(updated 12-08-2020)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Evolution is a bitch!
"The Stage 5 Invid appears outwardly physically human, with all the requisite internal and external parts. This Invid has the same, or somewhat better, physical and mental abilities as humans. The Regess created these 'humanized' Invid to better study and combat her Sentinels and REF adversaries. This new evolved Invid life-form was better adapted and optimized for command and combat than the other stages of Invid evolution. Though they may appear human, these Invid still possess the low-level psionic subconscious connection with the rest of the Invid hive mind. This makes them better at commanding the lower castes. However, in selecting the humans as a template for this next stage of Invid evolution, the Regess failed to take one important factor into account. When templating humans on to the Invid, she got all the varied capabilities of that species which included hormones, emotions, self-awareness, and free will. Despite being Invid, they can actively decide to isolate themselves from the group mind or pretend to be something else through it..."
— Excerpt from the REF Field Guide (Tirol, 2036)
oOoOo
Alone in the Situation Room, dark, angry thoughts coursed through Kinsey. After his call to the commanding officer in charge of the soldiers in Adamsville, he'd thrown everyone out in a fit of anger.
Thoughts of revenge against everyone who'd ever opposed him filled his head, but he forced them down to focus on what he was going to do with his 'Texas Problem'. Despite looking at all the different angles, he couldn't see an outcome where he wouldn't take a major hit. A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Bob, you don't have a lot of options here."
Kinsey eyed The First Evil, "I could send in some vampires... Have them sweep in at night take out the command group. That should cause them to fold up? Maybe they can grab the Slayer?" he mused out loud.
The First Evil shook his head, showing an unexpected hesitance, "If you had time, then I would say give it a try."
The First Evil's pensive expression and hesitation didn't fill Kinsey with confidence, "What do you mean if I had time? What's going on? What am I not being told?"
"Something has changed," the First Evil hissed, annoyed by the human's tone and questions.
The First Evil paused, noting the worried, questioning look on Kinsey's face. He still required Kinsey, and the last thing he needed was to have the President lose his composure and control.
The First Evil tried to reassure Kinsey, "I don't know what's happened. All I can tell you is that something has changed, and we don't have a lot of time."
Kinsey sighed, "So what do you suggest?"
The First Evil considered the situation and their options. Like Kinsey, he didn't see any choice for them, "You've got to make the call to the Haydonites. The longer you wait, the worse it will get. Once word gets out about what's happening in Texas, it won't take long before others get the same idea. You'll then be dealing with rebellions all over the place. Those aliens may then see you as someone that's unable to keep his house in order. They might decide that you're no longer needed."
Kinsey reluctantly nodded in agreement, also seeing no other option. Just when the situation looked bad, an idea flashed in his head, causing his sullen expression to fade.
"Bob, I can see the wheels turning in your head. What do you have in mind?"
An evil smirk flashed on the President's face, "I think it's time to clean house. While we hand over that Slayer's location and get those aliens to do the dirty work in Texas. I think it's finally time to clean house here in Washington. We'll unleash all the vampires to remove all my enemies and any potential adversaries, purging them in one swoop. The streets of this town will run red with their blood. Nobody will dare oppose us..."
The First Evil mirrored Kinsey's expression, while admiring his idea and audacity, "Way to make lemonade out of lemons, Bob."
oOoOo
"Rector Loreer, your early arrival here is an unexpected bonus," Dejan said.
"Yes, Prelate. Our forces have stalled the Alliance's offensive for now. The Supreme Council and the Awareness decided we could release reinforcements to your fleet to help fortify this planet's defenses," the Rector replied.
"We suffered minimal casualties when we took this planet, but I appreciate the support. I see you have already begun deployment of the orbital defense platforms."
"Yes, Prelate. To save time, we pre-assembled the platforms in the home system. They will add significantly to the firepower at your disposal."
"Yes, from the information I have seen, the new synchro cannon has been showing impressive results," Dejan said.
"Yes, this new weapon is being retro-fitted to the ships and defense installations in the home system," Loreer replied.
"What is the status on the Neutron-S missiles? I understand that they are close to being ready."
