TAKEN: Journey to a New Home (2 page)

  The first alien growled something in his guttural language and pointed to the pair of pedestals and Sienna stepped up on one as Rose did the same beside her. The bracelet was removed and the alien stepped back. Suddenly she felt as though a great weight had engulfed her. Everything from her neck down was immobile. She turned her head and saw Rose’s frightened face. Another alien approached and placed a small silver cylinder against her neck. There was a hiss, a stinging sensation and then a wave of warmth moved up her neck. The alien then did the same to Rose. 

  “I am Nogith,” the large alien sitting next to the table in front of them said. Sienna was startled and glanced at Rose who also appeared as surprised. “A translator was injected into your skin so that you can understand me and comply with instructions. Do you understand?” His voice was rough and gritty.

  “Yes,” she and Rose answered. Suddenly her body was free from the invisible bonds.

  “Sit,” he directed. She and Rose sat on the edge of the pedestals and looked up at him. “What is your occupation?”

  “I own a deli.”

  “A what?” he queried clearly puzzled by the answer.
Apparently the translator wasn’t fool proof
she thought.

  “A deli, it’s a place where we make food and then people pay us for the prepared foods” she stated. “Rose is one of my workers,” she indicated the girl next to her.

  “And this is all you do?” he frowned.

  “Yes.” Sienna tried not to let the irritation she felt at his statement show.
All you do?
He had no idea how hard they worked on a busy day.

  “Why were you on the base?”

  “They asked us to prepare a lunch for a meeting. We brought the food and things and set it up for them in a meeting room. Just before we finished the setup, the explosions started and the alarms started going off. We tried to leave but when we got out side, something made us blackout before we reached our vehicle,” she explained.

  Nogith smiled a toothy grin and said, “The stun blast.”

  Samantha was right thought Sienna, think shark.  His black eyes blinked at them from side to side rather than top to bottom. It was yet another unnerving attribute of their captors.  

“You are now property of the suPonicks. You will behave and do as you are told. Your cooperation will go a long way to your own comfort and well-being. We staged a detonation at the base to appear as an accident. This means people will believe you are dead and will not look for you as the base was completely destroyed even the underground levels,” he arrogantly stated. “Nnmek, list them as cooks.” Sienna swallowed hard and said prayer for her grandmother. Grace would be devastated hearing of her ‘death’. He waved to the waiting pair of guards as though he hadn’t just delivered crushing news and a painful understanding that they would never see home again. The two guards came forward and put the bracelets back on Sienna and Rose. The first turned, walking away and the second waved his stick and they followed the departing one out and back to the cell. Sienna sighed. She was starting to hate this view. But the relieved faces of her group came in to view and she knew they had truly been worried. 

  “Are you okay?” Samantha’s face was creased with worry lines.

  “Yes. They just wanted to ask questions. First they put a shot in our neck and then we could understand them. The one Rose dubbed,” she lowered her voice as she looked around, “scary alien dude, he seems to be in charge and asking the questions. He also told us they staged an accident so no one will look for us.” The women all paled at this news. She felt someone moving behind her. Sienna looked over her shoulder to see one of the soldiers coming over.

  “Are you all right?” he asked squatting next to their group.

  “Yes,” Rose answered. “Considering they’ve abducted us, just informed us we are now property and that no one is looking for us since they destroyed the base.”

  He smiled at Rose and eyed Sienna. “She’s right. He just wanted to know why we were at the base,” Sienna responded. “We delivered a lunch setup for a meeting,” she told him before he could ask.

  The soldier glanced over his shoulder. “For the General and his group?” he queried.

  “We don’t know. They just asked for sandwiches and sides with drinks and cookies for a hundred with a request for a quick setup. We didn’t even finish the set up before all Hell broke loose. We ran when the building caught fire and started falling down,” she told him.

  “Did they put in the translator?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you hear anything of interest?” he smiled again.

  “No, he asked what my occupation was and why we were at the base,” Sienna replied. “Then he told us about the ‘accident’ they staged and they listed us as cooks and then brought us back here.”

  “Keep your ears open then.” He walked away after that statement.

  The clomping was heard again and they turned to watch the two women who had gone out after Rose and Sienna come back. Taylor and Samantha were chosen next. The day would go like this until the entire group had been done if the previous days were examples.

  “Blanca,” Sienna turned to address the perpetually pouting teen. “Make sure you do as you’re told when they choose you.”

  “I am not going!” she pouted.

  “You don’t have a choice if you don’t want to be on the wrong end of the stick.”

  “My father…” she began heatedly.

