Encounters 1: The Spiral Slayers (8 page)

The doctor smiled sadly, “Yes, and even if we did, the
‘requests’ are from the highest level and you’d be taken anyway…for a ‘second
opinion’ as it were…”

Adamarus just nodded.

An hour later, an armored motorcade picked up Adamarus at the
back door, thus avoiding the media out front. Knowing that the knowledge the
doctors had wanted was so important, before being released, Adamarus assured
Dr. Kallen that he would either make arrangements to get what the doctors
needed from the Loud or he would make himself available to them for testing and
study at some future date.

Chapter Six – The First Meeting

“The greatest fear is the fear of the unknown
for there are no limits and the possibilities extend beyond the imagination and
are boundless. No study, preparation or course of action is possible. Nameless
demons must be faced standing naked on unknown terrain without armor, shield or
sword.”

Dimerities (ancient Amular
philosopher 924-1008)

Source: The Archive

The barricade around Hillcrest had held and at last people
had started leaving the surrounding areas. But an estimated 300,000 people
still remained and food and water had run out days ago. The government had
started air dropping supplies but this was causing riots as people fought over
the drops.

Adamarus and his family were put up in a large furnished
mansion that had been unoccupied and requisitioned by the government. They were
told it was the only thing available that was close to the field where the ship
had landed. All the furniture was covered with dust covers. Fortunately someone
had stocked the kitchen and three wet bars.

Adamarus lit a fire and huddled close to the fireplace with
his family and watched the mayhem on video feed in disbelief. Holding each
other tight, still not ready to face Adamarus’ newfound youth nor the Loud,
they silently assured each other that no matter what, things would work out.

They turned in at 10:00—all three of them piling into the
master bedroom for now. Although he was to be picked up in the morning at 6:00,
Adamarus was awake most of the night.

With only about an hour’s sleep, the alarm went off at 5:00. He
rolled out of bed and was ready when the limo pulled up at 6:00 AM. Leewood and
Harrington were both there and rode with him to the site where they gave him a
tour. Then all three of them drove to the hotel conference room where the
briefing would be held.

The day was spent reviewing how the first meeting with the
Loud—which would take place tomorrow morning—would be handled. The six-member
team grilled him as he yawned and struggled to keep awake. Upon finding out
that he had been up all night, a doctor was called in and he was given
something to keep him alert. More coffee was brought in with a dozen donuts.

Leewood was saying, “For this first meeting tomorrow, keep it
light. Get to know each other and that’s all, what kind of being it is…or he is...”

“Or she.” Harrington injected.

“Or she is.” Leewood continued without missing a beat, “Just
keep it simple.”

The strategy was sound. Go slow at first. Ask for nothing;
offer nothing.

That evening Adamarus got back to the mansion at 6:30. The
doctor had given him something to help him sleep but he was exhausted anyway. Grace
fixed him dinner, and after eating, he was headed to bed when the doorbell
sounded.

It was Radin. Grace went off to help Nero settle into bed,
and Adamarus and Radin retired to a room marked as ‘The Drawing Room’ on the
floor plan and he made them a couple of drinks.

After yanking dust covers from two chairs, they sat down.
Adamarus shrugged, “Every piece of furniture in the house has these blasted
covers.” He took a long drink and settled back.

“Long day?” Radin asked.

Adamarus nodded, “Very long.” A siren could be heard in the
distance. Adamarus tilted his head listening, “It’s like the entire world has
gone mad.”

“Yeah.” Radin leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Listen,
I have an old friend—a member of this presidential team—filling me in on what’s
going on behind the scenes…stuff we’re not supposed to know.”

Adamarus raised an eyebrow, “Really?” He kicked his shoes off
and ran the cold glass across his forehead. “Okay. Talk to me.”

“The last thing they wanted,” Radin continued in a low voice,
“was you being the contact with the Loud, but the Loud forced the issue.” Radin’s
eyes darted left and right and he lowered his voice further, “They’re scheming
on ways to move you out.”

“Well, anything I can do to help,” Adamarus replied with a
dour smile. “I need to talk to them, but being a full time and permanent intermediary
to these aliens is quickly becoming the last thing I want.”

