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Once the population was confronted with the deadly drones face-to-face, the fighting tapered off before stopping.
Murduk grunted his satisfaction. ”Good people, our suffering is at an end.” With a brief nod, his image was replaced with a live feed of the invasion force.
Ten large troopships holding two fleets in each were powering up. Their lights and whizzing engines were clear to see and hear.
With a flourish, he waved to the armada. “We are within range of Earth, which is ripe for us to conquer. Once we take what we need, we’ll destroy that loathsome planet. The force of our blast will hurl Akurn back into space where we belong!”
A computer-generated image of Akurn being flung out of the solar system took center screen.
He checked the other monitors around the room that focused on the population.
Most of the people cheered and raised fists in celebration.
The tense hold on the back of his neck loosened.
“My liege.” Nungal whispered to him as he held a finger to his ear as if to listen to an internal communication. The malicious sneer on his pudgy face was the one he wore when he inflicted pain on a hapless victim. “More good news.” His flabby jowls wiggled when he chuckled. “That secret city on Earth’s moon has been located.” His watery, pale-blue eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “You wish the fleet to invade there first?”
Murduk tapped a finger to his lips as he considered. “No.” A slow sneer crossed his lips. ”Have Kud send in covert operatives to capture Princess Inanna.” He went back to his throne and splayed his legs wide. “Switch the vid back to me.” Leaning forward, he placed his hand on one thigh.
“Citizens, as you can see, we have enough firepower to take the resources we need from those pathetic humans. I, and I alone have maintained our dominance in this backwater solar system, no matter how Earth’s population has grown beyond reason. With my leadership, we will end up rich beyond our wildest imagination and regain our rightful place in the civilized galaxy.”
He straightened and stared into the camera. “Victory is ours.”
Epilogue
~Raiden~
“I doubt you’ll get far, looking like that.” The human, Claude, stood with his arms crossed and looked Raiden up and down.
Ben mentally laughed. You need help keeping this guy in line?
Raiden snorted. Of course not. Aloud, he addressed Claude. “That’s not something you need to worry about.” Closing his eyes, Raiden envisioned changing his appearance to make him look like a human business executive. His long tunic and loose pants morphed into a professional Bergdorf Goodman suit, complete with tie and jacket. His loafers turned into a luxurious pair of black Ferragamo oxford shoes made of ostrich leather. He changed his long, white hair to dark brown and shortened it. Rounding his pointed ears, he then transformed the color and shape of his eyes from the dual turquoise-gold to a single dark brown.
“I assume this meets with your approval.” He addressed Claude with his arms raised.
An acidic scent from the human filled the air. “I, ah, is it an illusion or is it real?”
Raiden didn’t have to use his mental abilities to probe the man.
Even though he had to be terrified, Claude did his best to hide his fear.
“You may feel if you would like.” He held out his arm. Indulging the man might calm him down.
Claude pinched the fabric of the expensive suit jacket with trembling fingers. “It’s real.” His tone was full of disbelief. Letting go, he stepped back. “You can actually change matter at the molecular level?”
Raiden nodded. “Yes.” He twitched his shoulders to get used to the feel of being different. It always took him a few moments before he became comfortable with something new.
He turned and addressed Ben. “As Mr. Reese and I head to Langley, reach out to Michael so you can give me an update on what’s happening with him on Earth.” He wouldn’t admit to his younger brother something was interfering with his psychic powers. He found it increasingly difficult to probe Claude’s mind. If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear somebody was doing it on purpose.
Raiden led Claude to the nearest Transkip that took them to the empty professional office in Langley. It was the same place he’d first met Jena.
The room was bare except for a blackout curtain over the lone window that kept the room in darkness. No furniture, no carpet, and nothing adorning the naked drywall except for the massive Transkip mirror posted on one wall.
“Where are we?” Claude glanced around with a hand over his stomach. Apparently, the trip from the moon to earth made him queasy.
“We’re in an industrial park just outside of Langley.” Raiden nodded to the ceiling light that wasn’t working. Seeing in the dark was never a problem. He went to the blacked-out window, pushed the covering aside, and frowned.
The parking lot was empty. No cars and no people. Smoky haze filled the air and blotted out the sun on the cloudless day.
