Counter Clockwise

Chapter 7

"What is our commander up to?" Bradford asked as he entered the co-ordinates he got from the stolen log into his tablet PC. A little while later he was looking at the Siberian icy wastelands. Dr. Vahlen came from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck as she leaned down for a closer look.

"There's nothing there," she stated.

"Then why is our commander interested in this place?" Bradford asked. He doubled checked the co-ordinates. He got them right. "What else has he been up to?"

"He has been asking for the aliens' autopsy reports lately," Vahlen said as she snuggled closer to Bradford who was sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Autopsy reports?"

"He's been asking whether I think the aliens are clones. That possibility has not occurred to me to be honest. I did a check and he was right. Most of them are clones. Their DNA are almost a perfect copy from one specimen to another. Especially the Mutons and the Floaters. There's only a variance of a few percentages in their DNA. The Ethereals however are unique individuals but we have only a few specimens. There were also some variance in the Sectoid commanders but most of the normal Sectoids are clones."

"Really? I never thought of that either. Clones, huh? That's quite disturbing."

"Commander Lee has also shown a great amount of interest in our Psionic programme. He has been going over all our information that we have gathered from the field on the performance of the new Psi armor," Vahlen said as she planted soft kisses on Bradford's neck.

Bradford ignored Vahlen as he secured an encrypted line out to the internet. He quickly sent off an email and then threw his tablet aside. He turned and grabbed Vahlen's waist and pushed her onto the bed with him on top of her.

"Now. Where were we?" he asked slyly and was greeted by a hard kiss from Vahlen.

###

3 Weeks later in the Commander's room

Darius pulled out another report on his terminal as he sat on his desk.

The screen showed:

Test subject : Zaytsev, Vassili

Psionic level : Adept user

Abilities :

- Mind fray

- Psi panic

- Psi shield

- Mind control

Field test data:

Subject was able to use Mind Control over the following aliens with the percentage of success shown in parentheses behind the alien species listed:

- Sectiod foot soldier (70%)

- Sectiod commander (48%)

- Mutons (90%)

- Muton Berserkers (68%)

- Floaters (0%)

- Thin Men (90%)

- Ethereals (0%)

Subject has also displayed an ability to use Mind Fray effectively against the Sectiods, Thin Men and Mutons. Subject was able to demonstrate on at least one occasion that he was able to kill his target using the Mind Fray ability. So far data indicates that subject has to be within visual range of target to be able to use any of his Psionic abilities.

Notable Side Effects:

As per other test subjects, this particular test subject has also shown a marked increase in the subject's aggressive behaviour.

End of Report.

Darius sighed as he read the last line of the report. He had seen all the video recording on the missions that Major Zaytsev had participated in. Darius had been taken aback by the change he saw as Zaytsev continued to use his Psionic abilities. Zaytsev had always been very careful on missions.

That was one of the main reasons that he was still around and had worked his way up the ranks. But the more he used his psionic abilities, the more arrogant and aggressive he became. It even got to the point that he could dash into the battlefield to search for a target with utter disregard for the squad or his own safety.

Darius recalled the interviews he conducted with Strike One Alpha's members with regards to Zaytsev's behaviour.

"It's not like him anymore," Captain Mary Ryan or better known by her call sign of Rogue had said. "We called him Overseer precisely because he was so concerned about everyone's safety and well-being during missions. Now he just runs off on his own chasing after the Xrays. He seems to take a delight in causing pain on the aliens. I mean they are the enemies but he seems to... to enjoy torturing them, you know? I feel like I don't know him anymore... you know? Ever since he's been using that new... what do they call it.. Psi armor? Yea.. that one. He's got this weird ability to zap these aliens with his mind. I've seen aliens mind controlling some of ours... and now.. he seems to be able to do that to the aliens.. It's freaky! There's this one time I saw him laughing maniacally at a Muton in front of him and then the Muton just dropped dead! Just like that! Look, I know they are the enemies but what's happening to Overseer... it's just not right.. you know. It's not right!"

