Ch1- Beginning

Galactic Chronicles Book 1 BEGINNINGS PART ONE 1948 The massive chrome grill of the Cadillac gleamed for a short moment in the bright sunlight as the heavy limousine rolled past the armed MP guards. Other than the armed guards there was a small guard house, a high razor wire topped chain link fence and a number of big signs telling anyone that might come by here that this was a government installation and trespassing carried the danger of being shot on sight. Not that there would be many to read these signs, out here in the middle of proverbial nowhere. The big black Cadillac dulled with the dust of a long drive over unpaved desert roads, came to a grinding stop on the loose gravel before a single corrugated (corrugates, it is not a verb here. i think you want to say that the building is wavy or fluted) steel storage building. It was as far as anyone could see the only construct within the fenced off area. The building looked like any other metal warehouse, basically a big half pipe closed on each side. There was a big roll gate and a smaller door on this side. The driver got out and opened the rear door and saluted as the man sitting in the back got out, nodded to the driver and went to the buildings door. It was opened before he reached it and a man in white coat and a General greeted the arriving man. The General smiled.”Glad to have you here Mr. Dulles.” “Let’s cut the pleasantries until we are inside. I am in dire need of a drink.” The men went inside. Most of the interior was occupied by stacks of crates and boxes, an olive green painted fork lift. The three men went to a small office. A cheap desk, two wooden chairs and a steel file cabinet was all the furniture. But as soon as the man in the Generals Uniform closed the door, the floor sank with a humming sound and it was apparent this was a camouflaged elevator platform. The platform kept on descending as the General (Admiral, where does the Admiral come from? :D ) said.”You might as well sit down, Sir. The descent is taking over 20 minutes.” Dulles did sit down on one of the wooden chairs. ”Is he already here?” “Yes Sir, the president is here and has been briefed.” “Would you mind briefing me as well? I know precious little what this is all about.” It was the man in the white coat who spoke. ”I was under the impression you are fully aware of Project Armadillo.” “I am aware of it and I know it is the most secretive and most highly classified project in our nation’s history, I know it has to do with the Incident in Roswell, but I must admit (there was something missing) this is about the extent of it.” The Admiral nodded towards the white coated man. ”You might as well tell him now Dr. Smith. Maybe it will lessen the shock.” Before the scientist could speak Dulles took of his glasses and pulled a kerchief to clean them. ”I assume it wasn’t a weather balloon after all, that came down in Roswell.” “No Sir, it wasn’t.“ “Russian?” “No Sir, it has not anything to do with the Russians or any other nation on Earth.” “You mean it really is from Outer Space?” “Indeed, Sir, it is.” The platform slowed down and stopped. Two soldiers with MP sleeve bands and armed with rifles awaited them and led them down a corridor carved out of rock and through a door into a conference room. About twenty other men and women already there, among them the President himself, he greeted his secretary of state a friend (shouldn´t it be friendly? or do i just don´t get the sentence again?) briefly and motioned him to take a seat next to him, then said to the Scientist.” We are complete Dr. Smith. You might as well get started right away!” A pretty looking woman served Coffee and drinks while some started to smoke. Dr. Smith placed himself before the U shaped conference table. ”Mr. President and everyone else present, I am Dr. John Smith. This is not my real name and this is not my real face. For security reasons it was decided that this is important. Unlike any of you I was not born on this planet you call Earth. I am not human.” He turned and pressed a button at the desk next to him. The wall with the black board behind him lowered into the floor and through what looked like a thick glass window everyone could see six transparent cylinders filled with a watery liquid and in each of the cylinders was an about human sized being with a large head, two arms, legs and large heads with huge black eyes, almost non existing noses and small mouth openings. Somehow human but at the same time totally alien and everyone in the room instantly knew these were not life forms from this planet. There was a shocked silence, and then some fearful sounding murmurs. One of the uniformed officers actually forgot the cigarette between his fingers and only was reminded of it as the glowing tip reached his skin and he yelped. “Damn! What are those?” Dr. Smith said. ”These are six Ferons, members of an advanced galactic space faring species. These six bodies represent the crew of the craft that has been shot down over New Mexico almost exactly a year ago. There was a seventh but we dissected it for scientific purposes.” The same Officer wearing an Air Force Uniform and a General star said. ”And you are one of them?” “No Sir. I am not, I am a Pan Saran and I have been stranded on Earth for more than 30 years now, after my escape module crashed on your world.” “And what is your business here?” The President got up. ”Ladies and Gentleman, I personally vouch for Dr. Smith. He works for us for a long time and his participation in the Manhattan Project was a deciding factor in its success. I summoned you all here not to cross examine Dr. Smith but to assist me in forming a new Secret Agency, one that is unlike any other, it must remain more secret than anything else. It must be funded differently, hidden differently and operate outside any and all existing restrictions. Any questions and problems will be dealt with a strict policy of denial and ridicule.” The president made a motion that included all present. “You have been carefully selected to form this secret society, and you are the keepers of these secrets.” A woman said. ”I am honored to be chosen and I most certainly will keep these secrets, but why are we to keep this secret? Would the public not have the right to know?” The president nodded to Smith. ”Why don’t you explain to them why this must be kept secret?” The alien scientist acknowledged and said. ”There are many reasons of course ranging from public unrest to religious problems. Paramount reason however is to keep other Exo terrestrials unaware of this planet and of our knowledge. As you know now, there are the Ferons and the Pan Sarans, but there are many more out there.” He pointed upward. ”Hundreds of different species and cultures, each with their own agenda and motivations, some of them are peaceful and seek peaceful coexistence; others are as aggressive and expansionistic as can be. There are species out there considering primitive cultures like yours as perfect source for food or slaves. All of them are technologically much more advanced as you are at this stage of development and you would stand no chance against them. What good are your best