Chapter 16
Colette followed the rapidly walking doctor, not to her office, as expected, but toward the elevators. “Where are we going?”
A nervous Dr. Ouellet glanced over her shoulder before whispering, “I’ll explain in a moment.”
Explain what? They got in the elevator, and the doctor pressed the button marked Main before she slumped against a wall. “There’s no one listening or watching, so here’s to hoping we don’t get noticed.”
“Noticed by whom?”
“Everyone,” the doctor’s wry reply.
“You didn’t remove me from the cell for tests, did you?”
“It was the only excuse I could use to get you out of there,” the doctor admitted.
“What’s going on?”
“The general’s been compromised.”
“By who?”
“The Krampus aliens.” A grim tight-lipped reply.
“What? How?”
The doctor didn’t have a chance to answer, as the elevator dinged and the door opened, revealing the loading dock area that led to the outside. The doctor put a finger to her lips and tilted her head, a signal to be quiet lest they be overheard.
They exited the concrete structure, and for the first time in days, Colette managed a breath of fresh air and got a glimpse of a cloud-covered sky.
The doctor took off at a brisk pace, leading Colette around the building to an area with stacked containers.
She slid into a space created by the neat rows before whispering, “So those aliens your friend warned us about are here.” A grimly spoken announcement.
“You can’t see them right now because of the incoming storm, but their ship is visible in orbit. A giant red ball.”
“What’s the general doing about it?”
“Nothing.”
“You can’t be serious? What of Jaspar’s warning?” Colette exclaimed.
“It was passed on to the bureaucrats in Washington, but she’s been getting the runaround as to how to deal with them.”
“Seems simple. They’re gonna start taking kids. We need to act.”
“The general did try telling the higher-ups of your blue alien’s concerns, but being the government, they immediately began arguing, with some saying we need to hold off before we do anything, as the Xamian might be lying.
It doesn’t help the Krampusonians actually replied to our broadcast message and claimed the Xamian are the ones who actually steal children. ”
“That’s bullshit. How could they believe that considering these Krampus dicks literally are the spitting image of the monsters that steal kids on Christmas?”
“We actually haven’t seen them yet. They’re claiming their video technology isn’t compatible with ours. They’ve only been communicating via typed correspondence.”
“All of this is interesting but doesn’t explain why you went through the trouble to smuggle me outside.”
“To save you.”
A surprising reply. “What about Cade and Jaspar?”
“Unfortunately, there was no way I could get them out without drawing attention.”
“Why save me, though?” Because Colette didn’t understand why the doctor she barely knew would bother. “Won’t you be fired for helping me escape?”
“Most likely I’ll be jailed, but I had to because of this.” Ouellet produced a round smooth disk and put it in into Colette’s hand.
She eyed the dark blue rock-like object with confusion. “What is it?”
“Jaspar gave it to the general and claimed it could communicate with their ship. Which is true, by the way. I’ve spoken to the onboard AI.”
“How? I thought Beta couldn’t get a signal inside the underground base.”
“The ship’s computer can’t penetrate the metal shielding in the walls, which is why, despite orders to keep it contained underground, I snuck it outside to see if it actually worked.”
“And?”
“And the AI immediately made contact.” Ouellet’s lips twisted. “Beta confirmed what Jaspar and Cade said, even managed to send me all kinds of documentation on the Xamian as well as the Krampusonians. Wildly interesting stuff with actual video footage. I took what I discovered to the general.”
“What did she do with the information?”
“Nothing. She commanded me to hand over the device and told me to keep what I’d learned quiet. But how can I not act when humanity’s children are at risk?”
“How did you get it back?” Colette glanced at it in her palm.
“I drugged the soldiers guarding the containment chamber to steal it.”
No wonder the doctor appeared so nervous.
“Why give it to me?”
“Because Beta said to.”
Before Colette could ask why, someone shouted. Even worse, a glance past the towering containers showed a trio of soldiers jogging in their direction.
“Oh dear. We’ve run out of time.” The doctor turned pale.
“Don’t lose hope yet.” Colette squeezed the device in her hand and murmured, “Beta, if you’re listening, we could use some help right about now.”
“I’ve got a lock on you,” was the reply. “Doctor, if you require extraction, please grab hold of Colette.”
Ouellet pinched her lips but gripped Colette’s arm tight. A bright flash of light occurred, followed by a disorientation that Colette now recognized. A blink later and, no surprise, she found herself on the ship with the doctor, who gaped in astonishment.
“Greetings, Colette and Dr. Ouellet. Welcome aboard.”
“Uh…” The poor doctor seemed to have lost her ability to speak.
