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NAS ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA:
The Mystic arrives, and Josh locates an area outside the small harbor where the device can be safely stored on the seafloor. He stops the Mystic and lets it settle on the bottom of the ocean. Alex called ahead to Captain Dennis Wong, the head of security and a close friend of Donner’s. Three rubberized assault boats with fifty caliber machine guns mounted inside secure the area around the ship.
Josh uses the Mystic’s motorboat to drive Alex and Okana to the dock, where Wong is waiting for them. They shake hands and make introductions.
Wong lets go of Alex’s hand and feels a slight tingling sensation in his fingers, but ignores it. “Martin asked me to do what I can to help you. What do you need?”
Alex turns and indicates the Mystic. “Protect Josh and his ship by any means necessary. No one is to go near it without his express permission. I’ll be back in a few days, but while I’m gone, can you build me a wooden crate with an interior of twenty-inches-square by twenty-feet long, with a removable lid?”
“I don’t see any problem. What’s it for?”
“We have an experimental torpedo in tow and I’ll need to take it with me when I get back.”
“Is that why you parked offshore?”
“Yes. It has an experimental power supply with a slight glitch. When activated, it tends to freeze the water around it, but it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“All right. Anything else?”
“Okana and I need of a ride to NAS Whidbey.”
“Follow me and we’ll check with the squadron Commander to see what’s available.”
“Thanks.” He turns to Josh. “I’ll keep you apprised of our progress.”
“All right. We’ll keep it safe. See you soon.” When Alex and Okana walk up the pier with Wong, he climbs into the motorboat and drives back to the Mystic.
***
Alex and Okana catch the next scheduled flight to Washington, and while they wait for Donner’s jet to arrive, his phone rings and he recognizes Carter’s number. He puts it on speaker so Okana can hear. “Hey, Paul. How are Essex and Rita doing with the SV1?”
“That’s why I’m calling. The mission has failed, and they are trapped in outer space.”
“What went wrong?”
Carter explains what happened. “Everyone here has watched the video of the meeting you had with that alien woman, and she’s in control again. I don’t mind telling you that I and everyone else here with brown eyes are scared shitless. I hope you have a plan to stop her from killing us.”
“I’m working on it. How much longer can they last in Essex’s ship?”
“Our best estimate is twelve hours. Essex just informed us that the SV1 thrusters have run out of propellant, so it isn’t going anywhere.”
“All right. I’ll do my best to save them.”
“How can you possibly save them? Just worry about saving the rest of us.”
Alex stares out across the water at the San Juan Islands. “I’ll do what I can.”
Okana can tell from Alex’s posture that he’s deeply troubled. “Hey, it’s not the first time we’ve had to make difficult choices. Here is my idea. We know we need to get that device out of Pandora’s control, so let’s take your spaceship into orbit, pick up the SV1, and get it to Groom Lake. At least she won’t be able to control the weather or melt any more satellites.”
“Don’t forget about her genetic weapon. We need to rescue Pandora. A little kindness might help convince her to change the ship’s mind about killing all the people with brown eyes. But first we have to rescue Essex and Rita, and get our device.”
“Listen, I like the little guy too, but there is no way we can get his spaceship into our cargo hold.”
“I have a plan.”
***
GROOM LAKE:
Alex walks down the steps from the jet with Okana and is greeted by his friends. He shakes Henry’s hand. “It’s good to be home.”
Henry felt his fingers tingle. “It is good to have both of you back in one piece.”
Alex smiles at David. “Great job with the software. She didn’t notice the change.”
“Thanks. It was mostly Christa’s work.”
Jadin looks up at Alex. “Donner called. He’s located Pandora. She’s in a British MI6 prison in Australia. They have her in some type of electromagnetic shield, which is blocking any attempt the ship might have of contacting her.”
“Perfect. What are his plans?”
“He’s waiting to talk to you.”
“Let’s not keep him waiting. Let’s go to Hangar 5. I have an idea, but I need to check on something first.”
Jadin sits next to Okana in the second golf cart, and they follow behind the others. “Did you talk to him about breaking his vow?”
“I got him to agree to get it on with her, but he’ll only do it if it’s the last option.” He smirks at her. “I wish I was in his position.”
“Figures.”
They park outside the hangar, step into a recessed alcove, and everyone enters their codes and retinal scans before they are allowed past the guards on the other side of the door. Once inside, they walk over to a smaller version of Pandora’s ship.
Alex walks to the open section on the side of the alien craft, which is the five-foot by eight-foot door into the airlock, and entrance into the cargo hold. He holds his arms out to measure the distance, then steps inside and looks across the room at the new spacesuits. He walks back outside and smiles at his friends. “This will work. Let’s go call Donner from the lunch room.”
Alex walks beside Henry. “Where did the new suits come from, Doc?”
“Jadin arranged it with her friends at NASA. They are prototypes sent by the contractor. When they proved to be reliable, the contract was signed and we got the used ones. They only have one of each model, his and hers.”
“What about the old suits? I need Okana with me, not Jadin.”
“I’m sorry, Alex. Her NASA friends took them when they left.”
“Damn. All right. This will still work.”
They enter the break room and sit down at an oval table, and Alex calls Donner. After several long moments, he answers. “Hi, Martin. You’re on speaker with my team at the base. What are your plans for Pandora?”
“Nothing for the moment. The President set the whole thing up without my knowledge.”
“I bet that pissed you off.”
“You have no idea. He thinks she’s a bargaining chip. He’s still hoping to reach an agreement with her before she releases her genetic bomb. I told him it won’t work, but he has brown eyes and he’s scared. So am I, by the way. He and I both hope you have one of your crazy ideas to fix this.”
