Apex 2: Rise of the Super Soldiers (5 page)

Orb

Just as Watson showed them the cafeteria, a message came over the PA system:
Commander Watson, there’s an urgent call you need to take from a Commander Delacourt from New Mexico. Please come to the comm. station at your earliest convenience.

Watson pulled out his radio and shook his head. He turned a dial and keyed it.

He said into the radio, “My radio was off. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Yes sir.”

He put the radio away and said, “I have to take that. I’ll be back soon, ok?”

Jack nodded as Melanie looked over the food.
He left them at a brisk pace.

An officer directed Watson to a phone. When he picked it up, a
high-pitched yet oddly confident voice said, “This is Commander Delacourt from New Mexico. I saw the same news reports that you did. When I tried to track the kids down, I was told that they’re already in your custody.”

“That’s right. We just brought them in. They’
ll be here overnight.”

“Good. Try to keep them there a little longer. We have a strange orb in our possession that looks like the orb that they described during their interviews.
At first we thought it was some type of inactive ordnance left behind by the Grey’s but now it seems it’s something else altogether.”

Watson remembered. That orb (or one just like it), according to the teenagers, was what granted them their powers.

Delacourt continued, “My technicians have had no luck unlocking its secrets. I’d like the kids to take a look at it. Maybe they can get it open.”

Watson sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll get permission to take them out of State. They’ve become a bit of a P.R. nightmare.”

“Don’t worry about that. The orb is coming your way by armored truck as we speak. I’m flying out there tonight to meet it when it gets there. Just make sure the kids stay put until we can get it to you.”

“That’s easier said than done. They have powers I barely comprehend. If they wish to leave, there’s nothing I can do to stop them.”

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re a United States General and base Commander. Are you saying you’re scared of a couple of kids?”

Watson said angrily. “Get your orb here soon and I’ll do my best to see that the kids stay put.” Because he was still angry, he added, “Did you get the appropriate clearance to do any of this?”

Delacourt laughed aloud. “This is a whole new world, man. I’d rather chew off my own foot than ask any of those idiots above us for guidance. All they’ve done is lead us astray.”

Watson knew he was right. The great
United States military machine was an overblown paper tiger in the face of the alien invasion. It was clear from the start that their leaders were inept, and when they failed to learn from each successive defeat, it put a spotlight on their ineptitude. But worse, Watson feared that his subordinates regarded him in the same way he regarded his superiors.

He said, “I’ll see you when you get here,” and hung up on Delacourt.

He had a lot to do now. He had to secure a place for the truck to deposit the orb, make sure the teenagers stuck around, all while running a military bunker that held alien prisoners. This was turning out to be a very difficult day. But the rewards could make it all worthwhile. If they could release the mist from the orb (described by Jack and Melanie), then they could use it on some of their best soldiers. With Delacourt’s help, they’d bring in the best of the best. A super soldier with all of his or her training and innate toughness would benefit immensely from the mist. Even better, maybe they could capture enough of the stuff to synthesize it to deploy to even more troops.

Death of a First Mate

Shaylo commanded, “Take up orbit twice the distance from their moon. I want to see what these people are made of before we launch our offensive.”

His first mate argued, “But sir, the men have been in stasis for long enough. They’re itching for action.”

Shaylo turned towards him very slowly and glowered.
Angrily, he said, “Wake up the highest ranking officer. No one else is to be awakened. Do you understand me?”

“Yes sir. But why are you only waking one of them?”

“Because he will be your replacement.”

The first mate yelled, “Dammit.” He knew that meant he was about to be executed.

Shaylo laughed. “You know better than to question me, you arrogant little punk. You’re getting what you deserve.”

The first mate said softly, “No one deserves to work under you.” He regretted it immediately. The more he angered Shaylo, the more painful his death would be.

Shaylo stood up from his chair and said with mock sweetness, “Never mind. I’ll wake him up on my own.” Then he pulled his archaic sword that he insisted on taking with him during every mission, rushed forward with lightning speed, and sliced through the air and then through his first mate with it.

