Doc had spent so long in the darkness that it no longer seemed the velvet curtain that had accompanied him at the outset of his walk.

Stars filled the vaults over the woods to either side of the road.

Ahead, the lines painted on the tar road that intersected with the dirt road seemed to glow with the light of the night. He could see the truck parked to one side of the intersection and just off the road. He could even see the smoke from the occupant’s cigarette roll from the cab of the small truck.

If he listened hard, he could hear the muffled sounds of a person in distress. It seemed the plan was going by the numbers.

He walked straight to the truck, confidant he was to be received by the correct people. Who else in their right mind would be out here in the middle of nowhere at this time of night?

The muffled commotion grew louder as he neared the truck.

Walking past the passenger’s side door, he peered into the open bed and saw a figure trussed and gagged, squirming and fussing.

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Tiredly, he smiled and opened the door of the truck, then climbed into the cab.

“How did it go?” The voice was loud after the walk from the house.

“Like we expected,” Doc replied and searched the floor of the cab for a cooler that would contain water bottles. “The bright boys acted a little faster than we expected and almost got me with the rest.”

“Jesus,” the other man, huge, breathed. “This is getting harder and harder each time we do it. It is almost like they want to catch one of us in the bargain.”

“God, I hope not. Maybe they are just eager.” He found the cooler and opened a bottle, taking a generous gulp of cool liquid. “How did the rest of the assignment go?”

“Like clockwork. I had to waste a couple of cops who walked into the station at the wrong time, but I got the woman.”

“That should get his attention,” Doc coughed, then drank some more water. “Let us wait a half hour, then go to the house; they should be ready by then. This time I think we will keep a distance from them. Those freaks are getting new ideas.”

“Affirmative,” the big man replied, then settled in his seat to wait.

Looking out the window of the truck, Doc wondered what the aliens were doing with the people from the house. While he was curious, there was no way he was going to allow himself to be on the receiving end of those little bastards.

“What a job,” he turned away from the window and searched for a bag of food.

Above the truck, in the vault of night, a light streaked from space heading for the vast emptiness of Lake Superior.