Chapter 20

"This better be good!" Cecilia said, rubbing her arms for warmth. As usual, the Midwestern weather had taken a sudden, sharp turn into terrible. Along with Sandage, they stood waiting in an empty field on the outskirts of town. Wheat stalks waved in the sharp wind like swaying leaves.

"I'm rather excited myself," Unlike her, the LUVOLT agent seemed unbothered by the cold. Unlike Cecilia's more eastern roots, Sandage was born here. "Macauley sure knows how to make things interesting, huh?."

"That's one word for it," Cecilia replied dryly. Ever since she'd entered their lives, the VTuber had turned them topsy-turvy.

After a couple of minutes, a familiar face appeared. The chubby man waved at them as he approached. "Hey!"

"Doctor Naboth. Any idea what your friend has planned?" Sandage asked.

"Can't say I do. You know what Macauley's like." Petrus wore a backpack—a rather garish one, in Cecilia's opinion, pink with smiling cartoon sunflowers. 

"That figures." Was it because the alien distrusted people or just enjoyed messing with them?

The German scientist glanced at his watch. "You're early. The rendezvous time is ten minutes."

"I was curious who'd come first—us or Macauley's mysterious surprise." The LUVOLT agent glanced around. "Still no sign of it. This open field makes it difficult to approach unawares."

"It's probably some stupid prank," Cecilia's bad temper souring further as a sudden chilly wind struck her, grabbing herself tighter for warmth.

"We shall see," Sandage said.

They waited in silence for whatever would happen next. Three minutes before the rendezvous time, Petrus's phone buzzed.

"I see." After checking the message he'd gotten, Petrus pulled out a laptop from his ugly backpack. When he opened it, Macauley's bright smile greeted them. Her digital avatar winked at them, giving them an enthusiastic wave.

"Hello, all. I'm pleased you made it." She seemed unbothered by Sandage's presence, despite asking Cecilia to come alone.

"What's this about, Macauley? What's this surprise you mentioned?" Cecilia asked, getting to the point.

"Patience! They haven't arrived yet. I hope they come, at least," Macauley replied.

"What?" What was the streamer babbling about?

Sandage only raised an eyebrow. "This grand meeting's more a wish than reality?"

"Hope makes the world go round. They'll come," Macauley said, beaming.

"Unbelievable." Cecilia mumbled to herself.

She peered around, but nobody made themselves apparent. If this mysterious party was supposed to come, they'd be here already.

This was a waste of time. Cecilia opened her mouth to say so, but flinched when a bright light blinded her. With only the moon illuminating the night, she'd gotten used to the darkness.

"What gives?" Cecilia said, squinting. She frowned. For whatever reason, the light was coming from above. A plane? She gasped as she glanced up at the object emitting the light.

"Just in time," Macauley said, pleased.

"No way—impossible!" Cecilia's mouth dropped open in utter astonishment.

"Fascinating." With his open hand, the German scientist stroked his chin.

"That is something," Sandage said, amazed. "I hope they are friendly." His arm reached for his sidearm, ready for any danger that might crop up.

The ship that floated above them was unlike anything Cecilia had ever seen before, sleek in its appearance, almost bird-like. No, an aquatic creature would be a better description—a strange metal dolphin. The metal titan was huge, larger than a battleship. Its hull gleamed in the moonlight, reflecting off its scale-like surface. With surprising ease, the UFO landed in a nearby clearing with a gentle plop.

"Welcome to Earth," Macauley said as a hatch on the ship's side slid open.

Cecilia gasped as a figure walked down the landing ramp, recognizing it from anywhere. How could she not? She never forgot anything the Akashic Records told her.

"Greetings, representatives of the Planet Earth," the masked figure said in a strange, lilting voice. He towered like a giant gazing down at children, standing over 8 feet tall. Gold and silver markings striped across one shoulder of his armor, a seven-sided star of interlocking lines, a mark displaying high rank. "We come in peace."

Behind this person, guards in similar garb followed. Unlike their leader, the guards' armor was rough and worn. While polished to a sheen, the evidence of battle was still apparent. Each wore a sidearm of futuristic design. Though alert, they kept their hands away from their weapons. Seeing no immediate danger, Sandage relaxed but remained watchful.

"Hello. My name is Agent Joe Sandage. I am an employee of the U.S. government. Despite my lack of diplomatic training, I will do my utmost to ensure your visit is treated with respect and honor."

It impressed Cecilia that her friend could rattle off such an elegant greeting on such short notice.

"Well met, Agent Joe Sandage. My name is Prince Imrele Aindreit of the Kristra Republic," the alien leader's massive, metal hand enveloped her friend's. "We are the Ectutai people. We hail from a system you call Tau Ceti."

"A prince?" Cecilia said, gasping. She fretted, wondering if she should bow or something. What would happen if she disrespected a member of royalty? She'd ruin everything!

