reason. We must act before it’s too late. Do you understand?”
“What do you suggest?”
“I submit that the planet should be obliterated.”
Liktar guffawed. “We’ve spent a long time trying to defend the Earth from just that. They saved us from the Greys. We owe them. It’s hardly justified to wipe them out after all they’ve been through and all they’ve done for us.”
“What would you suggest?”
“We should concentrate on the most powerful individual only. He’s the only one who poses a threat. If we can eliminate him, we’ll have nothing to worry about going forward.”
President Blimtot asked, “Are you suggesting we poison him?”
Liktar hated the notion of punishing their savior. And what would happen if the powerful human caught them trying to kill him?
He offered, “I could put a team on synthesizing an antidote, to diminish his abilities.”
“Can that be done?”
“I don’t see why not. We changed him so it stands to reason we should be able to change him back.”
“What if he doesn’t let you? Do you have a back-up plan?”
“If he won’t work with us peaceably then he’ll leave us no choice. We’ll have to kill him.”
“Get your team to work on the antidote and report back as soon as it’s ready. We’re on a tight deadline here so make it quick.” President Blimtot signed off and the holographic display vanished like a ghost.
Liktar called for his second in command. “Get working on an antidote to what we did to the humans.”
“Are you serious? How the hell would we administer it, even if I could synthesize something that works?”
“Let me worry about that. I’ll just ask him nicely.”
The second in command scoffed and headed below deck to set to work.
Uninvited Guest
Jack was back home in his own bed in Ault, Colorado. His mom was downstairs laughing with Sally, telling her all of the embarrassing stories from his childhood.
He’d been home for five days now, as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Twice he’d teleported to the desert without warning, but he’d gotten used to his powers so he’d been able to return right away, without the prerequisite time wasted waiting to recharge.
News crews had tried to swarm the house but Commander Watson and a few diehard soldiers had set up a perimeter and then they hassled every snooping reporter so much that they simply gave up and left.
Watson et al had left yesterday when th e media whirlwind had died down completely. Ault was remote and dull. It was not a place where people decided to stay longer than was necessary.
According to news reports, just one casualty had resulted from the second wave; Melanie was the only death.
Every time he thought of her, he also thought about what he’d done to the Grey home world to avenge her. He wished the two weren’t forever linked in his mind. He’d made a terrible decision to get rid of the Grey threat once and for all, and to do that, he had to get rid of the species. But more than that, he’d done it to see the look on Shaylo’s face. The realization nearly made him weep again. He’d become comfortable as an inhuman monster capable of unheard of atrocities. But his conscience fought back, punishing him for his actions.
It had all worked out perfectly after that. Shaylo instructed the Greys, via the camera, to abandon their quarry based on what Jack had done and what he could do to the rest of them.
Melanie’s funeral was yesterday and he’d missed it. He tried to go, but his mom and Sally wouldn’t hear of it. He could barely stand. He dreaded to think what her parents must think of him. After all, she died because of him.
Hank Beltran was staying with Dan and Molly. Jack had made a phone call during one of his few lucid moments and convinced both parties that each could be trusted. Hank needed to practice and Dan and Molly could help him hone his abilities. And Hank had expressed a need for understanding. He needed someone to talk to about
“What do you suggest?”
“I submit that the planet should be obliterated.”
Liktar guffawed. “We’ve spent a long time trying to defend the Earth from just that. They saved us from the Greys. We owe them. It’s hardly justified to wipe them out after all they’ve been through and all they’ve done for us.”
“What would you suggest?”
“We should concentrate on the most powerful individual only. He’s the only one who poses a threat. If we can eliminate him, we’ll have nothing to worry about going forward.”
President Blimtot asked, “Are you suggesting we poison him?”
Liktar hated the notion of punishing their savior. And what would happen if the powerful human caught them trying to kill him?
He offered, “I could put a team on synthesizing an antidote, to diminish his abilities.”
“Can that be done?”
“I don’t see why not. We changed him so it stands to reason we should be able to change him back.”
“What if he doesn’t let you? Do you have a back-up plan?”
“If he won’t work with us peaceably then he’ll leave us no choice. We’ll have to kill him.”
“Get your team to work on the antidote and report back as soon as it’s ready. We’re on a tight deadline here so make it quick.” President Blimtot signed off and the holographic display vanished like a ghost.
Liktar called for his second in command. “Get working on an antidote to what we did to the humans.”
“Are you serious? How the hell would we administer it, even if I could synthesize something that works?”
“Let me worry about that. I’ll just ask him nicely.”
The second in command scoffed and headed below deck to set to work.
Uninvited Guest
Jack was back home in his own bed in Ault, Colorado. His mom was downstairs laughing with Sally, telling her all of the embarrassing stories from his childhood.
He’d been home for five days now, as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Twice he’d teleported to the desert without warning, but he’d gotten used to his powers so he’d been able to return right away, without the prerequisite time wasted waiting to recharge.
News crews had tried to swarm the house but Commander Watson and a few diehard soldiers had set up a perimeter and then they hassled every snooping reporter so much that they simply gave up and left.
Watson et al had left yesterday when th e media whirlwind had died down completely. Ault was remote and dull. It was not a place where people decided to stay longer than was necessary.
According to news reports, just one casualty had resulted from the second wave; Melanie was the only death.
Every time he thought of her, he also thought about what he’d done to the Grey home world to avenge her. He wished the two weren’t forever linked in his mind. He’d made a terrible decision to get rid of the Grey threat once and for all, and to do that, he had to get rid of the species. But more than that, he’d done it to see the look on Shaylo’s face. The realization nearly made him weep again. He’d become comfortable as an inhuman monster capable of unheard of atrocities. But his conscience fought back, punishing him for his actions.
It had all worked out perfectly after that. Shaylo instructed the Greys, via the camera, to abandon their quarry based on what Jack had done and what he could do to the rest of them.
Melanie’s funeral was yesterday and he’d missed it. He tried to go, but his mom and Sally wouldn’t hear of it. He could barely stand. He dreaded to think what her parents must think of him. After all, she died because of him.
Hank Beltran was staying with Dan and Molly. Jack had made a phone call during one of his few lucid moments and convinced both parties that each could be trusted. Hank needed to practice and Dan and Molly could help him hone his abilities. And Hank had expressed a need for understanding. He needed someone to talk to about
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