The Alien Whisperer Book 2 Page 5

  “Yes, to both please.”

  A moment later, a blanket appeared over him, and a soft pillow shoved itself under his head. “This isn’t a feather pillow, what is it?”

  “You wouldn’t understand. Are you comfortable?”

  Sleepily Everett responded, “Yes, and was quickly asleep.” Everett didn’t know the ship’s AI had communicated with the nanites in his body, which put Everett into a deep, restful sleep. While sleeping, the AI updated his nanites and checked Everett’s body for any issues. It discovered a few small precancerous polyps in his colon which were removed. Everett thought he’d slept for maybe twenty minutes when he woke fresh and rested. He also noticed his uniform was pressed and clean.

  He swung his legs over the side and stood up. The AI said, “The bathroom is the glowing door to your left. It has been configured to match your earth style. It has a device to clean your teeth. Place the device in your mouth over your teeth and then close your mouth. It will beep when it’s finished.”

  Everett found a small pale-yellow wax-like device he shook his head and placed it in over his teeth and closed his mouth. A moment later it beeped, he took it out, and he noticed his teeth were bright white, and his mouth tasted fresh and clean. Wow, I need to get one of these. I need to shave, wait, no, I don’t. My facial hair isn’t growing. That’s never happened before. I’m hungry. I hope Kalteck is up.

  Everett followed the light to the command room, Kalteck smiled, saying, “Nice nap?”

  “Oh my God, yes! How long was I out?”

  “Twenty-one hours.”

  “No way!”

  “Yes, I assume you’re hungry. I know I am. Shall we have breakfast in the dining room?”

  Everett discovered perfectly made eggs, bacon, and pancakes waiting for him and a pot of steaming coffee. “How?”

  Kalteck laughed, “Replicators. They can reproduce almost anything. You won’t be able to tell the eggs didn’t come from a chicken or the bacon from a pig. Dig in.”

  “I am, the coffee is perfect.”

  “That is real coffee. I have cases of it and beer. My AI is still working out the bugs on making coffee and beer in the replicators. He doesn’t understand the problem, it’s most likely because he can’t taste the differences. We’ll be over Mars in a few hours. I’m going to put our approach on the walls so you can watch us approach and land.”

  Everett was shocked with his fork midway to his mouth as he watched Mars grow larger and larger. He watched them pass one of Mars’ moons. The ship’s AI and the shrine’s AI exchanged information. Kalteck took Everett on a number of orbits to point out where cities used to be and what happened to them. Kalteck smiled, “Look down, there’s the shrine. What do you see?”

  “It’s your face!”

  “Not mine, it’s a generic Martian face. It’s there to remind us of what we lost.”

  Six hours later, which seemed to take no more than a few minutes after entering orbit, the ship landed next to the shrine. Kalteck’s ship extended a pressurized walkway to the shrine. As soon as they entered the shrine, the AI spoke, “Stop. Kalteck, you cannot bring an alien into the shrine. You know the traditions. It is forbidden.”

  Everett smiled to himself. Now I’m the alien, how quickly things change.

  Kalteck replied, “I am authorizing the alien to be here. Under what clause do you claim he isn’t allowed entry?”

  “An alien has never been admitted before…”

  “That isn’t a legal basis for denying him access. Please check your memory for any legal records forbidding his entrance to the shrine. I want him to better understand us so he can better help us.”

  “I have checked the regulations. Since it wasn’t foreseen an alien would locate the shrine, there wasn’t a legal ruling to block his entrance. American General Everett Yahnig, welcome to the shrine of the people who once populated this fourth planet in the solar system.”

  “Thank you. What should I call you?”

  “AI is sufficient.”

  Kalteck smiled, “Everett, follow me, we are going to start at our early history and move up as we go. I want you to experience what our life was like.”

  “I’m amazed. It’s like I’m living on another planet. Kalteck, I’m having trouble breathing, something’s wrong! Help me. I can’t breathe!”

  “Ah, I’m sorry. I forgot the mix of our old atmosphere is different than Earth's. AI, adjust the internal atmosphere to match that of Earth's.”

  “Earth in what period of the planet’s history?”

  “Current, execute my instruction.”

  “I am a shrine to what was. By changing my atmosphere, I will no longer be true to what was. I will be contaminating myself. This goes against my core programming.”

  “AI, I am ordering you, under override code, XOmegaX override, executive authorization council rank twelve.”

  “I hear and will obey your override order; I am also going to make a note of this instruction in my files so the next council member who arrives will know of what I consider an illegal order.”

  “Just execute, can’t you see my guest is failing.”

  “He is an earthling, not a being on my protected list. His health is your responsibility.”

  “Execute my override order.”

  “Completed, my atmosphere is changing, I am increasing the percentage of oxygen and nitrogen while decreasing the percentage of carbon dioxide and other rare gases which are not in Earth’s atmosphere.”

