~ Djinn ~

Chapter 13

~ Djinn ~

Feeling old and tired, David E. stepped on to the back deck and took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air hoping to capture some spark of nature’s wonder. It used to be his favorite time of year. Now it was just time passing by. Debbie’s realtor Janet and her main contractor, Mitch were waiting for her in the den to finalize the details and sign off on the final phase of Debbie’s massive 3 year building project. Phases 1 and 2 were nearly complete and in her analogy of the grand plan, they were the keep of her castle. Phase three was the castle bailey, the outer wall and buffer to the inner keep. A year and a half had passed since the brutal assault on her home and property, the Fortalice she called it. Debbie had bought up all 12 homes and lots on the interior anchor area of her once high-end suburban neighborhood. 31.6 acres turned into an isolated island, surrounded by stone walls electrified on top with sharpened spikes of copper topped iron. Only one entrance into the Compound with guard house and full time, armed security now existed. Most of the forest had been cleared and replaced with the anchors of any self-contained community. Vegetable and Spice gardens. A barn, chicken coup and stables for their livestock. 4 mares: States, Windy, Sugar Bear and Junie. Two cows at present. But more planned along with some sheep and goats as soon as phase 3 was complete. In the center was the Edifice. For eating, gathering, functions, teaching, fitness and combat training. A massive combination dining hall, laundry room, bar, community center, indoor swimming pool, sauna, firing range, armory and gymnasium. Mere feet away a Barracks building, 4 stories with some individual rooms but mostly dormitories, capable of housing a small army and already occupied by a score of what Wu called soldiers of fortune. Hired thugs was more like it. The six original guest houses remained.

The logistics just to begin the project were formidable. Convincing the owners to sell, obtaining unorthodox variances and questionable permits. From bribery and coercion to intimidation Debbie, the new jadedly focused Debbie, used every available means at her disposal to push the project forward. All of the existing twelve houses had been remodeled with reinforced access points, high tech security and an underground vault to serve as residence for the Skulls. No more would the Crystal Skulls be kept together. The 13th Crystal Skull, the Sanctum remained with Debbie and the Fortalice was appropriately retitled House Sanctum. Each of the remaining 12 Blue Crystal Skull Alien Computers would be harbored in its own refuge named for the assassinated Sentinel that once kept it safe.

Having sworn his life and allegiance to the Comista of Earth, Robert Hazer was the new caretaker of Captiosius Sancta, Crystal Skull of Artificial Intelligence in House Aaron. Debbie had also offered a Skull to David E. Memento Sancta, Crystal Skull of Memory in House Zacariah. He declined. Loss and regret had consumed his passion for honor, his need to belong, his will. But Debbie insisted the offer stand, at least for the time being. Custos too was offered a Sancta and though honored, the undisputed leader of all Sasquatch turned her down citing his responsibilities to govern and rebuild his clans. The remaining Crystal Skulls would be assigned as deserved Sentinels emerged. Shewuma assured Debbie that the Sentinels were out there and she would find them. David E. was skeptical but Debbie’s faith in Shewuma was absolute. Case in point. Shewuma was currently working on her latest appropriation, Rikki Mabarn, raised by the Aboriginal Martu of the Western Australian Desert. A proven warrior and wielder of Bush Magik. Shewuma was wholeheartedly invested in the cause, as was the entire community. Seeking out Debbie’s Consecrates. Preparing for the prophesied upcoming Apocalypse. Teaching, training, spying, killing. David E. had no more taste for it. There would always be some dire portend, some heinous evil. He just didn’t care anymore.

David E. knew where Debbie would be. He followed his long shadow from the sitting sun and there she was, at the entrance to the old bomb shelter next to the red flowering dogwood tree covered with scarlet berries she had planted to honor her adopted son Dermott. He approached her sitting alone on the memorial granite bench with the names of the dead etched into it.

Beloved Family

Dermott McCarthy, Luce Kaboite, with Child, Kwewu Polacca, Chevayo Banybacya,,

Daniel Gibson, Jubal Hazer, Enoch the Colt and Two Brave Chickens.

