Chapter 10
Colette stood frozen in shock as her office got swatted by the military.
Soldiers smashed in through her windows and office, causing a level of damage and chaos she could have never imagined.
Surprisingly, she appeared shielded from injury, the spraying shards hitting an invisible wall and dropping to the floor.
A cocoon of silence that collapsed almost as quickly as it came into place, the sudden immersion into the noise of the ambush tempting Colette to slap hands over her ears.
Instead, her lips parted in shock as someone shot Cade and he fell over. “Cade!” she shrieked. “What is wrong with you goons? He wasn’t doing anything. Why would you kill him?”
“He’s not dead. Just sleeping.” The reply came from the general, who stepped into the ruin of Colette’s office, her steely gaze taking in the destruction.
At the sight of her, Colette bubbled with sudden anger. “What the ever-loving fuck is this bullshit?”
“Apologies, Ms. Wilson,” the general stated, not sounding contrite at all. “Rest assured, the military will repair the damage to your business.”
“How about the military shouldn’t have smashed my windows and kicked in my door to begin with?” Colette huffed.
“We needed to act and move fast in order to take the galactic visitor into custody.”
“Or you could have, you know, just asked. I told you he wanted to reveal his existence. You didn’t have to destroy my office and shoot him like a rabid dog.” Colette crossed her arms and glared.
The general ignored Colette’s ire and waved at two newly arrived soldiers. “Cover him.” A command that made no sense until Colette noticed they carried a thick and stiff blanket they draped over Cade. Once he’d been hidden, the general turned her attention to Colette.
“While this might seem extreme, we didn’t want to take the chance he’d avoid meeting with us.”
“I told you they wanted to reveal their presence. You asked me to facilitate a meeting.”
“What if he lied, or refused? We don’t intend to cause him any harm, and if he truly is being honest about his intentions, then he won’t mind answering some questions and providing proof he’s here to forge an alliance and not prep for an attack.”
“Ah, yes, because people are always so keen to cooperate with people who act like raging lunatics.”
The general pursed her lips. “I realize you might find our methods extreme. However, this is uncharted territory. We had to act in the best interests of humanity.”
“And you think that’s best served by attacking someone you’re trying to not start a war with?” A sarcastic rejoinder that Colette couldn’t have held back if she tried.
“If he truly wants a peaceful alliance with our planet, then he’ll accept our apology once we’re satisfied.”
Much as Colette wanted to continue haranguing, it obviously wouldn’t accomplish anything. She glanced at the odd blanket draping Cade. “What’s that for?”
“It’s a Faraday blanket, which will block him from receiving or sending any signals, ensuring his vessel can’t beam him out of our custody.”
Suspicion wrinkled Colette’s brow. “I thought you’d only seen but never dealt with his kind before.”
“We haven’t. He’s the first alien of his kind we’ve ever had in custody.”
“Then how do you know how to stifle his technology?”
“We don’t. For all we know, this blanket doesn’t do a thing,” the general replied. “But we had to try something.”
“What are you going to do with him?”
“Take him to the base for questioning.”
“You won’t hurt him?”
“No. However we will be taking samples and, if he cooperates, have him do some cognitive and physical tests.”
“And when you’re done that?”
The general shrugged. “That’s not actually up to me to decide. I’ve just been told to find out all I can.”
Ominous. At least the general had some sense of reasonableness, but who knew if her boss would be the same—or more like that psycho colonel?
“You do realize, Jaspar, his partner, is probably watching and knows what’s happening.”
“We’re very aware. If he is listening, then he knows our intent is more curiosity and ensuring our protection. Should they not make a threatening move, then things should resolve peacefully.”
“Not sure how you expect peace when you’re talking about taking him prisoner and treating him like a guinea pig,” Colette muttered.
“You do realize this particular species has been abducting women for more than a decade now.”
“Yeah.” Which did make them sound bad, but… “They only did it to save their people, and apparently, these matches are usually successful.”
“According to them.”
A point Colette couldn’t refute. “I guess this means I won’t be designing a dating service for them.” A bit of a disappointment, as her mind whirred with ideas.
“That decision hasn’t yet been made, but is definitely on hold for the moment,” the general confirmed.
“Should those above me agree, any development would, of course, have to be run by a committee for approval to ensure the safety of our people. You will have plenty of time to present your proposed approach while you’re being detained. ”
Colette blinked before blurting out, “Excuse me, what do you mean detained?”
“You will be coming with us when we depart with the alien prisoner.”
“Why? I haven’t done anything and know even less.”
“But you are the one they sought out. The one who made first contact. Until we can ascertain the reason given is true, it’s best you remain in our custody.”
“My rights—”
“Don’t supersede the safety of this country,” the general interrupted with a stern warning. “I would suggest not arguing, as defiance might see you placed in a cell alongside your blue lover.”
“He’s not my lover!” Colette huffed, not yet. No need for the general to know she’d been thinking of sleeping with Cade as a point of comparison. Was the awesome orgasm because of Jaspar himself, or would any blue dick have the same effect?
“This isn’t the one you copulated with?”
