Terror on Arrival: An Apocalyptic Science Fiction Novel

They were flying in a Galaxy C-5 to Washington, DC. It was the first time Jayde wasn’t nervous flying. Everything that was transpiring made their immediate situation a bit more prevalent. They had to get the money and authorization to build something never before invented, with instructions from an alien most people believed didn’t exist, from a president, in an election year. Prevalence was the supreme understatement of the century.

“Are you sure it will meet us there?” Alexi asked.

“According to Cheauflux, it’s already waiting for us at the capitol,” Jayde said.

“That is amazing, if we could travel like that, we could be gods,” he said.

“We will, Alexi, we will. Remember my analogy about you going back in time to the first Egyptian civilization? Let’s say you arrived in this plane, or your Ilyushin. Would they consider you a god?” she asked. “Cheauflux has the same mentality you would have. To them, you would be a god. To you, it would be Thursday. Cheauflux thinks that of you. I’m not insulting your intelligence, I just want you to think in perspective.”

Alexi looked at her with realization. “Nothing surprises you, does it?”

“When things aren’t explained to me logically, and I can’t figure the reasoning, I get as surprised as everyone else. I was surprised when I didn’t know what destroyed the base of my reef, but when Cheauflux explained it logically, my surprise went away,” she explained her demeanor.

“That is why men are afraid of you,” he said. “You are hard pressed to display emotion. Everything you see or do, you proceed through analysis. You are too logical for a man.”

“Hey, if you come to a battle mace fight with a water pistol, you deserve your fate,” she said.

“You better be glad I strive for challenges,” he said. “And I carry my battle mace in my pocket.”

They flew through the ear popping and the turbulence without a problem. Even the landing was routine. Jayde felt content her phobia was quashed. She was also happy the man that helped her quash it was sitting beside her. If his battle mace was primed, she was ready.

They landed at the Washington DC Military Naval and Air Attache in a few hours. The military had a detail waiting for them. They were escorted to the White House. The President had to augment his retreat, so he was waiting for them.

They arrived at the White House accompanied by a full military cavalcade. Jayde felt important for once. Alexi felt strange, about to meet the one title he had trained for years to assassinate. Now, he was primed to shake the President’s hand. It told him propaganda wasn’t permanent.

They were escorted through the White House, to the Oval Office. Two Marines in their blue dress uniforms entered the Oval Office, and announced the two. The Marines came out of the Oval office, and escorted them into the President’s presence.

Jayde remembered she was back in what soldiers stationed in a foreign country called ‘The World’. She stood at attention, and saluted her Commander In Chief. “Lieutenant Farrow, President Logan. It is an honor to be in your presence, Sir!”

President Logan returned her salute. “As my mother used to say, Lieutenant Farrow, this is a big pot of stale greens. Is this your special guest?”

“No, he isn’t, President Logan. This is my Spetsnaz bodyguard, Sergeant Alexi Doshmononov,” she explained.

“This is our Russian operative, sent to protect you? Now he may not be the alien, but since he is standing in the White House protecting you, instead of trying to kill me, I’d call him special,” President Logan said.

Jayde looked to Alexi. “I’m sorry for belittling your duty, Sergeant Doshmononov.”

“Like hurting my feelings is the worst thing to happen to me. I do not see any wounds, Lieutenant Farrow,” Alexi said.

“You must forgive me for my neurotic anticipation, Lieutenant Farrow, but I’ve never seen an alien before,” President Logan said.

“I am sorry to keep you waiting, Mister President. Cheauflux—its name, not its race—should be along shortly,” she said.

“He didn’t travel with you?” President Logan asked.

Before Jayde answered, Cheauflux phased through the wall, and interrupted her.

“I don’t like being encased in any shell. Hello President Sydney Logan,” Cheauflux said.

“I take it this is your special guest?” President Logan asked.

“Let me explain, Mister President,” Jayde spoke up quickly. “Cheauflux can transport through solid objects, and space effortlessly, and instantaneously.”

“The second I knew he was an alien, Lieutenant Farrow, nothing it would do could surprise me,” President Logan said.

“Then you won’t be surprised when I tell you the alien invasion you’ve been losing sleep over is a farce,” Cheauflux said.

