I watched as the huge gleaming disk rose. As it climbed higher, I started to curse. The damn thing should have exploded by now.
It was almost out of sight, when there was a titanic blast and light show that appeared to be several miles up. A sad smile crossed my features as I bowed my head.
I shook my head as I moved away. At least now everyone dead and otherwise were safe. A sudden thought hit me. At least I hoped the world was.
OK, let me start at the beginning. My name is Bill Black. I am the oldest of three children, or rather I was, our brother passed away two years ago. At the time, I was in a somewhat secret investigatory agency of the federal government.
Our brother’s death hit me harder than anything ever had. Hell, even the two divorces were a cake walk compared to the gut punch that was.
So, here I was two and a half years later, still feeling like shit. I’m not sure you could say I was full of self-pity or massive depression. All I knew was that I was hardly able to do more beyond normal day to day functions.
That changed the day after the second anniversary of Wade’s death. I had just talked to my sister expressing not much really. As my gaze passed over the back sliding door, I saw a glow that was vaguely familiar.
As always, my mind ran though thousands of past things I had seen or done. Again, let me explain, our agency was called Sifi. I know, but then again, the truth is usually harder to believe than make believe.
We were called the Scientific investigation of foreign invasions. Foreign, that is to say, as in Aliens, no, not the type from other countries. Usually what we found were the odd practical joke, terror operation, with most explained by natural phenomena.
This occurred ninety-five percent of the time. Of the final five percent, two out of every five were the real deal. I had been at this job for well over twenty-five years.
I was there when a energy-like, benevolent race came to study us, well at first. They found that much of the human race had abilities, abilities that made the earth a target. They were the ones to warn us, arm us with weapons that weren’t physical. Those we developed later.
A group of twenty-five of us were, altered, changed? I am not quite sure how to explain, all I know is that something in our heads was changed. Esp, Telekinesis, Telepathy plus extremely powerful mental defenses.
The only problem was that most of those chosen were not exactly young. Over the next twenty-five years, a few died of age or disease. The rest, in the war that raged across our planet. We killed what had to be billions of the race that came to harvest the human race.
We had hoped that the Bellons would return as they promised, we just hadn’t realized that they had over twelve years to return to their plant then back to us with their fleet. A hell of a lot can happen in that time.
As the years passed, we all tried to train others to aid in the fight. I was the only one to achieve and train another two like us. When I left, they were all that was left of the Sifi corps.
The Fletecons, as the Bellons called them, were a completely war-like, vicious and merciless spider-like race. They thought nothing of slaughtering an entire continent or planet. They had tried it several times with earth, ’til the point that the earth was more than a sore point for them.
The last major push two and a half years ago was by a gigantic fleet that tried to flank the planet. They lost over half their ships within the first hour. The problem was that this didn’t stop them. They kept coming. We lost four in the initial battle.
That had left three of the original twenty-five. Both of the ones I trained were strong though nowhere at my strength.
Over the next two weeks, the other half tried countless times to get through our defenses. As I stated before, we killed billions before a ship managed to get through. The alarms in my home were going off, indicating a ship in the atmosphere. I cursed as I went out the door to a waiting helicopter.
I was joined a moment later by one of the two I had trained. The Fletecons were obviously coming to wreck as much carnage as they could. I shook my head; this was reminiscent of the last time one of their ships had managed to land. After we landed, I stopped as the being I felt was more than vaguely familiar.
The large gleaming disk-shaped ship hadn’t changed much from what I remember all those years ago. Strangely enough, I could only feel one Fletecon, though not the first I felt. This caused me to go into an even more than cautious mode.
I signaled the other with me that something was wrong. They acknowledged as they stopped to cover me at a short distance.
I continued to advance, still feeling only one presence. I knew better than to just rush in. We had lost two the first time we had met them. No, I knew there were at least three others out there.
I had almost reached the hull of the ship when I felt two other fleeting lifeforms. A smile came to my face as I sent out a powerful mental blast, I felt it quickly immobilize both of them.
I turned as an opening appeared in the hull. I also felt a powerful probing wave of energy. This I easily batted away. The surprised look that appeared on the face of the Fletecon, if you could call that a face, was comical.
I hope you know you have set, your destruction. I sent the thought to the spider-like creature.
Ha! A soldier’s death for the glory of my race brings much more honor, came the creatures’ thoughts.
Ah! Then no honor is what you are to gain today. I am far stronger than you. With that, I applied extreme pressure to the creatures brain. I felt it scream as it tried to lunge toward me. Then, whatever they have for a brain, was just as suddenly a pulpy mush.