  Everett lay on the floor of the shrine panting. He couldn’t breathe. It felt like he was underwater. Within moments he felt his breathing begin to improve. “My God, I thought I was dying. You never told me Mars and Earth were so different. I understood gravity, but you didn’t mention anything about the atmosphere.”

  “There weren’t that different. The mix of chemicals in our atmosphere and yours were different as was the atmosphere pressure. My nanites automatically adjust to where I am. I never instructed yours to do the same. It was quicker for the AI to make the change then for me to locate a terminal so I could program your nanites. I will do so before we leave the shrine. That way, you’ll be able to breathe wherever you end up.”

  “Thank you. I’m feeling much better now.”

  “Good. Do you feel strong enough to begin the tour?”

  “Is it me, or is the light different here too?”

  Kalteck laughed, “The fourth planet is further from the sun than Earth, our light was dimmer than it is on the Earth. Your eyes should adjust to the difference. Do you notice any other changes?”

  “The water has a slight mineral taste to it.”

  “An excellent observation, it does. I’ll show you the differences between our atmosphere and water from when we used to live here and your current on Earth.”

  Kalteck was excited to show Everett his planet as it used to be and the evolution of his people from the beginning of their recorded history to the final war which destroyed their planet. Everett had trouble keeping up with the much taller Kalteck. He thought his head was going to explode from all the sights, sounds, and smells he experienced. He was overwhelmed by what he saw and experienced. Everett didn’t understand how his experiences were possible. He felt he was actually walking on the streets of old Mars. He flew in Martian planes and rode in Martian vehicles. Everett didn’t understand how any of this was possible. He knew he was in a shrine, but it felt like he was living in ancient Mars. He could feel, really feel objects, he could taste the food and drink he consumed. He couldn’t believe he wasn’t really living on ancient Mars.

  Forty days after entering the shrine, the AI spoke, “The Earth empire called the USSR just launched a missile which is heading to the system’s second planet. I am displaying the images on the wall. I am sorry to have to pause the experience.”

  Kalteck shook his head, “Another waste of technology, this wasn’t on the master timeline. The moon was, I told them, to forget about every other planet until they reached the moon and to ne
ver launch a probe here. They don’t appear to be very good listeners. They appear to be more interested in proving to the world how advanced they are then working with your country to prepare for the invasion.”

  “Are we going to leave?”

  “I will consider this and let you know in the morning.”

  “Speaking of home, I really should send a message home, so Liane doesn’t think something very bad happened to me.”

  “Record your message. I will send it to President Kennedy who will make sure it is delivered to Liane.”

  “Thank you.”

  @@@@@

  A day later, an aide brought a Top-Secret transcript to the President. After opening it, he shook his head, “I’m his post office now? Damn the alien and his pet general. When they return, things are going to change.” Kennedy called his CoS, “Send this to General Yahnig’s wife in Las Vegas. Make sure it arrives today.”

  “Sir, today?”

  “Yes, damn it, today.”

  Damn alien thinks I’m his assistant. he’s going to learn I’m the President of the United States and he’s going to follow my orders. I haven’t even seen any proof there is an invasion fleet out there. I wonder if he’s pulling our strings. I wonder what his real game is.

  @@@@@

  Everett and Kalteck lost track of time when the AI interrupted them, “Attention, attention. The Earth empire, the USSR, has just launched a human into space.”

  “Everett, we’re leaving. I believe you better come up with a story for Liane, she’s going to scream when she sees you. Once again, I’m very sorry, I had no idea the higher background radiation and the minerals in our water would have this effect, I thought the nanites would ensure you didn’t suffer any ill effects. Upon questioning the nanites, I learned they thought the minerals in the water were normal, which they are for my people and me, but not for you. It appears they have been altering the water you’ve been drinking at home to match the chemical content of our water, which added with the higher radiation is what most likely caused your hair to fall out. The background radiation on the surface is now much lower than when we lived here, we keep it higher here because it is how it was when we lived here.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to have to think of something since there’s no way she’s going to not notice I’ve lost all of my hair, and I’m now as bald as a cue ball.”

  “Yes, I believe that’s not something you’re going to be able to hide.” Kalteck laughed. “Could you remember her reaction, I believe it may be very humorous.”

  Everett ran his hands over his smooth bald head, “I’m glad you think it’s funny. I think she’s going to go through the roof. I can’t think of anything to tell her which is going to satisfy her curiosity.”

  “Tell her you were exposed to radiation when you had to visit one of your nuclear weapon tests in the Pacific. Since most people have no idea what radiation is or how it affects the body, she may accept this reason.”

  “She may then also become very worried that something else happened to me. I can’t very well tell her there are miniature thinking machines inside my body, protecting me. She’d think I’m nuts.”

