Post by DanaManana on Feb 12, 2024 5:39:58 GMT
—“Daddy! Daddy! Come look at this!”
The sound of the knife hitting the wooden board as I cut a curly purple hesperides rings in my ears, alongside the sound of my daughter calling out to me. She’s been watching the holovision for a few hours from what I’ve been able to hear, probably since I began cooking. Her audible childlike glee made me smile every time I heard it. The wonder of learning of new nations and new things made all across the galaxy was something that always fascinated her.
—”Coming sweetie, just let daddy put our food on a clock and I'll be right over.”
—”Okay!”
I quickly finish dicing the hesperides on the cutting board, sliding them into the pot of boiling soup. As it entered, a fragrant and pleasant smell filled the small kitchen, a hint of the purple tint of the purple vegetable leaking into the soup. I swirled the mixture around for a minute, letting the nutrients and flavor of the ingredient seep into the soup. Taking a small sample, I bring the spoon up to my lips, blowing on it slightly before ingesting some of the liquid. Savory, sweet, with a mild umami aftertaste. It was perfect, I just need to leave it to simmer for a while for the flavor that my mother always had made for me.
God, how long has it been since that incident?
I grab a small timer from the shelf, placing it on the counter, setting an alarm for thirty minutes. I place the dirty dishes in the washing machine, closing it and tidying the kitchen up before I walk towards the living room.
—”...if she hadn't been there, I don't know if I would've been alive right now to talk to you about her.”
I see my sweet Ma’eve swinging her feet, leaning forward towards the holovision, a man roughly about my age, talking through the screen. He seemed more reptile in appearance, human-like He seemed more reptile in appearance, human-like appendages and body structure. He wore a simple plain striped shirt, and some simple blue pants. He sat down on a chair, a large blue flower plastered in the background.
—“You’re a survivor, right?”
The man looked away for a second, nodding at the camera.
—“Did you know about her before the incident?”
—“No. Unfortunately we didn’t really have access to much information outside of what our government wanted us to hear.”
A small child of similar appearance walked around a small town, the sky being a yellowish-orange.
—“Could you tell us about the incident that made you meet her?”
The green and blue planet suddenly began to turn grey and orange with fire and smoke.
—“We don’t know what started it… Or why our government let it run wild.”
The child looked over into the distance, seeing clouds of smoke and the fires of hell burning the forest.
—“But, it began a global wildfire that couldn’t be stopped.”
People screamed and tried to run away from the fire, the kid’s parents holding his hand alongside stuffed bags. Cars honked desperately, trying to get through the gridlock and panic.
—“We were stuck being a single planet civilization at the time… So imagine the panic and dread we had when our entire planet was… burning.”
People looted stores, broke windows, trying to get what they could as the social order broke down. The child desperately looked around, afraid and desperately hanging onto his parents.
—“There was no hope, especially with the belief that it would be the end of us, a mass extinction.”
Suddenly, a massive sonic boom came from the sky, as the clouds were cut away by a massive black mass in the sky.
—“So, imagine our reactions when we heard several booms in the sky, alongside several hundred ships.”
Suddenly, swarms of planes and drop pods came from the shadowy ships, the pods dropping towards the edges of the city and into the forest. The child stood motionless, looking in awe at the alien.
—“At first, we thought that these were beings… that these were divine figures ready to bring us judgment.”
The child curiously began to walk towards a shadowy figure in the smog, his parents standing terrified. Parts of the shadow moved and twirled, changing the form of the blob.
—“Some kneeled, others prayed. I remember walking up to the figure and seeing it change like… an ethereal being.”
Suddenly, the fires began to calm, the light from the forest slowly fading away to darkness from the mountain high smoke clouds blocking the sun. The shadowy being in the clouds glowed a deep cerulean, its veins spreading towards the clouds. The shadowy creature seemed to turn around to the child, two glowing rings glaring at him. He stood motionless, as he saw the shadow come closer.