"There have been a few delays because of some technical difficulties, but the program is still within parameters to be ready within the projected timeline," Loreer replied.
Anticipation and desire for revenge filled and flowed through Dejan. His imagination ran wild of the destruction he would rain down on the home worlds of that damned Alliance, "What is the status of the orbital defense platform deployment?"
"We have deployed sixty-two percent of the platforms with forty percent of them powered up and in diagnostic testing mode. All platforms will be fully operational and deployed within forty-eight hours," Loreer answered.
"Excellent work, Rector. I will note your performance in my report to the Supreme Council," remarked Dejan. He was about to say something else to the Rector when one of his subordinates approached.
"Prelate, there is an incoming transmission from Rector Nunan."
Dejan nodded, moving over to the main holographic display to take the communication. He nodded again and the image of Nunan materialized, appearing as if he was floating over the command table.
"Rector, what do you have to report?"
"Prelate, I received word from President Kinsey. He has the location of the Slayer," Nunan said.
Dejan could not believe his run of good fortune at the moment, but the satisfaction faded as he detected something in Nunan's voice.
"What is the problem?" Dejan demanded as his tone implied he would not tolerate any excuses.
"Prelate... Kinsey informed me of her location over two hours ago. He also informed me that some of his military units have rebelled and have linked up with the Slayer and her cohorts..."
"Yes, yes, get on with it!" Dejan ordered.
"I deployed a squad of Inquisitors, sending them in on an assault transport to capture her," the Rector said, using an unusually hesitant voice.
A sinking sensation filled the Prelate, noting that the tone in Nunan's voice did not indicate the operation had been a success.
Nunan continued, "I underestimated the capabilities of the forces involved. They appear to have deployed air defense systems in the area. The humans shot down the transport..."
Dejan took a moment to consider the choices he faced. His first instinct was to rebuke Nunan for botching the operation and for now alerting their quarry they were coming. But he now knew where she was. It was as if the universe was giving the Hegemony an opportunity to regain what it had lost. For now, he tabled any punishment for the Rector as he decided what course of action they would take.
"Rector, you will assemble an assault group from the units you have at your disposal. I will notify our other bases to assemble ground units and mecha into a battle group for transport. I will arrange for reconnaissance on the target location along with fighters to support the operation. That should make quick work of any human opposition," Dejan said.
"Yes, Prelate!" Nunan said, expressing relief his superior had decided to overlook his failure, "What about the other humans at that location? Should we take prisoners for interrogation?"
Dejan didn't hesitate, "Our sole aim is the capture of the female. The others are immaterial... Execute them all," he said, using a hard, cold voice.
oOoOo
Faith studied the rising column of smoke from the burning wreckage several miles out of the town. The heads-up display on her helmet visor gave her the exact distance where the alien craft had plummeted to the ground. She also had the added advantage of having her—and Buffy's—Cyclone's communication systems tied into the army tactical communication network. She listened in as a patrol sent out to investigate the crash site confirmed there was no further threat.
The whole incident had taken only a couple of minutes. The first sign of an attack was the radio crackling, reporting an unidentified flying object coming towards the town. In seconds, missiles roared into the sky from different locations from around the town. Explosions filled the sky, followed by a burning object, falling towards the ground. There were cheers from nearby soldiers as the alien craft slammed into the ground.
Buffy's crackling voice filled Faith's helmet, "So what do you think?"
Even with being tied into the army's communications, the two Slayers kept a private channel for themselves to have conversations just like this without the army listening in.
Faith smirked, "One ship? Seems a little insulting, don't ya think?"
Buffy sighed, "It took four missiles to bring it down. I doubt that's the last we'll hear from them."
Faith's smirk faded, "How bad do you think it will be?" she said.
"It'll make Sunnydale and Cleveland look like a day at the beach," Buffy replied.
Faith sighed, "How long do you think we have?"
Buffy considered the question. Regarding fighting aliens, she had no experience, but her instincts were screaming threat warnings to her, "I don't think we'll have to wait too long."
"Good... I hate waiting," Faith replied.
Buffy shook her head, trying not to laugh. She was trying to think of a comeback when a signal on her helmet's heads-up display flashed. She changed over to the army tactical channel, knowing Faith would do the same.
