Boy was Major Olivia Reyes gonna be pissed. Daniel chuckled to himself while he rowed towards the well-lit island. When he had returned to the Oakland Clan, about a week ago, he had learned a lot of good news.

When Olivia saw him, she had run and jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist, while she clung to him tightly, saying, “Oh, I should be careful, I’m carrying your child.”

She climbed off, and showed him her tiny baby bump, informing him that he had knocked her up. Daniel wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was sure that this was a terrible time and place to birth a child, but he did have strong feelings for his spunky cute partner.

“Really? From only a couple of times?” He knew it could happen but was still surprised.

“Technically it was three . . . wait four times.” She had laughed and kissed him on the chin as she liked to do.

“And what’s this ‘Major’ stuff?’ he asked, frowning.

“Well, I though colonel was a bit pretentious. Besides, I made you a commander,” she answered.

“That’s not even a Marine Corps rank.” He frowned again.

“Daniel, people are coming in daily. Not just marines. All branches of the military, plus former police, national guard, basically everything that you can imagine. A group just arrived from Montana! We’re over ten thousand people strong now. We have to hit three pods a day just to feed this clan alone. We needed structure to maintain control. You were gone and left me in charge, so I took charge.” She was serious now.

“Okay, ‘commander and major’ it is.” Daniel now understood.

“We weren’t the only ones who got promoted. I made some captains and lieutenants as well, to lead pod raids.”

“Who did you pick?”

“That survivalist Kenneth and Barbara are both captains. That lady may look like a librarian, but I’ll tell you what, she has already led six successful long-range pod raids. They’re using Molotov cocktails and some homemade explosives to take out the overseers. Barbara showed us how to make the bombs. Smart lady. Oh, and I made Petey of the Dog Pack bounty hunters one of the lieutenants. Never seen a prouder man before. He’s doing well.”

“Sounds like all solid choices.”

“I also picked specialists for specific fields. Sterns is a Mechanical Specialist. Hambone medical, and Tiny communications. The whole ranking system is working out quite well and our people are following it.”

“Smart, beautiful, and resourceful. You are a triple threat.” Daniel gave her a warm smile.

“I have also assigned squads to make rounds to attend to the orchards. No sense letting our food supply go to waste. We will still have to eat when all of this is over with. We can keep a lot of those fruit trees going with minimal effort for now,” she smiled brightly at him.

“Damn, you’re the best choice that I’ve made in this whole war,” Daniel smiled, quite pleased with the intelligent woman’s efforts. She was a natural born leader and a good strategist.

“Damn right I’m the best choice you’ve made.” Olivia leaned in and kissed him on the mouth this time, lingering for a moment, before changing the subject entirely by saying, “So what gives with Jilly? Are you in love with her?”

He could hear just a hint of jealousy in her voice, and saw even more in her expressive eyes. Daniel figured it was best just to speak truthfully, “I’m not really sure what Jillian and I have. It’s intense, as you know . . . but kinda confusing . . . like us. I’m just not sure where any of this is going. I don’t love her, it’s just raw passion and heat. Besides, I don’t think that I’m capable of loving anyone else, not until I find out what really happened to my wife.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I am,” Olivia said with nervous apprehension, while staring at him with her big brown tender eyes.  

“Are what?” he asked, a little confused.

“In love with you,” she answered, then quickly added, “I just thought that you should know in case something happens to either of us.”

Daniel leaned in and gave her a longer kiss, then said, “First we win this war. Then we can take some time and figure us out.”

“Hmmm . . . that’s fair,” she said. “Let’s keep it the way that it is for now. We’ll decide how to move forward after we kick these aliens off our planet.”

Daniel had also learned that the Battle of Chico, which it was now being called, had been a huge success. Even with their losses being at about four hundred, they had killed thousands of the seekers and over seventy overseers. They needed big enemy losses like that to win this thing.

It was becoming apparent that the overseers were hurting. Returning attack squads had reported that two of the pods that they had hit didn’t even have overseer guards, and none came to defend them. The clan had been able to take all of the food.