“Well…” Radin looked around again, visibly nervous. “Wait,”
he said, then got up and turned on the video screen and turned the volume up.
Adamarus gave him a strange look as he returned to his seat. “Look…I’m told
that they discussed options on how they might move you out and one of their own
in. One of the options discussed was you either having a serious ‘relapse’ or
an ‘accident’ of some kind. Adamarus, this was actually one of the options
discussed!”

Adamarus suddenly had a very serious expression on his face. “You
can’t be serious.”

Radin held up his hands, “I’m told it was quickly rejected. 
Besides being uncomfortable with the idea, they were not sure how the Loud
would react. The Loud have already threatened to leave unless you are presented
to them tomorrow. But this is the mentality of some of the people you’re
dealing with, and those above them, and they’re deadly serious.” Radin leaned
forward and pointed at his old friend, “This whole thing is deadly serious.”

Adamarus couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He didn’t know
what to say.

Radin continued, “My contact will keep me informed – they owe
me. I’ll watch your six as much as I can but you need to be careful.”

Adamarus suddenly realized why Radin had turned on the video
screen and upped the volume. He motioned towards it and said, “You think the
house is bugged?”

Radin shrugged, “I didn’t think to ask but I will. Better
safe than sorry.” He took a drink. “There’s more…”

Adamarus held up a hand and tilted his head towards the door,
“Listen, let’s keep all this just between us for now. No use worrying anyone
else.”

Radin nodded, “Okay.”

“Who’s your contact?” Adamarus asked.

Radin looked uncomfortable. “You know, I think it’s better if
you don’t know for now. If you don’t know, you can’t give anything away by
accident and...you also can’t tell anyone. That stimulant they gave you
today...my contact didn’t know for sure, in fact they’re pretty sure that was
all it was but -- what I was about to tell you is that using a truth serum on
you was another item ‘discussed.’”

“I don’t get it. Why go through all this? I have top secret
clearance. If they can’t trust me…”

“Look in the mirror old buddy. They did something to you that
made you twenty years younger! The thinking is, what else might have been done,
but also, and perhaps more importantly, a lot of people, powerful people, would
give or do anything to become twenty years younger.”

Adamarus closed his eyes. The ramifications of that aspect he
couldn’t begin to contemplate right now. “Well, it's one of the first things
I’ll be discussing with the Loud. I want it reversed. But it could be a
powerful dynamic that influences what’s going to happen. Assuming the Loud can
turn back the hands of time so to speak, do you have any thoughts on what that
might mean as far as me, the special team, and the politician that controls the
special team…even the President?”

Radin thought about it for a moment while he finished his
drink. “I don’t know but it can’t be good.” Radin set his glass down on an end
table that was still covered with a white dust cover. “Whatever it might mean,
you have an advantage right now; you have a line on what they’re planning from
me, and you’re the only one who’s talking to the aliens.” He gave Adamarus a
significant look, “There was quite an uproar a couple of days ago – it seems
that the bugs they planted in that listening room wouldn’t work—nor would any
recording devices…it seems that a low level EM pulse is being used in the dome
– perhaps something that the Loud need or at least that’s the theory. The point
is, they cannot listen in on your talks with the Loud.” He watched Adamarus as
the implications of that sunk in. “That’s right, you pretty much control the
flow of information both ways.”

Adamarus stared into the distance. He knew he’d have to let
all this new information sink in. He looked back at Radin, “Be sure to check on
possible bugs here and try to find out…well, as much as you can.”

Radin nodded and looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go but…” --
just then a loud clink came from the door latch and Radin quickly looked over his
shoulder. Grace opened the door and came in. Radin turned back to Adamarus as
he stood. “Got to go,” he said again loud enough for Grace to hear. He looked
quickly back towards the door as he yawned and stretched – Grace had paused by
the door curiously looking at the video screen which was turned up a little too
loud, but now she was walking towards them. Looking back at Adamarus, he mixed
his words with the yawn and stretch so Grace could not catch it, “Ahhhh…’ll
mmmm…talk to her tomorrow…” He finished his yawn and continued in a voice Grace
could understand “and… we’ll see. But right now, we both need to turn in.” Grace
came up next to Radin and smiled voicing her agreement. She hugged Radin, gave
him a kiss and said good night. Adamarus got up to walk him to the door but
Radin rushed from the room saying he could find his own way out.

Grace looked at her husband and smiled “Big day tomorrow,
huh?”

