Abductees

by Alan Brickett

  “Uh, oh, right. Sorry guys, didn’t mean that we should just abandon you.”

  “That’s okay, Marc. We are all catching up pretty quickly here,” Connor reassured him.

  “You’re going to have to get the rest going on the fly, boss man. I think we’ve arrived.”

  In Connor’s display, the feeds from Lekiso and Ormond showed him they had come out of a corridor and entered a small room with the Devourer parasite in the cylinder on a table in the middle. Their conversation had been seconds; luckily, mental communication over their systems was quick.

  But then he guessed that maybe there was a point to giving them that edge as well as everything else that was helping them adapt quicker.

  Lekiso and Ormond moved apart, aiming for the corners on their side of the room to give them the maximum area to cover while limiting surprises from behind. The Jascalian didn’t seem to notice or wasn’t bothered by their positioning and went right over to the table to move around it.

  The room had two doors.

  The one on the far side from where they had entered opened to admit a Lanillan, who smiled, revealing his mustard-colored teeth.

  “Showtime,” Connor mumbled. He saw Meriam give a quick smile when she heard him.

  * *

  Lekiso had grown up among a race that had suffered prejudice and discrimination, but even she had trouble with the Lanillan.

  The alien’s yellow skin made it look sick, and it wasn’t yellow like the Eastern cultures of Earth, which were shades of the same tones.

  For the Lanillan, it was variants on the shades of yellow, canary yellow at its brightest to a dark dirty mustard yellow at the darkest. This Lanillan looked like a dirty yellow, almost pasty like he was sick and covered in grime at the same time.

  Since the Lanillans were remarkably resilient to radiation and diseases of all kinds, she wondered what could possibly have caused him to turn out like this. Then again, she thought, if something could get past that immune system, then it would probably have a severe effect on anything.

  When he spoke, the Lanillan sounded gruff, his voice slightly hoarse.

  “Hello. Welcome to my home.” He smiled, showing all of his teeth in a broad expression that oozed false sincerity to Lekiso.

  The Lanillan gestured widely. “Can I offer you any refreshment, food or drink, perhaps some kind of narcotic to put you at your ease?”

  “No thanks, mate,” said Ormond.

  They had agreed over a quick private com to let him do the talking, considering the Lanillan culture around women.

  Lekiso wondered what the alien made of them. The humans were both shorter than the Lanillan. In their singlesuits of silver and gray and with the matte-covered equipment they had on their hips and backs, they looked very modern to a human sensibility.

  The Lanillan, by contrast, was dressed in work trousers, knee-high boots that looked worn but good for a lot of walking, and long coat over a pocketed shirt. He looked a lot more like some vagrant trying to keep everything he had on his person than an important representative with something to trade.

  “Very well, what is it that I may do to put you and your woman at ease, my friend?”

  Ormond took a few steps closer, responding to the openness of the Lanillan, or more likely playing up to it.

  “Mate, we aren’t here for all the pleasantries, and I really don’t mean to be rude about it, but since I don’t know your culture and you don’t know mine, how about we keep this to strictly business?”

  He sounded sincere and sophisticated, different from his laid-back garble that he usually issued out. Lekiso could see how he was pulling himself together for the sake of the situation, and it worked.

  “Of course, friend, of course. My name is Wonovar Lopokin, and I will be happy to get down to business.” He flashed another one of those dirty-teeth smiles, and Lekiso wondered what clean teeth would look like on a Lanillan, then she shook herself.

  Focus!

  Ormond didn’t go any closer, just settled into a casual stance where he was.

  “My name is Ormond Jaesce. Pleased to meet you, mate.”

  “I thank you for your name, as the Wirurgeons would say. All kinds of traditions, no? I am glad you are willing to get down to it. You want a specimen of the Devourer? I have one.”

  The Lanillan pointed a yellow, misshapen finger at the transparent column the centipede parasite was trying to find a way out of.

  Lekiso found the whole change in biology fascinating and troubling at the same time. All sorts of biology information swirled through her head, such as why this Lanillan had indents in a pattern on his skull and that Lanillans had no hair, at all, ever.

  Ormond smiled back at the mustard-colored teeth. “Yup, that’s right. So, how much do you want for it?”

  The Lanillan seemed somewhat surprised at Ormond’s brisk tone. “Ah, well, if you are referring to Domum Marks, I will decline. You were asked to come here for a trade, and that would be goods. Something you want for something or things that I want.”

  Uh oh, Lekiso thought.

  “Okay, mate. Sure.” Ormond rolled with it. “So, what’s on your mind for this trade?”

  “Ah, I am glad you asked. You see, this was one of the only specimens that we managed to capture alive from the park. They are notoriously difficult to capture, and handling the blighted creature is not an option. So, a lot of the ones that are found are usually already latched onto someone. That usually means we have to kill that someone. The parasite usually also dies in the process.”

  This time, the Lanillan’s smile was purely malicious. The hideous expression fit onto the yellow head very well.

  Lekiso shivered.

  “And of course, you met one of my teams. You even accounted for the only fatality that wasn’t due to a Devourer.”

