Chapter 1 Through the Portal
It was lonely at the top.
The thought made Gaian smile. But, it came to him, out of the quiet of the chamber.
He was actually a bit lonely.
Century after century...day in, day out.
Nothing ever really changed, did it.
All species followed established patterns after a while.
Easily computed.
This human female, with the red hair. She was different. Her thought patterns could not be analyzed of categorized or...predicted.
Humans rarely came here and then, only by mistake, brought by other species who had abducted them against their will.
Gaian did not know how he felt about that situation. He could have intervened, but that was not his purpose.
His purpose was...to learn and expand his knowledge base.
The Ancients were very specific and clear on the matter.
This human female.
Perhaps he could learn from her.
Gaian sat back and... studied the specimen, his arms crossed in a leisurely, wait and see mode.
His black gloved finger methodically tapping his metallic lips.
“Are there any bugs on this planet?” Calli Hertz checked the trees and grass surrounding the log upon which she sat. Her weapon was carefully poised beside her, laying just over the log’s support, to her right.
“There are bugs on any planet.” her teammate, Anthony Colletti had pulled an impatient face. He was taking water samples from the mammoth pond by which they sat.
“I’m asking, are there any honkin big bugs.” Calli clarified, as if she wouldn’t waste time on asking about ‘regular’ size bugs. “The kind that swoop down unsuspectingly and shit in your hair, say. Or the kind that suck your face off when you least expect it, kind of bugs, Tony... as well you know, so stop giving me the business.”
“I haven’t seen any, honey.” Mac McAroy stood, ever vigilant, by the edge of the forest, surveying the land with the trained eyes of an observer. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
“I love you, Mac.” Calli was instantly happy, turning to other more important matters. “Can I swim in the pond?”
“You want some alien ‘bug’ crawling up your ass, Hertz?” Tony was still examining the samples, his brow furrowed critically. “We are on patrol. Act like you’re a soldier at least, geessh.”
“I’m just as much a soldier as you are.” That cute little up-turned nose snubbed the guy. “General Hathaway gave me a medal just the other day.”
“It was two years back and it was for cleaning and maintaining your weapon, idiot.”
“It meant a lot to the General. He was very happy with me that day.” Calli stood, ready for battle. “You’re just being a butthead cause you didn’t get a medal.”
“He was happy because you hadn’t shot any foreign dignitaries that week.” Tony grinned, keeping the fact from his BFF. As he often did.
Wouldn’t do to let the woman know just how cool he thought these weird conversations were or how much he enjoyed them. “Which lasted two days, as I recall, yeah?” He shifted knowing eyes. “The Premier of Canada, right?”
“He wasn’t really all that important...it's Canada, for Christ's sake.” Calli sighed heavily, waving a dismissing hand. “He shouldn’t have made a pass at me. Which wasn’t cool, by the way. Not at all.”
“You didn’t have to shoot the guy in the foot.”
“I wasn’t going to...he grabbed the weapon. What kind of dreeb makes such a stupid move?” Calli wanted to know. “I was going to give him a flesh wound only, hand to god, Tony which is what I told the General.”
“He took your medal back, didn’t he.”
“He did not.” Calli showed it, for she was wearing it on her fatigue lapel. “See?”
“That’s not Regs.” Colletti pointed out.
“The General said it was fine.” she carefully cleaned the tiny ribbon with a loving finger. “Since when are you into ‘Regs.” she pulled an adorable face. “Look at your hair.”
“Don’t get started on my hair.” he gave over a warning face. “You should have had to chop yours off from day one.”
Calli hastily grasped the lush red strands. “Mac said if I joined the program, they wouldn’t make me, which...they haven’t. What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Don’t get me started.” Tony advised. “There...all safe, you can go for a dip...Dip.” he waved his hand to the pond.
“I’m out of the mood.” Calli snapped. “God knows what’s in that water.”
“I just told you...” The man held up the vials. “It’s fine.”
“You wouldn’t tell me if it wasn’t. And then some alien fish would swim up my hoo-hah and you’d think it was funny.” Calli knew the score.
“I would.” Tony admitted. “Cause it would ‘be’...funny.”
