Gardens of Destruction

The air in the base was heavy with an ominous tension, woven into its very foundations since yesterday’s incident. Everyone was aware of the child’s disappearance, along with several colleagues. A silent wave of sympathy washed over Jana, though nobody dared to speak to her. Fear gripped the hearts of the people, preventing even the simplest eye contact. Questions hung in the air, their answers too frightening to contemplate. Hushed conversations about leaving bubbled under the surface; their scientific enthusiasm had evaporated, replaced by an urgent desire to flee.

The silence from General Patterson only added to their unease. Since returning to the base last night, he had become a ghost, unseen and unreachable. Even the usually loquacious Professor Bernstein wore a mask of silence, refusing to discuss anything under the guise of military secrecy.

Bernstein paced the base, his mind racing. Patterson’s uncharacteristic silence over the phone was unsettling. He loathed this inaction, desperate to understand what had transpired in the nearby town. He knew something terrible had happened, but the reality was beyond his wildest imagination. And his thoughts kept returning to Jana. He barely knew her, yet felt a surprising kinship. He wished he had been the one to disappear instead of the child; after all, who would miss a mad old scientist? And all the while, a uniformed shadow dogged his steps, an ever-present guardian assigned by the chief.

“Professor,” the soldier interrupted his thoughts, “General Patterson requests your presence.”

“About time,” Bernstein muttered, his voice a low growl of frustration.

The soldier said nothing, simply waiting to escort him to the general’s office.

Bernstein’s steps were brisk, but his heart thundered with apprehension. He knew this meeting would reveal the reason behind Patterson’s behavior, and he feared the truth. He hardly noticed reaching the office, his hand trembling as he opened the door.

Inside, several uniformed figures stood discussing something over a map. Bernstein hesitated to interrupt. Finally, Patterson noticed him.

“Sit down, Professor. I’ll be with you in a moment,” he said sternly.

“I won’t be in the way,” Bernstein replied, his voice barely a whisper.

The meeting with the military personnel ended abruptly, Patterson dismissing them without explanation. They left, their faces clouded with frustration.

“Well, Bernstein, shall I ask how you are, or shall we get straight to your questions?” Patterson’s gaze was piercing.

“No need for pleasantries, we’ve known each other too long,” Bernstein replied, regaining some composure.

“Yes, I can imagine how you feel, like everyone else here,” Patterson rubbed his tired eyes. “Everyone wants answers, and I have none,” he sighed softly.

“People are scared, we’re scared, what do you expect?” Bernstein shot back, his frustration evident.

Patterson spun a pen in his fingers, a sign of deep contemplation. “I’m scared too, Bernstein, terrified after what I saw last night.”

“Will you finally tell me what happened there?” Bernstein asked, anticipation in his eyes.

Patterson sighed heavily, his hesitation heightening the tension. “I can sum it up in one word: SLAUGHTER.”

“I... I don’t understand?” Bernstein stammered.

“Your peaceful aliens, Professor, they’re anything but,” Patterson’s voice was grave.

“You’re scaring me,” Bernstein admitted, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

“That’s the point! From now on, this is what we’re up against!” Patterson’s gaze was intense.

After a pause, he continued, “We’re facing a serious problem, Professor. I’m about to announce an evacuation of the base. It’s just us from now on, no more scientific experiments.”

“But tell me, what happened in that town, what made you take these extreme measures?” Bernstein implored, still in the dark.

“It’s better this way, for everyone,” Patterson rubbed his eyes again. “If word gets out, there’ll be panic. I won’t allow that to happen.”

Impatience edged the professor’s voice as he confronted the general. ‘I’m waiting, General! Tell me what this is about!’ His tone was a mix of frustration and an academic’s insatiable curiosity.

The uniformed officer, his expression grave, retrieved his mobile computer and powered it on. ‘It’s best you see for yourself. Words fail to capture the horror.’

Professor Bernstein adjusted his chair to better view the computer’s screen. The general keyed in his secret access code and opened a folder containing footage from the previous day’s operation. ‘There were no survivors, Professor. Not one we could find,’ he explained, his voice subdued as he searched for the video.

‘Everything was left... just as it was. Plates still filled with warm food... even the baby cradles were empty...’ the general’s voice trailed off, a hint of raw emotion breaking through his usually stoic demeanor.

‘Here, see what was left in the town center. That’s where we found them – the only people, if you can still call them that.’ The military man gave the professor a meaningful look.

The computer screen lit up, displaying a high-resolution video. The camera operator approached strange formations that resembled plants, crystalline droplets intertwined with filaments. A shiver ran down the professor’s spine. As the camera zoomed in, it became evident that these structures were growing out of human bodies, their threads entwining like roots.

