Legacy of the Guardians
by AJ Marks
Part 16
Morning came too quickly for Jack, and he wished he had a couple of extra hours of sleep. Yesterday had been a busy day with everything that went on. This morning he would talk to the prisoners that had been captured in Afghanistan. He knew that Osama bin Laden was not a Skartian, and he felt slightly disappointed in that fact. Of course sixteen captured Skartians ended up being more than anyone had expected.
Jack made the decision to talk to bin Laden first. After that he would figure out what to do with the man, considering his name would go down in history linked with the attack on the World Trade Center.
He looked up as Steve made his way into the office, followed by Captain Ahmed.
“So Jack, who’s first?” Steve asked.
“This bin Laden character, we can tell him he’s been fighting on the wrong side, then the Skartian in cell A-6,” Jack said.
“Sounds good,” Steve said, as the three of them made their way out of his office and down to the cells.
They passed through several high security checkpoints. Everyone was scanned regardless of rank. If you did not submit, you didn’t get in, that simple. They cleared the checkpoints and headed to the cell which housed bin Laden, entering as the guard opened the door.
“I see the pigs have shown themselves,” bin Laden said, as they entered the room.
“You know, you have one chance to live, I’d suggest you listen,” Jack said casually, taking a seat as if he owned the place. He watched the man in front of him scowl at the way he was talked to.
“You American pigs all think alike, thinking you own the world, you don’t,” the reply came back, causing Jack to chuckle slightly.
“No, actually you were working with a group who wanted to take over the world,” Steve said. “Currently you are several hundred thousand kilometers away from the planet Earth. You are actually on a space station owned by the EDF, and currently we are at war with an alien race called the Skartians, who you have been helping.”
“I don’t believe you, you Americans will say anything to spread your lies,” bin Laden said.
“By Allah you’re stupid,” Ahmed said speaking up. “You’ve been brainwashed by Skartians, and the group you worked with are aliens, not even human.”
“Better to be with them than Americans,” bin Laden replied to Ahmed. “You are a traitor to your people.”
“And you’re a traitor to humanity,” Ahmed said back to him, before turning to Jack. “He won’t change, he’s been too brainwashed by the Skartians. I suggest we go to the next prisoner.”
Jack watched as Ahmed left the cell before turning back to bin Laden.
“Back on Earth you are already a wanted man, dead or alive,” Jack said to him, watching his reaction.
“You Americans don’t have the courage to kill me, besides, you need me alive for your courts. You have laws that prevent you from killing me,” he said back to Jack, smug in his attitude.
“If we obeyed American laws, yes,” Jack said, smiling at him now. “But you see, we don’t report to any one country, so we’re not bound by such laws. Enjoy your last meal, don’t worry we’ll make your death spectacular sometime in the future.”
“You can’t do this to me,” he demanded, shouting at him as they walked thought eh cell door.
“Yes we can, I already told you, we are not connected with any country, but are the defense force for Earth against all alien threats, like the Skartians who you were serving,” Jack said to him. “And we will use any means to keep humanity safe from those who wish to destroy us. Have a good meal.”
They walked out of the cell to see Ahmed waiting for them.
“Well, that went about how I expected, though I held out hope for him,” Jack said.
“He won’t believe, even if he sees it for his own eyes,” Ahmed said. “So what will you do with him?”
“I’m not that sure yet, have to talk to the others, but we can’t let him go,” Steve said. “He’s too volatile, and I don’t trust him to be a part of the EDF.”
“Keeping him indefinably isn’t an option, and letting him go to the Americans isn’t a good option either. A trial could do more harm than good for everyone. He could still communicate to his followers, a less we learned after WW2,” Jack stated, recalling those reports. “Some of his followers could view any result of the trial as a victory for them, strengthening their following in the region.”
“So, what will you tell the rest of the world,” Ahmed asked.
“Well wait for a good opportunity to use the Americans to kill him, can’t make it too easy, might even release a few ‘statements’ as well,” Jack said. He was thinking of it as a way to capture more Skartians, and he might be able to use bin Laden even if he didn’t wish to help them.
“Ready for the next interrogation?” Steve asked.
“Can’t wait,” Jack said, hoping they could gain some more information from the Skartian. At least he would not be dealing with the denial of the EDF’s existence with this person.
They made their way down the hallway arriving at cell A-6. An armed guard stood outside this time as they started their interrogation.
Jack noticed the Skartian was sitting in a chair, bound so he could not move. His arms were tied behind him so he could not strike out. It was obvious the Skartian had tried to struggle.
Jack walked into the room, and slowly walked around the Skartian taking his time as the other three stopped at the entrance of the room. The only sound was the clicking of Jack’s shoes and the breathing of the men. Jack never took his eyes off the Skartian, and continued to pace around him.
“You’ll never find us all,” the Skartian finally said in anger.
Jack circled one more time before stopping in front of the Skartian, and it seemed like he had not even heard it
“Who said we captured all of your kind?” Jack asked, already having one question answered. There were more Skartians on the surface.
He watched the Skartian flinch, they both knew how much information had been given from the last comment.
“So, was your entire mission to create a diversion for your invasion force, which would attack Earth hoping to not encounter a human war fleet?” Jack asked, watching the Skartian look with determination on being quiet. “Let me tell you what happened to that fleet. It was destroyed by one of our fleets, retreated in disgrace, as losers.”
