by E J Randolph
“We’re here. Our task is to establish communication. The best way out of this is to get it over with.” What was I thinking? I should convince the pilot to leave. But would the aliens shoot us down? I needed to change careers. I wasn’t cut out for this kind of danger.
He snorted. “What if it’s a trap?”
“I’m sure it is. Fly her in. We’re dead anyway.”
The muscles in his jaw worked back and forth, and he threw his head back. “I’ve lived long enough. Got a wife on my back all the time, and a kid who hates me. What do I have to live for anyway?”
He rammed the craft into the opening and braked to a stop in front of an interior bulkhead with a vicious blast of the forward thruster.
The port closed behind us. We were in a pressurized hold with a breathable atmosphere. It was a little high in inert gasses other than nitrogen and a little low in oxygen. The gravity was three fourths one standard Earth gravity.
I unstrapped with trembling fingers and squared my shoulders. “Open.”
He unlocked my door.
The air smelled stagnant, mechanical, and old, probably recycled thousands of times. I didn’t recognize any of the objects. I stepped to the deck and waited. Shivers of fear shook my body, and my knees knocked.
A hatch opened and a pair of spindly, humanoid figures entered. They were two and a half meters tall, and their weight no more than fifty kilos. Their heads were big in proportion to their bodies and wobbled on their elongated, thin necks. This was too weird. I needed to leave.
“Do not fear. We have come to trade.” The words echoed, sounding flat and indifferent in my head but neither alien’s lips moved.
Ah, they were telepathic. “Fine. All you need to do is send a trade representative or delegation to our embassy, and they’ll set you up with whomever you want to trade.”
“You do not understand. We do not want to do a standard trade.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What do you want and what do we get in return?”
They stared at me for several seconds, and shivers ran up my back.
“We want to do brain scans on humans and stimulate emotions.”
I relaxed. These guys were scientists. They seemed a little weird, but then weren't science geeks always a little different from ordinary folk? Maybe they would get along fine with others that studied the natural universe. “Are you doing some kind of scientific research?”
They looked at each other. Perhaps they communicated on another channel. After a few seconds they turned to me, and two voices spoke in unison. “That is right. Scientific research.”
“What do we get in return?”
The taller of the two motioned me to a viewing port. A Bellasport communications satellite traveled in a synchronous orbit off to one side of the alien ship. The tall being touched some controls, and a second later a beam flashed from the side of the alien craft, bathing the satellite in bright light. I blinked my eyes... and the satellite was gone. I stared at the empty space where moments before a satellite had orbited, emitting signals, and my knees crumpled. I leaned against the bulkhead. Bellasport had nothing to combat these aliens. They weren’t human. Their voices were devoid of emotion. They could kill in an instant without a twinge of regret. Bile forced its way up my throat.
I turned to them. “I understand. We give you what you want or you destroy us.”
They nodded.
The Federation Navy was weeks away. There was no choice. The government and people of Bellasport had to comply with whatever these aliens wanted. But what did they want?
They stood staring at me.
“Show me what you have in mind.”
They walked to a flat table and motioned me on it.
“Get on.”
I hopped on the smooth metal surface and the taller spindly pushed me flat. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I tried to move, but I was frozen in place. They directed a shimmering light on me and aimed a black triangle at me.
My eyes closed and I started dreaming. I was crying over my best friend’s mangled body. She was killed in an industrial accident in the monad. An instant later Brad, my first boyfriend, kissed me for the first time. I was so in love. Moments later I cried on the steps outside the Earth Population Control Office. I had to emigrate and leave my home, the only life I’d known and never see my parents again. Oh no! I was unwanted. What would become of me? Pierre kissed me and little tingles shot through my body.
I woke and sat. “No, no, no! Those memories are mine!” I shrieked, and tears flowed down my cheeks.
The spindlies moved toward me.
“Don't touch me!”
I blanked out. A few moments later I came to and sat up. These spindlies were so cute and nice. It was wonderful in this ship. I liked it here. I frowned. Wait! These thoughts weren’t right.
The spindlies studied me. I was a specimen to them. This was no benign scientific experiment. These spindlies felt nothing. They had no sympathy for my distress. They didn’t even get the pleasure of sadism out of it. What nut cases! They weren’t human.
I had to get out. “Let me leave. I know what you want. I’ll tell the ambassador, and he’ll tell the government of Bellasport.”
“That is rational.”
I had no choice. Neither did anyone on Bellasport. I saw how they won arguments. I’d lose my mind if I stayed here any longer. Oh no! The spindlies were probably reading my thoughts.
“You may leave now.” The two voices spoke in unison.
I tore through the ship to the hold and pulled on the shuttle door lever. It was locked. I pounded on the door. The pilot opened it, and I jumped on the seat.
“Get us out of here.”
The pilot powered the shuttle up. The outer port of the big ship opened, and he gunned the small craft. I sat stone silent, my shoulders hunched, my face twisted in a grimace.
He shot me a quick glance. “Bad time?”
“Yeah.”
“What did they do?”
“They took my soul.”
He was silent.
“They put my feelings into a machine.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Weird.”