"I've got no comments, all right?" Captain Kelly Barnes, callsign Hex had said reluctantly in the beginning of her interview. "He does his job and we do ours.. yea.. nothing more... Have I seen any change? Hell, yes.. For one thing he doesn't lose his plasma pistol anymore. He used to but not anymore..Of course, he doesn't need it anymore. He can put those Xrays down better with his ... what.. Jedi mind trick? Yea.. he does that. In fact he does it so well that he doesn't bother taking a pistol with him anymore. That's why he doesn't lose them no more. You know what... I liked it better when he was losing those pistols."

Then there was the discussion he had with Zaytsev himself.

"You want me to stop?" Zaytsev had said when Darius asked him to stop using the Psi Armor. "No way Lee! No way! This is the best thing that has happened since this whole thing started. We can finally give them a taste of their own medicine! You should see the look on their faces when I mind control them and set them on their own kind! It's a shame that not all of us can use this. Else we can win this war, easy!"

Darius had also had a spat with Bradford.

"But everything's going well, why recall them?" Bradford had protested when Darius suggested that they stop using the Psi Armor. "I'm sure the behavior irregularity is a temporary side effect. Besides, our success rates on missions have increased significantly when there are psionically gifted soldiers in the squad. I say we continue the use of the armor."

"The Psi Armor are causing the soldiers to be reckless. You've studied the data. There is a co-relation. We can't risk the soldiers until we can be sure this side effect can be eliminated," Darius had argued.

"We are in a war, commander! There will be risks! If we recall that armor, we will going backwards! We just can't sit around waiting for all the conditions to be perfect to do something!" Bradford had said.

Darius flicked off his terminal and leaned back onto his chair. He stared at the ceiling of his room. So it has been decided. Humanity cannot win this war alone. Compared to the Ethereals, humans are only novices when it comes to Psionic abilities. Darius closed his eyes. He prayed that what he was about to do would be the right thing.

A little while later Darius found himself in front of Cindy Chang's room. He pressed the bell and waited. The door opened momentarily and Cindy's eyes widened when she saw him standing there.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered as she peeked out and checked to see if anyone else saw Darius there. There was no one else but them in the corridor. Cindy quickly pulled Darius inside and closed the door.

"What are you..." she began again but Darius cut the question off with a kiss to her lips. He pulled her close and they shared another passionate kiss. Darius picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He then set her down beside it and undid the sash of her nightgown. He slid the silky gown off her shoulders and it fell into a crumbled heap around her ankles. As Darius planted kisses on her neck and shoulders, she pulled the shirt off him and then helped him out of his track bottom. Darius lifted her again and they both sank into her bed and they started to make love.

"You still haven't told me why you're here," Cindy said softly as she rested her head on his broad shoulders after the sex.

Darius sighed and put his arms around her and pulled her closer. Cindy turned her head to face him and saw him staring up at the ceiling.

"We are fighting a losing war," he said. "I don't see how we can hope to prevail against the Ethereals. Our psionic abilities do not even come close to the level they have achieved. On all fronts, we are at a disadvantage. Governments all around the world are being infiltrated. Our funding decreases by the day. In a matter of months, XCOM will not have enough funds to pay for its expenses much less wage a war against aliens with superior technology."

Cindy remained silent. What Darius said was true.

"What if we can turn back the clock?" Darius said. "What if we can go back an erase a mistake? What do you think?"

"I think that would be great," Cindy replied. "But that can only happen in science fiction… well, not that we are too far from it the way things are now. I'd never thought I'd be witnessing an alien invasion."

"Is time travel a possibility?" Darius asked.

"Hypothetically, it is possible. Einstein himself had said that it may be possible but no one had actually researched it in depth," Cindy replied.

"Remember the Sectiod commander I had a psi link with? They are from a small rebellious group and they are fighting the Ethereals just like us. It showed me a plan. Their plan to stop all of this sounds insane but through all this madness it may the only hope for us. For humanity and for them."

"The Sectiods?" Cindy asked and she felt Darius nodding. "What if it's a plan to trap us?"