troops, air planes and ships against an enemy that can bombard the entire surface of this world from space? What are 4 Billion humans against empires with hundreds of worlds each holding ten times as much?” He paused; he saw his words made quite an impact on his listeners. Then he continued. ”Luckily your planet is somewhat distant from any of the main traffic routes, but not too far from the Freon Hegemony and well within the Xunx Reach. The longer we can keep this planet out of galactic interests the better chance we have to develop the necessary technology to defend this world and one day ascent and take our rightful place among all the other species in the Universe. “So to answer your question, we don’t know if there are other agents of other alien species (are one are too much in this sentence) already among us (you, at the beginning he talked about "we", so i would go on as he now feels like one of the humans). As long as they do not know we know, they feel safe. It allows this new formed Organization to hunt them down, detain or destroy them and learn of their plans. Maybe there aren’t any others but the evidence shows that two alien species already came to this world, to assume there might be others is not farfetched.” The woman crushed her cigarette.” This makes sense. You say you are an Alien yourself and yet you say we. Are you not an agent of your species first and foremost?” “I have no allegiance to the Pan Saran Empire. I am married to an earth woman and have Children on this planet. I will gladly die and sacrifice anything I have to defend this world even if I was asked to fight Pan Saran.” The President spoke again. ”I say it once more; Dr. Smith is beyond approach and can be trusted, as much as I trust everyone else in this room. I want you all to make this Secret Society a reality and put every possible safeguard in place. You are the twenty most powerful and influential persons in our nation and most of you have been guarding secrets for a very long time for our nation, who better to guard this the most important of all humanity?” PONTITUC, TEXAS - 2012 It was hot, even for South Texas Standards. Not a single cloud on the bright blue sky, anything that lived tried to find some shade. This was Pontius, Texas. A forgotten little town halfway between San Antonio and Sonora, still it had a post office and a Gas Station. Since it did happen, once in a while that someone stopped for Gas on their way to San Antonio. There was a feed store on the other end of town, right across Dave Studson’s Welding and Well Digging business. The town barley counted 600 souls now and some believed it was only a matter of time when the little town was completely gone. Others had great hopes that the new North south corridor and the planned Interstate would come nearby and with it Truck stops and new live for this old town. The town began with such promise and in it’s hey (? good? or something like this) days had over 2000 inhabitants, and was considered to become the county seat. A cholera epidemic almost exactly 100 years ago however killed many, the sizeable graveyard just outside of town is a (sounds better to me with that) testimony to that. Pontius dwindled in size ever since. It didn’t matter much for Sam Ruffin. He was born here and after spending most of his adult life serving in the United States Army and all over the globe, he had returned here. He liked it as it was, quiet, hot, dusty and mostly quiet. If he really needed something he could always drive those 120 miles to San Antonio. Today however he only needed a pouch of Beechnut, something he would get that at the gas station. It wasn’t one of those glass and neon palaces and it wasn’t attached to a convenience store chain. The gas pumps had changed over the years but still far from the computer digital pump kind, the weathered sign with the red buck on it, sign of a small independent oil and gas distribution company, were welcome sights to Sam as they promised stability in an ever faster moving world. Bart the gas station owner walked over to Sam’s Ford truck and glanced into the bed of the 250. There were an assortment of tools, a few weathered gray cedar fence posts, a few sacks of feed and Duster, Sam’s Rottweiler dog. Bart was one of the few who could pet Dusty without fear being mauled. The door creaked as Sam got out, took the pack of chewing tobacco from his friend, who of course anticipated Sam’s need. The two old men leaned over the bed of the pick-up truck and stared into the west along the road leading to the far distant horizon. The heat transferred the visible end of the road into a mirror that looked like water, but was nothing but a mirage. Sam carefully opened the pouch of Beechnut and placed a generous helping of the dark brown tobacco in his mouth and with slow almost careful looking chews he transported it into his left cheek, turned his head and he spit a long stream of brown liquid into the dust.” I’m a peaceful fellow you know, but I’d shoot that son of a gun who invented chewing tobacco.” “I reckon him bein’ dead by now. Folks chewin that stuff for an awful long time now. But it’s getting out of style you know. Folks ain’t that fond of tobacco no more in any shape, be it smokin’, chewin’ or dippin’ it.” “I give a hoot what them idiots in Washington think what’s good and what ain’t.” Bart knew what would come next. A long sermon about all that was wrong with the world and the liberals in general, but then that’s why he brought it up. He liked Sam and loved to hear him talk about these things. Just before Sam could really start, Duster suddenly became agitated, got up and went to the back of the tailgate. It was only a moment later Bart heard it too, it almost sounded like thunder, a low rumble that slowly came louder. “Ain’t a cloud in the sky and I am hearing this noise” Bart said, “What you recon it is?” Sam alarmed by his dogs sudden agitation saw it first, a glimmering flash of chrome and then a big motorcycle appeared out of the shimmering mirage, followed by more motorcycles. Instinctively he knew there was trouble coming and he said.”Bart, you better get inside and call the Sherriff and get your gun.” Bart did not argue or say a word as he too knew something would happen, something that wasn’t good, and so he went inside. Sam reached through the open side window of his truck to take one of the rifles of the window rack. The motorcycles now thundered close and with them came a cloud of dust and hot exhaust. The riders all wore denim and leather, had big arms, tattoos and girls in similar attire riding on the back. He could barely hear the barking of his dog through all the noise as he counted about 30 motorcycles invading the little gas station like gigantic steel locust. A big fellow drove close, wearing a dusty bandana and a steel helmet.” Grandpa you better move your rust bucket or I will do it for you.” Sam straightened out to make sure the biker would understand his resolve.” I am moving my truck when I am good and ready; no one is going to move it but me.” It was no contest, there was no further warning. The Biker lashed out with a heavy chain and across the face of the old man, Sam