“And I’m supposed to believe an alien, who I’ve just met, and know nothing about, is telling me what I see with my own eyes, is a farce? I wasn’t born yesterday. I won’t believe a strange alien, about an alien attack!” the President displayed his doubts.

“Call your defense mountain. Ask them about the status of the attack,” Cheauflux said.

“Security, grab these mendicants,” President Logan said. At that very second, the red phone rang. “Security wait! Let me answer. If I don’t hear anything favorable, commence with your order.”

As the Marines were eying Jayde and her team, Logan picked up the phone.

“Report,” Logan began. “What do you mean, they just disappeared? You have a celestial lock on them, right? They’re not behind the moon or in a cosmic cloud? They’re just gone, and you can’t track them. So, we haven’t a threat anymore? Don’t tell them to stand down, just yet, there may still be a threat. Call me back with the status every hour. If there’s a change in any way, ring the phone. Godspeed flight lieutenant,” the President hung up the phone.

“Your reasoning for me misdirecting you on this subject is unfounded. I just used misdirection to override your protocols,” Cheauflux said.

“Well, you’re standing in my office now, congratulations on your beguiling. What is really going on here?” Logan asked, and looked at the Marines. “Stand down fellas.”

“Oh, there is an alien threat, however, it’s not from my race. There is another race. One that can catapult this society into a dystopia,” Cheauflux said.

“What form of weaponry do they have? Are we able to stop them with a nuclear defense?” Logan asked.

“Their weaponry is silicone teeth, and if you want to destroy your planet trying to stop them, nuclear authorization is fine,” Cheauflux said.

“What, no lasers or photons, just teeth?” Logan was in a quandary. “What can they do with silicone teeth?”

“Literally eat this planet out of house and home,” Cheauflux said. “Did I mention these ‘cleaners’ are legion, insatiable, and are impossible to stop?”

“What are these cleaners called?” Logan asked.

“They were named the Chauzek on my planet. They were a nuisance there. They would be considered the Four Horsemen here,” Cheauflux was grave.

“This sounds a bit more serious than our imagined alien attack,” Logan said. “What do we need to do to stop them?”

“You can’t stop these things. You don’t have the technology to stop them.” Cheauflux was very blunt. “My planet was able to travel interstellar, through space, when we had to combat them, and we had to send them to your planet. They arrived just after your dinosaurs occupied the Earth. We know now, the Chauzek can adapt to anywhere. We thought they needed an inhabitable planet to survive on. We know now, that your neighboring planet will work just fine, without any discrepancies,” Cheauflux explained.

“We can get probes to Mars,” Logan perked up.

“That’s like putting an entire circus troop in a clown car’s glove box,” Cheauflux dashed his hopes. You need a transport sized vessel. I can show you how to build one.”

“That is beautiful. We have the men; we just don’t have the money,” Logan said.

“I have studied your commerce model. When humans create something like a Blu-Ray player, it costs much money to own it. That pays for the research, trial and error. I need no compensation. My knowledge doesn’t cost anything,” Cheauflux said. “Besides, I couldn’t use Earthen currency on my planet anyway.”

“We still have to pay the architects, fabricators, and assemblers,” Logan said.

“I believe once you tell them of eminent danger on a global scale, they would comply,” Cheauflux speculated.

“You really don’t know how this planet works. We would know this planet could turn into a barren wasteland, but they still want to get paid,” Logan dropped his reality.

“When the time comes to direct your people the correct way, I will do it. If you don’t think that’s possible, aren’t I talking to you, right now?” Cheauflux countered Logan’s realism.

Logan thought about this situation. He knew Cheauflux had just told him about a threat he never knew of. After the alien attack he made vanish, his trust was more credible. He always knew leaders from foreign countries had things up their sleeves for personal gain. Cheauflux’s race taking over our planet would be like an adult kicking an ant hill. They had nothing to gain from taking over. He made his decision.

“I’ll trust you because it’s an election year, and if they think I had a part in saving the planet, I’d be a shoe-in. How long will this... transport take to construct?” he asked.

“You are a good leader, Sydney Logan. You are cautious, however, you ultimately do what’s good for the people of your planet. I can complete the outline of the transport immediately. It will take as long as two of your Earth weeks,” Cheauflux answered.

