Alien Deception (27 page)

He closed his eyes as images and information flowed through his mind like a raging ocean. Greg harnessed them, one by one, first seeing the Leader of the Council and his dangerous anger in full wrath, demanding whatever it was that this alien had. He realized that this thing or device possessed indisputable proof that the Leader had made tremendous mistakes in his mismanagement of the Council and Earth. Then he had worsened the situation further by the placement of two agents on the planet, an action not sanctioned by the Council.

Greg drew in his breath, soaking in the information that was being shown to him. The two agents had decided to defect to Earth, not to go back to Zire or to the Leader, Copolla. They settled on Earth and met two Earth women. They fell in love, and produced children, violating the policy strictly forbidden by the Council regarding procreation whereby there is a mixture of different DNA.

Greg suddenly felt as if he had been punched in his stomach and all the air was evacuating for a safer haven. He was shocked when the pieces of the puzzle fell together. Now he knew the truth about why Copolla and the UCDW had selected them. He found it difficult to believe, but he tried to put these thoughts in a back corner of his mind so he could address the matter at hand—the alien and his package for Leumas.

Realizing that he needed the information this alien possessed to complete the puzzle, Greg sensed that the proof was somehow contained in the mysterious item the alien held so securely in his pocket. The image of an information storage device, or computer core, formed in his mind.

Greg also knew the alien would not hand it over to him willingly and, if he didn't act quickly, the core would end up in Leumas’ hands or possibly be destroyed.

He carefully maneuvered closer to the alien form standing only a few feet away and applied some influence to its thoughts. He wasn't too sure of his newfound ability except for what he had done in the airport, so he had no idea if he could accomplish this goal.

Greg directed telepathically,
::Give the core to me! I will see that it gets to where it needs to go. Give the core to me! I will see that it gets to where it needs to go.::

He repeated it several times over, hoping the thoughts had broken through the alien's subconscious. He suddenly realized he didn't even know the alien's name, even after all the tinkering he'd been doing within its mind. Maybe it would make the directive seem more credible, more believable, if he used it. He searched the alien's neural pathways looking for it, grasped it and reapplied it to his influence.

::Give the core to me, Journo! I will see that it gets to where it needs to go.::
He repeated it again.
::Give the core to me, Journo! I will see that it gets to where it needs to go.::

The alien's eyes suddenly turned toward Greg, and he stared into their fathomless darkness as he reiterated the mental chant over and over again.

Journo now took purposeful steps toward Greg.

Chapter Eighteen

ALL THINGS DON'T END WELL

Sarah's attention was suddenly drawn away from Leumas by Greg's voice coming through in her mind.
::Sarah, you need to come out here. I have someone I think can help us.::

::But I'm here with Leumas,::
she responded, quickly.

::I know. Bring him along, too. He will be very interested in what this person has to offer.::

::And if he doesn't want to come along?::

::Don't worry. He'll come. Just tell him one of Copolla's loyal subjects is here and wants to talk with him. Tell him it's Journo.::

At the mere mention of Journo's name, Leumas was more than eager to go with Sarah. Leumas knew the critical role Journo played in Copolla's organization, and knew the alien's hands had dirt and blood permanently smeared all over them. However, he also was greatly interested in finding out why Journo had come to Earth. He quickly deduced there could only be two reasons. He was either here to kill Greg, Sarah or himself, or he was running from Copolla. If it was the latter, Journo could possess a wealth of knowledge that would help Leumas in his quest to go back to the Council and get rid of Copolla. If the former reason applied, he felt for the weapon he had under his suit jacket.

Sarah was amazed at all the people who had gathered since their arrival. It was difficult just to move, and nearly impossible to find Greg. She sent her thoughts to him.
::Greg, we're outside. Where are you?::

::We're to your right, by the large circular pillars. See them?::

::Yes, I see them, but not you. I'll head in that direction,::
she said, grabbing Leumas’s arm to pull him along.

