Weller--A Novel In Work (8) So what you’re saying Peanut is that we have a captured, intact alien craft out at Area 51 right now? Well maybe, Peanut replied. I guess it all depends on if your MUFON guys over on Freedom Ridge got it right last night about the base being under attack. I’ve been out of the loop for the last 24 hours, Brown continued, so I don’t know what’s been happening? I don’t know what they saw either, Parker replied, but the base is definitely still there and as far as I can tell, undamaged. What do you mean, as far as you can tell, Brown questioned? I brought up the satellite imagery on the net this morning, and as of the 7:32AM, the place looks exactly the same as it always does, and you know I check the imagery for changes on a pretty regular basis!! What do you look at when you check it, Brown asked? The ship should be at the S-4 facility and that’s a few miles away from the base proper. Well Hell, I should have thought about that, but I didn’t, Parker realized. Just then, Parkers cell phone began to ring. Answering as a reflex, it took him a moment to realize who was on the line. Mr. Parker, this is Jamie, I think I’ve got the imagery cleaned up about as good as it’s going to get. What’s it look like Jamie, Parker asked. We’ll there was definitely a big flash and boom. The auto focus completely flared momentarily and the boom followed right after it. I took the liberty of calculating the distance based on speed of sound estimates and it appears the explosion recorded occurred approximately 60 miles away. Okay, good job Jamie, Parker replied, get your frat brother together and I’ll buy you guys a keg. Turning to Brown, Parker relayed the latest information from Thomson. 60 miles, Brown mused, well we know it wasn’t the base then, I wonder what the Hell it was? Well, let’s see if we can find out, Parker replied. Once again he flashed through his address book and hit the speed dial. Tony Collins was just leaving for lunch when his cell phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he answered, hey Alex, what’s up? Collins was the Head of the Geology Department at UNLV, and one of Parker’s regular golf buddies. Just wondering Tony if there was any type of weird seismic activity last night out around Area 51? Honestly Alex, I don’t know Collins replied? You know they do so much testing of different explosives and ordinance out there, we pretty much don’t pay any attention to things that go boom in the night out in that area. Well, could you check it out and let me know, Parker replied? Can it wait until after lunch Collins asked, I’m starving? No problem, Parker replied, but it is kind of important Tony, so if you could let me know as soon as possible? No problem Alex, I’ll get on it right after lunch. Shit Alex, there’s no way around it, Brown speculated. Something went down last night and we’re out of the loop. Looking that way, Parker agreed, but the question is what? Well, I might be able to find out, but I’d have to play it just right. What do you have in mind, Parker asked. I can call Hendrix, Brown replied. And say what, Peanut? I’ll just call him and say I’m checking in. Are you willing to risk that, Peanut? Well, it’s really not that much of a risk. I’m on stand down and I just took a little time off for a quick trip to Vegas. You know, play the slots, take in a show, and unwind. Yeah, Parker agreed, sounds reasonable, but we’ve been able to protect you this long and no way I want to sacrifice your position. I know Alex, Brown replied, but this is really what we’ve been working for, isn’t it? This is the point we’ve been trying to achieve. Your call Peanut, Parker replied, we can always go at it through other angles. I know Alex, but I think it’s worth making the call!! Bostick woke Hendrix from a deep sleep. We have a situation I thought you’d want to be aware of he said. What, Hendrix questioned still half asleep. Highway Patrol found a rented Blazer in the middle of the road, 42 miles from the base. It was rented to the FEMA guy that was supposed to be bringing us the recovered alien body. Instantly awake, Hendrix sat up in the bed and started to get up. What’s the deal he, asked. Where’s the body? Gone apparently, Bostick replied. The Blazer was empty and abandoned. We picked it up on the HP’s radio net. We monitor everything happening around the base. So, there’s no connection to our situation, Hendrix quarried. Not as far as the Highway Patrol’s concerned. Bostick replied. All they know is that they have a possible missing person situation. Dan and Shanna Weller were met in the hanger at Andrews Air Force base by a Marine Captain who escorted them to a waiting helicopter and then whisked them away to the Presidents retreat at Camp David. The entire trips had only taken a few hours and the Weller’s were about to be ushered into a meeting with the President of the United States. The President’s aide tapped twice on the heavy, oak door then entered, ushering the Weller’s in. President Jon Mathews sat behind his heavy, oak desk, the omnipresent cup of hot coffee steaming away in front of him. Good afternoon, he bid the Weller’s rising from his heavily padded leather office chair. Weller noted that Mathews looked a lot larger in person then he appeared on television. Handshakes were exchanged, as Mathews showed the Weller’s to a pair of comfortable chairs in front of the fireplace. Easing himself into a chair across from the Weller’s, Mathews remained quiet for