Poignant Skies

Lies

Lee stared blankly at his desk. It had been hours since Selena's kidnap. He felt hopeless as he had been sent home to wait for any news. He felt that he was responsible for her loss.

As he opened a bottle of wine, his monitor rang. It was Jay calling.

"Hey, I heard about the incident at the museum today."

"Yes. I was going to call you about it." Lee poured some wine on his glass.

"Listen, things are going to be just fine. Just fine." Jay said as he repeated the last two words slowly.

Lee took a sip and was silent for a moment. He looked at Jay who stared back at him without flinching.

'Just Fine' was their code in the university that something was actually wrong. Lee couldn't understand what could be going on. But perhaps Jay knew something about it and that they were being monitored.

"Look," Jay said. "I know you are tired or worried about it. Why don't you finish that glass and let's grab a beer or two so that you can relax a bit?"

"Same bar?" Lee asked.

"Sure." Jay said. "I'll see you in a few."

Lee quickly finished his glass of wine and placed the bottle away. He grabbed his coat and went straight to their usual hangout place, the Novus 8 Bar.

Jay was already there. His apartment was just a block away. After graduation, they always met there for get-togethers, discussions, or Jay's birthdays. They always ordered the same beer that the bartender didn't need to ask what they were going to order.

"Jay."

"Lee."

"I see you already got me a drink."

"Of course."

As Lee took his bottle for a sip, there was a small message in the napkin where his bottle was. It says 'Trust me. CR.'

"How are you?" Jay asked as Lee casually crunched the napkin in his hand to hide any evidence.

"Still in shock, I suppose."

"I see."

"Everything happened quickly." Lee told Jay what happened while he finished his bottle. After which, he gestured for the CR.

"It'll be just fine Lee." Jay said in a low voice as he walked past by him.

Lee nodded back at him. Lee trusted Jay well. If he were drowning, he knew Jay would be there to rescue him.

Lee went to the CR. One man was just leaving. When he was left alone, Lee immediately looked around and checked the cubicles. Then he checked the last door where the slopsink was. It was locked and there was a signage that it was out of order. But when Lee knocked softly, the door opened. Lee was shocked to see who it was.

Commander Galen gestured for him to be silent and to come inside the cubicle. Behind them was an opening that led to what seemed to be a vehicle's compartment.

Lee hesitated for a moment but he trusted Jay and even Commander Galen. He swiftly came inside and Galen followed. They closed the compartment and two other men inside locked it. They knocked at one of the steel walls and in a second they were moving. Galen gestured for Lee to be silent and to sit down. He gave him a wired headset. Lee sat down and listened.

"Dr. Lee Kurt, this is General Hans Cameron. I am a senior leader of the Confederation."

Upon hearing the first two sentences, Lee's eyes were wide with disbelief. Galen nodded at him. The recording continued.

"Listen carefully, the Novan empire has been feeding you and everyone else in the planet with lies. For many years it has turned a blind eye at what has been happening in the galaxy. Have you ever wondered why it has never sent ships far away from Novus? That is so it can remain living in its own bubble, allowing only a few selected planets for contact and migration in order to secure more knowledge and manpower. But even these migrants know the truth about what has been happening. They had to swore an oath of ultimate secrecy unless they wanted to be executed. The Novan empire does want its population to engage a war with the Triad, the three planets who have been enslaving other secondary planets who have no means to defend themselves. If only Novus would join what remains of the Confederation can we repel these forces from dominating the galaxy. Dr. Selena Marie is also a vital part of the operation to fight the Triad."

His mention of her made him hope that she was in good hands.

"If you will, and we know you can, you can help us. But unlike the Novan empire, we will give you a choice. You can take the pill Commander Galen is holding and you will forget all of this happened and we'll take you back to the bar. If you choose to stay, we'll take you with us. Now Dr. Kurt, this message with self destruct after three seconds. I hope to meet you after you hear this recording."

Lee was still in shock as he placed down the headset. The recorder gave a beep and auto-deleted the message. Then Commander Galen sat opposite him ane opened his hand with a white pill.

Lee looked at him then shook his head to refuse it. Galen smirked and nodded at him.