Alcantaran 1: Alien Abduction

by Terry Compton

  Tik quickly protested, "I'm not a child that needs to be carried. I can walk!"

  "I know you can but I want you to have all your strength so you can get that healer charged up. You need it and I suspect I'll need it shortly. Gus looks like he could use a shot of it too, so just relax and start planning how you're going to get that charged," Ron ordered as he ignored her protest.

  Gus grinned at the exchange and said he agreed. The door swung open and Ron followed Gus out into the passage. He was trying to look around and take in every detail as they walked. When they entered the dining hall, Gus showed him the procedure for food. Ron took his and Tik's over to the table.

  When he opened his, he muttered, "I can eat almost anything that doesn't bite me first and even then, given an even break, I'll eat what bites me. This slop is worse than liver and onions with a topping of boiled turnips. I really want to get even with those Bugs now."

  The other two almost choked as they tried to hold their laughter and not bring notice to their group. Ron forced himself to eat but he definitely didn't like it. As soon as they were through, Wurden moved them to the repair hangar. He wasn't aware that Ron could understand him because he was muttering to himself.

  "I don't know why they saddle me with a new beast. How am I supposed to know what it can do? I wonder how sick it is and how long before it dies. There'll be complaints because my production drops while I try to find work for the beast and then train it to do it. The other beast in its cell looks like it could die at any time. That's a shame because it is a whiz at classifying parts and finding the right part for the repair technicians."

  Wurden continued to mutter to himself all the way to the repair hangar. Ron almost wanted to laugh at some of his ranting. The other creatures including Gus dropped off at their work stations. Ron just kept walking and carried Tik over to her work counter. He set her gently on the counter and then waited for the Bug.

  Wurden glided up on his disk and asked, "What do you think you are doing? Why are you carrying that beast?"

  "Well I just thought I would help her out. She sprained her ankle last night and it hurt her to walk, so I just carried her. Any problems with that?" Ron answered sarcastically.

  "How did you know it hurt her to walk?" Wurden demanded suspiciously.

  "Why just watch her walk. She limps like crazy," Ron smarted back.

  Tik walked across the counter toward her chair. She limped on one hind leg and it took her a long time getting to the chair. After she sat down, she turned to Ron. She had a grin on her face and winked at him.

  Wurden didn't know what to do. He had never had any beast so cocky and defiant. He beckoned for Ron to follow and he took him to the middle of the hangar.

  He asked, "What skills do you have? Why were you picked from your planet?"

  Ron replied, "I think it was because I'm so good looking."

  "What?"

  "Yeah, I had to watch that on Earth all the time. The women thought I was some kind of movie star," Ron continued pulling the Bug's leg.

  "What are you talking about? I just need to know what your skills are," Wurden demanded peevishly.

  "Well, I can weld, do electrical and fix most machines. I'd like the highest paying position that's available. What are your starting wages and do I have to join the union?" Ron asked innocently.

  "What are you talking about? We pay when we know that you are a valuable beast. At our discretion, we will allow you to earn passage back to the planet you came from. I have no idea what a union is." Wurden exasperatedly snapped. "Come over here and we'll see how you do fixing the engines on those space ships."

  Wurden led Ron to a planetary flyer and showed him the engine that needed to be repaired. He showed him how to use the computer to see the illustrated parts break down and the operator's manual. Ron studied the computer for about a half hour and then slowly climbed up to look at the engine. He saw a small hole in the outer skin of the engine but pretended he didn't. He looked inside and saw a small tube that was smashed and a wire broken. He looked around inside the engine for awhile and then he slowly climbed down and went back to the computer. He studied the computer again and then slowly climbed back up to the engine. Ron did this two more times, wasting at least three hours. Wurden was watching him the whole time and muttering under his breath.

  Ron waved Wurden over and asked, "What exactly is the problem with this engine? I didn't see anything on the computer that detailed the problems the pilot was having."

  Wurden exasperatedly exclaimed, "It was right there in the computer. Are you sure you know how to fix machinery?"

  "Well, this machinery is considerably different than what I'm used to working on but I'm sure I can pick it up after while. I just need to go back to the computer to look up a couple of things again."

  Wurden snapped, "Why don't you bring the hand held computer unit right up here so you don't have to waste time going up and down?"

  "You didn't tell me anything about a hand held computer. That would definitely make life a lot easier. By the way, how do you get parts?" Ron asked. "I'll be right back as soon as I get that hand held computer."

  Wurden fairly growled, "Stay right where you are. I'll go get it and then I can show you how to get parts."

  He quickly glided down to the work station and got the hand held computer. When he got back, he demonstrated how to use it and how to order parts. He explained that a messenger robot would bring the part to him. Ron decided to test the system to see how efficient it really was. He ordered the smashed tube, a muffler bearing and double-weight head light fluid. From his vantage point on the engine, he could see Tik at the counter. He heard her squeal from across the hangar as she started in about muffler bearings and double-weight head light fluid. Suddenly she looked over at him and he waved with a big grin. He concentrated and thought 'just send any parts'. Her loud complaining didn't stop so he didn't know if she had received the message or not.