moment, then spoke.. This reminds me of a scene from an old movie ya know? Something like, “you might be wondering why I asked you here today, but you don’t, do you Dan?” Well, Weller replied, I’m just guessing it might have something to do with aliens running rampant across the country, and the government’s inability to do anything about it? Mathews had to chuckle.. They told me you might be a handful Dan, looks like my Intel people finally got something right!! The Presidents easy, southern style was immediately winning Weller over, and a brief smile crossed his face. Shanna Weller had remained quiet up to this point, but spoke up in a serious tone, which ended the “good ol boy” banter. Why are we here, Mr. President? Mathews took a moment before replying, which was his style, then spoke in a slow, even tone. You’re pregnant Mrs. Weller, and we both know, you shouldn’t be. Peanut Brown had checked into Harrah’s under his full legal name to establish his presence in Vegas as just another tourist. Resting comfortably in his room, he speed dialed Hendrix and waited as the phone rang. Hendrix was awakened on the third ring, glancing at the caller ID, he answered…what’s up Peanut? Just checking in boss, Peanut replied. I’m down in Vegas wasting my hard earned money. Damnit, Hendrix replied, I’m out at 51 and all Hell has been breaking loose. Anything I can do, Brown asked with all the concern he could muster? Yeah Peanut, I could definitely use you out here. Get down to the airport and catch the next “Janice” flight out here. Roger that, Brown replied, on my way.. Breaking the connection, he looked over at Alex Parker, sprawled out across the bed. Looks like I’ve got a plane to catch. Sounds good, just let me know something when you can. Just then, Parker’s cell phone rang and he answered it reflexively. Alex, it’s Tony the voice on the line greeted, I’ve got that information you were asking about. Whatcha got Tony, Parker replied? No doubt, Alex, there was a really big bang north of the base last night. Hit in the 4.2 range on the scales. Got a pencil, I’ll give you the coordinates? Jotting down the information Collins dictated, Parker thanked his friend for the help and ended the call. Calling up the online satellite connection on his cell phone, Parker punched in the coordinates. 30 seconds later, a picture begin to form on his cell phone’s tiny screen. Parker hit the zoom and pulled the image in to its maximum exposure. It’s small and kind of hard to see, but it looks like there’s a big, black hole in the ground and some burned out trucks. No doubt, Brown confirmed looking over Parker’s shoulder, but what does it mean to us? Well, for sure it means that something got blown the fuck up last night Parker exclaimed!! Ed Furlough had just touched down at Davis Mountain Air Force base and taxied over to the assembly area where the other specially equipped F22 fighters were undergoing last minute systems checks. His crew chief, Ron “Tiger” Woods was waiting by the fuel truck chewing on an unlit cigar. Furlough shut his aircraft down and watched for a moment as his crew got started going over his bird. Opening the canopy, he gingerly mounted the ladder that had been rolled up to his craft and eased down one step at a time. Moving a little slow Major, his crew chief remarked, a sly grin on his face. Save it, Tiger, Furlough replied, you aint no spring chicken yourself. No shit, Woods replied, but the difference is, I know it!! I know it to Tiger, Furlough agreed with just a touch of irony, I just hate to admit it. Both men shared a laugh and then got down to business. Briefing is scheduled for 1800, sir and we’ve got the whole crew onsite. Roger that Tiger, Furlough acknowledged. What I need now is a “head” and something to eat, I’m starving. Got ya covered Major, your gears all stowed away at the BOQ and the chow here is pretty, damn good, if I do say so myself. Peanut Brown made it to the Las Vegas airport just in time to catch the last “Janice” flight of the day out to Area 51. There was just a little aggravation with the guard at the gate, but that was quickly resolved with a phone call. Easing back into the leather seat on the plain, white 737, Brown closed his eyes to catch a short nap. Something about the drown of jet engines always made him sleepy, and given the events of the last couple of days, it only took a moment for him to drop off into a deep slumber. UPDATE NUMBER SEVEN STARTS HERE Hendrix and Blalock rode with Bostick in his flat, black Hummer out to the S-4 hanger facilities. Upon arrival, they saw a half dozen batteries of anti-aircraft missile defense systems being deployed, Damn Bostick, Blalock exclaimed, that’s a lot of hardware for you guys to keep onsite. Not ours, Bostick replied, we flew these guys in from Fort Bliss this afternoon. Jesus, Hendrix sighed, deniability is all but gone on this operation. Not so much, Bostick replied. we’ve managed to keep a few thousand workers quite about what goes on here over the last couple of decades, I’m sure we can persuade a few Army grunts to keep their mouths shut. What’s the status of my men Blalock asked? Not much they can do to help here, Bostick replied, so we’re staging them out with my men on perimeter security. Sounds good, Blalock replied. I have to believe they’ll be safer on the perimeter, and I already have enough letters to write to family survivors. Roger that, Bostick acknowledged. I wrote way too many of those letters