Location: Unknown, Day: Unknown + 1, Year: 2275
The lights to the lab slowly grew brighter, as if the sun was rising over the cell itself. The gentle brightness woke Valerie first, who'd always fall asleep in an instant, sleep deeply through the night, and then wake at the quietest noise or softest light.
Valerie opened her eyes, blinking away the last of her sleepiness. At some point in the night, Valerie figured she must have rolled over, currently finding herself chest-to-chest with Marco. Her left arm was tucked under her pillow while her right hand curled against Marco's chest. Marco had his right arm underneath his pillow and his left draped over Valerie's waist, his fingers brushing the small of her back.
Marco was still asleep and Valerie found his peaceful face almost angelic. She traced her hand lightly over his chest to his arm, feeling the muscles underneath his skin. 'Holy shit, he's ripped! Iceland must have some intense survival workout…'
Valerie carefully moved her hand, lifting a piece of Marco's wavy hair away from his face. She wished she could have moments like these all of the time. But her duty as a roving reporter took priority, leaving no room for the connections she wanted. Cynicism was the only coping mechanism she had.
Valerie feathered her fingers over Marco's scruff, obviously unable to shave his growing facial hair in these circumstances. Marco started to stir and Valerie pulled her hand away.
Marco took a deep breath as he opened his eyes and Valerie could see how blue they were, being this close. Cerulean, with dark sea blue rings at the edges.
Marco hummed, smiling briefly. "Morning," he started, voice low and gravely.
Valerie smiled back. "Morning."
"I… didn't wake you up, did I? Was I snoring?" Marco asked, his hand moving more firmly against her back as his concern grew.
"No," Valerie laughed quietly, "you weren't snoring at all. I just woke up when the lights turned on."
"Oh, good." Marco felt her warm skin under his hand, happy he was able to provide some heat for her for the night. "You haven't gotten up yet?"
Valerie put her hand on his bicep. "You've kinda got me trapped."
Marco's eyes widened when he realized what she meant. "Oh shit, sorry." He took his arm off of her, moving back to give her space.
She smiled as she sat up. "It's alright." She twisted at the waist to crack her back. "We can't all live in Iceland to get fucking ripped as hell."
Marco laughed, rolling onto his back and covering his face with his hands.
Valerie climbed off the double cot and stood up. "Like, are you just benching boulders out there, or what?"
As he pulled his hands away, Marco shook his head. "Mainly just chopping down trees, hunting for my next meal, and trudging through two feet of wet snow to get home."
Valerie nodded, impressed. "The Huntsman of Iceland."
Marco chuckled and nodded, approving. "You're not too shabby yourself. You took on one of them in their exo-suits and nearly won. I think it was Mila, right?" His hand traveled to his neck, rubbing it slightly. "You do have quite a grip," he referenced when she grabbed him after waking up.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I suppose I do." Valerie replied.
"So… let's see how you compare," Marco lightheartedly challenged.
She lifted her arms and flexed her biceps while tightening her core muscles to show off her abs.
Marco whistled, making Valerie laugh and turn away. "What's your secret?" He asked, leaning back to rest on the glass.
"Oh, you know, the usual." She stepped towards the bathroom. "Diet… Exercise… Seven months of intensive training with the world's best martial arts fighters…" She smiled when Marco looked impressed. "But mostly good genetics. However," she opened the door to the bathroom, "that's a story for another day." She shut the bathroom door quietly.
Marco lifted an eyebrow, curious. 'Genetics? Curious that she'd bring that up unprompted. I suppose… I'll just ask her about it later.' He stood up, stretching away his aches. The cot left several things to desire in the realm of comfort. Though he had slept soundly, clearly, since he didn't wake up when Valerie turned around in his arms. Just holding her… made it seem fleeing to Iceland was worth it. The lack of human connection, the madness from his loneliness that he just barely kept at bay, it was worth it.
His stomach rumbled. Marco went to the stack of nutrition bars in the corner, picking out a strawberry one. As he ate it, he heard the toilet flush and the sink run. By the time he finished, Valerie was out of the bathroom.
Valerie put her hair up in a fresh ponytail as she walked towards Marco. "What I would give for a shower."
"I second that," Marco nodded, retrieving a peanut butter bar for Valerie.
"Thanks." Valerie took a few quick bites. "Oh, and a toothbrush and toothpaste! Swishing with water can only do so much."
Marco suddenly felt self-conscious about the smell of his breath.
Valerie smiled. "You're fine, don't worry." She quickly finished the rest of the bar. She picked up a bottle of water and took a few sips.
Marco took their two wrappers and threw them out in the bathroom. He shut the door behind him to wash up.