“More than weird. Horrifying.”
The pilot dove to the planet surface, did a slide slip, and we were down, racing along the runway. Seconds after the shuttle came to a stop, the embassy driver opened the shuttle hatch and escorted me into the vehicle. He hit the accelerator and drove through town at high speed.
I commo’d John. “I’m back on the planet. Tell you more later.”
The driver screeched to a stop in front of the embassy and opened my door. I shoved one leg out and followed it with the other. I stood, taking a deep breath and steadying myself. I walked with shaky steps toward the embassy portico. One of the marine guards reached for my arm and escorted me to Moseley's office.
“Do I look that bad?” My voice came out as a whisper.
“You’ve looked better.”
The marine guard left me in front of the ambassador’s door. I swayed. One of the receptionists spoke into an intercom, and the door opened behind me.
Mosley gasped.
“I look that bad?”
He took my arm and guided me to a seat in his office. “There, there, now. You’re here.” He leaned over his intercom. “Bring in some tea.”
Within seconds an assistant walked in carrying a cup of steaming tea and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Mosley handed me the cup of tea and peered at me.
I took a sip, sighed, and sat back.
“Have a cookie.” He held out the plate toward me.
I bit into one, chewed, and swallowed and took another sip of tea. “Mr. Ambassador, you will not like their choices.” A wave of nausea swept over me. “Or their style.”
“What did they do to you?”
I told him everything except the content of my dreams and my conversations with the pilot.
He frowned. “We know about them blowing up the satellite. Bellasport's defens
e minister was on the commo right away yelling about needing the Federation Navy pronto. The soonest that can happen is two standard weeks.” He shook his head. “I t-grammed Central.”
I grimaced. “Bellasport has no choice.”
“How can I tell them that?”
“The aliens have threatened the destruction of this planet unless there is a steady stream of volunteers for their, uh, scientific experiments.”
He slumped.
“It can’t be that hard. There are always some gamblers who need to recoup their losses. The government can offer good money for their participation in the save-Bellasport-from-the-aliens program.”
The intercom on his desk buzzed. “General Trond is here.
Boots stomped outside Mosely’s office, and two knocks banged on his door. His door burst open, and the general, resplendent in a colorful uniform with a chest full of medals and a body built like a brick, marched into his office. “Mosley!”
“Yes, sir.” Mosley almost came to attention.
“When is the Federation Navy getting here?”
“Earliest two weeks.” Mosley scurried behind his desk as if seeking its protection.
General Trond strode to the Mosley’s smooth desk and pounded on it with both fists. “Bellasport's treaties with the Federation are clear. YOU WILL PROTECT BELLASPORT FROM EXTERNAL THREATS.” He glared at Mosley. “IS THAT CLEAR?”
Mosley trembled. “My diplomat met with the aliens and has an idea.”
General Trond turned toward me, and his glare softened. “What did they say?”
I gave him a quickie version of my interaction with the aliens and concluded with my idea of volunteers.
“Good idea. We’ll do it. Good to know there’s someone in your organization with balls. We donate plenty to the Federation for naval protection. If that pinko excuse for a navy had any guts, it would be here.”
Mosley leaned over his desk. “But, but–”
“Good day, Ambassador. “Let me know when the Navy's tea break is over.” General Trond stomped out, slamming the door.
Mosley raked his hair. “Sense of humor that guy. He knows the realities of space travel. He’s joking.”
I raised one eyebrow. To me, General Trond sounded like a frustrated, scared guy who wanted something done. “May I go?”
“Yeah, sure. Go ahead, get some rest. I’ll get you a driver and vehicle.” He gave instructions into the intercom and glanced at me. “Your driver should be waiting at the front door.”
I hobbled to the front door not paying any attention to anything or anyone along the way. Outside a vehicle waited. Was I surprised? I was too tired to be anything. I gave instructions to the driver and sank into the seat. I closed my eyes. Thoughts emerged from the goo of my mind and tried to string themselves together into some kind of coherence.
We arrived at Miss A, and I climbed out of the vehicle. I walked to the gangway and stared at it. Could I get up that? Footsteps pounded down. Dan. Oh good.
He waved one of his diagnostic wands up and down my body, scooped me up, and carried me to my chair in the commons. “Now, Ms Stevens, you’ll tell the doctor what hurts.”
“I don't know. I just don't feel good.”
“Alright, don't worry. I’ll get all my diagnostic tools. I’ll test you for everything.”
Shebang ran in and skidded to a halt. Her back rose, her long, gray hair stood on end, and she hissed, backing away from me.
“Shebang, it’s me.”
She screamed and ran out of the room.
I put my hand over my mouth. “She’s never done that before. Maybe I still have some of that alien odor on me.”
“I’ll get my tools and check you over.”
John and Ricardo rushed in.
“Hi, guys.” I gave them the best smile I could.
John snapped his fingers. “You need tea.” He got one from the food fabricator and brought it to me.
I sniffed the aroma drifting up from the cup. “Mmm. One of my favorite flavors.” I took a sip.
Dan returned with several long wands. “These read critical bodily functions and levels.” He ran them up and down me and studied the results on the built-in displays.
