Chapter 5 - Seeking to Bond, Pt. 2
"Hmm? Our neighbor?" Howard repeated the question. He was sitting on his recliner reading something when Aerialus asked him. She nodded to him.
"I can't say I have talked to him much or know what he does for a living. He doesn't have many visitors. I haven't seen any family members visit that house either...so I don't know much. Sorry."
"It is alright. Thank you."
"Any particular reason you want to know about him?" the older man asked.
"There is no particular reason...just curious based on the times of when the neighbor does activities in his house."
"Oh," the human male stated blinking. "You mean the varying lights and noises at midnight and really early morning?"
"...!" the alien woman reacted with surprise. "Y-yes. You have heard and seen them too?"
"Yeah. First time I heard them sounded strange and peculiar. I initially thought the guy was throwing a nightclub party every night or so. But as time went on, I didn't hear any people talking, laughing, or shouting. It was just lights and sounds. It was...weird to say the least."
"But over time," he continued then shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I got used to it and didn't think much of it afterwards."
"Night...club...party?" the Baklavaian repeated confused. Blinking from seeing and hearing the human chuckle a little, he waved his hand at her to wait a moment.
"Hey Robert!" he yelled looking up at the stairs.
"...!?" Aerialus flinched a little from being startled.
"Yeah?!" the son yelled back from the upper level.
"Come down here a second! Aerialus has a question for you!"
"M-M-Mr. Howard...it isn't...that i-important," she began showing her palms and waving them to show disagreement. Only seeing him smile at her, there was a sound of a door opening and closing. Turning to the stairs, the younger male came down the steps causally. Getting into the living room and walking towards them, he stopped and looked at her.
"What's up?" Robert said with a normal voice.
"Since I haven't gone to one since my college years, I thought you'd be the next best expert given that you are in the college scene," Howard began keeping a smirk on his face. "Aerialus wants to know what a nightclub party is?"
"..." the young man reacted with a sigh through his nose. "You yelled for me to come down to explain that? You could of just looked it up on the internet with your phone!"
"I could have, but Aerialus might be curious enough to want to go to one if you explain it," he explained still keeping the same expression.
"..." the offspring reacted with looking at his father and blinking a couple of times. Something clicked in his head.
"Oh...I uh...see."
"Good luck son," Howard commented. Lifting the newspaper to his face, he went back to reading it.
"...mmmm..." Robert reacted with a mild grunt.
"..." the female alien spoke. Standing where she was quietly, she kept looking back and forth between the two men.
'Their form of communicating...is really confusing,' she thought feeling her head begin to hurt. 'I still can't tell if they are speaking harshly at each other or it's a form of...teasing as they say.'
"...right...so a nightclub party..." the young man began to say then started explaining it to her.
'Despite asking each family member about the neighbor,' Aerialus said in her mind. Shifting a little from her seating position on the box containers near the backyard fence, she continued with her inner monologue.
'Each of them had little new information to share about the person living next to them.'
'Each stated having glimpses and short interactions...but nothing about what he looked like...what he does...or the reasons for the night activities.'
'This world,' the alien began. Looking up and around, she gave a sad smile.
'Seems to honor privacy and one's freedom within their property. Despite living so near to many, becoming familiar with others is not seen as a necessity for survival nor strengthening the community.'
'I wonder how the other Baklavaians are doing.'
"..." Aerialus stated. Shaking her head, she stood up. Putting things away that she used in the backyard, she travelled back into the house. Finding an activity to occupy her mind for hours, she waited for the family members to return home.
Later in the afternoon, home owners started to come home. The female alien felt herself becoming less antsy when they came. The aspect of being alone was something that slowly ate her insides. Not enough for her to panic, but it was an uncomfortable feeling over time. With the last person coming home to make it a full house, the knot in the extraterrestrial's stomach went away.
After several minutes passed, the house phone rang. Used to the sound by now, it made Aerialus feel amused when she jumped from not knowing what the noise was or what it indicated the first couple of times. Hearing it being answered, Howard was speaking. After a short conversation and short answering, the phone was back in the cradle that also charged it. Thinking nothing of it, the alien went back to assisting the wife in the kitchen.
"Who was that dear?" Sue called while putting a casserole in the oven. Hearing footsteps come in, both women turned to him. His face was neutral though looked at the younger female.
"It was a commander from the slave trader ship. He said something about a personal status and report with Aerialus. A representative has been dispatched to pick her up today."
