Alpha: Book 3: Changes in the wind

By Stanley L. Bradley

It has been several years since Stan was exposed to the genetic mutation that made him an Alpha-Sapian. Along the way, more people were exposed to the mutation. Whether by accident, by birth, or by intent, or to keep them alive, they inherited the same abilities that Stan (a.k.a. Alpha) was gifted with. For the most part they had been able to hide in the shadows and lead fairly normal lives. When Alexander disappears, Stan assumes the leadership of the to-secret government agency they had been working for at times. After a while they discover that they are being watched. They are trying to find who is behind this act and when they do, the antagonist snatches one of Stan's grandkids to get what he wants from Alpha. Big mistake! That act takes things to a whole new level for all the3 Alpha-Sapiens.....especially Alpha!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823011389

Stanley L. Bradley

Stanley L. Bradley is a retired school teacher. He holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education from State University of New York College at Fredonia. While originally from Western New York he now resides in a small community in the Piedmont region of Central North Carolina. His six grown children live close by and he and his wife of over 50 years enjoy them very much. To date he has published four books. He started writing when he had an article published in a local magazine. It was entitled "Special Guests" and presented a special event that had happened with his children. After that he was bitten by the writing bug.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

PABLO WAS FAST GROWING into a very busy almost four year old. He was very cute, which was probably what saved him many times when he got himself in trouble. He was an extremely quick learner, which sometimes frightened his mother. She knew full well what his father was capable of doing and they were pretty sure that he too would be gifted with those same abilities as he grew older.

It had been a very trying afternoon and Violet wished Allan were at home more often to lend a hand. She sighed in relief when she heard the car pull up to the house. Moments later the door swung open and Allan strode into the house with a big smile on his face. Pablo hurried across the room with his arms extended chattering loudly. Allan scooped the boy up and hugged him close.

That was the easiest job I have had all week! said Allan.

Be thankful, she replied. Your son had been at full throttle all day! I could really use a nap.

Allan smiled at her as she awkwardly stood by the sofa. She was four months pregnant and he thought she was as beautiful as ever.

Would you be upset if I decided not to go with you two to the pool party tonight? she asked softly.

I think I can handle this guy, besides there will be a lot of other people there who will help out. You stay home and take care of yourself and our soon to be daughter!

She walked over to him and kissed his cheek as she said: Good night! and headed for the bedroom door.

Allan put his son down on the floor and went to pack what he would need to take the boy to the pool party. He knew that they would be talking about their annual trip and he secretly hoped it would not be the rustic campground again. As he finished the task he heard his son in his head.

Dad, Dad... I am stuck!

I will be right there, Pablo, he thought.

.

He smiled as he helped the boy from between the couch and the wall. They headed down the hall and out the door, after he had peeked at Violet, and grabbed the backpack. They got in the car and headed for the lakehouse.

Steve was headed there as well, and he had to pick up the four boys from his Mom’s on the way. They too, were excited about the pool party.

Diego, Tom and Yoann were busily getting ready to go. They were getting psyched as the time for Steve to pick them up got closer. Tonight they would set the dates for the trip. The boys had invited Cliff, a friend, and pack member, from school, to join them. His parents had met with Stan to see what they would be doing, and they had given their consent for him to go to the party and on the trip.

Everything was in place. Cliff had arrived right before. Steve pulled up. They were hoping they would be going to Ocracoke. It had been almost four years since they had last been on the island. Finally, they heard the horn and they rushed out the door yelling adios to their mother.

During the last few years there had been opportunities for all of the boys to use their abilities. Beta and Juno had been used several times as diplomatic couriers. They had rescued people from nearly impossible situations and were very proud of what they had accomplished. The middle boys, excluding Carlos and Levi, had helped the WSPD and the detectives on several difficult cases.

At the lakehouse, Stan and Pat were setting up for the party with the help of some of their grandchildren. The tables were arranged on the pool deck and Hannah was stacking sodas in the cooler, Maddison was watching over the wolves as they lay in the warm sunlight on the cement. Dogs were her thing. She thought it was the coolest thing in the world that they had pet wolves. Aidan was doing his best, setting out the stacks of plates and pans of utensils. The kids had had their own pool party with invited friends the day before and they had spent the night with their grandparents.

