Thud, thud, thud. The Sound of heavy footsteps reverberated through the halls, getting closer and closer. I know those sounds, and apparently so does my heart. The warbled voice of the slender woman in a white coat blended into the background as my ears soaked in the melodic beat of boots.
Thud, Thud, Thud. . . Tap, tap ,tap! My attention was snagged away from the footsteps and back to the annoying woman in front of me, her finger squished against the glass dividing us. Oil stains were left on the window where she had previously tapped and I couldn’t help but reach out and try to wipe it away. Nothing happened, of course, which only fueled my annoyance more. I hated this stupid human woman more than I hated my lazy commander. She was the reason why I was here, after all.
As the scientist licked her finger and turned a page on her clipboard, the only door to the room swung open. I refrained from grimacing as the metal door smashed against the wall, sending painful pricks through my body. Loud sounds were incredibly blood-curdling for my kind and are one of our biggest weaknesses. Thankfully, my attention was immediately taken away from the pain by him. He strode across the room, connecting eyes with me. Palpitations took my breath away, and my thoughts melted into nothing.
I don’t know what it is about that human man, but he just mesmerized me. Those heavy steps of his are accompanied by tan steel-toed boots, and today, wearing a more casual attire allowed me to inspect him closer than usual. He’s more on the muscular side, a powerful military man. Those muscles of his are covered by a semi-tight navy green shirt tucked into camo cargo pants.
Usually, his features are gentle, but now, they’re harsh and rough. He looked like a completely different person, and I’m frightened. I drew back from the window, plopping down on the hard cot they graciously gifted me. The scientist and him were in a heated argument, but I couldn’t understand exactly what they were saying. I don’t speak to them. I came to earth for one reason: to gain intel on the lifeforms known as ‘X0lro ƸϘႱ’ on my world. In human, it means “Organism 23O-H”. We are a struggling race who practices nothing but peace and respect with other lifeforms, however that has gotten us in the problem we are in now. We are the laughing stock of our galaxy, so we are trying to develop allies to help us regain back some of the territory we had lost.
The research that I had prior to my mission was that humans were very flippant. They could be cowardly but brave, intelligent but dumb, gentle but feared. They are the perfect ally, but we need to know for sure. That’s where I come to play. I am here to learn about humans, see if they are truly trustworthy. I did what I thought would benefit me most, so I got caught. I have been able to observe those highest in their military and intelligence teams from a short distance and they aren’t the wiser.
I heard tapping on my window again, and as I looked over, I met with his blue eyes. Humans have the most beautiful eyes. As we’re looking at each other, a squeal hit my ears for a splint moment before a wispy voice came through the intercom. “This is the first time we are making contact with an Intelligent Life form outside of the lifeforms on earth. Can you speak?” the voice resonated. I looked around the room beyond my window and saw that female scientist leaning away from a microphone.
As if I’d ever talk to her. I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze back to the soldier. I wonder if he thinks my appearance is weird. I am similar to humans in many ways. I have five fingers, two eyes, hair, arms, and legs. However, I come equipped with antennae, my eyes glow and are pure white, and parts of my skin sparkles when it hits the sun.
He looks away to look over his shoulder at the scientist before turning back to me. I tilt my head slightly as I have no idea what is going on through his head. This is the most I’ve interacted with him, and I don’t know what it is, but I want to interact with him more! His stare is an intoxicating drug that I just can’t give up. Maybe he could read my mind, or maybe I’m just going crazy, but the soldier slowly turned around and walked over to the scientist, leaning into her and whispering something in her ear. She nodded in response, moving away from the microphone. I perked up, heart beating fast.
Ever so slowly, he leaned into the microphone. His plump lips were only a few inches away as the sound of his faint breathing filled my room. I took a deep breath, stabilizing my vitals. I needed to get a hold of myself.
“I am Lieutenant General Barlowe, and I would like to talk to you.” His voice was like warm honey with a little huskiness to it. I never expected it to sound so sweet. I stand up from the bed and slowly make my way up to the glass, never taking my gaze off the two humans. This was the first time I was going to try to talk to a human, and it was almost . . . terrifying.
“My name is Xulaluxii. I’m not here to harm your people.”
“How are we supposed to believe you?” the scientist chimed in.
I ignore her and instead direct my attention to Barlowe. “I am here because I am curious about humans and how they live. I’ve only ever known my species.”
“There are more of you?” Barlowe asked.
