Incoming

by Mel Todd

  McKenna didn't know how to feel about that, but getting upset when it had probably just saved her life, seemed more than a bit stupid.

  ~Okay. JD, Toni, anything on the news we need to know about?~

  ~The news no, but social media is going crazy. Apparently someone had something out there filming, drone or something. They caught the takedown of the Elentrin, and people are freaking out. Butchers, animals, villains, all things being used. There is also one of you, though, that's where the controversy is, did he start to attack first? But with the Elentrin running, people are saying we attacked without provocation.~ Toni rattled all this off with a distracted attitude, and McKenna suspected she sat there going through social media watching all of this meltdown.

  ~So people aren't sure if I'm a villain or a good guy? Didn't they see what's happening in Shanghai?~ She tried to keep the exasperation out of her tone, but from the laughter from Perc and JD she figured it had still slipped through.

  ~I don't think most people know. All they see is happy people bringing things to the Elentrin there. And even the few things that have slipped out about the children have been pulled from the net. And then there is her beauty. She already has websites worshiping her, and requests for passage to Shanghai have spiked, even with all the airports closed.~

  ~Wow, you're good at this.~ Perc said.

  ~You learn to pay attention and see problems coming working the 911 center. Usually means we can get help moving that way before people call.~

  Toni proceeded to fill them in on what was going on the rest of the drive in. Bottom line, the public didn't know for sure who were the bad guys, but right now they leaned towards the government.

  ~After all, who doesn't want to believe in friendly aliens that are beautiful, here to solve all our problems?~ Cass's comment set the tone as the vehicle pulled into a dark parking garage.

  Chapter 36 - Interrogations

  The ever-treacherous politically correct speech has a new minefield. With the shifters becoming a focus, how do you refer to people who aren't shifters to differentiate? Normals? But that implies shifters are abnormal. Non-shifters sounds stupid as most people can't shift. But if there is a difference, like what is coming out more and more with this alien threat, as they are only after shifters, what do we do? Are shifters even human anymore? Is that the answer, shifters and humans? What does that infer about the survival of our species? Will future generations merge? While the aliens approaching are a concern, what are the long-term ramifications of what is being discovered about the aliens living among us? ~ TNN Social Scientist

  After the confusing whirl of dealing with prisoners - because that is what they were, pinging everyone, checking to make sure they were okay, and then setting up the lines of communication, McKenna found herself in a cell looking at the unconscious Elentrin - Scilita.

  "And you want me to do what again?" she asked, trusting the earpiece to pick up even as she looked at the female strapped to a bed, hooked up to various machines, and snoring softly. She looked adorable. That was the scariest thing of all. After seeing the video from Shanghai, some people were getting pictures out via unofficial methods and the reality was chilling, nothing that evil should look that harmless and adorable.

  "We need you to ask her questions. We don't know yet what the ramifications of Istanbul will be. Shanghai is a train wreck and unless the UN authorizes other countries to step in, we have to respect their official isolationist stance. All of which means we need information from that creature." Doug's voice sounded exhausted, and she knew he wasn't even in the city anymore. All high-ranking officials had been sent away to secure locations and nose filters were quickly becoming mandatory among politicians.

  ~And a few CEOs of major corps. The news is all over it, how they've been seen wearing masks over their faces. Anyone involved in the military or infrastructure is taking this threat very seriously.~ Toni dropped that bit of information in her mind and McKenna nodded.

  "Okay, I get all that. I even understand why me. But what then."

  "I don't know. Depends on what we find out. But we're already seeing ships heading for Istanbul, so I suspect we'll know soon how they're going to respond to those attacks. Gods, talk about examples of the two extremes. Total capitulation and total revolt. I hope Istanbul is well-armed."

  McKenna just bit her lip, arms crossed over her chest. She remained in warrior form as changing back didn't seem worth it. Besides, it might make this invader think she could be turned into an ally. Maybe.

