'Sacmis' (formerly 'Alien Abduction')

Chapter 53: Hope

Matias was in despair. 

He lay on the bed in the small room where they’d imprisoned him and stared at the ceiling.

Images flashed through his mind: wonderful flashes of Kate, naked in the shuttle, as their bodies and their identities meshed into one being, each directly experiencing both their own and the other’s pleasure at one and the same moment, a union almost impossible to imagine. Then horrifying thoughts he couldn’t repress: of Kate at the mercy of the ship’s crew, Kate being experimented on, tortured, abused.

He shook his head in a futile attempt to stop the pictures coming, trying to force himself to think rationally. Where were the others? Had he and Kate really been abandoned? And even if the others did know about their capture, what could they possibly do about it?

For probably the fifth time he checked the door, knowing as he did so that it was a waste of time. Then suddenly, the door slid open and Matias jumped back in surprise. Standing there were was the Commander, with one of the two guards who had first escorted Matias from the bridge.

“Step back,” said the Commander coldly, raising a sidearm and pointing it at Matias’ chest.

Reflexively, Matias stepped back. The two men moved into the room, the guard closing the door behind them.

“Sit,” said the Commander, indicating the bed. Matias reluctantly complied.

“Where is Kate?” demanded, “What have you done with her?”

The Commander smiled unpleasantly.

“She is being…examined,” he said, pausing to see the effect of his words and plainly enjoying Matias’ anguish. He went on: “This is our first encounter with such a promising alien species and there are many tests to be done…and questions to be asked.”

“What kind of tests?” demanded Matias.

“Compatibility,” said the other, “we need to establish how evolved they are - and whether they’d make good breeding stock. This was - after all - our mission. And yours also I might remind you.” He paused, then “And you seem to have succeeded beyond expectations. I trust you have sampled the specimen?”

“ She is not a specimen,” said Matias angrily, “she is a sentient being from an advanced civilisation. As human as you or I.”

“I think our definitions of ‘advanced’ may differ somewhat,” replied the Commander with a smile that lacked all warmth. “But to business: you have the power to make things easier on your friend by telling me now the location of her planet. Do so and I may be able to persuade our Admiral that interrogation will no longer be necessary.”

Matias’ heart sank. It was an impossible, terrible dilemma: Save Kate -  or condemn thousands of Earth women to abduction and sexual servitude on Sacmis, where moral values had now been overturned by the population crisis.

“Your loyalties seem somewhat confused,” said the Commander. “I would remind you that your first duty is to your planet and your race. Not to some primitive…sample…randomly plucked from an alien planet.”

“And if I tell you?” said Matias.

“Then your future will look a lot brighter than it does now.”

“And Kate?”

“I’m sure a use will be found for her once the tests are completed.”

“If I tell you, I insist she be returned to my care.”

The Commander laughed unpleasantly, whirling streaks of red in his eyes combining to almost extinguish the gold.

“You are in no position to insist anything. You will count yourself fortunate if you escape with your life.”

Matias stared back, thinking as fast as he could. He looked up, measuring the distance between himself and the Commander, calculating the odds of crossing the space fast enough before the other man could fire. But the Commander’s weapon remained steadily pointed at Matias chest and at this range he could hardly miss. 

“I know what you’re thinking,” said the Commander, “and I would strongly advise against it. You know how fast our weapons respond to the slightest mental reflex.”

Behind the Commander Matias saw the guard shift position slightly until he could look directly at Matias over the older man’s shoulder. Did Matias imagine it or did he give the very slightest of nods? 

In the next second Matias knew he had - as the guard suddenly whipped one arm around the Commander’s throat and reached forward with his other hand to wrench the arm that held the gun downwards and rearwards. Instantly Matias hurled himself off up the bed and twisted the weapon from the Commander’s grip, pulling him forwards and dragging him to the floor. Desperately, the Commander tried to lever himself up until the guard kicked him hard in the ribs and he sank down again, groaning. The guard retrieved his gun and pressed it against his head.

“Are you insane?” hissed the Commander, his face pressed hard against the floor by the full weight of Matias’ arm and body.

“I don’t think so,” replied the guard, “quite the opposite. But Matias and his companions aren’t the only ones who question the morality of our plans. And the destruction of our shuttle and its crew by that…madwoman…was the final straw for many of us. We’re taking over the ship.”

© Adriana Nicolas 2014