Welcome back, dear friends. It was a long week but now we are back. Oh, Suewe: I am impressed. Your English is getting better and better. Congratulations. And that in such a short time. Just wanted to tell you. Okay lets go on now.
Into the breach
At Area 51, Aaron Berkley was on his post, waiting for any change to finally come. On the other side of the gate, he saw his colleague John Brannon in the little house. He looked as desperate as he felt himself. It never happened before in his entire carrier that this facility lost all its electricity and with that every control. No communication with the outside or the inside – not even with their emergency equipment and that was stranger than anything else. They didn´t know what was going on in there, or what the heck had caused that power outage. Aaron was sure that they already tried to get out and to put the power back on and so he and John had agreed to follow order 1446: In case of an unforeseen event that would possibly effect the base, the guards have to remain at their posts until further notice. Well, they had supposte a complete power outage would effect the base. But what could they do? All the technicians were inside, a couple of miles beneath their feet.
Aaron looked at his watch again – for the twelfth time in the last fife minutes. Was his watch standing too? No, the big hand just moved. Another minute had passed. Aaron lowered his arm and tried not to think of the fact that when he would look at it next time, it would be the thirteenth time. That situation was surely not the best to be supported by superstitiousness. It was already crazy enough.
He suddenly spotted something in the distance. A couple of flying points approached them. He instinctively lay his hand on his weapon.
„Johnny!" he called over to his colleague.
John looked into the same direction. When he stepped out of his house, Aaron did the same. Together they waited for the arrival of whatever it might be. At last the objects were close enough for them to see it. A big stone fell off Aaron´s heart.
„General Monger!" he called.
The General was the commanding officer of Area 52 not far away from their own base. He had no idea where exactly this base was located but it couldn´t be far, if they made their way here with those jetpacks. When he saw, who was with the General, Aaron´s relief was gone again. He had brought the monsters with him. At least two of them. That wasn´t a good sign.
„General." he saluted when they landed. „I … am afraid we can´t let you in, sir. Since fifteen minutes ago, we have a power outage and we have no contact to the inside of the base."
„We already know that, Sergeant." Monger said and passed him to approach the gate. „Thats why we are here. Seems we are under an alien attack again."
„Again?" Johnny asked puzzled by the all-day-tone Monger had said this in.
Monger went over to the jeep that was parked behind the checkpoint houses.
„We will borrow this if you don´t mind." he said, regarding the still long way to the nearest building of the base.
„I … I´m afraid it doesn´t work either." Aaron said. „We already tried to start it."
Monger shared a worried glance with Susan and then with Dr. Cockroach.
„Interesting." the bug headed scientist commented.
„Well." Monger said and grabbed his jetpack again. „Then we use this. I believe there is enough fuel left to bring us over there. Remain at your posts gentlemen."
„Once more into the breach, dear friends." Dr. Cockroach said dignified. „Once more."
With that he and the others activated their packs, and left the puzzled guards behind.
„What did he say?" Aaron asked.
„I believe that was some funny Shakespeare quote." John told him with a shrug.
Together they watched the monsters flying over the ground of Area 51 until they ended up at the big flat building, that looked like a usual aircraft hangar, for every curious tourist that would dare to come closer than the military allowed it. A minute or so later, the gates suddenly went open, obviously forced by the sound they made. The two men were too far away to see that it was the white haired woman, who had opened them. The monster group went inside and everything was silent again. Aaron shook his head in disbelieve. Then he shrugged. What else could they do, he thought. In comparison it was just another normal day on the Paradise Ranch.
...
„How far do we have to go down there?" Susan asked after she had opened the doors of the elevator and looked down the shaft.
„Very far, I´m afraid." Monger answered. „At least twenty floors but I´m not sure."
„Is that all?" B.O.B. declared and stretched himself out, reaching down the shaft like a long blue rope. „Come on, guys." he called. „I can´t do this the whole day."
The three of them looked at each other. Dr. Cockroach blinked and shook his head. „No thanks." he said. „I prefer my own way."