Leumas stopped and looked at her strangely. "You can communicate with him, can't you? Telepathically. That's what you meant by what you said earlier, about talking to Greg, isn't it?"

"Congratulations, Mr. Leumas. You win the bonus prize," she said sarcastically. Then angrily, she began, "And all because of you. All of your messing around in our heads has created some interesting side effects. Where does it all end, Leumas? Will Greg and I turn into some kind of freaks or something?" Her face had become red with indignation, and she continued, "Will Barnum and Bailey be our next resume stop? You can't go messing around with other people like they are toys or something!"

Suddenly, the file that Leumas had placed on the side in his mind opened and the pieces all came together now. He thought about the information Greta had gotten from Biom and he saw the truth about Greg and Sarah. There was no other plausible explanation. He said pleadingly, "Sarah, you must believe me when I say that I had concerns about all of this all along. Things were not made known to me until after this whole affair had begun." He wrinkled his brow, still thinking. "And some things I didn't realize until just a few seconds ago. If I had known earlier, I would have proceeded differently. Apparently, my suspicions were correct."

"Suspicions about what?" she asked, her anger suddenly replaced by interest as she nodded to indicate their direction toward the pillars where Greg waited with Journo.

He announced suddenly, "You're a hybrid. A mixture of two cultures, one human and one alien."

Sarah abruptly stopped, nearly knocking over one of people in the crowd. "What do you mean, I'm a hybrid?" she asked with angered bewilderment. "What the hell are you talking about, Leumas? Don't you know when enough is enough? Do you think this stuff is funny, playing with people's lives?"

Leumas said calmly, "Your father was an alien, and so was Greg's. Copolla sent them to Earth. While here, they decided to stay. They met two human women and then, well, you know the rest."

Sarah was speechless and suddenly pale as she struggled to whisper, "How could it be? That's impossible. I, ah, would have known or suspected something. My father was a great—"

Her distress was broken by Greg's thoughts.
::Sarah, please hurry. I have a feeling that we don't have much time!::

He received only silence, and then thought with concern. ::
Sarah, can you hear me?::

Sarah, trying to regain her composure, thought back,
::Uh, yes, Greg. We're coming.::
She resumed walking quickly with Leumas in tow. Silence between the two was the only conversation, both deep in their own thoughts. ::
Greg?::
Sarah called.
::I have to tell you something that Leumas just told me. It can't wait. My, I mean our, fathers…::

Calmly Greg said,
::I already know, Sarah. Yes, and it's all—true. I just found out. Both of our fathers were not human.::

::But how could it
—::

::Sarah, I know it hurts and it will be hard not to think about it now. But we're going to have to deal with the matter at hand first. Just keep coming and please hurry.::

She sensed the urgency in his voice, and they picked up their pace. The crowd was thinning somewhat as their distance from the campaign headquarters increased, making their headway somewhat easier. As her analytical mind returned, she suddenly asked Leumas, "The reason we were picked for the UCDW was because of our mixed heritage?"

"That, I'm sure, was half the reason," Leumas replied. "The other half was because you were a mistake that had to be removed. Copolla didn't want to leave anything to chance." He continued to put his suspicions into words. "He probably suspected that I might find out about it and exploit the information. And if I divulged it to the Council, he would fall from favor. As far as the Council knows, you were chosen randomly based upon your beliefs and characteristics."

"Why not just kill us?" she asked simply.

Leumas, elbowing his way through the crowd, continued, "Copolla wasn't sure of how much of a risk you and Greg were. Plus, I think he was waiting to see if you did develop any interesting abilities because of the mixtures of DNA. When he didn't see any and you became a risk, he saw an opportunity to get rid of you. In fact, as far as Copolla knows, you two are dead. He thinks you were killed during the memory wipe."

"So how did we get back here?" she asked.

"I brought you here," he responded simply. "I felt you deserved to resume your lives here on Earth, and I just didn't mention it to anyone."

Sarah smiled appreciatively, her feelings for Leumas softened somewhat from earlier. But that still didn't explain his presence. "Why are you here on Earth?"