Voices filled the channels. She didn't understand all the jargon or terminology the military was using, but she picked enough out to realize trouble was heading towards them.
"Inbound hostile aircraft!"
Buffy barely had time to absorb the warning as missiles roared into the sky from around the town.
oOoOo
Colonel Weir projected a calm, serious demeanor as reports came in of more inbound airborne hostiles. He'd already given orders for all air defenses to engage at will. This new group—of thirty plus aircraft—appeared to be smaller and faster than the craft they'd shot down earlier. These targets wouldn't be as easy to take down.
Doubts filled his thoughts. He'd already ordered his units to disperse, making it harder for the enemy to target them. He hoped his strategy and tactics would be effective against the aliens. Another report coming focused his attention.
"Colonel, we've got a second group of inbound hostiles behind the first! They appear to be looking to land outside our air defense missile range!"
Weir nodded, grasping the enemy's strategy with their two attacking groups. He realized the first group would come in and soften him up with air strikes. The second group was the ground force that would move in and engage him. A small, grim smile flashed on his face when he saw the coordinates where they projected the second group to land.
"I want a fire mission!" he ordered, motioning for the brigade's artillery support officer to join him at the map board.
"I want you to drop everything you have on those coordinates the minute they touch down!" Weir said, pointing at the map.
The Colonel turned to face his command post, showing no emotion as the air defense officer called the decreasing range of the inbound hostiles.
Weir again wished for air support. His cell phone, vibrating in his pant pocket, interrupted any further wishes or regrets. He wondered who would be calling him now as he fished the phone out of his pocket. The name and number on the phone's call display caused his eyes to widen in shock as he hurriedly answered the call.
"General?" Weir muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. The background noise and reception made General Chamber's voice barely audible.
"Col— Weir, ca— you —ar me?"
"Barely, sir."
The line crackled and roared, but then the General's voice came back on as clear as day.
"Sorry, Colonel. Had to get my Humvee to pull over to the side of the road. I tried calling over the tactical channels, but we couldn't get through to you. I thought I would give this a try on the off chance."
"Yes, sir. We've been experiencing some jamming and degradation in our communication channels, but we still have good local command and control," Weir said. He could hear what sounded like a roar of heavy vehicles passing by in the background.
"Colonel, my lead elements are still over two hours out from you. But I have some good news. I was able to get you some support that can get there quicker. They should be there any time now."
Weir was about to ask what the support was when a voice called out from a station at the command post.
"INCOMING! I have another group of inbound aircraft... twenty plus!" There was a pause before the voice spoke excitedly, "I've got IFFs! They're ours!"
Weir shook his head in amazement as cheers rang through the command post. His attention turned back to the phone and General Chambers, "How did you get us air support?"
"I made a few calls. Just hold on Colonel, we'll be there soon!"
oOoOo
Captain Chris "Conan" Brooks checked his heads-up display of his F-22 Raptor. His fighter had the latest block upgrades, incorporating REF technology. These upgrades improved the fighter's radar and fire-control systems, allowing him to cut through the electronic jamming the enemy was putting out.
He'd once dreamed about flying one of those Robotech planes. But those dreams were long in the past, and he now focused his concentration on the targets flashing on his fire-control radar.
As his fighter and the rest of his squadron closed the distance with the alien craft, his thoughts flashed back to a few hours earlier. Their squadron and base commander had gathered the entire unit and explained what was happening in Texas. They had asked for volunteers... there was no hesitation as every pilot stepped forward.
For Brooks, this was no hard decision on his part. His younger brother had been with the navy... stationed at Pearl Harbor.
The desire for payback burned deeply, but his voice was calm while addressing his flight, "Whiskey leader to Whiskey flight. Tally Ho! It looks like we got here in time to help the army. Engage with AMRAAMs first and then we'll close to sidewinder and cannon range."
Brooks heard the acknowledgements as he got a radar lock on one of the alien craft.
"Fox Three!" he said, pressing the trigger on his flight stick.