With that he crawled into the shaft, his head down. Monger made an inviting gesture to Susan and together they slid down the B.O.B.-rope. Halfway down they got ahead of Dr. Cockroach. Above they heard B.O.B.´s amused laughter. The big red numbers passed them one by one. Somewhat around the nineteenth floor Monger slowed down the slide. He tried hard to remember on which floor they would find the command of this base. It had been a while since he was here. They passed the twenty-first floor, the twenty-second and twenty-third. Finally he stopped and that had two reasons. First, B.O.B. had become dangerously thin by now and second, he now was sure that this was the right floor.
„I think thats it." he said.
„That is good." B.O.B. called down to him. „Cause I think, this time I overstretched myself a little."
Monger grabbed the doorframe of the elevator and set his foot at the small shoulder. Susan did the same.
„You can let go now, B.O.B.!" Monger yelled up to the blob, who did so gladly. He shot up like an expanded elastic band, reformed himself into his old shape and made a loop down the shaft, to slide down the steel cable.
Meanwhile down at the twenty-forth floor, his fast exit had made Susan loose balance. Her foot slipped off the edge and she trembled. Monger reacted by instinct and caught her, lifting her up again in the crook of his arm.
„I got you." he said and helped her to get grip on it again. Susan exhaled and then chuckled amused.
„Are we getting used to that, General?" she asked with a smile. Her arm was slung around his neck, though it was definitely not necessary anymore to hold herself.
He grinned back at her. „We might." he said in a low tone.
Behind them B.O.B. and Dr. C had arrived at their level. Both of them stared at them puzzled. Their faces seemed to ask them: Are you kidding?
Monger cleared his throat and released Susan. Though her hand remained one moment longer at his neck before she removed it. It felt absolutely natural. She really wasn´t ashamed a bit.
„Would you mind to open the door, now?" he asked firmly.
„Agreed." she said and grabbed the doors. A second later they were open and the four of them stepped outside into a long hallway. Back on safe ground, B.O.B. and the Doc looked at them waiting.
„Is there possibly a question to ask?" Dr. C asked firmly with an almost unseen smile on his lips.
„Probably." Monger said without hesitation. „But not now. We have a mission to …"
In that moment the sound of a cocked gun made them spin around. A soldier peeked around a corner, his weapon pointing at them. „Don´t move!" he shouted.
„Put the weapon down, soldier!" Monger yelled back at him, placing himself between the soldier and the monsters. „Just because these are monsters, it doesn´t mean that they are bullet proved."
„Who are you?" the soldier demanded to know.
„The name is General W.R. Monger. I´m in charge of Area 52. We are here to help, so put that thing down, understood?"
The man lowered his weapon and stepped out of his hiding place. Still ready to shoot if necessary, he came closer. It was obvious that he didn´t trust Monger or his strange entourage.
„May I see your credentials?" he asked firmly but demanding.
„Listen, man." Monger hissed. „I would show you something else if we had the time, but right now I´m in a slight hurry. I need to talk to General Burrows on the double. You got this, soldier?"
Finally the man was ready to believe him. Monger knew the name of his C.O. after all. „All right." he said reluctantly. „Come with me."
He led them to a big room where a long table was placed in the centre. The situation room of the base. A band of men and women, some wearing uniforms, some the white overalls of the technical staff and some even suits, sat there and discussed very excited what they should do. The man on the head of the table was a tall, tough looking General with grey hair and a mustache. His face was old but it showed the strength of a leader.
Monger didn´t wait for the soldier to introduce him, but stepped right in. The older General just told the others: „I only can tell you that we still try to find out, what is going on outside. But we assume …"
„Assuming is not necessary." Monger yelled over the still chatting people. „I can tell you what´s going on."
The discussion died, when everybody turned to the newcomer in surprise. The General stood up form his chair.
„Warren." he said startled. „What are you doing here?"
Monger walked over to him. „The same thing as always, it seems, Dick." he said. „Saving your ass."
They took each others hands and shook them. „Its good to see you again." General Burrows said. „How did you come in here? The doors are locked. Even my own people couldn´t open them."
„Well, we could." Monger said and turned to the door. When Burrows saw the monsters standing there, he turned pale for a second. Some of the people in the room gasped.
