The Pyramid Builders (14 page)

The weapon officers set their beams to the frequency of a Moet ship and charged the dispersal tank. This beam was different, in that it focused the charge into a very narrow tight beam that was estimated to approach the heat of a star. The battleship had fifty of the new beams, and the ship was programmed to automatically rotate and bring beams to fire as the first beams exhausted their charges. It would take fifteen dias to recharge, so there should be a constant firing of beams at the Moet. Time moved slowly for the squadron, but most of the crewmembers wished it would move even slower. They all prepared to die in the best way they could. Most were praying prior to the engagement; some were focusing on their duties. All were expecting the worst.

The Master of the Moet ship looked around the space in which his ship had just emerged. His ship had found a trail through green space that had come from a planet that was scheduled for destruction. He had followed the trail for two light years and didn’t find the ship he was searching for. He continued to follow the trail to six thousand light years, and again found nothing. This was problematic. He turned to order his ship to go back into green space when six ships suddenly appeared and roared in on his vessel. He wondered when these creatures would learn that attacking Moet ships was an exercise in futility and would only lead to their death. He hit the alarm and his weapons activated. Then things went bad. He saw more than sixty beams hit his force fields, and the screen failure alarm began sounding. He yelled at his drive officer, “Get us out of here!”

The Moet started firing at the six ships and two of them exploded, but the remaining four continued to pour fire into the grey ship. The Moet ship began moving, but suddenly a beam penetrated its screen and punctured its hull. Once the hull lost integrity the force fields collapsed and forty beams burned through the Moet ship.

L’grae saw one of his beams punch through the Moet’s force field and he stood up. This had never happened before, “Pour it on. Don’t let them escape.”

The Moet was hit eighty times before one of the beams hit one of their reactors. The huge grey ship exploded, breaking into three pieces. L’grae heard his crew cheering and knew more Moet ships were on the way. “Scatter and get back. Tell the Leaders we now have a weapon that works.”

The four survivors went into green space and scattered in different directions, doing a zigzag pattern through green space. They doubled back on their trails and turned circles. The green trails were jumbled and it would be impossible to follow them. The huge green cloud expanded and filled the green space around the attack. The Moet ships arriving at the scene of the attack could not find a trail coherent enough to follow. This was not a good thing. The enemy had finally found a way to destroy their ships and had escaped with the information. The Masters would have to decide how to handle this new situation. They remained at the site and waited for instructions. After four days, they were ordered to return to their base with the data they had collected. The trail for the Cheops to follow home had been erased.

C
hris walked through the door to the bridge and saw Jillian asleep in her chair. He quietly moved to his chair and looked at his display. Egypt was in view and he moved the picture closer to the Giza plateau. He saw there were no pyramids. Ok, now they had to move closer. He pushed the toggle that transferred Jillian’s board to his and jumped twelve hundred light years forward.

The ship broke into normal space, and he saw his sensors were still picking up the images from Earth. Ummm, Khufu’s reign was generally thought to have occurred 2,600 years BC. The current year was 2085. So almost forty seven hundred years ago. He knew they were now looking at light from forty eight hundred years ago. He moved the focus closer and saw Egypt was about to move around the planet. He hurriedly focused in and saw that there were no pyramids at Giza. He knew he had to be getting close, so he jumped thirty years and still found no pyramids. He jumped fifty years and waited as Egypt came around. While he was waiting, Jillian yawned, stretched her arms, and opened her eyes, “What are you doing?”

“I’m jumping forward to find the pyramids. We’re at forty six hundred twenty years. Egypt should be visible in ten minutes.”

Jillian walked around to watch the display and leaned over Chris’s shoulder. He felt her face next to his and felt his heart beat faster. He took a breath and said, “Here it comes.” Egypt appeared at the left horizon and Chris focused in on the Nile. He moved to the area where Giza was located and saw the Great Pyramid in its completed form. It was beautiful. He also saw a second pyramid being constructed close by. “We’ve gone too far. Judging from the construction on the second pyramid, we are probably four years from the start of the Khufu Pyramid.” Chris adjusted the drive and set the jump for four years. They completed the jump and Chris saw that Egypt was in the center of the view. He brought the view in and didn’t see a pyramid. “We’re close. Let’s move in a year.” They jumped again and after bringing the view closer they saw the base of the Great Pyramid had been started.