His fighter shuddered slightly as the weapons bay opened and a missile launched. He was already looking for another target to engage while his missile streaked across the sky at several times the speed of sound. It didn't take long for explosions to dot the afternoon sky. A brief sense of satisfaction filled him as he saw that one of the alien ships destroyed was his target. He quickly locked on to another alien ship as the range continued to close.
"Fox Three!" he said, launching another missile.
oOoOo
Dejan watched the battle unfold in real-time on his holographic command table. If he'd had a face that could show or express any emotion, it would have been one of growing frustration.
The arrival of human fighters had surprised him. They weren't Robotech craft, but the humans were using them effectively against his fighters. His ground assault force hadn't gotten off easy either... human artillery hit them moments after landing, causing extensive casualties and disrupting their attack on the humans.
Though the humans may have drawn first blood, the Prelate still had massive reserves. Two more ground assault groups backed up with vehicle units and artillery were on route. The humans would soon face the full wrath of his forces.
"Send in four more fighter groups! I want them to establish air superiority over the battlefield and take out every human aircraft and airfield within range."
"Yes, Prelate!" one of his officers replied.
"Have we received any reports back from our reconnaissance forces?" Dejan said, noting his diminished fighter force now recovering and engaging the human fighters in close range combat.
"Yes, Prelate. We are now just receiving data from our drones and scout ships. Data is being streamed to your command console."
Dejan watched as the holographic display changed and morphed to give a better detailed view of the terrain, along with providing a disposition of the human defenses they'd detected.
Before today's events, he would have dismissed any defensive efforts by the humans of this planet. The growing list of casualties forced him to admit that he couldn't afford to be so cavalier in his efforts against the humans of this planet.
"They have dispersed their artillery and one of their armored formations to a separate location to provide fire support," Dejan noted.
"Yes, Prelate," replied an officer.
"It appears to be far enough away..." Dejan mused, "Have the closest cruiser move and launch an orbital bombardment on that position to remove it," he ordered.
Dejan didn't note the acknowledgments from his staff as his concentration was on the holographic display. A sense of satisfaction grew as the display showed his reinforcements entering the battle zone.
oOoOo
Time had no meaning or grasp on him...
The universe lay before him, and he could jump to any point in time to view any memory from the collective mind. He saw how his species looked eons ago and how they first interacted with the flower. He saw how they developed their connection with it.
The Regess's thoughts mingled with his as he jumped through the years feeling the touch of the hive's countless generations as their... his race grew and evolved. He saw their original homeworld... before the Shadows came, forcing them to flee across the stars to settle on Operta.
"The Flower of Life is all that matters..." echoed the collective voices of the Invid.
"I am Invid. There is only the Flower," his thoughts echoed back.
He jumped to another point in time and saw the Regess standing before a strange looking bipedal creature. The words "humanoid" and "Zor" echoed in his thoughts. They seemed familiar, but he did not know how.
A wave of strange emotions hit him as he felt the Regess touch Zor's mind, and they intermingled and became one. He saw how his Regess had shared the secrets of the Flower with this humanoid... this Tirolian.
Watching as his Regess changed her form to match that of the Tirolian. He felt her emotions... the yearning as she waited for Zor to return.
The emotions were strange, yet there was something familiar about them. Images of people and places flashed through his mind. He thought he should recognize them. The faces and places continued to pull at him until they faded. Doubts suddenly filled his thoughts, and he sought the comfort and reassurance of the group mind.
"I am Invid," his thoughts echoed with a slight and disturbing hesitation.
He saw through his Regess's eyes as huge dark ships descended from the sky. He felt a burst of excitement as she at first thought it was Zor returning to her. That excitement quickly turned to sorrow and despair as she realized it wasn't him... the Shadows had found them!
The Haydonites occupied their world. There would be no escape this time. A ripple of intense emotions emanated from the Regess, recalling her imprisonment in the central hive and the PSI jammers blocking her from communicating with her children.
More strange images flashed, this time an image of a particular humanoid lingered longer than the others.
"She is a humanoid female," the Regess said, sensing his confusion.
More strange emotions along with the doubts flowed through him. He thought he should know what these emotions were, but he had no name for them. They were unsettling and discomforting as he was being pulled in all directions.
"What am I?" his thoughts echoed, trying to calm his doubts.
