18 December, 2024 @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2597 (Part 20: Conclusion) | Prompt: (a silver coin)

Part 19: "The Downfall of the Watchtower" Recap

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 rushed to impart to the void. "The project is on schedule. Confirm you understand!" he proclaimed desperately, speaking to an unseen entity, his voice rushed and raspy. 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. Without warning and before Amos could react, he pressed a concealed warning button on his shoulder pad, summoning security guards; unaware they were busy with the intruders who accompanied Amos.

Receiving no confirmation of his distress, he turned away and lunged for the main console. Amos reacted with lightning speed. He tore past Benedikt, pushing hard and knocking him to the floor. Benedikt lay temporarily unconscious, but recovered quickly. "No, not the portal!" he 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. "You've been searching for me fifty years. I'm here 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. 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 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 sale, lease, 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 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 responded, acting as a beacon, focusing his rage. Smashing the screens, the compound's foundation shattered. The ceiling screamed. 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.

Now, Part 20: Conclusion (The Rise of the Hybrid)

The Watchtower was destroyed; no longer a threat operating from within Earth's space in its physical structure.

The CIGOL Leader, Zolgroth was not; and still a menace to Earth. Destroying that particular heinous alien threat was Amos' new mission. At any cost. But he must act quickly else descend into the void alongside the Benedikt Inhumos and the obsidian Watchtower compound.

Several feet from the wreckage and smoke, Amos stood and watched the compound's fifty year history of cruelty collapse.

He immediately held the Silver Coin up to his forehead as if embedding his hybrid force. The Silver Coin recoiled and dislodged itself from his hand; flaring with a cold, pale light before dissolving the air before him into a swirling, liquid portal while suspending him in mid air.

Amos disappeared; not standing in the ruins any longer. He was standing in a void, looking down at a being that was more light than flesh. The area around the former compound seemed to freeze in time. Debris floated by. Trees ceased to sway. No fowl or animal appeared. Life itself paused. It was as if he stood in the middle of Viktor's underground, makeshift lab.

Instantly, the void solidified in front of the evening skyline backdrop. A silhouette appeared, rising from the Silver Portal's vortex, radiating authority and immense, terrifying power.

It was Zolgroth.

"Show yourself, Zolgroth!" Amos commanded, the alien voice within him commanded.

The alien Cigol materialized; revealing a towering, chitinous figure. Its eyes narrowed at the sight of its hybrid, Amos. His presence seemed to darken the room.

Amos didn't immediately attack.

“Your human form is temporary, Aehummos,” the thunderous voice echoed. Prepare yourself. Your true journey is just beginning."

"Yes, my true journey is only just starting. And it all depends upon my leadership now," Amos declared in a monotone voice, realizing that even Zolgroth couldn't decipher this thoughts.

He was a hybrid-human, unaware of his own ancestry, until Zolgroth's arrival, triggering the activation sequence. What Zolgroth didn't realize was that by creating a mix of alien races, he produced an offspring that surpassed his abilities.

Amos didn't attack the leader. Instead, he listened to uncover the next phase of plans Zolgroth was plotting.

"You are unmistakably my child and must join me at once," Zolgroth’s voice echoed directly into Amos' mind, cold and demanding. "Aehumon." The voice was not heard, but felt, a pressure in his skull.

The light of Zolgroth seemed to pulse with amusement. "You believe you have won because you have destroyed a shell? You are a hybrid, Amos. Your loyalty is not to these weaklings, but to the Cigol. Your rage; that is us. Your strength; that is us."

Amos felt a pull, an almost irresistible urge to kowtow, but didn't. "I am human," he responded, his back razor stiff; shoulders heaving rapidly. He was a hybrid-human, unaware of his own ancestry, until Zolgroth's arrival, triggering the activation sequence.

"You are the future, Aehunon, the voice resonated. "We will meet soon."

"I think I'll keep Amos, if it's all the same to you. Sounds more human. Did you authorize this? To clarify, did you authorize the destruction of Planet Earth?" He didn't expect an answer.

And Zolgroth didn't provide it. Instead, he issued another directive.

"You are the future of our race. Join me. The portal awaits," Zolgroth’s spectral image commanded. "Bring us the core, and assume your place in the Hive. We will destroy Planet Earth together and rebuild our race."

Amos had heard enough. Understanding that Zolgroth would never relinquish his grip on Earth, even though the ICO had been destroyed, he nodded as if he'd acquiesced.

"See you soon, Supreme Leader," was all he said before firing his plasma cutter directly into the main, shimmering anchor point of the open portal to the Cigol homeworld.

Immediately, Zolgroth's form faded in the cylinder.

He disappeared.

The portal slammed shut.

Once departed, Amo scanned the perimeter. Detecting human movement, his lightning speed propelled him back to Annetta, Julius, and Benetiz.

"Thank God you're safe," he hugged his sister.