Jillian shouted and hugged Chris’ neck, “We’re there!”

Chris made a mock choking sound and Jillian jumped back, “Scared ya didn’t I?”

Jillian slapped him on the shoulder and Chris said, “We aren’t there yet.”

“Why not?”

“Remember the map was shown when the first block of the fifth level was being installed.”

“Can’t we just move forward and fast forward to the right moment?”

“And what if we lose the trail we made getting here by moving from this place in normal space to another?”

“I didn’t think about that.”

Chris thought a moment and said, “I am not willing to just sit here for a few weeks or months for the fifth level to go up.”

Jillian looked at the drive board and said, “Let’s jump three weeks forward.” Chris furrowed his brow and Jillian said, “We know the pyramid was completed in about seven months according to the tablet. The levels that took the longest were the bottom layers because they were so much larger than the ones on top. Let’s try three weeks and see how it looks.”

Chris shrugged and said, “You’re the physicist.” He set the drive board and prepared to jump.

“Oh, so now you’re using titles and getting all formal on me?”

Chris looked at Jillian, smiled a huge grin, and said, “Yep!” Chris turned back to his board and Jillian stuck her tongue out at him. Chris saw her do it in the reflection off the viewport and said as he pushed the jump button, “I’ve heard of tongue lashings, but you could kill someone with that one.”

Jillian did a double take, wondering how he had seen her standing behind him. Chris smiled and let her worry about it. Two seconds later the Cheops broke back into normal space and Chris focused the beams. Jillian looked over his shoulder again and saw that the fourth layer was half done. Chris hit a button and a green light came on.

“What is that?”

Chris smiled, “I have wondered about the Great Pyramid my entire life. I knew that something had to have happened completely outside the human experience, and I’m going to record how they built it. It should take about two or three days to complete the layer before they bring the first block for the fifth level. As long as the Pyramid is in daylight, I’m going to record their activities.”

“Can you keep a view of the entire project and have another close-up view of the individuals around it?”

“Sure, hang on a moment.” Chris flipped a switch and the display split in half. He began adjusting the view and the display moved in close to the ground in front of the huge structure.

“Look, there’s one of the Sheera.”

Chris saw the alien was smaller than the Egyptians, who were small themselves compared to modern humans. They averaged between four feet six inches and five feet three inches tall. The Sheera appeared to be a little less than five feet tall. The big round hairless head was the most distinguishing feature. “I’m setting the boards to record as long as the plateau is in daylight and pause at night.”

“I hope the Sheera don’t show that map at nighttime.”

Chris shook his head, “The Egyptians don’t work at night, and I’m sure it had to be during daylight because they were installing the first block on the fifth level. We need to plan our sleep around their schedule.”

Jillian nodded and continued to watch the giant blocks being easily pushed into place by one or two workers. Once they were in place, a Sheera would hit the blocks with the gravity gun and return them to full weight. Jillian watched the display over Chris’ shoulder and after an hour came around and sat down on his lap. Chris looked her in the eyes and she said, “I hope you don’t mind.”

Chris took a deep breath and remembered what Dolly said, “If you really care about her, you will try to rescue her from that nightmare.” Chris found he did care about Jillian, and he leaned the chair slightly back and put his arms around her shoulders, “We should have brought some popcorn. This is going to be an once-in-a-lifetime show.”

Jillian felt safe. In his arms, for the first time in many years, she felt secure and unafraid of what the world held for her. She sighed and said, “Them or us?”

Chris smiled, “Both.”

Jillian leaned back and put her face next to his and relaxed. As Egypt passed into the shadow of night time, Chris and Jillian slept together in the command chair. Neither was visited by nightmares, and time ceased to exist.

They were awoken by a small buzzer going off on the control board. Chris opened his eyes and saw that Egypt was going to be back in daylight in an hour. He looked at Jillian asleep in his lap with a serene face. He had never seen her as beautiful. She seemed to always be under pressure and worried. He raised his hand, touched her cheek, and turned her face to him. She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. She smiled and he kissed her deeply. She turned and put her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. After what seemed like a moment Chris leaned away and said, “We have an hour to get ready. I wanted to do that for weeks. Now we’re even.”