  "Okay. But you'll have to tell me what to ask."

  "Understood. We've got an expert interrogator coming in to help. So do what you can." His voice cut off, and McKenna figured he'd hung up. She turned to one of the agents; she didn't even know their names anymore, they switched out so much, though they were all competent and serious.

  "Any chance of food? I should recharge and all this waiting is hard on the nerves."

  "Yes. We have some sandwiches coming in. Should be here in twenty."

  "Thanks." She turned back to the window, the snoring proving the Elentrin hadn't woken up. ~We were lucky. That could have been much worse.~

  ~It still might. We don't know anything about them, and Wefor doesn't have that information. So we have no way of knowing what's the truth or a lie. And we still don't know what the consequences will be for both of the other cities. How in the world do we fight a war where we can't get to the enemy?~ JD's voice didn't hold panic, but thoughtfulness, and she knew he sat there, a spinner in his hand as he mulled over the problem.

  ~I have no idea, but I don't know we're the ones to figure it out. I don't know what our capabilities are. Can we shoot them down? How do we get back the people already taken? The more I think about it, the more I want to run away and hide. I don't know how to save our world.~ McKenna felt her face tighten, and she wished she could cry, it might make all this easier to deal with. The simple life of being a cop seemed like a dream now, and part of her knew she'd never get it back.

  ~Kenna,~ four voices filled the mindspace, and she turned to stare at the wall trying to block out the caring and worry in their voices.

  ~Mom?~ Charley's voice cut through everything else.

  ~Yeah,~ she was perversely glad a tight throat didn't carry through in the mental voice.

  ~You're my hero. I want to be as brave as you when I grow up.~ His simple words almost undid her, her body pulled in tight, aching with the desire to hug him.

  "Here's your food." The voice pulled her out of the mindspace, and she sniffed as she turned to face the agent. The scent of meat and salsa wafted from the bag he held out to her.

  "Thanks." She took the bag and headed over to a small table to eat. He gave her a funny look but didn't say anything as he went back to working on a computer.

  Toni fed her more information about the situation in China. Ships hadn't landed in Istanbul yet, so all they had were people filling social media with useless information that helped no one. McKenna talked to Nam and Charley and heard all about their day, the games and drills they'd been running to make sure they could get to the safe places. In the back of her mind, all she could do was hope they never needed it.

  "McKenna?" The voice in her earpiece startled her. Which made no sense as she had people talking in her head all the time. But it did, nonetheless. It was Doug, which meant her time to relax was over.

  "Yes?"

  "We have the interrogator nearby, and the Elentrin is waking up." His voice held an odd note to it, but McKenna just nodded, shoving the last bite of a burrito into her mouth. "We'd like you there so you're the first person she sees."

  "Okay." McKenna drained the bottle of water the helpful agent had provided and walked towards the room. The agent unlocked the door, an old-fashioned lock, heavy with no electronics, and let her in. The clang of it shutting behind her and the subsequent turn of the lock caused chills to run up her spine. McKenna moved her focus back to the bed the woman lay on. It looked like a heavy-duty hospital bed an
d restraints were located at her ankles and wrists. It was tilted to allow her to be sitting. Leads and other things were attached, and while she knew a few vials of blood had been drawn and were being treated like level five contaminates, she didn't have anything in her. Everything else was passive recordings.

  The snoring had stopped, and the woman tossed a little, a moan coming out as she tried to raise her hand, it wouldn't move from where it was fastened. Another tug, then her red lashes fluttered open, looking down at her arm. A frown creased that perfect face as Scilita focused on her arm. Confusion followed. She lifted her head slowly, eyes tracing the equipment attached to her, then to the rest of the bed, then she finally scanned the room. Eyes locked on McKenna leaning against the wall, the door inset on her right, while there was an observing mirrored window on the left wall.

  McKenna didn't know who stood behind the mirror, but she knew all of this would be recorded and dissected later.