  “Is not here and has no power with our toothy keepers,” Rose cut her off. Blanca glared at the younger teen who smiled sarcastically at her. “Face it, Princess Pout, you’re in the same boat as the rest of us.”

  The clomping of heavy boots cut off Blanca’s retort. The aliens returned Taylor and Samantha and then escorted Natalie and Jasmine out of the room. Blanca moved to the other side of the room.

  “As if that will keep her from being chosen”, snorted Rose. So the day went until they were fed. Sienna had to admit the food choices were interesting and most items also tasted pretty good. Fortunately for them the aliens had not given them the pretty yellow berry type fruit again. They had looked much like clumps of grapes except were bright sun yellow and had been so bitter they were not edible. Today’s meal was the knobby blue orbs that tasted a bit like cauliflower, ugly brown stalks that tasted sort of sweet and tart like an orange along with the mystery bread and mystery meat sticks. After they ate, the choosing started over again.

Trouble started when the alien attempted to choose Blanca. She trampled people in her path to move the opposite direction and the alien growled.

“Blanca he said to stand over next to her,” Sienna pointed at the other woman chosen, who already stood where the alien had indicated.

  “I’m not going anywhere with the monster bastards! You can’t make me!”

  People were now trying to hustle out of Blanca’s way as she pushed and shoved in effort to keep the alien at bay. The alien lunged for her growling and grumbling.  He finally latched on to the back of her shirt. He snapped the bracelet in place and carried out the kicking and screaming teen out by the back of her shirt. She was returned carried the same way shortly after but in an unconscious state. Sienna looked at the older woman who had accompanied her out.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  The older woman smiled nastily and said, “Apparently everyone is tired of her tantrums. When she wouldn’t stop cursing Nogith after his property decree and accident story he decided, she was in need of some discipline. He zapped her with a stick.” She walked away and Sienna let it go. Blanca’s behavior was getting worse. Sienna and Samantha both sighed knowing when Blanca woke there would be hell to pay.

  As it happened, Hell started before Blanca woke. 

  Sienna woke to a loud boom and the floor beneath her shaking.
An explosion
she thought. Alarms started blaring, “Hull breach, deck four, hull breach, deck four.”  Sometimes having a translator sucked she thought as she would have been comfortable being ignorant of the breach.

  The noise was deafening. There was shouting and the whine sound she now knew was a laser weapon the big gray aliens carried. The ship shuddered again and another explosion occurred somewhere and knocked those who were standing to the floor. Sienna gathered her group quickly around her as even Blanca hadn’t been able to sleep through the amount of noise and shaking. They huddled against the back wall of the cell and watched the door. The alarm cut off. Everyone was now watching the door. 

Incredible! Little Green Men Literally!
Sienna thought as she shook her head yet the small creatures remained. They were the typical essence of a sci-fi film: small bodies, big heads with big black eyes.
Who knew?
The small creatures moved from cell to cell peering at them and talking among themselves. Suddenly the tingling sensation ran across her arms and legs again and she had just enough time to think
stun blast
before blackness overtook her.

***

  “Mirkndaks! You were raided by Mirkndaks!” Nogith stood on the bridge while his father bellowed. Around him they were making repairs to the badly damaged vessel. The repairs had to be done before they could even hope to limp to the next space station. “You are an idiot. How do you allow Mirkndaks to raid you, steal your cargo and damage your ship so badly half of your crew was lost? You are not a leader, you are an imbecile.” His father was still roaring. “Get to NKimen. I will set up enough credits to the repair the vessel. Then get your ugly stupid ass back here immediately. The Rank is already furious about incident with the Earthlings. They say if you have damaged the relationship there will be reprisals. DO NOT make any more mistakes,” his father concluded by slamming his fist down on his desk. He glared for a moment more then signaled someone off screen to cut the link.

  Nogith’s blood boiled. When he got his prize back his father would be sorry for treating him this way. He would have proof there were still Zargazians left. He turned to Legoch. “I am going to my cabin. Call me when we are underway.”

  Legoch saluted and then scowled after Nogith exited the bridge.
They gave my promotion to this idiot.
Legoch shook his head in disgust. Nogith only had the job because of who his father was.
And look where that got us!
 

***

  Waking was once more painful, Sienna’s head was throbbing terribly again.

  “Sienna?” Rose questioned.

  Sienna opened her eyes slowly and realized her surroundings had changed and she didn’t think it was for the better. The cell they were now in had bars on it. It was dark and very warm. She looked at Rose. 

  “Samantha went to get us some water,” Rose told her quietly.

