Quazum

SURROUNDED 191

Sheriff Neil lifted his public address amplifier as he walked up and yelled through the speaker, “Mr. Gabriel Meaux tried to fight investigators and was shot. Back-Bayou Police now have this cabin surrounded. Please give yourself up, and exit peacefully.”

Lacy was quiet and looked around the room examining all possible options as the police were lining up. Quazum watched nervously and saw lights and shadows shining through the windows in the bedroom. Police then began slowly moving in.

At the front of the cabin, Ben suddenly ran out, and yelled to the policemen, “Just let me talk. No more guns. We only want a peaceful conversation. Please.”

The policemen looked around, before Sheriff Neil finally nodded, giving Ben the okay nod.

Ben then nervously began walking up to the front door with both hands raised. He looked around cautiously before knocking politely. “Is anyone here?”

There was no response, and Ben listened closely before continuing. “My name is Ben Thomas. I am looking for a Lacy Meaux. Can you please help me?”

Again, Ben got no response and knocked a third time. “I worked with Lacy at Space Exploration, years ago. And I just want information. Lacy is not under attack or wanted for crime, or possible arrest. I just need to speak to her.”

Police then looked around to the sheriff and then began moving in again. The door suddenly began to squeak open slowly, causing the police to stop.

As the door opened, nothing could be seen. Ben slowly walked in with his hands up. He looked nervously around the room before Lacy stepped out.

“What do you want?” Lacy had the rifle pointed right between the eyes of Ben.

“Lacy? Is that you? It’s me. Ben. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“You got no business being here,” answered Lacy. “Where’s my dad?”

“Well, he came out, and he...”

“Where is he?!”

Ben looked down, then nervously answered, “Your dad got shot, but police are rushing him to a hospital. We thought he had a g*n, and it was self-defense...”

“Damn you! We were doing fine, and you had to come out here and destroy our lives. Just get out of here. Go home!”

“I screwed up, Lacy. I know I did. I just want another chance to try and make things right. That’s all.”

“You had your chance. It’s all over.”

Ben thought before responding softly, “I spoke to Dr. Palmer. I know you were pregnant with my baby when you left. And your Dad just told me you weren’t alone. I want to help you... you and our child.”

“My personal life is private. You and those cops can get out of here. We’re not playing games.”

“You don’t have to marry me, or protect me,” answered Ben as he got down on one knee and spoke with tears running down his cheek. “I truly owe you for all my screw-ups, Lacy. Just let me help.”

Lacy looked around towards Quazum’s room. She thought about the situation, then calmly walked over to the door holding up her rifle. “All of you policemen can go. Just get out of here. I’m only willing to talk to this man.”

“Pow!”

One nervous policeman immediately fired a shot, and Lacy went down. More guns began firing at the cabin as Lacy tried to crawl with a big bleeding hole in the side of her head.

Ben jumped and nervously ran to the door yelling and waving his arms. “No guns! No gunfire! We are discussing a peaceful settlement.”

Policemen looked on curiously as Ben closed the door and ran back to Lacy who was lying on the ground bleeding from the head. In tears Ben tried to speak to Lacy, “You’ll be okay. I will do everything I can. You and your dad will both have your confidential lives back. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Mom? Are you okay?” asked Quazum as he nervously stepped out of the bedroom.

Ben then spun around to see the partially invisible chameleon boy staring nervously down at his bleeding mother. Ben looked on with a shocked face and stood up.

“Who are you? What are you?” asked Ben as he stared down at Quazum. “This is your Mom?”

Quazum began touching Lacy’s wounded head with fast moving fingers and saliva to stop the bleeding. Lacy lay on the floor struggling to remain conscious, and Ben looked on confused.

“This is Quazum,” mumbled Lacy as she struggled just to breathe. “And he is not your son...”

“What? Who? Whose son is he?”

Lacy coughed and tried to look around. “I don’t believe he’s my son either.”

