THE SWORD AND SICKLE

CHAPTER ELEVEN: STATE OF THE UNION

THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART TWO

ELEVEN

STATE OF THE UNION

"It is about time you pay attention to me, Henry. What is this surprise you have for me? You know how many times I have tried to get your attention and failed. Your mind never leaves that God damn lab."

Henry replied, "I am very sorry. It has taken so much from us. Tonight I want you to see what I have been working on, all these years. Only a handful of people know of this, and I must have you sign some papers before I show it to you. The President has only known of it for a short time. If you reveal this to anyone, well...let me put it this way... You and I will have a new home in a foreign country."

"What person wouldn't say yes, to seeing a project in Area-51? You have been neglecting me since you have been here. Do you know how many times I wanted you to ask you to show me more than ten minutes of attention. Where do I sign, this is one surprise I would be happy to see?"

Henry voice quivered, "I am sorry, things will be different from now on. You will be the center of my attention. Not because my project is ending, but because you will become a part of the project, and I will make our marriage my new project." Ebon gave him a big hug and kissed him passionately. He pulled the confidentiality forms out of his attaché case and she readily signed all of them.

Entering the base, she sat in the backseat of a black sedan with darkened windows all around. The car pulled up to the lab, and it entered the lab through a garage door. She felt excited by the secrecy, and she had no idea where exactly she was on the base. She got out of the car, looked around, and was surprised at how nondescript the building looked. She didn't know what she was expecting, but more than this. The area where they entered looked like a normal factory, except for the guards. Henry led her to the left as he flashed his badge at the guards. He passed his card key through the electronic lock and opened it. They entered a small anteroom, which was completely barren of furniture and smelled slightly moldy. He said, "You have to sign in here. You will have to remain absolutely still as I go through a retinal scan. If you don't, it will set off alarms, and we will be spending the next few hours explaining ourselves to security." She nodded yes, and he placed his face in the scanner. They entered a hallway and began to walk for what seemed like a long time. Finally, he stopped and turned to his right and down another narrow hallway, until he reached where he was headed. He entered a long number into the keypad, the door opened, and they walked in. Ebon saw a huge lab, at least four stories tall, with lab counters everywhere. He led her through a meandering path to an open area.

Henry said, "Stay here; I have a few things to do first." Ebon looked around and could see nothing that seemed to be top secret. No alien spacecraft, no high-tech airplanes, not a thing, just space. He was gone several minutes when he reemerged from the large door, and he said, "You might want to get a chair, this might be too much for you to handle all at once." Come on, Henry, I am not some feeble girl, I am your wife." He just stared at her until she seated herself before he said, "I would like to introduce my project, Victor and Six." She wondered if Six might of been a part of it, but since their last dream encounter, Six had never returned to inform her of her well-being. She just thought that she had forgotten about her, or she was dead. When the two came out to see her, she was glad she had seated herself. She shuddered and looked away, but they were beautiful beasts, so she felt compelled to look at them. The two spoke telepathically with one thought, "Our mother, we longed for this day."

She stood up and ran toward them when Henry stopped her and said, "Walk toward them slowly."

She replied, "These are my children, one by birth and the other I adopted in my heart! How could you keep them from me, Henry? All these years, you saw them daily, and yet I was made to suffer. The Doctor told me, Victor, you died in childbirth, but I recognized you immediately...you are the spitting image of your father."

They said, "Come to us, Mother, touch us." The two beings knelt before her, making themselves appear small to help remove any trepidation she might have. "We love touch; it is a very pleasing sensation."

"I would love to hug you both at once, but you are so large, perhaps you can touch me, hug me. They surrounded her and she disappeared into them, and from the sight of Henry. After about ten minutes of silence, Henry began to worry.

"Ebon, are you alright?"

Six answered, "She is fine. You were with us for all these years, allow her some time to join us."

Six allowed Henry to hear her reply to Ebon, "Yes, mother; as you wish." She leaned back her domed head and opened her mouth. Out of her mouth came out the silk like substance she had used before. Henry watched the cocoon form.

"Not again. What is happening to my wife? The silk pulled Ebon from between the two creatures and drew her up to the ceiling. Within seconds, she disappeared into the forming cocoon.

Henry exclaimed, "What have you done to Ebon!"

The Two replied. "It was her wish. We gave the option to decline, but she wanted to become the Queen. Now, Henry she will be the object of your attention until you die. She will bare many more children for our father, and you will raise them." Henry looked up toward the ceiling and he knew it was already too late for her. She had already begun her transformation. He sat down and wept.

Six reached out with her hand and drew her daddy into her bosom. "Henry, do not be sad. She is not lost to you. Her personality will survive, and she will love you more. Now, she will truly understand your years of sacrifice." She placed him down on the floor and said, "Now, tell Abrams of your good news."

"What will I tell her family and her friends when she does not come home? What if Abrams wants someone else to head up the project?"

"Tell them that she died and you will bury her beside the empty grave of Victor. As for Abrams, we will handle him. He will not be a problem. We are ready for our assignment."