"You are Invid!" the collective thoughts of the Invid roared back. He thought he could detect his doubts and discomfort reflected in them.
"Yes, you are Invid," replied the Regess. He felt the touch of her mind, trying to sooth and calm his thoughts.
"What is my purpose? Why am I here?" he said, trying to wrap the Regess's touch around his thoughts to get rid of the doubts and discomfort he was experiencing.
The Regess's thoughts echoed, mingling with his, "You will be the instrument of my—our revenge! You will unleash the power of the Invid! You will show us the way!"
More images flashed through his mind. This time they were of battles. Again he thought he should recognize them, but he couldn't put all the fragments together. Again the image of the female humanoid flashed. This time she smiled at him and it looked like she was saying something, but he couldn't make out what it was.
What struck him was the look on her face and in her eyes. He struggled to come up with a word to describe it. Words flashed through his thoughts... tenderness... caring... love.
It surprised him as the collective absorbed his thoughts and words. He felt the ripples through the group mind as the image of the female mixed with the memories and feelings of the Regess.
More confusion flowed through him as the Regess's thoughts and the hive mind pulled at him. He didn't know what to do as he tried to understand what was happening. He knew that a war was going on, but he struggled to understand why this should concern the Invid. All his species wanted was to live and commune with the Flower.
A part of him wanted to reject what the Regess was asking as more troubling images flashed. They were images of pain, suffering and death. He pushed them aside, trying to hide from the pain as it was foreign to him at this stage, but yet it seemed familiar.
"Why?" he cried out to the hive mind.
"The Flower is all that matters!" they cried back.
Being Invid that should have been enough to satisfy him, but it wasn't.
"There has to be more?" he demanded, trying to find understanding in the growing chaos of not only his thoughts and emotions but also the group mind.
He found himself wanting to hide from the group mind. He wanted to be alone, which surprised him as it was anathema to the Invid. A growing fear built up inside him as he didn't understand what was happening.
"Help me!" he cried out to the Regess.
"What is it?" her soothing thoughts said as they wrapped around his.
"I-I am afraid!"
"What are you afraid of?"
He had no words to describe why he was afraid. All he knew was that he was afraid. He could feel his fear flow through the collective mind and the stirrings of panic it created.
Her soothing thoughts returned, "You must face your fear."
"I-I don't know if I can... I don't know how," he said as the fear grew and threatened to overwhelm and drown him.
"Set your mind free... What is the first thought that comes to it?" the Regess said.
He struggled as he did as she asked. The image of the female humanoid returned with the same look as before. His fear ebbed, and it resonated through the collective.
"She is important somehow?" he said, unsure as he focused on the female. There were the stirrings of other emotions he couldn't identify, but they were pleasant ones. Again, his feelings resonated through the collective mind as their fear faded.
He found himself able to access more memories of the female. They seem to all be in the past. The group mind absorbed the memories, and the fear disappeared, replaced by the strange pleasant emotions.
Another memory appeared. It looked to be on the deck of a spaceship. The female was there. She had a sad expression on her face, which he found upsetting. He was trying to understand what was happening and what this memory meant when the memory became real. It was him standing there on the deck of the spaceship. It was him she hugged and then pressed her lips against his.
The pleasant feelings became even more intense... He didn't understand what was happening, but he didn't want it to end. He tried to find something to describe what he was experiencing.
"Desire... the word you are looking for is desire," the Regess said in a sad voice.
The word seemed appropriate as he wrapped his mind around what he was experiencing. His desire resonated through the collective mind of the Invid.
"We are Invid... We desire the Flower! We desire..." their thoughts echoed with his as the emotion grew in strength and intensity.
"Yes! I desire—" he said as the memory continued on. This time he could hear what was going on and being said.
"I'll be back... I promise!" he heard himself say.
"Don't make a girl a promise, you can't keep," the female said in a sad soft voice.
The words hit him hard as he tried to understand what he was going through. He didn't care that his confusion was flowing into the group mind too.
"A-A promise... I-I made a promise..." he said to the Regess and the rest of the Invid.
"A promise!" they echoed back.