I turned to my partner, “call base, tell them we have a near defcon 1 situation. I am going after the last one. I’m afraid that they are going to be far stronger than these foot soldiers. It has been here before, go.”
“Alright,” the female said as she turned to go back to the chopper.
I zeroed in on the last presence now that the interference of the others was gone. Damn it! This one had a head start, plus was moving far faster than it should have been able to.
I concentrated, then lifted myself a few feet off the ground. I immediately propelled myself after the last Fletecon. I was moving quite fast, barely feeling myself catching up with it.
I knew that as soon as she made the call, the rest of the Sifi support would mobilize. The problem was that it would be a good twenty minutes before they could arrive. I also knew they had a bio-lock on me as I chased after the last warrior.
I started to curse again as I felt it slow, then stop. Damnit! That could only mean that it had encountered humans. Shit, this wasn’t good. I increased my speed to maximum, arriving in moments at a couple of homes.
I stopped as I scanned the area. Ah, there it was. Reaching out, I ripped the wall off the second house.
So, today I end the only survivor of the last assault. I sent to it, as it ripped the woman in half that it had been holding.
I think not. Your race is far inferior to us. I have increased my power many times. I… The spider creature sent to me.
I smiled as I started to crush the creature as it tried to reach an unconscious male. Not this time, you are no warrior to use sheep like this. I sent my angry thoughts to it.
Your race will never win, even now your numbers are to the point that we will take this place with no trouble. We… the creature started, then screamed as I crushed it to a paste.
I turned toward the few homes that were there. Shaking my head, I knew I had to kill the human bodies here. As I had feared, the Fletecon had infected all of them with a seed of itself.
I was starting to move to the first, when my partner landed. “Quick response team arrival in ten. So, you got it, huh?”
I nodded, “too late for all of these people, I am afraid.” I said as I moved to the chopper. “Base, I am executing prime safe, guard. Gonna need a clean up crew for at least twenty, maybe more.”
“Copy that, response team will help with safeguard if needed. Base out,” Came the voice on the radio.
I calmly started to move through all the people that were there. It wasn’t enough that they were terminated. I had to completely destroy their heads.
The response team arrived as I was blasting the head of the twenty seventh person. I reached out to see if I had missed any. I stood there for a few minutes doing as wide and strong a search as I could.
Satisfied, I moved toward the chopper with several of the response team. A moment later, I felt as if all my energy had left my body. Damnit! I had used far more energy than I’d have in a very long time. The last time had been against the same Fletecon, as like then, I felt the world spin as I went down.
I awoke almost a day later, in a hospital bed. Looking at the military nurse I saw taking my vitals, I knew it was bad. I had only been here once before, hadn’t enjoyed it then and knew I wasn’t now.
First came the major ass chewing I got from the Sifi unit commander. Then, by both of the females I had trained though, not nearly as bad. A few hours later, it was the last three of the twenty-five that had started the unit with me. They also weren’t as bad, considering whom I had gone against.
After I was released, I was really slow to get back to duty. I wish I had been more diligent.
I hadn’t realized that I had in fact missed someone that day. Another teen female had been at the very edge of the buildings. One that had abilities somewhat like the Sifi unit, abilities that had blocked her and what was living in her from me.
There are certain Fletecons that can seed weaker humans. The seed is a copy of themselves, that given time, can grow, crush and absorb that which makes a human, a human.
In the case of the young female teen, her abilities, though untapped for the most part, blocked the seed. I should say that they blocked it very well for over two years. Then, that which was the Fletecon, started to slowly take over.
So, we’re up to date. I saw the glow, my mind racing to recognize it. Clarity hit my mind when I saw the edge of a gleaming disk. I dived to a hatch, threw it open, then slid down the ladder.
Less than a minute later, I heard and felt an electric type of buzz, then the house exploded into large pieces. I barely had time to duck down the tunnel as debris filled the area where the ladder had been.
I ran as fast as I could to the other end. It took several minutes as it was over a mile-long tunnel. What in hell was a Fletecon ship doing on earth? Why in the hell hadn’t Sifi stepped in? I knew there were at least two still active.
At the end o the tunnel I had a radio set up only for the worst emergencies. Switching it on, I just hoped that it still worked.
“Base, this is Sifi actual one. I have a defcon one emergency, repeat defcon one emergency. I have a Fletecon vessel assaulting what’s left of my home,” I calmly stated.