“Not if it swam up your hoo-hah, it wouldn’t.”
“I keep my hoo-hah out of dangerous places, little girl.”
“Since when?” Calli’s mouth dropped agape for such a bald-faced lie. “What about visiting Mama San Shirley’s at the base?”
“Never you mind what I do in my own private time, is my business, little miss snoopy drawers.”
“I don’t care if you catch something.” Calli rolled her eyes. “Like that hasn’t happened before.”
“This is supposed to be a covert mission.” Major William Forbes came on scene, his XR250 assault rifle cradled lovingly over his muscular arms. “I can hear you bitches from a hundred meters out. Can you tell me why I might be able to do that?”
“Cause she’s a nudge, Col.” The people in William Forbes unit considered that ‘Major’ thing unfair and a total miscall by the Powers That Be.
Forbes had lost his rank because of an unfortunate little incident which occurred just outside what passed for the local bar on some desert planet about two years back. Or that was the story floating around these day
The tale was the stuff of legend, or so it was said, but the truth of the matter was, Forbes was drunk as a skunk, out of his head over the loss of a fellow soldier that fateful night and simply just did not give a fuck about regulations or the fact, striking a fellow officer was a court-martial offense.
Anyone on base who did not refer to the guy as his rightful designation...Colonel...was either a newbie or someone with a death wish.
It was a sore spot to any fellow soldier who had ever served with William Forbes. Even though, Forbes himself, had told everyone who would listen and some who didn’t wish to do so...he was a Major now, live with it.
The glory days of being a Colonel in this man’s army was long gone. At least for him.
General Hathaway ignored the title altogether, himself, referring to Forbes as...Colonel.
“I’m not a nudge. I don’t think.” Calli defended herself, as was her way. “I don’t know what that is, exactly, but I’m not one.”
“If you don’t know what it is.” Will approached, flicking her sun-burnt nose with an affectionate finger. “How can you be sure you aren’t one.”
“Well, I’m just not.” Calli searched the guy’s pockets for... “did you forget my Twinkie?” Those green eyes lifted, full of devastation.
Forbes shook his head, grabbling inside his fatigue pocket, producing. “Put it lower this time...hoping you would accidently graze the old rod...it needs some female stroking.”
“Get Annie to stroke it.” Calli grimaced, going to sit and eat her treat. “There aren’t any Hostiles on this planet. Can we go home now?”
“Are we there yet, Col?” Coletti teased his favorite victim.
“We just got here, honey.” Mac could always reason and calm the girl. “Let’s wait at least the recommended fifteen minutes before we ‘Evac’, kay?”
“Whatever you think best, Mac.” she beamed him a soft smile.
“Good girl.” the deep baritone soothed.
Calli concentrated on eating the twinkie, opening her canteen as an afterthought.
Gaian listened to the exchange, a smile playing about his lips.
Yes, she was ...different. There were many beautiful females on this planet. None of the human persuasion, granted. None of them were as nonsensical or charming, in the being’s opinion.
Perhaps it was time to greet his new guests.
He could not be certain they would not stay, if his presence was not announced.
The main facilities for the guests were far from this remote spot, after all.
Surely, their primitive machines would pick up on that fact sooner than later.
The drones were slow and tedious, however. It would take forever to cover the area needed.
Gaian was looking forward to meeting this red head in person, so to speak.
Of course, that could go awry, if matters were not handled diplomatically.
Humans were often quick to judge and even more quick to fire a weapon first and ask questions later.
Not that the puny weapons bothered the being.
Still, first impressions and whatnot.
The being asked himself...why did he wish to make this human’s acquaintance, but he already knew, in essence.
He was hoping for the ultimate encounter where ‘knowledge’ could be ascertained, in the most simple and expedient method he knew.
A sexual encounter was always most revealing, no matter the species.
Originally such things had not interested him until, he had taken the initiative to ...initiate one.
He could be anatomically correct, if he so desired. Any species could be duplicated but humans were one of the most erotically susceptible ones in existence...to date.
So primitive...so sensual in their responses.
The smile returned.
He rose, making his way to the transport chamber.
