Lokians 1: Beyond the End of the World (39 page)

“
Well…there is one course of action,”
Adams said to Franklin.

“
I think it’s the only one they left
him,” Franklin nodded, knowingly.

Smiles played on their lips. The captain was
in no mood for their weird antics. He told them to speak up.

“
Experience with The Bureau has taught
me one thing,” Franklin said. “There are always other ways to
achieve results.”

“
We’re heading back to Earth for now.
From what I’ve seen, you’re more than capable. Come back with us.
We can use you at The Bureau,” Adams said while tugging at an
empty, pinstriped sleeve.

O’Hara took a long inhalation. He looked off;
the dim light of Eon illuminated numerous buildings on what was
left of Horizon. What had previously looked lifeless, dead,
abandoned, was somehow teaming with hope.

For a moment, he thought about Day, his crew,
the Navy. It was all so distant, so disconnected. Then, a pause in
time allowed him to see how joining The Bureau provided him the
perks of going AWOL discretely. The war wasn’t over, things played
out in a specific fashion; he was joining The Bureau because he had
work to do, something only he was able to accomplish, whatever it
was that lurked behind darkened recesses.

He didn’t even feel his steps or the cold
dirt beneath his feet as he followed the agents to another hangar.
Franklin produced a key card from his jacket’s interior pocket.
From O’Hara’s perspective, the two agents looked like their former,
mysterious selves. The personnel door beeped after the card
slid.

Franklin held the door open. Inside, there
was a small, elliptical craft. The Element-115 exterior sparkled.
He was thoroughly impressed by The Bureau’s resources. The three
men made their way to the front of the ship, which was resting on a
tall lip of sorts. Judging its balance, O’Hara didn’t understand
how it didn’t tip backwards. Nevertheless, behind the lip was the
airlock.

Franklin peered into a retinal scanner, and
the lock slid open. He motioned for them to enter. Marching up
carpeted steps into a dim ambiance was a drastic change, but the
three men proceeded to the bridge. O’Hara looked around in
amazement; the ship was not of Human origins.

“
Relax, Captain. We’ll be back on Earth
in no time,” Adams said, smiled, and then touched his
bandages.

“
He’s never been to Earth, remember?”
Franklin added.

Adams stifled a chuckle while gauging
O’Hara’s reaction. The former captain had never seen the agents so
thoroughly relaxed; they weren’t just relaxing, they were
completely enjoying the situation.

“
How long to Earth,” O’Hara
asked.

“
Oh…about seven months, Captain. We’ll
make a few stops along the way. We need to meet with our contacts,”
Adams began.

“
Yes. Quite a few, actually; lots of
debriefing, you know,” Franklin added.

O’Hara nodded, saying, “Okay, so fill me in,
and drop this Captain crap. I’m Riley.”