Quiet Invasion(170)

“Josh,” croaked Vee. “I think you’d better go get the governing board.”

But Josh was already gone. Vee typed. Her hands had gone completely cold.

What are they going to do?

The words spelled themselves out in front of Vee’s eyes. A monocellular to be launched through the portal.…A chemical trigger that would turn a benign monocellular life form in the human body into a lethal strain….Deaths within hours….

“Holy God and Mother Creation.” Vee could barely control her hands anymore. She couldn’t encompass this. Earth. They were going to wipe out the human race. They were going to kill everyone.

Everyone.

No, Br’sei, the Terrans are not insane. They’re different. We disagree, that’s all.

Br’sei swelled a little as he studied the words. They did not threaten to cut you off from the resources you need to live? We misunderstood? She thought he might be hopeful.

What is misunderstood is the reason for it, Br’sei. “Come on, come on, you have to understand this!” It is an internal conflict, nothing more.

Br’sei did not respond. He pulled back, and D’seun swept into the camera’s view followed by a Person Vee did not recognize. D’seun spoke to Br’sei, swelling his body and flapping his wings as if to shove Br’sei aside.

Br’sei spoke.

I am asked if I think I am now an ambassador, read the screen. I am asked—

D’seun dived at him, beating him away with his wings. Vee saw his skin tear open, freeing wisps of vapor. Br’sei fell back under the attack, shrinking and dropping as he did.

Stop! Stop! Vee typed frantically. But he did not stop. He drove Br’sei backward. His wings smashed against the display bubble, tearing it open. It flopped sideways, spilling out a pink fog that dispersed into the clear air.

Vee looked down at the torn bubble and up at the strange members of the People. The one who had arrived with D’seun spoke to Br’sei’s companions. One of them vanished.

Vee didn’t stand still to watch what happened. She had to tell somebody. Warn Earth. Who? How? The communications were blocked by Michael. But Michael had left. Had he thought to turn the blocks off before he went?

Vee shoved the drone controls aside and began typing so fast and hard her fingers screamed in protest.

Rosa, Rosa, Rosa, be there, be there, be there. Vee grasped the edges of the desk and leaned over the screen, gasping for breath around the panic that filled her throat. Would it work? Could she open a line? What if she couldn’t?

She glanced up at the wall screen. Br’sei’s friend had returned with a string of lumps. A tear ran down Vee’s cheek.

The desk screen cleared, and Rosa’s concerned face looked up at her. “What’s the matter, Vee?”

Vee almost laughed. There was no time. “Rosy, listen to me. I haven’t got any time to explain. There are live aliens on Venus and they have decided the Terrans are too dangerous to live. They’re launching a virus or something like it through their portal. They’re going to try to kill the Terrans, Rosa. All of them. If we can’t stop them, it’s going to be soon.” On the other screen, the Person had new tendrils spread out on the drone’s hull and had produced another pink bag. “Rosa, you have to tell the U.N. They have to figure out a plan. I’ll try to get more information through as soon as I’ve got it.”

The delay ticked by, and the pink bag grew. Her manager’s face went white, then gray.

“Vee, you don’t mean this—”

The new pink bag was a full bubble outside the wall screen now. The stranger beside D’seun spoke.

I am sorry you had to witness that, Engineer Vee. Br’sei does not speak for the People. I do. I am Ambassador Z’eth.

Vee bit down hard on her lip. “I mean it Rosy,” she whispered, wiping at the tears on her cheeks. “Call Yan Su. She’ll confirm what I’m telling you about the aliens. Tell her about the virus. I’m doing my best, but…Please, call my family. Tell them they’ve got to get off Earth, go to Luna. Give them my account access, but you and they have to get out of there. I’ve got to go.” She cut the connection and it felt like her heart was torn in two.

Ambassador, she typed with her cold, trembling fingers. This is Vee. The people of this world do not want the Terrans dead. Rosa would not stay on Earth. Rosa would get away. They couldn’t kill her family. Mother, Father, Gramma, Grampa, Kitty, Lois, Tom, Amber, Auden. Rosa; Nikki. Everybody.

No, no, no, they would not die. She couldn’t let them. She had to think of something to say. She had to think of something. They—

You are not an ambassador, replied Z’eth. You cannot say what your people want.