—“*At first, I didn’t really couldn’t tell what it was. And when it turned to me… I just stood there, it becoming darker and darker around me. I guess I was so entranced that I didn’t notice the fire beginning to die out behind it.*”
The glow of the beings became brighter in the dark, the temperature plummeting all around them. Only small flames in the long distance gave off any hint that the fire was still raging, the crimson glow receding by the minute.
—“As the darkness came all around, all I could really see was those rings and the glow in the sky. She… knelt down to my level and I felt a-a warm hand, on my head.”
Suddenly, streetlights came on, sections of the street being covered in visibility once again. Massive lights came from the ships in the sky, illuminating the places where the surviving streetlights could not. The smog and smoke that permeated the town seemed to clear a little, ash particles remaining static in the air.
—”When the lights came on, I finally saw what exactly was in front of me clearly.”
A feminine human figure appeared in front of the child’s eyes, one tall and elegant. It bore three snowy tails, alongside its long white hair. Clear cobalt blue eyes gazed at the stunned child with a small smile, her ears twitching vulpine slightly.
—”I was honestly kind of hypnotized by her figure. Little did I know that the figure in front of me was the same being as those ships in the sky.”
People began walking up to her, seeing the kitsune take care of the child. They saw several figures in the distance, humanoid in shape but more robotic in design. They seemed to set up big machines, connecting them to glowing boxes. They all looked in awe at her, as she stood up and towered slightly over the populace.
—”Never before had I heard of a being anywhere like her. Honestly none of us had. So, I guess that translated into us kind of… worshiping her as a goddess in our ignorance.”
Several shots of different drones spreading out foam and water all across the front line of the firestorm appeared in succession, massive ships filtering the atmosphere of the planet. Several versions of the kitsune placed themselves all around the planet, fighting on all fronts.
—”Honestly, even now. After she taught us everything, we still see her as… a mother. Someone that will take care of us in our time of need- I believe in the galaxy’s time of need.”
Machinery spread itself across the planet, semi-organic cities planting themselves into the once smoldering ground. The ships worked for weeks at a time, filtering out harmful chemicals and heaps of greenhouse gasses. The native population set up religious imagery and acts of gratefulness placing themselves all around the planet, and soon, the system.
—”*After that incident, our government didn't really last. They had no political basis to claim any right to leadership, especially after the mass education campaign held by tada (rough translation to “mother/protective figure”) Lillian. If anything, the people wanted her.*”
Elections played out, alongside a massive developmental project to begin colonization of the system they found themselves in.
—”*But, she always told us that she didn't deserve to be our guide. Rather, we should decide our own path now that we were free. She believed that she would only bring wanton death and destruction if she stayed too involved in non-crisis matters.*”
—”Do you believe that?”
He shook his head.
—”She means but the best for us. She's old, and in a way probably trying to atone for past mistakes. I wish she could've stayed and guided us in her light, but in the end, she had many more to help. We simply remain content knowing that, in a time of need, she will help us in any way she can.”
The screen faded back into a galactic map, several points highlighted all across the galaxy. Many different nations, many different situations, yet all had one common factor: Lillian helping those in need.
—”I’d like to remind our viewers that this documentary series has zero funding coming from Lillian herself. If anything, we would flat out refuse any funding from her.”
Several faces smiled and laughed, talking and laughing in a circle. They dined together, and produced together. Different species, different people, different backgrounds, yet they all worked together like their proverbial mother wished.
—”I feel that this project was done to show our gratitude to Lillian. Not only as individuals, but as representatives of the people who she has given second chances to.”
A blue lotus flower bloomed in the center of them all, letting out a gentle glow that shone upon all of them.
—”Yet, we are not done showing this gratitude. We hope to show not only her bringing species out of the maw of extinction and destruction, but also wish to see her vision of the world.”
The screen turned to credits, as I finally snap back to reality. I honestly had forgotten about her for such a long time after that.
—“Daddy? Why are you crying?”
—“Huh?”
I place a finger on my cheek, feeling the wetness on the tip of my finger. I guess I hadn’t realized that tears were flowing during the episode. Was I entranced by it? Maybe…. Oh, I know now.
