18 December, 2024 @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2597 (Part 19) | Prompt: (a silver coin)

Part 18: "The Hybrid Meets His Maker" Recap

Julius, Annetta, and Benetiz didn't stay behind as Amos ordered, but their entry into the Compound wasn't as smooth as Amos'. Alarms shrieked. "INTRUDERS. SECTOR 1. PERIMETER," the system announced. Guards descended, flooding the hallways. Their weapons proved effective.

Meanwhile, Amos targeted the facility’s central power core he had seen in Viktor's blueprint. He now stood face to face with Benedikt Inhumos. No time to analyze as he recalled the deadline directive Inhumos had given the foot soldiers.

"Amos Goodall," Benedikt said smoothly. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you. I"m honored."

Benedikt Inhumos. The name tasted like ash. "Your desire was to use my hybrid biology to stabilize your star gate technology has failed.

Inhumos shifted directly in front of the consoles, his hands behind him steadily pushing buttons on the console, while he spoke. Surrounded by cold screens, his focus was on finalizing the "Screener Protocol" to eliminate all humans on Earth. Inhumos talked as if he'd not sent his soldiers to kill him the night before. His eyes widened. He stammered, staring at the unnatural hue of Amos' eyes. "Security! Lockdown!"

Amos didn’t let him finish; nor did he strike Inhumos.

Instead, with a thought, he overloaded the electronics in the room, shattering the windows and sealing the doors, shutting down the entire floor. But he didn't kill him instantly. He needed the breach to mean something. As he studied the room for his next move, a chilling sensation overcame him. In the far corner, he caught sight of a familiar digital display scrolling inside the wall.

He stared up at the embedded depression. A replica of the Wall of Success at the research hospital in another sector of ICO North. His lips pursed and a wry smile slowly formed, together with a tinge of regret reading the accolades of five Goodall family members.

He recalled time there under observation. From the depths of the pity they heaped upon his head, a single-minded focus took shape. He, Annetta, Julius, Roy and the other dissenters had planted the seeds of doubt in all four corners of the continent.

ICO was destined to succumb to their enlightenment.

Now, Part 19: ("The Fall of the Watchtower")

Now that Amos was face to face with Benedikt Inhumos, his laser focus detected the alien beneath the human facade. Adrenaline rushed through Amos' veins. He flashed a wry smile as he discovered that underneath the chiseled exterior, Inhumos was trembling.

Initially too overwhelmed with terror to move, Inhumos stared mindlessly as though paralyzed by the hybrid's connection. Quickly he recovered, breaking the bond, pivoted, and lunged for the console.

In a desperate attempt to summon the Supreme Leader, Zolgroth, he inserted his Silver Coin into the console. It didn't take but seconds for the portal to appear onscreen.

"The hybrid, Aehumon, I have captured and will be dealt with, Supreme Leader," Benedikt was saying to the void. "The project is on schedule. Confirm you understand!" he proclaimed desperately, speaking to an unseen entity, his voice rushed and raspy.

Benedikt received no response.

Unable to control his human facade, Benedikt panicked; his pulse accelerating. He spun around. His face turned pale as he faced Amos. Instinctively, he flashed a blinding light in Amos' direction, then moved his hand toward his throat as though confused.

Without warning and before Amos could react, he pressed a concealed warning button on his shoulder pad, summoning the security guards. He'd no idea they were busy with the intruders who accompanied Amos.

Receiving no confirmation of his alert, he turned away from Amos and lunged for the main console.

Amos reacted with lightning speed. He tore past Benedikt, pushing hard and knocking him to the floor. He lay temporarily unconscious, but recovered quickly.

"No, not the portal!" Benedikt screamed as he spied Amos attempting to connect with Zolgroth via the console.

Amos paused for a moment to kick him harder, recalling ICO's guard who delivered the same treatment to him as he patrolled the unit in ICO South. A lowly janitor only performing his human duties at the time.

"You've been searching for me fifty years. I'm here. And not for afternoon tea, but to destroy you and all ICO has built," Amos hissed, not looking back, just continuing to access the console's sequence.

Benedikt rose swiftly; tackling Amos from behind. But he was too slow. They struggled for a moment before Amos tossed him off like a rag doll.

Amos recalled the precise button Benedikt was reaching for. The panel flashed green allowing him access. With quick reflexes, he plugged his own consciousness into the system.

The feedback was agonizing, tearing through his human mind, but his Cigol blood took over. He overloaded the core's magnetic stabilization field.

"You have no idea hybrid what you have done this day. You've not permitted me to discuss this more. The implications are unfathomable and irreversible. You've condemned two species whose only objectives are survival."

"But at what cost to Earth and other unsuspecting planets. You arrive from Bridge Planet 9 with good intentions and a hidden agenda. If your plans don't work, you resort to annihilation. That's not working amicably to find a solution to your species impending extinction. Earth is not for lease, sale, or hostile takeover, either internally or externally. That's humans' fragment of life. Period."

Before Amos could continue, the building Benedikt Inhumos had occupied for the past fifty year under cover began to groan. The walls expanded, then contracted several time with tremendous force before bowing under the stress of uncontrolled energy.

As the roof started to collapse, Amos grabbed the Silver Coin from the stunned Inhumos' hand. It was his unique programmed access to the portal and to Zolgroth.

Amos raised his hand. Benedikt's Silver Coin responding to his command now, acted as a beacon, focusing his rage; then returned it to his pocket when finished.

Smashing the screens was an aftereffect. The very foundation of the compound shattered, causing the ceiling to scream.

As the facility collapsed, Amos saw Benedikt’s calm facade finally crack; not fearful of death, but of failure.

The ground shook.

The obsidian walls of the compound flared, shifting from gray to a violent violet. Amos smiled, a savage, inhuman side breaking through his human demeanor.

"Let’s see how your compound's technology works without power," Amos hissed, plunging toward the console. The air crackled around him as he prepared to destroy the Silver Coin portal.

The console exploded in a shower of sparks. The portal flickered, pulling at the environment, tearing the compound's metal apart.

Benedikt Inhumos shrieked, his arms outstretched as if imploring Amos' help as he was pulled toward the collapsing vortex.

Amos heard Inhumos scream in triumphant defeat. "Where I have failed, more will come. You're only one hybrid. You can't defeat us all."

"Then I will locate others," Amos replied, his voice traveling downward, following Benedikt to his demise.

Amos' head jerked, remembering the collapse; and Annetta. I must get out of here. I must survive if I'm to defeat ICO Bridge Planet 9 and the Cigol, Zolgroth.

Using his enhanced strength, he dove toward the steel door. Pulling Benedikt's Silver Coin from his pocket, he slammed it against the door. It immediately opened, allowing Amos to escape.

The compound’s alarms screamed as the structure began to fold in on itself, taking Benedikt Inhumos, his ambition, and his Watchtower down into the void.

[to be continued]