War of the Worlds 2030 (13 page)

“Darling?”

“Yes?”

“I just wanted to say it.”

“So, back to see your lady love,” said Carol, sarcasm staining her lovely voice.

“Ha ha. See if I ever confide in you again?” Ben settled on the interface couch.

“Come on it is pretty weird. The upload is a cyber ghost. Data, just data.” She brushed straight the lab coat she wore over her uniform wishing it would conform to her figure just a little.

“I know that. It's just. Carol, I don't know how to explain it.” He tugged his shirt down to get rid of the rumpled effect sitting had given it.

“Try, I'm listening.” The nurse moved to his side and prepped the IV.

“It's the most intimate thing there is. When you spot-check the feed you literally become the person. Feel what they feel, know what they know, and think what they think. It's like you were a passive observer in someone else's life. You lose yourself becoming the memory until you come out of it. I know I'm Ben, but when I'm in there I'm Ashley. When I come out a part of her is still with me, as real as any memory of my own.”

“Doesn't that freak you out? I mean, Ashley liked men. Unless you're…”

“No way. I'm as straight as the day is long.”

“What about the nights?” She inserted the IV and started the feed.

“I like women. I just don't sweat it when I link into Ashley and her boyfriend. It's kinda' novel really. I like sex as a man, but there's a spice that you women have that's very different.”

“You thinking of shifting sides?”

“Hell no! It's not being with a man that gives the spice, it's being a woman. Damn. I don't know how to explain it. Hell, unless you've been through it I don't think you can understand it. I know Mary from the Zane downloads is having problems. She called me up to talk about it. Oh, this is silly. I should jack in. By the way, that outfit you wore when you came in this morning looked really nice.”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Ben stared at the calendar and spoke. “It is March 8th twenty-thirty-seven.” as he slipped the interface home.

* * * *

Upload monitoring/ Ashley Hinkly /Index 07:33/ 8/9/2032

* * * *

“We talked all evening. He's so intelligent. Did you know he speaks four human languages in addition to his own,” enthused Ashley, the breakfast in front of her nearly forgotten.

“Sounds remarkable.” Richard listlessly pulled his fork over his scrambled eggs.

“He is. We talked about the stars. This is his first interstellar mission.”

“Really.” Richard put his fork down and tried to sip at his coffee. He looked tired and he was almost scowling.

“He thinks Earth looks pretty. It seems odd to him that we build in stone. They grow their buildings so they supply their own internal temperature controls and produce edibles for the people that live in them.”

Richard sat up, his ire vanishing. “Really. What else did he say about his home world?”

“Oh well, not much. We mostly talked about my work. He's very impressed with our computer technology. He said it's quite advanced for a culture at our level of development.”

“I'm sure.”

“What was your evening like?” Ashley smiled at him. She was surprised to see his weariness vanish and a silly smile touch his lips.

“Bloody awful. The committee has all the cohesiveness of dysentery and is about as useful.”

“Too bad. I think the
Darmuks
are just what they appear to be.”

“I hope. I guess we should be getting to the airport. Flight leaves in three hours.”

“I'm staying for a few days. Tannal asked me to escort him to some of the official functions. Then there's the ball at the white house next Friday.”

“Your experiments?”

“I've told Zane what to check. Don't worry. I won't blow my doctoral research over a man. Even if he is the hunk of all time.”

“I need to go. I have to catch my flight.” Richard stood.

“Bye. Thanks for bringing me to the party.”

“Don't mention it.” He turned his back and headed towards the door. “Please don't mention it,” she barely heard his second whisper.

* * * *

Upload monitoring/ Ashley Hinkly /Index 15:13/ 29/10/2032

* * * *

“That won't work.” Ashley looked over Richard's shoulder into the computer screen. They were both standing in his lab.

“The micro-manufacturing isn't that difficult,” he countered.

“The chemical chain will be unstable. I discussed what your trying to do with Tannal last night and.”

Richard swiveled his chair and glared at her. “You discussed our work with Tannal!”

Ashley stepped back from the anger in his eyes. “It is their technology. And yes, I talk to him, he is my boyfriend.”

“Bo…bo…boyfriend?”

