
“Oh, so you do have a soft side,” Saunders says. “Tell you what, after we get done saving the world, we can brainstorm some good cat names. Deal?”
“Deal.” Bishop smiles. “Good night, Laura.”
“Good night, Ken.”
CHAPTER 76
LIKE MILLIONS OF Cereleans living on Earth, Justice only knows what it’s like to live the life of a human. Rarely is he ever in the company of other Cereleans. There are other Cereleans on the police force, but most of his time is spent socializing with his fellow officers that are human. That choice is based on his preference.
Christine knows what it’s like to live as a human as well but has made an effort not to lose touch with her heritage. She has had to deal with other Cereleans who don’t care for the notion of returning to Cerelea and rebuilding their home world.
“I’m sorry your partner had to learn who you are this way,” Christine sympathetically says to Justice.
“Yeah, me too. What do you think our chances are?” Justice asks. Christine doesn’t immediately answer. That delay in answering is all Justice needs to come to a conclusion.
“We must keep fighting, no matter the cost,” Christine says, sensing Justice’s discouragement.
“What’s the point in all of this?” Justice asks. “The Promelians will never stop hunting us. We’re so divided as a people, most of us don’t even know about our history. Most don’t even care.”
“And you?”
“I...I don’t know,” Justice says as he lays back in his chair and stares at the ceiling.
“We must not forget who we are, Detective.”
“Who we are?” Justice says with frustration. “Alan Justice. That’s who I am. It’s the name I was given when I was born. A human name, not Cerelean. It’s the only name I know. How can I been expected to embrace a world that I know nothing about? Earth is all I know. It’s all any of us knows.”
Christine has to consider that what Justice is saying is how most Cereleans feel. She is a leader among her people and is expected to express confidence in their future. The truth is, she’s had doubts herself. Cerelea is occupied by the Promelians. The only way to get their planet back is to take it by force. But, how can they take back their home when they couldn’t even defend it?
“Our people are being hunted, Detective. The way I see it, we have two options. Fight, or die. Which one do you choose, Alan?” Christine gets up and walks away, leaving Justice to think about what Christine has said.
Maybe she has a point, Justice says to himself.
Maybe.
PART IV
THE STUFF THAT HERO’S
ARE MADE OF
CHAPTER 77
CAPTAIN DANVERS SPEEDS down the dirt road leading to the cabin that Bishop and Saunders thought would be their safe haven for a while. Kicking up a cloud of dust behind him, he brings his car to a screeching halt in front of the cabin.
No time for a subtle approach. Lives are at stake, namely his.
His precipitous arrival does not go unnoticed, though, as three Cereleans armed with automatic weapons exit the wooded areas surrounding the cabin. Danvers expected this. Considering the circumstances, he knew they wouldn’t roll out the red carpet for him.
The Cereleans surround his car and shout orders for him get out of the car with his hands up. Danvers spent nearly thirty years of his career shouting those same orders. He never thought he would be on the receiving end with weapons trained on him.
Danvers exits with his hands up as instructed. This is actually the easy part. The hard part is telling Bishop that he was the one who told the agents where they were hiding.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” Danvers says. “I’m here to warn Detective Bishop that his life is in danger.”
Bishop and Justice hear the shouting and come out with weapons drawn, with Saunders and Christine following closely behind them.
“Ken, I’m here to warn you. They’re coming.”
“You led them to us?” Saunders says.
Bishop doesn’t say a word. With anger in his eyes, he slowly walks off the porch, grabs Captain Danvers by the throat and puts his gun to his temple.
“You set us up, you son of a bitch,” Bishop says as he pushes Captain Danvers up against the car. The temptation to pull the trigger is nearly overwhelming.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Danvers embarrassingly confesses. “They had me over a barrel. I didn’t have a choice.”
Saunders storms off the porch and angrily grabs Danvers by the shirt. “What the hell do you mean you didn’t have a choice? You nearly got us killed!” Bishops pulls Saunders away. Fortunately for Danvers, she’s not the one with the gun.
“I’m sorry. Forgive me. I didn’t have a choice,” Danvers begs.
“What the hell does that mean, didn’t have a choice?” Bishop yells angrily.
“There’s no time to explain. They’re coming. We have to go.”
Christine gestures for her aides to come inside and prepare to depart.
“How could you?” Saunders asks with tears in her eyes. Danvers doesn’t answer. There is no answer, actually.
“Doctor. Detective. We must hurry,” Christine says. Bishop can barely hear Christine’s words. He’s too angry. He resists the temptation to have his revenge.
CHAPTER 78
AS BISHOP CONSIDERS dispensing his own brand of justice, he hears a faint noise in the air behind him. The sound is still several hundred yards away, but closing fast. With every passing second, the sound gets a little louder.
“Everybody be quiet!” Bishop orders. Everyone complies, but aren’t sure why until they see Bishop looking around as if searching for something. He’s looking for the direction the familiar sound is coming from.
“Listen,” Bishop says. “You hear that?”
“Yeah. Sounds like a helicopter,” says Justice.
“Plural,” Bishop says.