  "Show time, McKenna. Perc is here with us, so if the earpiece fails, we'll have him get you the information."

  She didn't respond verbally, but nodded her head slightly, knowing the people watching would see her.

  "You, release me." It was said in that liquid music language, one that sounded so much like song.

  McKenna didn't say anything. This much she had down. Silence tended to make people talk, and while they might have the interrogator there, she knew how to ask questions. And leaning against a wall in this form should make anyone nervous, but who knew how the Elentrin would react?

  "Did you not hear me? I said release me!" The command was snapped out, but McKenna didn't move, didn't do anything except watch. Scilita's eyes narrowed, and her gaze snagged on the earring in her ear. A sneer appeared on the beautiful face, and even then it didn't distract from her beauty. "You're one of the animals. But how did you achieve warrior form without us releasing you? The Ayl Mites never fail. How did you break out of your animal?" Her questions were sharp, rapid even as she pulled her gaze away, inspecting the room.

  McKenna stayed silent as she heard a voice say her name via the earpiece.

  "McKenna, I'm Darryl. I'll speak in your ear, just go with the flow, you know how this works." The new voice spoke, and McKenna let it flow in and tried to make the questions sound like they came from her.

  "Ah, stupid. You are just an animal and have no way of knowing what I'm saying. I'll have to lower myself to your inadequate language."

  "Oh, I understand you just fine. I just don't care. How can we make you leave?" She spoke in the same liquid syllables, and Scilita's head jerked up.

  "Commander matrix. You should be required to obey me." Her body stiffened, and she spoke odd words that McKenna could translate but made no sense. "Execute Priority Siret Drakyn Servitude Zero Two Five Activate."

  ~Umm, did my language break?~

  [Those are command words to activate the AI programming. All command words have been eliminated so they have no control over you. The original programming no longer exists for their purposes.]

  "Sorry, won't work. Now answer the question."

  Her eyes widened, making her looking so much like an anime character McKenna hoped a video of this never got out, people would go mad over her.

  "That is not possible. The Ayl Mites are perfect. There are centuries of research to make them the perfect troop creation." Her indignation made McKenna want to laugh, but she just watched her, trying to keep her face blank. "Now release me. Where are my guards?"

  "How do we make you leave?" McKenna repeated the question, not moving from her position on the wall.

  Scilita sneered at her again. "You can't. Your world can't make us leave until we have the troops we need. Two more planets were found with the abominations on them. We must eradicate them, then claim the resources." She almost spit those last words, her body straining against the restraints.

  "No. So how can we make you leave?"

  The female relaxed, leaning back, smiling at her. "Soon enough we will come and take what is ours. You can not stand against the might of the Elentrin. We have several systems under our control. Maybe we will decide to take this one also."

  "And you don't think we'll fight?"

  "Pfft, they always say that, then they fall to their knees to worship us." Her eyes sharpened again. "But you aren't. You did yesterday. Why are you not worshiping me today? That is the natural order of things, the Elentrin are perfect. They should be worshiped. Lesser races always worship us. It our due, our Glory."

  McKenna blinked then narrowed her eyes.

  ~They mentioned that when I last had a vision. The Glory. Anyone know what that is?~

  No one did.

  "Follow up on that, though I don't think she has the mindset to even understand a loss." Darryl's voice spoke in her ear.

  "Well, we won't go with you, nor will we let you take our people. We will fight you and you will lose."

  She smiled back with a languid gesture, marred by the motion being stopped by the restraints. "We always win. We are the perfect people."

  "This isn't getting us anywhere. Ask her about weapons or ship capabilities," Darryl suggested.

  The next hour, McKenna parroted the questions being asked in her head, but for the most part they got the same type of answers they would have gotten if they asked McKenna about nuclear weapons. She knew they existed and used some sort of uranium or plutonium, but anything more exact, she would have just gazed at you unable to answer.

