Chapter Thirteen - Talking To Yourself

Chapter Thirteen - Talking To Yourself

Chapter Thirteen - Talking To Yourself

The Protectors are doing humanity, and America, a favour. Im a big fan of these guys, always have been. I think aliens are real cool. It goes without saying that, based on the weaponry easily given to these so-called Vanguard, these extra-terrestrials could easily wipe out humanity. Big threat.

Some people are going yap yap yap about it, but theyve got no proof that thats what these aliens want to do! Its lies! Fake.

I think we should look at how many people theyre saving--and its a lot of people, and it bothers me that we didnt save them ourselves--but we will because these aliens are our friends. These aliens are saving so many lives.

And with their help America is going to be so good.

-- excerpt from a brief given by the president of the former nation of the United States, January 2021

***

The sound my shoes on the steps sounded loud, far too loud. Even my breathing, calm and shallow as it was, felt as if it was echoing down the stairwell.

There was no reason to be so nervous. Id look down between the rails already, the doors below were closed and I didnt think there was anything waiting for me.

But I was alone, and in a building with some aliens that would like to do little more than eat me, and not in a fun way.

The kittens and the others Id left behind, all of them waiting near the entrance to the stairs until I returned or an hour passed. It slowed us down, a lot, but it also meant that we wouldnt have an army of screaming kids to deal with if one alien rounded the corner.

I licked my lips. Hey, you think you can do music or something? I whispered.

Im afraid not. I suppose I could hum? But I wasnt built to be musically talented. Is music something that interests you?

You need soldiers, I whispered.

No. The numbers are in our favour. We could, and probably would, win against even the largest Antithesis fleet. The issue is logistical. If Earth is invaded once a year, then stationing a defensive fleet would be a necessity. That same fleet could be used elsewhere. If humanity learns to defend itself, fewer resources will be spent in your defence. The policy regarding primitive races was always to observe and protect. The Antithesis changed this.

Arent you just a bunch of saints, I said.

I dont think so. New cultures, ways of thinking, and even species are interesting, but that is all. Taking some humans and relocating them would be easier than protecting an underdeveloped world like Earth. But that would go against the moral code by which the Protectors live. That the weak must be protected.

Weird code, I said as I panned my vision over the ceiling. I didnt like all those pipes and the shadows behind them.

It is that code that chose you. You placed yourself at great risk to protect someone else. You were rewarded with the opportunity to become a Vanguard. Now youre better equipped to protect even more of your human brethren.

Myalis argument had some holes in it. If they could provide me with such good equipment, why werent they taking care of the incursions themselves? But that was for later. If the freaky all-powerful aliens just wanted to give us the toys to fix the problems ourselves that was their prerogative.

The corridor came to a four-way intersection up ahead. I slowed down, stepping lightly with my weight shifting from side to side to keep my footfalls quiet. I probably looked like an idiot, but I was an alive idiot.

I arrived at the intersection and stared. The corridor ahead led to more maintenance things. To the left was towards some smaller, cheaper offices, and to the right was the fastest route to the next stairwell. It was also supposed to lead through a little area with shops and cafes and shit. Somewhere where the people working in this building could buy stuff and grab a bite to eat.

I moved rightward.

Soon I arrived at a pair of double doors, one of them slightly ajar. The fact that it was being held open by a boot didnt go amiss, nor did the sounds of distant gunfire, screaming and explosions.

Ah, shit, I muttered.

***