Read Online Detour to Apocalypse: A Rot Rods Serial, Part Two by Michael Panush - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael Panush
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o-occasionally hurt me, but they knew they needed me intact to work on their experiments, and so they held their worst tortures back.” Felix sighed. “But Task Force X did not hold back.”
Angel sighed. “I knew those Task Force X
pendejos
were bad news.” He stared at the alien. “But how did the Ambassador get from this Area X place to the basement of the Sandpiper Casino?”
“They were moving him,” Felix said. “Taking him further east―then Townsend Mars’s Crystalline Church cultists ambushed the convoy. They struck with exceeding speed and held off the Task Force X agents while they retrieved the Ambassador. Since then, for a period of about a month, he has been in the Sandpiper. Mars proved a better captor than the government―but not by much. The poor fellow doesn’t quite know what to think right now.”
Wooster drummed a finger on his knee. “How’d Mars know about the convoy?”
“Maybe Dr. Bolton told him,” Roscoe said. “He could’ve been Mars’ mole before he stole that experiment flying saucer and split.”
“That’s a possibility But why would Townsend Mars wish to capture the Ambassador? What role does the Ambassador play in his plans?” The Captain shook his head. “It seems that he has a part to play―but I can’t imagine what it is.”
“Don’t that kooky cult worship aliens?” Wooster asked.
“They worship the Crystal Gods―which may be aliens, of a fashion. But they’re not like this guy.” Betty smiled at the alien. “Besides, they certainly didn’t treat him like a god. And Mars called him a demon when we rescued him.”
Felix stood again and approached the alien. “Do you know, sir? Why Mars captured you?”
The Ambassador stared at Felix without expression. He held out his hand.
“Very well. If you think it necessary.” Felix touched the alien’s hand, lapsing into shudders as soon as their fingers made contact. A moment later, he stepped back and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “He doesn’t know. But the poor fellow did manage to send out a distress signal as he went down. He has friends that he contacted and promises they will arrive soon to rescue him.”
“Rescue?” Wooster asked. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
“I don’t think I do, man,” Angel said. “Explain.”
“Think about it,” Wooster said. “You’re some high-flying alien zooming over a backwater Earth and you get engine trouble, crash, and find yourself kidnapped. Not only kidnapped―but experimented on and tortured and then kidnapped again. Then your friends show up. It ain’t rescue you got in mind. It’s retribution.” He sipped his beer and licked his lips. “I seen it often enough, back home. Locals would kidnap somebody, thinking it’d be easy money. Then the FBI and the local cops and hired guns start combing the hills, burning homes, shooting it out with anybody. They bring everything down.” He pointed to the Ambassador. “That’s what his pals are gonna do, to the planet. Count on it.”
“What?” Felix asked. “You think they’re going to destroy the world?”
“Or blow up large parts of it,” Wooster replied.
Felix shook his head. “No, sir. I don’t think that will happen. The Ambassador is a good person―or well, an alien. He knows that such an attack would harm innocents, people who had nothing to do with his captivity.” He held out his hand to the Ambassador. “You know that, don’t you, sir?”
The Ambassador remained unresponsive.
Betty patted Felix’s shoulder. “We’ll convince him. We’ll show him that humanity is okay. We’ll prove that we don’t deserve to be blown to pieces by his friends.” She stepped closer to the Ambassador. “Do you understand, mister? We’ll take care of you and protect you. I promise.”
“And you have my word as well, sir.” Felix approached the alien and held out his hand. The Ambassador took it and, this time, did not send any psychic messages to Felix. Instead,
Angel sighed. “I knew those Task Force X
pendejos
were bad news.” He stared at the alien. “But how did the Ambassador get from this Area X place to the basement of the Sandpiper Casino?”
“They were moving him,” Felix said. “Taking him further east―then Townsend Mars’s Crystalline Church cultists ambushed the convoy. They struck with exceeding speed and held off the Task Force X agents while they retrieved the Ambassador. Since then, for a period of about a month, he has been in the Sandpiper. Mars proved a better captor than the government―but not by much. The poor fellow doesn’t quite know what to think right now.”
Wooster drummed a finger on his knee. “How’d Mars know about the convoy?”
“Maybe Dr. Bolton told him,” Roscoe said. “He could’ve been Mars’ mole before he stole that experiment flying saucer and split.”
“That’s a possibility But why would Townsend Mars wish to capture the Ambassador? What role does the Ambassador play in his plans?” The Captain shook his head. “It seems that he has a part to play―but I can’t imagine what it is.”
“Don’t that kooky cult worship aliens?” Wooster asked.
“They worship the Crystal Gods―which may be aliens, of a fashion. But they’re not like this guy.” Betty smiled at the alien. “Besides, they certainly didn’t treat him like a god. And Mars called him a demon when we rescued him.”
Felix stood again and approached the alien. “Do you know, sir? Why Mars captured you?”
The Ambassador stared at Felix without expression. He held out his hand.
“Very well. If you think it necessary.” Felix touched the alien’s hand, lapsing into shudders as soon as their fingers made contact. A moment later, he stepped back and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “He doesn’t know. But the poor fellow did manage to send out a distress signal as he went down. He has friends that he contacted and promises they will arrive soon to rescue him.”
“Rescue?” Wooster asked. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
“I don’t think I do, man,” Angel said. “Explain.”
“Think about it,” Wooster said. “You’re some high-flying alien zooming over a backwater Earth and you get engine trouble, crash, and find yourself kidnapped. Not only kidnapped―but experimented on and tortured and then kidnapped again. Then your friends show up. It ain’t rescue you got in mind. It’s retribution.” He sipped his beer and licked his lips. “I seen it often enough, back home. Locals would kidnap somebody, thinking it’d be easy money. Then the FBI and the local cops and hired guns start combing the hills, burning homes, shooting it out with anybody. They bring everything down.” He pointed to the Ambassador. “That’s what his pals are gonna do, to the planet. Count on it.”
“What?” Felix asked. “You think they’re going to destroy the world?”
“Or blow up large parts of it,” Wooster replied.
Felix shook his head. “No, sir. I don’t think that will happen. The Ambassador is a good person―or well, an alien. He knows that such an attack would harm innocents, people who had nothing to do with his captivity.” He held out his hand to the Ambassador. “You know that, don’t you, sir?”
The Ambassador remained unresponsive.
Betty patted Felix’s shoulder. “We’ll convince him. We’ll show him that humanity is okay. We’ll prove that we don’t deserve to be blown to pieces by his friends.” She stepped closer to the Ambassador. “Do you understand, mister? We’ll take care of you and protect you. I promise.”
“And you have my word as well, sir.” Felix approached the alien and held out his hand. The Ambassador took it and, this time, did not send any psychic messages to Felix. Instead,
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