Galactic Satori Chronicles: Kron

by Nick Braker

  Magnus started to test the bonds strength when the lights in the room flared to life, blinding him. Additional light flooded in from his right side through a doorway that was sliding open. It made no sound. He squinted his eyes trying to adjust to the brightness. A woman stood at the doorway. Her black shirt and pants loosely covered her, simple gray shoes with hard soles were the source of the sound.

  “You’re awake,” she said. “My name is Tia and yours is Magnus, currently.”

  “Currently?” Magnus asked.

  “Your name was Asher once, no?”

  “Do you plan to change your name, too?” Magnus asked.

  “I do not understand the nature of the question, so I will conclude you are mentally compromised.”

  Ouch.

  “Perhaps you have the wrong guy?” Magnus said, still eying her.

  Tia stepped into the room. A floating stool about three feet high followed behind her. It hovered less than an inch above the floor, making no sound. It remained a constant distance from Tia as she walked closer to Magnus. She reached behind to sit down and it lurched into position under her. Tia’s milky white skin stood in contrast to the black outfit she wore. Her light brown hair was long and reached the small of her back. It was fastened together with six elastic bands, spread five inches apart, holding it together along its length. Tia’s face was elongated but not enough to be out of proportion and her eyes were dark brown, bordering on black.

  “Magnus. You are a prisoner here on Kron.”

  Holy hell. Kron? You made a huge fucking mistake lady. This is exactly where I want to be.

  His heartbeat surged and his eyes glared at her. Tia took a quick, deep breath and her eyes went wide. She looked away at the same time, trying to conceal her reaction.

  What the hell? That was a strange reaction. Calm down.

  Magnus had to control his emotions. He needed to be clearheaded. What was going on?

  “So, you are what Kron women look like?” Magnus asked.

  Tia’s eyes darted over his body.

  “And you are what human males look like,” Tia said.

  “I’m typical.”

  “Our men-” she stopped. “-are servants here on Kron. I expect you know nothing of our species so I will forgive your demeanor, as insulting as it is.”

  Play it cool, dude. Keep reading. Find her weakness. Try anger.

  “I’ve seen some of your men before,” he said, “are they all weak? You know, I killed three of them. Killed one with a single punch.”

  “It is of no consequence,” Tia said.

  Damn. Evil bitch.

  Tia rubbed her hands together.

  I’m being played. She’s trying to hide something.

  “It’s cold in here. Would you mind turning up the heat?” Magnus asked.

  “Weakness to cold?” she asked, staring down at him on the floor.

  Let’s try another tack.

  “I have a few weaknesses,” Magnus said, eying her body so she could see him. “It’s getting warmer already. Thank you.”

  “I do not understand the nature of your acknowledgment. I have not modified the temperature.”

  I’m going to kill all of you.

  “You’re very beautiful,” he said. “I bet they chose you especially for Kron’s first encounter with a human?”

  Tia raised her eyebrows, taking in another deep breath.

  “Compliments for your jailer? You won’t be so flattering after I begin interrogating you.”

  After all these months of pain, Magnus’ chance to end the madness was right here within his grasp. This planet had to be their home and he would find a way to stop them. Was he being manipulated? Was he really on their home planet?

  “You know, it doesn’t have to be this way. I’ll cooperate,” he said, lying.

  Tia eyed him, tilting her head to the side.

  “Let’s see if that is true,” she said. “I would prefer returning-”

  She stopped herself. What was she going to say?

  “You want information?” Magnus asked.

  “Willing or otherwise, I’ll get it from you.”

  The door opened again and another Kron woman entered the room. Behind her was another hovering device but this one was larger. It had four drawers on its face, stacked on top of each other. It was metallic with a flat black finish. The top reached the woman’s waist.

  A tool chest?

  She stood next to Tia and placed her hand on the chest floating behind her. She easily moved it around her, placing it next to Tia. The woman tapped it and it affixed itself in place.

  “Carena,” Tia said, acknowledging her.

  Carena moved to Magnus’ left side, opposite Tia, as she visually examined Magnus. Tia touched the top drawer’s facing. It silently slid open.

  “You mentioned cooperation. Let’s see if you truly meant it,” Tia said.

  It was clear Tia didn’t believe him. He had lied and she knew it. He turned his head away from her to examine Carena. She wore the same black outfit as Tia but her short blond hair revealed a slim neck. Her face was perfect like Tia’s, revealing no moles, freckles or other abnormalities. Her petite nose bristled as she breathed.

  Where are the men? Why aren’t they interrogating me? Are they really just servants here?

  Carena knelt down, gently poking a finger into Magnus’ arm and chest. Her blue eyes stared into his, moving back and forth.

  “This one has a large muscular skeletal structure. They must be a physical race. Warlike. Barbaric. If his mental ability is inversely proportional to his physical attributes, I’m surprised he is able to speak.”

  Fuck you, bitch.