  “Okay, mate, I get it, point taken. We offed one of your guys. But he was getting rude, and he should have thought about it before picking a fight.” Ormond wasn’t going to give an inch.

  He still stood casually, but Lekiso recognized his stance: balanced and ready to react.

  “Quite so. He really should have been more cautious. But I am really quite grateful that he managed to highlight your existence to us. And that efforts from my teams were able to procure the specimen that you now want. These creatures are highly sought after in some circles, you know, very valuable if you know the right buyers.

  “Great, mate. So, it’s a pricy bauble for you and others. How about you stop the sales pitch and tell me what you want.”

  “Hmmmm? So quick indeed. Alright then, what do you have to offer me?”

  I hope he isn’t going to start with wanting the women again because that won’t go down well with any of us.

  Connor must have been thinking the same thing, as he said over the private com, “Take it easy, guys. It’s probably a bargain. Try to get him over to anything we have or can buy if he won’t accept cash. We have lots of money.”

  “Sure, mate,” Ormond replied, “but would you give him any of this kit we have?”

  Connor’s reply was thoughtful. “Well, yes, if we need it for our mission, then whatever is orchestrating things will arrange to get more for us, or should tell us not to trade it, right?”

  “Connor, we have weapons. Trade is one thing, but if he wants our guns? That might be a line I will have to draw,” Lekiso said. Her mental tone was firm.

  “Well, the gushing sentimentality aside, mate, I agree. That may be rocking the boat about,” Ormond added in.

  “Sure, not the weapons, then. He hasn’t even seen what they are yet. They look like simple metal boxes, remember? And yes, I wouldn’t want to be giving away dangerous devices either, no matter the Devourer. Did you listen to what he said?”

  The mental conversation was fast, flashing through their minds about as quickly as their own thoughts, but Lekiso could see the Lanillan starting to notice the pause in Ormond’s reply.

  “I did. They got them from the park, so we
should be able to find more there if we have to. Ormond, talk to him before he gets impatient.”

  A sound of acknowledgment came over the com before Ormond spoke up.

  “Mate, here is how this goes, okay? Well, that isn’t really a question. You either know what you want from us, or you give us a shopping list and we see what we can do. If you want a trade of things and not hard Domum Marks, then we negotiate. But I am not going to be offering you things.”

  “Ah, well, that is a pity. Very well.” The Lanillan’s tone had changed.

  If he were human, Lekiso would have interpreted it as arrogant or boastful.

  “What I want is everything you have, your equipment and gear, any weapons you have. Your Marks will be securely stored, but maybe I can torture the codes from one or two of you.”

  “Oh crap,” Connor and Marc both said at once over the channel.

  Then only Connor spoke. “Get ready for this, guys. I don’t think this is going to be easy.”

  “Maybe he just needs a bit of a preemptive strike?” Lekiso said.

  Ormond turned slightly and gave her a subtle nod, and then both of them smoothly reached over their shoulders and pulled on the weapon blocks magnetically stuck to their shoulder blades.

  The cases came free, and as they were swept around in front of the humans, parts of them slid back into recesses. In barely half a second, both had their familiar guns up against their shoulders, pointed at the Lanillan, every inch of their lethality exposed.

  “Perhaps not, mate,” Ormond said clearly.

  The Lanillan’s laugh took Lekiso a bit by surprise, not only from the harsh sound of it but also because he honestly didn’t seem worried.

  “I am impressed and glad to see that you have more toys for us. How wonderful. Were you going to simply take this specimen by force all along?”

  “Nah, mate, we are still playing for a trade, just not on one-sided terms.”

  Ormond also sent a message over the private com to the rest of them: “Some kind of energy field came up between him and us. The shyte is protected. According to my scan, it says that Lekiso and I can get through, but it would take some high-powered shots. It’s daft, though, because the shots to get through are the safe ones that don’t also take out parts of the room.”

  “At least you are protected both ways,” Connor replied.

  Ormond said out loud, “So, how about we make a trade, and then we both just let ourselves be on our merry way?”

  “You are strange pale creatures, aren’t you? I don’t see how it is that you can be threatening me, but perhaps you just don’t know that the Lopokin family runs the Puzzle Box? Or perhaps your primitive brains are still catching up with exactly how much you don’t want to make me angry!” The angry flush on yellow skin looked like brown decay, not a pretty sight.

  “Put down your weapons and give up, or we will use force, and I guarantee that you will not enjoy the experience I give you if we have to make this a fight.”

  I don’t get it. He doesn’t have the advantage here, or we don’t see it, or our technology makes us think we are better, but what is it? Lekiso’s thoughts swirled as she considered options.

  “Stay calm, guys. Marc has the building mapped out. We can lead you back here easily,” Connor reassured them.

  The Lanillan spoke again. “I can see that you will take some convincing? Very well, you putrid examples of your species.”

  With that, he lifted a hand with a small tablet the size of a smartphone and pressed on it. Glimmering energy fields sprang up on every wall, the floor, and the ceiling.

  “Trapped, just like this parasite. In a box!” There was that malicious smile again.

  The remote was pointed at one of the walls, where a section slid down behind the force field, and a display came on. The Lanillan pressed another button on the remote, and the screen showed them the refinery platform with the three humans.