„What is going on?" Burrows then asked as calm as a man could be.
„We have strong reasons to assume that there is an alien attack." Monger told him and all the others. „We still don´t know what or who exactly we are dealing with, but I intend to act immediately."
„How?" Burrows wanted to know.
„These monsters here, already fought back one alien invasion. They will succeed again."
„I´m sorry." a woman in a technicians overall chipped in. „But that is no plan. You could also say, we ran in and shoot as many of them as we can."
„Madame, this is exactly what I had in mind." Monger answered.
„It is more than we have by now." Burrows supported him. „But I have to agree with Miss Stanley as well, Warren. This isn´t much of a plan. Especially when you consider the fact, that nothing of our equipment is working."
„Perhaps none of ours." Monger said meaningful.
Susan, Dr. Cockroach and B.O.B. exchanged an unsettled look. What was Monger talking about? General Burrows frowned. He seemed to know.
„You can´t be serious." he said.
„I was never that serious in my whole life." Monger replied. „At least not very often. Think about it. Why do you think they killed our power? To paralyze our resistance. I take a bet that every tank, every jet and also every other device on this planet that is running by electricity is grounded now. We can´t communicate with each other, we can´t travel and we can´t aim at them, ´cause all our bigger weapons work electrically. They are holding us tied and blinded."
„And you think the only technology they didn´t effect, is …" Burrows assumed and thought about it. „But how can that help us? It is just one."
„It was just one woman that defeated the last alien invader." Monger hold against it.
Susan blushed and lowered her gaze. She still had no idea what the whole thing was about.
Burrows nodded thoughtfully. Then he shook his head. „It is contained in a high security bunker." he said. „The gates are locked electronically, only to open with three different access codes of high security staff. We can´t get in."
Monger looked over to Susan, a confident smile on his lips. „We can open it." he assured his old friend.
„But …"
„Dick." Monger interrupted him. „Just bring us there. We don´t have much time."
Burrows hesitated. Then, finally he nodded. He ordered one of his men to take over and led Monger and his monsters out of the room. The soldier that had led them to the conference room to begin with, accompanied them as well.
„What is it?" Susan asked when she couldn´t stand it any longer. „Where are we going?"
„After the first alien spacecraft was destroyed, the army collected everything they could find." Burrows started to explain. „Every peace of it that seemed to be big enough to be investigated."
„You collected some little green men?" Susan joked.
„There are no aliens in Area 51." Burrows replied absolutely serious. When he met Susan´s gaze, he understood and cleared his throat with an embarrassed expression. He had answered completely habitually without noticing it, like every man that was used to answer the same questions of reporters over and over again. „Most of it were just fragments of the spacecraft mantle." he went on. „But there was one thing that was almost undamaged. A small shuttle. One of the flying saucers you could say."
„Are you serious?" Dr. Cockroach asked excited. „You were able to contain a U.F.O.?"
„We were." Burrows affirmed. „Unfortunately we couldn´t figure out how to use it yet. Our technicians managed it to start the machines but that was all. And as I said …" They had reached a big, closed gate and stopped in front of it. „ … there is no way in, if you don´t want to blow up half of the base, General."
„That won´t be necessary." Monger said smirking and turned to Susan. „Sweetheart, would you be so kind?"
Susan smirked back at him. „My pleasure, love." she said, picking up his little joke joyfully.
Burrows and the soldier watched confused how she stepped to the door and grabbed it right where the two parts met. Then she started to pull. A cracking noise ran through the hallway and made everybody but B.O.B. covering their ears. Burrows mouth dropped open, when the gates opened under Susan´s grip.
„Wow!" the soldier exclaimed. „How the hell …?"
„You may enter, Gentlemen." Susan said with an inviting motion. The puzzled faces of the two men confused her a little and her smile faded. They still didn´t move.
„How is that possible?" Burrows asked Monger and made him frown as well. Was his friend joking?
„Dick." he said. „This is … You really don´t …?" he just couldn´t believe it.
„This is Ginormica." Dr. Cockroach finally told them.
