Through the Portal: The Red Sky Series Book Three

By Ross Gandy

With Lindsey on Izor, Andy must move on with his life with his longtime computer/friend now in the body of a beautiful, green-eyed Irish woman. Lucy, now Rebekah McFarland, is being sought by her brother, Dugan McFarland, an IRA terrorist, along with agencies from around the world who are trying to locate them both. For her safety, Lucy and Andy accompany Colonel Mac to Camp Lookout.

As soon as they arrive at Camp Lookout, theyre informed of a recent encounter with a violent UFO they could not identify. Since there is peace with the Izorians, it is suspected the attack came from an Indorian aircraft that had made its way through the portal. The Indorians are looking for a planet that is inhabited by beings that can be used as slaves and with animals that can be used as food.

The future of Earth is now in jeopardy if the Indorian aircraft is not destroyed before communicating with its home planet to guide them to Earth. Earthly forces led by the United States must develop a plan to combat these intruders if they locate the portal and make it through. How can Earth defend itself from an intruder that they cannot track and dont know if or when theyll be encountered?

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Nov 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781489713599

Book preview

Prologue

A NDY AND LINDSEY ARE STARTING THEIR new life as a married couple, away from the Air Force and any government involvement, they think. Thanks to Col. Mac, who has retired from the Air Force, Andy and Lindsey are on staff as instructors in a small college in the south. What appears to be a new beginning for them quickly becomes intrigue when the college president announces that Iraqi pilots and aircraft technicians would be coming to their small college to be trained on sophisticated aircraft purchased from the U.S.

It soon becomes obvious that there is something sinister in this plan and it could threaten the security of the country. Andy suspects a conspiracy that the military needs to know about. Col. Mac is contacted to see what he knows about the Iraqis and the Arabic instructor leading the program at the college. With the help of Lucy, Andy’s super computer and the surveillance done by Andy and Lindsey, they begin to put together the pieces of a terrorist plot to take over the White House, Supreme Court and Congress.

In the midst of trying to formulate a plan to stop the terrorists, Lindsey becomes extremely ill. Her limbs are no longer under her control, she lapses into a coma, and the doctors cannot figure out how to help her because her brain is part computer. Lucy finds a way to be connected to Lindsey so she can get into her brain and resolve the problem. Though Gen. Aiken tries to gain access to her in her hospital room and kill her, he is stopped at the last minute and Lindsey is able to escape.

Andy is called back into service because his special flying skills are needed. As the terrorist plan unfolds, help comes from an unexpected source, the Izorians. The attempt to take over the U.S. government is stopped and in the process, it was revealed that the president was involved in the coup. The Izorians came disguised as part of the military to help insure that the terrorist plot was stopped, the terrorists were eliminated and the participation of the president was uncovered.

During the battle, Lindsey is shot in the back and taken away to what everyone thinks is the hospital but in fact she is taken by the aliens back to Izor. They finish programming the computer in her brain and repair her back wound. When she is returned to Andy, she has no memory of what took place but does realize in time that she now has all the knowledge from the beginning of Izor to the current time. The Izorians have created their next leader.

Despite her love for Andy and her desire to be with him, Lindsey returns to Izor to help rebuild their planet but leaves Lucy to take care of Andy. Andy is heart-broken to lose Lindsey and surprised by the new Lucy, now in the body of a beautiful red-haired Irish girl. Now Lucy can feel and experience life like a human. What will that mean for their relationship?

Chapter 1

A NDY LAY ON THE SOFT GREEN grass and stared up at the sky when his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something moving out in the darkness. He quickly rolled over and started to get up when he heard a familiar voice coming from the darkness, " Andy ?"

Andy slowly sank back into the grass, turned toward the sound and responded, Yes, I’m right here.

Oh, there you are, a soft Irish voice said as a beautiful red-head stepped into the moonlight.

Oh, it’s you, Andy said as he started to get up.

No, stay there, she said walking over and slowly sitting down beside him. I didn’t find anyone at the apartment, so I thought I would check out here.