“Guess so.” He smiled back at her, but what he was
frantically thinking was
Radin, you just slipped up
.

Grace nodded towards the video screen, “Watching something?”

Adamarus walked over and turned it off. “Just catching the
news.”

She smiled with tired eyes and took his arm, “Ready for bed.”

Adamarus pulled her close, “Absolutely.” His mind raced. He
wasn’t sure he was happy about catching Radin’s accidental slip. It was obvious
that Radin, trying to complete his sentence, trying to look natural, trying to
hide his words from Grace even as she approached him, had slipped up without
realizing it. He had said, “her.”

“This way, kind sir?” Grace pulled him towards the door.

“After you, my lady.” Adamarus felt guilty not telling Grace
what he had learned, but she would hit the ceiling and then worry herself to
death. No, not yet… maybe not at all.

That night as he lay in bed, Adamarus thought over all that
Radin had told him. Radin was right, they would think that he was in the dark
as indeed he had been just an hour ago. Now that he knew about the forces
working behind the scenes and a little about what they could and might do, he
was clearly better off. Plus, he could control the information flow to and from
the aliens if need be. Yes, he had a measure of control. What this might do for
him he couldn’t begin to fathom, but at least he held some cards…cards in a game
he hadn’t even realized was being played and still did not know the rules for.

Radin had said, “her”! Damn, there was only one “her” on the
special team.

---

The next day Adamarus awoke at 6:00, had breakfast at 7:00
and was picked up by a black limo at 7:40. Leewood and Harrington were absent
and he rode by himself to the site. He arrived at the site at 8:00 AM and was
quickly taken to a meeting room where Leewood, Harrington and the rest of the
team went over the main points they had discussed yesterday.

At 8:20 Adamarus, Leewood and Harrington left the meeting
room, walked across the street to the dome and entered the glass doors. A
moving walkway then carried them up to the tunnel that lead to the dome. They
walked down a tunnel which ended at a soundproof door. Guards were stationed on
either side.

When they reached the door, Leewood held up a small recorder
showing Adamarus what it was. “It’s voice activated.” Leewood placed it in Adamarus’
shirt pocket. “Just leave it there and don’t touch it.” Adamarus wondered if
they had overcome the EM problem or if this was just given to him in case, by
some fluke, it started to work. Then it came to him, they just wanted Adamarus
to think he was being recorded.

One of the guards pushed a green button which opened the
thick door and Adamarus stepped through. It was 8:30.

He entered a fifteen by fifty foot room. He heard the door
close and seal behind him. He paused just inside the room and looked around. The
thing that stood out was the large window on the left side at the far end of
the room. It was an eerie green and seemed to glow. The rest of the room was
dim, but not so dim that you couldn’t see. He realized that the lights were
dimmed so that seeing out into the dome would be easier. He wondered about
seeing in – the dim lights would impede this…well, for a human, anyway.

Though he was comfortable, the air seemed cold and it smelled
of ozone with a trace of something Adamarus could not place. The floor was some
kind of rubber.

At this end of the room were cabinets, a double sink, a
coffee maker and a refrigerator. He also spotted a copy machine and a PC. Both
had notes on them saying that they were not working. At the far end of the
room, across from the window on the right-hand side, were ten seats arranged in
two rows facing left…facing the window.

He began to walk slowly forward. As he approached the window,
he noticed that the glass was at least a foot thick. Beyond it the inside of
the dome was illuminated by an intense green light so bright it caused the glow
on the inside of the window. But as he got closer, he could see that it was
more than just a green glow. Whiffs of mist were coming off the window. He
realized that it must be very cold on the other side. He wondered how the glass
was staying clear and not fogging up. Now he could make out the curved inner
walls of the dome. It looked like they were made of sound absorbing material.

Adamarus abruptly stopped walking. He knew that if he walked
forward another step or two, he’d start to see the dome’s floor and that would
mean he’d see the alien. This suddenly made him very nervous – it was almost a
panic attack. Realizing nothing was going to change anything, he took a deep
breath and forced himself to resume walking. However, he did not look out the
window, but rather he focused on the front center seat and moved towards it. As
he sat down, he closed his eyes. When he opened them he was staring down at his
hands. He steeled himself. He looked forward. The green interior of the dome
beyond the window was completely empty.