This venture could prove most enlightening.
Still, he would have to move carefully. The one they called ‘Colonel’ was very territorial where the female was concerned.
Gaian sensed the male felt along similar lines concerning this sexual encounter thing. He hid it well, but, it was there, simmering just under the surface.
Gaian wondered why the human male kept such obvious emotions to himself. Was it considered a taboo subject on their world, if you already had a female, this...Annie person...to wish another?
How childish and immature. What did one thing have to do with the other.
Perhaps it is one of the things which would be answered through association with these humans.
It was about time some came to visit.
“Move your big ass, Herz.” Coletti hit the object in question with the butt of his assault rifle. “You’re holding up the parade.”
Calli hastened her steps, having stopped to stare at a strange looking flower that turned out to be a ‘group of insects’ masquerading’ as a strange looking flower. “Did you see that, Tony?” she hurried to catch up to the guy. “And my ass isn’t big.”
She checked. “Is my ass big, Mac?”
“Your ass is just fine, Calli. Watch out for the vine.” he directed her steps safely around the object.
“See, my ass is just fine.” Calli narrowed her eyes to her nemesis. “You’re just jealous cause your dick...isn’t.”
“Good one.” Forbes chuckled back from the front of the ‘line’.
Tony shifted a sage look. “Then you haven’t seen it, have you.”
“Everyone has seen it.” Calli was pretty sure of her facts.
McAroy chuckled. “Can’t dispute that one, Tony.”
The younger man gave it up. “She’s whack-o. I don’t have any trouble getting or keeping a chick. Never have, never will.”
Calli...couldn’t dispute that one. She gave it up with a shrug of those slender shoulders.
Mac grinned down at her.
Forbes held up a fist and silence reigned. Some inner sense warning of a possible danger lurking up ahead.
He motioned them closer.
Even in the ‘unit’ circle, each member was facing out, weapons prepared and at the ready.
Forbes whispered. “Alright, we fan out...five hundred yards. Tact 2.”
Everyone checked their shoulder units, switching over.
“Anything spotted, two clicks. Silent running people.”
The unit fanned out in each direction, moving stealthily and low through the dense trees and shrubs.
Calli sat quietly, her eyes scanning and rescanning. Her senses were telling her, some unseen something lurked out there somewhere. She watched...and waited.
The green gaze slowly moved inch by inch over the foliage. The wind was soft and gentle above her in the trees. She craned her neck, searching out the trees above for a beat, then...
Her senses kicked in, her finger tightening on the trigger of her rifle.
She stared...it wasn’t there a second ago.
“Hello.”
Calli sat quietly, searching the area, then...quickly refocusing on the...man...the...thing.
It held the shape of a human, the form of a human but was mechanical and muscular...and not human.
She kept silent.
“I will not hurt you, Calli. Not for this world, or any other.”
It knew her name. Which meant, they had been bugged, not the big honkin ones, but...
How did a guy ‘bug’ the entire out of doors?
Drones?
She hadn’t seen or heard one but...didn’t mean they didn’t exist here. Which meant, a more advanced species.
“I do not have any twinkies but, if you really wish. I can get one...or two.” Giaian thought he knew how to establish a rapport.
Calli scratched her nose and...kept silent. She hadn’t had time to switch the communication device on. She was on her own.
“You don’t look like us.” she ventured an opinion.
It...smiled. Or maybe it didn’t. It had a face, sure but it was metallic and shiny.
“I can if it will make you feel better.”
“No.” She waited. Was it alone? “My mom always said, be yourself. To hell with anything else.”
“Your mother was a wise being.”
“She was a drunk.” Calli stated off-handedly. “But, yeah, she had moments of brilliance which surprised even me.”
“Would you feel more comfortable if we joined your unit? Please feel free to contact them, if you wish. I would rather speak privately for a time, if you are agreeable but...I understand the human need to...”
Calli hit the switch. “Contact made. Advise.”
Gaian straightened, sighing lightly, putting his hands behind his back. Well, so much for that approach.
In moments ‘reinforcements’ arrived.
Each male’s weapon trained and at the ready.
