July 29, 1997
Charles Manson sits inside his cell in the San Quentin Maximum Security Prison. He had been here for almost thirty years, ever since being convicted of a string of murders in Los Angeles. He had been eligible for parole for the whole time, and yet he has been denied parole.
Today he is in for a surprise.
He sees a man enter his cell block. The first thing Manson notices is that the man looks stranger than any man he has ever seen. He also notices the man is dressed like a soldier.
The strange-looking soldier opens the cell door. He apparently wants all of the inmates to go to the courtyard.
Charles Manson follows the soldier. He arrives in the courtyard and notices all of the inmates are here. He recognizes Richard Ramirez, the NightStalker.
Then one of the strange-looking men speaks. "Greetings," he says in English. "I have come to inform you that the government that put you away has fallen, and that the Kromagg Dynasty is now in control. There will be some changes around here."
"I wonder what he means," asks a prisoner.
"The Kromagg Dynasty declares you all to be free."
There is a loud cheering from all of the prisoners, some who were sentenced to death, some sentenced to life without parole.
"There is only one law. Do not get in our way. Other than that, you may do as you please."
Then San Quentin's main gate is opened, and there is an immediate stampede. Thousands of inamtes rush out to revel in their newfound freedom. some of the unlucky inmates get trampled in the stampede and killed.
Charles Manson is among those who make it out of prison.
"Free at last, free at last," he says. "Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last."
Thomas Beckett sits inside his cell at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. the whole place has been in lockdown for two days since the enemy which attacked the United States took over. He wonders what these strange-looking soldiers want.
It is certainly better than thinking how he ended up here. He had once been a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. But then he was involved in an illegal scheme involving a defense contractor. He was court-martialed, convicted, and sentenced to twelve years in Leavenworth.
"I hear foosteps," says his cellmate, El Sid. "One of them must be coming." El Sid was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces, decorated with a Silver Star ans a Purple Heart for his service in the Gulf War. He had a hot temper, which led him to give a backhand slap to an Army general a year ago. El Sid pleaded guilty to assault and is serving a two-year term in Leavenworth.
The strange-looking soldier appears. He wears a black uniform with bright brass buttons down the middle. There are medals pinned to the soldier's chest.
"We are from the Kromagg Dynasty," he says.
"So you know our language," says El Sid.
"We are a people from a faraway world. I wish to speak with the human named Thomas Beckett."
"That's me," says Thomas Beckett.
"We reviewed the records of the prisoners here, and we know you were once a general. We are informing you that your government has fallen, and it is no longer in control."
Beckett is silent. He never thought he would witness the fall of the United States of America.
"We need the people of this world to cooperate with us to rebuild society, people like you. will you accept our offer?"
"Sure," says Beckett. "It sure beats prison."
Two officers and a sergeant from the Kromagg Dynasty Army enter the opulent palace. They speak to one of the palace guards, and he guides them to a small room.
A human with a thick black moustache, dressed in a suit, greets them.
"We are soliders frok the Kromagg Dynasty," says the kromagg officer. "We come from a faraway world. We inform you that all of your enemies have been vanquished."
"All of my enemies?" asks the man.
"Yes," replies the Army officer. "We believe you will be a useful ally to us. We won't garrison any troops here. We just want to be allies."
"Very well then," he says.
Saddam Hussein smiles.
"Sir, we received a report that the enemy troops have landed on Yerba Buena Island," says a U.S. Marine corporal.
"What?" asks Major General Alexander Hunt.
"The Marine garrisson is in combat with them."
"We must not allow them to take this facility," says the general. He goes to a computer and types at the keyboard. A message appears for the self-destruct system. He enters the password, and another dailog box appears on the screen asking for the time to be set. He sets the time for ten minutes.
"Are you going to blow the place up, sir?" asks Colonel Angus Rickman.
"We won't let the enemy take any of this," replies Hunt. "We're going to prepare for the evacuation."
"Yes, sir."
Ever since the July 11 attacks, the personnel at the Yerba Buena U.S. Marine Corps Research Center have formulated an evacuation plan to escape to one of the outposts they set up on another version of Earth. Bennish and Wing had already gone over there to ensure the evacuation site is secure. They had communicated to each other via written messages thrown across the dimensions.
Captain Maggie Beckett looks at a monitor screen showing a feed from the Level One lobby video camera. she sees people coming in.
She sees they are enemy soldiers.
"Sir, the enemy has entered the building," she says.
"I can see that, Captain," says General Hunt. "We begin the evacuation now."
He goes to the computwer console and makes sure the countdown is silent. Then he cloiks okay.