Before he can utter another word, Bishop notices a cloud of dust coming up the dirt road leading to the cabin. After a couple of seconds, he sees what’s causing the dust cloud.
“Shit! We got company,” Bishop says angrily as all heads turn in the direction of the dirt road. Five black Hummers speeding in their direction, and they don’t appear to be friendly. Bishop presses his gun harder against Danvers’ head.
“YOU BASTARD! YOU LEAD THEM RIGHT TO US!”
“I didn’t. I swear.”
“Ken, we have to go,” Saunders says desperately. Bishop realizes killing Danvers won’t solve their problem, so he pushes Danvers toward the cabin.
“Justice, get everybody inside.”
Bishop is the last to enter the house. He’s a cop. No matter what, his job is to protect and serve. Before he gets in the cabin, he looks back and sees two UH-60 Blackhawks code named Vikings 1 and 2 armed with M134 Miniguns. Bishop knows this tactic all too well; the Blackhawks are the vanguard of the assault. They’re about to be fired upon.
“EVERYBODY GET DOWN!” Bishop yells.
Seconds later, the Blackhawks open fire on the once-pristine cabin. Shards of glass and wood splinters fly through the air as hundreds of 7.62mm rounds riddle the cabin.
Two of Christine’s aides didn’t comply with Bishop’s order fast enough and are torn to shreds by flying lead. Each is dead before they hit the floor; their black blood splatters on the floor next to Saunders.
“OH MY GOD!” Saunders says as she covers her head as if doing so will stop a bullet.
“WE NEED A WAY OUT OF HERE!” Bishop yells to Justice.
“The basement,” says Christine. “There’s an escape tunnel.”
As suddenly as the shooting started, it stopped. Another tactic Bishop is familiar with.
“The agents are gonna come in shooting any second to make sure we’re all dead. Everybody get down to the basement. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”
“We will hold them off, partner,” Justice says, which brings a slight smile to Bishop’s face. No doubt about Justice’s loyalty anymore. As the others make their way to the basement, Captain Danvers gives Bishop and Justice what would be his final order to them.
“Both of you get your asses down to the basement. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”
Bishop and Justice are both surprised and suspicious about the captain’s offer to risk himself. If he sold them out, why would he risk his life?
“Don’t just lay there with your mouths hanging open, I gave you an order,” Danvers says.
Bishop is still unsure, but his time is short. The agents will be in any second. Captain Danvers takes his .38 Smith & Wesson from his holster and checks to make sure it’s fully loaded.
“Ken, let me make this right,” Danvers says with sincerity. “Do what you can to shed some light on what’s going on. Now please, get down to the basement. Protect the others.”
Bishop and Justice do as they are told.
Captain Danvers pulls himself up from the floor and points his weapon at what is left of the front door. As he stands, he feels a sharp pain in his left thigh. He reaches down and grabs the area and feels the warm flow of blood streaming down his leg. A through and through. He had no idea he was hit. No time to think about that now.
He hears the footfalls of the agents on the porch.
Any second now.
CHAPTER 79
A .38 REVOLVER. An old-school gun for an old-school cop. The problem is, a .38 versus several MK18s, he has no chance of winning. Outgunned is very much an understatement. With his injured leg, he has no chance of running
to escape, either. Truth is, he has no intention of running, anyway. It’s time to take a stand and face his demons. Time to set things right.
“Come on you sons of bitches,” Danvers says as he takes aim. Suddenly, what’s left of the front door is kicked in by one of the agents. Two other agents come through the window. Danvers opens fire on them, hitting two of the agents coming through the window. Flesh wounds. They keep coming.
Danvers is able to get off four rounds before he is cut down by a hail of bullets. The force of the rounds knocks him to the floor as his weapon falls out of his hand. In his nearly-thirty-year career as a cop, he’s never been shot. An old-fashioned street cop who doesn’t give up. Even now, close to death, Danvers struggles to get to his gun and keep fighting. Surprisingly, he was only hit twice in the torso. Most of the rounds hit him in the legs and shoulders.
He can’t feel his legs, and his lungs are filling up with blood, making it difficult to breathe. It won’t be long now. As Danvers continues to struggle to get his weapon, he sees one of the agents standing over him with his weapon pointed at his head. A large, imposing figure, the agent is dressed in the usual all-black assault gear. He has his face covered with a ski mask, but Danvers can see those blood-red eyes glaring at him.
“Where are they?” the agent asks in a scruffy, muffled voice.
“Go…to hell,” Danvers answers as he coughs up blood.
“You first, human.” The agent points his weapon at Danvers’ head, but is interrupted before he can pull the trigger.
“Wait,” says a voice that Danvers is familiar with. Danvers hears the footfalls getting closer to him. The footfalls stop as he sees a blurry figure standing over him. The gentleman takes a knee next to him and looks over his bullet-riddled body. Then he looks Danvers in the eye. Danvers knows him. The one that came to his office, the Promelian leader.
“You humans are a stubborn race. I admire that about you. All you had to do, Captain, was call off your detective. Now look at you.”