Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Thirty: The Mind Meld

September 5th 2025

It had been a couple of days since the Phoenixes took control of Area 51 and They had scavenged much of the base already. The food, water and medical equipment was packed up in Phoenix Home and everyone was getting ready for the journey to San Francisco. The "Potentials", as the Unity Order called Them, had all decided to join the Phoenixes on Their mission to unleash the Antivirus and stop the Unity Order's plans for a mass culling of the Human population and emerge from Their bunker as the rulers of the World. This boosted the Phoenixes numbers to over eighty and gave Them a fighting chance against the Unity Order. The bodies of the Unity Order soldiers had turned into nothing but a thick sludge, Their microchips having activated a few hours after death. What remained of Them had been buried just outside of Area 51, marked by a single cross.

Inside of Area 51, the Phoenixes had discovered a laptop that had access to the Unity Order's network. It had belonged to Adler and had full access to whatever secrets the Unity Order had planned. The laptop's use however had to be limited, because if used for more than one hour the Unity Order could trace the location. By accessing the Unity Order's computer network, the Phoenixes had learned the location of Their base of operations: a bunker built within Death Valley National Park. Anna thought the name was appropriate, considering the fact that the Unity Order bought nothing but death in Their wake. But there was something else that the Phoenixes had discovered and it had proven more shocking than anything at all. It was about ten strange looking helmets that had long lines attaching them to each other. Two helmets each would be attached via these lines and the Phoenixes had learned from an instruction manual that when placed on two people and activated, these helmets allowed Them to see each others thoughts and Bridge had gotten a great idea.

Bridge, Phinehas and Anna were gathered outside of Phoenix One with the "Mind Melding Helmets" ready for use. On a stretcher with one helmet attached was the cadaver of the Alien that had been found in the lower levels of the base and Bridge was getting ready for a mind meld. Anna had a concerned look on Her face as She asked "Are You sure that this is safe?" Bridge placed the helmet on as He sat down in the chair and said "I'm sure". Phinehas looked equally worried as He said "The research notes say that doing a mind meld with a dead person can potentially have severe long term phycological effects! Are You sure You'll be safe?" Bridge looked at His fellow Phoenixes with a stern face as He said "Listen, the Alien's brain decay has been greatly slowed down thanks to being in the freezer for seventy eight years straight and once We do the mind meld it will completely degrade and there won't be anything left to analyse. This is Our only chance to learn why this Alien came to Earth in the first place and potentially more about Her species". Anna looked very worried yet determined as She said "Well then.... I'm doing it with You!" Bridge almost gasped as He said "Wait what!?" Anna then explained "The manual says that the more people who mind meld the more information shared. So I am going to do it with You and We are going to find out all We can". Bridge was hesitant for a moment, but then He said "Alright then, hook Yourself up and let's do this".

Phinehas and His Uncle John then grabbed another Mind Melding Helmet and attached it's wire to the spare plug in on the Helmet on the dead Alien. They then handed the helmet to Anna, who then sat down on another chair and positioned Herself for the Mind Melding. Bridge and Anna took a deep breath in unison as Bridge asked "Ready?" Anna had a look of courage as She said "Let's do this". Phinehas then placed His index finger on the activation button on the Alien's Mind Melding Helmet, as did Bridge and Anna as Bridge counted down "Three...two...ONE!" The three of Them all pushed the buttons and the Mind Melding began. In an instant, the thoughts of Bridge and Anna became open to each other and They could see one another's pasts. Anna could see the times Bridge spent with His long dead older brother Tommy and Bridge could see Anna's Mother teaching Her how to wear a dress when She was little. The two could also see the memories of the dead Alien. As They saw the Alien's memories Their bodies shook like crazy and They could feel untold levels of pain as They saw the Alien's thoughts. But They held on and tried to focus. What They were seeing shocked Them and horrified Them to the core. Some blood began to poor out of Their noses and Their eyes began to get serious blood shots the Mind Meld entered it's final stages.