Dan was working on his third cup of coffee when he decided to make his next solo move. He would soon have to get the team together to work out plan to attack the next alien hotspot. He sat back in his chair. The radio was on and the announcer mentioned again that there was an unusual meteor shower happening this week and next week. unusual in that up until now it hadn't been detected by astronomers. it seemed to come out of nowhere. funny things was, these odd natural phenomena happened and people made a bog hoopla out of it for a few days and then went back to their daily lives and moved on to the next big story. Dan shook his head. he noted the meteor shower activity in a notepad app on his phone. Anything like that had a reason for happening.. Alien activity might be behind it. Who knew?
Dan turned off the radio when the news story ended, whistling to himself. It seemed these places were in low to no security locations, like the old building in the railyard. Or it appeared this way. A huge advantage for the team. He was studying his pin map of locations of possible alien activity, wondering if there was a pattern to discern that he couldn't see. This working alone had its disadvantages. Mary r perhaps Andrew might have discerned a pattern. What he did realize soon after was that there were several places they could destroy right here in the city. What weapons would they use? Bombs? Molotov cocktails? Jack was good at making those. Semi-automatic weapons? Hell, he didn't even know where to get those. Jack would know. Dan himself had started the inferno that burned down the building he and Mary had been trapped in. But would such low-end tactics be enough? Would such things even be effective? Most would view such actions as terrorist activity, being that most people in society were unaware of the danger they were in. The aliens were hiding in plain sight. Making such obvious attacks would only land them in prison. The advantage he and his team had was also a disadvantage. They seemed to have rested on the fact that so far they hadn't come upon high security. After all, if you're hiding in plain sight, what need is there for high security? Such things would draw too much attention to your activities.
But then now that Dan and the others had been awakened, they could be easy targets, as of now.
He examined the little red pin where he'd stuck it in near a location at the waterfront. Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This place was a mile south of where he'd first been attacked by thugs, not as built up as the northern part of the waterfront. but ti did rest close by several small condominiums.he remembered the night well. He'd been tossed into the Willamette River and rescued by Trillion. That was when his powers first started to manifest. right after that life threatening experience. Trillion had once told him that that was how such abilities manifested. He felt them growing stronger though he wasn't sure how to truly use them to the full. But the darkness of a storm of destruction was coming. he didn't have time to train for long periods of time. It was only fitting that he would feel stronger. what to do with that strength was another matter. Could he even go back there without having a panic attack? To the place where he was nearly killed? His heart flailed within him at the thought. Dan would go. He was a different person and he had a mission. This particular place that he'd pinned down previously was close to where it had all started for him. Dan charged up his iPhone. He would need a decent working camera and recorder to see what he could see.
. . .
It was late evening when he arrived, on a hot summer day. The breeze off the river came over him in small waves and made the walk comfortable. He was headed toward a place called Shafer Point, a small adjunct building near a newly built condominium called Shafer Point Heights. From his preliminary investigations coming here early in the morning and looking and asking around the waterfront he'd found out that there was going to be some sort of special function or event. Several people said that it was probably a Scientology event, others said it was a birthday bash for some corporate bigwig. An old man passing through walking his dog told him something that caught his attention.
"Some event for stargazers, I took it. Couple of days ago I saw a small banner outside the building here with a planet with large rings. The banner's gone now. I saw some folks coming and going with telescopes. Figured it was some gathering for amateur astronomers." The little dog sniffed around at Dan's ankles and having been satisfied with checking him out, started wagging his tail. Dan bent down to pet the dog.
"Have you seen anything strange going on around this area recently?" He asked the man. The man lifted a bushy eyebrow.
"Recently? Can't say recently, though there's been a lot of weird stuff that happened here some time ago and still does from time to time."
"Like what?"
"Well I don't live too far from here but sometimes at night I've seen strange lights at night flashing about, like its coming from underground. And sometimes strange vibrations where all the metal in the house or apartment in this area gets all stirred up and flies around the room. Some of the neighbors have talked about it but no one can seem to get the news folks to come out and take a look around."
