Alien Deception (6 page)

Leumas examined the card. There were a series of numbers written on it and the name, Rachel. He looked back at the woman and was about to ask for clarification about the numbers, but when he saw the hungry look in her eyes, he just smiled at her and kept his mouth shut.

Thankfully, Sarah's body arrived on a gurney escorted by the two orderlies at that moment. Several small pieces of equipment linked to tubes and wires kept her bodily functions working. Leumas, not wanting to leave anything else to chance, took control.

"I would like to thank you and your most efficient staff for your help in expediting this transfer. I have to go. Every second is vital, you know," he said, pushing the body toward the exit doors.

The two orderlies looked at Nurse Johnson questioningly, as if waiting for her to say something. It was not normal procedure to let a body go without an escort by a hospital staff member. Sensing the momentary confusion, Leumas continued on diplomatically, "I will be sure to contact your supervisors at the first opportunity, and tell them that all of the people here this morning were extra cooperative, caring, and probably saved a little six…ten…" he blinked, and fumbled through his brain.

Nurse Johnson perked up at this confused statement, and looked at him with a question on her lips. Leumas, sensing her intense interest, quickly corrected his statement.

"I mean, of course, the twelve-year-old girl's life! There are just so many in need," he said confidently. "Thanks again, and have a good day."

"Call me," the nurse called as the door closed.

Finally outside with his subject, he wiped his brow, and let out the breath he had been holding. Fortunately, at this early hour of the Earth morning, there were virtually no people around to interfere with him once he was outside. He slipped easily back into his ship and quickly placed Sarah under life stasis.

"As fresh as a daisy on the Exalta moon," he said, satisfied after checking all the monitors he had hooked Sarah up to. He informed the
Blessed
to proceed to the next and last destination of his voyage on Earth, to a city further south called New Orleans. The computer acknowledged and estimated his destination would be reached in approximately fifteen standard Earth minutes.

Leumas took the opportunity to review the current political, economical and religious climate on Earth by scanning the media reports. Nothing of any significance caught his attention immediately, but, as he continued to scan the report, one item caught his eye. For some reason he felt he should keep in his mind for future consideration.

The country within the Earth's North American continent, the United States, had a major political election coming up. The commentator spoke on how people were looking for change; he called it an opportune time to set the course for revitalization and out-of-the-box thinking. Leumas liked that expression; he would have to remember that in the future. He thought it was a good way to describe his attitude, out-of-the-box.

That is why you were given this assignment,
an arrogant voice inside of him asserted.

Yes, you're probably right,
he agreed with himself cockily as he tucked away the information for future reference. It might be useful in this game of Copolla's he had been thrown into. His thoughts were interrupted by the
Blessed.

 Destination achieved. The Earth city known as New Orleans.

Leumas followed pretty much the same procedures as he had in New York, including using the same clothing and appropriate paperwork. This time he even made sure he had legal verification, which was produced and ready as Leumas left the
Blessed.

He noticed on arrival that finding a spot to park his ship in the near vicinity of the hospital was much more difficult. There seemed to be numerous monstrous things all over the place. He did some quick research that stated the things were called "floats" and were part of some Earth ritual or holiday or something. There were also many more people about at the early hour. He ended up leaving his camouflaged ship suspended in the air around the corner from the New Orleans Mercy Hospital's entrance. Clutching the paperwork, he entered the hospital, found the information counter, and presented his information to the duty nurse.

This nurse was certainly not like the one in New York. She was young and…

His attention was immediately drawn to the string of large—very large—beads around her neck. The beads immediately sent Leumas’s mind to thoughts of a ritual performed on Alco Seven, one of the planets he had made initial contact with. The large beads were worn by females who were, well, what could be called more promiscuous than most. The size of the beads on Alco Seven was indicative of their activity level.

He was gazing almost dreamily at the over-sized beads with an ingrained smile on his face when the woman spoke.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked distractedly, her hands unconsciously working the beads through her fingers.

"Ah, yes you can," he began slowly, still unable to take his eyes from the beads making their way through the opening and closing of her fingers.

"I'm from the, uh… Donor Collection Institute," he began, trying to clear his throat. "We were called that a donor was being held here for pickup, a Mister Greg Carlson," Leumas said as he handed the paperwork to the woman, trying not to stare at the huge moving beads hanging provocatively around the nurse's neck.

The nurse glanced up after reading the paperwork. "Yes sir, it all looks perfectly in order. You can have the body first thing tomorrow morning." She smiled, one hand going back to the beads.

"Fine, that…" Leumas suddenly stopped as he realized what she had said. "Tomorrow morning? That's impossible. I have to have the body immediately," he said with urgency, his mind racing. What was it he had told them in New York, a 16-year-old?

"Sorry, I can't do it today. You will have to come back," the woman said, unconcerned, looking back at the magazine she had been reading.

Leumas looked at the woman, "Why can't I have his body now? You yourself said that all the paperwork is fine," he said in a pleading voice.

"Yes, the paperwork is fine but, you know, this is Mardi Gras, which you should have realized before coming. Everyone in New Orleans is involved, including half of our staff and, like I said, there can be no releases until tomorrow morning. Those are my orders. I'm sorry. Besides, the body isn't going anywhere, you know. He’s dead and on total organ support," she said as she grinned, obviously amused with herself.

Leumas’s impatience began to grow with this unconcerned nurse, beads or no beads. But he knew he would have to be careful. So he started to tell the New York story again, and even used the puppy dog eyes thing, but the woman wouldn't budge. He was on a tight schedule, and he saw no other choice, even though it was expressly forbidden in the Council’s charter.

