Chapter 7

"They need a source of energy to feed the machine. With the energy from the Earth god knows what they would be able to do. Maybe it would be enough energy to make the next generation of Atliens not only look young but live much, much longer."

Elder Gree kept going on. He was so calm about this. He was so fucking calm but I was tripping! I could feel my palms getting sweaty.

I could feel my heart beating faster. Everyone I knew would be dead. Everyone I knew would be killed. How the fuck was this ok?

"You're saying the Queen machine is going to destroy the Earth?" I asked.

I swallowed my spit. I had thought there was something funny going on but I didn't think it was something like this. All the signs were pointing out to this however. The kids learning about Earth. The kids learning to use guns. This was preparation for an Invasion. They were teaching the next generation of kids how to be just as dangerous as they were.

"No. Not the machine. The Antliens are going to destroy the Earth. Technology is as dangerous as the person who is using it," Elder Gree replied.

"But that machine is the reason they are going to destroy Earth. And you did it. You created it."

"The machine is a creator. In it's truest essence that is what it does. It creates. It's a beautiful thing. It has amazing abilities to cultivate life. Without it the Atliens wouldn't have survived..."

"Beautiful? You tried to play God!"

"Perhaps you're right. It's too late now. They are using all of your brother's knowledge about Earth in order to plan an invasion strategy. They will strip the Earth of every life form they can find and they will feed the machine. Earth doesn't stand a chance."

"Oh yeah. You think? We have...we have ATOMIC bombs!"

"Child's play."

My mouth dropped open. He was serious. He wasn't only serious. He was calm. It was almost like he honestly believed that Earth really didn't stand a chance in hell at that moment. I looked over at him at that moment. I didn't know what to say. I felt out of my place. This was bigger than anything I could have imagined. This was scary. This was...dead serious!

"Help us."

Elder Gree looked at me curiously, "Excuse me?"

"There is a reason you are telling me this information. It can't be too late. If it was too late you wouldn't have told me in the first place."

"The Earth is a done cause. The scout has come back and is already giving them information. They have his watch guard close to him."

"Watch guard?"

"Shin, I believe is called."

"His husband." Elder Gree laughed, "Is that the front they are putting on for him? It's false. Antliens don't get married. That is a human tradition."

Shin was lying. Shin was fucking lying this entire time. There as no promise for Antliens to get married. Shin wasn't fucking married to my brother. He had been lying to me! I couldn't believe it. I could just feel my temperature rising slowly. That shady ass motherfucker was really getting on my nerves. I couldn't believe that he was such a snake.

"Why would they lie about something like that?"

"You tell me. Is there any motivation for them to want your brother to seem married?" I nodded.

Yes. Motivation. They were trying to keep us apart. They were trying to keep me from getting too close to my brother and ruining the extraction of the data that they needed.

"What if I tell my brother? What if he stops giving them information."

"He may have given them all they needed."

"He's missed a few sessions...because of me. Maybe that slowed the process down. Maybe we can still stop the invasion."

Elder Gree shook his head, "It's worth a try. I doubt it though. It is too late for Earth."

"So what's the point of you? What's the point of Vino? Aren't you fucking rebels?" Elder Gree shrugged, "Rebels with very little power and influence. Maybe down the line we'll get more. Earth won't be the last planet destroyed. Maybe down the line I will be able to help more people. I don't think we can do anything for Earth however."

I shook my head. He was just giving up! He was just throwing in his deck. Just at that moment someone ran into the room. They didn't even knock. It was Vino. He wasn't alone. He was with a few other Antlien men. They looked afraid of something. They looked like they were worried.

"We got reports from upstairs. It seems officials are making their way into the building. They are looking on the upper floors."

"Looking? How did they find us?"

"They must have followed me," Vino replied, "Or maybe someone they had someone following Billy."

"Sound the alarm. Clear this room and make sure the officials don't find us. Vino. I'm going to need you to make sure that Billy is out of here. They can't find him."

"Wait---we can't just leave now. We haven't found a resolution. Earth is in danger. Earth is in---"

"Come on!"

It was Vino. I heard an alarm ring out and the sound of people panicking in the front rooms. It almost felt like back home when the cops used to bust underage drinking parties or something like that. These officials definitely seemed to have everyone on edge.

Vino had grabbed me and pulled me away. He took me up the back room and up a flight of dark stairs. He was running on his strong Antlien feet and I struggled to follow behind him as best as I could. We kept running until we ended up on the street. Vino was looking around anxiously trying to find a way to go.

"This way," Vino replied.

=======================================================================================================

"We're safe here. I don't think we are being followed," Vino stated.

