Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (31 page)
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Authors: Samuel Franklin
BOOK: Primal Estate: The Candidate Species
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Rick realized that it could not remain a secret for long. It would eventually come out. It would be revealed. Everyone would know. Panic would grow. And then it would start. If the Provenger were as smart as Rick thought they were, they would know all this. They must know what would happen. Rick looked out at his dogs playing in the back yard. He noticed their subtle communication with every movement and gesture, acting and reacting to each other, instantaneously.
If this were the case, then the Provenger must know that they have a window of opportunity, a period where they can collect or “harvest” people and do it without detection. This period would offer them the optimal efficiency they always seemed to be looking for. They could collect without opposition, without resistance. It would cost them less. Once everyone knew or suspected, wouldn’t they tighten security? Wouldn’t it be tougher to get to them? Rick feared it would. How would the world grow accustomed to people disappearing all around them? They wouldn’t. They would panic and fight.
If this were the case, then the Provenger must know that they have a window of opportunity, a period where they can collect or “harvest” people and do it without detection. This period would offer them the optimal efficiency they always seemed to be looking for. They could collect without opposition, without resistance. It would cost them less. Once everyone knew or suspected, wouldn’t they tighten security? Wouldn’t it be tougher to get to them? Rick feared it would. How would the world grow accustomed to people disappearing all around them? They wouldn’t. They would panic and fight.
In one of those flashes of realization that should have been there all along, the worst case scenario came alive in Rick’s mind. What if the project they were managing was not a single process of creating expansive civilization through agriculture, but instead, was numerous cycles of creating agriculture, then population, then harvesting the vast majority of that population, then destroying that world, then doing it all over again starting from the beginning. A key point would be the number of people they intend to take, Rick thought. They couldn’t possibly leave us with our technology and come back in another twelve thousand years. Imagine the progress that we’d make. We’d be a threat to them.
Would they destroy this world when they were done with their harvest? How many times had they already done this? The thought left Rick with only one last big question with many parts. How would he and the ones he cared about survive this cycle? Should his goal be that they, and only they, survive? Should he try to save the world, or should he try to save his world?
Would they destroy this world when they were done with their harvest? How many times had they already done this? The thought left Rick with only one last big question with many parts. How would he and the ones he cared about survive this cycle? Should his goal be that they, and only they, survive? Should he try to save the world, or should he try to save his world?
Rick got up and walked to the bathroom. In the mirror he saw, once again, a very different man. It was a man not ready to retire, but one with another life in front of him, perhaps a new family and a second chance. Rick reached under the cabinet and removed the set of electric clippers he used to cut Carson’s hair. The plastic attachment that cut a half inch length was on the clipper. Rick took it off and threw it back in the bag. He moved the lever forward to allow the closest cut, and he started to shave his scalp. He needed to get the gray off so the new brown growing in wouldn’t show a line, just as Syrjon had suggested.
He first shaved his head to the skin with the clippers. Next, he shaved his beard. Rick stepped in the shower and shaved his head and his face clean with a razor. After he had rinsed himself off, stepped out of the stall, and dried himself with a towel, Rick looked up at the mirror. The effect was profound. Not only did he look even younger, but to his horror, being completely bald, he looked like a Provenger. I’d better put on a cap, Rick thought. I don’t want to scare the shit out of Shainan.
Rick needed to decide what message he would leave for Tony. If he had followed his original instructions, he’d spent a week identifying and recruiting as many high-quality, reliable individuals as he could, the core of a force that would be able, or at least willing, to fight the Provenger, if that was ever possible. To this prospect, Rick wondered if he’d been insane. He realized that when he first spoke to Tony, he had just been back from his abduction and that he’d been tired and stressed. But now he really began to question his judgment. What had he been thinking?
Rick needed to decide what message he would leave for Tony. If he had followed his original instructions, he’d spent a week identifying and recruiting as many high-quality, reliable individuals as he could, the core of a force that would be able, or at least willing, to fight the Provenger, if that was ever possible. To this prospect, Rick wondered if he’d been insane. He realized that when he first spoke to Tony, he had just been back from his abduction and that he’d been tired and stressed. But now he really began to question his judgment. What had he been thinking?