He drew himself inward and concentrated on his thoughts, drawing on energy that surrounded him and molding it to one single thought. He silently mouthed out each syllable of the images inside of his head until a pattern was complete, and then gently pushed it into the woman's brain, massaging it into her synaptic pathways, gently, very gently.
I understand the urgency of this man's situation and, under my own authority, I will release the body of Greg Carlson to him. I understand that it may be a matter of life and death.

The nurse appeared suddenly taken back as the influence sank in. She had a glassy-eyed and slightly dazed look as she spoke. "Yes, of course… I will have the body brought immediately. What was I thinking? I feel so ashamed. This is a life-or-death matter." She immediately called two orderlies and made all the proper arrangements, shaking her head dazedly.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Leumas said, smiling sympathetically. "We all have our jobs to do, and we wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble but, in cases such as this, we have to use our own judgment."

The nurse smiled foggily at him. "Thank you for being so understanding."

Within a few moments, Greg's cold, white, waxen body was rolled out into the corridor on a gurney similar to Sarah's, with the entire organ-supporting equipment still attached. Leumas stepped forward to accept custody of the body and to make his quick departure.

"Well you all have a nice 'Marty Gra' time and stuff," he said, throwing up his hand in farewell. "I'll take my friend here and buckle him in for the ride." He hustled Greg's body toward the door and stopped. He looked back at the nurse with the large beads, pointing. "You know, I really love the beads," he said, sighing, as he went out through the doors, pushing the gurney.

At first, the nurse smiled at him as if seeing an old friend from a memorable past, but once he had departed, her look changed to one of confusion and disorientation. She turned to one of the orderlies who had brought up the body.

"Weird one, there," she said, thumbing toward the exit. She rubbed her temples and said to the other orderly, "How about you do me a favor and swing by the pharmacy and pick me up some aspirin. I've got a wicked headache."

Leumas placed Greg next to Sarah in the stasis chamber on board the
Blessed.
He stared curiously at them both. Normally, the life forms chosen as subjects were unique in some way, either very intelligent, compassionate, natural leaders, or something. But he didn't sense any of these things as he looked into both of their faces. The female subject did seem to have some pretty qualities.
She'd probably look better if she wasn't so pale though,
he thought.

As he returned to the control center of his ship, Leumas wondered why they had been chosen.
He felt it was a key part
of the puzzle. Surprisingly enough, a little voice from earlier returned and sounded in his mind,
Ask Copolla.
Leumas chuckled at the simplicity of the answer. The more he thought about it the more humorous it became, and now he was almost in hysterics.

"Yes, that sure would be the direct approach," he said as his laughter subsided. "If things were only that simple." He checked his hair in the ship's small mirror, and retrieved his Zirean clothes from the synthesizer. He then directed the onboard computer to begin the journey back to Zire.

Upon his arrival, Leumas placed Sarah and Greg into two separate rooms at the indoctrination facility. He would start conditioning them alone at first after the rejuvenation process before he allowed them to be together again. His assistants were now in the process of applying minimal feed to each brain. This early stage began by laying the groundwork in their minds, making the existence of other races and the UCDW plausible, just enough to get them thinking about it so that they would come to gradually accept the fact. After that, Leumas would bring them further along until they reached the point where they believed what they were being told, and their understanding level reached a point to make rational decisions. Or at least the decisions that the Council or Copolla more likely wanted to hear.

Chapter Six

COPOLLA’S WAY

Copolla was seated in his plush chair that complimented his huge desk and overly ornate decorated chambers. He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. Council meetings had a way of draining him of his energy.

"All talk, that's all they ever want to do," he said disgustedly as he rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "It takes forever to get things done going through these fools. They remind me of a bunch of Sevithian squawking hens."

His mind drifted off into thoughts about the plan he had set into motion to discredit Leumas, who could pose a threat to his leadership as older members were replaced with younger ones. Copolla was not going to lose his position to anyone, especially not to Leumas. He couldn't stand the vain and arrogant bastard. To this end, he had orchestrated Leumas’s new assignment, which involved, ironically, the planet Earth. The last time Copolla and the Council had dealings with this planet, the results had been disastrous, and no one knew this as well as he did. Earth was still far from ready to join the Council, but that was what made the plan perfect for what he had in mind.

Leumas had been shooting off his mouth for months now about reforming procedures regarding initial contact. He had many ideas about how things needed to be changed. All were centered on his concept of making the Council better and more efficient. Several members had even voiced their agreement with Leumas, and considered his ideas innovative and creative, a breath of fresh air. Copolla knew that these kinds of feelings amongst members could be the beginning of a movement to boost Leumas higher in his position within the Council, and Copolla did not want Leumas any higher than he already was. In fact, he thought it was time for Leumas to suffer a minor career setback.

Clip his wings and bring him back down a couple of notches,
Copolla thought menacingly.

The beauty of the plan was that it would also take care of some loose ends that had been thorns in his side for years. That was where Leumas came in. Copolla had not worked this hard, and clawed his way to where he was, to be hindered by a speck of dust like Leumas. He had seen this before, when he was much younger, and had vowed to never fall prey to it himself.

Copolla had been born on the planet Sevith and, from birth, everything had been a constant struggle. Born to a middle-level family unit, he quickly saw the differences between those that had and those that had not. He also knew he would someday be one of those that had, no matter what it took.

He discovered early on that power was the key to everything. Everything. He learned the advantages of having an edge over someone physically or mentally. This realization had started during his young education, and he had nurtured it throughout his career. His philosophy was simple. Never take an assignment that was too risky, never come between two different political views, and always—always—know everything he could about life forms he dealt with, either publicly or privately. He had also found that, in most cases, the more private the information, the better.