‘What in the world is this!’ exclaimed the professor, gripping his chair’s armrest as if he might tear it off.

‘Keep watching,’ urged his colleague.

A soldier stepped closer to one of these ‘plants’, examining a crystal-like orb, the size of a human fist, swaying gently in the breeze. Curiously, he touched it with his rifle’s barrel. To his astonishment, it quivered like a water-filled balloon, subtly changing color before returning to its original hue as it stilled.

The camera operator continued to record each of the ‘flowers’ arrayed across the square. Suddenly, a raspy voice pierced the air. ‘...kill me!’

The cameraman jolted, panning the camera frantically, searching for the source. He located it - one of the formations slightly to his right. ‘We have a survivor! Get help, quick!’ he yelled.

In seconds, the place swarmed with soldiers. ‘It hurts so badly, please... kill me... the child... important!’ The pleas were heart-wrenching, but the cameraman kept filming in detail.

Then, a stern voice commanded, ‘Step back!’ A gunshot rang out, silencing the moans. The camera swung to reveal the shooter - Captain Davidson.

‘Davidson, what have you done?’ Patterson’s voice was stern, authoritative.

‘I couldn’t stand watching him suffer! You wouldn’t have gotten anything from him, just prolonged his agony,’ replied Captain Davidson, unflinchingly.

‘You’re more interested in these... things than the man!’ he gestured towards the formations.

‘Enough!’ barked the general. ‘We’ll deal with this back at base. Secure the perimeter, that’s an order!’

Patterson stopped the video, and a heavy silence filled the office. The professor swayed slightly in his chair, staring blankly, unwilling to meet his chief’s gaze, as if the general himself was responsible for the atrocity. Finally, the general spoke:

‘Well, Bernstein, what do you say now? Still think it’s wrong to keep this information from the public?’

The professor sighed deeply. ‘It’s incredible... and terrifying, General. And you witnessed it firsthand.’

‘Yes, it was hard to bear. I’m not used to such sights anymore. War is a cruel business.’

‘Were they all dead?’ asked the professor.

‘Yes, no signs of life, except for the one Davidson shot.’

‘A merciful act,’ the professor conceded. ‘It wouldn’t have been right to leave him alive.’

‘Who would have thought!’ Patterson smiled faintly. ‘You, who would dissect your own mother in the name of science.’

‘It’s not funny. I’m beginning to realize I’ve been too absolute. Science isn’t everything. Before it, we must remain human.’”

The general nodded in agreement with the professor’s earlier statement. “And Jana’s child? Little Val, did you find... any trace of her?” the professor asked timidly.

“No, Professor, we haven’t found her, but she wasn’t among the bodies in the square, nor was Dr. Chu. We suspect they’ve been abducted.”

The professor raised his eyebrows significantly. “How did you come to that conclusion? Could anything have happened?”

“Just wait, I haven’t shown you everything yet,” the general interrupted.

“More? Alright, I’m waiting.”

After some searching on his computer, Patterson located the necessary file. “This is a recording from a 911 call, the only one made before the tragedy began. Listen:

‘Hello, this is 911, how can we assist you?’

’Help, someone come! – a terrified woman’s voice whispered over the phone.

‘Calm down, tell us where you are and what’s happening?’

‘Oh Lord, why are you punishing us, why! They are coming, they will take us all. From the thing that landed in the square, devilish spawn are emerging, taking people inside. No one could stop them. The police fired until they too were taken. I’m hiding in the closet, but it seems they can sense us from afar, all I hear around us are screams, I don’t know what to do, help, I...’

A crash sounded, and the voice went silent, followed by a strange scraping noise over the phone.

Neither of them broke the ensuing silence for some time. Bernstein struggled to believe that all this was happening here and now.

“Is this all we have?” asked the professor.

“Yes, that’s all we have,” Patterson replied.

“And what did you do with the formations?”

“We collected all of them, microbiological tests showed no contagions. Now we’re sealing off the entire city.”

“What does that mean?”

“Quarantine. We’re going to sterilize everything there.”

“And how do you plan to achieve that?”

“You can guess... explosion!” Patterson said grimly. “We’re not taking any chances!”

“So you think they really were taken inside... that thing?” the professor changed the subject.

“That’s what we believe... for now. It’s hard to guess if they’re still alive. If you have any hypotheses, please share.”

“I’m still struggling to assimilate all this information, but I am formulating some ideas.”

“Let’s hear them,” the general looked at him with interest.

The professor stood from his chair and began pacing the office. It seemed to help him think.

“Firstly, the thing that struck me: that huge hole in the middle of the square, I believe, is a downsized replica of our giant asteroid in the field.”

