“I don’t really have any option in being a part of this, but
you both do. You can back out now if you want to because I don’t know what
we’re going to find. I don’t know if someone will be waiting when we come out
arrest us or maybe even make us disappear. So tell me now, if this is too
dangerous for you, no judgement. You can back out now and forget all about it.”
Hans let several minutes pass by, but no one said a word. He
smiled at Duke and Honora. It was hard to believe that these people that had
just fallen into his life were now his most important confidants.
“Okay then, moving on. We do need to be prepared for all
possible outcomes. We could find anything down there. We won’t really know what
to do until we know what we’ve found. If it is alien technology than what are
we going to do with it? Do we alert the media or do we approach the authorities
with this knowledge? What do you guys want to do?” Hans hoped that they could
all agree on a course of action.
“Not the authorities.” Duke spoke firmly. “I don’t trust the
authorities and I don’t think any of us should.”
“I’m with Duke on this. I’m not too sure about the media
either though. I mean, we honestly won’t really know what to do until we find
out what’s down there. It could be nothing or it could be something that we
cannot even begin to imagine right now.” Honora pressed a hand to her chest
where her alien artefact was hidden.
“I’m on the same page as you Honora. Mostly, I just wanted
to get you both thinking about it because this is going to be a very real
discussion on our way out and we won’t have a lot of time to decide on what
we’re going to do. Not to mention, we may not be given any options if there is
the wrong kind of someone waiting for us when we come out.” Hans reminded them.
“Then consider the bug planted in our brains. I’ll keep it
in mind, but I do think we can all agree on one thing. No authorities, right?”
Duke said.
“Yeah, I think we can all agree on that one thing. So, it’s
more or less settled unless there are any concerns that either of you want to
bring up at this time?” Hans waited for either them to speak. He felt sure that
he had to have missed something.
“I think you’ve covered everything you could - except for
one thing.” Honora spoke up. “Weapons. I think we should have weapons on us
just in case things go badly for us. I’m not keen on having to shoot anyone or
anything, but, as you say, there might be the wrong kind of someone waiting for
us and I really do not have any intention to go quietly and be forgotten.”
Hans was surprised to hear those words coming from Honora.
He had expected Duke to put up more of an argument. “Weapons, okay, I can go
with that. We’ll each arm ourselves from the ship. If someone checks, which would
be unlikely, it’ll put up a lot of big red flags then, but no one should check
on something like that. Duke?”
“What?” Duke looked up surprised.
“Do you have anything that you want to add to the
conversation?” Hans asked.
“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but last night you
were talking about getting lost. Do you really think the Armed Forces are
watching that closely and is disappearing going to be a real option?” Duke was
scratching at his chin again – a sure sign he was thinking hard about something.
“I know you’re not being paranoid, but do you really think they have any idea
of what you’re actually up to?”
“I have no real way of knowing, but I suspect. To be honest,
I may have been a good pilot, but I wasn’t just any pilot.” Hans sighed.
“Yeah, you were a legend!” Duke snickered remembering the
scene from the night before.
“I was more than. I was being groomed for a job with the
Special Services. It’s kind of a catch-all title for those who aren’t on
regular duty. Everything from elite infiltration teams to levels to top secret
that I don’t think most of the regular Armed Forces even know they exist. I
know this organization and I know what they are capable of if provoked.” Hans
said. “Haven’t you ever wondered why I’m so good at so many borderline illegal
activities? I learned them from my first job.”
“I guess that does explain one or two things about you. No
boy scout then, eh?” Duke reached out and gave Hans a playful punch on the
shoulder.
“No, I’m definitely no boy scout, but I do like to be
prepared. So, if that’s all than I’ve got something to show you both since I’ve
only mentioned it before I think it’s time I showed you.” Hans got up from the
table and walked back into his bedroom. He came back out carrying something wrapped in
a blanket and placed it on the table.
“This is the artefact that I took from the cavern when I
went down there last time. I still have no idea what it does or why it does
what it does, but we’ll be taking it back with us. It might come in handy, I
have no idea.” Hans carefully unwrapped the blanket.
“It does look just like mine, but bigger. I think the
symbols on are different though. Do you think it’s some sort of writing or
something?” Honora leaned in closer to get a better looks as she spoke. As she
reached out to touch it the artefact gave a soft beep and split in half. Honora
backed away from it quickly and looked to Hans for reassurance.
“It’s never done that before, not without me throwing it
against a wall.” Hans leaned in closer for a better look. It had split
differently than before. This time there was no button begging to be pressed,
there was just an indent in each side about the same size as the artefact that
was hidden on Honora’s shirt.
“I’m thinking that this has something to do with the one
that you have Honora. See that indent there? it’s about the same size as
yours.” Hans pointed out the indent for them both to see. Honora reached under
her shirt and pulled out her own artefact and visually compared the two.
“It does look about the same size. Do you think we should…?”
Honora never finished the sentence before Hans was shaking his head.
“We don’t know what will happen if we do, but we could
always try it later, if we’re desperate. Right now, all we know is that mine
emits some sort of bright light and yours may have turned an entire ships crew
into nothing more than dust. So, I say we wait if no one minds?” Hans saw both
Duke and Honora nodding their agreements. Carefully he reached out and pushed
the two pieces back together. They sealed quickly and he wrapped it back up.
“So last thing last, when do we want to do this?” Hans
asked.
No comments:
Post a Comment