by C.G. Miller
THE SAVIORS
“Can you believe all this alien talk lately?” Brian said to his wife. He reached up and opened the cabinet door with a creak. He grabbed one of the lime green coffee cups from the set they had received as a wedding gift nearly a decade ago. He always hated the cups. But they, like all the rumors about aliens lately, just wouldn’t seem to go away.
The pungent smell of old coffee filled his nostrils as he removed the stained pot from its base and poured some of the maple syrup colored liquid into his cup. The coffee pot was also a wedding gift.
“It’s all very crazy,” Mai said, “What do you suppose they want?’
Mai stabbed a piece of bacon on her plate with her fork as if she was wielding a tiny, steel trident. She placed the piece of warm, crispy meat on a slice of buttery toast and made a mini sandwich. A smile crept across her face as she munched down on the delicious concoction.
“I’m not sure,” said Brian, “But I hope whatever the reason is, it’s a peaceful one. We can’t even stop humans from fighting other humans, let alone a super intelligent species that’s capable of interstellar travel. Imagine what kind of weapons they must have if they know how to travel faster than light.”
Brian sat down next to his wife and reassuringly squeezed her hand. He could tell she was a bit shaken up by the whole situation. And honestly, he couldn’t blame her. He was scared himself.
He put the coffee cup to his lips and took a small sip. The piping hot liquid slithered down his throat like a snake and he shuddered. It needed to cool a few more minutes.
“Thanks for calling in today, by the way,” Mai said.
“No problem, love. I’m here for you.”
“I know you are,” Mai said back, “And I love you for that. “
“And I love you,” Brian said. He reached over and kissed her. Her lips tasted salty, like bacon.
CLICK.
The television in the front room suddenly came to life. The blue light from the monitor shone brightly into the dining room.
“Did you turn the TV on?” Mai asked.
“No, dear.”
Brian stood and squinted his eyes slightly in confusion. He walked towards the television.
He flicked the light switch in the corner and the lamplight drowned out most of the blue TV light.
“I think it must have just turned on by itself, Mai.”
“Are you sure? Can you see the remote?”
“Yeah, it’s on the—“
A pair of pupil-less, stretched out oval eyes instantly popped onto the TV screen like two oversized, creepy eggs.
“Hello, Earth,” the eyes said.
“Mai…You should probably come in here.”
Mai stood up from the table and pushed her chair in. Her hands quivered. She didn’t like her husband’s tone.
She walked slowly into the living room and gripped her husband’s arm hard as she saw the eyes on the TV.
“Who the hell is that?” Mai asked scared.
“I’m not sure, love,” Brian responded.
The eyes blinked once and shifted slightly. They were so unsettling.
“Hello, Earth. We have intercepted your television signals to broadcast this message to your race.”
Mai gripped her husband’s arm tighter. Her knuckles were whiter than rice.
“By now you know we are an extraterrestrial race. We come from a galaxy beyond yours to… extend a helping hand, as your planet says.”
“What do they mean, help us from what?” Mai said.
“I don’t know,” Brian responded.
“Since the beginning of time, we have been entrusted with ensuring the healthy survival of organic life. There are very few planets in the cosmos that can support life. So, naturally, we have been keeping an eye on humanity for ages, making sure things ran smoothly with you.”
The eyes blinked eerily again.
“Unfortunately, things have not gone smooth for humanity. You are a crude and ignorant race. You fight and kill one another on a daily basis and have all but forgotten what it means to truly be alive, to feel, to be passionate… to love.”
Mai wrapped her arms tightly around her husband in embrace, as if to prove the eyes wrong.
“But do not fear, Earth. For that is why we have come. We are here as your savior. We will be the guiding light that saves the masses. We will be the beacon of hope that you all so desperately yearn for.”
“I wonder how they plan to do that,” Brian said suspiciously.
“But you all need not fret on that now. The means of our cleanse will be revealed in time. Rest assured though, that before we leave, every remaining man, woman, and child will know what it means to truly be alive.”
The eyes seemed to light up in delight at this last cryptic pronouncement. Mai looked up into Brian’s eyes, clearly terrified.
“What do they mean by remaining, Brian?” Mai asked. Tears began to well up behind her eyes.
“I… I don’t know, love,” he said back as he took her hand in his.
“Oh, and Earth,” the eyes on the TV said, “ You’re welcome.”
With a snap, the picture cut off and the TV again went back to the blue screen.
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