See No More

by W B Dineen

  He looks pensive for a moment and absently knocks his knuckles on the table top. “Let’s just say I don’t disbelieve. I’m sure many of them, if not most, are hoaxes. But there are ways to distinguish what’s real from what isn’t. The bend of the crop stalks, the burn marks, the radiation levels are all different when consistent with what we assume is real communication. Also, keep in mind the Chilbolton circle was the first crop circle to appear, and it happened at a time when the government was butt deep in denying all alien life to our planet. Movies were one thing, but real contact, quite another. They had a stake in disproving this form of communication.”

  “Okay, so for the sake of argument, let’s say this Chilbolton crop circle was the real deal. What’s your point?”

  “My point is the original message from Sagan, was sent twenty-six years before the response. Essentially, Sagan sent a message into the future and it was received in the past. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  I tilt my head in wonder and a tiny bit of pain. “It’s kind of like we’re already part of time travel, then? Receiving messages from the future.”

  “Yes!” He pats my hand tenderly. “Therefore, time is no more than a convenient way of having some control of our journey while we’re on this planet. When our bodies die, and the energy that animates our form moves on, that energy isn’t earthbound. It isn’t dependent on the same things we are. It moves on to a place or dimension where the concept of time may not be one they adhere to, at least not in the same way we do.”

  “Wow, Dad. I can honestly say this isn’t anything I’ve thought of before. Ever. But it’s interesting and gives me a lot to consider.” Then I tease, “Because as you know, it’s not like I have anything on my mind right now.”

  He looks at his watch and jumps to his feet. “Speaking of running out of time, we need to get Trina to the lab and alter the weapon. The sooner that’s done, the better for my peace of mind.”

  “Dad, what assurance do you have that Stefano is going to let you live after you test the weapon? I mean, why would he even need you after that?”

  He considers the question for a moment before answering, “Because power always needs the help of actual intelligence. Successfully ruling Earth is only as good as his ability to protect it from other sources. There are still very real alien threats out there that he’s going to need our help to defend the planet against.”

  Just when I think dismantling the gun is the endgame, and life could continue on as normal afterward. I have no idea what my future holds, but I sure as heck know my past is rapidly turning into a distant memory.

  CHAPTER 87

  I discover Trina and I can no longer communicate telepathically since she became disconnected from her world. This is a real bummer because I don’t have any idea what’s going on at the lab. Jake went to work with everyone else this morning, so Mom and I spend the day cleaning the already clean cabin. We cook dinner, throw in some laundry, and essentially get in each other’s way.

  Remember how I was complaining about how quickly time passes? Scratch that. Today has lasted a solid month and a half.

  By the time our gang arrives home for dinner, we’re jumping out of our skin with anticipation. Trina walks through the door first and greets us with a confident smile. “It’s done. We’re ready to test the weapon.”

  Nikolay leads the men into the living room. His excitement is so palpable he’s almost glowing. He looks years younger than his age. “I have never seen anything so incredible in my life! Trina, you have magic in your hands.”

  She smiles modestly. “It is good to know I still have some abilities after being cut-off from my world.”

  Jake makes a beeline straight for me and kisses me firmly on the mouth.

  Theo drops his bag next to the couch and sits down. “That was amazing! I can’t wait to test it out.” Then he addresses the last man to walk through the door. “Tony, it’s time to call your dad.”

  Tony seems a bit less excited than everyone else. He smiles nonetheless and nods his head. “I’ll do it right now.” Then he pulls out his cell phone and punches in the number.

  Tony’s Father: Where’s your chip?

  Tony: Hello to you, too.

  Father: Don’t play games with me, Tony. Where’s your chip?

  Tony: I decided I didn’t like it, so I had it taken out.

  Father: You aren’t one of the Trēdecim yet, boy. Don’t go getting cocky on me or I might not step down.

  Tony rolls his eyes. He’s already guessed his father has no intention of stepping down.