Jillian smiled and stood-up. Chris said, “I’ll see you in the kitchen in about forty minutes.”

Jillian nodded and Chris left to shower and clean up. Jillian watched him leave and tried to think about Daniel, but the thoughts wouldn’t come. All she could see was Chris’ arms around her. She knew she should be troubled, but felt strangely at peace. She left the bridge for her quarters humming the Jukebox song.

Chris arrived in the kitchen and found a hot meal waiting on him. A note next to the plate said, “I’m on the bridge. Couldn’t wait. I’m so excited. Today could be the day!” She signed it “J”.

Chris smiled, ate his breakfast, and thought about what was ahead. There was something she wasn’t telling him, and he worried that it was something significant. He finished, put the dishes away, and left for the bridge. He found Jillian in his chair staring at the display, and she said excitedly as he entered, “They are moving a staggering number of blocks today.”

Chris came over and saw three small flyers pulling hundreds of blocks behind them. He backed the view out and moved it toward the quarry where the blocks were being cut. Chris and Jillian both were shocked by what they saw. “I didn’t see those yesterday.”

Chris said, “Let’s back the video up and see if you’re right.” The video went grey for a moment and then showed the original view as they moved in on the plateau. Chris moved the view away from the pyramid and toward the quarry. “You’re right. There weren’t many blocks there.”

Jillian looked at Chris and said, “The Sheera must have cut all those blocks last night. That’s when they do their cutting for the next day’s construction. Chris, that is stunning. There have to be more than a hundred thousand blocks ready for movement.”

Chris shook his head, “You’re right. And they are all precision cut. Notice there is a symbol on top of each one. I’m sure that’s where they go on the master plan. This kind of engineering is staggering.”

Jillian looked at Chris and he saw her fear. Chris said, “I know, if the Sheera stood no chance against the Moet, what chance do we have?”

Jillian nodded and turned back to the display, “Take us back to the pyramid. The fourth layer may be done today.”

Chris looked at the blocks moving over the desert, “It probably will.”

They waited, and about mid-afternoon the last two blocks of the fourth layer went into place. Chris moved the view outside the pyramid in close and found a Sheera walking toward an Egyptian standing next to a table. “Get closer, Chris. We need to see that map.” Chris moved the view in as the Sheera placed a large document on top of the table. They were unable to see what they were saying, but they saw the map clearly. The Sheera pointed to a place on the map, and then appeared to be listening to the Egyptian. He then pointed to another place on the map. Chris saw something, but didn’t want to believe it. They continued to watch, but the Sheera picked up the map and moved back toward his ship.

“Can you download that map?”

“It’s already in the computer, Jillian.” They walked over to the huge display on the wall and Jillian pulled the map up on the screen. Chris said, “That’s the Gulf of Mexico and that first place he pointed to is somewhere in Bolivia.”

Jillian said, “Has to be Puma Punku.”

“You’re probably right. However, the second place he pointed to is offshore from Mexico.”

Jillian furrowed her brow and said, “Could they be building underwater, and the ship was at the first location?”

“Let’s see.” Chris overlaid a modern map of South America and the first place was at the exact location of Puma Punku.

Jillian slowly shook her head and said, “Why would that Jenze ship be underwater?”

Chris stared at the site and suddenly knew the answer. Jillian saw his expression and knew he knew something. She also saw his fear. Chris went to his chair and sat down. Jillian came over and kneeled in front of him, “Tell me!”

Chris looked up at the map and said, “I understand what’s going to happen.” Jillian leaned forward and took his hands. Chris nodded toward the map and said, “The second site is where the asteroid struck sixty five million years ago causing a mass extinction of the dinosaurs. The Moet dropped a nine mile wide asteroid traveling at seven thousand miles an hour on the Jenze ship. That’s what destroyed an indestructible ship. A small piece of land must have been jutting out into the gulf before the strike.” Chris looked into Jillian’s eyes and said, “That’s what’s going to happen again within four years, but this time the asteroid will be considerably larger.” Jillian’s eyes widened and Chris said, “The Moet found one in the Ort Cloud and nudged it out of orbit on a trajectory to hit Earth. That’s why it has taken so long for it to arrive. I’m certain the Moet will escort it in to us.”