Burrows and the soldier looked at Susan in disbelieve. She smiled and shrugged. „I lost some weight." she said. The two men didn´t laugh.
Finally Monger shook his head and said: „We are not here to discuss the size of my inferiors. There is work to do."
With that he entered the hangar, that was on the other side of the gate. The others followed him.
In the centre of the hall there was a strange device that looked a little like a mixture of a stealth bomber and a classic flying saucer. In its middle there was the cockpit with windshields, that went almost completely around it. All over the hangar there were machines – now all dead – that used to scan and monitor the space vehicle. In one wall there was a huge gateway, that led away into a far distance, probably to come out somewhere at the wall of a mountain. Susan suddenly felt reminded on some old comics, she had read as a child. This is the stash of the X-men, she thought.
„Well, as I said." Burrows told them. „Our guys were not able to figure out, how it flies."
„You mind if I have a try?" Dr. Cockroach asked and ran away before anyone could answer him. Only five seconds later, it seemed, he was in the cockpit, pushing buttons in wild excitement.
„You sure, he knows what he is doing?" Burrows asked uncomfortable.
„Don´t worry." Monger answered. „If anyone can start that baby, it is him."
Burrows nodded. „And … how long do you think, will he need?"
In that moment the engines of the shuttle came to life and the whole thing made a jump up into the air. A slight bang was audible when it hit the ceiling. All of them, monsters and soldiers, winced at the sound. Dr. Cockroaches laughter came over intercom.
„I´m sorry, General!" he cried with an excited, strident voice. „I believe, I got the wrong gear!"
Monger straighted his back smiling and shook his head.
„Unbelievable." Burrows said and watched the shuttle coming down to the ground again, hovering only one meter over it. „And what do you plan to do now?" he asked amazed.
It was B.O.B. who answered: „We are going to kick these aliens in their butts!" and to support his own words, he smashed his fist into his hand. Susan covered her mouth and giggled.
Monger nodded at B.O.B. with a wide smile. „I couldn´t have said it better." he said.
„I suggest you come in now!" the Doc cried out to them. „I can´t wait to see what this baby here can do!"
Susan, still giggling quietly, trotted toward the saucer. B.O.B. followed her laughing out loud, caught up with her and was inside the saucer, before she even had reached the way that led up to the door. He appeared behind Dr. C in the cockpit looking over his shoulder like an excited kid.
„Will you get along?" Monger asked his friend.
„Now that the door is open, I think we will." Burrows assured him. „You go and do as your blue friend said so colorful. Chase these bastards away from our planet."
„We will." Monger promised. „One more thing. Another monster is on his way. The Missing Link. He´ll probably be in company of Butterflyosaurus. When he arrives, tell him, we´re heading for Washington D.C. and that he has to figure out another way to fight the aliens. We can´t wait for him."
„I´ll tell him. Oh, and the young lady will have to open the doors at the end of that tunnel." Burrows told him. „Your Dr. Cockroach shell try, not to run them down."
„I´ll tell him." Monger said grinning.
„All right, Warren. Good luck." Burrows offered him his hand again and Monger took it.
„For all of us." he replied. With that he went away to join the others. He had just closed the door behind him, when the ground under his feet, seemed to rush away and he flew against the wall. Another sharp movement threw him in the opposite direction and he found himself on the floor.
„Dammit, Bug-man!" he yelled and struggled to stand up.
„I´m sorry, General!" Dr. C cried, still overexcited. „I believe, now I´ve got it!"
Monger had just reached the door to the cockpit – Susan and B.O.B. were clinging to the chairs and instruments as well – when the saucer rushed forward again and he flew back to where he had been before. Between the bang of the metal wall he had hit and the ringing in his ears, he heard Dr. Cockroaches wild mad scientists laughter.
Well, to quote Dr. C again: Once more into the breach, dear friends. Once more.
But not before next week ;-)
(Thats from Shakespeare´s "Henry V" by the way. If you should have wondered. If you like, read it. It can´t hurt to promote some of the classics. Sorry. Old attitudes. I just thought it would fit the good Doctor to quote from that.)
Anyway. Until then. Thanks for reading.