“He's very interested in how we do things on Earth. His people don't pair up like we do, but, well…we really hit it off.”

“Oh…Ashley, your work is your work, but I'd rather you didn't discuss mine with him.”

“Fine. What is your problem?” Ashley felt her temper rising.

“Tannal, he's. Never mind.”

“No, I mind. It's because he's an alien isn't it. Mister liberal stretched past his comfort zone.”

“It isn't that.” Richard rubbed the back of his neck.

“What then?”

“Ashley, you don't want to hear it.”

“No I do!” She practically screamed at him.

“Fine. I don't like him! He's arrogant, self-centered, pompous, overbearing and a know-all. None of that has anything to do with the planet he was born on. I haven't liked him since I met him at the landing ceremony, and nothing he's done since has given me any reason to change my opinion of him.” Richard jerked his chair back so he faced his workstation.

“He's from a more advanced society.” Ashley felt shocked and oddly conflicted.

“So they evolved to sentiency a few centuries before we did. Do we have to kiss their assess?”

“I can't believe you feel that way.” Ashley stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well I do!”

“Fine, Doctor Green. Waste your time pursuing a dead end for all I care.” Ashley turned on her heel and moved towards the door.

“Ash! Please,” called Richard.

“What!” she demanded without turning around.

Richard's voice softened. “Be careful. Take…Precautions.”

“Precautions? You mean. That's crazy, he's another species. The chances of cross infection are.” She turned to face her mentor.

Richard once more turned his chair and stared at her with a pleading expression. “If I have ever done anything that would cause you to consider me a friend, do this for me, please.”

“Oh, all right. I'll stop by the drug store. Happy now?”

“No, slightly relieved.”

Ashley stormed from the room.

* * * *

Upload monitoring/ Ashley Hinkly /Index 14:00/ 16/12/2032

* * * *

Ashley could feel Richard staring over her shoulder at the computer screen. On it a diagram of a human brain covered with a network of fine wires glowed. “Fantastic,” said Richard.

“I'm almost ready to start work on the prototype.” Ashley looked at him and smiled.

“This will change the world, Ash. Word of advice. Add an electro transmitter boost. Otherwise the nerves could overload.”

“Tannal says…”

“Trust a human who's studied the biology of Earth life for his entire career. The feed rate will exhaust the neurons, unless you bump them up. Remember the problems we had with the cybernetic limb interface?”

“Okay, can you give me a hand with the design? The bio-chem is your side of things after all.”

“Sure. Since my Parkinson's research became redundant I have some time.”

“The
Darmuk
cure is being fast tracked through the FDA. It's wonderful. No more Parkinson's. They've started work on a cure for Alzheimer.”

“Yes, wonderful. I only wish they were a little more forthcoming about how things worked. Reverse engineering gets boring after a while.” Richard sat on a lab stool facing Ashley.

“They need to protect their patents. Tannal says they want to build a permanent embassy, complete with laboratory facilities, so they can help advance our technology. The money from the patents will do that for them.”

* * * *

Upload monitoring/ Ashley Hinkly /Index 20:33/ 19/12/2032

* * * *

Tannal jerked up beneath her groaning then collapsed onto the bed. She sighed and slid off him before removing the condom she insisted he wear.

“That is a foolish affectation,” stated Tannal.

“It's a safety precaution. Who knows what types of cross infection could occur.”

“I have assured you of your safety.”

“You aren't infallible.”

Tannal huffed. Ashley settled down beside him. Tannal's suite in the new embassy was huge and luxuriantly draped with sateen curtains that covered everything but the biological computer interfaces against the wall.

“I had a breakthrough in the lab today. Richard and I broke the feed rate problem for the cerebral bio-mechanical interface.”

“Yes, yes. You're research. How interesting.” Tannal rubbed at the excess flesh that was accumulating over his abdomen.

“It is interesting. It holds out the real possibility of mating human and machine intellects. Osa is interested in the idea of being able to connect the human computer network directly with the
Darmuk
systems, allowing two way interfacing. The advantages are mind-boggling.”

“A biological mind is vastly superior to any machine. Mating one biologic system with another is a thing we will teach you when you are ready.”