"How long has this been going on?"
"For years, on and off. Most just stopped paying too much attention to it as it only happens rarely and briefly. Places around here get a lot of turnover."
"I would imagine so. So something weird this way comes," said Dan quietly.
"It's already here, son."
"Thanks," said Dan. "Thank you very much."
"No problem." Said the old man. The little dog gave a short, soft bark.
"Quiet, Sammi," hushed the old man. He took another look at Dan and smiled, nodding his head. "Well, I've got to get on so Sammi can do his business. "Say, you seem kinda familiar. Like my grandson or something." There seemed to Dan to be some kind of odd familiarity as well.
"I do?" The old man nodded. "Do you come around here often? To the waterfront? I'm investigating some odd phenomena and happenings and I'd like a neighbor's take on what's happening around here," said Dan. The man gave him an approving look.
"I come down by the waterfront to walk Sammi usually every Monday, around seven in the morning. I'll be going now. Take care around here, son. There's nasty folk about. Throwing folks off bridges and all sorts of other nonsense." Dan's heart pattered quickly as the old man walked away. The little dog turned and looked at Dan before following the old man at his urging.
"Yeah, I know," said Dan quietly. A huge stroke of dumb luck had just fallen into his lap by meeting this old man. He'd learned more about the place than he ever thought he would. Dan watched the man and his dog disappear down the street and around the corner, thinking that perhaps he'd met another blueshifter kindred spirit.
"Some event for stargazers, I took it. Couple of days ago I saw a small banner outside the building here with a planet with large rings. The banner's gone now. I saw some folks coming and going with telescopes. Figured it was some gathering for amateur astronomers." The little dog sniffed around at Dan's ankles and having been satisfied with checking him out, started wagging his tail. Dan bent down to pet the dog.
"Have you seen anything strange going on around this area recently?" He asked the man. The man lifted a bushy eyebrow.
"Recently? Can't say recently, though there's been a lot of weird stuff that happened here some time ago and still does from time to time."
"Like what?"
"Well I don't live too far from here but sometimes at night I've seen strange lights at night flashing about, like its coming from underground. And sometimes strange vibrations where all the metal in the house or apartment in this area gets all stirred up and flies around the room. Some of the neighbors have talked about it but no one can seem to get the news folks to come out and take a look around."
"How long has this been going on?"
"For years, on and off. Most just stopped paying too much attention to it as it only happens rarely and briefly. Places around here get a lot of turnover."
"I would imagine so. So something weird this way comes," said Dan quietly.
"It's already here, son."
"Thanks," said Dan. "Thank you very much."
"No problem." Said the old man. The little dog gave a short, soft bark.
"Quiet, Sammi," hushed the old man. He took another look at Dan and smiled, nodding his head. "Well, I've got to get on so Sammi can do his business. "Say, you seem kinda familiar. Like my grandson or something." There seemed to Dan to be some kind of odd familiarity as well.
"I do?" The old man nodded. "Do you come around here often? To the waterfront? I'm investigating some odd phenomena and happenings and I'd like a neighbor's take on what's happening around here," said Dan. The man gave him an approving look.
"I come down by the waterfront to walk Sammi usually every Monday, around seven in the morning. I'll be going now. Take care around here, son. There's nasty folk about. Throwing folks off bridges and all sorts of other nonsense." Dan's heart pattered quickly as the old man walked away. The little dog turned and looked at Dan before following the old man at his urging.
"Yeah, I know," said Dan quietly. A huge stroke of dumb luck had just fallen into his lap by meeting this old man. He'd learned more about the place than he ever thought he would. Dan watched the man and his dog disappear down the street and around the corner, thinking that perhaps he'd met another blueshifter kindred spirit.
. . .