  Shortly a messenger robot came with three parts. Ron knew that at least some of the thought transfer worked. He picked up the tube and replaced the smashed tube on the engine. He had to go back to the work station to find the items he needed to make a permanent repair to the wire. As soon as he was done, he used the hand held computer to run a diagnostic check on the engine. He saw that everything was satisfactory but far from optimum. He debated for a few seconds and decided to adjust it for max performance. He was curious to see if it affected the handling of the planetary flyer. He didn't know for sure but suspected the other engine needed to be adjusted to balance the system out. He wondered how many other systems were in the same shape. He knew the space ship in which he hoped to leave the mother ship would have everything adjusted to perfection. He wanted every edge for survival he could get. He took the two extra parts and stowed them at the work station. He would find some use for them later or would get them back to Tik to put back into the inventory.

  Wurden was watching and as Ron slowly climbed back down, he glided over. He haughtily asked, "Are you through? What were you doing with the computer there at the last?"

  Ron replied, "I needed to see how the muffler bearings were doing. I think they improved the engines performance."

  "I see and how do you know about muffler bearings? Our civilization is far advanced compared to yours." Wurden stated officiously.

  Ron quipped right back, "You might be more advanced but we invented muffler bearings and have some of the best in the galaxy. Do I take the ship out to test fire the engine?"

  Wurden pulled out a personal computer and made notes in it. He was passing information to the mother ship computer. The Bugs were always looking for little items like the best muffler bearings in the galaxy. They would trade for them or steal the idea and make it themselves if they could. Wurden replied in his superior voice, "You will do no such thing. We have competent pilots who will check everything out when the rest of the repairs are made. Come, I will show you your next task."

  Ron followed and Wurden assign
ed him to his next task. Ron found out the translator really helped him to understand the manuals for the different equipment. He could have blazed through a lot of fixes but he deliberately worked at a very slow pace. Finally Wurden started lining everyone up to walk back to the dining hall.

  Ron quietly asked Tik, "Did you get the healer recharged? Do you think it will work?

  Tik murmured quietly back, "I got it charged. We'll have to take a look tonight back in the cell."

  Ron rushed through with his meal -- mostly because he wanted to get back to the cell but also because if he ate fast, he didn't taste as much of the meal. After what seemed like an eternity, the group lined up to head to their cells. As soon as the door closed, Tik had to try it. It was locked as usual so she went to her bunk.

  Tik pulled the healer unit out of her bag and a part of a Bugs arm fell out. She disgustedly kicked it off her bunk and said, "I forgot about that being in my bag. Here's the stingerray also." She pulled the stingerray out and two more parts of Bug arm.

  Gus came over to her bunk and took the arm parts. He carried them to the waste disposal and shoved them down in it. He watched them disappeared. He came back to the bunk and picked up the stingerray and asked, "What are we going to do with this? Tik, do you know how it works?"

  Tik said, "I don't know. Give it to Ron to see if he can figure it out with the translator."

  Ron took the stingerray and examined it closely. He saw three different buttons but had no idea what they were for. They appeared to be adjustments for something but he was afraid to make any adjustments until he had an idea what the adjustments did. He laid the stingerray back on the bunk.

  Ron touched Tik with the translator and said, "For right now let's see if the healer works. I feel like my blood sugar is dropping."

  Tik examined the unit and pressed a couple of buttons. Small lights winked on and blinked several times before becoming a steady green. She pressed the unit to Ron's arm and pressed another button. There was a quiet whine and buzz before the unit went silent. The green lights slowly blinked on and off. In a couple of minutes there was a quiet voice that said Ron's insulin cells were abnormal and right now his blood sugar was low. The unit also said there was foreign substance in his stomach. The unit asked to be put back on his arm. Tik complied and the unit said to push two more buttons. Tik pushed the buttons and Ron felt something on his arm. It wasn't quite a tingle but he knew something was happening. A warm feeling ran up his arm and down to his abdomen. In a few minutes the unit chimed quietly and said the body healing was complete. The foreign substance would be eliminated tomorrow. The lights went back to a steady green.

  Tik asked, "How do you feel? Did it do anything?"

  Ron replied, "I felt something but I don't know what. A warm feeling went up my arm and then back down to my gut. I think I am feeling better because I don't have the warning signals I usually look for when my blood sugar is low. I knew the food here was bad for you. The unit as much as said I was being poisoned. Now try it on yourself."

  Ron smoothed a patch of fur and placed the unit on Tik. She told him which buttons to push and the lights blinked again. The unit made noises for considerably longer before the lights went to a steady green. The unit said that Tik was starving. Her system wasn't digesting the food in her stomach. It also said she had a large amount of foreign substance undigested in her stomach. The unit told which buttons to push and Ron pushed them. Tik felt something because she started and moaned a little. The unit took almost 15 minutes before it chimed and returned to the steady green. Tik appeared to be asleep so Ron gently removed the unit.

  Gus whispered, "Did it help you? It looks like it did something for Tik. What was it saying?"

  Ron replied in a whisper, "I think it helped me and it did something for Tik. We'll see tomorrow how much good it did. The unit was telling what it found and also that both of us had some foreign substance in our stomachs."

