A war rages on Earth between aliens and mankind. We obstinately defend our problematical way of life on this planet, no matter how ill-fated.
JP Sclafani
Human Paradox
Falling asleep feels like a dream Ben once had. The feeling of being safe, tucked away warm and snug under a blanket of security, didn't exist any longer. Sleep was a luxury he couldn't afford. How long had it been since he slept? He couldn't say, two- maybe three days. He felt exhausted, but he had to be vigilant, just like the good soldier he was expected to be.
Angel cried out softly in her sleep. Ben glanced over at the girl-soldier sleeping fitfully next to him. She shuddered involuntarily, making low sobbing noises. He was tempted to wake her, put an end to her torment, but she would be waking from one nightmare only to come back to the one called "reality". She had passed out from pure physical exhaustion, and rightly so. They had been traveling non-stop for at least two days.
It had taken them 10 days to transverse the ruins of the city, which had been an early war zone. It was the cities of the world that have taken the brunt of firepower from the alien airships. It was a weird paradox. The aliens had come to Earth with a message of peace, which we termed: The Alien Proclamation. It demanded the cessation of all wars on Earth, the elimination of all nuclear stockpiles, and even an end to all environmental transgressions. It went on further to state that If we didn't obey immediately, then they, the Universal League of Planets, would be forced to resort to action.
The aliens had been monitoring human activity for centuries. They claimed we were on a path of self-genocide, or worse. If we, in some way, destroyed our planet, the galaxy, and even the universe would be adversely affected. The Universal League of Planets could not let that happen.
But instead of complying, the combined outraged governments of Earth declared immediate war on the off-world interlopers. A war that continued to this day.
It had been two days since Big Eddie was killed by a sniper while foraging. He was their friend and a good soldier. Now, it was just Angel, and himself. Ben grasped the barrel of the rifle and peered out into the darkness at the faint glow of the wasted city in the distance. Against all odds, they had made it as far as the Tappan Zee Bridge. The only aliens they encountered were of the human kind, with their guns and their cruelty. Society had broken down along with decency. Every man for himself.
"I'm very thirsty," Angel said, groggy from her haunted sleep.
Ben unscrewed the canteen top and handed the water to her. She snatched the canteen with feral urgency for its water. As she drank, her green eyes gleamed like those of a panther in the dim light. Finally satiated, she turned to him, "are you okay?"
"No, I don't think so. I think I just need to sleep. Tomorrow, I want to put as many miles between us and that damn city. If only...Ed--" He stopped in mid sentence, and shook his head.
"Poor Eddie," Angela said with tears flowing freely, bowing her head and running her sleeve across her eyes. "I've known him since the first grade. I remember making fun of his red galoshes..." She chuckled softly, sadly, between sobs.
"Yeah, he was one of the good ones." Ben said, reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be missed." Then he added in a flash of emotion, "they will all be missed..."
Suddenly, the sound of a branch snapping in the woods close by made them jump. Ben quickly aimed the rifle in that direction. Although he couldn't see much in the dark woods, he could feel the presence of something.
"What is it?" Angel whispered.
"Shhh..." Far to his right, Ben caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Then he spotted it moving out of the brush. It was tall and reedy, with a large bulbous head, out of which two saucer sized eyes peered. The creature had a kind of soft luminosity about it. It walked slowly, cautiously, but yet, with a kind of elegance.
Is this the enemy? Ben asked himself. He glanced at Angel, who sat there slack-jawed, mesmerized by the ethereal being. As the creature approached, Ben automatically raised the rifle and took aim. His heart was racing in his chest and sweat dripped from his brow. His finger on the trigger, he drew in a deep breath.
"Poor wayward Humans, will you kill us all?"
It is a delicate voice he heard. Not spoken out loud, but, in his head. Ben shook his head, in an futile attempt to dispel the invader as it slowly advanced on him. Was that a smile it's thin lips drew?
"We have neutralized your ability to wage war. The elders of our species have argued that, with your societies shattered, you would prey on yourselves, which seems to be the case. What a truly sad situation, Human. What would you ever do without your ability to destroy one another?"
"It was not my decision. I haven't killed anyone, or anything!" cried Ben. We are trying to escape this madness that you created." Why have you come here? This is our planet."
"Humans. What gives you the right to be so pompous? When will you realize that we are all just stewards, caretakers of our worlds? There is no ownership!" It was standing right in front of him. It generated a growing light, and heat. No, it was a warmth, and it was inside him. He hated to admit that it was actually a pleasant sensation. Suddenly, Angel stood up next to him, then proceeded to walk toward the creature, arms outstretched.
"Angel!" Ben cried, rushing to get between her and the alien. He raised the stock of the gun high, ready to strike. But Angel raised her hand.
"No Ben! It's not going to harm us! Can't you see? We have it all wrong." She reached out and placed her hand to it's cheek. Her hand steadily took on the same sunny glow as that of the alien. The light slowly traveled up her arm. Soon her whole body radiated a bright luminosity.
Ben slowly lowered his rifle. "I don't understand, they said it was evil." He let the weapon drop to the ground as Angel took his hand in hers. He felt the warmth and glow saturate his being.
"The only evil is in the hearts of men, my children," the alien said, as it flooded them in light and warmth they have never known before. It was true love. "It will take time for mankind to understand that this is merely the beginning. There is still so much to do on this mighty path toward peace. With the help of select humans, it can come true , as it has on so many other warring planets.
Come, let us walk. Remember the words of your ancient Roman philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero, “While there is life, there is hope.”
I appreciated the "human" element in your Sci-Fi story which brings out the painful truth about what we earthlings continue to do to ourselves and the planet.
I'm glad you didn't take the Stephen Hawking approach. But you left me wondering in the beginning because I thought the story was another version of H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds again. Probably the best story of alien annihilation arrival ever, that has been rehashed over and over again in popular books and movies. My book, The Kaleidoscope Effect, and your story are one of the few examples portraying aliens who have traveled great distances to reach us as the good guys. Bravo!
But I am wondering why they left the people of the earth earth to one another before they acted to help the survivors. Perhaps, they were just allowing the population to reach a more sustainable level than 7+ billions before stopping the killing.
Well written. But you did use city's in place of cities and it's in one place instead of its. But I believe the Microsoft grammar and spelling checker is to blame for that.
Suite 16 is a collection of sixteen sci-fi/paranormal novellas and the book represents author Jay Dubya's 38th published work, presented in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle and Nook e-book formats.
Pegasus is the symbol of wisdom and inspiration. This book, although a dystopia, is meant to inspire people to search for a greater future through wisdom. We have the technology to create a Garden of Eden here on Earth, if only we are wise enough to
JP Sclafani