The first mate’s upper torso fell away from the lower half of his body. It hit the floor with a dull thud as he gasped for air. Within seconds he was dead.

Shaylo made his way below deck to the stasis pods. He paced until he found a soldier qualified enough to be his first mate. He switched her pod off and waited for her to emerge.

When she did, he said to her, “You’ve just been promoted to first mate. Congratulations. Your first order of business will be to clean up the remains of your predecessor.”

“Shit.”

“Watch your language.”

“Sorry, sir. I’ll get right on it.” She shivered as she dressed, partly from the thaw from stasis but mostly because she was very afraid. A promotion to first mate was a death sentence.

Shaylo said, “When you’re done cleaning up, I want you to put us in orbit twice the distance as their moon.”

She wanted to argue but she was smart enough to hold her tongue.
If they were taking up orbit that could mean only one thing: Shaylo was nervous. Shaylo rarely got nervous so it didn’t bode well for the mission ahead.

Serendipity

Watson arrived at the cafeteria in time to join Jack and Melanie for a sandwich. Not for the first time was he in awe of their physiques. Jack was built like a linebacker and Melanie was lithe but muscular in all the right places. He could probably break a chair across her back and she wouldn’t even notice.

“I’ve just received a report that another alien sphere has been found.”

Melanie gasped.

Jack said, “Where is it?”

“It’s being sent to us as we speak.”

“It must still be active then because the one that we found sprayed us and then it was like it melted away or vanished or something. When we came to it was gone.”

“I’m actually hoping it’s still active. Can you imagine what those abilities would do for a highly trained soldier?”

Jack nodded but Melanie said, “Why would you subject someone else to what we went through?”

Watson sat back in his seat and regarded her coolly. “Don’t you know why you’re here? You’re here because our entire civilization was nearly wiped out by an enemy that could return at any moment. Wouldn’t you like to have some help if they invade again?”

Melanie said, “It’s been a month already and no one has seen any sign of them. Has anyone considered that there might not be any aliens left out there to stage a rescue party or a mission of revenge?”

“We don’t deal in hopes and dreams. We worry about possibilities and the possibility of another invasion seems obvious at this point.”

Jack interrupted. “Why is the orb being sent here?”

“It was in
New Mexico but no one could get it open. They’re hoping one of you guys knows how to unlock its secrets.”

Melanie laughed. “We don’t. We opened it by accident. Jack touched it and it vibrated and then it sprayed us all with this fine blue mist. There was no secret hatch or keyhole. It just opened up on its own.”

“Hmm. Then maybe it’s on a timer or something.”

Jack added,
“Don’t worry about it. If it won’t open up for us, I could use my powers to teleport the contents to wherever you want. Melanie could crack it open like an egg if I fail.”

Melanie shook her head. “I just don’t like the sounds of all of this. We were worried we’d be exploited when we agreed to come here and nothing you’ve done has indicated otherwise.”

Watson said sadly, “That brings me to this: I have another favor to ask of you. I need you to spend an additional night here. The truck probably won’t get here before morning and we need you to take a look at that orb. Would you be willing to give me one more day?”

Melanie sighed and said resignedly, “I feel like we don’t have much of a choice.”
Half an hour ago she would have said no to the request but a full belly of delicious food had a calming effect on her.

Jack said, “I guess I didn’t have any pressing engagements. I’d actually like to take a look at that orb anyway. We saw the other one at night so I barely remember it.”

Watson stood and said, “Thank you both so much. I’ll let everyone know to expect the arrival of the orb and that you both have unlimited access to it, with supervision of course.”

When he left the cafeteria, Melanie said to Jack, “I get the feeling that it won’t end at that. What happens when we open that orb up? You and I know that after we got our powers, the world went crazy.”

“That doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. And truthfully, if another invasion comes our way, we could use some help.”

“I hope you’re not thinking about trying to get another dose of that mist.”

“No way. Nothing scares me more than that. I barely have my powers under control as it is. I would hate to see what might happen to me if my powers were intensified.”

Melanie shuddered uncontrollably until Jack put an arm around her.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Jack didn’t try to argue with her even though a part of him was thrilled.