Steve’s car was the first to arrive. All the other kids ran out to see Tom, Yoaan, Cliff and Diego There was a lot of chatter as they gathered on the deck. In the next hour or two, the rest of the people arrived. There were over thirty members in the two legged part of the pack. Nine were Alpha-sapiens and the rest were just normal humans…. with their unusual pets.

A short while later, after many of the others had arrived The party got started. There were many people in and around the pool, as well as on the deck, when Stan cranked up the sound system and Allan stepped forward to be the D.J.! Toby and Javier, his older brothers, manned the grill, while Stan and Pat circulated among the guests making sure that everyone was having a good time. There was food a plenty, ranging from tacos, to steaks, to hotdogs and such. After the meal it was time for listening.

Stan walked over by the bar and rang the ship’s bell to get everyone’s attention before he started to speak. Those who were gifted with the abilities already knew what he was going to say. But, they and everyone else listened, as they should, to show their respect for their Pack leader.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for joining us at this little shindig. It is always great when we can all get together and share a meal with the entire family…. Two legged and four legged! Did everyone get enough to eat?

That remark was followed by applause and cheers, as well as a few howls.

Now, we have something to announce to the entire group. As you know we are shutting down the offices of Alpha Investigations Inc. from the middle of June to the end of July…. I know that this does not affect all of us because not all of us work in those offices. However, the invitation we are announcing is to everyone that wants to join us when and if they can. If transport is going to be a problem let me know we will get you there and back by boat or plane or ferry!

He proceeded to announce that they had rented a large beach house and made appointments to spend at least one day a week, more if needed, deep sea fishing, as they had the last time. He recalled last year and the two years before, the Gifted ones, and a few extras, had gone to the usual campground in West Virginia. It had been great to see Max and his wife but he conceded that after a few days they had started to get bored.

It had been a very busy year at the offices with their work, so, the senior adults, Stan and Pat, decided that they were going off the grid for a few weeks to spend time as a pack enjoying the life they were living at their favorite place, Ocracoke Island. They had notified the Winston Salem Police, The FBI and Alexander and his people, that they were not available from the third week of June through the third full week of July.

Everyone cheered the announcement, when he finished and the party resumed. Everyone was enjoying the food, the pool and the camaraderie. Stan could not help but smile.

It is good that you are happy and content. You deserve this break. I am at peace in the hills too. I visited Max and Emma today. They are in good spirits, came the voice of Alpha the wolf.

Thank you, he responded. "I am glad you are at peace my friend." Stan was walking along the pool when he saw an opportunity he could not let pass by. Carlos was leaning out over the water talking to Semira, the boys youngest sister. All it would take was a slight nudge. She tried to warn the boy, but she was too late. He disappeared into the sparkling water with a yelp! The man knew that he would have to keep a wary eye on that boy, because he would try to get even!

Carlos and Levi were really excited, as they had been bugging Stan that they wanted to return to Ocracoke. They felt that all their bugging had convinced their Alpha. They really wanted to go there because there was so much to do. Kayaking, parasailing, deep sea fishing, surfing, surf fishing and oodles more waited there for them. Once they mentioned this to Yoaan and Diego, they figured that they were going to be impossible for Stan to ignore. Their badgering had done the job as far as they were concerned.

Those who could, would be headed out on the tenth of June, anyone else who wanted to come could join in the fun for whatever time they were able to come and however long they chose to stay. They knew that they would be back at the lake house in the latter part of July.

After all the talking started to slow down and the house became very quiet. Adults and children started picking up things and trying not to leave a huge mess for the old folks. Different people left at different times, necessitating many goodbyes and hugs.

Soon the house was empty and quiet. Stan and Pat picked up most of the remaining debris that was left when they noticed their two youngest sons were missing. After a brief search they found them curled together, asleep in a lounge by the pool.

I say we leave them there, said Stan.

It is supposed to rain before morning or I would agree with you. Let me get a picture first, though, said Pat. "They are so cute, cuddled like that.

CHAPTER TWO

FAR FROM WHERE THEY were relaxing, something was happening that would interrupt their happy preparations: an unplanned emergency mission with Alexander.

In a secret weapons lab somewhere in Siberia. Men wearing body armor were moving stealthily towards the heavy doors. Unbeknownst to those inside the building, they were in great danger.