—“I just remembered something that brings me some sadness and joy, don’t worry sweetheart.”
I placed my hand on her head, gently patting it. I sniffled a little, cleaning up the drying tears off my face. I look at her with a smile, that gentle and curious face that marks her always makes me remember what I fight for nowadays. It was thanks to her, it was only because of her that I was here, with a wonderful wife and a wonderful child, able to enjoy the moment and not be stuck in the mire of the past.
—”Hey, do you want to learn about how your mom and I met, sweetie?”
Her eyes went wide with excitement, as a smile crept up on her face followed by violently fast nodding. I chuckled slightly, as I took a trip down memory lane.
—”Hey mom! Can I go take a walk in the forest?”
I yell out towards my mother, jumping with excitement. I was anxious to get to the river to catch some shells. My mom looked over from the kitchen counter, leaning back and looking at me jumping up and down at the door.
—”Yes sweetie! Just remember to not go too far or use too much energy today! Don't want to be tired for your twelfth birthday tomorrow, do you?”
—”Don't worry mom! I won't take long! See you in a bit!”
—”Have fun!”
I run out from the apartment complex, rushing over towards the small forest that sat beside the several story tall building. It held so much sentimental value for my city, as both a place of worship and a place of respect. Many legends and urban myths whispered around the forest, most saying I would disappear if I went too far into the center.
But, who cares about that?! I've always walked in the forest since I was six! I’ve never seen any spirits or sensed any bad air. All silly myths!
I so wished I had been right.
I could sense someone as I caught a shell, water splashing across my legs and feet. Was someone watching me? Was it a spirit? Was that a giggle?! What was it?
—”Who's there?”
I say bravely with my hands definitely not shaking. The thick foliage didn't help me see, and it even made sections of the trees around me dark. I hated it, I hated it so much. Why? Why today of all days? Why were there eyes in that tree? Why did I hear rustling from all sides?
—“I think we can get him.”
—”Huh-”
The last thing I felt before I fell onto the ground was a cool sensation going across my spine and head. I felt… numb everywhere, from my head to the tips of my fingers. My eyes somehow still remained open, at least for a little bit.
—”Agarramos a uno exotico aqui. Ta chiquito pero la neta esta bien. Por cuanto crees que nos compren a este? Creo que le gustaría al jefe.”
A strange alien grabbed me by my hair, lifting my face up from the dirt and speaking absolute gibberish. He looked pinkish, with a strange looking appendage on its back and… strangely shaped things on its head. I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore, I felt so sleepy.
—”Depende si crece lo suficientemente bien, si estoy leyendo este libro bien. Aunque no lo haga, de todos modos podemos decir que lo va a hacer y venderlo por caro. Ahora apurenle antes de que estos monos primitivos cachen que jamás anduvimos por acá.”
The last thing I saw before everything went dark was a strange looking armored bug behind the pinkish alien, and then I didn't feel anything at all.
Is this… a bag over my head…? Why are my ears ringing? Is someone speaking…? Where am I?
Suddenly, the bag was removed, as a strange towering man forcibly grabbed me and made me stand up. It was so dark, and so, so cold. Where was I? Wasn't I in the forest? Where was my mom? Why was I in… chains?!
—”Wait where am I?! What is this place?!”
I looked around, seeing all sorts of different aliens and creatures looking at me with weird eyes and facial structures. Some looked taller than me, others shorter, they all looked so weird and alien. I heard the big beast that pulled me scream at me in an unknown language,
—”Cállate cabrón! Dale que tú eres el siguiente!”
I felt him grab my arm, as he dragged me through the room and through a door. Suddenly I feel blinded as massive lights shine above me. I try to cover my eyes with little success. In front of me are many, many people sitting with small boards with strange symbols on them. I see another alien being dragged out on the other side, one strange yet charming.
A loud voice talks in absolute gibberish, making me want to cover my ears. Shouts ring out, appendages go up and down periodically, as I look on in fear and confusion as to what is happening.
Why was there shouting? Why was I here? What were they doing with me?