“Not on Earth, but yes. There is an entire planet of my people just as there is for yours. It would be foolish to believe you are the only beings in the entire universe.”
“We don’t think we’re the only ones in the universe. We just calculated that the chance of lifeforms being in our galaxy are slim to none, which is why it is a shock to us to be staring at you,” the scientist said.
I huffed and turned to her, “You humans know nothing about the universe. Do not get me wrong, your species is intelligent, but you know only a small speck of pollen worth of knowledge.”
Barlowe cleared his throat, making me jump from the loud sound. “What is your species called?” he asked, obviously trying to pry for information. I realized that I might not know what the humans were planning, but they didn’t know my plans either, and I could take advantage of that easily.
“It seems we’re both interested in each other,” I said smoothly.
“That it seems.”
I slowly glide my gaze from his, slightly looking behind me at the bed. I raised my hand, using a soft sliding motion to slide the bed closer to the glass window. I confidently placed myself on the edge of the bed, crossing my legs over one another before flicking my sight back onto him. “Well, Lieutenant,” I started, “let’s strike up a deal, shall we? A little bit of quid pro quo, hm?”
“I won’t agree to it, but I’ll at least agree to listen.”
“I’ll give you information about my people, if you give me information about yours.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Would you take ‘for fun’ as an answer?”
“Nope,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest. The muscles in his arms bulged slightly, causing me to lose track of thought for a moment.
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I cleared my throat before continuing, “Fine, fine. I’ll give you a reason you can’t argue against, if you do one little thing for me.”
“And what would that be?”
“She needs to leave,” I said, nodding my head towards the scientist.
“Why?” he asked.
“I do not like her,” I answered, bluntly.
Lieutenant General Barlowe looked down at the mic for a second before looking over at the brown-haired woman. That doe-eyed look on her features immediately dropped to that of shock and anger. “You’re seriously going to kick me out of my own lab right now?!” she yelled, glaring up at him. “I’m the one who was put in charge of this mission, and you’re just going to take it from me?!”
“Don’t forget who put you on this mission, Veronica.” Barlowe stated. His tone was flat and matter-of-factly. She continued to glare at him but didn’t argue back after that. She just turned on her heels and stormed out. “Now,” he said, “where were we?”
“She didn’t seem happy,” I joked with no shame.
“She’ll get over it,” he quickly said before returning to the topic at hand. “Now. . . where were we?”
I sighed. I didn’t want to talk about work. I had just gotten him alone, and now we have to continue talking about work? Unbearable, but unavoidable, I suppose. “Off with the recording. I want it to just be me. . . and you.”
He nodded, typing a string of coding into the computer in front of him. I heard a small beep from my intercom, signaling that the audio recording was now ended. I switched my legs before leaning over, placing my elbow on my knee, resting my chin in my hand. This talk was becoming a bore. “Thank you,” I said.
Barlowe nodded in my direction before grabbing a metal stool and dragging it over to the microphone. Great Yuulle, he’s attractive for an alien.
“So my people are called the Yuulzorlnx. We are, in your eyes, an alien lifeform meant to destroy the planet earth or something idiotic like that. However, the Yuulzorlnx are actually very peaceful people who are slowly dying off. Our kindness and urge to promote peace rather than war is being taken advantage of and we need allies. I was sent here by my commander to find out more about the human race to see if you are truly worthy of being our ally.”
Barlowe was silent for a while after my information dump, but I weirdly trusted him. I do not see him as someone who will run to spill everything the chance he got. After a little bit of time, the soldier slowly started to nod to himself as if he had just figured out the last piece of the puzzle. “And have you come to a conclusion?” he asked. It was a strange question, one that I wasn’t expecting to slip out from between those lips.
“I haven’t come up with one yet. I still need more information.”
“What kind of information?”
“I need to know about your military. We are nearing a new era of the Yuulzorlnx. For the first time in almost 10000 years, we are going to be warring with our neighboring planets. Our emperor wants to maintain as much of our morals as possible and would like our future allies to respect and follow our morals. Do you think humans could do that?” I asked.
“It depends. We humans aren’t even at peace with each other. It is very unlikely that you’ll be able to unite all of the humans to fight with you.”
“You war with one another?”
“Yes.”
“Why?!” I exclaimed. The idea of warring with your own people is sickening to me. They all drain the same blood, and yet they still shed it without remorse? That’s disgusting.
“For territory and for our people.”
