Alone

Chapter 9: Earth

Meanwhile, back on Earth...

Professor John Adams POV

I really don't understand my son, Tristan. He has been given every opportunity available in life, every door has been opened to him but yet he would rather live off my success and bed every woman he comes across. I've tried to instill a sense of pride in him but it's never taken hold. That's when I decided to pair him off with Professor Tate's daughter Alicia. She is beautiful and Tristan always held a soft spot for her so I figured if they got together he would stop w*****g around and settle down. Then perhaps I could bring him in on my plan as long as he took it seriously.

In the beginning of my scientific career I was immediately contracted to work with the Earth's military on many new ventures, including weapon development. Of course, now that our planet is more involved with the rest of the galaxy we really needed to up our game in new technologies, not only to protect our own planet but to be prepared in case of conflict with any alien race. For the past decade we have been in such a conflict with the inhabitants of the planet Neba.

At first, I was all for helping my fellow people until I came to the realization that this is a war we cannot win. No one else shared my opinion or if they did, they were unwilling to admit it. I decided to keep my opinions to myself until I was contacted by a Neban general a few years ago. At first, I was going to turn them in and inform the military council of their plans but they were incredibly generous with their offer. Call me greedy or call me a scum but I found a way for my family to survive and even thrive in the new world that will be left after the Neba forces are finished with our planet.

Yes, there plan is to completely destroy planet Earth and use whatever resources they can obtain for their own world but they've agreed to allow me and my family to escape on our very own luxury space ship that we can live on for as long as we want or until we find a new suitable planet to call home. They have also provided us with anything we could ever need to be comfortable for our entire lives. All I have to do is keep them informed of any activities the military is involved in that could interfere with their plans and actively help them to thwart said plans.

In my line of work I am privy to all that information. Only 6 months ago I informed them that we were able to obtain information about their new battleship that was on its way to Earth. I gave them more than enough time to change their plans and either come sooner or figure something else out entirely but their over confidence was their downfall. They were not expecting our scientists to create the high powered energy weapon that was used to destroy their ship and they were definitely not expecting us to have someone as brave as Captain Kyle Shepherd, the brave soldier that delivered the bomb but in the process it was his undoing as well. I did admire Captain Shepherds courage but I'm ready for this all to end. My blood pressure is through the roof, I suppose leading a double life will do that.

I was afraid that because of the failure of their mission, the Neban government would terminate our alliance but for now they have done no such thing. I did assure them that Captain Shepherd was one in a million and now that he was gone I was sure that any other mission of theirs would be a success. It took them 4 years to build the first ship and it was destroyed instantly, so this time I offered up our cloaking technology and persuaded them to build the next ship underground so it would be more difficult for Earth forces to detect. The Neban general was more than grateful for my suggestions and hopefully next time they will succeed and this will all be over. Only then will I know my family is safe and I'll be able to breath again.

I know my wife has noticed the difference in my demeanor, but she has yet to bring it up, which I'm extremely grateful for. I have never lied to her and the thought of having to deceive her is only adding to my heart burn and more than likely any ulcers I may be developing.

My heart feels heavy all the time, thinking of those, any humans that will be left when the Neba finally come. It may sound cruel, but I wish their plans involved only annihilating those left behind, but their fate will be way worse than just a quick death.

Humans are their food source, so although many will die in the fighting, those that are left will be taken up into their ships and probably taken back to Neba and treated like cattle. Bred to make more humans so the Nebans can have their own human "farms," and an unlimited source of food, and also any other resources they're able to take from Earth.

I feel like such an evil man and by now I probably am one, but I will do anything it takes to keep my family safe from this horrible war. I will just have to live with my shame and the fact that I've sold out my home planet and all the billions of souls that live here.

I may be a horrible man but I will do what I can to keep my wife from having to carry any of this, she is as sweet as they come and if she knew what I had been planning, I fear it would ruin her and she would rather stay than go anywhere with me.

I will carry this all on my own, I'm just not sure how much heavier the load on my shoulders can get before I stumble and fall.

That's when he begins to cry while trying to hold onto some of whatever dignity, if any, he has left.