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Authors: Dean M. Cole
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cube into it.
Forming concentric rings, small waves radiated from the point of impact, like water disturbed by a falling rock. An oilcan popping sound rang out as the cube breached the surface.
Dizzying vertigo buckled Victor's knees. He fell backward. Something resembling a lounge chair rose from the floor and caught him. He sat unmoving, disoriented by a strange tingling sensation. It felt like something was tickling his brain. As the impression passed, he shook his head.
Victor looked up at the three men staring down on him. Before he could ask them what had happened, the leader spoke again.
***
"Before I could say anything, he spoke again." Victor said. The enigmatic smirk returned. "And, I understood him perfectly."
Confused, Jake closed his gaping mouth. "What do you mean? Was he speaking English?"
"No, he was still speaking in that strange language."
"And, you could understand him?"
"Yep."
Maddeningly, Vic didn't elaborate. He just sat there grinning.
Jake grew impatient. "What? What did he say?"
After a theatric pause, Lieutenant Croft continued. "He said, 'Welcome home, brother.'"
CHAPTER FIVE
"This is where it gets interesting," a new voice said from the doorway.
Jake turned to see a wiry middle-aged Air Force brigadier general enter the room.
All three men scrambled to their feet and snapped to attention in response to the sudden appearance of a very senior Air Force officer.
The officer chuckled. "At ease, gentlemen."
Relaxing from rigid attention, Jake turned and read the general's name tag: TANNEHILL. It was the uttered name that had ended his interrogation. Looking at Richard, Jake cocked an eyebrow. "And, the plot thickens."
Walking to the head of the long table, General Tannehill motioned for them to take a seat. He grinned at Jake. "You don't know the half of it, son."
The three men sat down. Jake leaned back in his chair. "Well, sir, I haven't felt this naive since Betty Sue Alford kissed me during third-grade recess."
The general smiled. "I'm not sure I can be as enlightening as Betty Sue, but I'll try to clear up a few things for you." Sliding out the end chair, the general sat. Leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table, General Tannehill pointed at Jake. "Let me start off by saying I'm very impressed by how you've handled yourself. All the way through the incredible events of the last two days, you've acquitted yourself nicely." Tannehill gave him a knowing look and winked. "Even considering last night's taxi flight to freedom."
Jake's face flushed. Richard and Victor both laughed.
The senior officer leaned into his chair and held his hands up in a penitent gesture. "I hope you'll accept my apology for all the subterfuge."
A million questions ran through Jake's mind. "Sir—"
General Tannehill extended an index finger. "Before you ask, allow me to give you a brief history lesson. Hopefully, that'll clear up most of your questions."
Surrendering, Jake leaned back in his chair. "Sir, you have my complete and undivided attention."
"Well, as you may have guessed, we're not alone. It turns out the Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with life." He pointed through the ceiling. "There are thousands of sentient species out there." General Tannehill paused, allowing Jake a few seconds to absorb the news.
Jake's mind reeled with the new revelation. He looked around the room, expecting to see one of its occupants grinning. They weren't. The general's assumption that Jake had guessed they weren't alone was wrong. He'd been prepared to accept that the Air Force or some other governmental agency had acquired radical new technology. The presence of humans aboard the strange ship only reinforced the notion.
Jake turned incredulously to the general. "Thousands, sir? No disrespect, but you're pulling my leg, right?" He pointed at Victor. "Lieutenant Croft said the ship's occupants were human."
With an understanding smile, General Tannehill held up a hand. "Bear with me, Captain."
"But,
Forming concentric rings, small waves radiated from the point of impact, like water disturbed by a falling rock. An oilcan popping sound rang out as the cube breached the surface.
Dizzying vertigo buckled Victor's knees. He fell backward. Something resembling a lounge chair rose from the floor and caught him. He sat unmoving, disoriented by a strange tingling sensation. It felt like something was tickling his brain. As the impression passed, he shook his head.
Victor looked up at the three men staring down on him. Before he could ask them what had happened, the leader spoke again.
***
"Before I could say anything, he spoke again." Victor said. The enigmatic smirk returned. "And, I understood him perfectly."
Confused, Jake closed his gaping mouth. "What do you mean? Was he speaking English?"
"No, he was still speaking in that strange language."
"And, you could understand him?"
"Yep."
Maddeningly, Vic didn't elaborate. He just sat there grinning.
Jake grew impatient. "What? What did he say?"
After a theatric pause, Lieutenant Croft continued. "He said, 'Welcome home, brother.'"
CHAPTER FIVE
"This is where it gets interesting," a new voice said from the doorway.
Jake turned to see a wiry middle-aged Air Force brigadier general enter the room.
All three men scrambled to their feet and snapped to attention in response to the sudden appearance of a very senior Air Force officer.
The officer chuckled. "At ease, gentlemen."
Relaxing from rigid attention, Jake turned and read the general's name tag: TANNEHILL. It was the uttered name that had ended his interrogation. Looking at Richard, Jake cocked an eyebrow. "And, the plot thickens."
Walking to the head of the long table, General Tannehill motioned for them to take a seat. He grinned at Jake. "You don't know the half of it, son."
The three men sat down. Jake leaned back in his chair. "Well, sir, I haven't felt this naive since Betty Sue Alford kissed me during third-grade recess."
The general smiled. "I'm not sure I can be as enlightening as Betty Sue, but I'll try to clear up a few things for you." Sliding out the end chair, the general sat. Leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table, General Tannehill pointed at Jake. "Let me start off by saying I'm very impressed by how you've handled yourself. All the way through the incredible events of the last two days, you've acquitted yourself nicely." Tannehill gave him a knowing look and winked. "Even considering last night's taxi flight to freedom."
Jake's face flushed. Richard and Victor both laughed.
The senior officer leaned into his chair and held his hands up in a penitent gesture. "I hope you'll accept my apology for all the subterfuge."
A million questions ran through Jake's mind. "Sir—"
General Tannehill extended an index finger. "Before you ask, allow me to give you a brief history lesson. Hopefully, that'll clear up most of your questions."
Surrendering, Jake leaned back in his chair. "Sir, you have my complete and undivided attention."
"Well, as you may have guessed, we're not alone. It turns out the Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with life." He pointed through the ceiling. "There are thousands of sentient species out there." General Tannehill paused, allowing Jake a few seconds to absorb the news.
Jake's mind reeled with the new revelation. He looked around the room, expecting to see one of its occupants grinning. They weren't. The general's assumption that Jake had guessed they weren't alone was wrong. He'd been prepared to accept that the Air Force or some other governmental agency had acquired radical new technology. The presence of humans aboard the strange ship only reinforced the notion.
Jake turned incredulously to the general. "Thousands, sir? No disrespect, but you're pulling my leg, right?" He pointed at Victor. "Lieutenant Croft said the ship's occupants were human."
With an understanding smile, General Tannehill held up a hand. "Bear with me, Captain."
"But,
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