was driven back by the blow, blood ran from his face Duster literally flew out of the bed and collided with the big biker, biting and snapping, blood flew and the biker lost his balance as the large dog was all over him. He screamed for help and in panic, Duster just getting started. Then a shot rang and three more in short order. Duster collapsed with a painful yelp and the biker crawled backwards, bleeding from his left arm, and holding a 9 mil Beretta in his right. He screamed” That old fool has dared to send his dog after me and he spilled Warrior blood! Now we are going to tear this place apart. “ His biker companions jelled and laughed, while the wounded biker was kicking furiously at Sam who had collapsed to the ground. Each kick of the heavy steel toed boots lifted the old man’s body of the ground. Four of the bikers that just went into the Gas station came back out with their hands in the air herded by Bart holding a pump action shot gun.” You sons of bitches. Get away from Sam! You pieces of shit get off my property, I called the Rangers and Peter Baker is coming.” The still bleeding Gang leader ripped off his bandana, revealing a bearded face.” I had it with you fuckers around this shithole of a place. I am going to kill you old man! I am going to take everything and then we going to torch your place and then we fuck up the rest of this town.” Another one was laughing.” No one is going to come. If you hope for that Sherriff, he’s busy right now counting the teeth he has left. You’re fucked Old Man!” Bart leveled his gun at the last speaker.” I am Bart Mc Donald, I ain’t scared of you. I got six shells in this gun and you are the first I blast to bits. So shut your pie hole and get out of here!” Bart was quite serious and he had fought in Korea and Nam, but as one of the girls stepped before his gun with her bleached hair and bright make up, he hesitated. ”You going to shoot a girl, Old Man?” She said chewing gum and smiling at him. He looked to the side and backed up, she stepped forward. Bart knew he would have to shoot her in order to keep control, but he could not shoot a woman no matter what. He lowered the gun and said.”Get out of here now!” The woman had no such reservations stepped close and kicked him between the legs.” Old horny fucker, that’s for pointing a gun at my Charlie!” Two bikers used the moment, took his gun and grabbed him one on each side, while the Biker boss smashed his fists into Bart’s stomach. “We going to have some fun with you…I think I need a new Skull for my bike.” The brutal men kicked and beat old Bart as if it was a contest, but they lost interest as he was a bloody heap that did barley move. Other bikers trashed the place with a vengeance. Stole and looted anything they could. One of the leather clad men dragged an old woman by her hair out of the post office nearby, flames already licking out of the windows of the small post office. The biker was irritated as he saw a defiant smile instead of fear in the old woman’s face. ”He’s here! You’re going to pay now!” The biker boss could not help but turn to see what the old man was seeing. A tan colored Chevy Suburban with red and blue lights on the roof just had come to a stop. The door opened and they all could see the star emblem on the door and read the words. Two boots appeared and the door slammed shut. A huge man with a white Stetson hat, blue jeans and maroon shirt stood there in the sun. A small silver star gleamed on his left chest pocket. The man wore a gun belt with a huge gun in a low slung holster. He pulled a cigarette out of his shirt pocket and held a Zippo lighter in the other hand. The new arrived man spoke. ”I am Texas Ranger Peter Baker. You are all under arrest. Put down your guns and weapons.” The Biker boss sitting in the back of Sam’s Truck now loaded with cartons of beer, cigarettes and sweets from the gas station leaned forward and laughed. ”You’re one man! I like that gun of yours, looks big. I want it!” Three of his men had also noticed the arrival of the ranger and came from the side. All three armed with guns, already drawn and aiming at the Ranger, how he did it, the Biker boss could not explain, and the ranger drew his gun fired three times. The three men, who just had aimed at the ranger, flew back as if pulled by an invisible robe. The last of the men had not even hit the ground as the ranger’s gun was back in its holster. The most incredible thing was he still held the Zippo and was just now lighting his cigarette. “It’s your last chance, drop your guns or I drop all of you." The Biker boss wasn’t so sure about things anymore, but surrendering to a single man was not an option, especially since they did commit murder and beat up a local sheriff just a few miles up the road to an inch of his life and left him in the heat do die. He knew they were not in New Mexico no more, this was Texas. The one called Charlie now holding the shotgun of Bart “You got three bullets left, ranger. There are still 27 of us!” Again the ranger drew and fired so incredibly fast, Charlie had no chance even to pull the trigger. A big ugly hole appeared right between his eyes and a spray of blood and gore erupted from his head as he fell backwards. The ranger shook his head.”Wrong, there are 26 of you now.” This time the ranger did not holster his gun but aimed it straight at the Leader.”And still two rounds left!” There was no chance this man would miss. The biker boss was certain about that. Just as he was certain the ranger would shoot him first. The Law man had only two rounds left in his huge revolver; somehow he needed to be distracted. “Alright cowboy, I give up.” He got up and raised his hands. The other bikers unsure what to do looked back and forth, trying to figure out what their leader had planned. The Ranger nodded.”Wise decision! Now all of you follow the lead of your boss, nice and slow. Any false move and I drill him.” “Do as he sais!” The lean raggedy looking biker that still held the old woman pointed his gun at the temple of the old lady.”No Ranger, you drop it. You’re mighty fast with that gun, but I bet I still can pull the trigger.” “Alright, don’t harm her.” The Ranger put his gun down on the ground. “You earned your keep today Ronnie!” yelled the Gang leader with a loud laugh and then said.” Go work him over, Warrior style, boys! “ Four bikers attacked almost simultaneous, big men who were used to fighting. The first one flew back as if kicked by a horse, then the second sliding several feet over the pavement not moving. The Ranger’s fists were as fast as his draw. Three bikers knocked out cold, the fourth went down with the Ranger in a flying tackle, only to see his own gun drawn out of his belt, while a huge left fist connected with his chin. It all took less than a few seconds and seemed to be one single motion, the Beretta rocked as the Ranger squeezed the trigger so fast it sounded almost like automatic fire. The raggedy biker looked surprised, and he was still standing but the first bullet had struck his gun hand, sending his weapon flying along with blood and bone, while the second had punctured a nasty little black hole right between his eyes, The