“Of course a biological mind is superior, but the ability to control a device remotely. The medical advantages of allowing a doctor to control a miniature robot that could do incision-less surgery. The potentials are limitless.”

“Yes yes. I'm hungry. Prepare a sandwich for me.”

Ashley stared at the alien. “Tannal, I'm a doctoral candidate in biology. I am your girlfriend. I am not your servant.”

Tannal snorted. “I am a Darmuk. You are human. I think a measure of respect is due us considering what we are giving your people.”

“That may be true outside our relationship, but here we're Tannal and Ashley. I'm not your slave.”

“Bring me the food!” Tannal picked up the remote and turned on the television at the foot of his bed.

“Look, Tannal. I am not jumping up and getting you a sandwich. Now stop ignoring me and turn off the television.”

Tannal turned up the volume. Ashley stood and pulled the plug.

“I was watching that,” snapped Tannal.

“You know Zane was right, you are an arrogant prat,” snapped Ashley.

Tannal surged out of the bed and backhanded her across the mouth. “I am a Darmuk; no human may speak to me so!” His eyes blazed with an insane fury.

Ashley stared at him. “You hit me!” she whispered.

Tannal looked down at her then comprehension penetrated the clouds in his eyes.

“I…I…You know the hormonal balance in this form affects me sometimes. You should not have upset me so.” He held out his hand and helped Ashley to her feet.

“Whatever you say.” There was cold fire in her as she gathered her clothing. “I have to work on the interface. Osa is expecting me.”

“Meet me here when you are finished. We can have sex again.”

Ashley was dressed and now stood by the door. “Tannal, you will never touch me again. No man hits me twice, ever! If you want to do things like that, find a woman who's fool enough to put up with it. We're through!” She stepped through the doorway and hurried from the embassy complex.

Zane and Richard lay by the heating vent in Betty's old room listening. The last rays of the setting sun pushed past the boards on the window to paint images on the wall.

* * * *

Janis dished a small portion of beans onto the cracked and chipped plates and passed them to the two men who sat side by side on her couch. Late evening sun crept in around the drawn curtains.

“Really Janis, this is unnecessary,” objected Wendle. His tall, lanky form was dressed in a battered suit and his boyish face was marred by a brand that looked like an eyeball pierced by a sword on his left cheek. His unruly black hair was hacked short.

“If we give up all the amenities we become as bad as the things we fight. I have the food to spare, so don't fret.” Janis picked up her own plate.

“Janis, you really should—”

”Dear heart, you're being ungracious,” said Stanley, who sat with his thigh pressed against Wendle's.

Wendle smiled at the man and cupped his cheek in his palm. “My Stanley, always the one for manners.” He kissed the other man on the lips.

“Thank you. Now that we have stopped being too polite for our own good, eat up you two then fill me in on the cell status in LA,” said Janis.

Stanley shoveled the food into his mouth then licked the plate clean. He smiled sheepishly at Janis. “Sorry for the bad manners.”

“Practicality has to take precedence. No use in wasting good calories.”

“Most gracious of you. If you will give me a moment?”

“Of course. So Wendle, how have you been?” asked Janis as the blonde closed his eyes and began breathing deeply.

“Well enough. Stan and I had to move. The old place was found out. We have a nice little house in West Hollywood now. Good sewer access. Still has running water, since the main line services an industrial complex somewhere farther up. Frances is growing like a weed.”

“How old is he now?”

“Thirteen. Crack shot, can hit a
Darmuk
from three klicks. Kept up with his reading and writing too, though he hates math, except for trigonometry. He says that if it will help him aim a cannon, it's worth knowing.”

“Sound's like quite a lad.”

“He is. He still misses his parents, but Janis, he's just like a son to Stan and I, couldn't love him more.”

“I am ready,” interrupted Stanley in an odd monotone.

“Begin.” Janis picked up a note pad and pen.

“Cell fourteen, Malabo sector, confirmed operations. Bombing munitions facility. Bombing rail transports. Successful depth charge attack against aquatic
Darmuk
brigade. Opened sea passage for supply drops. Confirmed kills forty-seven, suspected kills two-hundred, dead sixteen, captured three, recruited seven.