"I do not think so. They have given me a lot of info and so far all of it has proven to be accurate and true. What we're seeing now is just the aliens' landing party. Their forward scouts. The main invasion force has yet to come. If the Sectiods are right, their main force should be arriving any day now."

"My God. If that's true how are we going to stop them? We are already having problems dealing with them now," Cindy said and then realized why Darius was there with her. "Are you telling me that you're going with the Sectiod's plan?"

"We don't have any choice. The Ethereals does not mean to eradicate us. They mean to enslave us. To use us for their wars. Like how they are using the Sectiods and the Mutons. If it means we have a chance to escape this fate, I think we have to at least give it a try."

"How do you plan to get the Council to agree?"

"I don't plan to get them to agree. We don't have the time," Darius said with an air of finality. His mind was made up.

"Whatever you do. However you decide. I'll be by your side," Cindy said. Darius held her tightly and kissed her head.

Meanwhile in Bradford's room

A repeating beep was heard in the darkness of the room. Bradford turned on his bed and flicked on the bedside lamp. It was his tablet PC. He picked it up and switched on the display. The email icon was flashing. Bradford tapped on the icon and the email app launched. It was from his contact. The reply to his mail he sent a few weeks ago on the co-ordinates in Siberia.

Bradford sat up in his bed, all sleep driven from his mind. He tapped to open the email. His eyes widened as he read the contents. All he needed was the following line in the mail:

Alien presence on site confirmed.

He jumped out of bed and ran to his desk. He switched on his terminal and accessed the Geoscape. He quickly ran a thermal scan on the co-ordinates. The image that greeted him was all the evidence he needed. He quickly compiled the information and put them into an email. It was addressed to the leaders of the Council of XCOM. Bradford would initiate emergency order 139. His time had finally come. This was the perfect opportunity to remove Commander Lee from his post.

Half an hour later, Darius had already changed and headed towards the Mission Control room. He was about an hour early for his shift. He saw Bradford there with a group of internal security forces as he approached the door. None of them noticed his presence. As he neared the door he saw the Geoscape display. Darius stopped in his tracks. On the globe was a flashing yellow icon. The place where the icon was flashing is Siberia. Almost at once Darius knew that somehow, someone got wind of the alien base buried under the ground. The security forces were meant for him. That means that he was now considered a traitor and they would be trying to arrest him. He quickly turned and walked back to the elevator. He punched the level for the residential dorms.

A few minutes later he was back at Cindy's room. "They are out to get me!" he told her. "I need your help!"

"Who? Who's out to get you? What's going on?" Cindy asked frantically.

"Bradford!" Darius said. "I need to use the Gollop Chamber! I must warn the Sectoid commander!"

Cindy rushed to her drawer and took out her access card. She pushed it into Darius' hand. "Take it. You'll be able to open the doors to the chamber. I do not think there's anyone there. We've no candidates ready to use the Psi Link device anyway. Do what you need to do!"

"I love you, Cindy! I'm sorry it had to turn out this way," Darius said.

Cindy pushed him away. "Just go! They will be here any minute!"

Darius gave her a quick kiss. Clutching Cindy's access card he went to the door. He opened it a crack and looked outside. After making sure that no one was there, he quickly went out and closed the door behind him.

"I love you too, Darius," Cindy whispered, tears flowing down her cheeks.

In the Mission Control Room

"There is an underground alien base at this location," Bradford said into the radio. "We have found that there are ventilation vents that will lead down to it. I will forward the information to the strike teams' wrist-com. This is our chance to hit them where it hurts! I need you guys to eliminate all the aliens down there! This will be our first step to winning this war! Best of luck strike teams!"

On the Geoscape display, 2 Skyranger icons appeared over the XCOM base and headed towards the alien base for the attack. Bradford glanced at it. Satisfied with the status he turned towards a team of internal security forces.

"Now, I want Darius Lee arrested and put into the brig!" he ordered the team leader. "This is emergency order 139! Darius Lee is in collaboration with the aliens. The council has been alerted and they have authorized the removal of the commander rank from Darius Lee. I will be the acting commander of XCOM until the situation has been resolved, do you understand?" he said.