“I do, but it won’t work unless I can talk to Pandora in Australia. Can you arrange it?”
“Absolutely, but he won’t release her unless you can guarantee that she’ll call it off.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I know. You always do. Good luck.”
Alex leans back and looks around at the expectant faces of his friends. “We’re taking our ship up to get Essex, Rita, and the SV1.”
Jadin shakes her head no. “I already told you that we cannot let her ship make line of sight contact with ours.”
“We won’t. I’ll go to Pandora and get her out of the shield. Once the ship pinpoints her location, it will probably move there to try to make contact. Since we can track it, we’ll wait until it’s out of sight before we move in to rescue my friend and get the device.”
Okana stares across the table at Alex. “You still haven’t explained how you plan on pulling that off.”
“First, I’ll talk to Pandora. If that part doesn’t work, the rest of the plan won’t either.”
Okana jumps up. “I’m going with you.”
Alex gets up, as do the others. “I thought you would.”
***
AUSTRALIA:
After landing at a private airport outside Sydney, a driver checks their identification before allowing Alex and Okana inside the sedan. Alex remains silent for the next hour, even under Okana’s relentless attempts to have a conversation.
They pass through a security gate and Alex notices the fenced-in area on the side of the concrete building. Now all he has to do is get Pandora outside.
The driver stops in front of the main door, and two casually dressed men with shoulder holsters walk out to greet them as they climb out. One of them appears friendly and holds out his hand, so Alex accepts.
The man feels a slight tingling in his fingers. “Uh, yes. I’m Bill Redfield, and this surly-looking fellow is Archibald Bessel. We saw you in the video recording. Word has it you’re the one who can stop her from starting the Brown Plague.” He notices Alex’s puzzled expression. “That’s what they’re calling it on the Internet. Everyone is freaking out at just the thought of it.”
“I’ll try. Can I go see her?”
“Of course. Right this way.”
They follow the escorts into the building, until they come to an open doorway. Okana notices a large electrical disconnect switch on the left side of the wall as they walk into a twenty-foot square room. In the middle is a large cage, with Pandora lying on a cot inside.
Pandora leaps off the small cot when she sees a familiar face. “Oh, Alex. I can’t take it any longer, being stuck inside a windowless room. You have to get me out of here.”
Alex looks at Bill. “Could I at least take her out to see some open area?”
“I’m sorry, Mister Cave. We have our orders. She can’t leave this room.”
Alex moves closer to her. “Do you think you can convince the ship not to kill us if we let you out?”
Pandora sits down on the cot. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that. The genetically targeted virus is already spreading, thanks to you.”
Alex’s posture stiffens. “What are you talking about? I have blue eyes.”
“Yes, and a very unique gene which created them. Tell me, Alex. Are my eyes sparkling?”
“Yes, like they always do. Apparently, I’m the only one that can see them unless you’re in contact with the ship.”
“That’s right, and only when she’s angry. When I look at you, I see your eyes sparkling like mine. You’re unique among your species, Alex Cave.”
“Then how come you’re saying I’m spreading the disease? I’m not sick.”
“You are one-hundred percent immune to the virus. She’s located one-hundred-thousand of your species who have a higher immune rating because of their eye color, and they will survive long after the rest of your population is dead. She will use them to shut down the entire infrastructure which is destroying this planet.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“You were infected with the virus when we first met and I touched your hand. The virus is transmitted by skin contact. Everyone Brown that you have touched since that day is now infected, and every brown they touch, and so on until they are wiped out within a year. Most everyone else will be affected over a longer period of time, but only those few thousands will not die because of the virus.”
“Can it be stopped?”
***
Okana knows they will never let her outside as planned, and when everyone’s attention is on Pandora, he eases back outside and pulls the power disconnect switch. He steps back inside, and no one seems the wiser until Pandora stands and her eyes appear to burst with blue fire.
***
Alex sees the immediate change in Pandora’s eyes. “I see you’re back. You must be in a pretty high orbit to connect with her from Iceland.”
“Let her go, Alex. I’ll let you come into the ship so you won’t have to witness the carnage I’ve unleashed upon your species.”
“I’d rather rot in hell. Give me a cure for the virus and we’ll trade. Otherwise, she can rot in hell with me. I’ll give you a day to reconsider. I’ll come back soon with her release papers, and use them to get her back to you if you give me the cure.”
Okana stifles a grin when Pandora crosses her arms and her eyes become even brighter. It worked! He eases back outside and turns on the power. When he steps back into the room, her eyes are normal.
Alex turns to his escorts, who back away from him with fear in their eyes. “I’m done here.”
Bill stares at his hand. “You’ve infected me. You’ve killed me, you son of a bitch!”
Okana snatches Bill’s pistol from the shoulder holster and holds it against the man’s head. “Just take it easy, guys. Alex didn’t do it on purpose. Now that we know how it spreads, start wearing gloves or something, so you don’t infect your family and friends.”
“What good will that do? We’re all going to die anyway.”
Alex sees how scared Bill and Archibald are. “Don’t give up hope. I’ll do my best to stop the Brown Plague. We’re going to leave now and we don’t want any trouble.” He sees them glance at Pandora. “She may still hold the key to stopping this, so don’t harm her.”
Bill glares at Pandora for a moment, then turns to Alex. “Just promise me you’ll find a way to stop this.”
“I promise I’ll do everything possible.” When Bill walks out through the doorway, he follows and they return to the sedan, still parked in front of the building.