Cheauflux turned to Jayde. “We still have to keep the Chauzek occupied. You have to disrupt their constant, relentless cleaning. Go back to Belize with a healthy branch of Marines and Navy to slow them down. You can’t stop them, but you can redirect them.”

Alexi stepped up. “I am trained on tactics. I will engineer their redirection.”

“I don’t know if the Marines will listen to a Russian,” Logan said.

“Their petty prejudging should be irrelevant when it comes to the safety of this planet.” Cheauflux was amazed this would even be a problem.

“I was the same way,” Alexi said. “The propaganda displayed of America portrayed you as anarchists with no discipline. I was trained with that argument being widespread. Now, I know differently. I cannot be upset with the Marines who have not shared borscht with one of my tovarich.”

“Don’t worry Sergeant Doshmononov, I will order civility among the troops,” Logan said.

“Begging your pardon Mister President, I know of your authority, but ordering people to change what they believe would be more impossible than battling these aliens. Let them discover their opinions on their own. I can take the disdain,” Alexi said.

“Sticks and stones, huh Sergeant Doshmononov?” Logan recited.

Alexi was mired in mysticism.

Jayde completed the American saying. “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you. We say that when bullies talk about you, and hurt your feelings.”

“I apologize Sergeant Doshmononov. You speak English so fluently, I forgot you weren’t American, and have no idea of what I’m talking about,” President Logan said.

“There was one American saying I picked up while watching a movie. ‘No harm, no foul’. I believe I am saying that right,” Alexi said.

“We have a process in making you a citizen, but after saying that, you’re American to me,” Logan said.

Alexi walked toward President Logan, and offered his hand. Jayde remembered their first encounter, and became horrified. President Logan grabbed his hand and shook it. Everything was normal.

“Spacibo President Logan,” Alexi said.

“I think you said ‘thank you’. You’re welcome, soldier,” Logan returned.

“If our orders are to return to Belize, we better get cracking. We don’t want to miss those Chauzek,” Jayde reminded them. Pleasantries could wait.

They said goodbye to the President and Cheauflux. They walked out of the Oval Office, filed back into the limousine, and headed back to the airbase. As they drove down Pennsylvania Avenue, Alexi was in awe of all the monuments.

“When we get back, I’ll take you on a tour,” she said.

“We have to go to Moscow. I must show you the Kremlin, and Saint Basil Cathedral in Red Square,” Alexi touted.

They got back on the C-5, and headed back to Belize. It took several hours. That was where they met up with a few companies of Navy and Marine Soldiers at their base.

Doctor Chalet met with them in Jayde’s room. “I vent over ze blueprintz of ze anatomy of ze Chauzek, and we cannot kill zem.”

“What do you know about them, Doc?” Jayde asked.

“Vell, ze template vas unique. Eet vas a zree dee eenage jou kin dizect,” Chalet said. “Zee alienz make-up iz eendeezructable.”

“But they’re made from silicone, Doc. A diamond is tougher than silicone,” Jayde claimed.

“Zis iz a zpace-age zilicone. Zey kin zhew diamonds like potatozhipz,” Chalet said.

“That’s why they’re impossible to kill,” she said.

“Ze zilicone eelement iz not on our peereeodic zable,” Chalet said. “Zee onlee advantage iz zeir brainz ur very tynee. Zey ’ave a zingular goal. Eat unzil deat.”

“So, no reasoning or deduction, Doc?” she asked.

“Eef jou ’ave predaturz, jou use reazoning und deduckzion vor deevence. Zey ’ave no predaturz, zo zey don’t need doze.”

“The goal isn’t to kill them, it’s to distract them. They have an ultimate weapon against destruction, but with the brain capacity of a rock, we can annoy the hell out of them,” she said.

“Zat iz vhere jour a mazter. Begging jour pardon, but jou’re a voman,” Chalet said.

Jayde felt insulted, initially. Then she thought of all the women Chalet had been burned by, and understood why he said what he did.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Doc.” She had a scolding look on her face.

“Vonce jou prove me wrong I vill apologize,” Chalet said.

“She looked him dead in his eyes. She knew she couldn’t beat the ‘Love Master’, so she spoke to Alexi while still staring at him.

