'Sacmis' (formerly 'Alien Abduction')

Chapter 22: Proposal

“So what do we do now?” asked Kate.

“I suggest breakfast,” said Laura, “and while we eat, we can talk.”

Breakfast had been laid out on a table: rolls, pastries, coffee, tea, juice.

“No Full English?” said Gemma, “I’m going to have to have a word with the management.”

The others laughed. Taking what they wanted, they pulled up chairs to one of the low tables.

“We have to assume,” said Laura, “that they’re watching everything we do and listening to everything we say.”

“Anyone have a plan?” said Kate so quietly it was almost a whisper.

“The best thing is to stick together,” replied Laura, equally quietly “if we show a united front, we have a better chance.”

“I agree,” said Amisha, “if we all make it clear they’re not going to get their way, they’ll be forced to release us.”

“And what if they use force on us instead?” said Kate.

“Teo says they won’t. He says he wants me to have time to get to know him,” said Laura.

“But do you really believe him?” asked Gemma.

“I don’t know.”

“I think,” said Amisha slowly and very quietly, “the trick may be to play for time. Co-operate up to a point and try to find out everything we can.”

“But we should start by demanding that they release us immediately, shouldn’t we?” said Gemma, looking at each of them in turn.

“Of course,” said Kate, then hesitated, “but you have to agree this is all…just a little bit…fascinating?”

“You mean, you’re enjoying it?” asked Gemma.

“No, not that. Not exactly. But think about it: we may be the first people ever to meet an Alien race. It’s never happened before.”

“True,” said Amisha, “but aren’t they meant to say something like ‘Take us to your leader’ not ‘Show us your knickers?’”

The others laughed.

“Does anyone buy this story about the shortage of women on their planet?” asked Gemma.

“Why make it up?” said Kate.

“To make us feel sorry for them? Matias won’t be the first man I’ve known to try the old sympathy shag strategy,” said Kate, laughing.

“I’ve known one or two of them myself,” said Gemma with a smile “in fact, I’m still living with the last one.”

The others laughed.

“Heads up,” said Amisha suddenly, “the Boy Band’s here.”

Turning their heads, they could see the Aliens standing just inside the entrance to the room. Now that they were together, it was easy to see that - while similar - they were each as individual as any four men on Earth.

As they crossed the room, the four women stood up and turned to face them. Laura stepped forward, putting on her best barrister’s voice.

“We’re all agreed: what you hope for isn’t going to happen. It’s out of the question. We insist that you release us immediately.”

“And if we don’t…?”  said Irvn.

“Then everything you’ve said about wanting our consent was just a lie. And you’ve got a fight on your hands.”

Irvn turned to his fellow crew members, “I told you this would happen,” he said, “it was a mistake letting them meet.”

The other Aliens were silent for a moment, then Teo spoke:

“We have a proposal - ”

“First it was just sex, now it’s marriage,” said Amisha, “you never cease to amaze.”

Teo smiled.

“Give us two weeks,” he said 

“ - to get to know us better,” added Cymon.

“Why should we? You have no right to hold us against our will,” snapped Gemma.

“We may not have the right,” replied Irvn, “but we certainly have the power.”

“Just supposing we were to go along with this,” asked Amisha, “what are we going to do for two weeks? Since what you hope might happen isn’t going to?”

“We thought you might enjoy a little…sightseeing,” said Matias.

“I’m sure this ship of yours is all very fascinating,” said Laura, “but I doubt it will keep us interested for two weeks.”

There was a brief silence, then Teo spoke:

“Have you ever seen the Rings of Saturn up close?”

“Or walked on one of Jupiter’s moons?” added Cymon.

“Flown through the tail of a comet?” said Irvn.

“Are you serious?” said Kate.

“It’s the trip of a lifetime,” said Matias.

“You sound like a travel agent,” said Amisha.

“I don’t think you’ll find many who can offer you a tour of the Solar System,” said Teo.

 “You’ll be going where nobody from Earth has been before,” said Cymon.

“Boldly going,” said Amisha, “you’re meant to say boldly going.”

“Why?” said Cymon. 

“Some other time,” said Amisha.

“So will you think about it….please?” said Teo.

Laura glanced round at the other women. Kate nodded, Amisha shrugged and Gemma simply looked blank.

“OK. Give us an hour to think about it.”

© Adriana Nicolas 2014