Authors: Brittany White
To the contrary of the groups’ calmness, outside others were panicked. Cars had crashed into fire hydrants. Babies cried along with their mothers. In every direction, people were attempting to flee the planet. This was the first time that Earth had been exposed to such devastation. Confusion of the unknown was causing the habitants of Earth to engage their fight of flight instincts.
“Zig, we have to do something. We have to tell these people that everything is alright!” Kayla begged her boyfriend. If something wasn’t done, poor human reaction may be the cause of Earth’s demise.
Zig’s mind soared. “How will I engage so many people at once?” He thought aloud. Rhetorical question. His cognitive gears spun trying to fabricate a plan. Zig surveyed his surroundings. In the distance a tattered radio tower cast a shadow over them making the light shine brighter in his mind. “I have an idea.” He started walking toward the tower.
Kayla, Lonnie and Rin struggled to match his pace. “What is your idea? Where are we going?” Kayla managed to catch up with Zig.
“Does Earth still harness the use of radio signal?” Zig’s eyes were focused forward. “It is prehistoric technology in Mamugnar however it is timeless. Radio transmission are frequently intercepted by the agency and translated for service announcements. Such old technology has aided in our avoidance of unnecessary warfare.”
“If you’re asking if we still listen to the radio on Earth, the answer is yes.” Sometimes Zig’s robotic ranting soared way over her head.
“Then this plan may work.”
“Now you’re talking!” Kayla bounced excitedly beside Zig.
The tower was decrepit however Zig was able to pick up frequency. With what little resources and supplies he had on hand, Zig rigged up a device to tap into the radio waves. It is amazing what can be accomplished with copper wire and duct tape.
“Attention.” Zig began, the kickback soured his ears and the sound rang through his body. When it settled he adjusted the wire and spoke softly, “Attention all inhabitants of Earth. Attention.” He paused, envisioning the human race reaching for their radios to increase the volume. When he was certain he had gained attention he continued. “My name is Zig and I have arrived on Earth from Mamugnar. I am a peacekeeping warrior in my home planet. Please, remain calm. Earth is no longer in harm’s way. I repeat, Earth is no longer in harm’s way. The enemy has retreated and your families are safe.” Zig hoped that someone, anyone was listening. “Mamugnar warriors have offered surrender and have peacefully retreated. Please, continue with your day. Your homes are safe another day.” Zig stepped away from the tower and breathed a sigh of relief.
Kayla slipped her hand into Zig’s and squeezed it reassuringly. “Let’s go home Zig.” She smiled up at him.
They directed themselves back toward the town with the radio tower still looming overhead. Already a sense of tranquility had fallen over the townspeople. Eagerly they buzzed, sharing the news with their neighbors. Spreading the word that Earth was no longer under attack.
Across the street couples continued strolling through the parks hand in hand. Cars were no longer fleeing and racing down the roads. Things seemed to be falling back into stride.
Zig was thrilled with the response. He felt personally accountable. This planet had become a second home to him and he found himself willing to do anything to protect Earth and all of its inhabitants. Zig realized that the previous events could certainly be used as evidence to support his proposal of unification between Earth and Mamugnar. His ties with this planet were embedded in his heart and soul. Maybe now the Higher Order would see that Earth was not a defenseless planet. It was a planet full of potential and opportunity. The people on Earth are closely unified showing sign of promise. So badly Zig wanted to contact the agency to share his experience but who would listen if he tried? To the people of Mamugnar, Zig was as good as dead. But ultimately, he felt as though had nothing to lose. He stepped aside leaving Kayla, Lonnie, and Rin to collect themselves. With a nervous hand, Zig brought the phone to his ear.
“Commander, patch me through to the Higher Order.” Zig demanded.
“Private, attempted communication as such bodes against the charges of treason. I am denying your access.”
“Wait.” Zig begged. “As you are obviously aware, one of your drones has been compromised. I witnessed the event and I believe the Higher Order would be interested in hearing what I have to say.”
Silence echoed.
“Private, this is the Higher Order. You have my attention.”
“I am not new to this variety of combat and I understand your reasoning for retreat. Immediately after losing a drone, your men were called back to safety. You have lost one ship and you were not prepared to lose another. Your mission to incinerate Earth is without resource. You have calculated the probability of succeeding in this mission and you surrendered.” Zig explained.
Silence.
“I have been on the ground and in the air as a warrior. I know all of the ins and outs of the agency. I am your best hope. So now, I propose unification between Mamugnar and Earth. The people of Earth mean us no harm. They have resided peacefully for thousands of years prior to any foreign contact. We have much knowledge to absorb from there kind. Not to mention the power of their planet is unlike anything I have ever seen before.”
“Intriguing. Go on, Private.”
“For eons, Earth has existed without intergalactic conflict and warfare allowing it to build immunity. The planet has withheld all energy within its core. It has strengthened and intensified this unused energy which in turn has expelled a field-like force deflecting all incoming attacks.” Zig smiled to himself. “Your drones have zero effect on its stability.”
“Why was this not brought to my attention earlier?”
“I would be lying if I did not say that I tried. I was denied privilege and exiled from Mamugnar as result of treason.” Admitting this fact didn’t make swallowing the information much easier. He had spent the entirety of his life living on Mamugnar. The inability to ever return weighed heavy on his heart. As much as he had fallen in love with his life on Earth, he would be lying if he didn’t admit his dreams of taking his future children to Mamugnar. To show them the place that he so recently called his home.
“I will personally see to it that the charges are expunged. Your proposal will be processed and discussed. We will need ground intelligence for this unification. Continue your observations, Private.”