Valerie sighed, her mood slowly darkening. Marco was distracting her from the real problem at hand. 'I just need to find out where my backpack is, get my satphone, and call Evan. He can find my location from the call and get reinforcements. Shit, I wonder where these fucks have set up shop. Iceland and China are nearly as far apart as you could get… The remnants of the crater previously known as Russia is right in the middle. Though we can't be floating on a sea of water, otherwise I'd feel rocking. Maybe someone uninhabited… Antarctica? Madagascar? Mongolia? Maybe Iceland… Marco might not be that far from his home. I can't wait to get even with these aliens. Maybe strap them to a table, let them get a taste of their own medicine. Fuck, I hope Evan's alright without me-'
"What are you thinking about?" Marco asked, emerging from the bathroom.
Valerie shrugged. "Just thinking what our next steps could be."
He nodded. "Which are?"
"Don't really know." She shook her head. "We just need to be cautious. The 'Senate' or whatever, they're the ones we need to go after."
"'Go after?'" Marco grew confused. "'We?' What do you mean?"
"Marco, we can't just let these aliens take over our planet. Just them hiding here is a threat to all humanity," Valerie spoke angrily.
"Valerie, we just have to give them a chance. Just one chance, okay?" He stepped closer to her.
"They're already on thin fucking ice after kidnapping us, drugging us, studying us," Valerie rubbed her temples. "Locking us up, for crying out loud."
Marco sighed. "One… one chance. Can you promise me that?"
Valerie weighed his offer, considering her options. She sighed.
Before she could answer, the door to the lab opened. Mila, Silas, and Aiden came in.
"I hope you both slept well," Mila started.
"Just fine, thanks." Valerie crossed her arms.
"Uh, we brought your clothes for you." Mila gestured to Silas, who held their folded clothes in his hands, and Aiden who had their shoes tucked under one arm.
Valerie huffed. "Finally."
"And then I was hoping you two would be up for some discussions," Mila added.
Valerie looked around the holding cell. "Why have you been keeping us in pressurized chambers?"
"We weren't sure if you carried air-borne or blood-borne diseases. It was just a precaution," Silas answered.
"Do you have any diseases that'll hurt us?" Marco asked.
Silas shook his head.
"And outside this chamber, is there air we can breathe?" He stepped up to the glass.
"Yes, 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, 1% miscellaneous," Silas explained.
"You breathe oxygen too?"
"Nitrogen."
"Oh."
"Can you let us out now?" Valerie lifted an eyebrow at Mila.
"Of course." Mila moved over to the control panel and entered the code to release Valerie and Marco.
As soon as both sets of doors opened, Valerie exited, shoving past Mila. She went directly to Silas, plucking her shirt off the top of the pile. She gave it a quick sniff, finding it was fresh and clean. She narrowed her eyes at Silas as she pulled her shirt on. She put her jeans on next, seeing the discomfort grow on Silas' face as she kept eye contact.
She moved over to Aiden. She tugged her shoes out of his grasp, pulling them on.
"You're welcome," Aiden spoke gruffly.
"Nice gun." Valerie nodded towards the rifle in his opposite hand.
"I heard that one of the humans likes to be violent," Aiden retorted.
Valerie gave him a look but an amused smirk eventually grew on her face.
Marco went up to Silas, graciously taking his clothes. After he was dressed, he took his shoes from Aiden, bowing his head in thanks.
"And where's my backpack?" Valerie asked, looking between the three aliens.
Silas answered her. "I have it, upstairs in the Upper Lab."
"Can you take me there?" Valerie asked, trying to be polite as Marco's wish echoed in her ears.
"Sure." Silas looked to Mila for approval, who nodded. Silas waved Valerie on and let her out of the lab.
Valerie looked over her shoulder and Marco followed her. Aiden and Mila pulled up the back as Silas went towards the south side of the lab. He went up a short set of stairs to a door. It opened to reveal a larger staircase. Silas led the group up into the Upper Lab. Valerie concentrated on Silas, who retrieved her backpack from his workbench.
"It's all there," Silas reassured Valerie.
She rummaged around until her hand brushed against what she was looking for. "Mhm."
"Is this real?" Marco pointed to the periodic table on the wall. He glanced over all of the elements labeled in orange. "Are there really more elements that we don't know about?"
Silas looked to Marco. "Yes, those are all the elements. I can tell you all about the ones in orange later, if you'd like."
Aiden sat down on one of the stools, staring at the chemicals and instruments with the most bored look on his face.
Mila rolled her eyes at the man as she took a seat of her own. "If you'd like to sit, we can talk here," Mila offered.
Silas pulled up a stool and sat, waiting for Marco and Valerie to move.
Valerie instead chose to lean against the countertop by the exit to the hallway. Marco sat down right next to her.
