Anaz-Voohri (11 page)

Tia realized it was the first time she’d seen him in a civilized setting, away from the dust and grit of the outdoors training. She wondered at his presence and didn’t like the feeling. Did he complain to the CO about her radical training methods?

The colonel indicated a chair. “Join us, Lieutenant. We are discussing the classes to be taught the new recruits, starting next week.”

We?
Tia remained standing and glanced at Private Duncan who smiled mysteriously. What was going on?
“Permission to speak freely, sir."

The Colonel leaned back into his chair behind the metal desk.
“By all means, Lieutenant.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring these recruits into the classroom so soon." Tia glanced at Zack Duncan but he didn’t react. “They barely finished Basic Training. With all due respect, sir, six hours daily in a chair in this air-conditioned facility could ruin weeks of careful physical conditioning.”

The Colonel reached for a file cabinet and considered her gravely as he pulled out a manila folder. “I thought you’d be eager to move on as well, Lieutenant. After all, you are an important member of this elite corps.”

“I do want to move on, sir. It’s just that the newest recruits are not quite ready, yet."

“Right."
The colonel flipped through the file. “You’ll still have the early morning to whip them into shape, Lieutenant. I’m confident you’ll work your magic.”

Tia basked in the compliment. “Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best.”

“I know your heart is in the right place, Lieutenant, but the decision comes directly from Washington. This unit must start its specific training immediately.”

“What specific training?" Tia remembered Zack Duncan’s insinuation that day on the trail, before the rattler strike. Did he really know something she didn’t?

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll bring the recruits inside at ten hundred to teach your advanced weaponry class. The rest of the day, you’ll attend the other classes with them.”

“Yes, sir."
Tia didn’t mind studying with the recruits. Although her days at West Point seemed far away, she still enjoyed learning. She would be the best student in her class, as always.

“One more thing."
The colonel smiled briefly. “Private Duncan was recommended for his extensive knowledge of the enemy. He will teach a class in applied psychology and warfare specific to that particular enemy.”

“Duncan?" She couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice and dropped into the chair. What could Duncan possibly know that was so important?

The colonel’s eyes hardened and the muscles of his jaw flexed. “Is there a problem, Lieutenant?”

“No, sir."
Tia couldn’t report her personal objections, or Zack’s ability to fray her nerves. She hated weakness and failure, and Zack Duncan reminded her each day that she’d failed to break him. On the other hand, she admired his unusual resilience. No recruit had ever challenged her this much.

“Private Duncan has been promoted to Second Lieutenant.”

“Lieutenant?"
She stared at Zack Duncan, unbelieving.

The rascal had the gall to grin. He must have known all along.

The Colonel tapped the folder. “Duncan has a Masters and apparently his knowledge is so important that Washington insisted we put him in charge of his own unit as soon as possible.”

“I see." Tia cursed her bad luck. Not only had Zack Duncan almost overcome her in front of the recruits, challenged her time and again, but he had connections in Washington, DC.
And now a promotion just below her own rank?
“May I ask what kind of classes Private, er, Second Lieutenant Duncan will be teaching?”

The Colonel rose. “Unfortunately, I have to go. Duncan is the most qualified to explain, so I’ll let him do it."

“Yes, sir."
Zack Duncan’s turquoise eyes sparkled.

The Colonel left and closed the door behind him.

Tia forced an uncomfortable smile. “So what’s all the mystery about?”

Duncan
pulled out of his pocket a book and placed it on the desk in front of her. “It’s pretty much explained in here.
At least the basic idea.”

Tia took the book and scanned the cover.
Alien in My Sister’s Bedroom
by Zack Duncan. He’d published a book about aliens? Tia had always considered alien encounters nonsense. When her mother claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials while pregnant with Tia, her father had the woman locked up for months. Ever since, the subject had been taboo in her family. “Is this a bad joke?"

“I wish it were." Zack Duncan looked so serious. “But according to recent satellite footage, they are very close, probably watching us even now.”

Tia’s mind ran like a supercomputer gone haywire. The Colonel wouldn’t kid about such things. It had to be true. All this time she’d honed her skills to fight terrorists, and now they were out to fight an alien race? Nothing prepared her for such an enemy. “How did you happen to know so much about these... aliens?”

Zack Duncan shrugged. “Just read the book and you’ll understand. Everything in it is true. The specific knowledge is extensive, however, and will have to be taught in the class." He rose. “If you have any question, you can ask me later.”

Astounded, Tia watched Zack Duncan leave the office.
Aliens?
Could her mother have told the truth all these years? Tia still found it difficult to believe.

*****

“And that concludes our first advanced weapons class." Tia pushed the open nuclear missile casing to the side of the low stage to make room for the following teacher. She stepped down then walked to the back of the class to take her seat for the next session.

Curiosity and anticipation made Tia’s heart beat a little faster when Second Lieutenant Zack Duncan stepped up to the podium, carrying a heavy box full of shiny books, the same title she’d read voraciously over the last two days. He looked dashing and wore his officer’s insignia with dignity.

Taller than most, Zack Duncan had strong new muscles nicely defined under the light shirt. Well shaven, even refined... She wondered what kind of aftershave he used. He seemed to glow from the inside with youthful enthusiasm. Without a word, he drew on the white board, a prime opportunity for Tia to assess his perfectly rounded butt.

Coming out of her reverie, Tia stared at the unlikely figure Zack Duncan drew on the board. She glanced at the other soldiers. They looked mystified.

Duncan
turned to face the class with a bright smile, marker in one hand, dry sponge in the other. “Anyone recognizes this dude?”