Suddenly, the man hits a small hammer shaped object on the table before I get dragged long with the girl to a door, as we are placed in a cage together. I look at the alien beside me with fear. What was happening? Could someone please tell me what was happening.
But nobody came.
Only darkness consumed me once again.
—”I lived as a slave alongside that alien, which I would learn to be a novish girl. We were treated as zoo animals, being paraded as exotic beings and used as a way to transfer drugs. We were given barely enough to survive by our owners, being treated poorly, and all we had was each other and the necessity to survive as best we could.”
Ma’eve looked at me with tears forming in her eyes, sniffing and holding onto my arm tightly. It seemed I might've been a bit too liberal with my exposé.
—”Mommy and Daddy were slaves?” she asked innocently.
—”Yep, for a few years. Kidnapped from our families and auctioned off.”
She hugged me tightly.
—”I'm sorry that happened to you, dad.”
I could only chuckle and hold her gently.
—”It happens unfortunately, but thankfully we got out.”
—”How?”
—”...Y’all got a call? Been waiting on the client for a while, they’re renting these two fuckers to treat as pets. They agreed to let us transfer some zoomie for half off.”
—”Not from that client no. Two commissions for me though, take that fucker!”
—”Shut the fuck up, we still get payed the same jackass, we rent these retards together!”
I listen in to their conversation, eating the leftover piece of nutrient bar they had given me. I look at Klaspa, shaking my head at her. I can't help but feel the pain of being stuffed with bags of drugs. I hate it. I hate it so much.
—”I'm tired of this. I hate this!”
—”Calm down, please don't yell. You’ll get in trouble again.” she said, holding my hand gently. I can't help but curl up my other hand into a fist.
—”I'm sorry, but it's… been so long since we first got here.”
—”I know, and we'll get out of this alive. We just need to hang on.”
Suddenly, the sound of distant knocking filled my ears, alongside annoyed groans from my masters.
—”It's probably the client. Should've fuckin called first before being annoying.”
I hear some inaudible speaking, before I hear a massive crash coming from outside. I hold Klaspa close, wondering what was happening outside. I look at her as I hear the sound of many footsteps going across hallways. A mix of fear and hope glistened her eyes, as we waited.
Gunshots, shouting and panic came, before they were silenced. Only footsteps remained, before someone knocked down the metal door that held us captive. A large metallic robot eclipsed us, as I held my friend even closer. It walked forward, letting a woman behind her enter the containment cells area. Tall, elegant, sturdy. Many tails and strange ears.
—”Premier étage dégagé. J'ai trouvé une zone de confinement des esclaves.”
The lady turned towards us, her silky white hair curled up into braids. She kneeled down to look at us behind the bars, smiling at us with curiosity and kindness.
—”N'ayez crainte, je suis là pour vous aider à être tous libres.”
Another strange language. It seemed she noticed our confused expression, as she cleared her voice.
—”Please don't worry, I'm here to help you. You’re finally going to escape.”
We stared at her dumbfounded, not believing the words we were hearing. Freedom? After all this time?
She broke the security locks, making the cell open.
—”The name’s Lillian. Who might you two be?”
—”So Lillian saved you?! The Lillian we saw on the HV?” my daughter asked dumbfounded.
—”Yep, she saved us. She didn't just liberate us, she gave us a base to pick ourselves up from where we left off in terms of our education. She found us everything we needed. And once we were ready, she let us go.”
She smiled happily jumping in her seat. It was incredible seeing her be so excited about this kind of thing. I guess if my parents knew a figure I admired, I too would be ecstatic.
Suddenly, I heard the timer go off. Dinner was ready.
—”Mommy is gonna be home soon, so let's start setting the table up, okay?
—”Okay!”
We got up from the couch, letting the glitching holovision stay on. Ma’eve seemed really interested in my story, and was asking for more. I would let her know more about it as we set things up.
….
The screen was black, with no noise coming from the device. No static, nothing. The father and daughter couldn't notice anything wrong. They didn't see nor hear the emergency. It seemed they would not experience it.
But, in the end, everyone would.