But a hand from Sandage steadied her. "Humanity welcomes you, Prince Imrele Aindreit. Our governments have much to discuss. Our races face grave danger from a mutual foe."

"Yes, Macauley told me as much. We have detected spatial anomalies around your planet. Our scientists assumed they were experiments by your people, but Macauley has informed us differently," the prince replied. "Where is this Macauley? He told us he'd meet us here."

"Hello," Macauley said from the computer screen, offering a friendly wave and a broad smile.

Behind his mask, Prince Imrele seemed to frown. "Is this some sort of digital avatar?"

"No, your Majesty. This is how I look," Macauley replied cheerfully. "Consider me a digital guardian angel."

"What?" This took the prince and his entourage completely by surprise. "Are you an AI?"

Sandage just sighed. "We have much to discuss. But would you like to talk somewhere more comfortable, your Majesty? We have a base nearby with more proper accommodations. Not pretty, mind you, but it should suffice. Or would you rather discuss this on your ship?"

The prince continued to stare at the figure beaming on the computer screen before he finally tore his eyes away. "A location of your choice would be perfect. I wish to see more of your planet. It's intrigued me for years."

"It has?" Cecilia blurted. Inwardly, she cursed herself for speaking out of turn.

The prince appeared unconcerned. "Yes, we have long known about Earth and humanity. Out of respect for your autonomy, we haven't interfered. We Ectutai believe in self-determination."

"Very kind of you, your Majesty," Sandage replied. "Our history is sadly filled with incidents of governments meddling with weaker, less advanced ones for self-interest. The results were never pretty."

The mask of Prince Imrele bobbed in agreement. "It has been a hard lesson our people have learned as well, Agent Sandage. Our species share much in common. But come, show me this base of yours."

"They sure know a lot about us," Cecilia whispered as they entered Sandage's car. Behind them, the Ectutai used small car-like craft to follow.

"For quite some time, apparently." Sandage replied. "Can't say it makes me comfortable."

"Can we trust them?" Cecilia asked.

"What do you think?" Sandage turned the question back on her.

"Um, well…" Cecilia floundered for a second, but soon regained her bearing. "They seem more straightforward than Macauley. I think we can." Odd the Akashic Records showed her about the Ectutai exactly when they needed it. Almost like it'd done it on purpose. Which, of course, was total nonsense.

"You wound me," Macauley said, startling her. Petrus and his laptop had entered the car's back seat.

"Don't you have your own vehicle? And who said you could come along?" Cecilia asked sourly.

"I'll get it later. And miss this? Never!" The large man's eyes were practically lighting up like fireworks in his eagerness.

"And I'm your key to getting into the LUVOLT base?" Sandage asked.

The once-disgraced scientist only shrugged. The agent shook his head, forlorn. "Very well. I'll vouch for you, but you're both making an account of yourselves. There will be a cost."

"A cost?" This made Petrus suddenly nervous, tensing further as Sandage smiled like a shark at him.

"Anyway, that's my guess too," Sandage said, changing the subject. "Besides, we'll need them to fight the Altair. Rose can't fight them alone. 'Enemy of my enemy is my friend,' as they say. But I have a question for you, Macauley. How did you contact them?"

"Easy. I intercepted simple messages from them, and we've been chatting—though through very basic means. Basic mathematical principles. I was hoping to advance to more complicated methods of communication, but Rose's increasingly critical condition made me do something more drastic. In every known human language, I sent a message laying out the entire Altair situation. I guessed they'd understand at least one."

"And how long were you planning to keep your new friends to yourself?" Sandage asked dryly.

"Hold on. You weren't even certain they'd answer?" Cecilia said, dumbstruck.

"It was a risk, but I'm persuasive. And I might have used technology a little beyond humanity's current capability to further catch their interest. Still, the arrival of an actual prince surprised me. I was expecting some dull science types."

Suddenly, Macauley cursed. "Dang it, I should have played some rock music. That'd really help the scene. Like that First Contact Star Trek movie. Live long and prosper?"

"What?" Cecilia replied, baffled.

"Yeah, it's a shame the Ectutai don't have a special handshake. But I think I'll leave the first contact stuff to President Okona. It's a nice coincidence he's coming to town." Sandage grabbed his phone and made a call. "And I really pray the media haven't learned about the Ectutai's spaceship yet. One leak and it'll be chaos!" 

"I didn't think of that." If some radar or telescope caught the alien ship, they'd tell someone. Who knew how humanity would respond to their new cosmic neighbor? 

"Don't use your phone while driving, please," Macauley said.

"Too bad. You're the one who threw this first contact bombshell on me," Sandage snapped. "The director needs to know about this!"

"Touché," Macauley replied. They listened as the agent rattled off the situation to his superior.

Sandage flinched, pulling his phone away as the person on the other end raised his voice. He reiterated his point, confirming everything he'd seen the last hour. After a quick conversation, Sandage hung up.