Things were going smoothly. That was until last night, when he had the dream again. Andrea standing in a mist, waving at him to come, repeating, “Find us.”  It was the “us” part that really got him. If this really was some type of supernatural visit from her, then was there some chance that his kids were still alive? Some sliver of hope?

He had really wanted to put it all behind him, after his trip to Oceanside, but he couldn’t do that with Andrea’s continued nocturnal visits. Either his mind, or this manifestation of his spirit wife, was trying to tell him something.

Olivia had taken to sleeping with him for warmth and comfort, but it had remained platonic. He thought it best, not that her sleeping in just panties made it easy on him. He believed that she was trying to give him some space to try and sort out his emotions.

Daniel had slipped away from her warm embrace just after midnight. Now he was landing on the shore of Alcatraz Island, blinded by a spotlight, which was coming from somewhere above. He didn’t plan to surrender. He uncharacteristically didn’t have any plan at all. Daniel just wanted answers.

Daniel had a lot of time to think while he was rowing across the bay. He knew that the chances of him returning were slim. He also knew that Olivia was quite capable of running the resistance and he had left her a note telling her to stick to the plan and that she was the new commander if he didn’t return.

It did bother him, a lot, that she would have to raise their child alone in this fucked up world. Still, he had to have answers. Andrea would not stop haunting his sleep until he found out what had happened to her. Somehow, he was certain of that.

Four men walked out from a fenced in area, carrying Uzi style sub-machine guns and flashlights. At least they are human. They searched Daniel, and after taking his .357, led him into the prison complex. It was odd that no words were spoken, as if they captured people daily. Daniel had finally made it to Alcatraz.

The guards walked Daniel over to a structure that bore a historical sign identifying it as Building 64, the old residential housing for the long past guards that used to work in the old prison. He had never been on the island before, and was surprised when the tower lights revealed that the building was several stories tall.

Once inside of the building they passed through a gated entrance where another pair of guards were stationed. Daniel noted that all of the sentries were wearing matching camouflage uniforms and the two new ones also had Uzis, although theirs were strapped to their backs. This is well organized.

The same four guards that initially “captured” Daniel took him through the gate and up two flights of stairs. Daniel was equally surprised to see that they had electricity inside, and that the whole place had been remodeled. The guards took him to an office at the far end of the hall. The door was open.

One of the guards went in and placed Daniel’s unloaded .357 on a desk. The guard and a man sitting behind the desk began whispering. Daniel recognized the sitting man the second that he saw him. He was Robert Rogers the governor of California. His campaign slogan had been “Have a problem? Call on Bobby!”

The slogan was weak, just like the man. Robert Rogers was an independent, who had walked the line like he was on a tight-rope, and flip-flopped on every issue. He would answer issues depending solely upon what group of people he was addressing, always trying to appease people. Whenever he was confronted with something that he didn’t want to answer or talk about, he would always say, “That is under committee review,” although nobody knew who the committee was and when the review would be over.

Governor Rogers waved him in and pointed at a chair. The guard exited and waited just outside the open door with the other three men, Uzi’s at the ready. Rogers opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a file. After looking through it, he took off his expensive brown rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes. He looked to be in his late fifties, was a tad over-weight, and had salt and pepper black hair.

“The infamous Commander Dat. Daniel Allen Taylor. Corporal. United States Marine Corps,” the older man said.

“Robert Rogers. Governor of California. First term,” Daniel answered in kind.

“Call me Bobby,” the former governor stared down at his hands for a moment, then said, “Look Dat, this isn’t a pissing contest. You really don’t understand how much trouble you’ve caused.”

“No, I really don’t. Why don’t you explain to me just how much trouble I’ve caused,” Daniel asked.

“How about I start with the questions. You showed up here with a revolver and six bullets. You obviously didn’t come here to fight. And you didn’t come to join the resistance because you are the resistance. So, why exactly are you here?”

Daniel thought for a moment. “You’re my governor. If you have a problem, call Bobby. Well, I came a calling.”

“Well, first off, I’m no longer a governor. I’m now an ambassador,” he corrected Daniel, then put his fancy glasses back on. “So, what’s this problem?”