GALACTIC EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
TALCIT CONSORTIUM ACCO-
And then, it turned off.
The sound of the knife hitting the wooden board as I cut a curly purple hesperides rings in my ears, alongside the sound of my daughter calling out to me. She’s been watching the holovision for a few hours from what I’ve been able to hear, probably since I began cooking. Her audible childlike glee made me smile every time I heard it. The wonder of learning of new nations and new things made all across the galaxy was something that always fascinated her.
—”Coming sweetie, just let daddy put our food on a clock and I'll be right over.”
—”Okay!”
I quickly finish dicing the hesperides on the cutting board, sliding them into the pot of boiling soup. As it entered, a fragrant and pleasant smell filled the small kitchen, a hint of the purple tint of the purple vegetable leaking into the soup. I swirled the mixture around for a minute, letting the nutrients and flavor of the ingredient seep into the soup. Taking a small sample, I bring the spoon up to my lips, blowing on it slightly before ingesting some of the liquid. Savory, sweet, with a mild umami aftertaste. It was perfect, I just need to leave it to simmer for a while for the flavor that my mother always had made for me.
God, how long has it been since that incident?
I grab a small timer from the shelf, placing it on the counter, setting an alarm for thirty minutes. I place the dirty dishes in the washing machine, closing it and tidying the kitchen up before I walk towards the living room.
—”...if she hadn't been there, I don't know if I would've been alive right now to talk to you about her.”
I see my sweet Ma’eve swinging her feet, leaning forward towards the holovision, a man roughly about my age, talking through the screen. He seemed more reptile in appearance, human-like He seemed more reptile in appearance, human-like appendages and body structure. He wore a simple plain striped shirt, and some simple blue pants. He sat down on a chair, a large blue flower plastered in the background.
—“You’re a survivor, right?”
The man looked away for a second, nodding at the camera.
—“Did you know about her before the incident?”
—“No. Unfortunately we didn’t really have access to much information outside of what our government wanted us to hear.”
A small child of similar appearance walked around a small town, the sky being a yellowish-orange.
—“Could you tell us about the incident that made you meet her?”
The green and blue planet suddenly began to turn grey and orange with fire and smoke.
—“We don’t know what started it… Or why our government let it run wild.”
The child looked over into the distance, seeing clouds of smoke and the fires of hell burning the forest.
—“But, it began a global wildfire that couldn’t be stopped.”
People screamed and tried to run away from the fire, the kid’s parents holding his hand alongside stuffed bags. Cars honked desperately, trying to get through the gridlock and panic.
—“We were stuck being a single planet civilization at the time… So imagine the panic and dread we had when our entire planet was… burning.”
People looted stores, broke windows, trying to get what they could as the social order broke down. The child desperately looked around, afraid and desperately hanging onto his parents.
—“There was no hope, especially with the belief that it would be the end of us, a mass extinction.”
Suddenly, a massive sonic boom came from the sky, as the clouds were cut away by a massive black mass in the sky.
—“So, imagine our reactions when we heard several booms in the sky, alongside several hundred ships.”
Suddenly, swarms of planes and drop pods came from the shadowy ships, the pods dropping towards the edges of the city and into the forest. The child stood motionless, looking in awe at the alien.
—“At first, we thought that these were beings… that these were divine figures ready to bring us judgment.”
The child curiously began to walk towards a shadowy figure in the smog, his parents standing terrified. Parts of the shadow moved and twirled, changing the form of the blob.
—“Some kneeled, others prayed. I remember walking up to the figure and seeing it change like… an ethereal being.”
Suddenly, the fires began to calm, the light from the forest slowly fading away to darkness from the mountain high smoke clouds blocking the sun. The shadowy being in the clouds glowed a deep cerulean, its veins spreading towards the clouds. The shadowy creature seemed to turn around to the child, two glowing rings glaring at him. He stood motionless, as he saw the shadow come closer.
