Alien Deception (15 page)

The United Council for Developing Worlds

The Act of Influencing

Influencing is defined as the act by which a member of the Council, normally an Initial Contact Agent (ICA), places an alien being (non-UCDW member) under influence. This Agent, who has been born, created or so altered to attain this position, when specifically directed, shall place an alien being (non-UCDW member) under influence. This shall be done by the transference of thought from the agent to the alien species. Influence shall never be applied to an active member of the UCDW.

Transference shall be accomplished by the conversion of the agent's thoughts into sub-atomic particles, transported through electrical stimulus and inserted into the alien species. Brain pathways and neural connections are not to be altered in any way that will pose a threat of possible neural damage. The thought shall be endorsed by the Council before insertion, and shall be pertinent to the stated order and direction of the Council. No thought will be specific in order to bring about a specific result but will simply open possibilities to the aliens, thus allowing them to conduct themselves in a way to produce a desired result based upon the interpretation of the influence by said aliens.

Influence applied in a way not in accordance with this intent shall lead to punitive punishment of that member and immediate removal from the UCDW.

* * * *

The United Council for Developing Worlds is the Savior of the galaxy, as we know it. Without their continued support and guidance, the stability of numerous worlds would falter. The ideology of the…

Sarah and Greg slowly opened their eyes in their new surroundings as the voices in their minds ceased their relentless dictation.

"We're not in the bar anymore," Sarah said groggily as her eyes scanned the room from the plush sofa she now found herself on.

"Where is this Leumas guy?" Greg asked, shaking the sleep from his head. "I wasn't through with him yet!" He looked around, but Leumas was nowhere to be seen.

"Please, Greg. You weren't through with him yet?" she said sarcastically, then smiled at him.

"Okay, well, maybe he was controlling things a little," he agreed, returning her smile. For a moment, their eyes made contact and, as they looked at each other, Greg felt himself drawn into her eyes
. She's so beautiful…
he thought. He felt his body temperature rising, and he knew he was beginning to blush. He felt embarrassed by his overt display of feelings, but couldn't help noticing that she too appeared to be having a similar reaction.

"So…ah…where are we now?" she said as she turned her face from his. Before she completely turned from him, Greg saw the smile that played upon her lips and how she coyly tried to hide it.

"It looks like some kind of a study or library," he said as his thoughts returned to their new surroundings.

The walls were lined with bookcases teeming with books, and there was a crackling fire in the fireplace. The mantle above it held numerous photographs, but they were too far away to make out any detail. Three large, antiquated wing back chairs sat on a plush Oriental carpet in front of the fireplace, inviting comfort and warmth.

Greg scratched his head as he turned to Sarah. "Here we go again. Every time we wake up, we're someplace new."

"What about all the crazy stuff Leumas was laying on us? And the dreams we're having about this UCDW. It's so odd." Sarah stretched her arms out, yawning. "But, I guess if you think about it, it's not really that far-fetched. We constantly worry about our own government and their secret organizations spying on us and stuff. Why couldn't a superior alien race be doing it?"

"I guess they could," he said, shrugging. "You saw the same thing I did in this last dream. The organization, what was it called…the UCDW? It's not that unbelievable. We've always thought there's more intelligent life out there in the galaxy."

Sarah arched an eyebrow. "On the other hand, there's always the possibility that we've just been kidnapped, and this guy is just messing with our heads." She appeared to reconsider that statement. "But what would be the point in someone doing that? It's not like someone will pay a handsome reward for our return or anything."

"Maybe he's doing it just for kicks…who knows. There are a lot of crazies in this world." Greg shrugged again.

She leaned against the back of the couch and sighed. "Well, what's our next move, Greg? I don't think we're in control anymore."

"I think it's time we forced this Leumas character to show us some credible proof about this alien thing," he said, standing up.

"Like what?"

He began to walk around the room, touching objects as if trying to make sure they were real.