The team of four internal security force stood at attention. "Yes, sir!" the team leader replied and then ran off to execute the order. Just as they exited, Dr. Vahlen and Dr. Shen walked into Mission Control. Both of them looked up at the Geoscape display.

"Ah! Dr. Shen and Dr. Vahlen," Bradford greeted as they joined him on the viewing platform. "You're just in time to witness the turning point of this war! We have found their base of operations and I have dispatched the strike teams to assault it. Your presence is required should the teams encounter anything that they are unfamiliar with. You two will be the technical consultants to assist them in any way you can."

###

Darius went into the Gollop Chamber and closed the door. Cindy was right, there was no one around. He made a beeline towards the Psi Link device and activated it immediately. A brief moment later he was linked with the Sectoid commander.

"Hello again human," the Sectoid greeted. "We hope that you are agreeable to our plan."

"Hello. I come with a warning," Darius replied. "As we speak, there are others of my kind that is headed towards your base with the intention of assaulting it. Reluctantly I am agreeable to your plan but we must move fast! Here is my suggestion!" Darius said and shared his intentions with the Sectoid leader.

Back in Mission Control

"Sir!" one of console operator called out. "There has been a spike in power in the Gollop Chamber for the past 2 minutes. Seems like there was a release of psionic energy."

"What? Is there any experiments going on down there?" Bradford asked turning to Vahlen. She shook her head. Bradford immediately hit a button on his radio. "Security team! This is acting commander Bradford. Head down to the Gollop Chamber. I have a feeling that Lee is there!"

"UFO sighting, sir!" another operator called out. On the Geoscape a couple of new icons appeared. "They are coming from the vicinity of the Siberian alien base sir!"

"Scramble interceptors!" Bradford ordered. "I want them shot down! We can't let them escape!"

A short while later a few new blips appeared on the Geoscape as XCOM scrambled their fighters to intercept. All eyes fell on the Geoscape display as the icons neared one another.

"Fighters have engaged the bogeys," one of the operators reported. On the display three green icons closed in on the two red UFO. A while later one of the green dots vanished from the display.

"One of our fighters has been hit! Pilot has ejected!"

The two remaining green icons continued the interception. A while later the two red UFO icons vanished from the display.

"Bogeys down. The UFOs have been shot down! Repeat UFOs have been shot down!" There were cheers and clapping.

"Sir! Do we send in a ground strike team?" the operator asked.

Bradford frowned. "Which teams are available?" he asked.

"Ranger teams, sir!" the operator replied. Ranger teams were the rookie teams. Their call signs Ranger stems from the alphabet R that means Reserve teams.

"Send Ranger 1 and 2!" Bradford decided.

"Yes, sir!" the operator replied and relayed the instructions.

Just then a radio communication came through to Bradford. "Sir! We've searched the Gollop Chamber. No one's here sir!"

Bradford slammed a fist down on the railing of the viewing platform. "Search the base! He's got to be here somewhere!"

"Sir! We've detected another UFO! Origin, Siberia alien base!"

"What? Damn! Turn the interceptors around! I want that one down too!" Bradford asked.

"Negative sir! The interceptors are low on fuel," came the reply.

"Shit!" Bradford cursed. They watched as the red icon inched away from the Siberian base towards the north pole and finally vanished from the display as it went out of range of their satellites. The silence in Mission Control was deafening.

"What's the location of the Skyrangers 1 and 2?" Bradford asked after a while.

"Twenty minutes from alien base, sir."

"What about the Ranger teams?"

"Just about to take off in Skyranger 3, sir."

A beep went off in Bradford's radio headset. He pressed the switch. "What now?" he asked angrily.

"Sir! We've apprehended Darius Lee. He was in his room. We're taking him to the brig," the leader of security team reported.

"I'll meet you there!" Bradford said into the radio and took off the headset. "Lieutenant Stanley. You have Mission Control!" he said as he walked out in a huff.