He cleared his throat. "Because of my failure to indoctrinate you successfully into the Council, I was sent here under the premise to move the planet Earth forward into space exploration and development." He smiled cynically and continued, "At least, that is what the Council was lead to believe, anyway. Copolla knows that it will probably take the rest of my life to accomplish that. I realize now that the people of Earth are not ready just yet for that big of a jump."

Leumas paused, and shrugged. "So, you're out of the way, Greg is out of the way, and I am out of the way. Copolla has free run of Zire and the Council, and he does not have to worry about his past."

"So your sentence is to serve your time here on Earth," she said.

Leumas nodded. "That's it."

Sarah seeing that they were nearly to the meeting point, quickened her step, tugging at Leumas’s shirtsleeve.

He chuckled, "Sentence is a kind word. This is Copolla's way of eliminating the competition, you might say. I am, or was, too well known to be suddenly killed, so this is the next best thing, banishment from Zire." He smiled and continued. "But, hey, you never know, I have a better than fifty-fifty shot at making this work. Perhaps I can move Earth forward in unity to the exploration and utilization of space and its vast resources." Then, sarcastically, "I might make it back to the Council and pursue Copolla when I am old and decrepit. That is, of course, if I can accomplish this before the Earth kills itself directly in conflict or depletes its resources beyond a safe point of return."

Sarah was about to comment, but they had stopped. They were now at the point that Greg had mentioned, at the base of the pillar. They scanned the crowd, not seeing Greg or Journo.

Greg's amused voice surprised them. "Well, well, well. If it isn't our good alien friend and neighbor, Leumas," he said as he walked toward them with Journo by his side. "Allow me to introduce my good friend Journo. He has come to help us—" Before Greg could finish his statement, there was a sudden blinding flash of bright light and intense heat emitting from Journo.

They shielded their eyes against the momentary flash of light and heat. In an instant, where Journo had been standing, there was now nothing but a pile of black ash lying on the cement. Sarah and Greg stood in speechless horror. They had never seen what happened when an internal loyalty device was activated. Leumas had and he immediately realized what had happened.

"Is this what membership in the Council brings?" Sarah asked. "Death!" Her voice full of fear and anger.

"This is not the work of the Council," Leumas began, angry over this senseless loss. "This is Copolla's filthy doing."

Greg silently shook his head in disbelief and sympathy for what had just happened. He knew the curiosity of the crowd would bring them to the site in a matter of moments. What had to be done had to be done quickly.

"Well, that's it, then," Leumas said, disgustedly, staring at the pile of ash. Inside, the glimmer of hope was extinguished, along with his plans of using Journo to bring about Copolla's downfall.

"Maybe not, Leumas," Greg said. "I know what you wanted from him."

Leumas looked curiously at Greg, then asked skeptically, "Do you now? And how, might I ask, do you—"

Greg jumped into Leumas’s mind and answered his question loud and clear.
::The computer core from the archives with the information about Copolla's wrongdoing.::

Leumas grabbed his temples, wincing from the pain that Greg had inflicted unmercifully to ensure he understood. Greg quickly turned toward Sarah.
::Just follow along, Sarah; you're going to have to trust me on this one.::

::I do,::
she replied.
::With all my heart.::

"Now look, Leumas, we only have a minute, if that," Greg said out loud, eyeing the curious crowd starting to meander its way toward us. Telepathically, he said,
::You want what Journo had. I have it now. We can either make a deal, or I can erase this with a mere thought.::
He held up the computer core and watched Leumas gaze at it with envy, knowing this was the answer to all of his problems.

::But does it have all the…::
Leumas began to think in his mind.

Greg finished the thought,
::Yes; it has all the information that you need to end Copolla's dictatorship.::

Leumas knew Greg wasn't lying. He was also amazed at the amount of telepathic ability Greg possessed. Leumas had not met a Zirean or any other alien in all of his travels who possessed such strength.