Wisteria Wanda Wix, with Child.

ROT IN HELL!

Charlie Sue Swenson and Lucy Lange

The bomb shelter had long since been filled in but the memories it held tormented Debbie, just as the loss of Wisty and the baby he thought was his, haunted David E. Debbie heard him approaching and looked over her shoulder. Her green eyes, once vivid and compelling against her long utterly white hair were now starkly disconsolate, like those of a gloomy Rembrandt portrait. “It wasn’t your fault Debbie.”

“You think?” She shook it off. “So David E. You’re out and about? I was just coming to find you.”

“I came to tell you that Janet and Mitch are waiting for you to sign some papers back at the house. Why are you looking for me?”

She offered him a manila envelope stamped REGISTERED. “This is for you.”

He thumbed through some of the legal documents. “I don’t understand.”

“That is a Death Certificate and Last Will and Testament. I had Wisty declared legally dead by the court. She designated you the executor of her will and except for Doreen Svoboda, the sole beneficiary of her assets. Substantial assets I might add.”

“I thought you had to be missing for 7 years to be declared dead.”

“I petitioned the court for an exception. It took some doing, but it was granted. There’s a living trust that includes investments and some property in Salem Massachusetts, two other money market accounts with both your names on them and a storage unit. Its contents will be delivered here any day now.” He nodded glumly. “David E…Wisty and the baby…It wasn’t your fault either.” David E. turned and started to walk away reading the will, then stopped. “It says here to give Doreen one million dollars in cash. I don’t want anything to do with her.”

“Yes. Wisty was nothing if not calculating.”

“I’m not going to Pennsylvania. Can you get her contact information? I’ll arrange for her to come by and pick it up. With any luck we won’t even have to speak.”

“Yeah D. E. That’s not going to work. She is being held in Curran Correctional Facility in Philly.”

“Why?”

Debbie tilted her head slightly to the left for a second, accessing information from her Chip. “Doreen was arrested and is unable to post bail. She will be going away to prison for a while.”

David E. sat down next to her. “That makes no sense. Doreen is loaded. She makes good money at the USSF, she owns that big estate. What’s it called?”

“Witch Hazel Acres.”

“Yeah. What gives Debs? How did all this happen?”

“Just after Wisty died, Doreen filed charges against Lilith primus and Lucuis Lange for rape, assault, and kidnapping. The charges were dropped and she was fired. Then she filed several civil suits against them and the USSF. They were all eventually thrown out. During that same time period she was convicted of a criminal DUI and served 60 days. Later she was arrested for trespassing and battery on the USSF premises. She was convicted and managed a sentence of time served and 5 years suspended. Between unemployment and massive legal debts, she is broke. Witch Hazel Acres is in foreclosure. Fast forward to last week. Arrested for possession with intent and resisting arrest. Third strike.”

“She was a lot of things Debbie but never a drug dealer. Do you think it’s legit?”

“I doubt it. Lilith probably set her up. Doesn’t matter though, the charges will stick. With the previous time that was suspended, she’s looking at 30 years minimum.”

“Holly Shit.” David E. murmured, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this?”

“I brought her up once and you said quote, ‘I don’t give a flying fuck about her’. Only the third time I heard you say the word fuck since I’ve known you.”

“Damn, Deb…” He sighed heavily. “Do you mind if I use the pickup?”

“Not at all. As a matter of fact, it’s yours now. I signed the title over to you just last night. And Viggo just finished changing the oil and filling it with gas.”

He stood and kissed Debbie on the forehead. “So Wisty is calculating, huh? I guess I’m taking a road trip.”

As they walked back towards House Sanctum, Debbie took David E.’s arm. “Be safe, Sweetie. And don’t forget your cane.”

“I will and I won’t. Who is that? I don’t know her.” He inquired about a tall, imposing girl standing at attention, silhouetted next to the steps of the back deck. She was quite fit, not unattractive and looking out of place in her t-shirt, compression shorts and donning shin guards, headgear and elbow pads.

