Nowhere (15 page)
He cranked the volume up and rolled down the windows to keep fresh air rolling in so he wouldn’t pass out from all the fumes.
“What!?” he yelled at his navigator as he looked over at the grinning white bag. “No, I have to keep them down. Cause of the smell.”
The white bag in the passenger seat slouched over a bit as Richard rounded a curve.
Richard listened as the organ like intro to the song came over the air waves and into his car. He was getting close to the station, and close to the first major battle of this war.
“Of course I’m not joyriding! I can’t breath in too many fumes or I might pass out!” He yelled again at his stoic passenger. The slouched over bag didn’t move and Richard could no longer see the smiley face. “I don’t care if you don’t like it. You know you don’t smell so great yourself right now!” He shouted and then began laughing as he sped down the road toward the turnoff for the Station.
He arrived at the dirt road that led to the station around four in the afternoon. He could see the blinking red light of the tower just over the trees. He drove down the winding dirt road, trying to avoid any potholes and heavy ruts fearing that any spark or puncture could cause the plan to end rather abruptly.
A couple of bobbles sent his smiley faced navigator toppling over in the passenger seat. “You’re a crappy road buddy anyway.” Richard said, angry that they had almost missed the turn.
Finally he was sitting in front of the tower of the station, his car still running. The station itself was about a hundred feet further, but he knew that the tower was what he needed to take out. He suddenly realized that there was no real way to complete the job unless he ran the car into the tower himself. He figured that he could ram the gate of the chainlink fence and get the car in there by the tower, then he could do like in the movies and create a trail of gasoline leading to the tower which he then could light like a fuse and run away before it blew. Except he had forgotten any sort of matches or lighter. He would have to ram it at full speed and just hope that the car exploded on impact and he didn't suffer and die in some gasoline soaked wreckage that never ignited.
It was the best plan he could muster considering the circumstances. He closed his eyes and steadied himself. He would have to do it quickly so that he didn’t risk losing his nerve. He put his hand on the gear shift and was about to stomp down on the gas, when suddenly there came a 'tap, tap' on the side of his door.
He snapped out of his trance like state and looked our the driver side window. Steven had his hands up over his face and was lighting a cigarette. Richard couldn’t help but get a bit nervous as he smelled gas fumes emanating from the car.
“It’s about time that you got here with the supplies.” Steven said.
Richard got out of the car and stood there for a moment face to face with Steven. He suddenly realized that Steven was in a disguise. He had on a blue trucker hat, some dark aviator sunglasses and a stick on t-bone mustache.
“What…how did you know I was…”
“The radio, I told you it was a clue and you figured that one out. I told you that we needed to take out this tower, so I knew you’d get the supplies and meet me here to get the job done.” He took a drag of the cigarette. “Clearly they are pumping this signal to the whole region. It’s how they’re able to hide in plain sight.” Steven said.
Richard looked back at the car as he heard ‘Wildman’ come back on and announce the next song. Suddenly ‘Space Cowboy’ by Steve Miller Band came on.
“I still don’t know how you and me can see them.” Richard said.
“Yea, it’s either a gift or a curse, but I tell you, things will be different after this. We won’t be the only ones for long.”
Richard nodded. He couldn’t help but look at Steven oddly, having trouble seeing past the strange getup.
“What you’ve never seen a disguise before?"
No, I just... I've never seen you in one before." Richard defended.
"They’re all over the place, what do you expect me to do, walk around in the same clothes day after day like you do.” Steven reached over and pulled open Richard’s jacket revealing the pink and blue Tie-dye and the little smiling carrots. “Nice shirt…” he said sarcastically.
“Maybe one reason you keep getting caught is because they just rehash the same APB every couple of days with you. You have to change it up every once and awhile. You know, to throw them off. Here, take my mustache.”
Steven pulled the sticky mustache from his face.
“I don’t need your…”
“It’s ok, don’t get all bumfuggled about it.” Steven said as he advanced forward with the mustache.
