Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

18: Helmagian Gambit

By Jo Dora Webster

What perils wait for Amaza and her family from the Helmagians?

This book, in its entirety, is available on my Patreon. BCTS will get weekly postings on Wednesdays to complete it here. Patreon Free Members can read my new complete book by chapters, Things We Do for Love

Other Limoxian Universe stories include books published by DopplerPress on Kindle which are available via the story links in the right-hand margin. All the proceeds from these DopplerPress purchases go for the support of BCTS and none goes to me. And now, on with this story!

18: Helmagian Gambit

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the paintball arena's parking lot as I watched our latest group of customers gear up for their Silurian adventure. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored the perimeter while maintaining the cheerful facade of a successful business owner. Our paintball universe had become more than just a cover—it was genuinely thriving, drawing customers from across the region who were captivated by our otherworldly theme.

Amaza, Sela's voice carried an edge of concern through our telepathic link, I'm detecting unusual energy signatures approaching from the northwest. The patterns are consistent with Helmagian technology, but they're using Earth-based transport vehicles.

My blood ran cold as I continued adjusting a customer's mask, maintaining my smile while my heart began racing. The Helmagians had found us, and they were adapting to Earth's limitations.

"Mom," Gail called out from across the staging area, "can you help me with this chest plate?"

I moved toward her, my movements casual despite the alarm bells ringing in my mind. Through Sela's enhanced perception, I could sense the approaching threat—multiple Helmagian operatives using Earth helicopters and ground vehicles to infiltrate our facility.

They're targeting the girls specifically, Sela reported. I'm detecting focused scanning beams directed at Gail and Sally's biosignatures. They've modified Earth surveillance equipment with their own technology.

The irony wasn't lost on me. We'd created this business as a way to hide in plain sight, sharing pieces of our extraordinary reality under the guise of imagination. Now that very success had drawn the attention of our enemies.

"Sally, come here for a moment," I called out, trying to keep my voice light. "I want to check your equipment one more time."

As both girls approached, I felt the familiar weight of maternal protectiveness that had nothing to do with biology. These children had become my family through choice and love, and I would protect them with everything I possessed.

The Helmagians are moving into position, Sela warned. They're using the customer crowd as cover. I count at least six operatives, all carrying modified Earth technology—tranquilizer weapons and containment nets. There's a helicopter circling at the edge of our airspace.

I knelt down to adjust Sally's gear, using the motion to scan the area through Sela's enhanced awareness. The Helmagians were good—their human disguises were flawless, and they moved with the casual confidence of experienced customers. But they hadn't counted on facing an AI whose capabilities had evolved far beyond standard parameters.

"Greg," I called out to my husband, who was demonstrating weapon safety to another group. "Could you help me with the new team assignments?"

He looked up, catching something in my tone that made him immediately alert. Through years of living as refugees, we'd developed an instinctive communication that transcended words.

They're preparing to deploy capture equipment, Sela reported urgently. The technology appears designed to neutralize both Alvian and human energy signatures. The helicopter is equipped with specialized nets and what appears to be a modified cargo winch system.

The Helmagians had done their homework. They knew exactly what they were dealing with, and they'd come prepared for both Greg's Alvian capabilities and what they believed were my enhanced abilities.

"Girls," I said quietly, "I want you to go into the command center and wait for us there. There's a special surprise we're preparing for today's customers."

Gail looked at me with those perceptive eyes that reminded me so much of her father. "Is everything okay, Mom?"

The word 'Mom' still sent a complex wave of emotions through me. I wasn't their biological mother, wasn't even the Celeste they'd first known, but in this moment, protecting these children felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"Everything's fine, sweetheart. Just some last-minute preparations."

Amaza, they're activating their containment systems now, Sela warned. I'm detecting massive energy fluctuations from portable devices designed to create a localized dampening field. The helicopter is moving into position for extraction.

The air around us began to shimmer with barely visible distortions as the Helmagian technology came online. I felt a strange tingling sensation as the field tried to suppress my energy matrix, but Sela's presence provided a buffer that kept my abilities intact.

"Now would be good," I murmured to Greg, who immediately began herding the legitimate customers toward the exit.

"Sorry, folks," he announced with practiced ease. "We're experiencing some technical difficulties with our arena systems. We'll need to reschedule today's session."

The Helmagian operatives didn't move with the departing customers. Instead, they began closing in on our position with predatory precision, their modified Earth equipment humming with alien enhancements.

I'm detecting the helicopter moving into final position, Sela reported. They have rappelling equipment and what appears to be specialized capture nets designed for aerial extraction.

One of the disguised Helmagians stepped forward, his human facade dropping away to reveal the characteristic angular features and pale skin of his species. "Natalie Wellington," he said, his voice carrying the formal cadence of a military operation. "You will surrender yourself and the children for transport to our facility."

Greg moved protectively in front of the girls, his hand reaching for the concealed Alvian technology he always carried. "That's not going to happen."