"We did what we could to help. You gave us time to escape, so we exited the building and headed for the woods. We watched as the plume of smoke rose from the compound and fire scorched the ground around us. Thank God it's finally over," she exclaimed with a sigh of relief.

Amos didn't immediately answer.

"Is it over?" she queried, now with a worried expression, glancing among her husband, Julius, Benetiz, and Viktor.

"Done, but not over." Amos looked from his sister, then turned and stared at the decimated compound and portal.

"Benedikt Inhumos and the Watchtower have been destroyed. But the threat to Earth remains and won't be over as long as Zolgroth has his sights set on conquering the planet."

Annetta and the group gasped as if the realization suddenly dawned. No, the threat was not over. Amos led the group away from the compound to a safe spot where no ICO soldiers were detected. He was no longer a human, but he wasn't sure he was ready to be a Cigol, either.

Whether it was his destiny or choice, he was a hybrid. And the life he grew up loving and appreciating was now threatened into oblivion. He couldn't allow that with the power now unleashed by Zolgroth himself.

"I must go if I'm to keep Earth safe from CIGOL and its partners' future invasions. I can't do that remaining here. Neutralizing the threat from within the universe is the only way. The CIGOL's Supreme Leader must be destroyed.

He sighed. His now chiseled body developed the past thirty-six hours loomed large as if he'd grown another four inches in height.

The sister he'd known and worshiped who'd protected him stood with tears streaming. "Amos, please don't leave us. We need you to continue our fight for freedom."

"I believe...No, I know that I can do it. Keep up the good fight, Julius and Benetiz; and keep my sister; he paused....my cousin safe. As long as I know you all are resisting, I'll fight to my death. Loyal humans who believe ICO is their savior, such as certain of our family members must be neutralized if they won't join the resistance. ICO soldiers stationed in other outposts around the country may not have received word that the Watchtower and Benedikt Inhumos have been destroyed. Neutralize them if they won't surrender."

The odd feeling that overcame Amos penetrated his core. His ears pricked back and a frown developed. An unfamiliar voice whispered to him from the vast expanse of the universe.

The time had come to leave this planet.

He didn't know whether he could reach Zolgroth's world. The Silver Coin was his only connection; and hopefully, his guide. But he already knew he'd made a choice the moment Viktor introduced him to his parentage; and most importance, his lineage.

He then glanced at Julius and Benetiz. "Zolgoth revealed an obscure compound, the mysterious clinic where Annetta's parents and other elderly are confined. Rescue my grandparents and other captives. They're deemed unusable with a date set for their incineration. Hurry. Take this. Entry will be easier."

Amos handed Julius his Silver Coin that was reactivated upon Zolgroth's arrival; keeping Benedikt's more powerful one for his mission.

Unexpectedly, he moved closer to Annetta, embracing her, his body tingling bright, then leaned in, whispering in her ear. "Tell mom and dad I said thanks for keeping me alive and safe. I'll take it from here. I don't know if I'll ever return, so let's just say farewell for now. Remember me."

Just as unexpectedly, Annetta dug deep within her pant pocket and retrieved a small piece of paper. She grabbed Amos' hand and folded it inside.

"Don't cry for me, Annetta.," Amos prompted in a low tone. "I do this willingly. I won't allow them to possess and use my abilities for evil. Thank you for the companionship and understanding during our upbringing. You didn't have to. It wasn't your responsibility."

Amos couldn't leave without imparting information that would change their family dynamics.

"I now understand why Cunnelda joined the ICO. She's not evil; nor is she on ICO's side. I saw her name when I connected with Benedikt. They believe she's loyal. But she's controlling a separate, special ops group away from the resistance. Quietly, she's gathering forces while inside. But she's missing critical information. She had to play her part. And part of that was capturing her own brother and others in the resistance. But they're safe, hidden away in a place she knew was a child. Her husband is also working with her. But She doesn't know about me; so tell her everything; especially about our small victory this day. Find her and work together.

Amos paused for a long moment as if reluctant to admit the truth. "I'm more alien than human. I understand that now. And my purpose is no longer to remain quietly on this planet understanding what I now know of the wider universe."

He flipped Inhumos' Silver Coin in the air. A portion of space fell away as the Silver Coin Portal materialized.

As the portal expanded, Amos stepped inside, not looking back, but studying the photo of himself and Annetta playing in their front yard.

He pressed the image to his forehead before he felt the last vestiges of his humanity fade, replaced by the cold, calculated purpose of his species. A species he vowed to destroy.

Indeed, Amos Goodall, alias Aehumon CIGOL, was no longer a human; he was the alternate future of the universe.

[The End.]

Thanks to all my readers for staying the course with me throughout these twenty (20) Chapters chronicling the life of the hybrid-human, Amos Goodall who, along with discovering his true identity, ultimately embraced his true life's calling.