He was almost afraid of what he might find. He had a small army forming for him, supposedly, and didn’t have any idea what form it would take or what he could do with it. The only one of them that even knew the real target was Tony, and all the rest were probably antigovernment, conspiracy-theory wackos. Hell, Rick speculated, when they find out I’m NSA, they might want to kill me. How will they react when they find out who the real target is and what we are really up against? They’ll think we’re crazy.
Even Tony was suspect. Rick didn’t really know him. He seemed like a solid guy, but all he knew was what Tony had told him on their walk out of the canyon. He’d served in combat as an Army Ranger. He’d then completed a degree in political science and wanted to go on to business or law school. At some point, he’d decided to apply to the New Jersey State Police. He’d gone through the extensive application process and cleared their background checks. He was accepted shortly after. He’d started with a class at the academy and after just three weeks had been caught screwing one of his classmates in her room. She happened to be the daughter of one of the officials at the academy. He was sent packing the next day.
Even Tony was suspect. Rick didn’t really know him. He seemed like a solid guy, but all he knew was what Tony had told him on their walk out of the canyon. He’d served in combat as an Army Ranger. He’d then completed a degree in political science and wanted to go on to business or law school. At some point, he’d decided to apply to the New Jersey State Police. He’d gone through the extensive application process and cleared their background checks. He was accepted shortly after. He’d started with a class at the academy and after just three weeks had been caught screwing one of his classmates in her room. She happened to be the daughter of one of the officials at the academy. He was sent packing the next day.
That had been the peak of Tony’s legitimate career history. From that point on, he’d taken some business classes, started his website exploring the federal government’s trashing of the Constitution, then come into some money and moved out west.
It had been Rick’s job to figure out how to get through the Provenger technology, or steal it, and use it for some kind of half-baked bum rush suicide mission at their ship. What the fuck was I thinking? Rick shook his head, realizing his stupidity. They couldn’t get at the Provenger that way.
It had been Rick’s job to figure out how to get through the Provenger technology, or steal it, and use it for some kind of half-baked bum rush suicide mission at their ship. What the fuck was I thinking? Rick shook his head, realizing his stupidity. They couldn’t get at the Provenger that way.
Rick left the signal at the designated spot. Tony was right on time and checked it in a surprisingly professional manner. Rick only saw slight surprise on his face as he watched the reflection in the side mirror of his car. He was using a monocular concealed in his fist and held to one eye. He was parked in a busy lot about seventy-five yards to one side. Tony walked to his SUV and drove off in the direction of the drop. Rick watched for other cars leaving at the same time and saw none that looked suspicious. Rick’s main concern was not the Provenger; it was anyone that Tony might have recruited or any law enforcement that might be investigating Tony for any missteps he might have made.
At the drop location, Tony would find a note telling him to return immediately to the Walmart to meet in the fabrics section in the store. Rick figured that was one spot where they might be able to notice anyone lingering if they were being followed or surveiled. They needed to talk in person.
Rick waited for Tony to return, again observing nothing suspicious during his arrival back at the parking lot. He watched Tony get out of his SUV and walk directly into the Walmart. He appeared to be alone, and it seemed no one was following him.
Rick waited for Tony to return, again observing nothing suspicious during his arrival back at the parking lot. He watched Tony get out of his SUV and walk directly into the Walmart. He appeared to be alone, and it seemed no one was following him.
Rick got out of the Charger and went inside. He had some food shopping to do before approaching Tony. Let’s see, how do I shop for a cave woman who hasn’t been to Earth for the last ten years and wants to party, Rick wondered? He already had all the elk, venison, and fish he needed at home. So he was really just there to replace the vegetables that had gone bad in his fridge over the last week and pick up some onions, garlic, tubers, cabbage, and maybe a few tropical fruits as a treat and surprise for her.