Late the next evening Dan came back to the waterfront, a pair of binoculars in his hand, this time starting far up north near the very place he was attacked. Memories flooded back and he wondered if it was a wise idea but Trillion had said that pain and fear can be used to draw strength. Even remembering that sharp crash into the cold waters below, he felt calm tonight. The blue-brown waters of the Willamette lapped up the sides of the pier and its long thin currents made brisk turns down stream. It was hot and the sky bathed in burnished brilliance, unlike that fateful might which was cold and dark. If he were able to get inside and just pretend to be part of the scene that would be great. He imagined himself ruefully as an investigative journalist here. He hoped he'd get out alive. After about twenty minutes he came upon the small building near the condominium complex. A water fountain stood beside it with small kids and dogs running and skipping through its rising and falling streams of water. Some feet ahead behind a gazebo, he saw people gathered and talking. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to the naked eye but as he approached he felt the tang of redshift essence. Whatever was that was going on, it had something to do with alien activity.
From the outside it really did look like a stargazing party. a small banner hung outside the door. it said: The Metro stargazing Club. There were telescopes everywhere. There was an unusual meteor shower happening this week, Dan noted. Lots of people were fascinated with it. How much that would shake them up out of their slumber, he didn't know. He walked right in among them, smiling as if he belonged with his binocs hanging from his neck. It seemed a rather informal affair. Dan had managed to make himself look like part of this crowd. he made his way inside. Inside people were milling about in small groups and on the tables just outside were brochures and flyers. Dan picked one up: The Metro Stargazing Club invites the community for a momentous, once-in-a-lifetime event! The Delphid meteor shower is happening! Come and watch an celebrate with us! said the flyer. The brochure had a similar announcement and more information about the club. Interesting, he thought. Interesting way to get people sucked in. I wonder what happens after they join? Was it an astronomical event that coincided with the Expansion?
He walked around, gazing and taking in everything he could, even enjoyed some of the finger foods. The place seemed rather spare besides a few tables and chairs and equipment. Suddenly someone took to the stage and knocked on a wireless microphone.
"Excuse me. ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming! This is our fifth celebration of the stars. Enjoy the food and drink before we get underway to observe the celestial phenomenon of the Delphid meteor shower. No. . ." as the man went on, Dan went over to a young woman wearing glasses standing by a sandwich tray. he took up a small glass of bubbly and downed it.
"Excise me, are you a member?" He asked, trying to be casual.
"Oh, yes," she said, smiling. She seemed innocent enough. He detected nothing sinister about her though she seemed a little vacant, which might have been why she was here. Minions came in all types.
"How many of these clubs are around the country?"
"Excuse me? I don't understand?"
"Are there more clubs like this one under this name in other states, or just one?" By her expression Dan immediately knew he'd asked a wrong question, or had given off some strange vibe to her.
"You're not a member?" Dan shook his head slowly, watching her face. Her smile faded a bit and her eyes grew wider as if in alert but she remained cordial enough.
"Does one have to be a member to attend this event? I mean, it seemed open tot he public," he said putting a tad bit of accusation in his voice.
"Well, we do have several around the country, on the Pacific Northwest. It's actually for members but there's no. . ah, rule, in outsiders attending," she said slyly. Outsiders? Well! She went on and Dan didn't like her sudden slyness at all.
"Perhaps you'd like to meet-"
"No, that's fine, actually. I'm from The Rose City Astronomy Club, you see. Just checking it out. We're actually having our own stargazing event for the Delphis Thursday, it's all so exciting!" He lied. She laughed, a sound silvery and fake. He sauntered away but could feel her watching him. This function felt more like a cult to him. He managed to get some information, though. There were possibly more of these cells operating around, mainly in the Pacific Northwest, if she told the truth. Fiddling around with his binocs he saw from the corner of his eye that someone was shadowing him as he moved through the crowds. Dan could feel the emotion emanating from the crowd that these were willing minions, in full and complete control over themselves as of now. Minions were supporters of the aliens and there were different levels or kinds within this group of human redshifters. Dan had taken to calling them base-level minions, who had not had their minds taken over - yet. His suspicion was that these kinds of minions did not see or know the real level of danger involved in what they were supporting. They were shown somethings, probably only what the aliens wanted them to see, Dan suspected, but not the real plan, He feared that one day these people would have to have their minds erased and they would cease to be human. Aliens would them take them over. A place like this was a sort of preparation for the expansion, getting them ready for those would take over their bodies. It reminded him of an old film he saw years ago with his dad called Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Only now he was seeing it unfold before him in real life.
