Rise of Aen (12 page)

“No, Taylor sent us back to base once you
arrived.”

“Well son, it was one of the most astonishing things to see that alien lady lying there unconscious; the image still sends chills up my spine. We all think of E.T. being this little brown fucker that looked nothing like us, but this one could have lived next door to you. She was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful—but at the same time, terrifying, because her species could blend in so well with ours that there is no telling how long they’ve been here!” The general paused, caught his breath and then resumed. “So we brought her here and began Project Star Child to get our armed forces ready for the
future.”

“For the future,
sir?”

“Ah, you caught that did you?” Patterson said with a sigh. He motioned for Wilson to sit and then continued. “Taylor ran Star Child and I was running Project Reconnect, which was out of the Area. We were working on the translation of data from the alien vessel, along with finding out where they were
from.”

“You think these aliens are a
threat?”

“Taylor was sure of it, but from what we had been able to piece together, this species was here to observe and guide, nothing more. But the ship’s drives told of another species that loomed as a threat to us that made most of us look skyward now and
then.”

Wilson sat stone faced, refusing to let his natural fear betray him. “What kind of
threat?”

“You have to understand, we’ve only begun to translate the data recovered and so there are only bits and pieces to work with. All we know is that there is a fleet of ‘Harvesters’ that scour the galaxy and pillage worlds for resources and
slaves.”

“And they are coming
here?”

“Do you remember the Voyager missions, the ones where those fucking idiots at NASA put directions to Earth on the gold discs? Well those two crafts cleared the Oort Cloud and are out amongst the stars, and if found by these ‘Harvesters’ will spell the end for
us.”

Wilson was floored; this was the shit they killed people for if they found out about it. “So why tell me, sir? Isn’t that a breach of ‘need to know’
protocol?”

“Taylor accomplished what he was ordered to do, but he fucked up and let the hybrid die—or so he thought. The mess in the valley down there,” Patterson nodded with his head out the window towards the wreckage of the morgue. “Was the creature announcing to the human race that he was alive? This thing had so much power that it tore the very fabric of space around the morgue. We lost a whole team of men sent into the debris for survivors shortly after the explosion; we’ve not heard from them in
months.”

“You still haven’t answered my question General: why
me?”

Patterson stared silently out the window in silence for a few moments, and then spoke in a very distant voice. “This creature simply woke up, destroyed half the building, grabbed the initial alien subject and disappeared. I need you to track him down and bring him
back.”

“No offense sir, but are you fucking nuts? How the hell am I, a regular human soldier, supposed to drag a creature like what you described, back
here?”

“Major, the data we recovered told of a lynchpin for the human race, a soldier that would rally us to victory and I believe that he is that soldier. We need you to find him and bring him here so we can train him for the day when they
arrive.”

“That’s heavy shit, sir.” Wilson looked exasperated and
bewildered.

“Think about it overnight son and if you decide to do it I’ll introduce you to the new team tomorrow. We’ve given you quarters in room 134, just down the hall. Mess hall is on the floor below. Be here at 06:00 and let me know which way you’d like to
proceed.”

Wilson left the conference room and slowly made his way down the hall. He had always felt like a larger-than-life person, but after hearing the general he felt small and meaningless. But a soldier’s life was about adapting to change and he felt obligated to try—the question was, how could anyone be expected to adapt to
this?

Bristol County, Massachusetts

Digging through the stacks of old papers, Sara hummed an old tune to herself to keep her focused. It was her day off from the news agency, but she was determined to make more headway on her side project. Her boss had given her permission to research the blast that killed her father, but only on her time off. So every chance she got, Sara would dig in the archives to find more information about the one event that derailed her perfect
life.

Every article that referenced the incident was neatly placed in her folder or copied to her flash drive and swiftly whisked back to her basement suite at her mom’s house. Sara had worked the summer as a research assistant at the agency, with the intent to go to school in the fall. But her bosses had noticed her drive and tenacity, offered her a full-time job while arranging for her to attend school through correspondence. It was a hard decision, but one that was made easier by the opportunity to remain with her mother, who had finally begun to move on with her life in the wake of her father’s
death.

So she had converted the basement to an apartment so she could have a place of her own, and paid Krista rent each month to help with the bills. When the place was ready, the two women had moved Sara in and she had a nice tidy little space. At least until Sara’s curiosity had uncovered some irregularities in the reports of her father’s death. They weren’t glaring mistakes, but the slip-ups were noticeable to anyone who knew what they were looking
for.

Analysis of the explosive used were inconsistent, witnesses who saw an ambulance speeding away from the parking complex changed their stories overnight, and evidence of discarded cigarettes had disappeared from the police vault. Most alarming was the fact the authorities wrote all this off as if it never happened, labeled an act of terrorism by Homeland Security. Bullshit! Even her boss had reviewed what she’d found and he too thought something wasn’t right, encouraging her to research it while keeping him in the loop the whole time. There was a story in all this, though he wasn’t ready to put the normal resources towards
it.

The ringing phone brought her head out of the stacks of paper and back to the real world. Sara reached over with a sigh of frustration and picked up the cordless phone on the desk beside
her.

“This is me,” she snarled. “Whatcha
need?”

“Sara, it’s David. You got a minute?” The simple fact that her news editor was calling her caused her to sit up, but there was a tone in his voice that she’d never heard before, as if something serious was about to
transpire.

“Sorry sir, I didn’t realize it was you. I have a moment; what’s
wrong?”