"Ten minutes until self-destruct," a female voice says. "there will be no further announcement."
Diana Davis opens the wormhole to the evacuation Earth. Hunt then takes his nine-millimeter Beretta and fires at the keyboards and mice, preventing any further input. Everyone in Sub-Level One goes to the embarkation room. After three minutes, the door is locked.
"Civilians first!" shouts Hunt. The civilian technicians jump into the red vortex. There is a noise at the door to the embarkation room, the enemy is trying to go inside. "Enlistees next!" The enlisted marines jump into the vortex. First the privates, then the corporals, then the sergeants. Hunt looks up and sees the enemy in the control room. He notices sparks coming from the door; the enemy is trying to cut it open. "Officers go!" The company grade officers go in, including Captain Beckett. Then the field grade officers go.
"See you in the other side, sir,:" says Colonel Rickman as he gives a salute.
Then the door is breached, and the enemy rushes in. General Hunt jumps into the vortex and leaves his world.
The kromagg soldiers stand guard before the vortex; they think better than to jump into an unknown vortex.
They have no idea of the countdown.
Finally, the self-destruct timer reaches zero, setting off explosives around the building. The kromagg soldiers are killed in the blast and the whole structure collapses.
Wade Welles looks as the light shines in her right eye. Then her right index finger is placed on a pad.
The kromagg guard leads her through a concrete hall. Occasionally, she receives an electric shock in the spine from a device similar to a cattle prod. The shocks hurt. She is then pushed into a cell.
She sees Rembrandt Brown inside. "Hi, Remmy," she says.
"I'm glad you're here," replies Rembrandt.
They both sit in the cell. A guard watches the whole cell block. They had been brought here today from Terminal Island; apparently the kromaggs set up a more secure facility to hold the human prisoners. Now they wait. And they hope Quinn does not come back.
Hours later, some guards come and open the door to Wade and Rembrandt's cell. The leader of the guards shocks Wade with a prod. she gets the message. Rembrandt looks on as Wade is taken away.
Wade is led to a small, dim room. For a few minutes, the kromaggs scan her with equipment and stuff and inject something into her. She wonders what the kromaggs will ask her. Most of the people in the prison believe that the kromaggs are from another planet in this universe; Wade knows the truth.
"Hello, Wade," a male voice says.
Wade recognizes the voice. It can't be. "Quinn?' she asks.
"Yes," says Quinn, appearing in front of her.
"You came back."
"I've come back."
"I was hoping you;d never come back, hoping you'd never see your home destroyed."
"It's okay, Wade. The kromaggs are our friends."
"Huh?" asks Wade.
"This world is evil, full of stealing and violence and murder. The kromaggs want to create a paradise."
"Your mother."
"She's fine. The kromaggs are simply trying to set up a government, a better government than the one we had. Once we accept their rule, we can live in peace."
"No!" shouts Wade, even with her mind muddled by drugs. "You can't be Quinn.This is a trick!"
"Let's take her back," says the officer in charge. He has Wade escorted back to her cell.
Along the way, Wade sees that Rembrandt is being escorted to the interrogation room.
Rembrandt is scanned and injected with drugs.
"Hello, Mr. Brown," he hears.
Rembrandt looks a tthe figure speaking to him. "It can't be. You're dead!"
"I am very much alive, Mr. Brown," says Professor Maximilian Arturo.
"How? I saw you get shot on a world which was then torn apart!"
"the kromaggs knew the danger rtrhat world was in. They went to rescue everyone-including me. My wound wasn't fatal; I just lost consciousness. But I have have surely died if I was left on that world."
"How could you trust them?"
"the kromaggs want to make the world a better place. You know the problems on our world. The kromaggs will take us to a higher stage of enlightenment."
Rembrandt wonders if this is true. He searches his drug-addled mind for memories of his last encounter with the kromaggs. "No!" he shouts. "I know what they do. I don't know if you are an illusion or a double, but you are not the professor I spent two years with!"
Wade and Rembrandt eat the dinner the kromaggs provided. It is some bland, nondescript food.
"We can't yield to their tricks," says Rembrandt.
"You're right," says Wade. "What can we do?"
"Listen, girl," says the musician. "They can keep us in here, but we are free in here." He points to his head. "and in here." He puts in hand on his heart.
August 1, 1997
Wade is once again taken from her cell. She does not go into the interrogation room that the kromaggs took her on prior occasions. It is to a different room.
Her wrists and ankles are fastened to a wall.
"Tell us, human," says the interrogator. "We know you traversed the dimensions. Where is the base of operations."