  On the display, Connor looked up in the direction of the camera, or whatever it was.

  “Woah, that’s weird seeing me through you guys. What is he doing?”

  “Do it,” the Lanillan ordered.

  It must have been sent over some kind of communicator because the Jascalian in the docking area near the ceiling opened a panel above its head and then reached inside the circuits and wires that were exposed.

  “Stop him!” Ormond’s warning over the private com was too late.

  Whatever the Jascalian did turned off the magnetic grapples holding on to the carriage.

  It dropped down out of the atmospheric force field, sedately returned to the hoop structure, and reconnected with the carriageway. As the carriage sped off into space, the doors in the refinery docking area opened, and several armed Lanillans and Jascalians brought weapons for their comrades who had set off the trap.

  Automated log update.

  Subjects’ situational parameters shown as a confluence of incidents moving towards aggressive confrontation have been confirmed. Analysis stored in files 117-D as per social and anthropological subroutines.

  Files active for sending in next data dump to objective time state.

  Analysis of the situation determines that the average threat level for subjects, parameters modified by equipment, and enhancements to subjects’ biology is within acceptable margins.

  Retrieval of subjects is possible should threat level escalate beyond feasible safety parameters for this stage of subjects’ exposure.

  Subject Marc Umber is exhibiting the most progress in gravitonic activation, although the calculated accuracy of subjects’ application is currently the lowest of the five.

  Suppositions inserted into analysis routines that frustration drives neuron formation are proving accurate. Readings and results stored in files 301 A through E on all subjects.

  Subject Connor Baglet exhibits the most refined application, while the other three subjects range between these two.

  Variables of mission differentiation substantiated by forming of collective unit interaction among subjects. The teamwork phase appears to be on track and within recognizable initial parameters.

  Monitoring continues.

  * *

  “I thought they might have been able to stop that from happening somehow. Maybe these humans aren’t as skilled as I first thought.”

  The officer that Obragon Vax was standing behind voiced his question as the two Domums watched the surveillance of the magnetic carriage slip down out of the refinery docking platform: “Sir? What do we do now?”

  “Send the squad we have on standby. We have evidence of tampering with the magnetic carriage network and systems, which is liable for a fine. There isn’t much that we can do about the private ‘adjustments’ made by the Lopokin family to their refinery station. But the humans, we can use as an excuse.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Obragon Vax contemplated the possible outcomes of this scenario.

  He hoped that the humans could keep the Lopokins busy—at least long enough for his officers to get there and witness the firefight.

  That would open new avenues of investigation that he could use. If the humans were to get into serious trouble, they should call for help. As long as they didn’t start it or do anything criminal enough for the Lopokins to lay charges, it should work out.

  If the humans did get into more trouble than they could handle?

  He shrugged nonchalantly.

  The galaxy wasn’t always a safe place, after all.

  * *

  Ormond’s scan of the force field boxing them in showed him that the cunning trap was seamless and the same intensity across the entire surface area. He’d already gotten past the quiet mental beating he had given himself for not thinking of the possibility.

  Adjusting to this level of technology was going to require more forethought.

  “So, now will you surrender? With your three companions directly in harm’s way?”

  The Lanillan, was gloating a bit much for Ormond’s liking. But before he
could make any kind of suggestion, Connor was already on their private com.

  “Go for it, you two. Get out of there and drive Wonovar Lopokin back. See if you can get the Devourer. We’ll start our own surprise down here.”

  Lekiso looked as pleasantly surprised as Ormond felt when he glanced at her; being right about someone was always a good feeling. He hadn’t lost his ability to read people during his time slumming it.

  “Right, mate!” he replied on the com.

  On the local channel, he said to Lekiso, “Target front.”

  They both had their firearm replicas up already. A quick swivel had them both focus on the field shimmering in front of the less-confident-looking Lanillan as they opened fire.

  Simple flicks of the eyes from both humans set the energy discharge from the high-tech rifles to the safe level that should stress the energy fields. Scintillating bolts of violet tinged with blue light piled into the barrier, quickly intensifying the shimmer up into a white noise of reaction across the middle of the wall of energized particles.

  Within seconds of their firing dozens of shots, the field was changing hue, going a sickly yellow with green around the edges, which Ormond’s scans explained was the force field matrix breaking down under overload.

  Without a word, Wonovar Lopokin grabbed the sample case from the table and made haste to the back door he had come in from. The energy field went critical just after the door slid shut on the disgusted face he threw their way.

  Ormond sent a message over the private com to Connor, dimly aware of noise and activity on the big man’s side.

  “We’re out, mate, but he’s on the run. Probably going to try and get us in harm’s way or just escape.”

  “No problem. Follow him. Marc is uploading the map of the refinery to you now, and Meriam will track the Devourer sample.”

  “On it mate.”

  Getting a nod of agreement from Lekiso, they went for the far door.

  Marc’s software had already cracked the encryption to unlock it so they wouldn’t have to blow it open.

  * *

  Once Connor’s mind had caught up with the quick sequence of events, the redhead was already taking action.