H E T H I R D W A V E
200 years before the first contact, the air was always thick and stagnant. People gathered in the streets not to talk, but to complain. Complaining about the way things were and why they hated living in this society, but did nothing to change that. Humanity was at a plateau where nothing seemed to improve except the secrecy of corruption. Had we reached our max potential? Was this really our legacy?
Every room seemed to be filled with nihilistic dread, people snickering at the most trivial matters, laughing at each other's misfortune. Soon after, bored with consuming endless piles of content, the people resorted to fighting on the streets. Just one more punch struck, one more fight in the ring, could possibly fill the vast voids in the heart; this desire for one more piece of gratification. I was pumped up on three kinds of drugs when I was brutally beaten up in the ring with several teeth flying out. I still remember looking into the manager’s eyes, filled with rage. The eyes. It didn’t take me more than a second to dash out of that place, before I heard him screaming for the money he lost.
“JENO!” I remember him yelling. I ran. Ran with everything in me, faster than the trains, the light, the speed. All before I blacked out. A bright light woke me up where I found myself between an alleyway, half-naked, half-alive, half-survived, with not a single clue about the night’s previous events or the time it was now. I wandered out and gazed at the sky. Though, when I looked up, the sky was still dark from the nighttime. Confused about the strange light in the sky, I had searched the dimly lit streets for what felt like hours before stumbling upon a shiny beetle-like creature. From its glossy appearance, I could make out the reflection of my short stubble beard and my disheveled appearance.
A childhood friend of mine driving through the area on that fateful night happened to see me crouching down staring at that emeraldine beetle.
“Jeno?” A familiar voice had called out.
I remember turning to look at the slim and pale face peering out of the sleek clear frames of the translucent floating vehicle.
“Navi..?” I had guessed moving closer to get a better view of the clean shaven man in front of me. He didn’t look like the Navi I knew, nor did his transportation match that of our humble beginnings, but something about his voice in that one word had reminded me of the texture in the way he said things. Not a minute later, the mysterious yet familiar man ushered me into his vehicle.
With nothing to lose, I fumbled with the door before entering quickly and sinking into the silky and glossy chairs. The fresh smell of leather and cologne filled my nostrils before being plagued by the stench of myself. While holding his nose, the man reintroduced himself as Navi and began to give me the state of the world.
“Listen Jeno, when everything goes south, I have a friend who can ensure you aren’t on the frontlines…It was always nice staying by your side when we were younger. I’m glad I found you.” Navi stated, looking directly into my eyes.
That was 14 years ago though, everything that happened after my encounter with Navi went by in a flash. That beetle that I had found turned out to be one of Earth’s first extraterrestrial visitors. What happened next, would go down in history as humanity’s greatest sacrifice. 7 billion people. 7 billion people dead from the alien forces. In the final years, we wanted them gone. We set aside our differences, uniting to defeat the common enemy.
We were honorable, we fought for everyone, even those we once considered adversaries. We were truly something.
Following the defeat of the alien empire, a period of peace sustained…for five years. Without addressing the root problem of corruption, the world fell into turmoil once again. That is part of the reason why the Peace Alliance was created, to maintain peace after the arrival of the foreign invaders. I honestly still don’t know how Navi found me or if he even wanted to find me. Whatever the case was, if it weren’t for Navi, I would’ve been killed by a raging alien insectoid. Or even worse, I wouldn’t have met my wife Jinx or had my son Onyx.
As the world got increasingly barbaric, the boss became noticeably disturbed with his sentences becoming more erratic as the days passed.
“Listen sir, it isn’t possible to simply send that many people to take out one person,” an assistant pleaded. “He’s threatening our peace! Peace is our priority. We are the PEACE Alliance” The boss snapped. “We are trying to find solutions, sir,” another member chimed in.
“I know you’re trying your hardest. But think about my family! Our families! You would be crazy to think I can spare any time with their lives on the line.” He said with a panicky voice echoing across the gray room. “Can’t we just defeat those alien beasts again to solve everything?”
“Sir- Are you implying that we have the aliens wreak havoc on society… Just for peace-?” the secretary's eyes widened.
A smile crept on his face. “That’s it! Write that down! Genius! Genius I tell you! Think about those years. You know what they called us right? The worldwide warriorsNo, the universal warriors of peace!” The boss beamed radiantly.
I had zoned out after his first warrior spiel, eyeing the grand posters that covered the walls from floor to ceiling: BUY A PIECE, SUPPORT THE PEACE; INTEGRATE, IT’S MORE THAN GREAT!
I only returned to awareness after he dismissed us and Navi tapped me on the shoulder.
“Ready to go man?” Navi asked.
“Yeah, sorry I was…pondering the boss’s great plan,” I responded sarcastically.