He watched the Skartian remain quiet. They both knew the plan failed, but it was also apparent the Skartian did not know what happened to that fleet. They had done their plan only to be left in the dark.
“If that fleet is the best your race has, then the war will be over quickly,” Jack said, shrugging off the effort the invasion fleet as nothing, hoping to wound the alien’s pride.
Jack watched as his words had an effect on the Skartian by the face he made. However, he did not say anything.
“Let me tell you something else,” Jack said, continuing on his walk around the tied up alien. “You fell for our trap rather easily, did you know that?”
The Skartian tried not to show any shock, but Jack saw it on his face.
“You see, we set you up, very nice trap if I do say so myself,” Jack said, walking over to where the other two stood and pointed to Ahmed. “We knew if someone who you considered to be an American sympathizer came into your group asking a bunch of questions it would attract attention. We counted on you taking them prisoner, or trying to kill them, which is exactly what you did.”
Jack looked over at the Skartian, who only glared at him in anger. Jack knew the thought of a human out-thinking a Skartian would deeply wound their pride.
“We knew where he was at all times, and his health,” Jack said now pacing around the chair again. “We set up an the extradition of his parents, making it seem like he was part of a top-secret government agency. That would give him some credibility that he was part of a government agency with a long reach. Such actions would make the local leaders hesitant, sending him up the chain of command, right to you. You really are not that smart are you,” Jack said, finishing up his speech.
The Skartian’s face went flush with anger at the statement as Jack again insulted his pride. But the Skartian refused to break down. Jack paused, then looked over at Steve and Ahmed and figured he would not get any useful information other than what had been blurted out in the beginning.
“Now, you can either talk to me, or talk to our interrogators,” Jack said to him. “And believe me, they can’t wait to talk to you. You see, they all lost someone they loved in that terrorist attack you pulled, and they are not in a good mood. So, what’s it going to be?”
He waited a few minutes in silence watching the Skartian think about everything he had been told. The silence gave Jack his answer.
“So be it, remember, I gave you a chance, more than you ever gave us,” Jack said, as they left the room.
“I’m confused,” Ahmed said, after walking out the door closed. “He didn’t say anything, and it seemed like you knew he would, why did you do it?”
“Skartians are prideful, think they are the best strategist. I wounded his pride, especially if he was one of the leaders,” Jack said. “I hoped he would say something in anger, they are known to do that from previous interrogations.”
“Right,” Steve said, speaking up for the first time. “That first statement told us there are more we have to keep a look-out for. And that also means they will probably try something like this again.”
“I was hoping they would mention who else is helping them. They know militarily we are an equal to them, perhaps even stronger now. So for them to attack like they did, it must mean something changed,” Jack said to them. “The entire situation doesn’t feel right.”
“You know, you’re right,” Ahmed said, pausing as they walked down the hallway. “I’ve felt this odd restlessness. That calm before a storm you know is approaching.”
“Yeah, but what is about to happen? How big will it be? And are we in the middle of it?” Jack asked, listing off a couple of questions.
“Wish I knew. Intelligence is working as hard as possible,” Steve said, as they went up the elevator, getting off on the senior officers level and headed to Jack’s office. “I hear that you’re going to be taking command of the first patrol fleet, congratulations captain.”
“Ah, yes, thank you sir,” Ahmed said. “I have one last check up with the doc before being fully cleared for duty.”
“The one thing I learned, trust your gut,” Jack said. “And thanks for volunteering for that mission, it must have been hard.”
“Returning home, it was, very different,” Ahmed said. “I also realized it’s no longer home.”
Jack nodded in understanding as Ahmed turned and walked out of the office leaving Steve and Jack.
“He should work out well,” Steve said to him.
“Yeah, now we get to wait until after the interrogators do their job,” Jack said, resigning himself to waiting once more.
“I’ll stop by for lunch,” Steve said.
“Okay, maybe we’ll have some information by then,” Jack said.
“See you then,” Steve said, heading off to his office, as Jack turned to reports waiting for him.
*****
Sam could not shake the feeling. He had it for a while now, but could not describe it. It felt like something grand, scary and awesome was about to happened yet he had no idea what that might be. The only thing he knew for sure, was it had to do with the building in front of him, the same one he became fascinated with.
He had already been down to see it once this morning. And decided to make his way back down to view it again. He thought some piece of the puzzle was missing, and could not figure out what that might be. He thought somehow by looking at it he might gain some bit of insight to solve the puzzle.
He stood, looking once more at the Sphinx, his obsession wondering what he was doing.
“I see you are back my friend,” a person said behind him in perfect English. Sam turned slightly before replying to see a man stand there. He had seen him before.
“Yes, there is something there, mysterious,” Sam said, looking back at it.
“Ah, yes, there have been many who thought so. My father told me about one man who came here because of a shadowy figure,” the man said. “It was just before what is called the Second World War. Before this man left he told my father that a great evil was coming to visit the Earth. The man was right, Hitler could be considered evil.”
“Did he give a name?” Sam asked.
“American, like you, and I think his name was Mark, or Matt Johnsson, something like that,” the man said.
“Marcus Johanson?” Sam asked,
“That sounds right, did you know him?” the man asked.
“Not personally,” Same replied. Marcus had been one of the first members of the EDF, and an active member until his death in 1978. There were also rumors that he had psychic abilities but never allowed anyone to test him. “Thanks,” Sam said to him, hurrying off to get a taxi and head back to his hotel. He had some new information to search for.
End Part 16
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