“Be advised you are on a restricted military channel. Suggest…” the voice started.
“Listen to me you little shit! We have a earth-ending emergency. Get me your commander NOW! I have the honorary rank of Colonel, do it now before you’re court martialed!” I said, trying to remain calm.
Less than a minute later, an authoritative voice said, ” Be advised again, this is a restricted channel.”
“I know that! I am the one who set the damn thing up. This is Sifi actual, I have a Fletecon vessel that has destroyed my home. Alpha code A11BC11TRI311, confirm,” I calmly stated.
“Alpha code A11BC11TRI311 confirmed, we are rolling a team to you, Sifi actual,” the voice said.
I grabbed a weapon I hadn’t used in over twenty-five years as I exited the tunnel. I stared at the wreckage that had been my home. I turned as I saw a gleaming off to the side of me.
So, I obviously missed one section. I won’t again. I sent my thoughts out. I also know that the human you have is all you have. Without your body there are no more seeds.
You are just as arrogant as you are now as you were then. The Fletecons thoughts came to me.
I was scanning the whole time, feeling just who the Fletecon had. I was surprised when I felt a human female presence there. Then I felt her abilities. Reaching in, I slowly strengthened them. Now let the damn Fletecon take her over. She didn’t have a lot of strength yet though; she was twice what she was.
I can see that I am going to have to make sure you are destroyed this time. The fact that you only have a human that could push you out will be a good revenge.
I felt the Fletecon slam the link I had close to her, though it was too late. I had left and strengthened her enough it had no chance. A minute later, I heard several jets fly over, then several missile strikes.
I smiled as I saw the ship try to rise, then, turned toward the ground. Hitting the ground with some speed, it immediately dug in, then down.
Damnit! I thought we had it. Then again, how in the hell had it found a ship? I thought that the government had dismantled it.
The loud advance of several people, had me turning to see an armed, twenty-man team advancing upon me.
“Hands up!” A man said as they reached me.
“I am Sifi actual, code name Alpha-defense one. I really don’t feel like the whole damn thing again,” I said with a sigh.
I started to lower my hands as several of the men pointed their rifles at me. “I said keep your hands up!” The first man said.
” You’re really going to make me do it aren’t you?” I told the first man whose face held confusion. “Alright,” each man’s face was shocked as their rifles hit the ground. What was worse, none of them could lift them off the ground. The same thing happened when they tried to pull their pistols.
The first man’s face suddenly held a smile as he nodded, “identity confirmed.”
I looked at the man hard a moment, then nodded. “Ashton, it has to be him. Only that son of a bitch, would have someone identify me like that.”
“Now, now, no need to be nasty Bill,” came a voice I recognized, hadn’t heard for a few years.
“I should still kick your ass, later though. We still have a defcon one situation, though how it got a ship has me baffled,” I said.
“Uh,” Ashton started. “We never really dismantled the ship. We were able to open it, learned a hell of a lot about their weapons. The problem is, we were only able to understand and copy a few of them. The shield system was the best though. Then again, it’s of no use against you, is it?”
I shook my head, damn military, figures they’d do something like that. “So, you just figured you could do that, without thinking that, when they come again, they’d have a ship here. That they could remote it, taking out several installations before we could respond? I warned you years ago, never been wrong, still you didn’t listen, idiot!”
“There’s no need to be insulting, I mean…” Ashton started.
“Not insulting, just the damn truth. My team and I were out there every day, how I survived longer than the rest of them is a mystery.” I said as calmly as I could.
It was at that moment that i felt the two female presences. I also felt the soft probes that they tried to use on me. As gently as I could, I slapped them away, hearing two yelps from behind a group of trees.
“That wasn’t nice,” the older of the two said when they both stepped out.
I smiled at both of them, then waggled a finger. “So, you both have developed a much softer touch. Though to me it is still rather heavy.”
They both smiled, though I could feel that they both wanted to rush to me. I hadn’t seen either of them for a little over two years. I had missed both of my daughters though; they and I were the only ones who knew the truth. A truth that no one would ever know as long as we had the threat of the Fleetcons hanging over us.
“Here I thought I was far less detectable,” the older one said.
“Ha! I was never able to get to him and I am a lighter touch than you,” the younger one said.
I could only shake my head, these two always acted as if they were the biggest rivals. Truth be told, though they had different mothers, they were fiercely devoted to each other. They were just as devoted to me though, that we had to keep it in secret ’til the end.
