I don’t blame them.” They passed through a cell corridor where various aliens were detained in transparent cells. Most of them ignored Johnny and Argos, but a few eyed the newcomers with interest. One of the aliens, a vulture-like creature with feathery wings banged on his cell wall, trying to attract Johnny’s attention. “Hey! You! Young human! Get Jezzit out of this cell and Jezzit will make you rich!”
One of the security guards approached the cell and waved a menacing-looking staff at Jezzit. “You better be quiet in there bird boy, or your daily rations will be reduced for one week.”
Argos smiled. “Jezzit will try anything to break outta here. But I think it’s time you met someone, Johnny.” He activated a door that opened into a large control room.
“And who might that be?”
“Me!”
Johnny looked up and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with smooth black skin eyeing him from atop a platform. Around him were control displays and flat-screen monitors. Standing beside him was Patrice. She still had that condescending look on her face. Johnny felt she’d be more attractive if she smiled, and he wondered if she ever did.
“That’s Director Otis Mitchell,” Argos said, “he’s the man who runs AL.”
“ The Otis Mitchell? Hall of Fame NFL cornerback for the Sacramento Stars?”
Argos nodded.
Johnny, Argos, and the two Dobermans boarded a lift that took them to the platform. Once there, Johnny had a prime vantage point of Penal One’s control room. Director Mitchell shook Johnny’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you Mr. Veto. Your training scores were quite impressive.”
“Thank you, sir,” Johnny replied. Patrice made no attempt at acknowledging him other than a curt nod.
“Your father was our best agent Johnny, I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Me too.”
“How did your first mission go?”
“Alright, I guess, sir. We caught a Xenarian named Dicer.”
Director Mitchell’s face became serious. “Ahh yes.” He looked at Argos. “I’m familiar with Dicer. I heard he violated his parole.”
“I’ve transmitted the full report to your desk computer, sir,” Argos said. “But yes, we found him torching a section of Sequoia National Park. He claims he was hired by the Lycarians.”
“Interesting. You think there’s any truth to it?”
“Perhaps, but I didn’t know the Lycarians were active in this sector.”
“Then it’s time we found out,” Patrice said, her fingers danced across a keyboard. Dicer appeared on the monitor in front of her. He was being held in a detention cell, his arms and legs secured by energy shackles. In the background were two AL personnel wearing white lab coats examining data on their tablets.
Patrice spoke into a slim microphone and addressed Dicer: “What was your mission?”
Dicer remained silent, and stared blankly into space.
“Looks like he’s not going to cooperate,” Argos said.
“Better run the thought-catcher,” Mitchell ordered Patrice.
Patrice’s fingers flitted across the keyboard again and Johnny watched as an emitter descended from the ceiling of the interrogation room before discharging a green light that probed Dicer’s skull. Readings began flashing on Patrice’s monitor and Mitchell eyed them curiously. “He’s been telling the truth, but with regards to his link to the Lycarians, his memories have been erased. They’ve done quite a job I may add. Definitely didn’t want to risk him betraying them.”
“What does this mean?” Johnny said. “Is he part of some conspiracy against Earth?”
Director Mitchell’s face could not hide his disappointment. “Hard to say, son. These Xenarians aren’t the most reliable creatures.” He turned towards Patrice. “Anything?”
Patrice’s stoic features remained focused on Dicer’s readings. “There’s something but it doesn’t make sense.”
Mitchell looked over her shoulder at the monitor. “Let’s hear it.”
“One
One of the security guards approached the cell and waved a menacing-looking staff at Jezzit. “You better be quiet in there bird boy, or your daily rations will be reduced for one week.”
Argos smiled. “Jezzit will try anything to break outta here. But I think it’s time you met someone, Johnny.” He activated a door that opened into a large control room.
“And who might that be?”
“Me!”
Johnny looked up and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with smooth black skin eyeing him from atop a platform. Around him were control displays and flat-screen monitors. Standing beside him was Patrice. She still had that condescending look on her face. Johnny felt she’d be more attractive if she smiled, and he wondered if she ever did.
“That’s Director Otis Mitchell,” Argos said, “he’s the man who runs AL.”
“ The Otis Mitchell? Hall of Fame NFL cornerback for the Sacramento Stars?”
Argos nodded.
Johnny, Argos, and the two Dobermans boarded a lift that took them to the platform. Once there, Johnny had a prime vantage point of Penal One’s control room. Director Mitchell shook Johnny’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you Mr. Veto. Your training scores were quite impressive.”
“Thank you, sir,” Johnny replied. Patrice made no attempt at acknowledging him other than a curt nod.
“Your father was our best agent Johnny, I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Me too.”
“How did your first mission go?”
“Alright, I guess, sir. We caught a Xenarian named Dicer.”
Director Mitchell’s face became serious. “Ahh yes.” He looked at Argos. “I’m familiar with Dicer. I heard he violated his parole.”
“I’ve transmitted the full report to your desk computer, sir,” Argos said. “But yes, we found him torching a section of Sequoia National Park. He claims he was hired by the Lycarians.”
“Interesting. You think there’s any truth to it?”
“Perhaps, but I didn’t know the Lycarians were active in this sector.”
“Then it’s time we found out,” Patrice said, her fingers danced across a keyboard. Dicer appeared on the monitor in front of her. He was being held in a detention cell, his arms and legs secured by energy shackles. In the background were two AL personnel wearing white lab coats examining data on their tablets.
Patrice spoke into a slim microphone and addressed Dicer: “What was your mission?”
Dicer remained silent, and stared blankly into space.
“Looks like he’s not going to cooperate,” Argos said.
“Better run the thought-catcher,” Mitchell ordered Patrice.
Patrice’s fingers flitted across the keyboard again and Johnny watched as an emitter descended from the ceiling of the interrogation room before discharging a green light that probed Dicer’s skull. Readings began flashing on Patrice’s monitor and Mitchell eyed them curiously. “He’s been telling the truth, but with regards to his link to the Lycarians, his memories have been erased. They’ve done quite a job I may add. Definitely didn’t want to risk him betraying them.”
“What does this mean?” Johnny said. “Is he part of some conspiracy against Earth?”
Director Mitchell’s face could not hide his disappointment. “Hard to say, son. These Xenarians aren’t the most reliable creatures.” He turned towards Patrice. “Anything?”
Patrice’s stoic features remained focused on Dicer’s readings. “There’s something but it doesn’t make sense.”
Mitchell looked over her shoulder at the monitor. “Let’s hear it.”
“One
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