—“*At first, I didn’t really couldn’t tell what it was. And when it turned to me… I just stood there, it becoming darker and darker around me. I guess I was so entranced that I didn’t notice the fire beginning to die out behind it.*”
The glow of the beings became brighter in the dark, the temperature plummeting all around them. Only small flames in the long distance gave off any hint that the fire was still raging, the crimson glow receding by the minute.
—“As the darkness came all around, all I could really see was those rings and the glow in the sky. She… knelt down to my level and I felt a-a warm hand, on my head.”
Suddenly, streetlights came on, sections of the street being covered in visibility once again. Massive lights came from the ships in the sky, illuminating the places where the surviving streetlights could not. The smog and smoke that permeated the town seemed to clear a little, ash particles remaining static in the air.
—”When the lights came on, I finally saw what exactly was in front of me clearly.”
A feminine human figure appeared in front of the child’s eyes, one tall and elegant. It bore three snowy tails, alongside its long white hair. Clear cobalt blue eyes gazed at the stunned child with a small smile, her ears twitching vulpine slightly.
—”I was honestly kind of hypnotized by her figure. Little did I know that the figure in front of me was the same being as those ships in the sky.”
People began walking up to her, seeing the kitsune take care of the child. They saw several figures in the distance, humanoid in shape but more robotic in design. They seemed to set up big machines, connecting them to glowing boxes. They all looked in awe at her, as she stood up and towered slightly over the populace.
—”Never before had I heard of a being anywhere like her. Honestly none of us had. So, I guess that translated into us kind of… worshiping her as a goddess in our ignorance.”
Several shots of different drones spreading out foam and water all across the front line of the firestorm appeared in succession, massive ships filtering the atmosphere of the planet. Several versions of the kitsune placed themselves all around the planet, fighting on all fronts.
—”Honestly, even now. After she taught us everything, we still see her as… a mother. Someone that will take care of us in our time of need- I believe in the galaxy’s time of need.”
Machinery spread itself across the planet, semi-organic cities planting themselves into the once smoldering ground. The ships worked for weeks at a time, filtering out harmful chemicals and heaps of greenhouse gasses. The native population set up religious imagery and acts of gratefulness placing themselves all around the planet, and soon, the system.
—”*After that incident, our government didn't really last. They had no political basis to claim any right to leadership, especially after the mass education campaign held by tada (rough translation to “mother/protective figure”) Lillian. If anything, the people wanted her.*”
Elections played out, alongside a massive developmental project to begin colonization of the system they found themselves in.
—”*But, she always told us that she didn't deserve to be our guide. Rather, we should decide our own path now that we were free. She believed that she would only bring wanton death and destruction if she stayed too involved in non-crisis matters.*”
—”Do you believe that?”
He shook his head.
—”She means but the best for us. She's old, and in a way probably trying to atone for past mistakes. I wish she could've stayed and guided us in her light, but in the end, she had many more to help. We simply remain content knowing that, in a time of need, she will help us in any way she can.”
The screen faded back into a galactic map, several points highlighted all across the galaxy. Many different nations, many different situations, yet all had one common factor: Lillian helping those in need.
—”I’d like to remind our viewers that this documentary series has zero funding coming from Lillian herself. If anything, we would flat out refuse any funding from her.”
Several faces smiled and laughed, talking and laughing in a circle. They dined together, and produced together. Different species, different people, different backgrounds, yet they all worked together like their proverbial mother wished.
—”I feel that this project was done to show our gratitude to Lillian. Not only as individuals, but as representatives of the people who she has given second chances to.”
A blue lotus flower bloomed in the center of them all, letting out a gentle glow that shone upon all of them.
—”Yet, we are not done showing this gratitude. We hope to show not only her bringing species out of the maw of extinction and destruction, but also wish to see her vision of the world.”
The screen turned to credits, as I finally snap back to reality. I honestly had forgotten about her for such a long time after that.
—“Daddy? Why are you crying?”
—“Huh?”
I place a finger on my cheek, feeling the wetness on the tip of my finger. I guess I hadn’t realized that tears were flowing during the episode. Was I entranced by it? Maybe…. Oh, I know now.
—“I just remembered something that brings me some sadness and joy, don’t worry sweetheart.”