"..." the outer spacer reacted with a plain face. Internally, she felt denial and anxiety. At the same time, she did not feel fear or dread. The constant devil's advocate that she repeated in her head about the "allowed freedoms" in the host-family program validated this point.
'A personal status with the captain means...I did something wrong...I must get my things.'
"They are going to pick her up today?" the older woman repeated with surprise. "It is almost-"
"..." the two parents reacted from hearing knocking at the front door followed by a doorbell. Blinking, they watched Aerialus put down the utensils and began walking to the living room. Before they could speak, their son from upstairs called.
"I got it," Robert spoke. Hearing him come downstairs, they followed their exchange guest heading to the front door. Seeing the young man open the door, there was two large looking individuals. They appeared to be the Primusians from a couple of weeks ago.
"Greetings human. We are here to escort the slave back to the ship for a briefing with the captain," one of the representatives declared. Getting papers out, he handed them to the young male.
"..." he remarked and held his tongue. Looking through the documents in his hands, he speed-read through it. Getting through about two pages, he stopped from hearing footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Aerialus standing a foot or two away from him.
"Will I be able to return with these clothes or do I need to be in the attire for Baklavaians on the ship?" she asked with a stoic tone.
"The captain gave no instructions on what you must wear. Only sent us to escort you," the other Primusian stated flatly. Seeing her nod her head, she went to the place the household kept their shoes. Grabbing black slip-on shoes and putting them on, she straightened back up.
"You have to go even when you don't want to?" Robert asked looking at her. Seeing her nod, she approached him.
"Yes. The masters are still in charge of me. This is a program of experience...not a permanent release from their charge," the alien answered calmly. Seeing him frown a little, he handed back the documents to one of the representative aliens.
"Will you be gone for a while dear?" Sue asked feeling worried and concerned. Seeing the young woman turn to her, she gave a tight smile.
"I do not know how long I will be there. I may return...or I may not."
"But...they are just escorting you there for a status...right?" the wife continued.
"Sue...calm down," Howard whispered and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. Seeing her look at him and have a look of confliction, she looked back and took one step forward.
"If that is the case, I can assemble a bag of snacks for you on your trip there. Just in case you are there for too long."
"That is thoughtful of you human, but we are to only escort the slave and nothing else. We cannot bring anything back to the ship that is of a foreign world. I hope you can understand," one of the representatives stated like it was a pre-programmed statement. Seeing the mother about to say something that looked emotional, the older male human put his other hand on her other shoulder.
"We understand," he spoke with a firm voice. Looking at Aerialus, she looked back at him. "You got all that you need Aerialus?"
"...yes..." she spoke a little softer.
"Okay. We'll be waiting for you here when you get back. Good luck," he said with a concerned look.
"..." the female alien responded with a slow nod. Pressing her lips together, a strange pull feeling occurred in her chest. It made her not want to leave the house and the family she lived with for a short amount of time.
Despite this escort being only a visit to the slave trade ship for a status, the uncertainty of what would happen there plagued her mind. A small suspicion of this being the last time she sees this family was nagging her to claim as true. It was not overpowering her, but it was there as a pulse. There were other factors that pointed to a possibility that it was only a personal status. Shaking her head to rid of the thoughts, she turned to face the two alien men at the door.
"I'm ready."
"Very well. This way slave," one of them stated.
Walking past them, both turned around and followed behind her. Parked at the street curb was their ship. Each step toward the space craft became heavier and heavier for her. The feeling of uneasiness consumed her from leaving the safe walls of the home of her host family. Walking on the paved concrete to the ship felt like a cast off for a crime she committed.
Reaching the flying vehicle and stopping, one of the escorts pulled out a remote. Hitting a button, a drop-down door began opening. Extending a ramp down, Aerialus looked back at the house. All three humans were standing outside of the front door. Each one waved at her with varying degrees of expression. It caused the pull in her chest to deepen. Biting her bottom lip to combat the sensation and emotion, she gave a small smile and wave.
Getting inside, both Primusians followed suit. Instructing her to go back into the passenger bay, she obeyed. Upon entering, she saw there was only a fraction of other slaves onboard. A majority of them looked to have dread while others looked numb. Keeping her emotions in check, she maneuvered to a window seat that would have a view to the house.