As Rick pushed his cart down the aisle, he saw an acquaintance from his gun club up ahead and was going to make polite conversation. But just as they neared the distance that dictates a greeting among friends, the guy looked away and went about his business. Rick wasn’t even recognized. He was clean shaven and wore a baseball cap and sunglasses. Even with the cap on, people could tell he was bald underneath. Okay, that’s understandable, Rick thought, a little nervous. I must look like a completely different person. Chances are Tony won’t recognize me either.
As Rick pushed his cart down the aisle, he saw an acquaintance from his gun club up ahead and was going to make polite conversation. But just as they neared the distance that dictates a greeting among friends, the guy looked away and went about his business. Rick wasn’t even recognized. He was clean shaven and wore a baseball cap and sunglasses. Even with the cap on, people could tell he was bald underneath. Okay, that’s understandable, Rick thought, a little nervous. I must look like a completely different person. Chances are Tony won’t recognize me either.
Rick completed his shopping with a stop at the spices section. Most of these will be a real treat for her, Rick thought. After all the food selections were complete, Rick caught himself imagining Shainan’s first trip to the grocery store. Except for being outside on his property, she hadn’t really been out yet to see this new world. Shainan was about his height and could wear his clothes, but he made an effort to buy her a few women’s things, being careful to conceal them in the cart, a little paranoid about people discovering his new live-in.
He rolled through sporting goods to the ammunition section to check prices and then went to find Tony. He was there, a bolt of fabric in his arms, examining a few yards of red velvet. Rick did a casual three-sixty around the isle Tony was in, scanning for anything unusual as well as trying to smell anything that might be a cloaked Provenger. Rick didn’t know if he should bring the tag. It could be a listening device. He hated the thing and had left it at home, choosing instead to rely on his senses. He then approached Tony and took off his glasses. “Long time no see,” Rick said.
He rolled through sporting goods to the ammunition section to check prices and then went to find Tony. He was there, a bolt of fabric in his arms, examining a few yards of red velvet. Rick did a casual three-sixty around the isle Tony was in, scanning for anything unusual as well as trying to smell anything that might be a cloaked Provenger. Rick didn’t know if he should bring the tag. It could be a listening device. He hated the thing and had left it at home, choosing instead to rely on his senses. He then approached Tony and took off his glasses. “Long time no see,” Rick said.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Tony asked in an excited but low tone, recognizing Rick’s voice more than anything.
“It’s a long story.”
“It’s a long story.”
“What’s with the hairless look?” Tony asked, brazenly reaching up and grabbing the bill of Rick’s cap and pulling the hat off. Rick immediately grabbed it from him and casually put it back. “Damn you look young without all that gray shit all over your face.”
Taking a cap off is sometimes used as a signal in law enforcement and elsewhere to initiate a team action, and Rick wondered if Tony had done it to see what might happen, if anything, before they started talking. “Yeah, I know. A lot has gone on since the canyon. My son Carson had some serious health issues and a few other developments.”
Taking a cap off is sometimes used as a signal in law enforcement and elsewhere to initiate a team action, and Rick wondered if Tony had done it to see what might happen, if anything, before they started talking. “Yeah, I know. A lot has gone on since the canyon. My son Carson had some serious health issues and a few other developments.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine now, better than ever, actually.” Rick changed the subject abruptly. “I need to know your progress. Things are even more complicated now than you might think.”
“Yeah, he’s fine now, better than ever, actually.” Rick changed the subject abruptly. “I need to know your progress. Things are even more complicated now than you might think.”
“Well, I’ve got a half dozen that I’ve been working on, may get a dozen with more time. I’m not going to give you names for their protection. I’ve done a lot of thinking about this. I think we need to send these things a message.”
“What do you mean a message?” Rick snapped.
“What do you mean a message?” Rick snapped.
“A message that they can’t just come down here and do whatever they want.”
Rick had a bad feeling about this, what he’d been dreading all along. “Tony, we’ve got to be very smart about everything we do. You have no idea what their capabilities are. So think carefully. What are you talking about?”
Rick had a bad feeling about this, what he’d been dreading all along. “Tony, we’ve got to be very smart about everything we do. You have no idea what their capabilities are. So think carefully. What are you talking about?”