  That was what Scilita did. Facial expressions and vague explanations that did them no good at all.

  McKenna laughed bitterly in her mind. ~Basically she's a politician. All the power and no idea how anything works.~

  "Will they pay to get you back safe?"

  Scilita just blinked at McKenna, her face a mask of beautiful confusion.

  "Will they go away to get you back? If we threaten to hurt you?"

  "Why would you hurt me? I am Elentrin and you are not the evil Drakyn." She seemed honestly confused and couldn't comprehend the idea of them trading her.

  "Why wouldn't we hurt or kill you? We've already killed one of you."

  Sharp teeth a pale pink that matched her lips and hair chewed on her lip for a moment. "Truth. His guards reported he had been killed. They were eliminated for their failure, of course. So precedent has been set." She tilted her head and looked at them. "But my Glory is better than Alairn's. Therefore, you should not kill me, and let me go back to my people, so we can collect the Kaylid we need to remove the Drakyn from this universe."

  Darryl sighed in her head. "Go ahead and leave the room, McKenna."

  McKenna turned and left the room, waiting for the agent to open the door from the other side. She ignored the questions from the female still restrained to the bed.

  The agent met her outside the room and made sure it was locked again, then led her to a conference room. A teleconference was set up, and she saw Perc next to another man, dark skin, straight black hair, and handsome.

  "McKenna, I'm Darryl. You did excellent. I'm just sorry we couldn't get the information we needed."

  "So now what? I don't know what else I can get, and she does speak English."

  The SecDef had an odd look on his face, and he shrugged. "Go home. There isn't anything else you can do, go spend time with your family."

  "What about the Kaylid we captured?" McKenna asked.

  "They don't seem to produce this 'Glory' or anything else. He is just sitting quietly in a very secure location. Since he can speak English also, there isn't any more reason to keep you guys here." Doug shook his head, dark circles under his eyes. "From here on out, it's going to be the people on the ground who are going to keep us alive and decide this war. We're watching ships drop into Istanbul right now. It'll be a bloodbath there. There are more being dispatched from the ships in the air." His smile had a sad finality to it. "Go home, McKenna. Caroline is waiting for you in a SUV with a police light bar if needed. You should be able to be with your family in about fou
r hours. We can't really offer anything else except to thank you, all of you, for your service."

  McKenna glanced at the image of Perc on the screen. He nodded.

  ~Let's go home, McKenna. Cass is grabbing some food right now. We should be there with them.~

  McKenna stood and looked at the agent. "If you can take me to the car, I'm going to head out."

  With that, the calls ended, and McKenna found herself back in a nondescript parking garage, a big black SUV idling there.

  "Don't they come in any other color?" she asked as she got in. Cass was already there and handed her an iced coffee, which McKenna took with a sense of relief.

  Caroline smirked at her. "What color did you want? Bright pink?"

  "No, thanks." She looked around. "Where's Perc?" asking the same question in her mind.

  ~Coming, got delayed a bit.~ Even as his words rang in the shared mindspace, the elevator doors opened to reveal him with two large duffle bags. Caroline hit a button and the rear gate popped open. Perc threw the bags in, then climbed into the back with McKenna and Cass.

  They sat together, the nearness of the others acting like a calming balm.

  "So where to, ladies and gent?" Caroline asked, a half smile on her face.

  "Why are you with us? Don't you have people to protect?" McKenna asked. ~Shouldn't she be with people more important than us? Especially since she can shift?~

  Perc shot her a look, but before he could respond, Caroline did.

  "The powers that be have decided that there could be more code words or other programming that might compromise me or those I protect. Given that, they feel it's safest to have me away from any of our protectees. And since you're still relatively important, they've decided to send me with you." She shrugged and tried to smile as if the demotion didn't bug her. But McKenna recognized that level of fake when she saw it. She'd forced the same smile more than often enough.

  "I guess back to where Toni, JD, and the kids are," McKenna said slowly.