Looking outside, she saw the three family members were still standing on their porch. The act of them waiting till the craft left made her heart pull. Steeling herself from wanting to protest, cry, and go back, she forced herself to deal with the internal burning in her chest. Trying to find something to distract herself with, she looked adjacent to her stay in family. As before, the neighbor's house never changed and always seemed empty during the day.
"Ship's systems are green. Engines are green," a deep man's voice sounded muffled through the ship's walls. "Prepare for takeoff."
'I need to calm down...the masters want us to panic and feel dread of wrongdoing,' Aerialus told herself in her head. Feeling the engines whine up, it would be momentary when thrust would be engaged. Shaking her head and preparing for the lift, the transporter began to ascend up. Looking back down, something caught her eye at the neighbor's house.
"..." she reacted with wonder. In a window near the left corner of the house, there was a light that glowed. It was a pair of icy pale blue orbs. As if it was staring forward, it appeared to follow the movement of the aircraft. However, she felt it bore at her specifically and watch her.
'...there he is!' the Baklavaian spoke loudly in her head with surprise. Her eyes widen and her mouth opened from getting an instant chill from the icy orbs. As soon as she saw it, the host family home and the neighbor's home got further and further away.
"..." Aerialus remarked still astonished.
Turning away from the window, her mind was suddenly filled with curiosity. At the same time, she was bitter and pressed her lips together. Her wonder about various things, the wanting to venture outside the home, and to know more about their next-door home dweller needed to be suppressed. Closing her eyes and calming herself down, she tried to replay what happened the past couple of weeks. The female alien began to dissect her actions to figure out what she might have done to have failed or disobeyed the masters.
In mid transit, she opened her eyes and looked out the window. The ship began to lean to turn toward where the ocean was. Seeing a spacecraft in the distance, the transporter began to level out and be in direct route to it. Within some minutes passing, the slave trader ship kept getting bigger and bigger. Never remembering a time where the Baklavaian saw it the last time, it seemed like going into the mouth of a foreign entity.
Feeling the speed change a bit, the flying vehicle made its way to an open hanger portion on the behemoth sized ship. Slowly entering the area, Aerialus saw that it was a place where smaller space planes were docked. Slowing down further and descending, the transporter landed with a mild thud and rumble. Hearing the other slaves murmur in negativity to themselves, the female alien tuned them out and waited. Hearing footsteps, the passenger door to the cockpit opened up.
"Get up and out. Move," one of the Primusian guards ordered. Getting out of the way of the door, he watched as the handful of slaves walk out. The general vibe overall was seeing them look guilty about something minus one or two. Seeing the last one exit and out of the ship, two escort representatives left the craft as well.
"All of you get in a line. Follow him. Anyone step out of line or do something other than what has been told will get disciplined on the spot," the rep threated.
"..." all the prisoners responded.
Complying with what was told, they assembled into an assembly line standing near each other. One of the Primusian guards got ahead of the leading slave and began walking. Following without speaking, the two crew members lead the Baklavaians throughout the ship. As what usually happens going through, the crew members either sneered at them or ignored them. Going to a higher-level floor, they lead them to a holding room.
"Get in," the escort ordered after opening a hatch door. Seeing them all enter the space, they turned around and looked back.
"All of you will remain here until further notice."
"..." the slaves responded with watching the hatch door close.
Hearing it clank loudly against the metal hull, the wheel spun clockwise until it seemed to slow down abruptly. Hearing one leave and the other stay outside the holding room, the alien prisoners began to space themselves out in the room. A couple occupied the corners of the room. Others leaned against the walls. Aerialus went to a free space adjacent to the hatch door. Observing the others, their expressions were still the same when they were in the transport.
'I wonder if any of them ventured outside of their host family homes,' she thought looking at them. Turning back to the ground, she leaned against the wall.
'Would it have been worth it to explore outside regardless of the punishment here?'
'If this is an in-person status...is this still part of the captain's ploy? Or is the in-person status a requirement in the program?'
'I guess I won't know until I am called...ordered back into a cell...or by the rare chance, go back to my host-family,' she continued.
Closing her eyes, she began to replay the couple of weeks spent with the humans again. Hearing mild whispers around, she ignored them and focused on remaining collected and calm. After several minutes, the Baklavaians heard the wheel on the hatch door turn. Turning and staring at it, it stopped followed by the door opening. A different patroller stepped in and had a more intimidating look than the others.
