Chapter 20 - Contra Phoebe
"N-NO!" Aerialus shouted to no one.
Throwing herself to the ground on her right, the impact was dulled by the carpet flooring. Despite the mild comfort of the fabric surface, her emotional and psychological state were spooked. Though no one was in the house, she crawled quickly away from the window. Paranoia of the seeing monster going to her window filled her mind. Making it into the 2nd floor hallway, she went towards the stairs.
Reaching the steps and grabbing the handrail, she proceeded down carefully. Stopping to be at the middle of the staircase, she sat down while holding onto the vertical bars connecting the guiderail to the stairs. Shaking in place with her vitals elevated, her breathing was erratic. Closing her eyes and trying to convince herself that she was safe, her mind's eye recalled what she witnessed. The vague large silhouette, distant screaming, and the piercing icy colored orbs.
'NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!' she repeated in her brain. At the same time, she slapped her head with both hands on each emphasis of the words. Feeling a sting of pain from hitting herself, it temporarily stopped the remembrance. Curling downward to put her head on her knees, she held her head.
'Nothing happened...I did not see anything...I did not hear anything...I will not say anything.'
'...that's right...Fiona defected,' the obedient voice stated firmly. 'Her punishment was just. She would have been taken and throw into the ship's Pits regardless.'
'Oh yeah?' the defient voice retorted. 'Rather be able to make a choice before dying. She wanted out. To escape this slavery.'
'Escaping? To make a choice? Humans have infected you to the core. Filling your mind of freedom and independence,' the other scoffed. 'This was a test...of our roles and responsibilities to higher authority. I have been trying to guide you so WE DON'T GET KILLED!'
'HA! GUIDING US SO WE DON'T GET KILLED!?' the bolder one shouted with mockery and anger. 'ALL THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS ROTTING AWAY ON THAT SHIP! ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND BRETHERN HAVE BEEN FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING WITH OUR LIFE! AND I AM NOT GOING TO LET YOU DECIDE THAT OUR FATE HAS TO BEEN IN A PRISON CELL!'
'THAT WILL GIVE THE MASTERS A REASON TO MAKE US EXTINCT! WE ARE ALREADY DEAD TO BEGIN WITH! HOW MANY GENERATIONS HAVE LIVED ON FROM THE PERSERVATION AND ADBIDING THE MASTERS DEMEANDS!? OUR ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE WE WERE CONQUERED AND IT HAS KEPT US ALIVE! I AM NOT ALLOWING YOU TO LEAD US TO SLAUGHTER!'
"...shut up...shut up..." Aerialus muttered. Lifting her head and headbutting her knees, the voices got louder in her mind.
'I WILL STRANGLE YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM! I RATHER DIE FREE THEN BE BEHOLDEN UNDER THOSE ASSHOLES AGAIN!'
"Shut up...Shut up...Shut up," the Baklavaian stated louder. Hitting her knees again with her head, a dull pain came on her forehead.
'YOU IMBECILE! YOUR SELFISHNESS IS WHAT WILL LEAD OUR ENTIRE RACE TO THE GRAVE! I WILL BEAT YOU INTO SUBMISSION FOR OUR LIVES!'
"I...SAID...SHUT...UP!" the woman shouted.
Shaking her head rapidly from side to side, she began to lose her sense of balance. Feeling as if the earth underneath her moved, she snatched at the vertical bars. Just as she grasped them, her rear slipped off the step she was on. Stretched out and stopping from falling down the stairs, the erratic breathing came back. Feeling her head spinning, just holding on seemed to be the only thing she could focus on.
"Ah...this the squad?" Captain Olton announced upon approaching a group of soldiers. Of the five that stood next to a transporter aircraft, one of the turned around. Standing at attention, he addressed him.
"Yes Captain. My squad and I are ready to go."
"Excellent. Let us be off. We have...a killer to take prisoner."
"Aye sir," the squad leader spoke and nodded.
