Alien Deception (32 page)

"No, not nervous. Very nervous," Greg smiled. "Hey, what do you think of this sheik's robe thing?"

Leumas laughed and adjusted the robes. "Don't worry. You look fine and you'll do fine. Is Sarah here yet?"

Greg's eyes glazed momentarily. "She's coming down the hall right now."

Seconds later, there was a knock on the door and Sarah entered. She was wearing her Council robes as well, but Greg thought they looked a heck of a lot better on her than they did on him. He looked appreciatively at the way the white folds fell softly about her figure.

She took several steps into the room and smiled at them both. "Hi, Greg, Leumas," she said, and then fixed her gaze on Greg, looking up and down, and then said coyly, "Nice outfit. I think I know the tailor."

"Cute, Sarah," he responded playfully.

"You know, you two make a cute couple," Leumas interjected.

"Thanks," they both said simultaneously, which caused an outburst of laughter from all three of them.

"Okay, you two, it's time to go. The Council members will be waiting." Leumas said as he moved toward the door.

"Ready, Sarah?" Greg asked, looking into her eyes.

She exhaled. "As ready as I am ever going to be. Let's do it."

The three of them walked out of the room and headed down the corridor to where the new hall of the Council had been carved into the interior of a mountain. All one hundred and fifty-six new members of the Council were present today for this inauguration and opening session of the new UCDW.

Thoughts ran through Greg's mind about the last six months and how it had changed their lives, his in particular. His lifestyle had changed one hundred and eighty degrees from what it had been. He'd gone from virtually no responsibility in his life to carrying the weight of the entire galaxy on his shoulders. The strange thing was that it didn't feel that way. It felt like this was what he had always been meant to do. The thought gave him a warm feeling that washed away his earlier nervousness.

He glanced at Sarah walking beside him, and sent a little thought to her.
::Good luck there, lady.::

::Thanks, and the same to you. I know you will do well. I'm just here for show; my work is back in D.C.::

::I know, and I've been thinking about what we discussed last night.::

::Was that before or after you made passionate love to me?::

::I…ah…::
Greg's thoughts stuttered
.

::It's good to know I can still surprise you once in a while. You always seem to know what I'm going to say so I thought I try and catch you off guard.::

::Well…it worked,::
Greg said finally.
::It was wonderful.::

::Yes, it was,::
Sarah agreed.

::Which brings me to my point. I think you need to get back here more often. You know, 'planetary affairs' and all that stuff,::
he said teasingly.

::Uh-huh,::
she said sarcastically.
::Is that the only reason?::

::Maybe, maybe not. I guess you'll have to come around and find out.::

::That almost sounds like a proposal to me.::
She glanced up at him, teasing him with her eyes.

::The Council awaits us,::
he thought, trying to sound serious while avoiding a direct answer.

::Oh, well then,::
Sarah thought,
::if that's the way you want to be. I guess I'll have to talk to you later…on one of my many visits.::

He smiled at her but did not respond, verbally or mentally. There was no need. They understood each other perfectly.

As they came closer to the Great Hall, the immensity of the ceiling and the size of the gutted-out area of rock were overwhelming. Greg's first thought was the goldfish perspective, from inside the fishbowl looking up. It appeared as if the entire inside of the mountain had been carved out and only the tiniest bit of shell remained.

The three entered and approached the center podium, which was the place of the Leaders of the Council. The murmuring clash of alien races speaking different tongues quickly died away at their entrance, replaced by a deafening silence as the members stared at them intently. Greg could feel the mixed emotions of the members.

Leumas stopped at the base of the steps that would take Sarah and Greg to their higher positions. He looked and indicated with his eyes that this was their step to take, not his. He then gave them a thumbs up and a large smile.

Proceeding up the six steps to the podium area, they reached the top and took a deep breath simultaneously. Their position commanded a full view of the Council area and its members, which encircled them. This was one of the new arrangements adding to the symbolism of the UCDW. The members encircled the leader. Nothing would ever be hidden behind their backs. Everything would be out in the open for all to see.

They stood silent and still at the raised podium, feeling the representatives' eyes search their faces. Greg knew, as he approached the speaking and translating device, that the first words would be critical. He spoke slowly and clearly.

"Welcome to the delicate beginning of a new era. A beginning can be such a fragile thing, but ours will be one that keeps the past in reverence and holds it in our outstretched hands for all to see. A beginning that will lead us out of the dark past and into a bright future, a future based upon a fellowship and unity that the Galaxy has never experienced before, a future of truth that the Galaxy has never seen before. A future that will keep all of our unique cultures alive and thriving."

He held out his hand to Sarah. She grasped it proudly, and stepped to his side as he continued. "This planet, Earth, shall serve as an example of what cooperation can accomplish in the organized and controlled introduction of technological advancements. This Council, in conjunction with representatives from Earth, will move the planet to join its alien brothers in the cosmos." He paused and looked out at the Council members. "We are here to serve this Council to the best of our abilities."

Silence. The translation was virtually instantaneous, so that was not the cause for a delay in their reaction. Then a sole life form stood and began to clap. It was Leumas. He clapped hard and slowly, and was gradually joined by others that also began to rise and applaud. Soon all of the one hundred and fifty-six members of the United Council for Developing Worlds were all standing, their applause resounding through the great hall.

Sarah and Greg stood at the podium, overwhelmed by the sound that echoed in their ears. It was deafening.

