Chapter Three, The Wedding
"Remain calm!" commanded Lester. "ARC staffers, I'm sorry, but you're no longer on leave."
"Yes, sir," said Flowers. "Ready. Command me."
Lester smiled. "I've always liked you, lieutenant. Conservatory, rucksack with EMDs fetch and disperse arms, but don't alert Connor."
He smiled. "Yes, sir."
"That won't be necessary," said Connor behind them.
Lester sighed, seeing the bride and groom in front of him. "Sorry."
They nodded.
"Not your fault," said Abby.
Lester said, "Matt and Emily found a few of these critters in the Kingdom Hall."
Connor nodded, and Abby and he ran for that room.
"Epstein, Miss Dreyberg, assist Jess," said Lester. "Soldiers, take your lead from Lt. Flowers. Everyone one else, help secure the area, and stop the panic."
"What about the rest of the Lodge, and the other buildings?" asked Jack. "Gran, and the others will be heading up here at any moment."
Lester nodded. "Jack, go to the owner, a man in a gray and pink suit, terribly tacky. Tell him, on my authority, that he must issue a warning for everyone to stay in their rooms. He must send runners to the cabins, if necessary."
Jack nodded. "I will, then I'm going to Gran and my family."
"Good, do that," said Lester.
Jack nodded, and started to leave.
"Jack, take this," said Jess, handing him a comm. "I can talk to you through it."
Jack nodded and left for his family.
Jess turned to Sara and Epstein. "Let's set up in one of the technology suites downstairs."
All three bounded down the stairs.
"Lester!" cried Flowers, tossing him an EMD. "I only have two more," and he tossed two to his soldiers. "There's these in the rucksack as well," said Flowers, tossing Lester a comm.
"I love that Captain," he said, putting in the comms.
"Becker, do you read?"
"Read you, Lester. Got the locking device and the EMDs, on my way back. I've been talking to the ARC. They've detected the anomaly, and help is on the way."
"Copy that," said Lester.
"So do I," said Jess. "I'm detecting the anomaly as well. It's outside the lodge, west of the tennis courts. I have a splendid picture of it, thanks to the security cameras on site."
"Excellent work, all of you."
"Darn! We have nosy onlookers. Stupid people! 'Ooh, I see something I've never seen before, I'll just walk closer and see it!"
Becker laughed as his girlfriend vented.
"Hold on. He's in uniform. It's Lieutenant Vale!"
"Excellent!" cried Lester. "We've got a trained man on the scene!"
"I'm pulling up to the Lodge, Jess. Which way to hook up with Vale?"
"Go toward the courts, than take a left. You'll see it."
"Right."
"The anomaly is quiet, nothing else coming through."
"Good."
As Becker jogged up, he saw other lodge guests, not with the wedding, strolling toward the strange yellow lights.
"Sorry, folks. This area is off limits," said Vale.
"What is that thing?" asked one of the guests.
"Sorry. It's classified. I'm going to have to insist that you head on back to the lodge."
Becker smiled at Vale. "Nice job, Lt."
Vale smiled. "What can I say? I strike an imposing form in my uniform."
Becker chuckled, and tossed him an EMD. "Just in case."
"Always prepared, Cap."
"Always, Lt."
Inside the Kingdom Room, the butterflies closed in on Matt and Emily, but did not attack.
"Why do they hesitate?" asked Emily.
"I don't know. Maybe they're trying to figure out how much trouble we'd be."
The door opened, and Connor, still wearing normal clothes, and Abby, dressed in a long satin robe, burst in.
The butterflies turned and swarmed the new couple.
"No!" cried Matt.
Emily grabbed a vase, and threw the water and flowers at the swarm. All ten or so were hit with the water. Several fell, the rest reacted with a startled stillness.
"They didn't like that," said Connor.
"They must come from an arid climate," said Matt, grabbing another vase and throwing more water at them. The others did the same, and soon all the butterflies were lying on the ground, their wings too heavy to fly.
That would explain why they do not eat vegetation. There is none," said Emily.
"They eat whatever animals live there," added Abby. "Their wings are unable to operate in heavy rain."
"Or heavy vase water," said Connor.
Matt got a tub, with a locking lid, and locked them inside. "What's going on out there?"
The commotion was loud from the veranda.
"More of them," said Abby.
The four of them ran out to help.
Flowers, Lester, and two soldiers were firing with the EMDs. Jenny, and Michael kept the rest of the humans together, and backed away from the creatures. Duncan was videotaping for posterity.
"Kingdom Hall is clear," said Matt. "Take them all in there, but don't open that tub."
Jenny nodded, and led the guests inside, including the minister, Eleanor, and non-military ARC staff like Bernie and Beverly. Michael dragged Duncan with him.
The Lodge owner ran onto the veranda, holding an army-issue bag. "Captain Becker said to give these to someone in his party. He said it was urgent."
Matt opened the bag and smiled. "God bless him. EMDs...a lot. Remind me to talk to him later about regulations."
The others smiled as Matt passed the guns out.
"Did you make the announcement to the guests to remain in their rooms?" asked Lester.
The owner nodded. "I just sent staffers outside to alert anyone else."
Lester nodded. "Good."
The owner ran back downstairs.
Lester shot at a butterfly and missed. "These things are harder to hit than most creatures."
"Zora!" cried Abby, looking at the venue director, frozen in panic against the lodge wall. "Does the veranda have a garden hose?"
Zora looked confused then she nodded, pointing.
Abby smiled, and turned it on, blasting the air with water.
The butterflies slowed, or fell, and the armed ARC personnel easily took them down.
"Is that all of them?" asked Matt.
"I think so," said Abby.
"Good. Let's regroup. I'll speak to the wedding guests," said Lester. "Hold on. Where's my wife?"
He found her in the Waterfall lounge, calmly curling her hair.
"Dear?"
"Oh, hello, James. Situation handled?"
"Yes. You didn't even venture out?" he asked.
"Why would I? To add more panic and stress to you? No dear, I stay put."
Lester smiled, quickly kissed her, and said, "I have some things to clean up. Continue staying safely put, darling."
"Will we still have the wedding?"
"We better," he said with a snort. "I'm not letting this lot have vacation again for years."
His wife laughed. "Make sure the bride and groom are unharmed."
"I will indeed. Myself as well?"
Mrs Lester scoffed. "Obviously, darling."
End of Chapter Three