Tony gave a heavy sigh and began, “You know when Lewis and Clark did their expedition in the Louisiana Territory? Well, if the Indians had just killed them, they would have been fine for a long time, the Indians that is. When the next expedition was sent, they should have killed them. And so on and so on. They could have delayed the onslaught of settlers for decades or longer if they’d just had that resolve. Same way with the pilgrims.”
“Tony, this is not the same situation. We never know exactly when or where they’ll be.”
“Tony, this is not the same situation. We never know exactly when or where they’ll be.”
“That’s your job. You’re supposed to figure out how to make that happen,” Tony retorted.
“Yes, I suppose I could, maybe, eventually.” Rick saw Tony looking down at his arms.
“Yes, I suppose I could, maybe, eventually.” Rick saw Tony looking down at his arms.
“Where’s that thing you had on you wrist?”
“They took it off. I still have it, but I don’t have to wear it. They said if I put it on, I’d be able to take it off on my own, but there’s no way I’m putting it on, so I loop it on my belt. I left it at home in case it can hear or record us. These guys can cloak themselves, too, so we have to worry about that.”
“They took it off. I still have it, but I don’t have to wear it. They said if I put it on, I’d be able to take it off on my own, but there’s no way I’m putting it on, so I loop it on my belt. I left it at home in case it can hear or record us. These guys can cloak themselves, too, so we have to worry about that.”
“You mean like invisible cloak?
“Yeah, invisible.”
“Yeah, invisible.”
“Why do you still have the wrist thing? What does it do?” Tony asked about the tag.
“It allows me to call them. Then they either come to me, or I go to them.” Rick was regretting the words as he spoke them.
“It allows me to call them. Then they either come to me, or I go to them.” Rick was regretting the words as he spoke them.
“Well, there you go right there. That’s how we can trap them.”
“But it’s not a matter of killing just a few…” Rick shut his mouth abruptly as a woman rounded the corner, looking at fabrics.
“But it’s not a matter of killing just a few…” Rick shut his mouth abruptly as a woman rounded the corner, looking at fabrics.
“You know what?” Rick suggested, “We should get out of here. I’ve got to pay for this stuff,” nodding at his cart, “and I’ll meet you outside. We can walk and talk.”
Tony nodded, and they went separate ways.
Tony nodded, and they went separate ways.
After Rick had made it through the checkout line and out to the car, he saw Tony standing by the propane refill cage. Rick packed the groceries in the car and walked over to Tony to continue their conversation. Tony’s mood had grown sour. He accused Rick of being soft. Rick accused Tony of being impatient.
Rick realized the relationship could crumble quickly if they stayed on this tack, so he changed the tone. He knew he needed to be useful to Tony, give him something that would seem to help. So he told Tony about the abductions, the natural disasters in the news lately, and told him to get anybody he really cared about, family members and members of the team, on statins as soon as possible. Rick explained that the drug would probably do the least immediate damage to their health, but the effect on the entire body could possibly prevent the Provenger from being able to use any part. It might be enough to prevent them from being harvested.
Rick realized the relationship could crumble quickly if they stayed on this tack, so he changed the tone. He knew he needed to be useful to Tony, give him something that would seem to help. So he told Tony about the abductions, the natural disasters in the news lately, and told him to get anybody he really cared about, family members and members of the team, on statins as soon as possible. Rick explained that the drug would probably do the least immediate damage to their health, but the effect on the entire body could possibly prevent the Provenger from being able to use any part. It might be enough to prevent them from being harvested.
Tony was grateful for the advice. And he immediately worried about his mother, who had recently stopped taking statins due to some book she’d read. He wondered how he could get her back on them when they made her feel bad.
Rick’s conversation with Tony had gone from unproductive to lousy. They parted with that inconclusive and always barren notion of agreeing to disagree. Rick would continue to look for ways to infiltrate, and Tony would continue to build a group of true believers radically dedicated to saving something.
Rick’s conversation with Tony had gone from unproductive to lousy. They parted with that inconclusive and always barren notion of agreeing to disagree. Rick would continue to look for ways to infiltrate, and Tony would continue to build a group of true believers radically dedicated to saving something.
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