In that unaware group were four highly rated weapons experts that had been working in cooperation with the Russian scientists on a collection of terrible sonic weapons. They were nearly ready to start testing the prototypes. They were running the final adjustments on one of them when the whole building shook. Alarms went off and gunshots could be heard in the lab. Their security had been compromised.

One of the scientists, Doctor Susan Loginger, the only female on the development team, pulled out her specialized cell phone. She mashed the single key to message a good friend that she was in trouble and that gave her friend along with a prearranged message that gave the global coordinates where she was. Then she threw the phone, its one time use spent, in a pile of junk as the doors blew into the lab.

In rural Virginia, Alexander sat up straight when he heard an alarm go off in his computer. He logged on to see what was up. He had not heard from Susan Loginger in a couple of years, but he knew she was involved in top secret weapons research. Her image appeared on screen with the text reading:

"security compromised; need help ASAP! After that was the name if the city and its location: Tobol’sk, Siberia; 58.200024 N. latitude, 68.26306 E. longitude"

Alexander unlocked a drawer and pulled out a green phone with only one button on it. He was ashen faced as he said, this is Alexander… We are on Code Red. We need all hands on deck as soon as possible. We are performing an emergency extraction. I am enroute.

The ‘Bad News’ computer, as Stan called it, sounded the alarm from its hiding place. He completed the retinal ID and the screen flashed to life. At the same time his phone rang. The phone was Demarco.

My computer just sounded the alarm, should I read it first?

I will be quick. We are all on for this one. As many warm bodies as you can muster. I will be at the airport at 7:00 AM! This is an A class red emergency extraction, chattered Demarco.

What does that mean?

Kill or be killed, and no one else knows what we are up to. Pay is tripled.

I will read through the message and see who I am willing to risk on this. I will send you numbers as soon as I have them, replied Alpha.

It looks as though we will need two teams of two from the details I have seen. There is a good possibility that we will need a two man team at another location than the lab. Do not forget all of your toys from the last extraction. I think you might possibly need them this time.

Roger that! Goodbye for now, if things change, keep me informed.’

Stan skimmed the data and closed his eyes as he called his pack with his mind.

We are on for a code red extraction. If you are available let me know now. This one is apt to be extremely dangerous. Tom, Carlos and Levi will stay and protect the families. All others should be ready ASAP. If you cannot do it let me know NOW!

Stan closed up the computer, went to tell his wife what was up, after which he went to get the weapons cache he kept hidden under the floor of the garage. After he loaded the cases in the car he sat in the front seat and called out to his pack.

"Roll call…" he thought. He paused.

I’m in, replied Beta.

"Same here," responded Juno.

"We are both in, Gamma and Epsilon,"

I only need one of you, replied Stan.

Too bad, we are a pair. Think of me as a bonus, responded Gamma in a serious tone.

I do not think we have time to discuss this so, I will bring the Expedition… pack a couple of outfits…

Gamma finished the statement: and no phones or games, we know that!

About 45 minutes later, Alpha had picked up the team members and they and their wolf companions were at the airport, boarding the company plane called ALPHA. Steve was doing the pre-flight checklist. When he finished he notified the tower.

Alpha 246P ready for take off. Acknowledge?

Roger, Alpha 246P, you are cleared to use the main runway in five minutes.

Main runway in five minutes, Roger.

Twenty minutes later, they were cruising high above the landscape listening to the whir of the turbines. It was clear as a bell and silent as a tomb. Everyone was lost in thought because there had been no briefing… they were going in blind. Stan (Alpha) was worried that they had no idea where they were headed or what they were going to extract.

A few hours later they landed at the coordinates Steve (Juno) had been given, on a military base somewhere in the northeast region of the state of Maine As they deplaned they saw the familiar gray jet that Alexander used on their last foray. Demarco was walking towards them. They met on the tarmac. Alpha and the man shook hands.

I don’t suppose that there is any way you can fill us in on what we are here for? asked Alpha.

We are here so that you can switch planes and continue this journey in a stealth aircraft. You will all be briefed on the project in flight. I am glad to see there are five of you. We were wondering how this would set with you.

You know how I feel about bringing the kids in so don’t push the issue.

"I hear you, loud and