Beretta had a full magazine of 14 rounds when the Ranger took it, now it was empty and 13 bikers were dead, each shot in the head. The Ranger got up, his own revolver back in his fist. “Thirteen gone, thirteen to go!” The rest gave up they threw their guns away and followed every command of the ranger. -- Baker sat in the office of his Superior with his hat in his hand. Captain Wills had both his fists stemmed on his desk and glared at the huge man.” Did you really have to shoot sixteen of them, and break the jaws of four of them?” “Captain, I gave them a fair warning. Besides they killed old Bart and the doctors don’t know if Sam is going to make it. They had Bernadine Rice as a hostage and torched the United States Post Office of Pontus. What was I supposed to do?” Wills sighed.”Wait for backup like everyone else!” “And have them kill more innocent folks? No Sir, I don’t think waiting for back up would have been the right choice, Sir. I am a Ranger and this is Texas. Much has changed with all them liberals and them goodie two shoes reporters, but as long as I wear this Star, Captain I will do whatever it takes to protect and serve the Citizens of this State.” The big man was no longer sitting but stood up. Wills was by no means a small man but he suddenly felt small in the presence of this six foot nine oak tree of a man.” You are one of the best, a living legend in these parts, there are few who can match your record of unassisted arrests. The locals love and respect you, this is all true and I comment you for that, but did you really have to tie the rest of the bikers behind your truck and march them all the way to Fort Mason?” “I would have pulled them all the way to San Anton if you guys hadn’t stopped me!” Baker responded angrily. There is no law and no regulation I know off telling me how I have to bring my arrestees in for booking. “ “You don’t get it, Ranger. Those bikers burned down a Post Office. It is going to be a federal case in federal court and with slick lawyers and all that. Stuff like this is all a slick lawyer needs to get them off. It’s going to be a hard thing to proof who of them did the actual killing.” “Let me talk to them and I find out, besides if Sam’s going to make it he’s going to pick the killer out.” “This is going to be a high profile case. It made national news, there are going to be reporters and lots of motorcycle gangs both supporters and rival gangs. I want you to take a few weeks off, let things settle a bit.” “You are suspending me?” “No, Peter I am sending you on a vacation. You haven’t taken a vacation in years.” -- Peter was still irritated two days later as he drove north crossing the state border to New Mexico to visit his Uncle Seven Feathers, who was a tribal chief in the Mescalero Tribe. Seven Feathers had called him a week ago and invited him, and now since he was forced to take his vacation this was a good time to take him up on his invite. Besides he did not want to run in any reporters especially the east coast type. Seven Feathers lived in (on, means on the surface of something) the reservation near Ruidoso, Peter had been there many times before and since Seven Feathers was the brother of his mother, he (her) did have close ties to this tribe, even though he did not look Native at all. The closer he came the more he realized how much he actually looked forward to see them all. Seven Feathers stood outside his home and greeted him in his usual fashion. With a nod you only saw if you really looked closely. Of course those who knew the Old Chief always felt deeply honored by this nod, as Seven Feathers would only nod to those he really liked. Before Peter could even get out of his Suburban, Seven Feathers opened the Passenger door and took a seat next to Peter.”Glad you could make it, Pale Rock.” This was how Nine Feather’s called Peter and said it was his true name.” I want you to see something. You know where Roundtree has his log cabin, the one with the big TV antenna?” Baker rubbed his chin, somewhat surprised by his Uncles behavior.” I think I go back down and right at Stan’s and up the trail...” “You remember, well! When we are there I show you where to go.” Peter turned the big Suburban around and followed the directions and the barley visible path closer to the mountains.” Say Uncle, isn’t that sacred land up there?” “Very much so!” “You are not going to show me where you going to get buried or something like that? You are not old enough for that.” Seven Feathers, who could have doubled for famous historical Chief Concise was somewhat around eighty years old; no one knew for sure and he never said much about his age, but he looked as weathered as he looked healthy as always glared at his nephew.” Nonsense, I am not going to show you my burial site. I let them decide where they put me once I am dead. I don’t spend much time thinking about that.” Peter switched to four wheel drive, as they crossed a shallow mountain stream and the path before them showed now sings of any kind of vehicle traffic, at least not within the past 50 years.”I was hoping I could take a shower, eat something and bullshit around with my nephews and all that.” Peter said working his steering wheel. “Don’t get me wrong. I love it out here and the Mountains are sure a sight for sore eyes after all that Texan Desert. I enjoyed it when you took me hunting and hiking out here but why are we here?” “Because you are a Cop, you are smart and I need your opinion.” “I am a Texas Ranger, if this is about something criminal I am out of my jurisdiction.” “This is our land, and I am all the authority you need. “ The old Indian said. “Stop!” Peter stopped the car and looked across a mountain meadow with dense stands of wood below and a fantastic view. “You’re right this view was worth the trip.” “I like it too, Pale Rock but that is not why we came up here. I wanted to show you that!” Seven Feathers stretched his arm and pointed at a black robed man standing there in the middle of the meadow. Peter only now registered the figure, about 100 meters to the right and down the hill. A man wearing a truly black robe or cloak like hooded garment and whoever it was stood with his back turned towards them. Peter took his binoculars but even with better magnification he did not see much else. Nine Feather’s said.” He was noticed two weeks ago. Roundtree said he was standing there just as he was standing there now. He tried to call, went closer and fired a few shots in the air, but the man did not do anything, just standing there. One of his boys actually fired at it and it had no effect and no reaction.” “Maybe it is some sort of statue, fallen of a plane or something. No one could simply stand there for weeks.” Peter concluded.” I guess the best thing is to load that thing up and take it to town.” “I don’t think it is a thing. Some of the Elder think it is a spirit or a demon. I am sure it is alive and it moves.” Peter wasn’t sure what to think, but he took his Smith and Wesson Model 500, checked the drum and then got out of his truck. “I am not sure what to make of this, but I guess I can ask.” He surrounded the hood, holstered his gun but kept his hand on the butt. Then