  Magnus’ anger had already flared the instant Tia had told him his location. He hated the Kron but he would play along, find the right time and figure out a way to kill every one of them. Something was not right, though. They both were acting strangely. If Magnus didn’t know better, he’d guess this was their first time at interrogation. That didn’t make sense. The Kron were trying to destroy humanity, so why not put their best people on it?

  “The human male wishes to cooperate?” Carena asked, looking at Tia. “Weak.”

  Tia pulled a metallic rod from the top drawer. The rod was no more than a foot long with a small round orb on the end. She activated it. Several blue arcs of electricity jumped out and then returned to the orb. The arcs sizzled and popped in the air.

  “Torture?” he asked.

  “Only if you do not cooperate,” Tia said. “Normally, we’d use more efficient and reliable means to extract information from you but those machines will not work on your species. Unfortunate for you since they do not inflict pain. This device does.”

  “Wait,” Magnus said, licking his lips. “I said I would cooperate. You and I don’t need to start off on the wrong foot.”

  “What is wrong with my foot?” Tia asked.

  “If you understand English, why are you not familiar with that phrase?” Magnus asked.

  Tia eyed him, pausing. She appeared to think about whether to answer him or not.

  “It is of no consequence, so I will answer your question. Our technology allows us to remap neural pathways. I know your language because I learned it a few hours ago via that technology... as did Carena.”

  Magnus’ eyes narrowed.

  “What else can you do with that technology?” he asked.

  This time she ignored his question.

  “It would be difficult to interrogate someone without being able to understand their responses,” Tia said.

  “You understand sarcasm, it seems,” he replied.

  “Yes,” Tia said. “Now, let’s begin.”

  She touched the rod to Magnus’ chest.

  “I want you to understand the nature of the pain this device can produce.”

  Tia activated the device. Magnus heaved upward, his back arching off the floor. He screamed as his vision went from blinding white to total blackness. He collapsed back upon the floor and
his body started to shake. Pinpoints of light broke through the blackness as his vision began to return. His breath came in short bursts as he struggled to get control again.

  Where am I?

  His heart pounded irregularly, stopping numerous times for several seconds. It felt like he was dying.

  Chapter 11

  CARENA

  Kron - Prison complex just outside Citron

  Two hours later

  Magnus

  “You fucking bitch!” Magnus screamed out. He felt a gentle hand on his chest.

  “Magnus, Tia left several minutes ago,” Carena said, taking her hand off him.

  “What?” he asked. “I passed out?”

  “Partially,” Carena said. “You were disoriented, dropping in and out of lucidity for the last few minutes. The device creates energy surges that operate at key frequencies based on species specific matrices. It intentionally disrupts normal brain waves. I imagine that was the most physically painful experience of your life?” Magnus looked away ignoring her question. “Are you feeling better?” she asked, continuing.

  Magnus’ vision had returned to normal but his clothing felt wet, perhaps soaked with his own sweat. Carena dabbed a warm, wet compress to his forehead.

  “Why do you care?” he asked, not interested in her response.

  “You are a good, uh, reasonable person, Magnus,” Carena said. “I examined your data file. You care deeply for beings though you avoid displaying it for others to see. I like that, actually.”

  “I have a file?”

  She smiled. Her teeth were ivory white and perfect. “We know much of your people. More than we can possibly process.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you referring to your TLA system?”

  “You know of it?” Carena asked. “Good. I had hoped I wouldn’t have to explain it. It’s, uh, complex and I don’t fully understand how it works.”

  “You act like we are friends. We are not,” Magnus told her.

  “Like you said... perhaps we started off on the wrong foot.”

  Magnus kept his poker face on. Was she playing him? Was her role to be the confidant during his interrogation? WSO had trained him in interrogation tactics but did that apply here on a world full of aliens?

  “Who is Lizabeth?” she asked, continuing.

  Her mention of Beth’s name filled him with anger and renewed heartache. He tensed. Magnus wanted to hurt someone but he forced himself to relax.

  Poker face. Keep your cool.

  “How do you know about-” he said, swallowing, “her?”

  “You called her name out during one of your semi-lucid moments.”

  “Your people murdered her. She was... never mind.”

  Carena pondered his comment.

  “I see,” she said. “She was someone important to you. I’ve lost family and friends important to me, too. My mother died defending Kron against-”

  “Against?”

  Carena paused for several seconds. She wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. Magnus couldn’t rely on it but everything about her seemed genuine and sincere. She was alien. Could he interpret her physiological responses like humans? She was chosen for this role which meant she knew what she was doing. She had to be lying but his gut told him otherwise.

  “The vermin we call Aliri...”

  Utter disdain dripped from her words. Carena’s face flushed and then turned red. She turned away from Magnus, dipping his compress into the water.

  “You hate them that much?” he asked.

  “Tia will return soon to start the real interrogation. She wanted you to understand the depth of what the device can do. I’m sorry for you, Magnus. I’ve seen videos of others who went through this torture. It will not end in your death. Our medical science will keep you alive while the device will make you wish you were dead.”

  What the hell? Were they all bat shit crazy?

