The sounds of battle intensified as the doors slid open and the silver giant marched into the room where James and Diane were hiding. It stood in the doorway, slowly turning, scanning its blank eyes over the crates.
Behind them the two humans crouched out of sight as James slowly unslung the rifle he'd taken from the dead soldier outside. He fumbled as he arranged the power pack and Diane motioned for him to stop – their best bet was to stay hidden. Ignoring her, her closed his eyes and slotted the power pack into place, praying it wouldn't make a noise.
There was short whine as the weapon charged and the creature snapped round to face them.
"STOP! GET BACK!"
James was up on his feet in an instant, backing away and levelling the rifle. The hulking figure froze midstride, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped back. It stared at the humans with its smooth caricature of a face, black eyes and a single slit for a mouth.
"Just…just stay back! Leave us alone! Or I swear I'll fire this thi-"
"WHY do you REsist US? WE are not YOUR enemy."
The thing spoke in an eerie sing song voice. It would have been comical, or perhaps even beautiful in another situation, and if it hadn't had the electronic buzzing undertones or been bracketed by a harsh click like the throwing of a mechanical switch.
"You're what?"
Now Diane was up too, tugging at his arm.
"James, stay away!"
"You're not our enemy? You've invaded our world! We did nothing to you and you're killing us! If you aren't our enemy then who is? WHO IS?"
"FEAR."
For a moment there was silence in the room, save for the distant hum of weapons fire.
"YOUR enemy is FEAR. It consUMES you, it will desTROY you. We are your SAlvation."
"What do you know of fear? Fear is a feeling and you things don't have feelings!"
"WE undERstand FEAR. WE were like YOU. WE cowERED in the dark. Cold AND alOne. Our fear almost desTROYED US. It prevented US from doing what wAS necessary. But we survIVED. We removed our fear and WE survIVED. You are the SAme. You hide HERE because you fear US. There is NOTHing to FEAR. We will remOVE fear."
Diane finally spoke up her voice cracking as she shouted.
"Why don't you leave us alone! We were HAPPY before you came!"
"WHAt relevance is thAT?" The giant almost sounded confused. "You are stILL enSLAVed. Your EMOtions are a primitIve survivAl mechansisM. THEY are obsolete AND a hindrance. Of WHAt USE are they to An adVAnced species? WE are YOUR salvAtion. YOU will be FREe. You will be like US."
"We don't WANT your freedom!" James was screaming now, uncaring if he attracted more of them. "We WANT to live our own lives! In peace!"
"YOU…will NOT BE like us?"
"NEVER!"
"IF you will NOt be like us, then you wILL be destroyED."
"Yeah. You said that. But I'm the one pointing a gun at -" instantly the giant reached to the circuitry on it's chest and pushed a button.
The emitter at the top of the chest unit flared with a searing white light there were two screams – one in anguish and one cut short in pain.
James crumpled where he stood, smoke rising from beneath his clothes as Diane fell to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face.
James' killer stepped forewards, the antler like rods that crowned its head were framed in the light as it towered over her.
"You FEAR his fAte? You fEEl paIn?"
Diane simply looked up at the blank face, unable to speak.
"The fear and paIn are unbearable. WE will remove fear. We will remOve paIn."
The sounds outside had finally died. The creature stooped and held out a hand – humanlike underneath the silvered material.
"JoIn US. There is nothINg to fear."
"I….I don't want to die…"
"You will not dIe. There is nothINg to fear. You will survIve. WE will survIve."