The Last Stop by Michael H. Burnam

Author:Michael H. Burnam [Burnam, Michael H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78535-118-1
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
Published: 2016-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“I feel sick,” moaned Vickie as she slumped to the floor. The second alien, who’d been standing in the doorway, moved forward with the same fluid grace and stopped close to her unconscious form. It inclined its head with lights flashing across its face. After a few seconds, it spoke with the same odd voice. “This female unit is defective.” Next, it glided toward Pam. A silver projection grew from its side stopping a few inches from her chest. The lights on its face flashed faster.

Unafraid, Pam held her ground. The tip of the alien’s appendage flared into the shape of a disc and held steady, pointed at Pam’s legs. After another light show, it spoke again. “This female unit is also defective. Shall I begin repairs to the female units?”

The first alien had remained motionless with its arm extended toward Mickey. The pattern on its face changed, becoming uniformly yellow with a black circle in its center. Its projection flowed back into its torso and was completely absorbed. “Proceed,” it replied with an identical voice.

David ran over and stood protectively in front of the girls. He held out his arms. “No!” he yelled.

The alien near the girls swiveled its head completely around and faced the alien in front of Mickey. Lights flashed across both aliens’ faces. The alien near Mickey spoke again. “There is no cause for alarm. There will be no pain.”

“No way, José!’” said David sounding determined. He stiffened his stance.

“There is no José unit here,” said the alien. Each time it spoke, it became easier to understand. “The female units are defective. They should be repaired.”

Vickie regained consciousness, scrambled to her feet, and huddled behind Pam.

“What does repaired mean?” asked Mickey.

“Make them well,” replied the alien.

“You can do that?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“You would not comprehend.”

“I know what you guys do!” shouted Vickie. “You abduct people and conduct weird experiments on them!”

The alien’s face played with colored lights. “It would be useful if the unit known as Pam could ambulate more efficiently. There will be no pain.”

Pam looked suspicious. “Wait a minute. You can help me walk again?”

“Within the City.”

Her pain, the years of harassment, the parade of doctor visits, her dashed hopes and unresolved sadness all welled up. Pam found herself stepping toward the nearest alien.

“Pam, you’re not thinking about…?” said David incredulously.

“We’re millions of miles from earth, and the only way we’re getting home is if we trust these guys. Somebody has to make the first move. Might as well be me.” Pam stared at the alien. “What do I have to do?”

“Hold up your hand,” it replied.

“Hold up my hand?”

The alien extended its appendage. The tip of it morphed into the shape of a hand with the palm facing up. “Like this,” it said.

“What happens next?” asked Pam, warily.

“We will touch.”

“That’s all?”

“Then you will be repaired.”

Pam glanced back at David, and then slowly held up her hand.

The alien’s appendage morphed again, changing back into a long projection. There was nothing sinister about the shape, nothing that looked sharp or knife-like.

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