  Carena’s demeanor told Magnus she was genuine. Her words were not a lie. She did care for his wellbeing and she regretted what she was doing. Did the Kron have compassion? Were some of them good? Perhaps he could try a different approach.

  “Carena,” Magnus said.

  “Yes?”

  “Will you be here when she tortures me?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, her head lowering. “It is my job to keep you alive.”

  “I see,” Magnus said, pausing. “Do you hate me?” Her eyes opened wide and she looked around along the ceiling’s corners. Magnus continued. “Why would you put me through this?”

  “No, Magnus,” Carena said, shaking her head, “but I have my orders.”

  “Your words were harsh earlier,” he said.

  “They were for Tia. I never met her before today. My thoughts on the matter are mine.”

  “You’ve never tortured someone before?” Magnus asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Then why are you here?”

  “As I said... to keep you alive, as per my orders.”

  “No,” he said. “Why are you here?”

  “Oh,” she shrugged. “I wondered the same thing. I’m good but I’m only six years into xenobiology and doctoral science. There are many others far more qualified.”

  “Why are you being so honest with me?” he asked.

  “It’s therapeutic,” she said. “I-” She covered her mouth, stopping herself from answering.

  “Please, tell me,” he urged.

  “I know that we are not being recorded or watched and...”

  “And?”

  “I needed someone to share what I’ve been keeping inside. I know that whatever I say to you will go no further and if it does, they will not believe you, especially since you are male and from another species.”

  She’s got to be lying but her body language, voice inflections and eye contact tell me she’s not. If she’s not, Carena is my inroad to breaking out of here. She hates what she’s been asked to do.

  “I get it. Well, for what it’s worth, you have my promise that I will keep it to myself.”

  Blip.

  Carena pushed a button on a bracelet she wore on her right wrist.

  “Carena here.”

  “Is the male human conscious yet?”

  It was Tia’s voice. Carena locked eyes with Magnus. He shook his head quickly. Carena put her finger to her lips.

  “No,” Carena said. “He’s still not responding. Their mental faculties are their weakness. I could wake him with drugs if you want but I-”

  “No,” Tia said through the communication device. “We do not know the effect they will have. Your attempt to wake him could kill him. The other females are still unconscious and have not recovered from the teleportation. Let me know as soon as he recovers.”

  “I will,” Carena answered.

  Holy hell. She lied for me.

  Carena cut the connection.

  “Are you sure about this?” Magnus asked.

  She smiled. “I’m only delaying the inevitable. Magnus, it’s all I can do. I hope you understand.”

  “Carena, how is my team doing?” he said, nodding.

  “From everything I can tell, they are alive and in stable condition. I was not allowed to examine them, so I’m going on information I pulled from my data file.”

  “Thank you. You are a good, uh, reasonable person, too, Carena.”

  Carena locked eyes with him and her pupils dilated.

  “Please allow me to change the subject,” she said. “How did you recover first and much sooner than your female counterparts?”

  Magnus decided to take a chance. If his instincts were correct, he could answer simple questions that didn’t give away anything important and it would then allow him to ask some of his own questions.

  “Males on Earth are not weak. We are generally physically stronger than females. I suppose I may be more so than most males.”

  “You are similar to our Omarii then?” she asked. “They are what you would call warriors.�
��

  “I suppose,” he said, “though not as craz..., wait, why are your Omarii chosen?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Every single one that I’ve met was insane.”

  “It is a side-”

  Blip.

  Carena activated her communicator again.

  “Carena here.”

  “Report,” the female voice said.

  Carena jerked upright, standing. Her eyes were wide in fear and her mouth open. She stared at Magnus briefly then her eyes darted across several random points on the floor as she moved back several steps. Her movements were animated and erratic.

  “My queen,” Carena said.

  Holy shit.

  It was their queen. Magnus knew her name... Katerra. He had been briefed on what Alara knew of the Kron or rather what she was allowed to tell them from her Aliri father.

  He shook his head vigorously at Carena mouthing the word please. Carena stared at him, fear still in her eyes. Magnus studied her, seeing her quickened breathing.

  “Carena, report,” Katerra repeated, louder this time.

  “My queen,” Carena said, her eyes still locked on Magnus’. “The human females are still unconscious. The male recovered-”

  “As expected,” Katerra said, cutting her off. “He has shown great resilience and physical prowess. He is one of their best. Tia reports that he was rendered unconscious by her demonstration. Has he recovered from it?”

  Magnus shook his head more. His eyes pleaded with Carena.

  “No.” She swallowed, covering her mouth.

  “I see,” Katerra said. “Contact me as soon as he does.”

  The transmission ended and Magnus knew now that Carena was genuine. He could trust her. She was not his friend and she would not help him escape but she cared enough to buy him a bit more time.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I understand what you’ve done for me.”

  “I need to get saline,” she said, looking down at the floor. “I, uh, it is necessary that I keep you hydrated for the-”

  “I know. So, I don’t die,” Magnus said, softly. “I get it. It’s okay. Thank you, Carena.”