Richard fought it for a second, trying to dodge Steven’s hands trying to stick the mustache to his face, but eventually Steven got through his defense and pasted it a little off kilter along his upper lip. Steven raised his eyebrows as if to say ‘well I guess that works’.
“Well I guess there’s only one thing left to do…” Steven said as he looked back at the silver tower that stood some seventy feet high.
“Yea… Sure is peaceful up here isn’t it.” Richard said. “Lot’s of nature.”
“And one alien signal pumping tower that needs to be taken out.” Steven said. “I’ll tell you what, you let me take care of the tower and you take one of the propane tanks and a gas can into the station.”
“Why do we need to take out the station?”
“There’s no telling what all communications equipment they have in there. We need to hit them as hard as possible, while we have the element of surprise.”
He took another hard drag on his cigarette and then thumped it away in the general vicinity of the car. Richard cringed as he thought for an instant that it might send the whole works up in a plume of fire. He cradled his head between his arms preparing for an explosion, but there was none.
“Relax…” Steven said as he put another cigarette to his lips and lit it up. Then he took another out and put it in Richard’s mouth. Richard didn’t resist as Steven lit it. He smelled the sweet tobacco scent as it rose through the thick pasted on mustache and into his nose.
Richard took a deep breath and was surprised when he didn’t cough as the smoke filled his lungs.
“You good?” Steven asked resolute, as he smoked his own cigarette.
Richard nodded.
“Then let’s do this.”
Steven hopped in the car and cranked up the radio. Richard walked around the back of the car and untied one of the propane tanks and a gas can as Steve Miller blared out Space Cowboy. He hoisted them down off the car and onto the ground beside him.
"Catch you on the flip side!" Steven yelled as he suddenly tromped down on the accelerator.
Richard stood in shock holding his propane tank and gas can as Steven revved the engine forward. It all seemed to happen in slow motion as the car spun its tires in the rocks at Richard’s feet before lurching forward and barreling toward the tower. It smashed into the gate at the base of the tower and flung the chainlink fence to pieces. Then a second later the car crashed into the base of the tower.
"Steven!!" Richard yelled as he ran toward the crashed automobile. It suddenly exploded into a plume of red hot fire and black smoke, sending Richard reeling backwards.
The tower crumpled forward in Richard’s direction, but didn’t fall all the way. Then there was a second explosion, perhaps it was the propane, or maybe the fertilizer, Richard couldn’t be sure. Either way, the tower came down at that point and Richard flinched as it landed into some trees just to the left of him. He looked over and saw the blinking red light laying on the ground only about ten feet from him. Then as if finally losing power, the blinking stopped and the red light was nothing more than a piece of plastic. The base of the tower exploded once more and Richard suddenly realized that Steven was dead.
Richard was left standing there by himself, holding a propane tank in one hand and a five gallon gas can in the other, wearing a stupid fake mustache, a look of shock painted across his face, and a lit cigarette just barely dangling from his open jaw.
He couldn’t believe that Steven had just sacrificed himself for the cause, something that would have happened to Richard if Steven hadn’t been there to help.
“I’ll remember you, friend.” Richard said aloud. He carried the other explosives up the hill towards the station and entered the door. He walked down a narrow hallway that opened up to a control room. There was ‘Wildman’ standing in the middle of the console looking at him as he entered.
“What the heck was that?!” He shouted. “Why are we off the air? Debbie, why are we off the air?”
“They blew up the tower Mike! They just blew it up!”
The man just stared at Richard who was holding the propane and the gasoline.
“Is that so…” The man said.
“My God Mike,” The woman named Debbie said as she came into the control room. She didn’t see Richard until she was almost right next to Wildman Mike. “You’ve got to come look at this… It’s like…it’s like some kinda warzone out…” She didn’t scream like Richard expected her to. Her jaw fell agape and she began hyperventilating in quiet sobs as if her lungs were charging up to belt out a shrill, but she just remained stoically quiet.