Dan looked around the room and in the back was a doorway hidden behind a curtain. Moving his way toward that door as nonchalantly as he could, he slipped down the hall through the doorway towards another open room.
In the middle of this room were a bunch of old telescopes, likely there to give the appearance of amateur star-watchers gathering here. Dan could feel a power, a dreadful power somewhere beneath the place. There must be a wormhole or doorway here or some other power source they were using, hidden beneath this building. Perhaps taking over the whole block near the waterfront. He marveled at how utterly banal this place seemed. They were hiding right in plain sight. Dan put a hand along the wall, feeling a slight warmth. He felt a buzzing sensation that he was sure no one else could detect. His senses were growing more powerful. Yes, the old man was right. There was something here, hidden far beneath the ground and they had a way to it, some doorway. If only he had more time. He heard footsteps coming. Dan went to one of the telescopes and pretended to be adjusting it. Upon doing that, just under the mass of standing telescopes he say a faint flurry of lights flash on and off between a thin crack in separation in the tiles in the floor. He bent down to stare and examine it. Again the flash of lights came, blue, green, white, yellow. The floor seemed smooth and seamless but he saw a circular pattern of mosaics, nothing special, but this pattern of mosaics set in the center of the room was different from the rest of the floor, which was plain white tiles. Dan decided that either it opened up or one could probably fall in beneath deeper underground like a lift. But he knew his preliminary investigation was coming an end. Into the room came two people
"Excuse me. Can I help you?" Said a small, wiry, venal looking man with large rimmed glasses.
"Oh I was just noticing your vintage telescopes here-"
'We use them for elementary school class groups that come to study," he interrupted briskly. he looked Dan up and down."You don't belong here."
"What do you mean? I thought this event was for amateur astronomers?" Said Dan feigning an indignant expression.
"I would have seen you here before if that were the case."
"Hey, look, i just saw the flyers outside and thought I'd come and celebrate with you guys."
"Which doesn't explain why you're snooping around in back rooms." The man turned to the larger, bruising looking man that Dan thought he'd recognized.
"Please see him out," the little man snapped and he turned abruptly and left. The other one cracked his knuckles.
"Look, I was just-"
"Shut up! How did you get in here?"
"The doors were open. Like I said, I thought everyone in the community was invited," Dan said. He felt fear and something else, an adrenaline rush that gave him boldness. Something seemed to erupt in him. Remembering Trillion's words on using his powers of telekinesis. He stared intensely into the man's eyes as he came forward to grab him and when the man was only a foot away, he stopped as if he had been shoved away physically. Dan remembered him. Red Rag.
"You don't remember me, do you?" Dan asked. The man shook his head as if confused.
"Remember what?"
"You and your friends threw me into the river. I remember you. Dan recalled vividly the night and as he stared hard into the man's eyes, the man grew fearful.
"Yes, now you remember, don't you?" Dan said. Dan recalled the pain, the abject terror and then the blue light from the bottom of the river coming up to envelope him, and then blackness. When he'd come out of his grim reverie Red Rag was on his knees, whimpering. Dan stepped back, afraid and confused for a moment. Realization washed over him. He had made the man see and experience through his own memories what he'd been through. He wondered how these abilities would eventually morph and grow. Whether they would eventually engulf him.
"I can't see, I can't see!" the man cried, groping in his own perceived darkness. His eyes were completely black, even the irises polluted with black. Dan hurried from the room, leaving Red Rag stumbling and crawling on the ground. Dan saw that the crowd had gathered closer around the man on the podium. He hurried from the building, making as much distance as he could from the place. He felt the vicious looking little man's eyes following him. Dan felt afraid but he also felt a renewed sense of vigor and power. He could fight back without even using a weapon. His weapon was his mind. He needed far more training but what started out as a sickness from what would have been a murder was something that made him stronger.