“My family. They came here seven years ago,” Dat said, pulling out a picture of his wife and children from his shirt pocket. “I just want to know what happened to them.”

The older man took the picture and leaned back in his leather chair, saying, “Oh, family. I guess that is a pretty serious issue.”

Bobby studied the photo for a long moment, then said, “Thousands of people came through here over the past seven years. I can’t remember all of them, but I’ll check our records. Andrea, Adrian, and Alesia Taylor, correct?”

“Yes, how’d you know that?”

Ambassador Rogers pointed down at the open file on his desk and waved a guard in. “Take him over to the Quartermaster’s Building. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

The same four men led Daniel back out the same route that they had come. On the way past the first level, he heard a man and woman arguing and farther off, a baby crying. Families must live here.

The five men walked a short distance and entered another large building, where they waited for a few minutes in a small lobby. In front of them were two large black iron doors that led further into the building. Then Robert Rogers arrived.

The ambassador approached the double doors, and after pulling a card free from around his neck, he passed it over a scanner that was on the wall beside the doors. Next, the man placed his hand on a black fingerprint scanner. Why all the security?

The doors slid open with a “whoosh” sound and all six men entered the room. Daniel had to shut his mouth, once he realized that it was hanging open. The room was a replica of a command module, only much larger. There was a computer console, with at least a hundred or more screens around the walls. Daniel tensed up when he noticed an overseer standing in the far corner. It didn’t move.

“What the hell . . .“

“Not hell Dat, quite the opposite really. Sanctuary.” Bobby smiled.

“What do you mean?” Daniel asked, confused by the comment.

“I checked on your family. They never made it here. No record of them showing up at Alcatraz at any time in the past seven years,” the ambassador revealed, not answering his question.

“So, what happens to people when they do show up to join the resistance?” Daniel asked.

“They’re sent through the green power circles. We can’t have those types running around causing trouble.” Bobby shook his head in disdain.

“What exactly is going on here?” Daniel didn’t like the situation.

“How’s about I fill you in on some missing details. It’s not like you’re leaving here anyways.”  Bobby grinned. “Come over here.”

He led Daniel over to the overseer and said, “May I?”

The red circle on its chest turned from red to green. Bobby reached up and touched a button on the helmet, sliding the face visor open. Daniel stared in disbelief. It was empty!

“Robots?” he questioned, staring at the hollow space, trying to grasp the implications. Segmented body parts and never any blood, now making total sense to him.

“Yes, in the sense that they’re not alive. Yet, a bit more complicated than I have time to explain right now. It suffices that you know that they’re all controlled by the Overlord.” Bobby continued his stunning revelations.

“Overlord?”

“There’s only one Daniel. There has only ever been one. In our language, he calls himself Overlord, and he controls all of the overseers.” Each revelation from the ambassador was more surprising than the last.

“Just one? So . . . you work for him?”

“He came to several world leaders about a month before the invasion. He showed us things, revealing that we had no chance to resist him. Then he offered sanctuaries to us as ambassadors. It was an unfortunate situation commander, but we really had no choice.” The former governor defended his actions.

“So, you built this place?” Daniel asked.

“The Overlord picked the location, but yes, I had thirty days to get this place renovated and to move key people here.”

“How many key people?” Daniel was firing off questions at will.

“The Overlord allowed a thousand. He provides us with food, as well as fuel for the large generators.”

“So, you saved your friends,” Dat scowled.

“Friends? Hell, no, who has friends in politics. I brought a few family members, but most of the people here are doctors, engineers, military men, and experts. You know, the type of people who can keep this place running.”

Daniel stared at the weak man in disbelief, saying, “You had choices. You were governor of millions. You could’ve warned the state. Hell, you could’ve warned the country and the world. Instead, you sit here and turn over anyone who wants to fight.”

“There was no fight option, Commander Dat. Come over here and let me show you what happens to any who show disobedience,” Bobby said, walking over to the computer console, where he placed his right hand on one of the black pads. He pushed a button with his left, and twenty of the screens flashed to life. Eight held pictures of empty rooms similar to the one that they were in, while twelve were fuzzy.