John tilted his head. “Anything wrong, Dan?”
“That’s just it. Nothing is wrong. Everything is within normal parameters, but the levels don’t match Kate's previous levels.”
A dimple showed in Ricardo’s cheek. “She’s a different person. Maybe we got the wrong person back.”
John frowned at him and turned to Dan. “What do you make of it?”
“I haven’t the foggiest idea. But, it is like someone else has taken up residence in Kate's body.”
I grimaced. “Can you fix me?”
Dan smiled, one of those good bedside manner kind of smiles, kindly but concerned. “I prescribe a period of rest with good food. The nutritious sort.” He waggled his finger at me. “I know your penchant for junk food.”
I pouted. “I sure could use some chips and dip or cheese swirls right now.”
“You’re hungry? Good.”
John punched in a hearty beef and vegetable stew and brought it to me.
Yummy, smelled good. “Thanks.”
Nick entered the commons like a gust of wind and bounced over. “You have to tell me everything you saw on the ship.”
John rounded on him. “Can't you see she’s not well?”
“Sure, Skip, but she’s had a unique opportunity to see inside an alien ship.” His body vibrated.
I shook my head. “You can get that same opportunity, but you won’t like it.” My voice came out weak.
“Why? What happened?”
I drew my knees up and hugged them. “It was supposed to be routine.”
John snorted.
“Yeah, I was supposed to invite the aliens down to talk to Mosley.”
They all nodded like they knew this was bogus on the face of it.
“Anyway, once I got into their spaceship, one of the aliens blew up the Bellasport satellite.”
John nodded. “We saw that.”
“Right. That was to show me what they would do to Bellasport if the inhabitants didn’t cooperate.”
Ricardo let out a low whistle.
John frowned. “Cooperate?”
“Yeah, in their phony, baloney, scientific experiments.” My voice was bitter.
He looked at me under lowered brows. “What kind of experiments?”
“They made me dream.”
“Do you remember your dreams?”
“Oh, yes. You’re wondering about content. They were highly emotional memories.”
The guys exchanged looks.
“Come on. I’m not too sick. Tell me what you think.”
They didn’t say anything.
“Come on, John.”
“Emotion weapons.”
“That’s what I’m beginning to suspect. When they brought me out of the dream state, I was hopping mad. They beamed me with friendly, peaceful emotions, and I felt all warm and friendly toward the creeps. But I knew that was all wrong.”
“What did they say they were doing?”
“They didn’t say anything. But they’re telepathic, so they don’t say anything ever.”
Dan raised his hands. “Telepathic!”
John’s head swung toward him. “What’s up?”
“Think about it. If you’re telepathic, you have to have teeny emotions to prevent swamping other telepaths all the time.”
Ricardo snorted. “So, when you’re in the market for some emotions for military use, you have to harvest them from subjects who aren’t telepathic. Lovely.”
I shivered. “That’s ghoulish.”
“Yeah. Emotion vampires. The real thing.”
“They’ll get to do it with official sanction until the Navy gets here.”
“How’s that?”
“That’s the deal. They want human subjects for their scientific experiments. Bellasport is going to pay
well to get volunteers. They’re betting this will get gamblers and others needing the cash to go up and be scientific guinea pigs.”
Ricardo pounded one fist into his other palm. “Let’s hope the Navy gets here quickly.”
John froze for a moment. “Wait a minute. What’s to guarantee the arrival of the Navy will end the psychic siege?”
“What do you mean?” Ricardo thrust his jaw out. “This is the Federation Navy we’re talking about. They have the aliens outnumbered.”
“Yeah, true, but what if every day these aliens are charging their emotion weapons from the volunteers? When the Navy gets here, it could be in for a nasty surprise.”
My eyes widened. “What can we do?”
He snorted. “We? We have nothing to combat the aliens on that level.”
Shebang entered the room. It was close to one of her favorite food times, and every one of her potential food providers was present. What could be better from a cat's point of view?
She swaggered toward the food fabricator, stopped in midstride, sniffed the air, and in one split second, flashed wild eyes at me and bushed her fur. She ran from the room, howling like the demons of hell were after her.
My stomach sank.
Ricardo looked at me. “What was that?”
“Don't know. She did something similar earlier. Not so extreme. Maybe she smells the alien ship on me.”
John pointed to the hatch. “Off to the dry shower. Only one way to test that hypothesis.”
I walked with shaky steps to the dry shower and got in clothes and all. I cycled it three times. I got out and headed to my quarters.
“I’m sorry this all happened to you.” The feminine voice came from the overhead.
“Thank you, Miss A.” Of course, she’d eavesdropped on our conversation in the commons, but I was too tired to care. I tumbled into my bunk and fell asleep almost before my head hit the pillow. A while later I woke. For a few minutes I lay still, the day's events going through my mind. A few tears leaked out.
I pulled myself out of my bunk, feeling like all my bones had gone soggy. Something was not right. I looked in the mirror on my closet door. The same ol' me looked back at me – slanted green eyes, now tired and confused looking, and curly brown hair needing to be brushed. I picked up a brush and pulled it through my hair. Every movement ached.
