point, the Hollywood elite were just other men in an ‘every man for himself’ environment.
Apparently Gannon had found a role in California.
Godfrey finished his speech, 'Brad, I’m personally counting on you to take the message of peaceful coexistence to my people. Me, I’m a politician. A leader, if you will. But you are a familiar face from before the war. I think the people back east will want to see this from your perspective. I’m counting on you to change hearts and set the record straight.'
Brad stepped forward, shook Evan's hand, and spoke.
'Thank you, Senator. This is, just, a great day for California. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you, Evan, are really, just, well, just high speed. And you are the first bit of hope that maybe we can all just get along.'
More applause. Gannon smiled a big, brilliant white smile.
'What the people of your, um, Empire need to know is that California fought longer and harder than the rest of the country when things started happening. Our policemen and soldiers and even ordinary citizens fought for five years. Up and down the coast, in the mountains, in the desert. We, just, stuck together and, I think, California really showed what it’s made of.'
A clap. Then two. A round of clapping.
'But there’s something else everyone needs to know, too. We were losing. The Witiko came to this Earth and were told we were their enemies. So they, just, fought us. And after five years they had us on the ropes. But then, almost five years ago now, they came to us to seek peace. They told us that they had grown tired of war and wanted to live with us in peace. Just like that. They chose this, when they had us beaten. I think that speaks a lot about the greatness of the Witiko and how we can all just get along.'
The signal flickered, then steadied. Perhaps a sign of the camera jostling or maybe interference in the transmission. It did not matter, Trevor barely noticed. He watched everything through a veil of red.
'And that’s the point here, you know? That’s the lesson we’ve learned,' Gannon did his best to deliver a speech on the scale of the Gettysburg address but, as he had done in so many movies, he fumbled his lines. 'It's not just about the individual, or even about us. I mean, people. I think we’ve learned it’s a bigger universe. So with that in mind I, just, want to introduce some one who really deserves a lot of credit. I’d like to introduce Chancellor D’Trayne.'
The applause boomed. Everyone around the microphones clapped; Evan hardest of all. Brad Gannon retreated a step to make room for the next speaker. The camera pulled out to catch the approach of D’Trayne.
The tall alien stepped forward with a nod of his head and his eyes blinking rapidly as if emotion threatened to overwhelm his dignity. He dressed in a toga-style robe with a body suit of a kind underneath. As with all his people, silver played the prominent color, particularly on the otherwise gray alien’s arms and cheeks where the Witiko’s favorite cosmetic had been applied in generous doses.
Chancellor D’Trayne shook Gannon’s hand, he shook Governor Malloy’s hand, and then dramatically reached across and firmly grasped Evan Godfrey’s hand.
Then the Witiko faced the camera, and smiled.
– The Mohave County Courthouse had been constructed of tufa stone nearly a hundred years prior in a town that had itself been carved out of hard surroundings. The city of Kingman took its name from an early railroad surveyor and, after World War II, billed itself as the ‘heart’ of historic Route 66, a passage made famous in song and legend.
Situated in the Hualapai Valley between the Cerbat and Hualapai mountain ranges, Kingman offered dramatic natural vistas in all directions. However, the most striking scenery that morning came not from nature but from man…and alien.
To the southeast along a jagged wall of mountains hovered the Excalibur, a thousand feet in the air, its massive shadow covering a dead bedroom community.
To the west, on the grounds of Kingman Muncipal Golf Course, sat three silver and black Stingray cruisers. While not nearly as imposing as the dreadnought, the fact that they had flown into the city without appearing on the Excalibur’s radar made them seem giants.
The courthouse in downtown Kingman held the middle ground.
Trevor Stone sat at a square table in the center of a large meeting room. A pair of Doberman pinschers stood rigidly near the east exit. Jon Brewer and two soldiers in dress uniforms-side arms only-waited in the wings.
Chancellor D’Trayne occupied a seat on the opposite side of the table flanked by Governor Malloy and Brad Gannon. Senator Evan Godfrey stood nearby. Two Witiko guards-side arms only-covered the west exit. 'I suppose I should break the ice,' Godfrey offered after two full minutes of silence. 'You have no business here,' Trevor replied without even glancing at Evan. Brand Gannon smiled and raised his hands, palms out, in a conciliatory fashion. 'Hey, let’s get this off on the right foot, right? I mean, Evan here has been a great help.'
Trevor kept his eyes on Chancellor D’Trayne and paid little attention to the humans on the far side of the table. In his mind, they might as well not even be there, regardless of any political gobbledygook suggesting otherwise.
D’Trayne’s eyes wavered between light yellow and light green. The silver lotion on his cheeks sparkled. To Trevor, the make up looked ridiculous; a concession to ego the way aristocrats of centuries past would powder their faces and wear wigs.
Trevor spoke directly to the Witiko, 'Evan Godfrey has no authority here, unless you need funding for a sewage project. Whatever he’s told you, forget it. I am in charge.'
'That’s right,' Evan broke in. 'You are in charge, Trevor. I know you may be mad at me for coming here, but I did it for you. To explain to these people more about you. About how you’re not a brutal despot. I told them that there’s more to you than conquering and killing.'
He tried to ignore those words but they did strike a cord, reminding Trevor of his meetings with Lori. His fears.
'That’s right, Evan. You’re absolutely right. I don’t want to fight the people of California. I don’t want to fight the Witiko.'
The Chancellor’s eyes turned full green. Governor Malloy stammered then boomed, 'This is great news! You are indeed a reasonable man, Trevor Stone.' Gannon echoed, 'Ah, man, that’s just fantastic. Just, you know, fantastic.' Trevor did not pull his eyes from D’Trayne. 'I offer the Witiko peaceful passage through the runes to their home world.'
The alien’s eyes flashed red for a moment, then green, then softened to yellow. Trevor found himself impressed by how well D’Trayne controlled his eyes considering the colors in his pupils apparently reflected his emotions.
'Aww Christ,' Gannon huffed and slumped in his chair.
'The Witiko are our allies,' Malloy attempted to counter the offer that Trevor had made on numerous occasions in recent months. 'They are our partner and friends.'
'Friends?' Trevor spat the word.
Godfrey said, 'Think of how much greater we would be with the Witiko as allies. Don’t make the mistake of thinking them enemies. You don’t want to be on the wrong side again.'
Again?
Trevor did not understand Evan’s reference, but it did remind him once more that, in the other universe, Trevor had fought for the wrong side.
Malloy reasoned, 'If they were not our friends, then why would they have stopped fighting when they had us beat? You must remember this. It is important.'
Trevor allowed a hint of a smile to curl at the edge of his mouth, but still kept his focus on the Chancellor who remained motionless and silent except for yellow to green pupils.
'They just stopped fighting, what, five years ago?'
'Yes. I remember,' Malloy told Stone in a voice that suggested deep admiration for the Witiko’s gesture. 'My predecessor, the former Governor who led the war effort, died in a tragic accident and I assumed the reins of leadership. I feared I would be remembered as the leader who watched humanity be destroyed. Instead, I was approached by the Chancellor who offered peace. I accepted, and together we washed the blood from our hands and forged The Cooperative.'
Trevor saw why Evan liked Malloy so much; they spoke the same language.