"Well?" Cecilia asked.

"The director isn't happy, but he'll do his best to accommodate our guests. Some good news," Sandage replied. "The President is already in town, and he's getting briefed on the situation. Director Shapley hopes he'll be at the base before we arrive."

"Ah." Cecilia had noticed they'd missed a street that would have taken them directly to the base. "So we're taking the long way."

"Might as well show them around town first," Sandage replied.

Cecilia hoped they wouldn't draw too much attention. The nighttime streets held few drivers, but the strange, alien vehicles drew gawkers. People pulled out their phones, making videos of these strange crafts. 

In short order, they arrived at the base, where an impressive entourage awaited them. Soldiers stood at attention in formation, ready to receive their guests with respect and honor. Among them stood a familiar, dark-skinned man wearing a friendly smile.

The alien crafts came to a halt, and their group also stood to attention. Somehow, they recognized the person who greeted them.

"Hello, and welcome to Earth. My name is President William Okona, leader of the country you have graced with your visit. I hope this is the start of a new era for both our peoples."

The president was surprisingly short in person, and the prince's armor dwarfed him as he stepped forward. But the alien's body language was friendly as the pair grasped hands, exchanging their greeting as equals. An electric tension hung in the air. A chill running down her spine, Cecilia feeling like she just witnessed history. Lights flashed as photographers captured the moment.

Not to be rude, the president approached Macauley and Petrus next, offering his hand to the overweight scientist. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor Petrus. I've seen your work. It's a fantastic read."

"Thank you," the German scientist said, somewhat abashed. 

"And it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well, Macauley. I've heard much about you," the president said, addressing the person on the computer screen. "Humanity owes you a debt for your assistance against the Altair threat."

"A debt I'm glad to take. Humanity deserves it. The Altair are monsters that will destroy everything if not stopped," Macauley said with surprising seriousness.

"That's the history part taken care of," Sandage said as the president ushered the prince inside. "Now it's time for the dull, political, stuffy adult part."

"Huh?"

"A meeting that will extend far past your bedtime, Cecilia," Sandage said.

"But—!" They still hadn't asked the Ectutai about a potential cure for Rose's condition! And she had a million other questions.

"In due time, but some of us have school tomorrow," Sandage replied.

"Fine," Cecilia said sourly. She hated being treated like a child. And school—after all this?

"Don't worry, I'll get you the cliff notes," Sandage said, fighting back a yawn. "You're lucky. I'll probably not get any sleep tonight."

"Okay." Cecilia said, admitting defeat. She fought back her own yawn. She guessed the night would be uneventful as the adults talked. 

"This marks a new beginning, a new era." It was anyone's guess what would happen next.

---

"Um, Tarazed," Denebokab said with some trepidation. "What now? This changes everything!"

"Calm yourself. It changes nothing," Tarazed replied. This unforeseen development, though unexpected, only proved a minor setback. Still, for alien visitors to appear at this junction was a troublesome bother.

"Who cares! We'll just smash them too," Tseen Foo said, pulling both arms over his head and yawning. "Let's just rush in and obliterate them all! Problem solved."

"Hold," Tarazed growled, needing time to consider.

When President Okona had suddenly absconded from his hotel to visit the base holding Rose, the Red Devil, it had been a welcome change. But that he greeted previously unknown alien visitors upended the entire situation.

The Altair had assumed humanity was an isolated prey species with limited technological capabilities beyond the Red Devil. But these new creatures possessed space travel. Who knew what technological they might possess? These interlopers, though they would eventually fall like humanity, could become bothersome. These delegates seemed important, and their demise could summon their people's wrath. Tarazed disliked so many uncertainties.

"We should attack!" Tseen Foo insisted. "They're right there: the aliens, Rose, and the president. We'll crush them in seconds! We have nothing to fear from these mongrels. Besides, these aliens' technology doesn't seem all that impressive!"

"Yes, but we don't know how far-reaching their empire is," Tarazed replied. And these alien interlopers might have other allies they could bring to bear. So much for their easy incursion into this universe.

"These humans are suspicious and distrustful people." Tarazed thought out loud. "They love to squabble and backstab at every opportunity. There is no guarantee they'd even accept the help of these alien visitors."

"No." Either way, they still faced the same problem. These aliens were likely already aware of the Altair's existence. The Grand Intelligence needed to be informed about this, but first, they'd gather intel on their new foe.

"Attack tonight," Tarazed decided.

"Really?" Denebokab asked.

"Yes!" Tseen Foo almost jumped for joy.

"We will destroy Rose and President Okona if possible, but our primary objective is to test the weapon capabilities of this new enemy. Don't take unnecessary risks. Retreat if necessary. Tseen Foo and Denebokab, attack from each end of the facility. I will locate and strike the alien ship. We move in four hours."

These minor races always needed sleep—an easy weakness to exploit. Best to strike when they were at their least capable.