  Tony: We need to talk in person.

  Father: Then come back to Pasadena and let’s work this out, once and for all.

  Tony: No, not Pasadena. I’ll meet you on the island on Friday at ten in the morning. Have someone pick me up at the landing strip. I want to talk to Mother, as well.

  Father: Why in the world do you want to talk to her? She’s isn’t part of this.

  Tony: There are things I want to say to both of you and I’d like to do it at the same time.

  Father: Fine, but don’t be late. I have a meeting in Geneva on Saturday.

  Tony: I’ll see you Friday, then.

  His father doesn’t even say goodbye, he just hangs up.

  Mom and I don’t know what the plan is yet, so when Tony puts his phone back into his pocket, I ask.

  My dad stands up and walks over to Tony putting his arm around him before answering, “We had to make sure both of Tony’s parents were on the island for the test.”

  My mom looks concerned. “Are any others from the group going to be there?”

  “No. We discussed inviting some of the Trēdecim, but if we get rid of too many of them at once, that gives Stefano more power. We need the infrastructure they’ve already created, and we don’t have the time or ability to rebuild it. It’s better to use what’s already there.”

  Now I’m more confused than ever. “I thought the whole plan was to get rid of the weapon and try to disband the Trēdecim. But now you’re saying you need them?”

  Tony answers, “They’ve already established their hierarchy in the Bilderberg Group and Trilateral Commission. If too many top-ranking members of those groups go missing, they’ll close ranks and we may not know what their next moves are. Even though I’m a member of both societies, I’m not one of their leaders.”

  “You don’t want to disband those groups, too?”

  Tony shakes his head vehemently. “Absolutely not. The existence of black-ops has made it necessary to have a higher governing body above actual government. Those secret societies are all we have when it comes to any control over our underground operations.”

  “What’s the ultimate goal then?”

  “The goal is to bring the power back into the hands of the people, but that’s going to be a multi-generational endeavor. It’s taken sixty years to create this mess. It will take much longer to get out of it.”

  It’s like cleaning up one building when an entire town’s been demolished by a tornado. It’s something, but hardly much of anything when you realize there are another thousand structures to go.

  CHAPTER 88

  Stefano requests that Mom and I join them when they test the weapon. This was not at all expected, as we’ve been playing ignorant to their whole operation up until this point. No one thinks this is good news and we’ve started speculating in earnest that they might not be planning on letting any of us live after the test.

  We’re all jittery when Stefano’s posse picks us up the morning we leave. We’re searched for weapons and communication devices and are relieved of all items perceived to be a threat, which somehow includes my lipstick.

  My dad tries to joke, “Hey, Stefano, I thought we were a team, here. You’re making me wonder if you plan on bringing us back.”

  The Italian doesn’t so much as crack a smile. He just has his goons hurry us out to the waiting vehicles. Our group is divided, so none of us is driving in the same car to the airport.
This makes me feel more vulnerable than I’ve been since this whole mess started.

  Stefano makes sure Trina is driving with him. Like every other human who’s experienced her in her true form, he’s completely besotted, and she’s doing her best to play on that.

  I’m in the car with three of the bodyguards. One of them is Stefano’s nephew, Angelo.

  I smile and ask him, “Do you speak English?”

  He nods sternly. Okay, so clearly, he’s not big into conversation. “What do you like best about America?” I have no idea what to ask him, but I want to build a rapport and put him at ease.

  “I lika the California.”

  Okay, maybe we’re getting somewhere. “What in particular?”

  “Hollywood.”

  “Ah, a fan of the movies, then?”

  He nods his head once to indicate he is. “I lika the old movies froma the fifties ana sixties.”

  His answer genuinely excites me. “Me too! I love anything with Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and Cary Grant!”

  The look in his eyes is one of pure adoration. “Rocka Hudson and Cary Grant, they were a good actors, no?”

  His words are saying good actors, but his body language is saying “yummy actors.” And that’s when my gaydar goes off like I’m the millionth customer at a grocery store sweepstakes.