"I won't tell you," says Wade.
Then she receives an electric shock in the back.
"Tell us where the humans have their quantum probability translocation drive."
"No."
And then Wade is shocked again.
Meanwhile, in a secret underground Army base, President Rob Rubin reviews the status of the war.
"The enemy calls themselves the Kromagg Dynasty," says the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. "They claim to be from another planet in a distant galaxy."
"So this is an alien invasion," says the President.
"Yes, sir. As you see, the kromaggs overran almost the whole country. They've taken the major meteroplotian areas, and several towns are under siege. Only the Rockies and the Appalachians are under our control."
"And we're surrounded."
"Fortunately, the mountainous terrain we are in makes it difficult for the kromaggs to lay siege to this base. There have been several enemy incursions into the area, but all have been repelled."
"And yet we are not receiving reinforcements nor do we have a source for ammunition. They may not take this area today or tomorrow, but if this war of attrition continues, we will be surrounded, cut off from food or supplies."
August 13, 1997
Rembrandt Brown is put into his cell again after a torture and interrogation session. His back is stil, sore from the pain of the electric shocks and his mind is still muddled with drugs. He sees Wade in there.
The kromaggs take Wade from the cell. "Listen, Mr. Brown," says the interrogation officer. "We know you and this woman are close. You will tell us what we want to know or we will ship her to a breeding camp in another world."
A breeding camp? Rembrandt can only imagine what would happen to her there.
"No," he says. "This is all a trick. I won't say anything to you maggots."
"You will never see this female again!"
"THIS IS ALL A TRICK!!! I WON'T PLAY THESE MIND GAMES WITH YOU. I'LL NEVER TELL."
"You made your choice. I hope you can live with the guilt."
Rembrandt looks at Wade's eyes.
He can see the fear.
This is no trick, he grimly realizes.
"Wait!" he shouts "I'll tell you. The sliding machine is in San Francisco. In a place called Yerba Buena. Just leave her here."
"Sorry, Mr. Brown, you should have cooperated with us from the start. Now she will pay the price for your defiance."
"No, take me instead! You want to breed more of you. Use me! I've had a baby before; she didn't!"
But his plea is unanswered.
Wade Welles is gone.
Rembrandt Brown sits down, with tears of rage and grief and despair streaming from his eyes.
Charles Manson sits inside his cell in the San Quentin Maximum Security Prison. He had been here for almost thirty years, ever since being convicted of a string of murders in Los Angeles. He had been eligible for parole for the whole time, and yet he has been denied parole.
Today he is in for a surprise.
He sees a man enter his cell block. The first thing Manson notices is that the man looks stranger than any man he has ever seen. He also notices the man is dressed like a soldier.
The strange-looking soldier opens the cell door. He apparently wants all of the inmates to go to the courtyard.
Charles Manson follows the soldier. He arrives in the courtyard and notices all of the inmates are here. He recognizes Richard Ramirez, the NightStalker.
Then one of the strange-looking men speaks. "Greetings," he says in English. "I have come to inform you that the government that put you away has fallen, and that the Kromagg Dynasty is now in control. There will be some changes around here."
"I wonder what he means," asks a prisoner.
"The Kromagg Dynasty declares you all to be free."
There is a loud cheering from all of the prisoners, some who were sentenced to death, some sentenced to life without parole.
"There is only one law. Do not get in our way. Other than that, you may do as you please."
Then San Quentin's main gate is opened, and there is an immediate stampede. Thousands of inamtes rush out to revel in their newfound freedom. some of the unlucky inmates get trampled in the stampede and killed.
Charles Manson is among those who make it out of prison.
"Free at last, free at last," he says. "Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last."
Thomas Beckett sits inside his cell at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. the whole place has been in lockdown for two days since the enemy which attacked the United States took over. He wonders what these strange-looking soldiers want.
It is certainly better than thinking how he ended up here. He had once been a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. But then he was involved in an illegal scheme involving a defense contractor. He was court-martialed, convicted, and sentenced to twelve years in Leavenworth.
"I hear foosteps," says his cellmate, El Sid. "One of them must be coming." El Sid was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces, decorated with a Silver Star ans a Purple Heart for his service in the Gulf War. He had a hot temper, which led him to give a backhand slap to an Army general a year ago. El Sid pleaded guilty to assault and is serving a two-year term in Leavenworth.
The strange-looking soldier appears. He wears a black uniform with bright brass buttons down the middle. There are medals pinned to the soldier's chest.
"We are from the Kromagg Dynasty," he says.
"So you know our language," says El Sid.