Ben stared at Lacy with a confused look, while Quazum carefully removed the bullet from Lacy’s skull. “Mom, I am your son. Don’t say that.”

Lacy cringed in pain before turning to Quazum and reaching out. “I believe an alien egg was implanted in me on Quazmopolis... by an intelligent form of life...”

“You think you were r***d?” asked Ben.

“Intelligent life forms on Quazmopolis... They lived underground. They have genius minds... I became pregnant on that mission.”

“But why would they? It’s just not possible,” responded Ben as he stared at Quazum’s partially invisible body.

Quazum looked around, then with rapid moving hands pushed Lacy’s skin down around her skull and said, “I am your son, and you’re my mom. We are all family.”

“You’re a healthy and smart boy.” Lacy struggled to remain conscious and grabbed Quazum’s arm. “I love you...”

“Hold on, Mom!” Quazum closed the open skin on Lacy’s skull and used saliva to seal the opening. “You’re going to be okay.”

Ben watched in shock as he stared at the color-changing body of Quazum treating the serious injury to her skull.

“You’ve got to hide, Quazum...” mumbled Lacy while squinting in pain. “And Ben can help you.”

Quazum continued applying pressure to Lacy’s bleeding skull and wiping blood. “Just hang in there, Mom. I’ll take care of you.”

 Ben then leaned down to try to make out the words as Lacy groaned. “Protect Quazum... Promise me, Ben. You’ll keep Quazum safe.”

Lacy then leaned her head back and finally closed her eyes.

Quazum looked over to Ben as the front door began to open, and police rushed in. Ben held the skin on Lacy’s head as Quazum scurried over to the window, blending in with the wall and the chair to become unseen.

“Search the bedrooms and the closets,” yelled an officer.

“And carry this gal down to a car and get her to the hospital,” said another cop. “Looks like she’s bleeding, or was bleeding.”

Sheriff Neil then rushed in. “Is this Lacy? Did she have a g*n?”

Ben, in a state of shock, stared down at Lacy’s b****y face. “Why did you shoot her? It was a peaceful discussion.”

“She had a rifle and looked like she was going to shoot,” answered one policeman. “I shot her only in self-defense. I swear.”

Ben continued applying pressure to the b****y skull before looking around again. He was finally able to spot Quazum, who appeared to be invisible squatting between an old chair and the wall.

Sheriff Neil also looked around. “We were only trying to protect you. This woman had a g*n pointed at an innocent civilian and made threatening gestures. I’m a witness.”

“But she never fired the gun...” Ben looked around at policemen entering the house. “And she had no intention of ever firing the gun.”

Sheriff Neil then walked over to the rifle lying next to Lacy. He picked up the g*n and fired one shot out the window, then responded with a smile, “Yes she did.”

“Hey Sheriff! Looks like an aquarium full of roaches... And some strange bottles of a clear liquid,” said the cop as he examined the special drink for Quazum.

“Is that a form of alcohol?” asked Neil as Ben and Quazum looked on.

“No sir,” answered the confused policeman while tasting with his fingertip. “I think it’s just salt water.”

“Salt water? What would Gabriel Meaux be doing with jugs of salt water?” asked Neil.

Ben was deep in thought wondering the best answer when he spun around to look again at the chameleon skin of Quazum. As Ben began walking over, Quazum suddenly got up, changed colors becoming invisible, and jumped out of the open window. He then ran away from the old cabin and into the marsh. Several policemen heard sounds and spun around looking curiously around the open window.

“What was that?” asked one policeman.

Another cop rushed to the window and looked out. “I think I saw movement in those bushes. Somebody, check to see if someone’s hiding! And bring a g*n!”

Sheriff Neil looked up surprised by the strange sounds. “I don’t see nothing but wind. Now get this girl to the hospital!”

Police officers immediately lifted Lacy, holding her broken skull covered with blood, and carried her out. Ben remained deep in thought, before he walked over and looked out the window.