Operation 16 (Chapter 6)

Fiery tentacles of fire wrapped themselves around me. I felt a tingling sensation where there should have been unbearable agony. My skin began to tear off and evaporate into the air. I saw my previous flesh become nothing before my eyes. I was no one now. I was not even human. There I stood surrounded by flames and all I felt was itching.

But alas, the feelings were quite different inside me. I felt my chest was as heavy as the three meteors that had come shooting down the sky. A pain throbbed from within that I could not grab at. It began to work its way into the far reaches of my mind where I still sheltered those long forgotten things I referred to as compassion, love and joy.

The body of my stepfather burnt before my eyes and I felt……… dreadful. I had been so happy to run away from him, thinking I knew everything about his intentions. That couldn’t have been far from the truth. If I had had the courage to confront him, instead of running away, then he wouldn’t have died. He ended up there to rescue me, because I had been a fool.

With a heart heavier than lead, I dragged myself through the burning embers and made my way outside. As if in accordance with my mood, raindrops began to pelt down from the skies. As I left the wreckage of the warehouse behind me, puddles formed in various spots along the roads. I looked into one and saw my true form.

My entire body was blue with white dots spread across. My feet were webbed whilst my fingers were long and thin. My body was well built with different shades of blue across it. Where there should have been hair, my head had long, dark blue, tentacle-like extensions which floated in the air as opposed to falling down my shoulders. It was very mesmerising to stare at them, as they defied gravity. My eyes were dark green with no pupils.

Staring into them sent a shiver down my back. I felt so scared to look at myself. The absence of pupils served as a reminder the shocking truths I had learnt moments earlier. I was an alien and part of a fleet that was supposedly attacking the human race. It was at this point that I noticed my mouth. It opened to reveal a green tongue with rows of canines. But I could not breathe through it. Instead I found myself breathing through my back.

I could not see it but I felt four holes running down my spine which opened and closed to let air in and out. Their movements were similar to the way spiracles worked in insects or the way stomata operated on the underside of leaves. I poked each hole with my long bony fingers and felt myself become slightly breathless as I blocked each one in turn.

Although my heart was weary, my body felt very strong and steady. I noticed that I walked with ease in the earthen atmosphere. I trudged effortlessly along the roads, which were empty and devoid of people, to my luck.

The closer I approached the destination, the more certain I became. If there was one person I could have trusted, it was my stepfather and if he was with the government, then I could trust them as well. So there was no question of what to do next.

******

“Freeze!” yelled a soldier. With his call, all the tanks in the vicinity fixed their gun cannons on me. The entire area became silent, as everyone turned to focus on me. I didn’t care. I just kept walking towards them.

“I said freeze!” ordered the same soldier, “if you keep approaching, we will fire.” I stood still.

“I am Jason Marco……. Turner. Yes, that’s my name…” I realised how happy I felt to acknowledge my adoptive surname. It was a symbol of my love, for the man who had died for me, “I am the one you have been searching for. As of this point I will resume my duties as an ambassador between our species. Take me to your leader if you wish to stop the war that is at your doorstep. Take me under your full security force if it comforts you, but I must speak with your leader immediately!”

Everyone shuddered for a second. I thought it was because they found my words moving, but then I realised it myself. As I had spoken, my mouth had not moved. It was not for breathing or speaking it seemed. I had spoken telepathically to the minds of everyone present. As I had spoken I had not only relayed words but also conveyed the emotions I had been feeling. The expressions of shock on the soldiers’ faces were replaced by sorrow. They understood my grief, but more than anything they believed me.

******

“Wow, you look human again,” exclaimed Mrs Paulman, the woman who was appointed to stay by my side throughout all the negotiations.

I raised my hands and saw human hands once again. My pale skin was slowly but surely reforming. I requested a mirror and saw my reflection. I saw pieces of flesh grow over my body slowly. I was almost the old Jason Marco Turner.

“Yes that is right. Your species, known to us as the Kodai (Code-eye), are very intelligent. They installed a human coating within your skin when you were young. Therefore even when your true form gets exposed the human shell will reform over your body, once again disguising you.” She beamed, clearly impressed. I stared blankly at her for a while.

“Oh right, where are my manners? I am Mrs Paulman. I formally welcome you to the White House. The President is waiting to speak to you in his office. This way please.” Mrs Paulman stepped aside and gestured with her hands for me to start walking.

If it were not for the severity of the situation, perhaps I might have been impressed but for that time being, the White House was merely an obstacle that stood between me and the world leader. It was way too big and I felt it tedious that I had to go through many corridors, before I reached my target person. Mrs Paulman opened the door and led me into the President’s office.

“Mr President, our guest has arrived.” She announced.