"We are a people from a faraway world. I wish to speak with the human named Thomas Beckett."
"That's me," says Thomas Beckett.
"We reviewed the records of the prisoners here, and we know you were once a general. We are informing you that your government has fallen, and it is no longer in control."
Beckett is silent. He never thought he would witness the fall of the United States of America.
"We need the people of this world to cooperate with us to rebuild society, people like you. will you accept our offer?"
"Sure," says Beckett. "It sure beats prison."
Two officers and a sergeant from the Kromagg Dynasty Army enter the opulent palace. They speak to one of the palace guards, and he guides them to a small room.
A human with a thick black moustache, dressed in a suit, greets them.
"We are soliders frok the Kromagg Dynasty," says the kromagg officer. "We come from a faraway world. We inform you that all of your enemies have been vanquished."
"All of my enemies?" asks the man.
"Yes," replies the Army officer. "We believe you will be a useful ally to us. We won't garrison any troops here. We just want to be allies."
"Very well then," he says.
Saddam Hussein smiles.
"Sir, we received a report that the enemy troops have landed on Yerba Buena Island," says a U.S. Marine corporal.
"What?" asks Major General Alexander Hunt.
"The Marine garrisson is in combat with them."
"We must not allow them to take this facility," says the general. He goes to a computer and types at the keyboard. A message appears for the self-destruct system. He enters the password, and another dailog box appears on the screen asking for the time to be set. He sets the time for ten minutes.
"Are you going to blow the place up, sir?" asks Colonel Angus Rickman.
"We won't let the enemy take any of this," replies Hunt. "We're going to prepare for the evacuation."
"Yes, sir."
Ever since the July 11 attacks, the personnel at the Yerba Buena U.S. Marine Corps Research Center have formulated an evacuation plan to escape to one of the outposts they set up on another version of Earth. Bennish and Wing had already gone over there to ensure the evacuation site is secure. They had communicated to each other via written messages thrown across the dimensions.
Captain Maggie Beckett looks at a monitor screen showing a feed from the Level One lobby video camera. she sees people coming in.
She sees they are enemy soldiers.
"Sir, the enemy has entered the building," she says.
"I can see that, Captain," says General Hunt. "We begin the evacuation now."
He goes to the computwer console and makes sure the countdown is silent. Then he cloiks okay.
"Ten minutes until self-destruct," a female voice says. "there will be no further announcement."
Diana Davis opens the wormhole to the evacuation Earth. Hunt then takes his nine-millimeter Beretta and fires at the keyboards and mice, preventing any further input. Everyone in Sub-Level One goes to the embarkation room. After three minutes, the door is locked.
"Civilians first!" shouts Hunt. The civilian technicians jump into the red vortex. There is a noise at the door to the embarkation room, the enemy is trying to go inside. "Enlistees next!" The enlisted marines jump into the vortex. First the privates, then the corporals, then the sergeants. Hunt looks up and sees the enemy in the control room. He notices sparks coming from the door; the enemy is trying to cut it open. "Officers go!" The company grade officers go in, including Captain Beckett. Then the field grade officers go.
"See you in the other side, sir,:" says Colonel Rickman as he gives a salute.
Then the door is breached, and the enemy rushes in. General Hunt jumps into the vortex and leaves his world.
The kromagg soldiers stand guard before the vortex; they think better than to jump into an unknown vortex.
They have no idea of the countdown.
Finally, the self-destruct timer reaches zero, setting off explosives around the building. The kromagg soldiers are killed in the blast and the whole structure collapses.
Wade Welles looks as the light shines in her right eye. Then her right index finger is placed on a pad.
The kromagg guard leads her through a concrete hall. Occasionally, she receives an electric shock in the spine from a device similar to a cattle prod. The shocks hurt. She is then pushed into a cell.
She sees Rembrandt Brown inside. "Hi, Remmy," she says.
"I'm glad you're here," replies Rembrandt.
They both sit in the cell. A guard watches the whole cell block. They had been brought here today from Terminal Island; apparently the kromaggs set up a more secure facility to hold the human prisoners. Now they wait. And they hope Quinn does not come back.
Hours later, some guards come and open the door to Wade and Rembrandt's cell. The leader of the guards shocks Wade with a prod. she gets the message. Rembrandt looks on as Wade is taken away.
Wade is led to a small, dim room. For a few minutes, the kromaggs scan her with equipment and stuff and inject something into her. She wonders what the kromaggs will ask her. Most of the people in the prison believe that the kromaggs are from another planet in this universe; Wade knows the truth.
"Hello, Wade," a male voice says.