We had kept running until we couldn't run anymore. We were at the end of the seat and I was breathing heavy.

Vino was right next to me. He was hardly out of breath. I could tell now just how much stamina the Antliens had. They were like human athletes. I was amazed by it really. The average Antlien could do all that running and not be the slightest bit out of breath. I just kept thinking about the machine. The machine was able to create life. How the fuck was that even possible. Humans were no where near that kind of technology.

"Are you ok?" Vino asked.

I shook my head at that moment, "No. I'm not. I just found out that Earth is about to be destroyed. Did you know about this?"

Vino looked down and looked away. It was clear he had some idea about it. What the fuck was up with these Antliens and their secrets?

"It's better that the Elder explained it to you," Vino replied, "He is better at explaining. Now you see why I rebel however. Now you see why this is eating at my conscience. Billions of lives would be destroyed. They won't stop there. Animals, plant life...anything they can find to feed to the machine."

I shook my head. "Monsters. You people are FUCKING monsters."

I couldn't help it. It was how I felt. The fact that they were able to do something like this just go to me. I didn't understand it.

"Not all of us."

"Oh please," I rolled my eyes.

"Humans are no better. I may not know as much as the scout does about humans but I've seen movies. What makes you guys much better? You are destroying your environment to feed machines as well. I've heard about your cars. I've heard about how they destroy the ozone layer. What makes any better than us?"

I crossed my arms. "It's our planet. You destroyed yours and now you're about to do the same thing to us?"

"If humans had the technology you would do the same thing."

"Fuck you."

"Look. Ok. I get it you're emotional," Vino replied at that moment crossing his arms, "I'm sorry. I wish there was more we can do to help."

I was emotional. Everything was getting to me. I had just got the news that there was going to be an invasion on Earth. Everyone that I knew. Everyone that I ever heard of would be destroyed. What kind of shit was that? How as that cool? These Antliens walked around living their lives like they were normal humans. They learned our languages. They ate our food. All of this was only so that it would be just that much easier to destroy us. What kind of shit was that?

"There's got to be something we can do."

"You love your brother?"

"Yes."

"No. Not like that," Vino replied, "I mean are you intimate with him? I see how you look at him. I've seen it with my own eyes. That look is universal. Are you in love with him?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Convince him. Convince him to join the rebellion. He could feed bad information the Judges. He could completely fuck up the invasion. It's not too late for that. If they don't suspect it they wouldn't believe him."

Holy shit.

"That's fucking brilliant. That's FUCKING BRILLIANT!"

I didn't know what got over me at that moment. I just moved forward and hugged Vino. I was shocked when I did. Vino was actually shocked as well. When our hands wrapped around each other I was shocked at how comforting his touch was. Vino held me there for a minute or two longer than I expected him to hold me. When we separated our eyes linked up a little bit. Was there chemistry there? No. that was impossible. I was just into Kaden.

"You don't have to do this. If Shin finds out there is no doubt he will tell the Judges. This can put you in danger. You knwo that don't you?"

I nodded, "I'll take the risk.

Vino smiled at me, "Brave. Well I have something for you."

He reached in his pocket and pulled out something that looked like a small circular sticker. It was very miniatures. He peeled it and leaned over to me. I stayed still as Vino stuck the sticker to the inside of my ear.

"What is it?"

"It's an advanced version of a human's cellphone," Vino replied, "If you need me all you have to do is think about calling me. Just like that we are connected."

"That's scary."

"Scary?"

"How much more advanced you guys are than humans. It's scary."

"Now you understand," Vino stated at that moment, 'The kinds of technology that Antliens have far surpasses anything that humans could have. It would be a massacre. Humans wouldn't be able to stand a chance. The only option that you have is to convince your brother to be a double agent."

I nodded at that moment, "I can do it."

At that moment Vino did something I really didn't expect. He leaned into me and kissed me on my forehead. The kiss was short lived but it felt good. He smiled after he did it.

"Good luck little soldier."

========================================================================================================

I went back to the apartment. The only thing that was running in my mind was how i was going to convince my brother of everything that I heard. My brother was so into this Antlien thing. He would believe anything that they said. I kind of understood it as well. They were his people. He felt an attachment to them that I never would. He felt like he was home and that they would never hurt him. Maybe it was the truth. Maybe they wouldn't hurt him but they were planning on completely destroying the world that was home to me. I couldn't allow that.

So it would have to come down to one of two things. Who did my brother love more? The Antliens or me?

I got to the apartment and walked in to silence. I figured maybe I had beat them back from the date they went on. I was glad. I wouldn't have to try to explain to Shin where I was this whole time. That whole thing was getting tired quick. I walked into the kitchen to get a drink.