“She’s Cindy’s daughter.” He shook his head. “You know. The new lady Wu hired to run the dining hall and the Edifice. That’s her daughter. Amanda. They live in Chevayo’s old guest house.”

As they approached her, David E. said out of the side of his mouth. “She’s giving me an odd look. She seems weird.”

Debbie responded telepathically. “Be nice D.E. Amanda is autistic.” Without warning Debbie directly flooded his mind with tips for interacting with the Autistic: Autistic are often very direct. Use clear language. Pay attention to nonverbal cues. Be supportive. Minimize sensory overload. Respect personal space. Be patient. The information poured in.

Surprised and a bit overwhelmed, David E. clutched his head with both hands and blurted out, “Jesus Christ, Debbie! What the hell.”

Amanda recoiled, her face aghast. David E. reached out to her, placating. “I’m sorry young lady…”

Amanda pulled back into a Karate Kokutsu Dachi, ready to attack. Debbie put a hand to his chest. “D.E. Stop!” Then said calmy, matter-of-factly to Amanda. “He just overreacted, Honey. Everything is fine.”

Amanda went back to standing at attention and stated, “I understand. I don’t appreciate taking my Lord and Savior’s name in vain. And Miss Comista of Earth, my given name is Amanda.”

“Of course, Hon…Amanda. And please call me Comista. May I introduce David E. Major, Command Sergeant Major retired. He’s family.” Amanda gave a curt nod.

David E. offered his hand to shake. “ How do you do, Miss?”

She ignored the gesture. “My health is excellent. My mother is relatively prosperous, which keeps me comfortable as well. My name is Amanda. What relation are you to the Comista?”

“Well, we’re not actually related by… never mind.” At a loss, he looked at Debbie.

Debbie stifled a chuckle. “What can I do for you Amanda?”

“I was told that Miss Shewuma is not present for our combat training again today. I am requesting that you assign a surrogate to take her place.”

“I would be honored to joust with you Milady. I'll meet you at the gym in about 45 minutes.”

“We will just be sparring not jousting, Comista.” Amanda turned and walked away.

D.E. gestured Debbie up the steps. “Wow! That was different.”

“She’s really sweet once you get used to her.” Debbie shifted uncomfortably. “I feel like we’re being watched.” She whistled and all four dogs rushed her on the deck.

David E. replied sardonically, “I’m sure. We’re always being watched.”

“TURN IT OFF!”

Major Chin of the Chinese PLA and his mysterious associate Kenichi both froze, startled and completely surprised by the outburst. Not the best reaction. Marid was a Djinn and as such, expected mere mortals to instantly obey his commands. He stood from his make shift throne and shape shifted into a 600 pound snarling Siberian tiger. With yellow eyes glaring and baring his 4 inch fangs, his voice disturbingly bellowed from the tigers mouth, “TURN IT OFF, NOW!”

The Grey Alien, Cerrek, reached between the two men and touched escape on the key board with one of his 4 slender fingers. The floating 3d holographic satellite image of Debbie frolicking with the 4 canines melted away. Telepathically, Cerrek informed both Major Chin and Kenichi that the Djinn despised and feared dogs. Marid faded back into his naked, muscular, 6 foot 4 inch human form and addressed the Chinese delegates sternly. “I do not fear anything but I do despise dogs. They are foul, unclean creatures and that woman is allowing them to lick her face. It is disgusting. Yes, that’s right. I heard your thoughts. I can steal the thoughts of weak minds. Never again make me repeat a command. Understood?”

Cerrek had warned them that Marid was domineering and eccentric, but this meeting was going off the rails. “Yes sir,” they both answered.

“Address me as My Lord.”

“Yes, My Lord,” they said in unison.