“Don’t move.” Richard said, as he looked back at the swirly eyed demons in front of him.
He stood there and finished his cigarette in front of them. It wasn’t the coolest thing to watch, he was sure of it. He wasn’t a professional at smoking by any means. He snubbed out the last bit of butt against the wall and then picked up the tanks and advanced toward them.
He made them sit back to back in the center of the control room as he loosely tied their hands together around the propane tank and then tied the propane tank to another console using electrical cord. Then he began the process of dousing the floor of the station with gasoline.
He walked outside as the sirens came up the hill. By this time the tower had burned down to rubble and was no more. The fire fighters hopped out and began fighting the fire even though Richard knew it was futile. Then an ambulance came up followed by two police units. Richard waited until the cops were out of their cars and within earshot before yelling down to them.
“I have the whole place rigged to blow, don’t come up here or I’ll send it up in a blaze!” He tried his best to sound threatening, but he was actually scared to death as he saw that all the first responders had the dark clouds around their eyes.
“Ok, ok!” one of the officers said. “Just don’t hurt yourself. We can work this out!” He yelled.
Richard couldn’t believe that even in a situation like this they were trying to remain hidden and act the part.
“Is there anyone else up there with you?” The officer yelled up, his hands held up high as non threatening as possible.
“I…I have hostages.” Richard yelled.
“He has hostages…” The lead officer yelled back to his people.
“He has hostages!” another one spoke into a dispatch radio.
“Now listen, I can tell that all of you must be alien at this point because anyone normal would be able to see you for what you really are like I can now. You see, I destroyed the signal! You can’t hide anymore.”
“You did this?” the lead officer asked. “Listen, we understand your motives, we know who you are and the ones who have been taking care of you are on their way. We just don’t want anyone else to get hurt. Do you understand?”
“Yea, I understand. Since you can’t hide, you really haven’t got much else to use against me. You’re kind is passive and won’t take drastic measures like I will.”
“It’s true. We won’t make any advances against you, we just don’t want anyone to get hurt. Tell us what you want.”
“I want a memorial to be built here for the man who died in that fire. He gave his life to destroy your invasion against us. He gave his life to show you that we won’t stand for it, we will resist you till the very end!”
Richard was almost to the point of tears. He still couldn’t believe that Steven was gone.
“Who do you represent?” The lead alien said.
“I represent humanity, the part of humanity that is against you. I represent the AIA!” Richard yelled.
“Did you get that.” the lead alien yelled back to his crew. “Find out about his organization.”
“I want you to get them on the horn and let them know that the war has begun. We took out a signal and now even the common man can see you, even the common man can fight you.”
“Listen!” The lead alien yelled up. “We’re willing to work with you, but we just need to know that the hostages are safe. Can you let us see that they are safe? Specifically I need to know that Wildman Mike Lightning is safe!”
Richard was a bit caught off guard by this request, but finally decided that he would try to keep this all peaceful.
“Stay there…” He yelled down. Just stay there. I’ll go get one of them to show you that they are ok, but if you try to press in while I’m gone, I’ll torch the place.”
“Ok…ok, we’ll be cool. Everyone stand down, you hear me, stand down. We have to ensure the safety of Wildman Mike.”
Richard watched as the other officers lowered their weapons and took a docile stance against him. He again was struck with the idea that this was odd. He expected some cooperation, but definitely not this much. He turned and went back inside the station. There were so many buttons and lights, speakers and amplifiers laying about. He had to step over wires and duck under shelves back to where he had left his two hostages.
They were right where he had left them, sitting, huddled back to back behind the main control console. It was amazing how they had no fight or flight mechanism. They merely stayed hidden or they did nothing. They were crying as if he was really planning to hurt them.
Richard looked at them and tried to decide which one to take out as an example that his two hostages were alive and safe. He thought about taking the Wildman, it seemed like his name must have some weight in this area. Perhaps if Richard showed them that Wildman was still alive, they would give in to his demands. Then he reconsidered. He wanted to keep his prize, and not risk exposure.