I placed my hand on her head, gently patting it. I sniffled a little, cleaning up the drying tears off my face. I look at her with a smile, that gentle and curious face that marks her always makes me remember what I fight for nowadays. It was thanks to her, it was only because of her that I was here, with a wonderful wife and a wonderful child, able to enjoy the moment and not be stuck in the mire of the past.
—”Hey, do you want to learn about how your mom and I met, sweetie?”
Her eyes went wide with excitement, as a smile crept up on her face followed by violently fast nodding. I chuckled slightly, as I took a trip down memory lane.
—”Hey mom! Can I go take a walk in the forest?”
I yell out towards my mother, jumping with excitement. I was anxious to get to the river to catch some shells. My mom looked over from the kitchen counter, leaning back and looking at me jumping up and down at the door.
—”Yes sweetie! Just remember to not go too far or use too much energy today! Don't want to be tired for your twelfth birthday tomorrow, do you?”
—”Don't worry mom! I won't take long! See you in a bit!”
—”Have fun!”
I run out from the apartment complex, rushing over towards the small forest that sat beside the several story tall building. It held so much sentimental value for my city, as both a place of worship and a place of respect. Many legends and urban myths whispered around the forest, most saying I would disappear if I went too far into the center.
But, who cares about that?! I've always walked in the forest since I was six! I’ve never seen any spirits or sensed any bad air. All silly myths!
I so wished I had been right.
I could sense someone as I caught a shell, water splashing across my legs and feet. Was someone watching me? Was it a spirit? Was that a giggle?! What was it?
—”Who's there?”
I say bravely with my hands definitely not shaking. The thick foliage didn't help me see, and it even made sections of the trees around me dark. I hated it, I hated it so much. Why? Why today of all days? Why were there eyes in that tree? Why did I hear rustling from all sides?
—“I think we can get him.”
—”Huh-”
The last thing I felt before I fell onto the ground was a cool sensation going across my spine and head. I felt… numb everywhere, from my head to the tips of my fingers. My eyes somehow still remained open, at least for a little bit.
—”Agarramos a uno exotico aqui. Ta chiquito pero la neta esta bien. Por cuanto crees que nos compren a este? Creo que le gustaría al jefe.”
A strange alien grabbed me by my hair, lifting my face up from the dirt and speaking absolute gibberish. He looked pinkish, with a strange looking appendage on its back and… strangely shaped things on its head. I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore, I felt so sleepy.
—”Depende si crece lo suficientemente bien, si estoy leyendo este libro bien. Aunque no lo haga, de todos modos podemos decir que lo va a hacer y venderlo por caro. Ahora apurenle antes de que estos monos primitivos cachen que jamás anduvimos por acá.”
The last thing I saw before everything went dark was a strange looking armored bug behind the pinkish alien, and then I didn't feel anything at all.
Is this… a bag over my head…? Why are my ears ringing? Is someone speaking…? Where am I?
Suddenly, the bag was removed, as a strange towering man forcibly grabbed me and made me stand up. It was so dark, and so, so cold. Where was I? Wasn't I in the forest? Where was my mom? Why was I in… chains?!
—”Wait where am I?! What is this place?!”
I looked around, seeing all sorts of different aliens and creatures looking at me with weird eyes and facial structures. Some looked taller than me, others shorter, they all looked so weird and alien. I heard the big beast that pulled me scream at me in an unknown language,
—”Cállate cabrón! Dale que tú eres el siguiente!”
I felt him grab my arm, as he dragged me through the room and through a door. Suddenly I feel blinded as massive lights shine above me. I try to cover my eyes with little success. In front of me are many, many people sitting with small boards with strange symbols on them. I see another alien being dragged out on the other side, one strange yet charming.
A loud voice talks in absolute gibberish, making me want to cover my ears. Shouts ring out, appendages go up and down periodically, as I look on in fear and confusion as to what is happening.
Why was there shouting? Why was I here? What were they doing with me?
Suddenly, the man hits a small hammer shaped object on the table before I get dragged long with the girl to a door, as we are placed in a cage together. I look at the alien beside me with fear. What was happening? Could someone please tell me what was happening.