"I don't know, but he must be able to do something to prove he's not human. Hell, even just show us anything to back up his story. You know, these dreams could all be just drug-induced. Their simulation technology doesn't seem to be that advanced. I've read about simpler devices used all the time. I mean, look at the stuff at Disney World."

"I agree," she said, nodding, but appeared to have something else on her mind. She began hesitantly. "But, um, Greg, there is something else I want to ask you. It's something that I'm not quite sure how to explain. Maybe you've been feeling it to. It's probably not important, but it's starting to bug me more and more."

"What's that?" he asked warily. He felt himself beginning to blush again, thinking she was going to mention something about them and their feelings.

Sarah saw his expression and, suddenly, she blushed too. They looked at each other and laughed. Greg thought it was wonderful to be able to share this feeling with someone.

"You were going to say something?" Greg asked, when he got his laughter under control.

"This is going to sound strange, but I've been getting a strange sensation in my head. It's like, well, like deja vu stuff," she said, unsure of her words.

Greg stopped in mid-stride, and looked at her intently. "You mean like when someone says something, you could almost have sworn that you knew that they were going to say it?"

"Sort of, but more like knowing what someone is thinking," she said.

"I know," he said. "I've had those same sensations. I'm not sure if it's just a feeling, or if it's some sort of reaction to all that's been going on." He paused, sighing. "Right now, I'm not sure what's fact and what's fiction. Let's just leave that for now and deal with Leumas first. Okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, briefly touching his hand with hers. He was about to reach for hers when the sound of the doorknob turning and the door slowly opening into the study drew their attention from the moment.

Leumas strode into the study, carefully closing the door behind him. He strolled across the immense room. He wore a red smoking jacket and a comfortable looking pair of gray wool trousers.

"What's this?" Greg said, nudging Sarah. "We've gone from bartender to lord of the manor?"

Sarah stifled her soft laughter as Leumas sauntered around the room. He ignored them as he glanced at himself in the mirror over the mantel. Finally satisfied, he moved in front of the fireplace and motioned Sarah and Greg to join him. He nodded toward two of the wing back chairs. They hypnotically stood up from where they had been sitting and moved toward the chairs. They sat down on the overstuffed cushions facing Leumas.

"Well, now, Greg and Sarah, how are we all feeling this fine day? Ready to have some more fun?" His demeanor was calm and collective, not exactly what Greg remembered from their last meeting. He sat and leaned back in the chair, getting comfortable and then said, "We've got several hundred years to catch up on."

"What do you mean, several hundred years?" Greg said, frowning.

"Come on now, do you really think these dreams you have been having about the UCDW are all bogus?" Leumas asked rhetorically. "Well, they aren't, and you had better start paying attention. There's a lot at stake here. More then you can possibly imagine."

"What is this, school or something?" Sarah asked angrily. "Pay attention! Listen to me! It's all important! I don't know what to believe anymore," she finished, her frustration showing clearly as she folded her arms across her chest.

Greg stood from the chair, pointing at Leumas. "One minute you tell us we're dead. Then we're back to life. Which is it? Is any of it true? Space aliens and Councils that control the destinies of planets?" he sneered. "Give me a break already!"

Leumas gently tempered his voice, and spoke to them like he was dealing with two ill-tempered children. "I understand that you're both confused at the moment. We can only move so fast." Then his voice softened further. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I told you too much information too quickly." He shook his head. "You should have listened and let me gradually feed you the information. It's a wonder that you haven't suffered brain damage. The sooner you both start trusting and believing me, the better off you'll both be."

"Trust you, ha!" Greg exclaimed. "I'd trust a stripper to give me change for a ten quicker than I would trust you!"

Sarah frowned at Greg, obviously not amused by his metaphor.

Suddenly feeling her gaze, he became embarrassed. "Uh, sorry, Sarah. But this guy, or whatever he is, has gone far enough with his UCDW crap, or whatever the hell it is he's been rambling on about. I've had enough and I know you feel the same way."

Greg turned back to Leumas. "Give me one good reason why we should believe you!"

Leumas exhaled deeply. "I wondered when we would get to the show-and-tell scenario," he said, shaking his head. "So now you require some kind of proof about what I say."