Zig cautiously brought the phone down to its cradle. He was still trying to process it all. This was an information and sensory overload.
“Is everything alright?” Kayla approached Zig from across the room.
He kept his eyes glued to the ground, daylight was pouring out around him. He felt as though he was radiating but did his best to contain this newfound sensation of excitement.
“I just spoke to the Higher Order.” Zig was in shock. Privates were never granted access to directly speak to the Higher Order unless it was through punishment. When he was in military school in Mamugnar, Zig had heard war stories about warriors entering the office of the Higher Order and never returning. Seldom would a positive story arise regarding the Higher Order back home. Until now, he had his own story to share.
“You did? What did they say?” Kayla couldn’t hold back as much as she tried.
“Well,” Zig paused, still processing the previous events, “they have agreed to review my proposal to unify Earth and Mamugnar.” He was evidently still in shock.
“Does that mean you will be staying here? On Earth?” Kayla attempted to contain her excitement but her heart was overflowing with joy. She bounced up and down in amusement at the news.
“For now at least. I have been asked to gain further intelligence on ground. I believe that means that I have been reinstated through the agency in Mamugnar.” Zig scanned the ground in front of him.
Kayla threw herself into his arms with no intention of letting go. For the first time, in both of their lives, their future was bright. They had found one another and in each other’s arms, they had found home. The dust had finally settled.
Chapter 1
“I don’t know what to tell you, Colleen. I have to be at this rally tonight and I won’t be here to take one of my shifts. I don’t think that it’s much of a hardship for you to fill in for me. You have done this before and people have always said that you should be the one that is on the radio. Why you took a job in management is beyond me. I am still trying to scratch my head over that one.” Jackson was a sought after commodity by any radio station in the area. He’s a little eccentric, but his delivery was bar none. “I’m the talent around here and it would be a good thing that you remember that. I don’t think that those that are higher than you will be the very happy with losing me over something, so trivial.” Jackson felt like he was all that and he deserved to have everything that he wanted on a silver platter.
“I can’t see any reason why we can’t accommodate your wishes.” What she didn’t wanna say was that she was getting tired of bending over backwards to please him. He was an aging artist and one that was slowly being put out to pasture by those young bucks that were making a name for themselves. It wouldn’t be long before he was passing on the baton to somebody that was youthful and didn’t ask for the world. “It’s only one night and I’m sure that I can juggle things around. I would suggest that you don’t make a habit of this. You may just find that somewhere down the road that your usefulness will come to an end.”
“I’ve never liked Jackson and I would rather that he be replaced with a monkey. Everything today is becoming automated, but we are one of the rare ones that still offer a warm body to talk to in the middle of the night.”
“I think that was a bit of a threat. Do you know who you’re talking to?” He had stringy gray hair that cascaded down over his back. He was lanky and you could tell that his days of abusing recreational drugs had taken its toll. “I don’t need this constant abuse. I could easily go to any radio station in this city and find employment like that. I’m going to leave, before I say something that I regret.” Jackson had never loved the idea of a woman that had power over him. It was bad enough that when he went home he was constantly emasculated by the woman that claimed that she loved him. He would get drunk and fall asleep on the couch, waking to a headache that would beat the band.
“I appreciate your talents, but your attitude needs adjusting. One of these days, we’re going to have to have a frank discussion about your views on women. You think that you’re hiding it, but your contempt for me being in charge is evident by the way that you treat me on a daily basis.” They were in her office, her blond hair tight in a ponytail to be more professional and wearing a pantsuit that gave her the air of superiority over others. “I treat this like a business. I do not get caught up in relationships. I don’t make any snap decisions. I weigh things carefully and then I do what is best for business.”
I think that what is best for business is that Jackson find himself another line of work. Once his contract is up in the next few months, I intend to talk to those that are, so high on him and convince them that his time has come and gone.
“I know that I’m going to get in trouble for this, but I don’t think that you have what it takes to do this job. You are on the radio for less than two months, before somehow you manage to climb the ladder of success.” Jackson believed that her sudden rise to the top was due to spreading her legs and giving it up to those that she felt could do the most good for her career. His opinion was low, even though he had no idea that he was dealing with a woman with a strong business acumen. She may have been only 5’5, 120 pounds, but her work ethic was unparalleled.
“I wouldn’t tread carefully if I were you, Jackson. That sounded remarkably like you were accusing me of something. I may be soft-spoken, but there are times that I will have to put my foot down. Get out of my office, before I decide that you are not worth the effort. You’re an aging relic that needs to be put down with one shot behind the barn. You think that you are inexpendable, but trust me nobody is.” She opened the door, seeing her secretary pretend to be working and knowing that she had likely over heard every single word that had been said inside the office. She had the ears of a bat.
Jackson walked down the hall with a frown on his face and a sense of tension that was surrounding him. The sun was barely behind the trees. If it wasn’t for the fact that Colleen didn’t have a life, she may have told Jackson where he could take his day off. It was short notice and 1 hour before air time was not professionally sound in her mind. She expected to have that respect and to give it back to those that deserved it.
“Colleen, he is a little rough around the edges, but he does know how to bring in the demographics. His opinions on the radio are not of management, but it does wonders for the ratings. I know that you and Jackson will never be friends, but maybe you can meet him in the middle. He’s stuck in his old ways. I doubt that he will ever accept a woman in your position.” Victoria was a woman that knew how to read certain signals in any sex. She was notorious for flirting shamelessly with the staff, but never going any further than that, except for one unforgettable Christmas retreat in the mountains. It still made her smile to think of how she had spent most of that time going from one man to the other in her inebriated state.