I couldn’t sleep. All I can think about is Lindsey, he said falling back on the grass and again staring up at the sky.

I know this is hard for you, but it was something she felt she had to do. And I guess it does not help much my being a stranger.

You’re no stranger, Lucy, you’re my best friend, just in a strange body, he said turning his head to look at her as her eyes twinkled in the moonlight. You and I have known each other for a long time. I just never had the chance to actually ‘see’ you.

I know but this was an opportunity that I could not pass up. A chance for my own body, well, mine and Rebekah’s, she said smiling down at him. It is strange to be able to actually walk around instead of moving from one electronic device to another.

How did you get Rebekah’s body anyway? Where did it come from? he said rolling over and propping his head on his hand. I know the aliens had something to do with it, but ….

Rebekah was a young woman in Ireland. She had an accident and the aliens took her body, repaired it, and here I am.

Okay, Lucy, I know it’s not that simple. Nothing you OR the aliens do is that cut and dried.

Well I guess there is a little more ….

Yeah, I guess there is a little more. There has to be because you’re not your usual detail-oriented self.

Well actually it is a lot more complicated.

So Andy sat up, faced her, and said, Okay, I’m all ears.

Well not exactly, you do have other body parts.

Yes, you’re my Lucy. Now go ahead and tell me the whole story.

You have heard of the Irish Republican Army? They still to this day fighting against the Irish and British governments, right?

Yes. They’re a violent terrorist group who kill and maim in the name of their revolution. I hope this doesn’t have anything to do with them.

During a hostage situation in Dublin, a sniper shot Rebekah ….

You mean she was one of the hostages? Andy asked sitting up and moving closer to her as she was speaking.

No, not really ….

What do you mean, ‘Not really’? If she wasn’t one of the hostages, she had to be one of the …. she was a member of the IRA?

Rebekah was the sister of the leader of the group, Dugan McFarland, Lucy said in a timid voice.

Now that didn’t sound like your normal voice. You’re not normally so soft-spoken.

Rebekah was one of the terrorists. She was shot by a sniper, but before the police could get to her body, it was gone.

What do you mean, gone?

After she got shot, the others fled. Several of the IRA members got shot but most of them escaped, including her brother.

So didn’t they take her body with them? That seems pretty harsh.

No. They checked her but had to leave her there. Dugan felt her best chance was for the police to take her to the hospital.

But you said when the police got there she was gone.

That’s right. After Dugan and his gang left, the aliens came in and took the body. Kind of like they did with Lindsey. Evidently they were nearby because they came in pretty soon after Dugan left. They took her back to their ship and repaired her wounds. One of the rounds had struck her in the head and it did considerable damage. She was still alive, but she had lost a lot of her brain function. The aliens replaced the damaged part of her brain with a computer, just like they had done with Lindsey. After their success with Lindsey they thought they would have the same kind of results with Rebekah but she had too much damage.

So what did they do?

They tried to program the computer to take over the destroyed part of her brain but she had also lost her voluntary muscle control, most of her memory, and some of her human characteristics.

How would you program that in?

Well, Lindsey, knowing all I had done for her and that I had stayed in her long enough to understand her human characteristics, offered me Rebekah’s body if I wanted the challenge. So here I am ….

Wow! That’s remarkable! How is that working out?

It is a little different from Lindsey in that I did not have much of her brain function to work with. At least Lindsey’s brain was still alive so I could work with her. Rebekah had much more damage. I did not know if there was anything of her left to work with. Her memory seems to be mostly gone. It looks like it is just me. Cool huh?

So, what happened over in Ireland? What’s going on over there?

That is another story. Since the police could not find her body, they think she is still with Dugan and his gang, and have her on the Interpol most wanted list. Dugan thinks the police have her hidden away somewhere in a prison to draw him in so he is trying to find her. Neither side knows what happened to her and both sides are combing the country looking for her.

What about here in the U.S.? Interpol sends us their alerts too.

I have been intercepting their messages and keeping her, I mean our, picture from making it to the United States, and so far I have been successful.

So, what now?

Col. Mac is letting me stay at his condo while he is at Camp Lookout.