He'd have to call the team so they could share information. he hoped he'd meet the old man again. get more information from him. This place was sitting on top of a minor alien stronghold. It was time to figure out how to get rid of it.
From the outside it really did look like a stargazing party. a small banner hung outside the door. it said: The Metro stargazing Club. There were telescopes everywhere. There was an unusual meteor shower happening this week, Dan noted. Lots of people were fascinated with it. How much that would shake them up out of their slumber, he didn't know. He walked right in among them, smiling as if he belonged with his binocs hanging from his neck. It seemed a rather informal affair. Dan had managed to make himself look like part of this crowd. he made his way inside. Inside people were milling about in small groups and on the tables just outside were brochures and flyers. Dan picked one up: The Metro Stargazing Club invites the community for a momentous, once-in-a-lifetime event! The Delphid meteor shower is happening! Come and watch an celebrate with us! said the flyer. The brochure had a similar announcement and more information about the club. Interesting, he thought. Interesting way to get people sucked in. I wonder what happens after they join? Was it an astronomical event that coincided with the Expansion?
He walked around, gazing and taking in everything he could, even enjoyed some of the finger foods. The place seemed rather spare besides a few tables and chairs and equipment. Suddenly someone took to the stage and knocked on a wireless microphone.
"Excuse me. ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming! This is our fifth celebration of the stars. Enjoy the food and drink before we get underway to observe the celestial phenomenon of the Delphid meteor shower. No. . ." as the man went on, Dan went over to a young woman wearing glasses standing by a sandwich tray. he took up a small glass of bubbly and downed it.
"Excise me, are you a member?" He asked, trying to be casual.
"Oh, yes," she said, smiling. She seemed innocent enough. He detected nothing sinister about her though she seemed a little vacant, which might have been why she was here. Minions came in all types.
"How many of these clubs are around the country?"
"Excuse me? I don't understand?"
"Are there more clubs like this one under this name in other states, or just one?" By her expression Dan immediately knew he'd asked a wrong question, or had given off some strange vibe to her.
"You're not a member?" Dan shook his head slowly, watching her face. Her smile faded a bit and her eyes grew wider as if in alert but she remained cordial enough.
"Does one have to be a member to attend this event? I mean, it seemed open tot he public," he said putting a tad bit of accusation in his voice.
"Well, we do have several around the country, on the Pacific Northwest. It's actually for members but there's no. . ah, rule, in outsiders attending," she said slyly. Outsiders? Well! She went on and Dan didn't like her sudden slyness at all.
"Perhaps you'd like to meet-"
"No, that's fine, actually. I'm from The Rose City Astronomy Club, you see. Just checking it out. We're actually having our own stargazing event for the Delphis Thursday, it's all so exciting!" He lied. She laughed, a sound silvery and fake. He sauntered away but could feel her watching him. This function felt more like a cult to him. He managed to get some information, though. There were possibly more of these cells operating around, mainly in the Pacific Northwest, if she told the truth. Fiddling around with his binocs he saw from the corner of his eye that someone was shadowing him as he moved through the crowds. Dan could feel the emotion emanating from the crowd that these were willing minions, in full and complete control over themselves as of now. Minions were supporters of the aliens and there were different levels or kinds within this group of human redshifters. Dan had taken to calling them base-level minions, who had not had their minds taken over - yet. His suspicion was that these kinds of minions did not see or know the real level of danger involved in what they were supporting. They were shown somethings, probably only what the aliens wanted them to see, Dan suspected, but not the real plan, He feared that one day these people would have to have their minds erased and they would cease to be human. Aliens would them take them over. A place like this was a sort of preparation for the expansion, getting them ready for those would take over their bodies. It reminded him of an old film he saw years ago with his dad called Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Only now he was seeing it unfold before him in real life.