"So? What's your first question?" Mila asked.
Valerie eyed the rifle in Aiden's hands. "How many of you are there? On your home planet?"
"I'm sorry?" Mila furrowed her brows.
"What are your numbers?" She asked again.
"Valerie…" Marco whispered in a warning tone.
She shot him a glance but held firm.
Mila eventually answered. "Four billion, give or take."
Valerie nodded 'Four billion, compared to three-point-one. Not terrible odds, but not great.'
"And where… where is your home planet?" Marco asked.
Silas spoke up. "It's about eight light years away from your sun."
"So you have faster than light travel figured out?" Marco asked, growing excited.
Silas nodded.
"What does your planet look like? Is it like ours?" Marco leaned forward.
"Similar, but there are several major differences. I think I have a globe and some maps around here…" Silas looked around. "Oh, Mila, could you look in that cabinet behind you?"
Mila huffed lightly but nodded. She turned around, kneeling and opening the cabinet. As she rummaged around, Silas looked on, trying to help her find it.
Valerie grabbed Marco by the arm, holding her backpack in her other hand. She ran out of the Upper Lab, through the double doors into the hallway, dragging Marco with her.
"Hey!" Aiden stood up at the commotion, grabbing Silas and Mila's attention.
Valerie pushed Marco to the side, turning around, spying crates and boxes on the floor. After slinging her backpack over one shoulder, she quickly dragged a few of the crates to create a barrier at the door.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Marco cried out. "We were making progress!"
"Open your eyes, Marco!" Valerie shouted as she picked up a toolbox. She stepped back up to the Upper Lab doors. "This is going to be a war!" She pulled screwdrivers and pliers out of the toolbox and shoved them into the miniscule space where the doors recede into the wall.
Aiden slammed a fist against the door, making Valerie step back. It was jammed from opening, despite the motion sensors trying.
"Valerie!" Mila yelled as she rushed up behind Aiden, Silas at her heels. "Open the door!"
Valerie shook her head, pulling the crowbar from the toolbox before tossing the metal box aside. She went back over to Marco, grabbing his hand. "Come on." She pulled him along behind her down the hallway, trying to find a place to hide and make her call. They got to a mechanized door and Valerie was grateful she had taken the crowbar. Though she wasn't using it as a weapon, yet, like she had planned.
"Valerie, what the hell are you doing? Why are you ruining everything?!" Marco stepped up to Valerie.
"I'm saving us before this all blows up in our faces!" Valerie pushed him to the side, prying the doors open.
She pulled Marco through the doors before they snapped shut. To their right, they could see Mila and Aiden struggling to open the jammed doors, but Silas was nowhere to be seen. Valerie saw another set of mechanized doors straight in front of them. She and Marco went towards them as Valerie pulled out her satphone. She started dialing Evan but her satphone couldn't make a connection.
"What's wrong?" Marco asked after seeing the look on her face.
"I don't have a signal," Valerie answered, "which is impossible considering this is a satphone." She pressed the buttons harder, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference.
"So what do we do now?" He asked.
Valerie refocused on the door and the crowbar in her hand. She cast a glance over her shoulder and saw through the glass that Mila and Aiden were slipping out inch by inch through the partially opened doors. She muttered a string of swears before grabbing Marco's hand. Valerie pulled him off to the left, seeing a set of stairs by another mechanized door.
"Valerie." Marco spoke sternly.
"What?" Valerie looked to Marco.
He pulled his hand out of her grasp. "You've gotta stop."
"I can't…" Valerie trailed off, seeing something behind Marco. "I…" She went towards her distraction, walking slowly towards a large rounded couch. "What the…"
"What are you doing?" Marco turned around to watch her.
"Are you… are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Valerie stepped past the couch, eyes wide.
Marco came up behind her. "Shit…"
Valerie let the crowbar fall from her grasp.
"Are we… are we really?" Marco's voice grew quiet.
Valerie put a hand on the glass of the viewing window. "Yeah."
Marco stepped up behind her as the doors they came through opened. Mila and Aiden came stalking up to them.
"We're in space," Valerie whispered, suddenly feeling emotional. Scared. "We're in… fucking space." She blinked rapidly as she looked down at Earth, nighttime lights illuminating the cratered landmasses.
Aiden moved to approach, his grip tightening on his rifle. Mila held out an arm to stop him, giving him a stern shake of her head.
Silas emerged through the door to the right of the group, slightly out of breath. "What's going on? ...Oh."
Marco slipped Valerie's hand into his. "Are you okay?"
"Of course I'm not." Her voice was nearly inaudible as a single tear slipped down her cheek. "We're in fucking space. Of course I'm not okay."