More memories came and this time he saw the sacrifice that the other had made which allowed for him to exist. Other images flashed in his mind, mixing with those other memories. The images unveiled the path for the Invid's ultimate destiny.
It was strange as some details were clear while others were hazy and they could not see. Those details did not matter to the hive mind as it drew them, like a moth to a flame, to what their species would evolve into.
Joy and happiness filled him and the hive mind as they witnessed the final evolution of their race as they soared to a higher plane of existence. As the phoenix rose from their planet, the hive mind reverberated with a desire and impatience it had never experienced before.
"Not yet. It is not our time yet. We have much yet to do," the Regess said in a tender soothing voice to help calm and sooth the hive mind while it adjusted to these new emotions.
He couldn't help notice that even while he'd been happy at seeing what his race would achieve. It wasn't the same happiness he'd experienced with the female. Doubts again returned to his thoughts. This time he blocked it from the collective as he did not want to share it with them. Images of what the other had done returned, and he wanted to understand the other more.
"The other? H-He is a part of me?" his mind called out to the Regess.
"If you want him to be," the Regess replied.
More doubt and hesitation flowed through his thoughts as he tried to understand what the Regess had said and why he felt this way.
"Why would he give her up? He could have chosen a different path? He could have been with her!"
Another vision came, but this time it was as if it was more like a memory... In a moment of clarity, he understood why the other had made his choice. Helpless anger flooded over him, threatening to drown him as the vision continued. He tried to block the emotions from the rest of the collective, but they were so intense they leaked through.
The hive mind's mood shifted and changed, mirroring him, as the memories and emotions hit them. This anger flowed through the Invid group mind, touching every corner, forever changing it.
His thoughts cried out to the Regess, asking for her to take away the images and emotions that pulled and weighed on him like a curse.
The Regess caught him by surprise when she didn't help, but only asked him a question, "Do you understand?"
He saw the choice he had. He could rid himself of all the memories and feelings from the other... losing them forever. That would be the straightforward choice, making things so much simpler and coherent. He heard parts of the group mind cry out, urging him to make this choice. Memories and images of the female danced in his thoughts. Knowing he would lose her forever filled him with a deep ache and pain he had no words to describe with.
"I choose..." he said, pushing away the doubts and fears.
Emotions and memories flowed through him. Despite the ongoing confusion he was still experiencing, he thought he understood what was happening. That all changed in a moment as visions struck him and the Invid collective like a thunderbolt.
They saw ships in space around a small insignificant blue and white world exploding and breaking apart. Before they could comprehend what was happening the scene shifted, and he was now on the planet.
The Invid group mind saw the smoke covered battlefield through his eyes. They watched as a pair of Reavers dragged a bloodied humanoid outfitted in protective armor.
A surge of emotions went not only through him but also through the group mind. It swept away any remnants of any lingering pleasant feelings as strong undesirable ones hammered at him and the hive mind with an intensity they had never experienced before. They watched helplessly as the humanoid struggled weakly while being dragged by the Haydonites.
"I never knew what had happened to Zor... Not until after the Alliance liberated Operta," the Regess's thoughts said mixed with sadness, and these new emotions they were all experiencing.
"I-I promised..." he said without thinking.
"A PROMISE!" the Invid collective mind roared back as it surged with these new feelings.
He was helpless as the vision played out and these emotions grew even stronger, becoming even more intense. He found he couldn't control his emotions anymore as the Reavers dropped the humanoid to ground, pinning the creature as they removed the helmet. Time froze as he recognized the female being dragged off.
The Invid collective roared in rage and pain with him as the painful vision faded.
"I promised..." he said in a hard, hate filled voice as more images and emotions cascaded through him into the group mind.
"A PROMISE!" the Invid group mind roared back, mirroring his rage and hate.
The Regess's mind reached out to him and the hive, "You will lead us against the Shadows... You will be our Regent. You will raise us up... We will defeat our enemy and achieve our destiny!"
He paid little attention to what the Regess was saying as more memories and emotions flooded his mind...
"I promise!" he said in a strong determined voice, trying to hold back the hate and rage.
"We promise!" the collective mind of the Invid echoed back, mirroring his determination and resolve.