"S-0923: Aerialus. Come forth," he called firmly with an uninterested face. Seeing one of the slaves push off the wall, she walked to be several feet in front of him. Turning to face him, her hands were at her side and held a stoic face.
"..." the guard spoke staring at her. His eyes looked at her up and down. Moving his eyes back to her face, he motioned her to turn around. Doing so, he seemed to stare a little longer than normal.
"Anything from the surface you brought?"
"No."
"You think I believe you?"
"No."
"Why are you wearing human clothing and not your uniform slave?"
"The escort representatives instructed that they are to only transfer us at the time of pick up at the host-family home," she answered though felt her insides tense up.
"I don't care what they say. What you all are wearing is contraband," he retorted irritated. Folding his arms over his chest, he stared Aerialus down who was not cowering like a couple others.
"Remove them."
"...!?" all the prisoners in the room reacted a bit shocked. Feeling conflicted from the bipolar treatment on the surface and now, some began to shake. Biting her lip to not make an expression, Aerialus began to unbutton her clothes. The loudspeaker in the room cracked on and a recognizable voice came on.
[...guard...may I remind you...] Commander Utern spoke. His voice was very grave. All slaves froze and waited.
[...the captain is waiting for you to escort S-0923 to his chamber...is the task too difficult for you?]
"...no...they are wearing contraband commander," he spoke back.
[Were there any instructions from the captain to strip their garments off of them before conducting a status with them? A failure to comply with simple instructions will be dealt with...a reassignment to janitorial duties]
"...there were no instructions to remove their clothes...commander," the guard answered begrudgingly.
[I see...well then...we...are...still...waiting...then...guard] the higher officer stated evenly.
"S-0923. Move," the Primusian patroller stated firmly through clinched teeth.
"..." Aerialus responded with a nod.
Dropping her hands to her side, she walked to the door. Ignoring the angry stare from the large man, she exited the room. Seeing another guard outside, he looked at her and motioned his head to the right. Nodding and following him, the agitated patroller closed the door and grunted when spinning the hatch wheel. Remaining there, she followed the other readily. Passing through a couple of intersections and stopping at a familiar decorative door, the Primusian hit the intercom button.
[Yes?]
"I have escorted S-0923 from the holding room Captain."
[Ah! Good. Send her in. Send her in] the leader commanded in a chipper voice.
The door opened up and Aerialus walked in. Seeing that the chamber has not changed, she saw the leader of the slave trader ship. Captain Olton was standing in front of his viewing window to the outside. Stopping and standing at attention a couple of meters away from his desk, the officer turned around. He had put on his characteristic smile that can change from charming to menacing quickly. Doing a curtsey, she stood back at attention.
"S-0923: Aerialus reporting sir," she addressed him with a neutral tone.
"There you are. Still in one piece I see. Please have a seat Aerialus," the captain said. Motioning to the single chair that was near the desk.
"..." the Baklavaian responded with a pause and blink.
'...he is...stating my name...' she thought and felt small hairs rise on her neck. Shaking her head internally, she pushed it aside.
Nodding, she sat down and watched him. Olton sat on the other side of the worktable. Opening a drawer, he retrieved a metal contraption and placed it on the counter. Pressing a red switch on it, the object came to life. Whirling itself with projection lights to form a flat blue disc, it had many arms that helped shape the 3D image. Once it solidified to be a solid blue flat sphere, the officer put his arms across his chest.
"Now then...tell me. How has the host family been treating you?"
"They treat me well sir."
"Feel like a part of their family?" he asked with a small smile.
"That is what they wish me to believe...and I will admit I have felt I have become a part of their family. However, I know where I belong sir."
"Good...I'm glad you are thinking like that. It will save us a lot of trouble if you continue that mindset in the back of your head. Once you get too accustomed to that "host-family" lifestyle, it will make leaving them very very hard," Olton remarked with a smirk. "Now...what are your daily activities?"
"Mostly chores of cleaning and washing. The human wife allows me to take care of her garden in their backyard."
"Backyard...open or closed off?"
"It is closed off by fencing around the house."
"How lovely. A nice perk to experience I bet. Very good that you are up keeping your duties from before. Makes the time to take you back less troublesome and burdensome transition," the man explained still smirking. He shifted his eyes to the floating disc projection then back at her.
"Do you have an interest in venturing out from where you reside with the host-family?"
"If I have permission to sir, then yes."