“Pad doesn’t run by fingerprints. It’s a DNA scanner. Checks your sweat,” Bobby offered. “Anyways, this is the link to the original twenty sanctuaries. Any slight failure to follow the Overlord’s orders have resulted in immediate destruction. Tokyo went down just last week for housing 1,001 people. Now, there’re only eight sanctuaries left.”

Daniel studied the screens. There was one showing their room, plus one marked Block Island, Rhode Island, that was now fuzzy. The active sanctuaries were marked Isle of Man, Gozo Island, Palm Jumeirah, Dzaoudzi Island, Isla Hermite, Flinders Island, and Sung Kong. Each of those screen views showed that the similar rooms were empty at this hour.

“We hold electronic meetings though these rooms once a month,” Bobby advised. “So now, how about I show you something that you’ll like.”

He typed in Daniel’s full name and the man’s entire life history came up, to include his parents’ names, all previous addresses and schools, and hospital information. It interestingly listed him as the leader of the Oakland Clan and the resistance. Several photos of him flashed on various screens, including a fairly recent one from when his clan had attacked the first overseer column at Merritt College.

It was obviously a drone picture and had large red letters across it reading “WANTED”. The rest of the pictures went all the way back to baby photos. Plus, a couple from his old orchard pod.

“Who else would you like to see?” Bobby smiled at him.

“Andrea,” he whispered, but when the governor punched her name in, nothing came up. The same for his children.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“The Overlord only provides us with limited access. Some people don’t come up.”

“Jillian Johnson,” Daniel said.

After Bobby typed, Jillian’s life history popped up, followed by numerous photos. Some were from her stripper days, causing Bobby to whistle. Over the most recent photo was large green letters that read “COMPLIANT”.

Daniel debated if it was wise to check any more of his people, but figured that the enemy already knew who they were, so maybe it was a good idea to see just how much this Overlord knew. Daniel had the ambassador check several others. Hambone and Tiny both shown as bounty hunters, with red “NON-COMPLIANT” banners over them.

Olivia Reyes came up as a member of the Oakland Clan, but there wasn’t much more. The governor interjected, “The Oakland Clan has been a huge thorn in our side for years.”

“If the overseers’ aren’t alive, then they obviously aren’t afraid of the sewers and tunnels. So why haven’t they transported in and finished them off?” Daniel questioned, curiously.

“I wish that they could’ve exterminated those rats a long time ago, but they can’t. The overseers operate by some type of signal from the Overlord. It doesn’t reach them underground. If they transported in, then they would become nonfunctional.” Bobby scowled his disapproval. “For all of his highly-advanced technology, he still can’t get his forces underground.”

This guy is such a low-life piece-of-shit scumbag. Robert Rogers noticed that Daniel was frowning at him and said, “You don’t like me much, do you?”

“I don’t like you at all. You were a weak man before the invasion and you’re a weak man now. That is why the Overlord picked you as an ambassador. He knew that you’d roll over and play his game. Now you hide in your fake kingdom while the world is dying out there. They’re taking everything. Why don’t you ask this Overlord why he’s raping our planet?”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself, Commander? He wants to see you,” the ambassador revealed. “I’m sure that he’ll have better answers for you than I would. Of course, I thought that you should’ve been recycled, but he’s the boss.”

With that, the man nodded at the overseer. A moment later a green power circle opened in the floor next to Daniel. The overseer’s chest circle turned back green, and it came over and searched the commander.

“The last time that I went into one of these, I ended up completely naked in a room full of strangers.” Daniel said with a grimace.

“The circles can have different settings. Those didn’t allow anything but flesh to pass through. This one does allow objects through. The green power circles are two-way. None of the other colors are. Time to go commander. This is what you came for. He will have answers about your little family. This isn’t the time to get light in the loafers. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. You’re about to meet an alien!"

Daniel closed his eyes and thought, Here goes everything. The Oakland Clan leader stepped into the circle. With a fizzle, he was gone.