“You can read people well, even over the phone, it’s something I admire about you.” He paused for a moment after the compliment and let out a deep breath. “This project of yours, the story on your father? I think you should drop it; in fact, I have to demand that you drop it. I’m
sorry.”

Her composure fractured with those words, and a rare burst of emotions broke free. “What the hell, David? This isn’t some bullshit obsession, some addiction to the morbid death of a loved one! Something is deeply wrong with all my family has been told and you fucking agreed with
me!”

“Please Sara, drop it; for all our
sakes.”

“What do you mean by that?” this whole conversation seemed wrong to
her.

“I got a call from the Department of Homeland Security this morning—we were informed that there had been some inquiries of a worrisome nature being made into an open investigation of terrorism and they were concerned that evidence could be tampered
with.”

“The government is putting a gag order on us?” She was outraged. “Well I’m not quitting until I get some answers! I want the truth David—my mom and I deserve
it!”

“Sara, they issued a cease-and-desist order. It stops here or
else.”

“Or else what?” Sara almost regretted the question as soon as the words slipped from her
mouth.

“Jail time, criminal record, smear campaigns against you and those you care about; this is the fucking government we’re talking about here, kiddo. They wanted me to fire you, for fuck’s
sake!”

“So,” she asked with a tear slipping from her eye. “Am I fired?” This job had been her dream, one that had been too good to be
true.

“No,” answered David solemnly. “But I am giving you a two week leave of absence to distance yourself from all this. Please do us all a favor and destroy all that shit you’ve collected, it simply isn’t worth
it.”

“David, I just
can’t...”

“You can,” he cut her off quickly, “Or you don’t have a job to come back to—or maybe worse. These people mean business, and they threatened me and my family too. There’s greatness in you kid, but I can’t stick my neck out for you against these
people.”

“And I don’t expect you to. I’ll stop.” She was heartbroken; she was so close to figuring it all out. “Thank you, David. I won’t let you
down.”

“Didn’t think you would Sara, you have a bright future and I’d hate to see you throw it away before you even got to start it. See you in two weeks, and remember to get rid of all that shit you’ve
collected!”

“I will, goodbye, David.” She pressed the off button without waiting for him to reply. Sara sank back in her chair to review what had just happened. Her instincts told her that she was close to something and had those responsible worried, but those same instincts told her that she would be under great scrutiny so it was best to take her boss’s advice and walk away; at least for now. She began to look slowly around the room at the clutter accumulated in her quest for the truth. Stacks of papers and files were strewn about, articles had been cut free from newspapers and pinned up almost everywhere, and her laptop screen shone back the summaries she had been listing in
vain.

“Sorry, Dad,” she sobbed to the emptiness in the room. “I tried, but I can’t fight these people! I’m sorry I’m not strong
enough!”

Himalayan Mountains, Mount Kailash, Tibet

“Caretaker!” he yelled in the dimly lit room, hearing his voice echo in the emptiness. “Time to get to work, I need the results of your tests; I need to know what you can tell me about what exactly I am.” Aen was driven for the first time since his awakening; there were things to do and little time to do them
in.

After a moment of silence, the mechanical voice greeted him at long last.
“Sorry Aen, I’ve been monitoring a
situation.”

“What kind of situation?” Aen wondered what was making the construct so
cryptic.

“There has been some data-gathering on your disappearance that has finally been met with threatening actions by those who made you. All files pertaining your current and former self had been flagged for any
actions.”

“And who is behind this
data-gathering?”

“I have hesitated to tell you thus far, but I fear it is only a matter of time before you rush back to them. The one in danger is your daughter, Sara Foster. She has been steadily learning and pushing for more information about the night you were abducted—so much so that the powers that be have now considered her a threat. How much of one remains to be
seen.”

“Fuck, she always needed to know everything!” Aen said with frustration. “How much danger is she
in?”

“Very little right now, providing she heeds the warning levied upon her. But if she continues to pursue…. I fear they will silence
her.”

Those words rocked him; Aaron Foster was dead, but much of him still held his family dearly. Aen sank down into the chair at the center of the room and put his head in his hands, his heart sunken and broken. He wasn’t sure how much time was passing, but he couldn’t gather himself
quickly.

“Monitor her activity,” he said at long last. “I want to know where she goes and what her routines
are.”

“It would be a mistake to go to her, Aen. Those who seek you also watch her and they will use her as bait if they realize you remember who you were. I must advise against
it.”

Aen sat up straight in the chair with a gleam in his eye. “You have a lot to learn about humans, Caretaker. We are a resilient species—tell us we can’t do something and we strive to prove you wrong. Now, fire up that interface, I need combat training and everything you’ve learned about me with your
tests.”

“You have a plan, I assume?”
Caretaker responded
coldly.

“Somewhat, but I need your help,” Aen spoke with great urgency. “I need weapons, armor and training in any order you can do it
in!”

“May I ask what this plan of yours is? I may be able to help in planning as my software is suited
for...”

“Just start the damn machine!” Aen interrupted, his patience wearing thin. “Combat training, both human and Lyarran, so I can be better prepared than my enemies. You and your handlers wanted me to become a soldier, so stop being concerned and let’s get on with
this!”

The hum of the neural-interface machine was all the response Aen needed. As the information began to flow into his mind, a strange smile spread over his lips. The military wanted a weapon and here he was becoming that weapon as to strike back at
them.

Rocky Mountains, Utah –
Military Installation Code Named White Rock

“Sir, here are the surveillance reports on the subject’s family.” Davis said in her pert and perky voice, as she handed the reports to General
Patterson.