More Power Failures

Watson showed them to the officer’s quarters and walked them inside a tucked away corner room. The room had two separate beds but Jack was hopeful that only one would be necessary. Watson dashed his hopes when he said, “I’ll show you to your room now, Jack. It’s late so let’s schedule a meeting with the captives for tomorrow morning. What’s a good time for you?”

Melanie said, “Is
nine o’clock ok?”

“Sure. Come on Jack. Your room is just down the hall.”

Melanie gave him a restrained peck on the cheek and then set about settling into her new digs.

Watson led him to his room and said, “I’m right down the hall. If you need anything, just come and knock on my door.”

“What if I want to go for a walk?”

“Then I’ll set up an escort for you.”

Jack sighed and said, “Never mind. I’m pretty tired anyway.”

Watson patted him on the shoulder and said, “Thanks for everything. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Jack was about to reply when his vision went wonky. The walls vibrated before his eyes. Watson shimmered like a mirage. And then Jack vanished.

Ault

He appeared on the roof of a house. It didn’t take long for him to figure out that it was his own house back in
Ault, Colorado. He tried to reign in his powers, if only to get down from the roof, but he was spent.

He
clambered down the drainpipe, dusted his pants off, and walked in through the front door.

His mom was on the phone in the kitchen.
When she saw him, her eyes bugged out and she said, “Let me call you right back. Ok. Bye.”

She put the phone down and hugged her son. “They said they’d bring you back in the morning. What happened?”

Jack lied. He didn’t want to admit to her that he sometimes lost control over his abilities. It would frighten her too much and she didn’t deserve any additional worries. “I decided I wanted to come home and say hi.”

“And they were alright with that?”

He lied again. “Yep.”

“So how is it up there?”

“It’s cold, but they’ve got captured alien prisoners that I’ll get to meet tomorrow and they’re trucking in another one of those orbs I told you about.”

“They have another one? Where’d it come from?”

“It probably shot out of the sky just like the one I found.”

“Just be careful.” As an aside, she asked, “Are you hungry? I was about to make a sandwich.”

He was starving. “I could eat. But after that I have to get back to the bunker.”

He hoped that eating might help him regain enough strength to teleport back.

His mom went about putting together some sandwiches.

She said, “They’ve been replaying your interview ever since you left. You’re national headline news now. Melanie too.” She was clearly proud that her son was being recognized as the hero that he was. He had saved humanity and it must’ve killed her that she couldn’t brag about it. Now the world knew about her son and his accomplishments.
“You know I’m mad about what you did for those hikers though, right? It’s one thing to act heroic when you have no other options but it’s another thing to put yourself in danger.”

“I knew you’d be mad. I promise I won’t save anymore human lives ever again,” he said with a devilish grin.

“You know what I mean, young man. For the past month, all you and Melanie wanted was to be left alone, but now that the world is finally paying attention, it’s like you’re showing off or something. You’re a home grown celebrity now.”

Jack chuckled.
“We’ll have a reality show airing inside this house in no time, huh?”

That seemed to mortify her. “I hope not. This place is a mess.”

“I was just kidding, mom.” He knew she’d worry about that now and he wished he could take it back. She’d probably skip sleep tonight just to scrub the place down.

She put his sandwich in front of him and kissed him on the forehead. “You look tired. Are you sure you have to go back?”

“Yeah, I have to leave pretty soon. They want us to spend another night up there so I should be back home the day after tomorrow.”

“They told me you’d be home tomorrow
morning. No one asked me if you could stay an extra day.”

“They’ll probably call you tomorrow. It was a spur of the moment decision. Nothing to worry about. I told them I was ok with it.”

He drank down the orange juice she put in front of him and wolfed down the sandwich even though he’d just eaten a sandwich half an hour ago. A side effect of their powers was that they ate a lot since they’d acquired them. At first, they assumed that eating would feed their abilities, but it was hard to tell if that was true.

He put his plate and glass in the sink and gave his mom a hug. “Thanks. I should get back now.”

“Be safe.”

“Of course. See you soon.” He concentrated and vanished from her sight.