The recruits just shook their heads, dumfounded. A few soldiers sniggered and chuckled as they glanced at each other.

Tia took a deep breath. The figure looked like a scary alien from the worst Sci-fi movies, with no hair, big eyes, an elongated head, a long cape and spidery fingers. It reminded her of strange disturbing dreams she’d had lately. Could there be a connection?

“Unfortunately for us, this,” he pointed at the board with emphasis, “is the face of our enemy." The new Lieutenant flashed Tia a friendly smile then gazed over the heads of the forty or so students.

A few chuckles circulated among the rows.

“Laugh all you want right now, and get it over with." Zack Duncan grew serious and looked suddenly older, as if weighed with responsibilities. “Washington doesn’t spend billions on jokes, so think twice and take a good look. Of course, this information is highly classified.”

 
“Yes sir,”
came
the unanimous response, punctuated by nods.

 
“This alien race is called the Anaz-voohri, and they come from a star system called The Pleiades...”

Fascinated, Tia understood why the colonel had kept their true purpose a secret for so long. And who knew this irritating soldier had such inside knowledge? She’d read the book, and although it didn’t offer any tangible proof, the sincerity of Duncan’s testimony shone through like a bright fire. Tia experienced an intriguing new sense of respect for Zack. She still had problems assimilating this new knowledge, but he’d written a very convincing argument.

As the new lieutenant went on to explain for the class the basic tenets of Anaz-voohri society, his natural charisma kept the soldiers under a spell. He reported the most unbelievable facts and theories with a matter-of-fact attitude that barred any challenge. He easily communicated his passion for the topic, and the class listened with excitement.

Could he really be that good? He certainly could mesmerize a crowd. Tia realized she had grossly underestimated him during basic training. Despite his scabrous topic, he won the respect of the platoon. She wondered what else he might be good at and would make it a point to find out.

The class ended in effusive applause. Tia couldn’t help but join in.

Zack Duncan motioned a recruit to distribute the books. “That’s your homework for this week. You have to read the whole thing. No cheating. There will be a test.”

The soldiers left the room for lunch break, high-fiving each other, saying, “Let’s kick alien ass, man.”

Tia walked up to the man of the hour, busy erasing his vivid drawings. “Well done, Lieutenant. May I say you are a skilled sketch artist as
well.
”

“Thanks. I had some practice." He glanced at her over his shoulder then faced Tia sheepishly. “I’m not used to that rank thing. I’d prefer it if you called me Zack.”

“Really?"
What kind of officer didn’t care about rank? Tia silenced her misgivings. After all, it suited her. “Well, I’ll call you Zack and I guess since our ranks are so close, you can call me Tia. Want to grab lunch at the officers’ mess?”

“There is an officers’ mess.

“I see you haven’t been briefed, yet.”

Zack broke into a wide smile. “
Haven’t had a decent meal
in three months."

“Right, since you got here." Tia laughed. “I wouldn’t eat what passes for food in the mess tent outside. It’s healthy, to be sure, but loaded with salt and carbohydrates, and for the purpose of Basic Training they make it look as repulsive as possible."

She led the way along the drab concrete tunnels of the underground facility. The Officers' Mess, although far from cheery, had beige walls and bright blue polymer tables and chairs that broke the monotony of the naked concrete.

As they approached the buffet line, Tia noticed Zack’s gaze roaming over the food. “What’s the matter?”

Zack whistled. “Now that’s what I call a smorgasbord!"

“Officers enjoy special privileges." Tia selected shrimp with salad greens, nuts and fruit.

Zack heaped two plates, one with beef stroganoff and the other with poached salmon in cream sauce. “Can I come back for dessert?”

Tia couldn’t help but chuckle as they carried their trays to the soda fountain. “You sure you’re going to eat all that?"

Zack nodded and winked then filled his cup with soda. “You bet..."

He didn’t finish the sentence, but Tia wondered whether he’d meant to add
your sweet ass
. She smiled at the thought. Trays in hand, they negotiated their way to a table in a corner, slightly away from the noise and the activity of the other officers.

Tia sat and took a sip of iced tea, no sugar, the healthiest drink in the place. “Do you still have psychic contacts with your sister?" Tia was hard pressed to hide her awe of such ability.

“Not in months." Zack attacked his food with a healthy appetite.

She picked at her shrimp. “Can you communicate like that with other people as well?”

Zack swallowed and washed down his stew with soda. He hesitated. “I never tried.”

“You should." Tia had never left any of her special talents unexplored. She pretended to work on her salad. She felt inadequate when others had abilities she lacked.

Apparently flattered by her interest, Zack slowed his food intake. He shrugged. “Maybe I will.”

At least he had the good taste not to gloat about it. “Where is your sister now?”

Zack frowned. “I have no clue. Probably with them...if she’s still alive...”

“I’m sorry." Sad memories came to Tia’s mind. “I lost a brother in the Trade Center terrorist attack.”

Zack’s brow darkened. “They’ll pay for what they’ve done. All of them." The determination in his voice surprised Tia.

But she couldn’t let herself fall under Zack’s newfound charm. She had to remind herself that the rules forbade fraternization, although she saw no harm in sharing tactical info, officer to officer. “How can we possibly fight the Anaz-voohri effectively?" She realized Zack’s knowledge placed her at a disadvantage and she wanted to learn.

“Obviously we don’t have the means to travel far in space, but the way I look at it, we have two choices. Either we bait them and bring them to the surface to fight, or we meet them in orbit when they come close to Earth.”

“In orbit?"
Tia wiped her mouth with a napkin to hide her discomfort. She’d had scary dreams about space all her life.