  He motioned for Gus to move over so he could be next. Gus sat on the floor and Ron placed the unit on his back between the harness straps. He pressed the diagnostic buttons and the unit did its thing. The unit said that Gus was short on critical vitamins and minerals. It also said he had an undigested foreign substance in his system. Ron pushed the buttons and the machine started on Gus. After about 10 minutes the unit chimed and the lights went to green. Ron accidently touched another button as he took the unit off Gus. The unit said it would recommend that the patient be in contact with sand or dust for at least 15 minutes each day or two hours a week. It said this patient absorbed some of its critical vitamins and minerals through its skin. It said the previous patient needed to have a very strong dose of ultra-violet rays every day for the next month and then needed the UV treatment at least once a week. The patient's system couldn't digest food properly without the UV rays.

  Ron and Gus moved back to their bunk and whispered quietly. They were trying to figure out how to get a UV light for Tik and where to install it. They finally decided the work counter would be the best place. They decided to wait until in the morning to ask Tik if she could order something through the mother ship computer. Maybe she could complain about bacteria on the used parts crossing the counter and needed the UV light to kill them.

  Ron pulled the cape out of his tool pouch and examined it thoroughly. He noticed some almost hidden buttons next to the hood. Gus was curiously watching as Ron laid the cape across his lap. Ron pushed one of the buttons and poof! His legs and the cape disappeared! Gus almost jumped off the bunk and yelled. Just in time he remembered their sleeping cell mate. Ron touched his legs and could still feel them. He could still feel the touch also, so he knew that his legs were still there. Ron felt around and found the hood on the cape. He picked it up and held it against the bunk. His legs appeared and the bunk disappeared. He held it up toward Gus. Gus kind of shied away from the cape but Ron saw that the parts of Gus covered by the cape disappeared. It looked rather funny seeing the top half of Gus, no middle and then the legs and feet just appeared.

  Gus urgently whispered, "What in the world is that? How did your legs disappear and then reappear? Why are you grinning?"

  "It's the cape. I could feel my legs under it but neither of us could see my legs. Just now I was holding it up and your middle disappeared. You looked funny with a top, no middle and legs appearing out of nowhere. I wonder if this is another relic of the Alcantarans," Ron answered as he stood up and swung the cape around his shoulders.

  Ron's head was floating above his feet and legs but there was nothing in the middle. Gus grinned because he could now see what Ron meant about looking funny. He gingerly reached one of his huge fingers toward the middle. He touched something right where Ron's mid-section should be. There was nothing showing there but he could feel something.

  "This could be another tool to help us escape. The only problem is that it won't cover you or me completely. I guess we'll have to find something to stand behind to cover the rest," Ron said as he returned Gus' grin.

  Gus said, "It definitely won't cover much of me. About the only one it will completely cover will be Tik. How do you think we will be able to use it?"

  "Right now I have no idea. I'll put it back in my pouch and we'll have it when the time comes," Ron said. "Maybe after Tik gets to feeling better, she can use it to go to that store room in the middle of the ship to find two more translators. It would sure help if we could communicate together all the time. We are going to have to be ready to seize any chance we get to make our escape. This thought transfer could really be a big help."

  Gus nodded in agreement as he said, "We won't be able to send her on the days she's mad at the Bugs. I've seen her temper and reactions. If she was mad and had that cloak on, there would definitely be damage to the Bugs she met."

  Ron grinned his agreement. He had seen a little taste of her temper today when he ordered the muffler bearing. The two whispered just a little longer before they climbed into their bunks. They decided Tik needed to check the computer to s
ee what was being put in their food. She also needed to check on the stingerray to see if the computer had instructions on how to operate them.

  As Ron lay on his bunk, he was thinking of movies he had seen. He started wondering about spying devices in their cell. Tomorrow he would carry Tik again and try the thought transfer to have her check the mother ship computer to wipe out what went on in their cell.

  The next morning when the bell went off, Ron and Gus were quick to get out of bed. Both felt better and it showed in their actions as they prepared for the day. They both looked anxiously at their cell mate.

  Tik slowly got up and stretched. She saw both of them staring at her and said, "What's up, big boys? What are you looking at?"

  "We were just wondering how you felt this morning. You went to sleep awful fast last night and we didn't even get a chance to ask you how the healer unit did on you," Ron answered.

  "I don't know if it did anything. I felt something and I guess I was tired because I went to sleep before it actually did anything," Tik said. "I do feel like I have a little more energy this morning."

  "Well, the unit said all three of us had a foreign substance in our systems. It also gave a diagnosis of what you needed. I'll fill you in more later on," Ron explained.

  The door swung open and Gus grabbed Tik's tool bag. Ron scooped her up and started to carry her out the door.

  Tik growled, "Put me down, you overgrown hairless ape. I am perfectly able to walk on my own."

  "Oh, but your sprained ankle might not be fully healed. I'd hate for Wurden to have to take you to the medical facilities," Ron quipped. "Besides I need to talk to you and I'd just as soon no one else hears."

  Tik settled back down but she didn't like it. She thought Ron was trying to coddle her and she was not going to let that happen. As soon as they started down the passage-way, Ron started whispering.