stay here but I don’t?”
“Because his pod is damaged.”
The captain dragged her kicking and screaming from the command station towards the stasis room.
Chris knew he was right to be apprehensive now. He wasn’t the only specimen who was questioning the alien’s plans. And he wasn’t the only one afraid of stasis.
A few minutes after Samda had been dragged away, a siren went off. It was alien in pitch and frequency, but there was no doubt in Chris’ mind that it meant something bad was about to happen on the ship.
The captain ’s voice came out over the unseen speakers. He yelled, “That lizard must have damaged the Gray’s pod when he damaged the Earth-man’s. I didn’t notice it until now. The Gray escaped before I could contain the situation. Find him before he does too much damage. I’m still struggling with the girl.”
“Shit,” Chris whispered. The Grays were evil. The Gray escapee might try and destroy the ship. This was not good.
The first m ate barked out an order to Number Three and Number Four. “Get that Gray under control as fast as you can. We all know how destructive they can be.”
Number Four fiddled with the alien instruments on his panel. He turned around and quickly said, “The sensors picked him up in stasis room eighty-seven.”
“He’s quick. Get up there and subdue him right away.”
Chris was a little surprised to hear about a stasis room eighty-seven. But it explained why this huge ship was necessary. It had to be big to hold all its captives. It was like Noah’s ark, but for alien life from across the universe. He’d been overwhelmed by the select few species he’d already seen. His imagination wasn’t equipped to wonder what all the rest might look like.
Number Three and Number Four ran off and the first mate said to Chris, “Stay here Earthman. I’ll be right back.”
Chris nodded his head and tried to smile reassuringly, but his mouth would not obey the command so his upper lip just twitched, making him appear insane.
The first m ate patted him on the shoulder reassuringly and then he ran off too.
Chris felt foreboding as soon as he was left alone. He was small compared to these creatures, and defenseless. It was cowardly, but he couldn’t help but think they should’ve left someone behind to protect him. If he was as important to the experiment as they said he was, they should’ve made sure to keep him safe.
No sooner had the first m ate left the command station than an overhead ventilation grate slowly hinged open and the Gray’s head appeared from inside.
Chris wanted to scream out or react in any way but he was frozen with fear.
The Gray dropped to the floor as agile as a cat, right beside Chris’ quivering body.
Chris squealed like a pig and shuffled backwards, but the Gray simply ignored him as though he were nothing but an insect, not worth bothering with.
The Gray approached the command modules and began to fiddle with switches and knobs. It was surprisingly adept at what it was doing.
A few seconds later , Number Three’s robotic voice called over the speakers: “We have a fire in the sample bay.”
The Gray chuckled and turned on Chris. It said, “I just burned their backup samples.” Then he pointed his long thin finger at the monitor that showed Samda’s ship.
It said, “I’m going over there. Do you want to come with me?”
Chris’ brow furrowed. He asked cautiously, “Can you take me home?”
“I have no idea. I don’t know the capabilities of that ship and I don’t know where we are. But if it’s feasible, then sure.”
“How can I trust you? Everyone else says you guys are a murderous race of lunatics.”
“Forget it then. I don’t have time for this. You’re already annoying me half to death. See you later, Earthling.” The Gray then ran from the command station, leaving Chris behind.
Chris considered trying to catch up to him but he knew he’d never be able to. The Gray was far too agile and fast. Plus
Jody Lynn Nye, Mike Brotherton