  “You do have a point there, no, never mention the nanites. No one will believe you. We have some time before you arrive home so let’s think of another story, I will also ask my ship’s AI to see what reasons it can come up with.”

  While Kalteck visited the hall of ancestors to pay his respects, the shrine’s AI interrupted him, “Kalteck, I am sorry to interrupt your meditation, I have some troubling news. I have discovered a deeply buried enemy base.”’

  “Why wasn’t I notified of this when I arrived or since? I have been here fourteen of their years, this is a mistake which won’t go unreported to your seniors.”

  “Allow me to show you where it is located, and you’ll see why it was missed.”

  “I see, it is going to take a major weapon’s yield to destroy that base. Seeing how I can’t use antimatter at this point in their development, I will have to think of something else. Thank you. Has the location been sent to my ship’s AI?”

  “Of course.”

  “Kalteck, the Americans have launched a human into space. They launched him on a suborbital flight, not an orbital one as the Soviets did. The Americans are still lagging behind the Soviets.”

  “Thank you, we will be leaving within minutes.”

  “General Yahnig is deep in study of your second planetary war period. Should I inform him to report to the ship? He entered that display when you began your mediation. He’s currently an officer with your Elite Guards Unit.”

  “We will give him a little more time so he has time to study and learn from our mistakes.”

  “Sir, one additional issue. The Soviet probe will not arrive at the second planet, it is going to pass the planet.”

  “I see, once again, they will miss their target. Please tell General Yahnig we must leave, we have been away too long. We measure time differently than on Earth. The General has become accustomed to our time. He will have difficulties adjusting when we return. Program his nanites so he won’t have any difficulties breathing when he returns. Please make sure his clothing doesn’t carry any residue of anything from here back home.”

  “I will ensure he carries nothing home. Except for his memories unless you’d like those erased too.”

  “No, one of the reasons why I brought him here was to learn about our past and the mistakes we made. They are at a very fragile period in their history. Like us, they are divided into two superpowers. He needs to learn so he can prepare for what’s coming.”

  Chapter 7

  While Everett and Kalteck loaded the ship and prepared to leave Mars, President Kennedy formally announced the Apollo program with the goal to put a "man on the Moon" before the end of the decade.

  Everett radioed their base, Area 51, to inform Major Johnstone they were returning, and he should make the arrangements to clear the area and to open hanger 18’s roof so they could land at 3A.M. The Major was pleased to hear from Everett. He radioed back, “Welcome home, you’ve been missed. I wondered if you were going to return.”

  Upon landing, Major Johnston tried his best not to break out laughing at Everett’s shiny bald head. “Sir, did you lose something?”

  “Very funny. It’s good to see you too. It feels strange to be back here. The gravity is less on Mars. I saw things and experienced life as Kalteck’s people used to live. I couldn’t believe it. Their technology is so advanced that I felt I lived there. I could touch people, I ate their food, don’t ask. I walked their streets and lived in what we would call a hotel. I watched them evolve; I watched their wars that consumed their entire planet. I even fought in one of their wars, I used a weapon which fired a beam that could cut through steel like a hot knife cuts through butter and there was no recoil. The weapon could also bring airplanes down. Think of how such a weapons would have quickly ended the war had we had them. I lived through them exploring space. Oh hell, I could go on for weeks. I’m not sure my mind can hold everything I saw and lived, and yeah, I lost all of my hair.”

  “You better remember everything. The President sent an order and a nice colonel from his office to get your personal report. He wants to know everything you saw and learned, and he wants it now.”

  Everett laughed, “That will take months to write…”

  “Don’t go to your office, the colonel is there waiting for you. Go home, Liane must be going nuts. Do you have any idea how long you’ve been gone?”

  “I really don’t. Time seemed different there. Were we gone for a very long time?”

  “Four plus months.”

  “Oh shit, she is going to kill me. Thank you. Is my driver here to take me home?”

  “Yup, don’t stop anywhere. Just go home and don’t answer your door. I’ve already ordered your driver not to tell anyone you’ve returned. The President is really pissed you’ve been away so long without checking in. He’s called me every day, asking if I hea
rd from you. His mood darkened as the days dragged on.”

  “Thanks. Kalteck is going to take off and spent some time running a search for any of the enemies. We better get out of here as quickly as possible, so he can lift off.” The two officers exited the hanger as the ship quickly zoomed vertically into space. Johnstone looked at Everett, “Other than a bald head, you don’t seem to have changed. Was it really amazing?”

  “I can’t describe it. Their technology enabled me not only to see their past like our museums, but I could also live in their cities; I really felt like I lived among them. I can’t explain how they did it, but it’s something you have to experience. We’ll talk more tomorrow. I better go home. Did you tell her I was returning?”