That's when I heard it.

A scream!

"AHH...Shit!" I heard the voice scream.

I noticed at that moment exactly who it was. It was my brother! NO. NO! Something was happening to my brother. I immediately dropped the glass I was holding and ran towards where I heard the scream.

My chest was beating so hard. I could almost feel it coming through my chest. It was moments like this that I realized just how much my brother meant to me. The idea of someone hurting Kaden was unbearable. I charged into the bedroom that I heard the scream come from. I wasn't paying attention.

"Billy!"

The voice had come from my brother again. He was calling for me. My brother was screaming for my me! He was crying out for help.

I charged as fast as I could when the door automatically slid up and opened. I looked at the small Antlien bed and heard another noise. If I had just waited a second longer I would have known that this wasn't a scream of pain. This was a scream of pleasure. My mouth dropped open when I saw what was going on...

My brother was laid on his back. The only other thing I saw was ass. It was Shin's ass to be exact. He was riding my brother's dick. Kaden had his hand's clutched onto Shin's waist as Shin was riding his dick. I looked at that moment to see what was going on. It was clear that they were going at it. Shin was grinding on Kaden hard. Kaden was thrusting upwards fucking Shin so hard. Shin was quietly taking it. His hand was on his head. His slanted eyes were silently looking down at Kaden as Kaden moaned in pleasure.

"I thought sex was illegal," I stated.

I didn't know what else to say. My mind had gone somewhere else at that moment. I felt like a jealous boyfriend or something like that. I couldn't believe my brother was having sex with Shin. I couldn't believe shady ass Shin was riding my brother's dick in the room like that.

I saw at that moment's Shin jerk himself off of my brother. He put his hands over his tawny bronze dick and retreated to the corner of the room.

"Shit!" my brother screamed out.

My brother had grabbed the pillow on the bed and covered his own manhood. Even as pissed as I was I couldn't help but to notice how handsome Kaden looked. He was covered in sweat. I wondered how long they had been going at it. From the looks of it, they must have been going on for a long time. Kaden looked embarrassed. He looked surprised. Shin on the other hand...didn't. He looked like he was totally ok with me being in the room. At that moment I even saw a cold dark smirk rise from the side of his face. Of course Kaden didn't notice Shin smirking. Kaden was too busy looking at me.

Kaden voice was hoarse with surprise, "What the hell are you doing in here?"

"Looks like your little brother wanted to learn a thing or two?" Shin laughed.

I looked at Shin. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to walk over to him and snap his neck right then and there. I wanted to just destroy him. I couldn't believe that he had just had sex with Kaden. I couldn't believe he had been lying to Kaden this entire fucking time just to take advantage of him.

And he actually did it! He FUCKED Kaden. He FUCKED MY Kaden!

"I hate you...I fucking hate you!"

I wasn't sure who I was talking about. I wasn't sure if I was talking to Kaden or Shin. Tears were coming out of my eyes at that moment. Tears were running down the side of my face.

"Oh my god, Billy, don't cry. You making me feel like shit yo..."

"Feel like shit for what? Having sex with your husband?" Shin stated, "It may be illegal on the space station but isn't that normal behavior on Earth? Your brother should have expected it..."

I should have expected it?

I didn't know what I was thinking at that moment when I charged at Shin. I punched him dead in his face and his jaw dropped at that moment. He spit out blood. My fist burned when I struck him. I followed up with another punch trying to really get to him. I didn't care if he was naked or not. Before I knew it we were on the floor wrestling back and forth. He didn't punch me back.

It was no doubt he was trying to make me look like the crazy one. He was actually laughing at me. I found myself doing anything I could to hurt him. I bit him. I headbutt him. I just wanted to see blood. I wanted him to feel my pain.

He just laughed. He just fucking laughed.

It was Kaden who grabbed me off of Shin. He pulled me onto the other side of the room and kept me on the ground. Kaden's naked body kept me underneath him, pinning me there.

"BILLY CALM DOWN!"

I was crying. I was crying so hard.

"How much I would have killed to have you in this position, naked on top of me," I stated at that moment shaking my head, "I loved you my whole life and my whole life I was nothing to you."

"That's not true," he said shaking his head.

"Don't fucking patronize me."

"You weren't supposed to see that. Why did you run in?"

"You called my name!"

There was silence at that moment. Kaden just looked down at me. He shook his head at that moment.

"No I didn't."

"Actually you did," Shin added in from the floor.

Kaden looked surprised. Now why the hell would Kaden have been calling someone else's name during sex besides his dear husband? The look on his face said it all. He was embarrassed. His face was red with embarrassment actually. He just kept shaking his head.