“Ha, let’s talk more about your…new dog treats downstairs,” Navi chuckled while giving me a look. I quickly nodded and turned my eyes behind me just to see the boss’s gaze meet my own. Grabbing my folders and stuffing them inside of my briefcase, I took a large gulp and dashed towards the door, but not before stumbling over several chairs.
“Jeno, you’re such a klutz!” Navi whispered once we were out of earshot of the boss.
“I know, I know.” I mumbled. “Well, the boss also seemed off his rocker today, going off into tangents about the last few years…so I’m not the only one,” I retorted.
“That’s true though, I can’t even believe he’s willing to sacrifice that many people! Is this even moral?” Navi declared.
“Well, I can understand him. He has a family, it’s a bit more difficult for you to relate,” Yet as soon as those words came out of my mouth, I immediately bit down on my tongue and felt a strong wave of regret wash over me. “I mean, maybe we can still convince him of a better idea,” I added quickly.
“It’s no use. He already made the order,” Navi shrugged, searching the ground despondently.
“What?”
“The order for his manufactured aliens to be created and released?”
“That can’t be right!”
“Were you not listening? After rambling on about the peace warrior doodads, he made the call!”
“When?”
“What-?”
“WHEN ARE THEY BEING RELEASED?” I nearly screamed, my head beginning to swell.
“About two weeks' time.”
“Well, maybe- maybe we can still convince him otherwise, or stop this whole thing!”
We did not in fact stop the creation or release of the fabricated aliens. Well, I mean, what could we have done? History had repeated itself, except this time, the aliens were fake! Chaos ensued, followed by a brief period of peace. Peace that was more of a distraction. A distraction that lasted seven months. All that death and destruction just for seven months! Once tensions started brewing again, the boss became noticeably agitated once again.
“Sir, I don't think we should create a third wave,” an assistant said with concern, “Why not! It worked last time, it should work again!” The boss sneered.
“And how long did we remain peaceful?” Another assistant chimed in with a condescending tone.
“Everyone’s always asking me: ‘How long?’ ‘When is this?’ ‘When that?’ I don’t know!” The boss let out in a puff. “I just know that we fight for peace.”
After a short meeting, the boss released us and I immediately ran to Navi, who was a few paces ahead of me.
“What should we do? Should we do anything?” I whispered under my breath, scanning the area for any of the boss’s cronies or goons who might report us.
“I think we just have to prepare, man,” Navi responded. “You mean, we shouldn’t even try?” I asked, confused.
“Well, the boss would practically kill us!” Navi replied half under his breath. “He wasn’t always like that, you know.”
I pictured his unassuming short stature and large bald spot on the back of his head, then imagined his young daughter. “You’re right, you’re right,” I sighed. “I’m going to go then, I’ll see you.”
Following that, I raced home till I reached my front door. I nervously pressed the buttons on my door, and impatiently waited for the security system to scan my eye. Everything that was originally messy and dilapidated about the original society improved as technology advanced when the situation concerning the aliens became more and more dire.
“Hi honey, you’re home early, how was work?” A voice called from behind me.
My wife carried a package motioning me to open the door.
“Good,” I said, not wanting to draw attention to it, but fumbling with the handle.
“Okay… well, why do you seem so anxious?” She responded.
“You know how it goes. Just the usual business, managing assets, doing taxes, things,” I chuckled trying to force a smile.
Her silence should have made me feel relieved, but her unmistakable frown made me feel uneasy. Frankly, I wish I was more honest, but I don’t even know how I would bring that up. Hey honey! Turns out I was lying to you about working at Tax Cap Enterprise. I actually work for this strange group that is obsessed with peace, stability, and aliens, and is now weirdly like a cabal!
“Hey Jinx,” I called out to my wife.
“What is it?” She asked, walking over. My stomach began doing somersaults and I tried to say something but instead just blurted out, “Ever thought of buying a house?”
“Are you telling me to--to move out?” She said nervously. “Is that why you were so anxious?” She began to say through tears.
“No you’ve got it all wrong!” I rushed to assert. “I just thought it would be nice to have a change of scenery. You always said it would be nice to check out the west side.” I added.
“I mean I trust you--and your decisions, but what about Onyx, our son?” She said, wiping away tears.
“Can we talk more about this at dinner?” I asked while trying to comfort her. She nodded slowly.
When dinner finally arrived, I sat sternly ready to speak, but was interrupted by a lump in my throat I couldn’t swallow. I was more than glad when Jinx finally stated what I had been waiting for.
“Onyx, we wanted to ask you what you thought about moving,” she stated.
“Why would we do that!? All my friends are here,” Onyx protested.
“Well, as a family, we decided that it would be best for your safety,” I finally managed to chime in.
Jinx gave me a look questioning my statement.
“How! We’re perfectly safe here!” Onyx stormed away. I mean, I really was concerned for our safety. After that meeting about a potential third wave, I just wanted my family to get out of there and into a place that could ensure our safety.