he slowly approached the shrouded figure. “Hey you!” There was no reaction. Peter went closer and closer and was only about 10 meters away and tried it again.” Hey Mister!” There was a slight wind and it slightly moved the folds of the robe. “You with the black robe can you hear me?” At this point he was almost convinced it was some sort of statue so he was utterly surprised when the thing moved and turned and then spoke with a voice that was as cold and inhuman as death itself. “Acoustic communication, how fascinating and yes I can hear you!” Peter, without really thinking had pulled his gun and leveled it at the shrouded man. As the thing turned Peter could see underneath the monk like hood, but there was no face, there was just utter darkness. A black so intense he somehow felt that not even the strongest sunlight could penetrate it. Peter was no coward and he feared little but this uncanny encounter not far from the holy burial ground of the Mescalero made him more than a little worried.”Who are you and what are you doing here?” The figure wore a metal like belt around its waist and there were two cylinder-like objects attached to that belt, but nothing that looked like a weapon. “Who am I?” The voice trailed off as if the hooded man was thinking.” It appears I have no information as to who I am. As for what I am doing, I am standing here!” Peter holstered his gun.” A Lunatic that is what you are. Escaped from a hospital perhaps? You better come with me and we find out just who you are!” “Lunatic, I am a Lunatic. I thank thee Life form! Now I know who I am! I do not know what a Hospital is therefore I cannot answer you if I have escaped from one.” “I am sure we find some doctors who can explain it to you. Now how did you end up here?” “I fell.” “You fell? From where?” The black robed man pointed towards the sky. Peter was convinced this was some crazy person, perhaps some sort of Artist from California or a member of some religious sect; he was no longer concerned or worried. Even though the shrouded man was even taller than him, Peter estimated him to be just about seven feet tall; he appeared to be no real threat.” Peter pointed towards his truck. “We better get you to town now, will you come along or do I need to make you?” “You can make me?” “I am pretty sure about that and we can do this the civilized way or the other way.” “I must confess I am curious about these ways you speak of. What is the civilized way and what is the other way?” Peter sighed.” Since you do not play with a full deck let me spell it out for you. You come with me and do what I say and everything will be nice and peaceful and no one gets hurt, or you refuse and I will use force and make you wish you had chosen the first option.” Seven Feathers approached and Peter turned halfway.” I would prefer if you go back to the truck. I am going to arrest him, take him down to town and have the local Sherriff deal with that loon.” The old Chief ignored his nephew and came closer. Then he spoke Mescalero. “God Usen have you come to punish us for evil we have done or to deliver us?” Peter didn’t have much practice but he still understood much of it. What surprised him more was the answer that came from the black robed man in perfect Mescalero.” I have come from the heavens and I fell here. My memories are blank and I have no recollection who I am. Therefore I shall not punish you. I do not where to deliver you either.” “You speak the tongue of the people but your manner of dress is nothing I recognize.” The shrouded man touched the sleeve of his robe.”This garment is not satisfactory?” Peter no longer thought the man was an escaped lunatic, he could not make up his mind at all but somehow felt there was a great danger associated with the being. He interrupted not out of disrespect to Seven Feathers but mostly out of impulsive curiosity.” Whatever you wear is sure not in fashion right now. I would prefer to see your face.” Seven grabbed Peter’s arm.” No nephew, do not tempt or disrespect him. He is a spirit of great power. Gazing upon a god can be dangerous.” The shrouded man said.” I decided not to harm you. I do not know who I am or where I am therefore I need your guidance.” With these words the black robe simply dropped from the man, without him moving. Before them stood something, Peter was now certain it was not human. It had all the human characteristics and its body was proportioned like a very athletic male. It had arms and legs, a head and a face, but it had no ears, (no genitalia,) no navel or nipples and it had no genitalia. There was no hair. The skin tone was that of a light skinned Caucasian, but it had no pores, no wrinkles and no fingernails. The face was distinctive male and reminded Peter of an antique statue. The eyes had no lids, no eyebrows and most disturbingly no pupils, but glowed in a bright red. The Ranger almost dropped his gun.” What in the Devils name are you?” “I do not know your Devils name, but we should visit him if he knows what I am!” Seven Feathers bowed.” Welcome God without a Name. I apologize for my people shooting at you and throwing rocks. They did not know!” “Ah the ones that have been here three orbital revolutions earlier and discharged chemical operating devices, I was not harmed.” Peter pulled his hat back and scratched his head.” Now what are we going to do? You are sure not human. When you said you fell from the sky you really meant that, right?” “Yes.” “You are not from around here then?” “It is a fair assessment.” “I never thought I meet one but you are an Alien. I mean one of those Outer Space Aliens aren’t you?” The strange man cocked his head slightly to the side and it was clear he was thinking and then he said.” I concur. I am not native to this planet.” Seven Feathers said.” What we do is clear. The Spirit asked for guidance and we shall provide it.” Then the old man said to Peter.” Do not talk to anyone about this. Do not bring him to the white men’s scientists and authorities. He came to our land for a reason and we must find out what reason brought this visitor. You say he is an Alien but he speaks the tongue of the people.” Peter was still shocked to actually stand face to face with an alien and it took him a while to cope.” Well Visitor from the Sky, I think it is better you get dressed again and then we go somewhere and sit down and have a talk.” The black robe rose all by itself and shrouded the being once more and as Peter started to walk to the Truck it followed.” You aren’t some trickster from Roswell and this isn’t some big stunt?” Seven Feathers shook his head.” No Trickster would speak like he does and no trickster survives being shot at without a scratch or simply stands on one spot for many days.” “I was pretty sure it is genuine, but I had to ask. Meeting a real life Alien is something I had not really expected when I came here.” -- The alien was sitting stiff like a huge mannequin at the table in Seven Feather’s living room. Peter had, even as a boy, always loved this place. It was full of the most amazing Native American art, artifacts and weapons. Each piece really had a story; it was more than once Peter wished he was a boy again