“Debbie, you’re coming with me.” Richard said. “They need proof, we’ll give them proof.”
“Are…are you sure that’s what is best?” Debbie asked, very desperately. “Are you sure you shouldn’t just take Mike? It seems like that’s what they want. They want you to take Wildman out there don’t they?”
“What?!” Richard asked. “I told you to get up Debbie! I’m taking you out there, this isn’t debatable.”
“It just seems like that would be best.” Wildman Mike spoke up. “I mean if that’s what they’re telling you to do.”
“They’re not telling me to do anything!” Richard yelled. “I’m calling the shots here. It’s supposed to be women and children first. You need to shut up you coward. What kind of man asks to go out first when there’s a woman or a child involved? Well, I know it’s ultimately because you’re not a man. It’s so off with you creatures.”
“Well, then we do your plan.” Wildman said. “You do what you think is best.”
“Stop trying to confuse me.” Richard said. He felt around and grasped at a lighter. “Debbie, get up now we’re going outside for show and tell.”
She stood up. Suddenly the two of them were willing to cooperate. Wildman Mike Lightning was silent and still, he didn’t say anything else. Debbie walked up to where Richard stood and almost seemed eager to get going.
“Ok then, it’s settled.” Richard said. “Finally someone listened to me.”
He led her down the hall and back toward where the police aliens were waiting. They walked up and out of the main section of the radio station. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them. Richard was trapped outside the station.
“What is going on?!” He looked at Debbie, but she didn’t answer. He could tell in her eyes though that she knew what was happening. “Tell me what is going on Debbie.”
She looked at him and then suddenly pulled her arm away from him and ran down the rest of the hallway to the open door that led outside. Suddenly Richard began hearing a whirling, whizzing sound that grew throughout the hallway. First he thought that it was coming from under him, but then it felt like it was coming from above. He realized that the ground under his feet had begun to shake and he feared that it would give way if he didn’t get out of there quickly.
He ran out of the hallway and jumped off the railing just as a massive fire burst ignited through the whole hallway. He landed on the ground and was instantly seized by ten, maybe twenty hands. All of the cops swarmed him and he was dragged kicking and screaming into a police unit.
They slammed the door and shut him in to scream all he wanted. Suddenly though, his screaming faded as he realized that the main part of the station was lifting from the ground. The fire burst that he had narrowly dodged was actually the ignition of a thruster. There were spinning lights and flashes as several auxiliary cables were torn loose. From the squad car he could see that the station was in fact some sort of space ship. It lifted off, the whirling sound grew until Richard could feel the vibration of it under the squad car. There were blinking lights spinning about on top of the cylinder shaped station. Then suddenly when the station was about thirty or forty feet from the ground it blasted off at near light speed and disappeared from sight.
Richard was amazed and astonished, his mind was still piecing together the fragmented logic behind what he had just seen. He still didn’t know what it all meant, but then slowly it began to sink in.
Two officers hopped into the squad car. They were over joyed at what all had just transpired.
“Oh man, did you just see that! I’m so glad that we listened to your doctor man.”
“What’d he tell you to do?”
“He told us to let you know that we were aliens. He said that if hostages were involved, then we should tell you that we were aliens and that we wouldn’t attack you. He said that eventually you would come out and everything would be fine.”
“So you’re admitting that you’re aliens?”
One of the cops looked around at Richard who stared back in all seriousness.
“You’re for real aren’t you?” The cop asked. “I can’t believe that you’re for real…”
“Murray shut-up!” the officer driving said. He looked backwards and over Richard as he reversed the car to turn around. “Uhhh, yea definitely, we’re aliens all of us.”
Richard couldn’t tell if the one named Murray was weeping or snickering to himself in the passenger seat.
The officers stopped talking as they drove away from the station.
“I knew it…” Richard said quietly to himself in the back seat.
They drove away and into the darkness of that night to a destination that Richard was sure he would not know.
