Chapter 11 #2
I look around the room we arrived in, noting we are surrounded by black-clad military men all holding weapons trained specifically on us. Eric tsks, but it’s quiet enough for only me to hear it.
A siren blares, and more military men run around farther into the room, but for now, I don’t move a muscle, not wanting to risk that one of the guys currently pointing a big-ass weapon at me has an itchy trigger finger, but Eric is not so patient.
Shaking his head, he lifts his hand, and all the guns fly out of the men’s hands and into the air where they hover high enough to be out of reach.
“What have I told you about threatening us?” my normally happy-go-lucky grandpa growls at someone off to the side.
“And I’ve told you that we can never be too cautious.
What if someone else other than you teleported into this facility?
” A weaselly, familiar-looking man wearing a black suit and Ray-Bans—how cliché—steps through a gap in the soldiers and stops in front of the platform, his hands on his hips.
I want to laugh at the visual, but it would be inappropriate when things are so tense.
Eric shakes his head again. “And who else would be? We’re the only ship that comes into Earth’s orbit.
That was the agreement set up many years ago, and it is one the whole galaxy abides by.
You are unnecessarily jumpy.” Eric steps down off the platform now that weapons are no longer pointed at us, and I follow after him.
“Agent Smith, this is our granddaughter, Lila. She is our heir and is learning the procedures surrounding the circus. She will be taking over for us once we decide to retire.” He turns to me.
“Agent Smith has been our Earth contact for the past twenty or so years. He came on just before your parents died.”
Agent Smith holds out a hand. “Yes, it was a tragic loss. Imagine my surprise when you popped up over twenty years later. I thought you had perished with your parents.” He hasn’t taken his glasses off, so I can’t actually see his eyes, which bugs me to no end.
I hate not being able to get a read on a person, especially when I hear insincerity in his tone, but I take his hand anyway.
It’s clammy and limp and not what I was expecting at all.
I shake it quickly, reminding myself to be gentle, before releasing it and wiping my palm discretely against my pants.
If he had a theme song, it would definitely be “Creep.” He officially gives me the vibes, and now I’m glad Eric gave me the lowdown on this dude.
“Yeah, I got lost in the foster system. I can guarantee I was just as surprised as you when I found out I had family and they are alive. I must have blocked out all those memories.” I’m not willing to tell him that I had my memory erased.
“Well, if you come this way, I will get you to sign a few forms, and then we can hand over the prisoners.” He gestures for us to follow him.
“Prisoners? As in plural?” Eric stops and taps something on his watch. “According to this manifest, you only have one.”
“Ah, yes, well, we performed a raid early this morning. Got a tip from an informant about some illegal alien activity. We revoked a lot of visas, and they will all need to be transported off the rock.” Smith hasn’t stopped walking, so Eric and I hurry to catch up with him.
“Uh, excuse me, can we get our weapons back please?” someone calls from behind us, but Eric ignores them.
“What did you raid? Where did you raid? We’re not allowed to congregate in large numbers per Earth protocols. The only exception to that is a couple of alien run businesses that have exemptions, and the only one nearby is the Pleasure Inn. I can’t imagine Master Gasm breaking the laws.”
My stomach lurches, and a wave of nausea rolls through me. Oh my god. Mark and Susie! That’s where they stopped overnight. I’m trying everything I can to keep my cool, but I must not be doing a very good job of it, because Eric keeps looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
Agent Smith reaches a door, and as he pushes it open, he pulls off his glasses. I almost flinch away from his pale, watery stare. It’s kind of unnerving, but I manage to get control of myself before I do.
“Oh, but he was, and he doesn’t get a free pass.
He and the rest of the current management have had their visas revoked.
We gave the rest of the alien guests and workers a fine and sent them on their way, but there are four who will need to leave immediately.
They will also not be allowed to return.
We also have two humans who will need to have their minds wiped before they can continue on their way.
Funnily enough, when I ran their background checks, I discovered that you know them well, Lila. ”
Fuck. Susie and Mark have been caught up in the raid and are now on the government’s radar. This is the worst possible thing that could happen, and now I feel responsible for the shitshow they found themselves in.
Eric’s jaw is tense, and I can see him grinding his teeth, but he acts natural. “Well, let’s get this show on the road then, shall we? Lila and I have limited time.”
A wide, smarmy grin stretches across Agent Smith’s lips, giving him an almost psychotic look.
He knows he’s gotten to Eric and seems quite pleased about it.
His creep vibes have another vibe to add to the mix—douchebag.
I do not like this man one little bit, and I get the impression the feelings are very mutual.
“Yes, let’s.”