sitting by the fire when Seven Feathers or one of the other Elders told a story. Now he was sitting on this old sturdy table with what he believed to be a genuine Space alien. Seven Feathers had disappeared and told him to entertain the alien until he would be back. To Peter it all seemed like a strange dream and he fully expected to wake up at any moment. “So Mr. Alien, did they kick you out of the space ship or something?” The Alien was once again shrouded and looked like the very personification of Death itself as he turned his head. The hood cast an impenetrable shadow no matter from what ankle the light came.” A space ship, artificial construct to convey beings through space and a kick is a motion of one’s leg in a forceful manner where the foot tip is targeting something or someone?” Peter sighed.” I guess I should be glad you speak English and not some Alien gobbledygook but to be honest your English doesn’t sound much better.” “I apologize, human male if I have expressed myself incorrectly or cause confusion. It is not my intention to confuse you. I am pondering who I am and where I am and as long as I do not know answers to these fundamental questions it is difficult for me to answer your questions in a befitting manner. “ “So you don’t know if you were actually in a space ship prior to your fall?” “This is correct. The memories of my entire existence begin with a fall and finding myself at said location you have encountered me.” “Well we aren’t that far from Roswell; where they always claim the Space Aliens have crash landed before.” “There have been others like me?” “Until know I thought it was only hogwash. You know, Bullshit. It happened a long time ago, some Flying Saucer supposedly crash landed near a Town not all too far from here. The Government however claimed it was a weather balloon and not Aliens. No one really believes in Aliens from Outer Space you know.” Seven Feathers came through the door. Gone were the blue jeans and the flannel shirt, he now wore his full chief regalia complete with head dress. Gone was the old man and in his place was a powerful, regal and stern looking man who radiated a level of authority one could almost touch. He raised his hand in the traditional greeting.” I Great Chief Seven Feathers of the Mescalero greet you traveler from the Beyond. Great honor you bestow to my people by revealing yourself. Great blessings came upon my house by your presence.” The Alien rose and bowed.” Thy name is Seven Feathers and fragile you are of nature. Amiss are my memory and my knowledge of myself and my purpose. However I recognize greatness and authority when I encounter it. Thy words of blessing and honor are concepts I just begin to understand, but with this understanding comes the realization that you are the very embodiment of these concepts and it is I who is honored and blessed by thy presence.” Peter felt as if he was in a strange movie where the actors spoke and he understood every word and yet nothing really made sense. He was not uneducated or simple minded but it was beyond any scope of true realization to him.” I am not sure what we should do. Take him to NASA or the Military? Should we hide him or call a TV station?” Seven Feathers looked at him with a gaze that could have crumbled solid rock and Peter raised his hands.” I was just pondering. Of course I won’t do all that.” With a fierce gesture the Old Chief silenced Peter.” Traveler, you requested guidance. I am an old man footed in deep traditions of my people and I am their leader, but I am not an ignorant fool and I too heard of the Aliens from Roswell of course. It is your command of my people’s language that makes me believe that you might be a spirit or God. None of our Gods are as described as you are. Of course mans perception and ideas about Gods can only be rudimentary at best.” “I know thy language because when you spoke I analyzed it much as I analyzed the language you speak now. Mental communication does not require words or acoustics neither does it require language. I simply extracted all that information from the part of your cortex that is dedicated to this verbal communication process.” Peter was almost certain he understood the Alien correctly.” You can read minds?” “I can extract information from your mind, yes but most of it makes little sense to me without the proper reference. Acoustic communication information however is concentrated in one area and easy to extract especially if the individual is using it.” To Seven Feathers the Alien said.” Again I am without knowledge of my origin or purpose but I feel almost certain I have not been on this world before and have no cultural ties to your species in particular. The concept of a God, if I interpret your mental projections correctly is an entity with omnipotence and universal knowledge. Since I know very little I believe one can rule out that I am a God.” Seven Feathers sat down.” I somehow felt that this is the case the more I speak to you. Still you are a traveler from the skies and your presence is indeed a blessing and an honor. My nephew will be your guide so you may learn about this world and perhaps regain your memory and knowledge of your purpose.” Even though Peter wanted to object, he did not. The old man was his Uncle, his friend, the man who replaced his father for most of his life and this was a real alien with strange abilities and this way he could keep an eye on him as well, at least until he had figured out what he should do about him. He got up and said.” I know this is a historic moment and all that, but I am thirsty, maybe our spooky guest from the Stars is thirsty too!” “My nephew has spoken true and pointed out what a terrible host I am. Do you require food or drink, Traveler?” “I don’t know.” Peter went to the fridge.” Looks like my uncle prepared for my visit.” He smiled broadly as he held up two bottles of Lone Star beer.”How about it Traveler? Care for a cold one?” “One consumes these?” “That’s what we do. Let’s see if Aliens care for beer. This isn’t just any beer. It’s Lone Star, my spooky friend! It comes from Texas!” The Alien took the longneck and it completely vanished inside the darkness where his mouth would have been. “Did you just swallow the bottle?” “You indicated it was for consumption, was it not?” Peter coughed.” Well I was actually referring to what the bottle contained the liquid inside!” With these words he twisted the cap off and drained half the bottle.” That’s how we drink beer around these parts.” Seven Feathers sighed deeply.”I guess I get changed and we should find something to wear for the Traveler.” “Good Idea.” Agreed Peter,” I feel as if I am drinking with the Grimm Reaper itself!” The Alien spoke.” Grimm Reaper, personification of the anti force of life. I do not know but somehow this is familiar to me.” “Don’t tell me you are actually Death. You would need a Scythe, be all skull and bones. Not to forget the hourglass.” “I do not possess a scythe or a sand filled time measuring device.” “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear you verify that!” -- BARE BOULDER- MINING COLONY – THE FRINGES Year 5512 Of all places he had to be stuck here! The