Sarah and Greg nodded in unison, staring at him skeptically.

Leumas stood, and pointed to himself. "Well, let's start with me. Do you believe I'm an alien?"

Before they could say anything, his appearance suddenly changed. He became tall and lanky as his shape changed into Abraham Lincoln, "Four score and seven years ago…" he said in a deep resonant voice, stroking his long dark beard.

Seconds later, he was Albert Einstein, his white hair spreading in a corona. "E is equal to M C squared."

Next, Richard Nixon, "I have done nothing wrong, I am not a crook," he said with his fingers in a "V."

Next, John F. Kennedy, in a thick Bostonian accent, "Don't ask what your country will do for you…"

Next, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a voice filled with conviction, "I have a dream…"

Leumas continued, on and on, in a blaze of familiar Earth personages in less then a minute.

They were still shocked and speechless as they stared at what appeared to be a misshapen lump of clay where Leumas had just been standing. Suddenly, an unmistakable grin appeared in the lump, and they had no doubt that, whatever the form, this was definitely Leumas as he struggled back to his initial shape and appearance. He looked fatigued.

"Whew…that's a lot of work," he said, gasping for air as he limped over to the mirror, smoothed his displaced hair and straightened his smoking jacket. He turned to them, bowing like a master showman.
"
Well, how's that, kids?" he said, obviously amused. "Still have doubts? If you'd like, I could replay your deaths for you. A little gory, perhaps, but maybe it would drive the point home!"

They were still unable to speak, but they shook their heads negatively to that suggestion.

Leumas pointed at them. "You're not asleep either. You are both very much awake." He swept his hand across the room, "This is real! It is all real! What I have to tell you yet is very real! So you'd better wake up and listen to what I have to say!" Silence settled in the room, allowing them to regain their composure after seeing the strangest things they had ever seen in their lives.

"Are we clear on this alien thing now?" Leumas asked. "Do I have your full attention now? This is not a dream or a simulation, folks. This is real time…the real thing. There cannot be any doubt in your minds from this point on," he finished firmly.

"Ah, excuse me," Greg began in a somewhat befuddled voice.

"Yes, Greg, you have something you want to say?"

"I just want to make sure that I have all this now," Greg said, wanting to put some organization into what he'd just seen and what was going to happen next. "So, the deal is that you are an alien, which I must say, you have displayed quite wonderfully for us."

Leumas nodded and smiled, pleased.

Then more seriously, Greg raised his fingers and ticked off each item. "Okay, now then. So Sarah and I were killed, then somehow rejuvenated, and brought to this planet." He paused, scratching his head as Leumas nodded again. "Okay, so there's this organization called The United Council for Developing Worlds, which controls the development of planets in the galaxy. Have I got it right so far?"

"That is a very good start," Leumas said. He turned toward Sarah. "Sarah, do you agree with that summary?"

Sarah thought he sounded like a schoolteacher again, checking the comprehension of his students. "Yes, I think so."

"Good. Now we need to move on," Leumas said, gesturing as if he was inviting them along for a little stroll. "I do not wish to alarm you, but I don't think either of you have realized the seriousness of your situation yet. That's what I am here for. I'm from the Council and I'm here to help."

"I think we see that now," Greg said, and saw confirmation in Sarah's eyes.

"Good. Now, as I was saying," Leumas continued, clearing his throat. "I am here to help you and guide you along in the indoctrination process, and then to prepare you for your new assignment. I am what is called an Initial Contact Agent. I bring in new members from different planets and gradually indoctrinate them into the Council’s processes, their responsibilities and/or any assignment the subjects may be immediately tasked with."

"You mentioned an assignment. What assignment?" Sarah asked skeptically.

"We're coming to that," Leumas said quickly. "But you must trust me, or we won't get anywhere. Unfortunately, there is more going on than just getting you two on the Council. Some internal squabbles are making this process a whole lot more complicated than it would be normally. But we'll leave that out of this conversation for now."