  I answer, “They were wonderful!” Not to leave Doris out of the mix, as the gay boys love her as well, I add, “And oh-my-god, Doris Day’s outfits were to die for!”

  The other goons in the car don’t appear to have the English, like Angelo, because they aren’t showing any indication they know what we’re saying. Angelo’s eyes fill with rapture when he comments on the dresses Doris wore in That Touch of Mink. “The fashion show scena was tres bellissima!”

  That’s the plain truth right there. The epitome of every girl and apparently gay man’s dream is to have Cary Grant take us away to a paradise island, but not before buying us a brand-new wardrobe.

  We share a moment of quiet admiration, and yes, we’ve bonded. I make sure to sit near Angelo on the jet. Again, our group is separated from one another, so we can’t talk among ourselves. Jake looks back at me and I flash him a thumbs up and a smile, neither of which I feel, but what the hell, maybe pretending I’m brave will make it so.

  He smiles back, and we buckle in and prepare for the six-hour flight to Miami. We’ll be stopping there to refuel and check the weapon before continuing the final two-and-a-half hours to Tony’s parents’ compound.

  I close my eyes during take-off and force my mind to go to my happy place. I’m sitting on my couch curled up in an afghan watching old movies. After all, it’s one of things I miss most about my old life, and one of the things I hope to do again.

  CHAPTER 89

  Once again, time seems to be playing tricks on me. The trip to Miami lasts about a minute, and hopefully not because I’m that much nearer to my end. Activity escalates when we land as people get up to exit the plane, and I assume, check the antimatter weapon.

  Theo walks past me and gives my elbow a squeeze. He leans in and whispers, “Hang in there, Katydid. We’ve got this.”

  Jake walks by and leans in to kiss me. “Remember, we agreed to share the same dimension for a lot longer.” Then he winks and walks on.

  Trina passes by so close she almost steps on my feet. She whispers, “Be careful. We’ll need this later.” I don’t dare look down to see what it is. I just slip it into the pocket of my jeans. I think she hands something to my mom as well, but it’s hard to tell for sure.

  Stefano stands up and announces, “We’re going to refuel and check a few things outside, but we’re not deplaning.” To me and Mom he suggests, “Make yourselves comfortable, and plan on taking off again within the hour.”

  I decide the bathroom is the best place to see what Trina handed me, so I excuse myself and make my way to the back of the cabin. Once I’m safely locked in, I pull out a shiny black object about the size of a cigarette lighter. I turn it over and over and look at it very closely, but for the life of me have no idea what it is. If I were to venture a guess, I’d say it was some kind of alien technology.

  My mom is waiting to go in as I exit. There’s a body guard right behind her, so I don’t say anything, I merely shrug my shoulders in question. If she’s got the same thing I do, I want her to know I’m clueless as to what it is.

  Mom’s in the bathroom a lot longer than I was, and when she comes out, she looks flushed with excitement. She walks by me and hands me a note that says:

  Hold the device and ask it for something you want, but make sure it’s a small, unobtrusive object that won’t be questioned.

  I try to think of something small and incognito I’d like to have that won’t draw any attention. I don’t know why but I pick a piece of Bazooka bubblegum. I hold the object in my pocket and inside my head say, “I’d like a piece of Bazooka bubble gum, please.”

  Holy, freaking science fiction, Batman! Just as I say it, something pops into my free hand. One guess what it is. I unwrap the bubble gum and put it into my mouth. I think about the ramifications of this device and they’re staggering. I suppose I could use it to ask for any number of things, but I’m guessing the need for a weapon may arise soon, so I hold off requesting anything else.

  I catch my mom’s eye and point to a bubble I’m blowing, and she lifts up a candy bar in return. I don’t know how she figured out what the device was, but I’m looking forward to hearing the story. I’m also wondering how Trina came to have them, since she’s not supposed to be connected to her world any longer.