Bare Boulder Mining Colony on VLA-467 was about as far away from Terra as one could be. The maps called this (are of, sounds better without it) space the fringes as it was where the Terran Empire ended and unexplored and unclaimed space begun. Of all places it was here where his malfunctioning Subway Initiator had to bring him. Of course he could actually be glad that it wasn’t in the middle of a Sun or somewhere far beyond any Terran colony, but he had important business 934 light years from here. While he was sitting here in the only bar, nursing a Tox-Brew and waited for that damn gate-calibrator part to arrive, Nuuk-Ta one of the most dangerous criminals in the entire Galaxy would be able to further cover his tracks and disappear. He had hunted that murdering extortionist scum for more than 3 years and he was so close. Wulf Starr cursed silently and looked through the viewport that was next to his table. Outside was the stark rocky landscape of Very Large Asteroid 467, without an atmosphere as cold as space itself, it slowly rotated and in a few hours the local sun would brighten it with glaring light and temperatures would rise to almost 800 degrees. He also saw his own faint reflection in the unbreakable Diamo-Plast window and he toasted his reflection. “We’re screwed, you and I.” Wulf Starr was human and he was from Earth. He was tall for a Terran at 199 centimeters and there where quite a few ladies and South Pole lovers all across the Galaxy who found him extremely handsome. He was actually born that way, he had received very little appearance adjustment and most of his looks were genetic. Of course the Department of Terran Law Enforcement made sure all the necessary Gen Code Adjustments had been made and the DNA donors of both parents had been triple checked before they allowed a New Enforcer to be conceived. He had chestnut hair, perma cut and nano arranged in a fashionable short masculine hairdo matched his dark brown eyes well. He had a straight nose and pronounced jaw lines. Wulfs body appeared to be in peak athletic condition, and it was in the most perfect state modern medical science could put a human body. All his muscles replaced or augmented with Nano Mylar Intelli-Fibers. His bones had very little in common with the natural calcium based skeletons humans had naturally. They were out of the same material as the bars windows, Diamo Plast, nearly unbreakable but with an added factor of elasticity and embedded nano weavers that could repair most damage in a few minutes. Like every Privileged he had of course a BUB (Back Up Brain) but his had all the added software of a warrior and Law Enforcer. His BUB also controlled all the in body offensive and defensive Cyber-systems. From the Forced Energy projector in his right arm to the Battle Nanite Sprayers in his finger tips and of course the extendable Diamo-Plast Monofilament nails. While he had these and other offensive and defensive systems, he preferred his Mag-Enforcer. The heavy Tri beam gun he carried in the auto eject holster on his right outer thigh. It was along with the small Earth and Sol Symbol on his chest clear signals to anyone that he was a Law Enforcer of the Terran Empire. Most Enforcers were feared by the population and their enemies alike, a reputation carefully guarded and reinforced by the Department but Wulf was very unique as he was actually liked and celebrated like a Hero by many and they called him Star Wolf and it was this name he was known by most. His hero status came from his dedication to actually catch real criminals and protect the weak and the peaceful just as the old Mission Statement of the Department commanded. That he fought with bravery and valor in the last big war against the Kerm, was also not forgotten. Well except here on Bare Rock. The barkeep seemed to recognize his badge emblem but other than a short stare there was no real reaction to his arrival. His BUB interrupted his sulking.” Suit sensors detect an unusual Anti- tachyon emission. It was a weak but sudden spike.” “Anti-tachyons, are you sure?” “I might be only the Back Up but I can interpret sensor readings.” Only Temporal Manipulation Devices generated Anti Tachyons and TMDs were outlawed for over 2000 years by all Galactic Governments. These super exotic particles did not exist in this plane of existence and needed to be artificially generated. Wulf got up, he wanted to go to the ship to use its better sensors to do a detailed scan, just then BUB with its faster reflexes activated the Multi Dim Shield of his Enforcer Suit and then everything went black. -- “I am rebooting ocular implants.” BUB said the second Wulf regained consciousness.”There we go!” He blinked and looked around. He stood in the middle of a desert. His right hand still held the Tox-Brew mug. There was a single yellow sun in the sky and from the spectral data played into his optical nerve, a GIII type and in every detail exactly like the Sol. The air was breathable and gravitation was exactly one Earth standard Gee. “Where the nucck are we?” Wulf said out loudly “If I interpret all the data correctly, then we are on Earth, North American Continent. “ Wulf took his gun and fired a Multi Task Micro Satellite drone into the sky. The little sophisticated drone would map the planet and also check the stellar data by correlating known Pulsars to his current position. It took only a few moments and the results came in and BUB said in with his silent directly to the hearing center wired voice.” Geographical Data, Stellar Data and all other scanning results confirm we are on Earth.” “If this is Earth and we are on the North American Continent we should be in New York City. I don’t see any buildings. Not that this could be Earth since it is 4321 light years away from Bare Boulder!” “The Satellite data confirms it, and after checking on the Constellations we are on Earth and the time is somewhere in the early 21st century. With the Planets alignment I am able to narrow it down to about 2010-2015” “Time and Location shift? Isn’t that impossible? Even if someone made some illegal time experiments on Bare Boulder that still does not explain why we are on Earth!” “I don’t have enough data to be certain but I just unpacked the Tempo Physics library and went over the papers. I speculate that someone has targeted us with a Saresii Time Ripper Warhead. Highly illegal, highly unstable and unreliable as you know.” “Yes I know the Saresii stopped the research on them. They were (not sure about that, just sounds better inmo) supposed to generate fast vibrating tempo fields exposing a target to 5 million years time effect in 5 seconds real time. They never worked right.” “Exactly and since they did mine Quadronium Crystals on that mine and we activated our Multi Dim Shield we might just triggered a Chaos-Murphy Effect and ended up here! This is of course all highly speculative and based on theories.” Wulf sighed.”Let’s verify on local sources that we are indeed on Earth and in this time. Then we work on a way to get back. What do you know about this time in Earth History?” “There isn’t all that much data I have available and I never bothered to upload any historical