A relieved Colette grinned. “Nice timing, Beta.”
“You’re welcome. If you don’t mind, I’m going to run the decontamination procedure on you.”
A warning that had Ouellet standing still as a statue as the lasers sluiced up and down their bodies, leaving Colette feeling fresher than she’d felt since locked in that cell.
A cell still holding her two blue hunks.
“Beta, we have to do something to save Cade and Jaspar.”
“Fret not, Earthling. There is a plan.”
Ouellet unfroze enough to whisper, “I can’t believe I’m on an alien ship.”
“From my perspective, you’re the alien,” Beta remarked.
“This is amazing.” Ouellet stared around before frowning. “It’s plainer than I expected.”
“This is our intake chamber, kept purposely simple so as to evade potential damage from items or living beings brought aboard.” Whoosh. A door slid open. “If you wish, you can proceed to the control chamber, where you can watch the events unfolding. Follow the lighted path in the hall.”
The corridor appeared just as plain, with white walls and floor, the only color coming from a glowing dot a few feet ahead of them, which moved with every step they took.
Soon enough, they found themselves on the bridge, which held a console full of flashing lights and buttons, but not as many as Star Trek used to have. The most interesting thing? The massive screen, which showed dark space and the glowing speck that was Earth.
“I’m in space,” whispered Ouellet.
They didn’t admire the view for long, as it switched, splitting into many panes, each featuring different video feeds from—
“That’s the inside of the base!” Ouellet exclaimed, pointing. “You hacked into the security network.”
“Among other things,” Beta murmured.
“There’s the cell.” Colette couldn’t help but approach the screen and watch as a large group of soldiers formed ranks in front of it, protection for the scowling general who approached.
“She’s pissed,” Ouellet remarked. “I am so getting court-martialed for this.”
“Don’t be so sure of that. You saved me,” Colette stated, putting a hand on her shoulder. “And I repay my debts. I’ll hire you the best lawyers money can buy. I won’t let them lock you away for doing the right thing.” Assuming the world didn’t get fucked by the Krampus monsters.
The door to the cell opened, and the general remained a few paces back as Jaspar and Cade emerged, straight shouldered, steely eyed.
“Is she releasing them?” Colette wondered aloud.
“No,” Beta replied. “The general has made a deal with the Krampusonians to hand them over.”
Shock exploded from Colette. “What? She can’t do that?”
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Ouellet murmured. “I told you she was compromised.”
“The general is being blackmailed,” Beta informed. “The Krampusonians have taken her grandchildren and offered them back in return for my commanders.”
“Guess she now knows who was telling the truth.” Colette couldn’t help but sound sour. “Is there anything we can do to save them?”
“Fear not, Earthling. There is a plan.”
Sound suddenly emerged from a speaker.
“…prisoner exchange,” the general could be heard saying.
“You foolish female.” A disapproving Jaspar shook his head. “I warned you this would happen.”
“Trust me, I wish I’d listened,” the grim reply from the general. “I am sorry, but they have my grandbabies.”
“We understand. Children are more important than the lives of two old warriors.” Cade actually nodded.
“If it helps, the higher-ups have finally authorized lethal force. If we manage to successfully launch the nukes, you won’t be in their custody for long.”
Because they’d be dead!
The camera view kept flipping as the soldiers marched Cade and Jaspar to the elevator. The feed cut as they ascended and resumed once they emerged in the concrete hangar, with Cade and Jaspar both wearing the Faraday blankets.
“The general isn’t entirely foolish. She suspected the Krampusonians might try and renege on their terms and has ensured my commanders can’t be beamed by them out of her custody before the trade,” Beta explained.
It also meant Beta couldn’t beam them aboard either, though.
The general strode outside and held up a chunky walkie-talkie. As she spoke, they heard her on the bridge.
“This is General Davis. I have the prisoners ready to go. Release my grandchildren and I will hand them over.”
The reply emerged gravelly and heavily accented. “Let us see them.”
The general half turned and signaled.
Jaspar and Cade required no prodding to step forth into the open, standing tall and unafraid.
“Remove the signal-blocking covers,” barked the alien.
“Not until you release my grandchildren,” the general snapped back.
The red and green burst of light that hit the ground disappeared to reveal three kids, huddled close and crying. As if preplanned, soldiers snatched the blankets from Cade and Jaspar and flung them over the children.
And in a new burst of color, Colette’s blue hunks disappeared. From one prison to another.
Colette felt her heart cracking. “Now what?” she whispered in an unsteady voice.
“Now we hope the plan succeeds.”
If it didn’t, then instead of waking up to presents on Christmas morning, the world would be begging their new overlords to spare their children.