  I stare out the window and watch the activity taking place on the tarmac. Stefano has a weapon mount under the carriage of the plane, and my dad, Nikolay, and Trina are taking turns inspecting everything.

  I watch an exchange they’re having with Stefano, when Angelo comes and sits next to me. He hands me a bottle of water. “For you, bellissima.”

  “Thank you, Angelo.” I open the cap and take a sip. “So, what do you do for your uncle? Are you his bodyguard or something?”

  “Or something. My madre, she die when I was a bambino, ana my uncle, he tooka me in and raise me. I worka for him in grazie for my care.”

  “What would you do if you didn’t work for your uncle?”

  His eyes sparkle, and he looks off as if imaging his dream alternate existence. “I would wanna to be ana actor, like Rocka Hudson.”

  I laugh out loud. “Well, let me know if you ever switch careers. I live right outside Hollywood, and I have a three-bedroom house. You could stay with me.” I don’t mean any of this, by the way. It’s just small talk to help us bond.

  “Mamma mia! I did not knowa this. If it ever canna be for me to switcha my worka, I promise to calla you!”

  Angelo is a very nice person. I think, in different circumstances we could have been friends. Yet, I wonder what he’d do if his uncle told him to shoot me. I hope with all my heart, he’s enough of his own man not to do it. Mamma mia, indeed. I’m afraid things are about to get even more interesting.

  CHAPTER 90

  When we studied World War II in high school, I used to wonder what was going through the minds of the fighter pilots as they dropped bombs on the enemy. The casualties weren’t just generals and government officials. They were often ordinary people, like you and me, whose main goal in life was to keep their heads above water and put food on their family’s table.

  I’m strangely detached right now, almost like we’re not really going to remove this island from the planet and kill a significant number of people. Why aren’t I crying and gnashing my teeth in angst? I don’t know. I assume it’s my brain’s way of protecting me during enormous stress. I’m hoping the men and women in our military have a similar reprieve during combat. If for no other reason than to guard their sanity.

  I have no compunction about taking Tony’s dad off the planet. His mom is a pretty easy elimination as well. But what about the maids, gardeners, and the other innocent
souls who work for them? What about their families? Yet, if we don’t do this, what about the fifty plus million lives the Trēdecim will take? It’s a hell of a position to be in, but when push comes to shove, it’s a no-brainer.

  We can see the island below us. At this altitude, it looks like nothing more than a green kidney bean surrounded by the brilliant blue of the Atlantic. The cabin is a hive of activity as Stefano and the rest of our group get the weapon ready to fire. I manage to move next to my mom, and no one seems to even notice or care.

  I take her hand in mine. “How do you feel?”

  “Scared, invigorated, worried, anxious. I wonder what’s going to happen to us when it’s all said and done.”

  I know exactly how she feels, but it’s not doing us any good to sit and contemplate what’s coming. So, I change the subject. “What about the device Trina gave us? Isn’t it amazing?”

  My mom smiles nervously. “Mine doesn’t work anymore.”

  “What do you mean it doesn’t work?”

  She opens the seat back in front of her and pulls out a wild array of small items. There’s a can opener, an ink cartridge, a camera, forty-seven dollars, a hair brush, a pair of ruby earrings, and an empty candy bar wrapper. I’m astonished. “Wow, interesting selection.”

  She looks embarrassed. “What if it’s like a genie in a lamp and you only get so many wishes?”

  “I guess that’s possible.” I point to the money. “You should have asked for more than forty-seven dollars.”

  She shakes her head almost regretfully. “I wasn’t really asking for this stuff. I was holding the thing while I let my mind drift.”

  “To can openers, an ink cartridge, and ruby earrings?”

  She rolls her eyes in response. “You know how weird and random thoughts can be. I was kind of spacing out to give my brain a rest. I remembered that I needed to replace the yellow ink cartridge in the computer, and that I want to buy a new camera before Christmas.”