“Are they not your people?! Are you not all humans?!”
“We are, but we are not all the same. Earth is divided into hundreds of different countries, and each of those countries want what’s best for the people who reside within them. Wars are started here in order to protect your people, your territory, or your resources.”
“So . . . where am I then?”
“You’re in America.”
“America? Are your people. . . strong?”
“Strong?” he asked, almost perking up. “We’re the strongest!” he exclaimed, eyes sparkling with pride. I could feel a small smile stretching out the corners of my mouth as I observed him. That look in his face reminds me of the look I see in my peoples’ eyes when they talk about our civilization. Barlowe truly loves his “country”.
“Do you think America would fight with us?”
He stopped. “No. America wouldn’t risk their people for nothing. I don’t think anybody would.”
“They wouldn’t be fighting for nothing! Us Yuulzornlx treat our allies like family! We would share the spoils with you and help further your advancement. We would help each other’s growth!” I couldn’t believe that Barlowe would think we’d try to freeload off of his people. We are respectable, and we would never forget the kindness of those who helped us in our darkest times. “Our bonds with our allies have beat the test of time itself, and our alliance would be the same way!”
“Humans have never met aliens before, let alone fight for them. It would be a lot of hard work to get the US to ally with your people.”
“I’m willing to go through anything to get that alliance!”
“You won’t be able to, I’m telling you right now, that it’s impossible.”
“Of course it’s impossible right now! I’m stuck in this stupid cell, but I promise you I will get your people to see all the good in this alliance!”
Barlowe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with exasperation. “I’m sorry, but I’ve already spent too much time here. I will tell Veronica that she may come back to administer your sedative.”
My blood went cold, sending chills down my spine. “Don’t do that!” I said, slamming my hands against the glass. “Please don’t let her hurt me again!” I blurted out, immediately regretting it. Angry curses slipped out from under my breath. How could I have been so foolish?! Those sedatives . . . whatever they’re made of is like toxins to my blood cells. It eats away at them, causing my veins to burn and swell.
“Please. . . those sedatives don’t sedate me. . . they just hurt. . .” I mumbled.
“I have to let her do it. Those are our orders. I’m sorry. . .”
I can’t handle it. Watching him leave and knowing what is to come tears at my head. That broad back of his slowly headed towards the metal door, and I knew in only a few minutes, I’ll be drugged and tortured and for what?! I didn’t do anything wrong! I didn’t harm anyone, so why are they harming me? The silence of my cell was deafening. I should have been able to hear the door open or close, the sweet thuds of his boots, anything! I should have been able to hear something, but there was just the sickening sound of silence. I watched as the scientist came back into the room and walked over to the station in front of my window. She typed a few strings of code into the system before jets of white wisp flooded the room. It quickly filled the room from floor to ceiling, choking me, drowning me in it.
I felt my consciousness slipping from me, almost as if I was falling into a twisted slumber. I slumped back into my bed as I heard the metal door slide open. Loud droning sounds and clicking of heels bombarded my ears, piercing my head. Oddly enough, I felt as if I could hear the familiar sound of boots thudding across the concrete floors, but I was already encapsulated by darkness. Sound was the only indicator that I was even still alive.
“And you’re sure it won’t hurt her?” I heard a deep voice call out. It was distorted and low, so I could barely make out what was being said.
“Why would you even care if it hurt her?” a female voice asked.
“Because she’s a living being? It’s kind of a humanity thing to care about other living things's well-being.”
The female huffed. “Whatever, Darrick. As far as I know, it doesn’t hurt her. At least, it doesn’t seem like it does, just watch, you’ll see what I mean.”
I felt something touching my arm as if it was making it levitate, and then it happened. A small prick, and then the flooding of a foreign liquid into my blood system. It burned at my veins, eating away at my blue blood cells, and slowing down the reproduction of my black blood cells. I had to gather up all the willpower to not scream or thrash away or run to the nearest pond and throw myself in it, not caring that I’ll sink to the bottom.
“See?” the feminine voice hit my ears before the clacking of her heels alerted me of her departure.
I let out a groan. I was drained. My body fought hard to regenerate my health and recover that which I had lost. A single tear gathered up in the waterline of my eye before slowly tracing the path of my face. The sleeping gas was finally taking its toll on me as I slowly curled into a ball on the bed, letting the fatigue take me away. Right as the last of my willpower drained from my body, I could hear the sound of thud, thud, thud retreating.