libraries, but I think they were still in the Caveman state at this time. “ -- Peter steered his Suburban down the Freeway and glanced sideways at his passenger. The visitor now wore jeans and a dark red checkered flannel shirt, over it the largest Carhart Rancher jacket they could find. On his head he wore a blonde woman’s wig, somewhat styled in a somewhat masculine pony tail hairdo and a tan colored Stetson and his eyes behind sunglasses. “I am not sure if I am actually committing a crime here, aiding an illegal Alien isn’t exactly a lawful act, but then I guess we could not ship you back where you came from. “ “You do not. Seven Feathers declared me a member of the Mescalero People and gave me this papers that proof and he says that is enough.” “Well that is cleared then. What did he call you in these papers? I mean what name did he put down?” “Seven Feathers said my Indian name should be Black Cloud and you would come up with a white man’s name if I needed one.” The Ranger shook his head.”We need to work on your disguise as well. You look like an oversized Mr. Clean dressed as a Cowboy wearing a cheap wig and a Hat.” “I shall endeavor to improve on my appearance then.” “Most important if you want to blend in, we need to work on the way you speak. It might not be a big problem to talk like that in Boston at the University. I don’t mean your accent or tone, its more how you speak, but you get used to it eventually. Maybe its best you let me do most of the talking.” “I concur this is a logical approach indeed. I shall limit my verbal responses to an absolute minimum when other humans are around.” “You are not preparing for an invasion and not telling me right?” “If you mean that there are others of my kind and that there is a planned action invading this world then they did not tell me. As I said my knowledge of my own origin is very limited to say the least. However I have the distinct feeling that I am the only one of my kind.” “You mean there aren’t any others like you? Your species is extinct?” “I cannot answer what I do not know. I merely analyzed a feeling of certainty I cannot rationalize.” “It’s alright, and you should start calling me Peter and not human all the time. If you say it, it sounds like someone saying, these hamsters, these horses or these bacteria.” “No insult was intended. I shall call you Peter.” “I somehow believe you. I don’t know what it is about you but Seven Feathers trusts you and so do I. “ “Trust another fascinating concept. You humans have many of these conceptual states of relating to others. “ “Seven Feathers also told you to keep your true whereabouts a secret for now. No one would believe you and think you are a loon.” “This is so. Your uncle has instructed me that I am from the White Mountain Valley as this is where you found me.” Peter suddenly raised his hat and yelled.”Yehhaaa! We’re home!” “You live here on this paved surface for ground vehicles?” “No of course not, we just crossed the State Border and we are in Texas. I really like New Mexico and I spend much of my youth there, but this my friend this is the greatest state in the Union. This is the Lone Star State my Alien friend, this is Texas!” “Interesting very interesting and quite fascinating indeed, neither the air nor the landscape has changed significantly and yet you differentiate this area from the one we just came by imaginary lines called borders.” The Ranger grinned from ear to ear.” Imaginary lines or not, this is Texas and I love her.” Then he took the Suburban of the Highway and onto a smaller country road. “It’s only eighty miles left and we are really home. It isn’t much and I hadn’t planned on any guests so I hope it will suit you.” “Peter I have stood for 34 revolutions of this planet on a mountain meadow. I shall be content with any accommodations.” “Well in that case I prop you up against the wall in the tool shed.” He laughed.”Just kidding of course, I think I have a guest bed somewhere!” “What is a bed?” “A piece of furniture wit pillows and a mattress so you can lie down and sleep.” “I never slept; will you show me how this is done?” “You tell me you Aliens don’t sleep?” “I am telling you that for the time I can recall I have not engaged in an activity that requires lying down.” “This is going to be an interesting time!” Peter hadn’t paid much attention to the rearview mirror. There was little traffic and he wasn’t in a particular hurry so he was keeping the speed limit and had the big Chevy on Cruise control. But something bright caught his attention, there in his rearview mirror, the bright headlights of heavy motorcycles, at least 10 of them. It was just past the noon hour and even though it was close to October it was still blistering hot. Of course it was a good idea for a motorcycle driver to put the headlights on even during the day and it was actually a message his colleagues in the Department of Public Safety promoted in radio and TV ads. However he still had an uneasy feeling about this. More bikes appeared and came closer. He paid almost too much attention to the bikes in his rearview mirror that he almost overlooked the Toyota Camry sitting on the right shoulder with an open hood and a woman holding a baby waving at him. Back in his mind he felt as if this could be a trap, but off duty or not. Ranger or not, there was a woman and her child in distress. Besides the Bikers behind him might just pass, how would they have known when and where he returned to Texas? Maybe they weren’t even from the same outfit. He wasn’t afraid of the Bikers even if they were out for him; he was much more concerned for the woman and her child. He slowed down and turned on the Red lights on his roof. Then he turned his radio on and called in.” Ranger Baker calling Base.” But all he heard was static. No matter what he tried he got no connection. Same thing with his Cell phone. As he glanced in his rear view mirror again he saw the bikers had stopped behind him as well. All were armed with guns and one was waving a handheld device with antennas. “Those bastards are jamming me.” “Are these humans enemies of yours?” The Alien asked? “Yes, Cloud they are. You stay in the Car while I try to help the lady and diffuse the situation. If push comes to shove I will use Betsy, so no worries I got it covered.” With these words he took his gun out of the glove compartment and a small remote control device, put the device in his shirt pocket and got out. With a loud voice he said.” I am Texas Ranger Peter Baker and I will now assist this lady and her child. If you want to avoid any trouble then I suggest you simply drive on. “ There were at least thirty of them and they all had their guns already drawn and pointed at the ranger. The Lady holding the small bundle looked very frightened and now he saw why! There behind the Toyota appeared the Biker he thought was in jail awaiting his murder trial. He held a sawed off shotgun leveled at the young woman.”You have no idea how glad I am to see you ranger. I suggest you drop your gun or that lovely lady and her brat will look like road kill. Now I know you’re fast, but this is a hair trigger!” Peter had no choice he dropped his revolver.