You can stay here with me if you want. We have another bedroom and it won’t be so lonely.

I will see if that is okay with Lindsey.

You can communicate with Lindsey? Andy asked reaching out and grabbing her hand.

Lucy shivered, as she looked into Andy’s eyes for a second, then softly said, Of course. She left me here as her representative and to take care of you, she said as she slowly looked down at Andy’s hand.

Oh, I’m sorry, he said quickly pulling his hand back. I didn’t mean to ….

No, that is okay. That was the first time you have touched me since I entered this body. I am not used to that yet. It felt ….

When will you talk with her next?

Then as she looked down at her still trembling hand she said, Whenever I need to.

I’m sorry, are you cold? You seem to be trembling, Andy asked removing his jacket and placing it around her shoulders.

I am okay, she said as she pulled the jacket even tighter around her not really understanding her reaction.

Let’s go inside and I’ll fix you a cup of coffee, or hot cocoa.

They stood up and Lucy stumbled so Andy reached out to catch her. When she regained her footing she stepped away from him. Are you sure you’re okay? he asked, taking her arm.

Yes, I am just not completely used to these legs yet, but I am getting there, she said as she started walking toward the apartment.

What is Col. Mac doing at Camp Lookout? I thought since the aliens are now our allies we wouldn’t be needing him there, Andy said, opening the door to the apartment to let Lucy in.

We are still monitoring the atmosphere over the United States for any unidentified flying objects. The only difference is that the Izorians are no longer a threat, Lucy said as she slowly sat down on the couch.

Are you still cold?

I guess …. I am not sure …. maybe ….

You’re acting strange.

Remember the only time I had feelings was when I was in Lindsey’s head, but she had the sense of touch, and the emotions, not me. Now I have all these senses and emotions. They are new to me and I …., Lucy said as she turned and her seductive green eyes met Andy’s. He stared into Lucy’s eyes, his knees became weak and he began to sweat.

Uh, let me get you that hot cocoa …., Andy stuttered turning and walking to the kitchen. He didn’t quite understand his reaction to Rebekah/Lucy.

What is wrong, Andy? Did I say something wrong? Lucy asked as she stood and walked toward Andy.

No …. I …. I mean; I need to get this cocoa started before ….

Before what?

Uh …. before we give Col. Mac a call.

Why do we need to call Col. Mac?

Uh, to see what all’s going on …. you know ….

I can tell you what is going on, remember?

Yeah, but I’d like to know when he will be returning so we can sit down and make plans ….

What kind of plans, Andy?

I don’t know …. you know, plans.

Do you need for me to notify him?

No, let me see if I can get him on the phone.

Andy reached for his phone when it began to ring. He grabbed it and said, Hello!

The voice on the other end said, Yeah, Andy, this is Mac.

Oh, hello Col. Mac. I was just getting ready to call you, Andy said sliding down in a nearby chair.

I know.

How did you know?

Lucy just contacted me and told me that you were starting to act funny and thought you needed to talk to me, so here I am. So what’s on your mind?

Uh …. when will you be heading back this way?

Actually, I’m on my way there as we speak.

Oh, good.

Is there a problem?

No, I just need to discuss things, you know ....

You sound a little stressed. Are you okay?

Uh, yeah, just with all that’s happened, my mind is all mixed up!

Well stay there with Lucy. She’ll take care of you. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.

Yeah …. good …. see you. Bye. Col. Mac is on his way.

Yes, I know, Lucy said as she sat down on the arm of Andy’s chair.

Andy jumped to his feet and made his way to the kitchen and began to fix a pot of coffee.

Chapter 2

A S LUCY SAT STARING AT ANDY while he slept leaned back in a chair, someone knocked on the door. Andy jumped to his feet and Lucy went to the door and started to open it. Wait! Find out who it is first, Andy said when Lucy opened the door.

Hello, Col. Mac, Lucy said as she pulled the door open.

As Col. Mac walked in he said, Hello, Lucy and aren’t you looking especially beautiful tonight, and are you calmed down yet Andy?