“Cell thirteen,” the monotone droned on as Stanley recited the information. When he finished his memory trace broke and he smiled at Janis.”

“Damn useful that trick,” said Janis.

“Ashley taught it to me when I was having trouble memorizing things for exams. It's an old mediator's discipline. Always aced examines after that.” Stanley smiled but looked tired.

“You okay, pooky?” asked Wendle.

“Takes a lot out of me.”

“Is there anything that might help?” Janis already knew what the answer would be.

“Now that you mention it.” Stanley bit his lower lip and stared suggestively at Wendle.

“Well…um…yes…Well…” sputtered the dark haired man.

“Janis and Stanley laughed.

“Gets you every time, Wendle,” remarked Janis.

“It just seems odd in this house. Richard preferred that I be discreet. He never got over being uncomfortable, though I have to admit he tried, and I loved him for the effort.” said Wendell.

Janis sobered. “Business before pleasure then you two can use my basement for your, ‘Nap'. How that helps clear your head I'll never understand.”

“Ashley said it was a serotonin and endorphin release, helps clear the fuzz from the memory trance,” explained Stanley.

“If you say so. Personally, I just think you like showing off.

“Onto business. I need the LA cells to do a series of major raids starting thirteen hundred two days from now. They should be enough to keep the
Darmuks
from redeploying troops to other sectors.”

“Janis, that will most likely get a lot of people killed,” objected Wendle.

“I know, but it's necessary.”

“Why?” asked Stan.

“The less you know, the less you can tell.”

“I don't like this.” Wendle drummed his fingers against his thigh.

“Will you do it?” asked Janis.

“You are my cell liaison. Unless Richard or Zane countermands you, I am honor bound to obey. I just don't see what could be worth the cost.”

“I believe it's worth the price.”

Wendle nodded. “Then we will comply. A major series of strikes.”

“Good. Stan, prepare to accept plans.”

“Stanley, the human computer, at your service.” The small man began taking deep, slow breaths. Wendle watched him, a dopy expression on his face.

“Wendle. I'd like you to send Frances to the mountain companies. As far inland as you can manage.”

“Janis…”

“Just do it. Because we're old friends.”

“Oh, God!” Wendle closed his eyes and went pale.

“I am ready,” Stanley said in a monotone.

Janis began reading deployment orders for the LA underground from her note pad. As she finished each page she tore it away and made a small stack on the table.

When she finished Stanley looked glassy-eyed for several seconds then collapsed against Wendle who embraced him.

“I don't know what this is about Janis, but I hope to God it works, because the LA underground will be wiped out afterwards,” observed Wendle.

“I know it's risky, but we have no choice.”

“Humans ascendant.” Wendle punched his hand into the air.

“Humans ascendant.” Janis copied the resistance salute.

“Dear heart,” whispered Stanley.

“Of course.” Wendle kissed his lover and they stood, Wendle helping to support the smaller man. “Next time you see Zane tell him hello and give him a big kiss for us.”

“The second should make him uncomfortable,” said Janis.

“That is exactly why I'd do it.” Wendle smiled and moved with his mate to the basement stairs.

Two hours later Richard and Zane joined Janis to huddle around a candle's merger light in her living room.

“I wish you could have spoken to them. Both of you, it would have meant a lot,” said Janis.

“Couldn't take the risk. Even the strongest can break under the right circumstances. Though I must admit, I am surprised. I never thought that Wendle and Stan would last,” said Richard.

“English drivers.” Zane looked disgusted. He sat on the couch with Janis cuddled under his arm.

“I truly hate that expression!” said Richard.

“He told me once that his first experience was in that boarding school your mother sent the two of you to,” said Janis.

“Doesn't surprise me. An all boy school, I don't know what my mother expected would come of that. I'm just lucky my Father rescued me, or I might have shared Wendle's fate.”

“Nurture verses nature. You really believe that?” asked Janis.

“I believe it's a mix of both. Wendle did date women for a time. Remember Debra.”

“She was a lesbian he was using as a cover. He pretended to like women while he was getting his agency off the ground.” Janis shrugged.

“She. But…” sputtered Richard.