::You know what, Sarah?::

::What?::

::It's just the way I knew it would be. I saw it and…::
he suddenly paused, his face contorting in what appeared to be confusion.

::What's wrong, Greg?::

He hesitated, and then said,
::It's nothing. I just saw a flash of something. Something in the future.::

::How can you…er…tell? Is this another mutation of some sort you're going through? What did you see?::

::I saw us standing here with our successors,::
he said slowly, mixed emotions in his voice.

::Successors? In the future…::
her voice trailed off.

::Yes. And the successors…::
he began.

::What about them, Greg? What's wrong?::

Greg's expression slowly returned to one of contentedness and joy of the moment as his mind settled back into the present and he interpreted what he had seen.

::Nothing. Nothing at all,::
he said simply, smiling at her and squeezing her hand tightly.

::Are you sure?::

::Yes, I'm sure. Let's just say that the future holds some interesting surprises both good and bad. But either way, we should wait until that particular moment and let the natural course of time flow its own way.::

Sarah looked at him, perplexed.
::Huh?::

::Don't worry; it will be an interesting story. That, I most certainly can promise you.::

Part II

MIND TRAP

Excerpt from the personal log of the Leader of the United Council of Developing Worlds, (UCDW). Earth Year 2227: Recorded and logged into the Planetary Archives on the Planet Zire. Archival note: Reference for historical data and research: This entry was made two hundred twenty-five years after the Great Catastrophe.

The plan is risky. It may jeopardize all that we have accomplished.

The Council has judged it a worthy risk. To do nothing will result in nothing. If we can change one small part, the entire disastrous outcome may be changed.

But, to do nothing at least results in a certainty that is known. What the Council is suggesting may backfire with horrendous consequences.

You obviously have strong feelings in this matter. I will allow you to project your opinion and concerns before I pass final judgment.

Thank you. I would first like to review this historical scenario in its entirety.

You may proceed, but please be brief.

The two-human/alien hybrids have accepted their heritage, although the knowledge of this was just made known to them two standard Earth years ago. They survived all attempts on their lives during their indoctrination into the Council under false pretenses, and defeated the former Leader of the Council, Copolla. Copolla sought only his personal gain by destroying the Council and its members, which would have resulted in certain upheaval throughout the galaxy.

Leumas’s proposal to establish the new Council on Earth because of its unbiased position and under the leadership of the hybrids has been a resounding success. The hybrids tactfully associated themselves with the most powerful leader on the planet, the President of the United States, and developed a global network of mutual cooperation. They have assumed control of the United Council for Developing Worlds and are making excellent progress. Why do we tempt fate?

There is an opportunity that would allow us to repair the great rift that has occurred in our society. You speak of history, so you must be aware that we lost the critical leadership of the Council at a crucial time period. Imagine what we could have done if he had been saved, if the Leader of the Council had been taught the techniques to survive what was to come.

But, what if something goes wrong? What if—

There will be no further discussion on the matter. You have presented your position in an excellent manner, but I see this issue as an opportunity to avoid years of fighting, death and destruction of civilizations, as does the Council. You will proceed with the mission as planned.

Chapter One

“Dreams and visions are the things I fear the most

because I have no power over them.”

Greg Carlson

Earth Year 2002

West Virginia

0600 EDT

The pain was excruciating. He felt his thoughts being ripped from his mind and scattered across the dark voids of cold space. It was a psi-rape of his innermost thoughts that left him feeling shocked, empty, and violated. His life force was slowly dwindling to nothingness as each strip of consciousness was peeled away. Everything that defined his physical existence was gone. Now his very thoughts dissipated into darkness…

Greg Carlson awoke bathed in sweat, his chest heaving. Each time the dream came it was stronger, more intense. There were images along with the pain, and he was frustrated by his inability to understand what they meant. He was being consumed by glimpses into things he could not share with those close to him because he did not understand them himself.

He gave up trying to go back to sleep, got out of bed and went to the bathroom. His baggy shorts and T-shirt hung on him. His lack of sleep and his frustration were beginning to seriously affect his health, causing weight loss, irritability and an inability to think clearly. His five-foot-eight-inch body was comfortable at one hundred and sixty pounds; now, at one hundred and forty, his clothes hung loosely. As he stared in the mirror, he decided the dark circles and pouches under his eyes made him look older than his twenty-five years. A touch of gray was beginning at his temples.

Drained from the dream, he walked over to the window in his living room and gazed out at the view of the mountainous West Virginia skyline. In the pre-dawn light, the peaks stood like giants surveying their great realm. They would never change, he thought, not in the short time he would gaze at them anyway. Change to them would be agonizingly slow, but that was their nature. The sense of change he felt in these dreams would be so catastrophic; he feared the inevitable turmoil and destruction of the stability of Earth and the rest of the galaxy might be something from which they may never recover.

When the dreams first began two years earlier, he had tried to fool himself into believing they were just dreams, not images of what was surely to come; but he soon learned that was not the case. Since his awakening to his true heritage—half human, half telepathic alien—he never had "just dreams."

Those first ones had started as fleeting images, but then became more clear and precise. He had clearly understood what they meant and used them as a tool in guiding the Council. Now, he failed to understand these new dreams. They remained vague and unfocused no matter how he concentrated on them, yet he sensed a dread foreboding from them, as if there were a dark culmination of some kind coming soon. One he could not see or comprehend.