“Dress me,” The Djinn commanded to the fit and hard looking man that had been standing silently behind his makeshift throne all evening. Ahriman held up a black silk robe while Marid slipped in his arms and then tied the sash. The Djinn sat back down on his throne made of hay bales and covered with colorful stripped riding blankets. The delegates waited anxiously while the servant wrapped Marid’s head with a long strip of golden silk into a turban and pinned a brooch of a miniature Khanjar (a curved dagger) on the front. Ahriman was the Qayid of the Hashshashin order of assassins founded in 1090 A.D. in the Alborz Mountains of Persia. Master of Masyaf Castle and a killer elite. As was his father and his father before him. Now he and his house of assassins had been reduced to serving this pompous and overbearing Djinn like common slaves. While he worked away earnestly on his bogus master, Ahriman visualized thrusting his jambiya under Marid’s ribs and up, feeling the curved blade penetrate first the lung, then bury into the heart. He was wondering if that would kill a Djinn when Marid flitted him away with his hand.

“Cerrek. She is the one of whom you spoke?”

Cerrek began to answer him telepathically. “Yes, My Lord…”

Marid interrupted him. “Speak out loud for all to hear, Grey.”

Cerrek’s voice was soft and raspy. “Yes, My Lord. Debbie Archer. The Erran Comista of Earth.”

“So you want me to obtain this dog lover for your masters. Why?”

“We need her DNA, her blood, her eggs, and her 13 Blue Crystal Skulls.”

Marid addressed Major Chin. “And China is interested in her as well? Why?”

“Her network of Crystal Skull Computers can hack our satellite technology, My lord. You see the threat of malware and ransomware…”

Marid cut him off. “Stop.” He gestured for Ahriman to approach. “What is this word, hack?”

“Hack means to compromise, My lord.”

“General Chin, is it?”

“Major Chin, sir. I mean My lord.”

“ I do not involve myself with technologies. It was Annunaki technology that exterminated my kin and when they could not kill me, I was imprisoned by their technology for…How long did we calculate Ahriman?”

“Roughly 200 centuries, My lord.”

“200 centuries. An eternity of nothingness. Only brought back to the light by the intervention of my Hashshashin brothers.” He gestured to Ahriman, who bowed and smiled with smoldering eyes.

Cerrek commented. “The Annunaki were a harsh people, My Lord. I can only imagine your pain.”

“NO! You cannot. But that is past. Back to the woman. If you want her and her possessions, just take them.”

“We have tried many times in vain, My Lord. She and her allies are formidable and crafty. She is building a new stronghold and acquiring an army of zealots even as we speak. Where Government agents, assassins, duplicity and even Lucifer and his horde failed, we hoped you could prevail.”

Marid leaned forward, interested. “And why would I even consider helping you?”

“Because My lord, you are the last of your kind. You’re race wiped out by the Sumerian Gods. You came to us last year seeking a way to propagate your race, to breed a new line of Djinn.”

“Yes and you were useless. The mighty Greys, supposed wielders of genetic magic. But all you offered me was grotesque sods and mangled infants.”

“Yes my Lord. Not our best effort. We found no eggs in all of this galaxy that will accept you’re sperm. And your triple helix DNA is unique. Replicating it was impossible and manipulating it proved futile. But this Comista of Earth may have what you seek. Her Comista DNA is a combination of Human and Erran nucleotides, long lived and nearly indestructible. And like the Djinn, her helix use ionic bonds, not the hydrogen bonds found in all other life forms. We think she may produce your offspring.”

Marid considered silently for a moment. “Ahriman, what are your thoughts?”

“I don’t trust these Grey Eunuchs My Lord. Always skulking and calculating.”

“Yes. They are a species rich in irony. Weak and slight of stature, yet feared by the powerful. Revered as masters of reproduction while having no genitalia of their own. Cerrek of the Grey Aliens. It is written that Allah took the light of his right hand and created Angels. He took the smokeless fire of his left hand and created Djinn. Then with the hard clay beneath his feet he created man. Such was the domain of the Djinn over humans in the beginning and shall be again. Show me more pictures and tell me of this Comista of Earth. We must discern her weakness.”

**********