“I always suspected. He told me when he and Stanley took command of their resistance cell. He wanted to be completely honest.”

“No surprise. He was always a fairy princess when I knew him,” said Zane.

“Now love. You know he had a crush on you for several years, don't you?”

“Me! What no! No way! I mean, I'm straight. I didn't even like the back tickler.”

“Oh, he was hot for you. When Richard and I split and he helped move Richard's furniture. He came back here afterwards to talk to me. He said you were so hot it was all he could do to stop himself from grabbing you in the truck. He used to fantasize about you all the time.”

“Um…err…”

“You know, Zane. Driving in England isn't that difficult,” quipped Richard.

“Honey, let's go upstairs,” said Zane.

“Mission accomplished.” Janis smiled wickedly and took his hand.

“Have fun proving yourself, Zane.” Richard blew out the candle and headed for his bed in the basement.

* * * *

Wendle and Stanley moved through the sewers. Above it was full night and no hint of light entered the tunnel around them. The light intensification goggles they wore cast the world in shades of green.

“How close to the egress point?” Wendle rubbed the back of his head where the goggles strap chafed him.

“The map says another hundred meters.”

Wendle pulled a child's walkie-talkie from the pocket of his jacket and pressed the code key twice. Waited the count of fifteen then pressed it twice again.

The radio clicked twice. Paused for three seconds, clicked once, paused for six seconds then clicked twice.

“All clear above,” whispered Wendle.

The two men moved along the sewer.

They crossed a side passage. Each glanced in and saw nothing. In the filthy water at the passage's bottom something stirred. It had proven too stupid to hold even a rudimentary program. A solitary hunter that had dominated its ecological niche long before the ancestors of man had stood erect. Born of an unholy union of crocodile and human DNA, its hide and head resembled the ladder, while it was as at home on four legs as two. Long claws extended from his forelimbs and it was hungry.

Stanley heard a click from behind and spun. “Wendle!” he shouted and pulled a nine-millimeter from his pocket. The beast charged, despite the shots that flew towards it.

The first two lead bullets flattened against its artificially-toughened hide.

The next two magnesium tipped hollow points made it stagger, but it kept coming.

It roared in pain as the two steel jacketed armor piercing slugs struck it.

It practically ignored the two Teflon cop killers that followed those.

The final bullet flew out hitting the beast. The explosive charge detonated staggering the Darmuk.

Stan pulled the trigger but the clip was empty.

“Shit!”

Wendle's gun spoke as the creature lunged forward. It staggered with the shots then lay still in the trickle of filthy water on the tunnel's floor.

“Are you hurt, Love?” asked Wendle.

“No but we better—”

The sound of running feet came from up the passage. Light exploded in the distance and both men pulled off their goggles.

“They heard us.” Wendle slipped a fresh clip into his gun.

“We can't lead them to the others!” said Stanley.

A company of
Darmuks
of mixed types were racing towards them.

“Grenades,” snapped Wendle.

“We'll bring the roof in on ourselves.”

“Go. Run, I'll hold them. Get the instructions to the others.”

“Wendle?”

“Go. I Love you. Go.”

The
Darmuks
were closer and now shouted in delight at having spotted their prey.

“I love you too,” Stan hastily kissed Wendle then raced up the passage.

Wendle stood his ground as the
Darmuks
drew near. A shot rang past his head and he emptied his clip at the approaching beasts. He dumped the clip and loaded his third and final one. The bio-forms continued to charge, despite the fact that several now lay dying. Wendle slammed his hand against a device in his breast pocket. A microphone over his heart activated, constantly resetting a small clock.

He emptied his final clip.

“Clear,” sounded a voice he loved and knew he would never hear again.

A bullet tore into his shoulder. Wendle screamed in agony, dropping to his knees. His right arm wouldn't move. The
Darmuks
drew nearer. He fumbled in his pocket with his left hand and pulled out a small, round hand-grenade. His pulse hammered in his ears. Bracing it between his knees he pulled the pin.

Another shot tore into his belly. It burned like fire. His vision blurred. He grasped the grenade and threw it. The
Darmuks
dove to get clear. It exploded splattering several of them against the walls and crippling others.