“So, you’re sure it was the Fletecons?” The oldest asked.
I looked into her eyes as I showed her the memories. Her eyes flew wide as she nodded, I then turned to the youngest, showing her the same thing. This caused a little more of an emotional reaction as she gasped then growled.
“It was the same one that you thought you destroyed, plus they kept the damn ship. Intact? What assholes why not just offer up the whole damn planet while they are at it.” The youngest growled out.
“I am still here damnit!” Ashton said from the radio.
“Good you daffy son of a bitch!” The youngest spit.
“Don’t forget you work for me. I could…” Ashton started.
“You won’t do shit! The only one that could take us down trained us,” here the oldest smiled. “Plus, we are a hell of as lot stronger now. What? You think you are the only one that can feel a soft probe? Please!”
I shook my head, “you only felt me after your power doubled. I need both of you to be that strong. The one we are after was one of the strongest warriors they had.”
Both females could only stare at me, “the strongest? How were you able to defeat it?”
“Have you forgotten? I was the strongest of all of us. I just hope that what I did to you is enough, this one has an abundance of power.” I told the females.
“We will do what we can sir,” the oldest said, then they both walked away.
“Look Bill, I need you to come…” Ashton started.
“Not going to happen, I know you’re not going to try and force me. I will handle this, I may have quit, I didn’t die,” I told Ashton. Then concentrated seeming to vanish before all those there’s eyes.
It was a week later that I walked into my brother’s old house. I was definitely on the right track. I had nearly caught the teen girl when she appeared, killing one of the last three of my old team.
Another of them was nearby though, as of yet, I still couldn’t feel the presence of the female nor the Fletecon. I had felt her last time, I had boosted her a bit more. The problem was when I did, she became harder to feel her.
I had just sat down when I felt her. I lifted as I went as fast as I could. Again, I arrived too late, though this time I was able to temporarily stop her. I had delved in trying to rip out what I could of the seed.
A sinister laugh sounded around me as I started to destroy all of the Fletecon. The laugh was soon a scream, as I had destroyed half in little time.
I hold her life, human. Just a touch and she is dead. The Fletecon’s thoughts said.
I started to laugh; you are not as observant as I thought you were. Even as strong as you are, you haven’t realized just how powerful this mind you are in is.
Suddenly, I was pushed out. I nodded as I felt the female. Thank you, let me work on it. With what you have done and shown me, In will prevail soon.
At that moment I had to shield myself as the female emitted a mental blast that took all I had to stop. I started to sway when I tried to follow, the had to stop as I sunk to my knees.
Damnit! I actually had that piece of alien trash, then she pushed me out. With a sigh I realized that I had weakened myself far more than I had thought.
This time I felt the energy of the two beings. Though I couldn’t really feel them, I now had an energy signature to follow.
A movement in the front room drew my attention. First my youngest, then my oldest daughters flowed to me.
“What the hell,” my oldest said as she wrapped her arms around me.
Her sister, my youngest, also wrapped her arms around me. “Yeah, really, you trying to die? You know you haven’t the reserves you used to. Especially since you haven’t used them that much. Though I have to say, I would have been out on the floor before I got to where you were.”
“Yeah, I know, the last two times I overextended like this? I wasn’t quite this far, hmmm, could it be the harder I push them, the stronger they get?” I asked no one in particular.
“It is possible, though it’s impossible to tell without tests. I’ll ask the egg heads when we get back,” the oldest said.
I nodded deep in thought, then looked at both of them. “Uh, not to seem ungrateful, but why and how the hell are you both here?”
“We both figured that you were following the others, to see if the Fletecon would go after them. As we surmised it did, so we were here waiting for it to make a move.
I just shook my head. I knew they were far smarter than they let on. I also knew that they were being tracked by the Sifi people, though I imagined it was far harder than it used to be. I also knew that they were bugged in ways that I could see would be embarrassing if I mentioned them.
I signaled that I was staying there at their uncle’s house. They knew that the last of my old group was here also. I stood then smiled as I seemed to vanish before them.
“I wish I could do that vanishing act,” the oldest said as she winked at the spot, I had been in.
After they left, I put a blanket down to nap. I knew that the Fletecon was on borrowed time. It would have to find another host soon. It was losing its fight against the teen.
It was a few hours later when I heard a slight cry from the teen, then she fell unconscious. Damnit! The piece of trash had found another host! Reaching out, I felt where she was. Oh god! She was in a cemetery, one that wasn’t far from here.