myself, back in the day. Blalock just shook his head in agreements, not surprised at all that Bostick would have a combat command background. Stepping through the heavy blast doors of the S-4 hanger, they were greeted with the sounds of construction. We’re building a shield of sorts around the craft, Bostick explained. Lead sheets on a steel and wooden frame. Met with puzzled looks, Bostick went on to explain. We have no idea if our friends might have to ability to remote control the craft, so we’re doing our best to shield it from radio wave transmissions. Makes sense, Hendrix acknowledged, if it works? No way to know, Bostick admitted, but better safe then sorry!! Shanna Weller sat in stunned silence for a moment, taken back by the President’s words. How would you know if I should, or shouldn’t be pregnant, she finally replied. Well, Shanna, may I call you Shanna, Mathews asked? After a nod, he continued. First, you told the doctors at Fort Hood that you couldn’t be pregnant, and second, you were away from Dan in Kansas at your mother’s during the conception period. We have airline records and credit card transactions that put you there for a two week period. Your Intel people must be a little better then you give them credit for Dan Weller exclaimed with a sigh. Maybe, Mathews acknowledged, but the FBI does the leg work on domestic issues and as you can imagine, they are typically very through. Obviously, Weller replied. I’m not one to beat around the bush folks, Mathews continued. You’re pregnant Shanna, and you shouldn’t be. Dan, I’m sure you know where this is going, but just so we’re all on the same page, let me lay it all out for you from my, which is the U.S. Government’s position. We suspect, and I might add with good reason, that there is a distinct possibility that you are carrying an alien hybrid in your womb Shanna, and you wouldn’t be the first woman this has happened to, trust me on that!! Rather you know it, or not, you will not be allowed to carry this child to term. No woman before you ever has!! I’m shooting real straight with you now Dan, because frankly, you know better then anyone what these creatures are capable of. In every previous case we’ve been able to document, the embryo has been harvested by the aliens, usually between the sixth and seventh month of the pregnancy. Harvested, Shanna gasped, what does that mean? One night you go to sleep pregnant, and the next morning you wake up and you’re not. It’s really just that simple, and we have several hundred documented cases we know about. God only knows how many we don’t? There were a few moments of silence as the President let his words sink in with the Weller’s, before continuing. The reason I asked you here today, Mathews explained is to offer you sanctuary. Dan, you’ve been out there fighting these things on your own now for years. Doing what you had to do to protect your family. Up until now, you’ve been doing it all alone. But, as of this moment, I’m offering you the full assistance and protection of the United States government. How can you, or the government protect us Mr. President, Weller questioned? These things always find us. We’ve moved three time in the last three years, three different states, but they always find us. I know Dan, Mathews acknowledged, and each time over the last three years, you’ve made them pay, but it hasn’t stopped them, has it? What did they do Dan? They waited, and the minute Shanna was away from you, they made their move. What does that tell you? It’s not just about you anymore. It’s about you, Shanna, and Adam now. How touching, Weller almost spit out. Don’t get me wrong Jon, may I call you Jon, but why now? Where the fuck have you been all these years before now? Why all the interest my family’s welfare now? Bostick raised his hand as to interrupt conversations as the omnipresent coms set in his ear came to life. Hold one, he ordered, then shielding the mic with his hand, he turned to Hendrix. Did you authorize one Specialist Charles Brown for duty on this operation. Affirmative, Hendrix acknowledged. What’s his clearance, Bostick asked with obvious concern? Code word and above, Hendrix replied. With a slight nod, Bostick spoke into his mic. Bring Specialist Brown to my location. Staring hard at Hendrix, Bostick drew in a breath and stated. The security of this base is my primary function Col Hendrix, so in the future, if we have a future after tonight, I would very much appreciate it if you would at least let me know when you decide to bring people on to my base. I don’t know about you, but I like to leave my men with the impression that I know every goddamn thing in the world, and you just cast that issue into doubt? Blalock, had to smile just a little. Understood Mr. Bostick. I assure you it was just an unintentional oversight, and it won’t happen again. Very well, Bostick acknowledged only slightly appeased, let’s get back to work. Roy Gallagher had endured a busy and stressful day. After escorting the Weller’s to Washington he had proceeded to FEMA headquarters for a meeting with his Boss, Heather Eager. It was still a bit unnerving to him answering to a woman, but damned if she didn’t keep him on his toes, and he had to give her that. Sitting across from her heavy, wooden executive desk, he watch as she fired up her third Camel Light and took a deep drag of the Seaport Coffee she so cherished and had specially imported by the case.
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