"...oh? Didn't you get permission from one of the escort representatives? They mentioned it upon doing a visit status at the human's home."
"Yes, I remember what they instructed me during that status...however...the masters never gave me direct permission to go out. A lower officer's instructions are null if one has been sent by a higher authority," Aerialus pointed out having a stoic face. Despite keeping still, her fingers were mildly rubbing and playing with the long skirt she had on.
"...ha ha ha!" the Captain laughed a little. Flinching from his awkward verbal amusement, he stopped then gave her a sterner smirk.
"You would have bought yourself a one-way ticket back here if you did venture out," he said firmly. "I am impressed that you remembered the rules Aerialus. Truly...I am."
"..." the female alien reacted with mixed feelings. Feeling odd from getting praised, it did not make her less nervous and tense.
"For being loyal as a slave...I shall grant you limited access. Do you want to guess what that will entail?"
"...I-I...would not know...what to guess sir," she answered cautiously.
"Not even a little?"
"...u-um...o-outside maybe...only with a host family escort a-at all times."
"Well well well...that was a pretty good guess!" the Captain said with a less intimidating smile. "Yes. You may go outside of the host's residence. But only with one of them. Never by yourself. Do we understand?"
"Y-Yes sir," Aerialus stated feeling a little nauseous. The inner turmoil she was creating for herself kept getting stronger. Seeing the officer's eyes shift to the floating object again, she saw the corners of his mouth turn up a little. Making the slaves squirm was something that the leader seemed to enjoy more than others.
"Hmmm...Beside the host family, who have you had contact with?"
"..." she responded with clearing her throat a little. "Excuse me sir...I have only communicated with my host family. And listened to the native animals speak in the garden."
"Ooohhh...becoming an alien whisper are you?" he asked with mild amusement. A faint red dot appeared on the side of the disc that the Captain was looking at. The other side facing the Baklavaian showed only blue.
'It is not a lie...though there is something she isn't telling me,' the Primusian pondered. 'It states that it is a minor aspect...in any case, I will found out from my own means.'
"Well my dear Aerialus," Olton began. Standing up, he pressed the red button on the base of the device. The contraption began to breakdown and form into a small rectangular box.
"Until next time, please continue with your host-family program...and do remember the rules and limitations I have given you."
"Y-Yes sir," Aerialus spoke and nodded her head. Standing up, she took a couple steps backwards. Stopping and standing at attention, she waited while facing him. Half his mouth when into a smirk and snorted.
"It pains me that you were born a Baklavaian Aerialus...you'd have such great potential as a Primusian and a crew member on my ship."
"...t-thank you sir," she responded and kept her face neutral. Not moving or turning around, she continued facing the same direction. Seeing him push a button on his desk, it made a small speaker buzz.
"Guards, retrieve an escort and take S-0923 back to the transporter. She will wait there until further instructions are given."
[Aye aye Captain] a voice responded back. Seeing him let go of the button, he turned around and walked to the viewing window. Within a few seconds, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," the officer spoke without turning around. Hearing footsteps, it stopped.
"Here to escort the slave back to the transporter Captain," the Primusian reported.
"Proceed."
"Move slave," the guard stated turning to her. Seeing her turn around, she began walking to the door. Both exited and began the long walk back to the hanger bay.
"..." Aerialus spoke releasing a lot of air through her nose. Passing the holding room, they were heading back the way they came.
The closer they got to the docking area, the emotional and mental burden on her shoulders began to lift. Entering the open space with the hanger bay, the aircraft was still there in its landing spot. She had to fight herself from wanting to smile and cry in relief. Upon approaching the smaller ship, the loading doors opened. Being escorted back into the holding passenger area again, the door closed behind her. She was the only one inside.
'...I'm...going back home...,' she thought in bewilderment. Feeling her legs grow weak, she quickly feel into one of the chairs. Grasping the arms of the furniture to not fall off, she slowly turned herself around. Sitting forward and leaning back in her chair, she looked down at her hands. They were shaking a little.
'...I'm...going back home to them...and with more freedom...' she continued in her mind. Leaning forward while resting her forearms on her thighs, the Baklavaian put her face in her hands.
"...this...feels relieving...and yet...the uncertainty grows," she muttered to no one. Coiling her legs up, she hugged her folded legs after getting her face out of her hands. Putting her head down on her kneecaps, she tried to calm down and wait for the next order and instruction.