I lifted as I was across the city in no time. I found the teen near a group of headstones. Though at the time I didn’t realize it was my family’s.
I carried her back to my brother’s house, reaching in I felt that she was well. Looking further, I found nothing of the seed nor the Fletecon. Breathing a sigh of relief, I was shocked an hour later when my brother walked through the door.
Speechless for a few moments, I could only stare as he walked past me to a closet. Reaching in then, he removed what appeared to be a thermic, fusion explosive.
‘I do not have much time, Brother, I wish there was more time. Time, I had to tell you how I miss you. I have to get to the ship before it can take control. Know I love you, I’m so proud of all that you have done.” He said.
A moment later, he left. As I followed him, no matter how hard I tried, he’d speak no more. At the hidden ship he turned to salute me, then showed me he’d set the timer for five minutes.
So, here we are again. I watched as the huge gleaming disk rose. As it climbed higher, I started to curse. The damn thing should have exploded by now.
It was almost out of sight, when there was a titanic blast and light show that appeared to be several miles up. A sad smile crossed my features as I bowed my head.
I shook my head as I moved away. At least now everyone dead and otherwise was safe. A sudden thought hit me. At least I hoped the world was.
I was walking away when I felt the mass of ships as they started to exit whatever they had been in. Curing again I put up as powerful a shield as I could. I could swear that the Fleetcons had brought far more ships than they had last time.
Not far away, I felt the last of my old team as they also extended. Although they were taking out ships, they weren’t as fast as we needed.
I felt both my daughters enter the frey, they were much faster. The problem was that their path of destruction was far smaller than I wished it was. I started to alternate between destroying a wide swath of ships, then going back to the shield. I did this a few times though I knew that I wasn’t going to last long.
We hadn’t taken even half of them out when I felt my strength fading. I am so sorry you three, I am at the end of my energy. The last blast I had let loose had cut a very wide path through the Fletecon ships. Still, I used all I had to keep the shield up.
It was then that I felt even more ships than arrived the first time appear. I shook my head, they might destroy our planet, they were going to pay a high price. Reaching within, I felt another source of power. Reaching into it, I strengthened the shield even more.
That’s when all hell seemed to break loose. The second mass of ships started to fire upon the Fletecon fleet. What the hell was going on?
It seemed to last for hours, though I suspect that it was only a few minutes. I was starting to feel numb as I heard a gentle voice telling me to release the shield. Thinking it a trick, I held on.
I heard the first voice talking to the last of my team and my daughters. You have to get him to release. He is using his life energy; he has to stop, or he will expire.
I suddenly felt the three of them beside me. “Father, you have to stop please. This is going to kill you. Now that the threat is gone, we can be a family.” My oldest said through tears.
“Please Dad, I need you more than you’ll ever know, let it go,” my youngest cried.
“Bill, let it go, it’s the Bellons they finally returned.” My old team member said.
I looked at all three, took a shuddering breath, then let it go. I felt as if I were falling from a great height. Then I seemed to remember a person shrouded in light. They touched me, then vanished.
What seemed to only be a few hours was actually three days later. I jerked awake and seemed to set every alarm on the bed off. Several nurses and doctors were in my room within moments. After checking everything to make sure I was OK, my daughters appeared.
“They said that you were very close to expiring. Oh, they said to tell you that you are the first of our race. You are special, so they won’t leave before they visit one last time.” My oldest said.
“We are here to stay. I refuse to be apart from you again, neither of us.” My youngest said.
Oh? What did the commander have to say about that? I asked with my mind.
As if he could make us do anything! Both their thoughts shouted.
After they left, I must have passed out. When I opened my eyes, the same person was standing there again, shrouded in light.
I tried to keep us safe. I am sorry that I failed you, your trust. I thought to the being beside me.
No, you did not fail, you are the first race besides our own that protected to the point of death. The simple fact that you can see me as I am? Is even more proof. We would like you to travel to our world to represent yours.
How? It takes so long to make the trip. Twelve of our years is quite a long time. I thought to him.
Twelve years? Ah! I see, it’s more like twelve of your seconds.
Then why were you gone so long?
We had to wait for most of their fleet to come here. We planted that thought, so when they read one of you, they’d think we were still traveling. Now, here the Bellon touched me, I was suddenly feeling as if nothing had happened to me. Shall we go?
Wait, can my daughters go? The Bellon waved a hand, and both appeared.
“What is going on?” They both asked.
“We’re going on a trip,” I smiled as all four of us vanished.