After dinner, Jinx immediately rushed over to me.
“You didn’t tell me this was about safety!” She asserted. “It’s our duty as parents to keep Onyx safe!” I answered.
“And what does moving have to do with that?” She questioned. “I believe that you’re probably doing the right thing, but I’ve been confused about everything about you recently!”
With thoughts rushing through my head about whether I should reveal my involvement with the alliance and problems concerning safety, I attempted to change the subject.
“Listen Jinx, it’s been a long day and I think we both just need some rest.”
With a defeated expression, she turned away, trudging slowly through the dark hallway to bed.
-
I questioned myself a lot after that event. Should I have told her? What if it had disrupted peace? What is peace?
After both waves, religious groups formed and fell apart, cultures were reformed, and society began to change.
Conspiracists flooded platforms with their incoherent theories and suspicions about what the aliens really meant, but I mean, who could blame them? I often found myself browsing forums with the latest and greatest speculations about aliens and humanity. I wanted to see how close a person could get to the truth of it all, the fact that the second wave was fabricated and how their lives were practically in the hands of one person.
Once I was sure that Jinx and Onyx were deep in sleep, I spent the next few hours typing away at a report due the next morning. I was zoning in and out of consciousness writing nonsense when I finally finished.
“Dad?” A voice behind me startled me awake I turned to see Onyx peeking through the shadows.
“I can’t sleep,” He said.
“Is everything alright?”
“Do you believe in God, dad?”
The question surprises me as I try to deflect it, “What?
Are you interested in religion now?”
“Do you?”
“I’m not sure.” I responded cautiously.
“He’s a real person, you know ” I felt horrified as I stared at him. “Okay Onyx, I’ll put you to bed.”
What a strange comment What did he even mean by that? Was he implying something?
Waking up the next morning was absolutely brutal I lifted my head off of my desk and sluggishly made my way to work. The rest of the day felt like a fever dream as my eyes closed and opened without my control -
“The report?” A voice echoed through the meeting room. My eyes opened to see the boss staring into me His booming voice provided a moment of clarity as I desperately searched for my report hidden somewhere inside of my briefcase and various files But it wasn’t in my briefcase, nor was it among the messy piles of documents I had created in my futile search.
“Sir, I can print a new one-” I stumbled to say “No. Go and get it,” the boss said, enunciating each word. -
When I unlocked the door to my house, my wife was already standing in the doorframe, Onyx behind her, waiting for me waving some papers in her hand. My eyes went wide. “Care to explain what this is? Why have you been lying to me? TO OUR FAMILY?” She started sobbing. “What is the ‘Peace Alliance'? I don't understand why you would need to lie to me about it! Is it really more important than your family?”
“Please try to understand-” I started.
“Understand what! I don’t even know what this is about!”
“I don't actually work for that Tax Cap Enterprise! I work for the alliance, but I was afraid to tell you!” She looked even more heartbroken now. “And you couldn’t have even told me?”
“I’m really, really sorry, but please, for our safety, I need to turn in those documents.”
Dejected, she handed me the report and I rushed back to the meeting room. When I arrived, the air became silent and I felt every head turn in my direction. Navi looked at me apologetically
“Take a seat, Jeno.” The boss’s voice boomed. I sat down obediently and avoided his glaring eye contact. The rest of the meeting was nerve wracking and tense. When we were finally let out, I swiftly handed my report to the boss then carefully exited the room
“I was thinking, Jeno. About the alliance, and about our involvement,” Navi slowly said “And I’ve been worried ”
He chuckles sadly. “This isn’t what I signed up for, not what I want, nor what I thought would happen.”
“What did you think the Peace Alliance was?”
“I mean, it was meant for maintaining peace and reducing conflict by means of bringing opposing forces together to support a common goal--but it’s been changed, drastically.”
“What do you suggest we do?” I asked “Leave,” Navi says without a hint of uncertainty. “What?”
“The alliance ” He says again firmly “What about our safety-?”
“Do you want to do what’s right or what’s easier?” I was hesitant to tell him what I thought, as he may have been brainwashed by the boss and turned around and killed me right then and there. How stupid is that? From what I did know about Navi, I knew that he wasn’t the type of person to do that. I cursed myself for even thinking about it. Honestly, now that I had thought about it, Navi was my ticket to success He was my savior, he was my god.
“Tell me Jeno, what do you stand by?” He followed up. “My family and you ” I finally responded “The truth is that I just want safety for my family, but I owe it to you-for saving me, so I’ll follow wherever you decide to go.”
-
Navi had promised to do the dirty work of going face-toface with the boss and telling him our decision, but when he called and told me everything had been sorted out, I let out a sigh of relief. I may have been unemployed and likely in trouble, but I could finally let my mind breathe as I walked home