Wade recognizes the voice. It can't be. "Quinn?' she asks.
"Yes," says Quinn, appearing in front of her.
"You came back."
"I've come back."
"I was hoping you;d never come back, hoping you'd never see your home destroyed."
"It's okay, Wade. The kromaggs are our friends."
"Huh?" asks Wade.
"This world is evil, full of stealing and violence and murder. The kromaggs want to create a paradise."
"Your mother."
"She's fine. The kromaggs are simply trying to set up a government, a better government than the one we had. Once we accept their rule, we can live in peace."
"No!" shouts Wade, even with her mind muddled by drugs. "You can't be Quinn.This is a trick!"
"Let's take her back," says the officer in charge. He has Wade escorted back to her cell.
Along the way, Wade sees that Rembrandt is being escorted to the interrogation room.
Rembrandt is scanned and injected with drugs.
"Hello, Mr. Brown," he hears.
Rembrandt looks a tthe figure speaking to him. "It can't be. You're dead!"
"I am very much alive, Mr. Brown," says Professor Maximilian Arturo.
"How? I saw you get shot on a world which was then torn apart!"
"the kromaggs knew the danger rtrhat world was in. They went to rescue everyone-including me. My wound wasn't fatal; I just lost consciousness. But I have have surely died if I was left on that world."
"How could you trust them?"
"the kromaggs want to make the world a better place. You know the problems on our world. The kromaggs will take us to a higher stage of enlightenment."
Rembrandt wonders if this is true. He searches his drug-addled mind for memories of his last encounter with the kromaggs. "No!" he shouts. "I know what they do. I don't know if you are an illusion or a double, but you are not the professor I spent two years with!"
Wade and Rembrandt eat the dinner the kromaggs provided. It is some bland, nondescript food.
"We can't yield to their tricks," says Rembrandt.
"You're right," says Wade. "What can we do?"
"Listen, girl," says the musician. "They can keep us in here, but we are free in here." He points to his head. "and in here." He puts in hand on his heart.
August 1, 1997
Wade is once again taken from her cell. She does not go into the interrogation room that the kromaggs took her on prior occasions. It is to a different room.
Her wrists and ankles are fastened to a wall.
"Tell us, human," says the interrogator. "We know you traversed the dimensions. Where is the base of operations."
"I won't tell you," says Wade.
Then she receives an electric shock in the back.
"Tell us where the humans have their quantum probability translocation drive."
"No."
And then Wade is shocked again.
Meanwhile, in a secret underground Army base, President Rob Rubin reviews the status of the war.
"The enemy calls themselves the Kromagg Dynasty," says the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. "They claim to be from another planet in a distant galaxy."
"So this is an alien invasion," says the President.
"Yes, sir. As you see, the kromaggs overran almost the whole country. They've taken the major meteroplotian areas, and several towns are under siege. Only the Rockies and the Appalachians are under our control."
"And we're surrounded."
"Fortunately, the mountainous terrain we are in makes it difficult for the kromaggs to lay siege to this base. There have been several enemy incursions into the area, but all have been repelled."
"And yet we are not receiving reinforcements nor do we have a source for ammunition. They may not take this area today or tomorrow, but if this war of attrition continues, we will be surrounded, cut off from food or supplies."
August 13, 1997
Rembrandt Brown is put into his cell again after a torture and interrogation session. His back is stil, sore from the pain of the electric shocks and his mind is still muddled with drugs. He sees Wade in there.
The kromaggs take Wade from the cell. "Listen, Mr. Brown," says the interrogation officer. "We know you and this woman are close. You will tell us what we want to know or we will ship her to a breeding camp in another world."
A breeding camp? Rembrandt can only imagine what would happen to her there.
"No," he says. "This is all a trick. I won't say anything to you maggots."
"You will never see this female again!"
"THIS IS ALL A TRICK!!! I WON'T PLAY THESE MIND GAMES WITH YOU. I'LL NEVER TELL."
"You made your choice. I hope you can live with the guilt."
Rembrandt looks at Wade's eyes.
He can see the fear.
This is no trick, he grimly realizes.
"Wait!" he shouts "I'll tell you. The sliding machine is in San Francisco. In a place called Yerba Buena. Just leave her here."
"Sorry, Mr. Brown, you should have cooperated with us from the start. Now she will pay the price for your defiance."
"No, take me instead! You want to breed more of you. Use me! I've had a baby before; she didn't!"
But his plea is unanswered.
Wade Welles is gone.
Rembrandt Brown sits down, with tears of rage and grief and despair streaming from his eyes.