“Are you ready to command your troops, Alexi?” she asked.

“I believe they should be waiting in the hangar,” Alexi tried to change the subject.

“Let’s go, so we can update them,” she said.

“Da Lieutenant, we should update them,” Alexi said.

“We have to show the regiment how to beat down the Chauzek, Doc. If you find anything else, contact us,” she said with slight coldness.

“Just remember, Jayde, ze zilicone properteez ur an enigma to a zientizt, however, to ze laymen, zilicone astz az eet alvayz doez,” Chalet informed her, ignoring the chill in her voice.

“Seeya Doc, we have to fly,” Jayde said farewell.

“Au revoir Jayde,” Chalet returned the farewell.

They both walked down the hall, to the hangar.

“Are both of you all right?” Alexi asked.

Don’t sweat it, Alexi. I can’t tell you how many tiffs we’ve had, but out of all that petty bickering, he’s the only civilian I’d want to share a foxhole with,” she explained.

As they walked into the hangar, they saw the regiment. It was a mixture of men and women in Navy and Marine garb, stirred in an ethnic stew.

“Quiet on deck! First Lieutenant Farrow has arrived, a-ten-tion!” an ensign barked out.

Jayde saluted them, and began to speak. “At ease! I am Lieutenant Farrow, your commander for this exercise! Sergeant Doshmononov is your regiment leader! You will listen to his instructions, and answer only to him! He knows the foe we are dealing with, and how we divert them! Do not become gung-ho and try to kill your enemy! You will fail! No ifs, ands, or buts! Failure is a definite! I will turn you over to Sergeant Doshmononov! Listen to him, and execute with efficiency!”

Alexi had never seen her authority. Her commanding was rather sexy to him. She could take charge of him anytime. He quickly halted his ogling, and began to speak.

“I am Sergeant Doshmononov! I am a Spetsnaz commando from Kiev! I am authorized by the President of these United States to lead you! I will train you as I have trained many troops! We will execute this exercise to divert the Chauzek with swiftness! The Chauzek are an alien threat!” He paused, and felt the unsettling of the troops. “Now, that the surprise has settled, skepticism will manifest! It is natural, get over it! Hesitation will not be tolerated! We have never combated these aliens before, but I know more about them than you do! Mistakes are acceptable, but failure of this exercise is not! I will teach you what I know! Any questions!?”

It took a second for the surprise to set in, but a soldier raised his hand.

“Yes soldier!?” Alexi addressed him.

“Sergeant! What are these things, Sergeant!?” the soldier asked.

“These things are an adaptable species! They look like whatever their environment dictates they look like! The main thing to look for is something you have never seen before, with sharp teeth, and a voracious appetite! Yes soldier!?” he addressed another soldier that raised her hand.

“Sergeant! What will happen if we shoot them, Sergeant!?” she asked.

“If you hit them dead on, that would be a good way to divert them... if they were not legion! If we had an entire regiment of DShK machine cannons, we could corral them! You cannot kill them! If there was a nuclear holocaust, them, roaches, and Twinkies would be the only things left on this planet!” Alexi saw the apprehension settle in. “Our job is not to kill! It is to divert! If we were able to kill them, their dark matter digestive systems would act like a malfunctioning Hadron Collider! There would be random black holes everywhere! That should impress upon you the importance of our mission!”

At first, the believability was suspect. Then, the reality was devastating. They had no idea what they had stepped into. The frightening part was that they had volunteered for this!

“Phase one of this mission; I need trackers from an S.E.A.L team to find these things! Yes, I know you, or I do not know what they look like! This is where you suck it up, and do you job!” Alexi yelled. “Get organized! We have no time to waste!”

The soldiers began to find the qualified people for the job. Alexi walked over to Jayde.

“How did I do?” he asked her.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you command troops. If I had to go against you, I’d be scared,” she said.

“Just be lucky we are on the same side,” he told her.

The soldiers were getting organized for a threat. They had no idea what it was, just that it was very strange, and highly dangerous. They didn’t know or care. All they did was get ready for Hades. The United States soldier was impassively enduring that way.

This was Alexi’s first time seeing the United States soldiers in their element. Now he knew if there was a ground war, victory would’ve been complicated.