  “Are we all here?” Sienna tried look around in the gloom. 

  “Yes,” Rose said softly.

  “Here,” said Samantha holding out a small water bottle.

  Sienna sipped while she looked around. Taylor was sitting quietly next to Rose. Natalie, Jasmine and Blanca were still out. Sienna saw the tall woman who had been in the separate cell had been placed in with them as well as four other women and one male soldier. The smirking jerk with fresh hands she recognized from the entry point of the building. In the gloom she also saw a small orange creature which appeared furry and had many tentacles instead of arms cowering in the corner. Across the gloomy room was a second cell filled with more humans and several bright blue creatures with large pale orange eyes. A third cell sat to her left and was filled with snarling bright yellow reptilian-looking creatures. The last cell across from the reptiles was filled with brown furry creatures. They looked as though someone had combined a lion and bear and were about the size of medium dog. These creatures were prowling the cage and growling.

  From somewhere beyond the open entry that led into a hallway, she could hear other creatures making noises and voices she thought were humans calling out. Finally a voice she could understand called out.

  “This is Colonel Derrins. I need a count. Are there more humans and how many in your group?” the voice called.

  The male soldier stood and called back, “Eleven civilian females, Private Ron Jennings, and the ASHaa in my cell, Sir.”

  A soldier in the cell across the way called, “Nineteen soldiers, two civilians and Major Steven Roberts.”

  Sienna heard other voices somewhere respond but couldn’t make out the words.

  “Is the ASHaa conscious?” the colonel wanted to know.

  Jennings looked over his shoulder at the woman still lying on her side with her eyes closed. “No Sir.”

  “See if you can wake her.”

  Jennings eyed the woman and approached her warily. He pushed her with a booted foot. “Wake up! Wake up!” She didn’t move. He tried again with a more forceful push. “WAKE UP!” he shouted at her. When she failed to rouse once more he pulled back and kicked her in the back.

  “Stop it! Just stop it!” Sienna demanded as she, Samantha and Rose rushed to intervene.

  “Just get away from her,” Rose demanded as she pushed him back. “What is wrong with you? You can’t treat people that way!”

  “She isn’t a person. She’s a thing,” he growled at Rose. “Now get out of my way.”

  Rose and Sienna stood firm against another attack. Taylor joined them as Samantha knelt to check on the woman. The three women glared at him and stood their ground.

  “Sir, the civilians are interfering,” he called out.

  “This is General Pearson - Move them and wake her, damn it!”

  Natalie and Jasmine who had awakened now came to stand with others. 

  “He said to wake her not kick her, you prick,” Rose growled at him. 

  “Private, stand down!” this came from across the room. “Ma’am,” he said addressing Sienna, “can you see if you can wake her, please?”

  “Samantha?” Sienna didn’t take her eyes off the soldier.

  “Ashaa, Ashaa,” Samantha gently shook her. “Ashaa, can you hear me?” She gently pushed the woman’s silky hair from her face. “Ashaa?”

  The woman’s eyes slowly opened. Samantha gasped. Her eyes were metallic gold and her pupils were long and pointed on the ends like a cat’s.

  “Are you okay?” Samantha asked. The woman winced as she sat up. “I’m sorry he kicked you in the back before we could get to you. Natalie, can you get a water bottle from the box?”

  Natalie returned with the water and stood glaring at the soldier once more. Samantha opened the bottle and gave it to her.

  “Sir, she’s awake now,” the soldier called out while glaring at the wall of women in his path.

  “Ashaa, see if you can break the lock on the cell,” the General’s voice shouted from the other room.

Ashaa sipped more water but didn’t stand. 

  “Sir, she’s ignoring you,” the soldier relayed, glaring at the women between him and Ashaa.

  “Then make her comply,” the general ordered.

  “Move,” he told the women. When they didn’t, he took a menacing step toward them. He threw an unexpected punch at Sienna and sent her tumbling back over Samantha and Ashaa. Ashaa was on her feet faster than Samantha had ever seen anyone move. Ashaa kicked out one of her long legs and her bare foot connected with the soldier’s jaw. He slammed back into the wall of bars and slid to the floor unconscious. Ashaa turned and came back to where Samantha was helping Sienna into a sitting position.

  “I’m sorry he struck you,” Ashaa said quietly.

  “It isn’t your fault,” Sienna told her.

  “Isn’t it? You were defending me.”

  “I would have defended anyone being treated that way. It was unnecessary and callous,” Sienna assured her.

  Ashaa blinked her gold eyes and smiled. “You do realize that I am not completely human, right?”