But nobody came.
Only darkness consumed me once again.
—”I lived as a slave alongside that alien, which I would learn to be a novish girl. We were treated as zoo animals, being paraded as exotic beings and used as a way to transfer drugs. We were given barely enough to survive by our owners, being treated poorly, and all we had was each other and the necessity to survive as best we could.”
Ma’eve looked at me with tears forming in her eyes, sniffing and holding onto my arm tightly. It seemed I might've been a bit too liberal with my exposé.
—”Mommy and Daddy were slaves?” she asked innocently.
—”Yep, for a few years. Kidnapped from our families and auctioned off.”
She hugged me tightly.
—”I'm sorry that happened to you, dad.”
I could only chuckle and hold her gently.
—”It happens unfortunately, but thankfully we got out.”
—”How?”
—”...Y’all got a call? Been waiting on the client for a while, they’re renting these two fuckers to treat as pets. They agreed to let us transfer some zoomie for half off.”
—”Not from that client no. Two commissions for me though, take that fucker!”
—”Shut the fuck up, we still get payed the same jackass, we rent these retards together!”
I listen in to their conversation, eating the leftover piece of nutrient bar they had given me. I look at Klaspa, shaking my head at her. I can't help but feel the pain of being stuffed with bags of drugs. I hate it. I hate it so much.
—”I'm tired of this. I hate this!”
—”Calm down, please don't yell. You’ll get in trouble again.” she said, holding my hand gently. I can't help but curl up my other hand into a fist.
—”I'm sorry, but it's… been so long since we first got here.”
—”I know, and we'll get out of this alive. We just need to hang on.”
Suddenly, the sound of distant knocking filled my ears, alongside annoyed groans from my masters.
—”It's probably the client. Should've fuckin called first before being annoying.”
I hear some inaudible speaking, before I hear a massive crash coming from outside. I hold Klaspa close, wondering what was happening outside. I look at her as I hear the sound of many footsteps going across hallways. A mix of fear and hope glistened her eyes, as we waited.
Gunshots, shouting and panic came, before they were silenced. Only footsteps remained, before someone knocked down the metal door that held us captive. A large metallic robot eclipsed us, as I held my friend even closer. It walked forward, letting a woman behind her enter the containment cells area. Tall, elegant, sturdy. Many tails and strange ears.
—”Premier étage dégagé. J'ai trouvé une zone de confinement des esclaves.”
The lady turned towards us, her silky white hair curled up into braids. She kneeled down to look at us behind the bars, smiling at us with curiosity and kindness.
—”N'ayez crainte, je suis là pour vous aider à être tous libres.”
Another strange language. It seemed she noticed our confused expression, as she cleared her voice.
—”Please don't worry, I'm here to help you. You’re finally going to escape.”
We stared at her dumbfounded, not believing the words we were hearing. Freedom? After all this time?
She broke the security locks, making the cell open.
—”The name’s Lillian. Who might you two be?”
—”So Lillian saved you?! The Lillian we saw on the HV?” my daughter asked dumbfounded.
—”Yep, she saved us. She didn't just liberate us, she gave us a base to pick ourselves up from where we left off in terms of our education. She found us everything we needed. And once we were ready, she let us go.”
She smiled happily jumping in her seat. It was incredible seeing her be so excited about this kind of thing. I guess if my parents knew a figure I admired, I too would be ecstatic.
Suddenly, I heard the timer go off. Dinner was ready.
—”Mommy is gonna be home soon, so let's start setting the table up, okay?
—”Okay!”
We got up from the couch, letting the glitching holovision stay on. Ma’eve seemed really interested in my story, and was asking for more. I would let her know more about it as we set things up.
….
The screen was black, with no noise coming from the device. No static, nothing. The father and daughter couldn't notice anything wrong. They didn't see nor hear the emergency. It seemed they would not experience it.
But, in the end, everyone would.
GALACTIC EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
TALCIT CONSORTIUM ACCO-
And then, it turned off.