“Yes, I had a similar thought,” the general wasn’t surprised.

“It seems to be their mode of travel, crashing isn’t their strong suit,” continued Bernstein.

“Does it matter, as long as it’s effective? Tell me something else noteworthy.”

“I can’t be certain, but I suspect those ‘plants’ are important to them for some reason. Could they be food? Or hold some ritualistic value? It’s also possible they’re experimenting with their life forms, specifically whether they can thrive in Earth’s conditions.”

“That’s precisely what I’m most worried about, Professor,” Patterson interrupted.

“I suppose so. You’re already convinced they want to colonize here, aren’t you, General?” the professor fixed his gaze on him.

“Do you have even one sound argument to the contrary?” the general responded angrily.

“We’ve endured enough of your scientific nonsense. If we had acted immediately, we wouldn’t be in this situation! We’ve lost an entire city of people, including a scientist’s child from the base, and you still try to exonerate them?”

“Calm down, Patterson, you’re exhausted. I never said anything like that; your mind has constructed an entire scenario from one of my remarks. I’m far from defending anyone. I’m as scared as everyone else. I can’t give you a scientific answer on what should be done.”

The general clenched his fists, his gaze fixed through the window at the colossal monolith jutting out from the field.

“My apologies, Professor. I couldn’t hold back; I’m truly exhausted. My outburst was mere habit, accustomed as I am to your defense of them. Now, I interpret each of your comments in that light.”

“No harm done, I fully understand. But may I inquire about your plans going forward?”

Silence once again claimed sovereignty in the room’s atmosphere. The general met his colleague and friend’s eyes and murmured softly.

“War is upon us, Joseph. We have no choice but to defend our people, whatever the cost!”

The professor scratched his hair nervously and cleared his throat with meaning.

“Does the President know everything?”

“Yes, he’s apprised of the situation and has given me the green light to act.”

“And how do you propose to conduct this war, given our ignorance about them? Remember, the nuclear heads in space were futile!”

“Don’t remind me, for heaven’s sake. It’s all I’ve thought about day and night. How to overcome that damnable shield protecting them.”

“I’m clueless this time, warfare isn’t my forte,” the scholar shook his head. “But you’ve considered the research robot that passed through the shield at an extremely slow pace?”

“Yes, we’ve discussed it with the others. We’re aware of this fact and plan to use it.”

“How exactly?”

“We’ll send soldiers to wrap the base of the structure in explosives, then detonate from a distance, hopefully... but not before we rescue the child!” added the general with a hefty dose of resolve in his voice.

“You can’t be serious,” the scientist exclaimed in surprise.

“Do you intend to risk so many soldiers’ lives for a child? That’s hardly a strategic decision. Furthermore, she’s unlikely to survive without her treatment. ”

“Bernstein, how do I explain this to a non-soldier? The responsibility for the child was mine; I underestimated the threat, allowed her to be brought here, did nothing to protect her...”

The general spoke with increasing fervor, pacing the room with steps muffled by the soft carpet.

“I have grandchildren, Professor. Just the thought of one of them disappearing in the same way makes me want to charge at that thing in the field bare-handed.”

“I understand, but consider the soldiers you’re sending. They might have families too. Plus, we don’t know what’s inside, whether they’ll even return!”

“Look, a general must always rely on his soldiers. They’re here for this very purpose, their profession is to die in our defense. Everyone knows it, they agreed to it when they joined the army.”

The professor shook his head in disbelief. It was hard for him to accept the ease with which lives could be sacrificed. He realized he had never liked the military, but now more than anything, he wished he could rely on them.

“Besides,” the general interrupted his thoughts, “this will let us assess what we’re up against. It’s imperative we finally understand. Scientific methods haven’t yielded much; now it’s time I gather data in the way I know. Go now, prepare for evacuation. All civilians are leaving, you included.”

“But General, don’t you think I could be of use here? You know my dedication to this project!”

“Yes, Professor, but I don’t think you can help here, you’ll be... on standby. I expect more answers from you to wage this war successfully. You leave tonight.”

“Please, Patterson, let me stay. I’m scared, but my curiosity prevails. Besides, someone needs to be with Jana; she can’t care for herself right now. You know I’ve proven my worth over the years!”

The general sized up the professor, who moments ago trembled with fear but now was ready to plunge into battle, driven by scientific curiosity.

“Fine, I’ll consider it. Now go, I have much work to cast aside” sighed the military man, turning away from his interlocutor.

The scholar left the room with his head held high, as though he had just been told he’d won the Nobel Prize.

***

Patience. They understood what patience was, did they understand it? The newcomers were splendid, intriguing, different. They were unaware, yet they proclaimed it to all who could hear. The masters were indeed awakening!