  “The eyes and the green nails are kind of a giveaway. But it doesn’t matter I would have even defended orange and fuzzy over there in the corner from that kind of treatment. And he, she or it kind of gives me the willies with all the tentacles,” Sienna replied and smiled at her.

  “Ashaa, could you please try the door?” Major Roberts’ voice interrupted them. Ashaa stood and went to cell door. She closely examined what she could see of the lock. She stepped back and kicked hard. Noise reverberated through the room. The door stood firm.

  “I cannot open the lock as the mechanism is unknown to me and metal is solid,” she reported to the major.

  “Thank you, Ashaa,” the major nodded to her from the other cell.

  She then returned to Sienna and her group. Ashaa eyed Sienna.

  “You’re getting a black eye.”

  “It’ll match the headache I have,” Sienna told her.

  “If you don’t object, I could help,” Ashaa said quietly.

“Why would I object to help?”

“They fear me,” she indicated the four women cowering in the corner.

“Well, I would appreciate any help,” Sienna said quietly.

  Ashaa reached out and placed her hand gently on Sienna’s cheek. Her hand was soft and cool. It gradually began to warm. The heat moved up Sienna’s cheek and the pain and pulsing began to ease. They sat that way for nearly five minutes.  When Ashaa moved her hand, Sienna opened her eyes and smiled.

  “Wow, I don’t even have a headache now,” she grinned touched her own cheek. “Thanks!”

  Ashaa smiled back at her. “You’re welcome.”

“Why do they keep calling you ‘The Ashaa’ instead of just Ashaa?” Rose questioned.

  “It stands for Alien Species Hybrid specimen aa,” she replied, “or Ashaa for short.”

  “So does that mean you were the first?” Jasmine wanted to know.

  “No, they started with the single letter A and worked their way through the alphabet several times such as A little a, A little b then B little a, B little b,” Ashaa explained. “I am the specimen labeled with two little a’s.”

  “That’s a lot of specimens,” Jasmine said softly with horror in her voice.

  “What happened to the rest?” Blanca asked.

  “Most died as a result of the tests.”

  “What kind of tests?” Blanca asked apparently oblivious to the horror of the revelation.

  “The kind to discover what would kill us.” Ashaa answered in quiet matter of fact voice.

***

  Sienna woke hours later to the screaming. She looked around to check all of her group now including Ashaa were present. They were also all awake. The screaming cut off shortly after all of the humans and most of the other creatures were awake. The screaming had sounded like a male human.

  “Major, is everyone in your room accounted for?” Colonel Derrins voice rang out.

“Yes, Sir,” he responded after a quick survey of the cells in the room.

  There was more talking from outside their room that Sienna could not hear what was being said only that voices were conversing. 

“One of Lt. Walker’s group was taken. A lab worker,” the colonel’s voice informed them.

“Why was he screaming, sir?” the major called back.

“We don’t know. We just don’t know.”

  A few hours later the little green aliens brought around shallow pans they pushed through the slot in the bottom of the door. The pan contained chunks of a substance that looked gray and brick like. No one moved.

“Food you think?” Natalie raised an eyebrow.

  Scurrying sounds caused them to turn and see the furry orange tentacled creature move out of the corner for the first time. It peered into the pan and chose two chunks of the grey stuff and scurried back to the corner. The creature began to chew on one of the blocks.

  “Food,” Sienna agreed laughing softly. She walked to the pan and picked it up. She carried it to the four women who had chosen to sit away from Ashaa.  They each chose a piece. She then walked to Private Jennings where he sat sulking not far from the women. He was sporting one very black eye and serious looking bruise on his jaw and cheek from Ashaa’s foot. He glared at her and took two pieces. She simply smiled and walked away from him. She smiled knowing he was still trying to figure out how SHE didn’t have a black eye or bruises. She’d never tell him and she noticed the other women were also trying not to have anything to do with him so they evidently hadn’t told either. Back at her group everyone chose a piece and Taylor and Jasmine passed out the water bottles they had refilled from the tap in wall while Sienna had passed the pan around. 

“Ugh,” Natalie commented. “It tastes like really dry overcooked oatmeal.”

  Sienna wrinkled her nose but bit into the chunk anyway. She was hungry.

“I miss the suPonicks,” Rose lamented. “At least the food was pretty good.”

“I second that,” Samantha said as she chewed on her chunk. Everyone decided to eat a second and Samantha asked the other group of women if they wanted a second piece as there seemed to be plenty. One of the women came over and extracted four more pieces eyeing Ashaa warily as she did. She went back to her group quickly.