"This is not a negotiation," the Helmagian replied, raising what appeared to be a modified tranquilizer weapon. "You are all coming with us, whether willingly or otherwise."

Amaza, Sela said urgently, I'm detecting additional vehicles approaching. They have backup teams positioned around the entire facility. Ground vehicles with specialized containment equipment.

The scope of the operation was becoming clear. This wasn't just a kidnapping—it was a coordinated military assault designed to capture our entire family using Earth-based technology enhanced with Helmagian modifications.

"You're making a mistake," I said, stepping forward. "We're just running a business here. We're not involved in any interstellar conflicts."

The Helmagian's expression didn't change. "Your identity has been confirmed through quantum signature analysis. Natalie Wellington, enhanced with advanced technology, wife of the operative Mark Wellington. The children are valuable assets. You represent significant strategic value."

They think you're still Natalie with Makelan's enhancements, Sela observed. They have no knowledge of your true identity.

I felt a surge of anger at the violation of our carefully constructed life. We'd built something beautiful here—a family, a business, a place where we could be ourselves while helping others. Now it was all being threatened by political machinations we'd tried so hard to escape.

"The girls stay here," Greg said firmly. "Whatever you want with us, they're not part of it."

"I'm afraid that's not your decision to make," the Helmagian replied. "The children are leverage. Their value is... considerable."

Amaza, the helicopter is deploying capture nets now, Sela warned. They're preparing for aerial extraction. Multiple rappelling lines are being deployed.

The familiar whir of helicopter rotors grew louder as the aircraft moved into position directly overhead. I could see the specialized nets and winch systems designed to extract targets from the ground.

"Mom!" Sally cried out as one of the Helmagians raised his modified weapon toward her.

The word triggered something primal in my consciousness. These weren't just children I'd grown to care about—they were my daughters in every way that mattered. And no one was going to take my family from me.

Sela, I thought urgently, can you interfere with their Earth-based systems?

I can try, but their equipment is heavily modified with their own technology. However, I might be able to disrupt the helicopter's navigation and communication systems.

I felt my energy matrix responding to the threat, the power that Sela had helped me achieve surging through my consciousness. The Helmagians had expected to face a human woman with stolen technology—they weren't prepared for what I truly was.

Now, Amaza!

I released the careful controls I'd maintained for so long, allowing my true nature to manifest. Energy cascaded around me as my emerged form began to assert itself, the air crackling with power that made the Helmagian equipment falter.

The helicopter above us suddenly lurched sideways as Sela's interference overwhelmed its navigation systems. The capture nets fell harmlessly to the ground as the pilot struggled to maintain control.

The Helmagian operatives stepped back, their expressions shifting from confidence to concern as their modified weapons sparked and failed.

"Impossible," their leader muttered. "The dampening field should have neutralized her enhancements."

Your power output is exceeding all previous measurements, Sela reported with something approaching awe. The maternal bond is amplifying your energy matrix beyond theoretical limits.

I stood between the Helmagians and my family, energy wreathing around me like visible fury. "You want to take my children? You'll have to go through me first."

The Helmagian leader signaled to his team, and they began deploying backup equipment—Earth-based tasers and restraint devices modified with their technology. But I was already moving, years of hiding and suppressing my true nature falling away as I embraced the full power of my heritage.

Amaza, their ground vehicles are converging on our position, Sela warned. We need to end this quickly before they can coordinate a full assault.

I could sense them approaching—more Helmagians in modified Earth vehicles, more weapons, more threats to my family. But I could also sense something else: the network of Limoxian refugees throughout the region, all of them detecting the massive energy signatures from our battle.

Help is coming, I realized. The other families are responding to the distress signals.

The Helmagian leader's expression grew desperate as his carefully planned operation began to unravel. His Earth-based equipment was failing against powers he couldn't understand or counter.

"You cannot protect them forever, Natalie," he said, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty. "We know where you are now. We know what your technology is capable of."

"Then you know," I said, my voice carrying authority I'd never allowed myself to express, "that threatening my family was the worst mistake you could have made."

Amaza, I'm detecting Ceti Alphan energy signatures approaching from the east, Sela reported. Linthan and his people are coming to assist.

The battle for our survival was about to begin, and I was done hiding who I really was. The Helmagians thought they were facing a human woman with stolen technology. They had no idea they were confronting something far more dangerous—a mother willing to fight for her children, no matter the cost.

Outside, the neighborhood continued its peaceful routine, unaware that the next few minutes would determine whether they lived or died. The disabled helicopter struggled to maintain altitude as its pilot fought against Sela's electronic interference, while ground vehicles approached with their modified Earth technology humming with alien enhancements.

The Helmagians were about to learn that they had underestimated not just the power of advanced technology, but the fierce determination of a family willing to protect each other against any threat—even one that came from the skies above.

The real battle was just beginning.