"You are in love with me," I replied, "Admit it..."

Kaden hesitated, "You're my brother."

"No I'm not. Our relationship has always been closer than that. You know it and I know it. Deep inside we both knew that we weren't really related. Not by blood at least. We never acted like it. You know we acted more like a couple. Why won't you admit it Kaden?"

I could barely talk choking on own emotion. Seeing Kaden having sex with someone else had caused this influx of emotion that I never knew I had. Kaden got off me at that moment. It was the usual thing where Kaden backed off.

"I didn't know I called your name...I was...I was..."

"Confused," Shin jumped in at that moment, "Your brother's obsession with you has clearly given you a false outlook on what your relationship is. He is your brother, right? You've said it yourself. Blood or not."

"False outlook?" I asked, "Let's talk about false outlooks...like your marraige."

There was silence. Kaden raised an eyebrow. Shin's mouth opened a little bit. I shouldn't have said anything. I knew i wasn't supposed to but at the same time it felt so good to see Shin's expression right now. He was shocked. He was embarrassed. He was CAUGHT!

"What are you talking about?" Kaden asked.

"Ask your husband?"

Kaden looked over at Shin.

"What is he talking about?" Kaden asked.

Shin looked caught. He looked GUILTY! How could Kaden not see the expression he had on his face. It looked like he had just been caught stealing or something. His eyes were wide. For the first time he looked like a deer even without his antlers out!

"Lies. People have been feeding your brother lies," Shin stated seeming more angry than anything right now, "Don't worry though. The Judges are well aware. Those people feeding your brother lies. We've found their hideout. They are all going to be dealt with...right now..."

Oh my god. Oh my god!

I had to leave. I found myself quickly running out of the room.

"Billy, Billy! Come back!" I heard Kaden screaming.

I wasn't thinking about that though. I wasn't thinking about it. All I was thinking about was getting on the communicator. Fuck. Vino. Vino was in danger.

=====================================================================================================

He wasn't picking up his phone. I ran to the building that Vino had taken me earlier. I didn't even know I remembered how to get there. All the buildings looked the same but for some reason I was more than sure I was at the building when I got off the pedestrian bridge.

I called again. No answer! Vino was in danger.

All of a sudden I felt a hand. A hand on my back.

I jumped!

"What are you doing here?"

It was Vino. I hugged him immediately. I thought for sure he was dead. Fuck. I just held him there for a moment. I honestly had learned to trust him and the idea of losing him scared the fuck out of me. The fact that he was here now in good condition was all I could really ask for.

"Vino..."

"What's wrong? I mean...I'm not complaining," he laughed, "This hug is everything I needed today to be honest. But why are you so...emotional. Thought you only got like that for your brother..."

"Shin. Shin knows. He knows where the rebels are based. He said they were sending people to clean out the headquarters. I thought you were dead."

"I ran out. I was actually getting you a gift..." Vino replied.

"Thank God."

"Who?"

"Nevermind. Look we have to warn Elder Gree and the other rebels," I stated.

Vino nodded, "Come on."

=====================================================================================================

"Don't look."

It was too late. We had made our way to the basement floor of the building where Elder Gree and the others were. Vino attempted to cover my eyes but I looked anyway. I pulled away. This was crazy. There were dead bodies everywhere. We were too late.

"Animals..."

"They must have left the bodies as a symbol to anyone else who would oppose the Judges."

We made our way to through the back. Dead bodies everywhere. And as we made our way all the way to the back I saw a familiar face. Vino seemed to lose his cool when he saw him.

"Vino..."

"He's still alive!"

Just at that moment Vino ran over to Elder Gree who was on the floor. There was a few holes in him. He was bleeding out but somehow he was still alive. Vino held him at that moment grabbing him and pulling him up. I watched from a distance. I had never seen death up close before. It scared the fuck out of me. These Antliens had no conscience. They were willing to mass murder their own.

I just shook my head. I felt so bad for Vino. For some reason I had the feeling that Vino and Elder Gree was close.

"We can save you...we can take you somewhere to get medical help. Hold on," Vino was saying to him.

"No...it's too late. Listen. You have to help Billy and the humans."

"I will. I promise."

"Good. You're their only hope. The invasion...it begins in two weeks..."

"No...no...we need more time. GREE! ELDER GREE!"

Elder Gree wasn't responding anymore. His eyes were still open but he was just staring out. He wasn't blinking. It was at that moment I realized that the time for panic was now.

I had seen what the Antliens were capable of now. They wouldn't show mercy on the humans. They were animals even without showing their antlers.

In the silence...Elder Gree was dead, leaving his final warning behind.


To read the next chapter please go to www.crushedcrown.com