Dan looked around the room and in the back was a doorway hidden behind a curtain. Moving his way toward that door as nonchalantly as he could, he slipped down the hall through the doorway towards another open room.
In the middle of this room were a bunch of old telescopes, likely there to give the appearance of amateur star-watchers gathering here. Dan could feel a power, a dreadful power somewhere beneath the place. There must be a wormhole or doorway here or some other power source they were using, hidden beneath this building. Perhaps taking over the whole block near the waterfront. He marveled at how utterly banal this place seemed. They were hiding right in plain sight. Dan put a hand along the wall, feeling a slight warmth. He felt a buzzing sensation that he was sure no one else could detect. His senses were growing more powerful. Yes, the old man was right. There was something here, hidden far beneath the ground and they had a way to it, some doorway. If only he had more time. He heard footsteps coming. Dan went to one of the telescopes and pretended to be adjusting it. Upon doing that, just under the mass of standing telescopes he say a faint flurry of lights flash on and off between a thin crack in separation in the tiles in the floor. He bent down to stare and examine it. Again the flash of lights came, blue, green, white, yellow. The floor seemed smooth and seamless but he saw a circular pattern of mosaics, nothing special, but this pattern of mosaics set in the center of the room was different from the rest of the floor, which was plain white tiles. Dan decided that either it opened up or one could probably fall in beneath deeper underground like a lift. But he knew his preliminary investigation was coming an end. Into the room came two people
"Excuse me. Can I help you?" Said a small, wiry, venal looking man with large rimmed glasses.
"Oh I was just noticing your vintage telescopes here-"
'We use them for elementary school class groups that come to study," he interrupted briskly. he looked Dan up and down."You don't belong here."
"What do you mean? I thought this event was for amateur astronomers?" Said Dan feigning an indignant expression.
"I would have seen you here before if that were the case."
"Hey, look, i just saw the flyers outside and thought I'd come and celebrate with you guys."
"Which doesn't explain why you're snooping around in back rooms." The man turned to the larger, bruising looking man that Dan thought he'd recognized.
"Please see him out," the little man snapped and he turned abruptly and left. The other one cracked his knuckles.
"Look, I was just-"
"Shut up! How did you get in here?"
"The doors were open. Like I said, I thought everyone in the community was invited," Dan said. He felt fear and something else, an adrenaline rush that gave him boldness. Something seemed to erupt in him. Remembering Trillion's words on using his powers of telekinesis. He stared intensely into the man's eyes as he came forward to grab him and when the man was only a foot away, he stopped as if he had been shoved away physically. Dan remembered him. Red Rag.
"You don't remember me, do you?" Dan asked. The man shook his head as if confused.
"Remember what?"
"You and your friends threw me into the river. I remember you. Dan recalled vividly the night and as he stared hard into the man's eyes, the man grew fearful.
"Yes, now you remember, don't you?" Dan said. Dan recalled the pain, the abject terror and then the blue light from the bottom of the river coming up to envelope him, and then blackness. When he'd come out of his grim reverie Red Rag was on his knees, whimpering. Dan stepped back, afraid and confused for a moment. Realization washed over him. He had made the man see and experience through his own memories what he'd been through. He wondered how these abilities would eventually morph and grow. Whether they would eventually engulf him.
"I can't see, I can't see!" the man cried, groping in his own perceived darkness. His eyes were completely black, even the irises polluted with black. Dan hurried from the room, leaving Red Rag stumbling and crawling on the ground. Dan saw that the crowd had gathered closer around the man on the podium. He hurried from the building, making as much distance as he could from the place. He felt the vicious looking little man's eyes following him. Dan felt afraid but he also felt a renewed sense of vigor and power. He could fight back without even using a weapon. His weapon was his mind. He needed far more training but what started out as a sickness from what would have been a murder was something that made him stronger.
He'd have to call the team so they could share information. he hoped he'd meet the old man again. get more information from him. This place was sitting on top of a minor alien stronghold. It was time to figure out how to get rid of it.
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