“No.” Colette’s cheeks burned as she realized the doctor had tattled on her tryst. Not surprising, but still a shock to hear it mentioned so bluntly.
“Hmm. Dr. Ouellet will be disappointed.”
“Why did she plan to have us perform while she watched, taking notes?” A sarcastic reply that got met with a serious one.
“She wouldn’t have been in the same room.”
“Ah, because spying via video feed is so much better,” Colette drawled.
The general stiffened. “While unsavory, everything we do and propose is for the safety of Americans.”
“I’m American.”
“One person doesn’t rank above the millions of others, though.” The general swiveled her head and barked, “Corporal Johnson, you will escort Ms. Wilson. Everyone else, grab gear and move out.”
Colette stiffened as the female soldier she’d met before approached with a plastic strip in hand.
Despite not being a criminal, or a traitor to her country, she ended up cuffed and marched to the elevator, brought down to the parking garage, and placed inside an armored truck.
She got a seat on the bench running along one side of the vehicle, while Cade got placed on the floor, still wrapped in his Faraday blanket, with four soldiers watching him, weapons trained.
Colette kept her eyes on him too, expecting Beta to teleport him out, but the shielding must have worked, because Cade remained a lump on the floor, even when the truck stopped and the rear doors opened.
Soldiers with pointed guns waited outside, while those in the truck grabbed Cade and carried him out.
“Please exit the vehicle,” ordered Johnson, who’d sat by Colette for the ride.
Colette teetered on the tailgate, wondering how she was supposed to jump and land without breaking her ankle. She still wore her two-inch-high pumps.
“I can help you get down, ma’am.” Johnson saw her dilemma and jerked her head at a burly soldier and then pointed.
The big guy had no difficulty plucking and plopping her onto the concrete floor.
” Thanks,” she muttered as she glanced around.
Colette didn’t recognize the location but suspected it was either above or below the place she’d visited only that morning.
To think she’d been stupid enough to believe the general actually released her.
Her dumb ass never imagined the military would be spying and lying in wait.
They used me as bait. The realization irked. Especially since she would have done her best to make a meeting happen.
“This way, ma’am.” Johnson swept a hand to indicate she should follow, and they set off at a brisk march.
“How many floors does this place have?” she asked.
“Fourteen. Actually, technically thirteen, but they skipped that number when labelling.” Johnson flashed her a grin. “Funny to think folks who study aliens would be superstitious.”
“Is this place another Area 51?”
Johnson snorted. “Area 51 hasn’t handled UAPs in decades.”
“Are there that many?”
“Let’s just say, if people knew, they’d freak.”
The soldiers carrying Cade veered from where the female corporal led Colette. “Where are they taking him?” she asked.
“To a secure holding cell for processing.”
“They’re not going to slice him open, are they?” She couldn’t help but remember a supposed documentary she’d seen about aliens crashing to Earth that included gruesome scenes of scientists conducting autopsies.
“I wouldn’t know, ma’am.”
“The general promised they wouldn’t hurt him.”
“Then you know more than me.” Johnson appeared headed for the far side of the vast space, where Colette could see a series of closed doors painted a flat gray.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I’ve been told to put you in one of the suites.”
“You have apartments down here?”
“Of sorts. When the scientists get something new to study, they often don’t want to waste time going home to sleep.
Plus, we often have specialists flying in.
The rooms set aside for them aren’t big, but they do have private bathrooms and a small sitting area.
No kitchen, though. If you’re hungry, then the cafeteria is two floors up. ”
“I’m not a prisoner?”
The soldier glanced at Colette. “If you’re asking if you’re being locked in a room, then no, but you are also not allowed to leave. Not until the general okays it.”
“Can I see Cade?”
“I’m not sure. You’ll have to ask the general; she’s the one making those decisions.
” The corporal stopped by a door marked 7C.
“This is your room. There’s towels and toiletries in the bathroom.
Clothing in the wardrobe.” She flung open the door to show a simple double bed with a nightstand.
A compact desk and chair, plus a loveseat, completed the compact space.
“What am I supposed to do?” Colette eyed the sterile room and could feel the weight of boredom rushing to crush her.
“I don’t know.” Johnson shrugged. “Have a nap? I’m sure the general will send someone to speak with you shortly.”
With that, the soldier left, and Colette paced for a few minutes, exploring her prison.
She might be in a guest suite but, apparently, forget her fucking rights.
The lack of window—actually, anything to look at—led to Colette trying the door.
Despite the soldier claiming she could move about, she found herself surprised it opened.
Not locked, at least. Exiting didn’t lead to anyone shouting or pointing. A prisoner with some freedom.
Colette spent a moment observing as soldiers moved about, seemingly with purpose.
She strode from her quiet corner and noticed a concrete rectangle with a large window and a closed metal door.
A handful of people in white coats clustered in front of it, tablets in hand, visibly excited.
Colette took a step in their direction, and when no one told her to stop and go back to her room, she quickened her pace until she stood just outside the group.
A crowd had congregated to watch something via the window.
Someone.
Cade.