Turning around and addressing his members, they sounded off and boarded the ship. While they prepared, the remaining two officials walked to the on ramp. Getting into the holding bay, the group lead ordered to depart. The two pilots confirmed and begun the sequence for lifting off and heading out to the city. Sitting down, Olton pulled out a comms device that the earthlings used to call someone. Opening and navigating through the contacts list, he stopped at one and hit speed dial.
"..." the Captain put the cellphone to his ear. Feeling the aircraft vibrate and begin to ascend a little, someone picked up on the 3rd ring.
[Greetings Captain] a male voice spoke on the other end.
"Greetings sir," Olton said with a fake smile and forced pleasantry. "I hope I have not inconvenienced you with calling you...without a scheduled notice."
[That is okay Captain. It is relatively everyday lifestyle to make calls to anyone at anytime...just depends on the person if they pick up or not]
"I see...that is good to hear," he commented. The aircraft had turned around and was waiting for the port doors in front of them to fully open.
"The reason for my call my good sir...is that we have located the...killer of our soldiers."
[...you did?] the human asked with surprise.
"Yes...I was wondering if I can get your permission to...confront and obtain that individual...for questioning and reasoning of killing two Primusians," Olton asked in a calm and even tone.
[I can understand your desire for justice Captain...could you brief me on what you were able to find?]
"From our scanners and surveillance...our recon people discovered an earthling that was committing the acts."
[That is impressive Captain...to capture the culprit on such short notice. Given that it is one of my citizens, I will take full responsibility of capturing and imprisoning that individual. If you can give me-]
"I am flattered sir that you would offer such support and service," the Primusian leader began then gave a glaring smile at the floor. "However...this has now become a...Primusian matter. The death of fellow brethren is not easily ignored...me and my soldiers will personally...handle this."
[...I understand your sentiment...but this will look very bad for PR. Not only for you and the Primusian race, but to my municipality. If we collaberate, we can avoid...a spectacle Captain]
"Most justice...is a spectacle sir...and one of your citizens...thinks murdering my kind...is justice for your people?"
[My government does not condone murder Captain. We take it as a serious matter]
"Then...as part of our agreement...in paragraph 4, section 2 of the contractual document...a crime committed upon the other...will allow the victim party to enact...means necessary for compensation of damages," the Captain stated feeling the corners of his mouth stretch wider. "I believe...that was your...own input in the contact...is it not human?"
[...] the other man remained silent on the line.
"Your silence...gives me a resounding answer," Olton remarked. Looking at the squad lead and nodding, the Primusian soldier ordered the pilots to proceed forward. The aircraft began to accelerate forward and began to leave the ship's docking area.
"I will leave you...with your people's media...to answer the incoming questions of what will take place," he continued then ended the call. Closing the phone and putting it in his pocket, a grin remained on his face. Activating a comms terminal to his left, it rang once before being picked up.
[Commander Utern here]
"We are leaving the ship and are enroute. I will remain on the line until we touch down near the target's location. Give me updates until then. I want any notification of movement."
[Aye aye sir]
"Where is Aerialus's signal?"
[...she is still reading to be inside her host family's residence] he answered after a short pause.
"Any readings coming from the...neighbor's den?"
[...normal radar settings state nothing out of the ordinary. There is more detection of radiation levels...but nothing considered to cause concern]
"Hmm...keep me posted."
"...!?" Aerailus flinched from hearing the house phone ringing.
The volume of the noise seemed loud enough to pierce through her mental and emotional apprehension. Able to get a hold of herself, it was enough to move her limbs. Slowly getting up, she used the handrail to ease herself down the stairs. Getting to the living room, she shuffled to the buzzing device. Picking it up and trying to control her breathing, she looked at the phone. Pressing the talk function, she brought it up to her face.
"H-Hello?...this is...the..."
[Why hello...slave...] a familiar voice spoke. His voice was the same tone as it was during the ballroom event. Stiffening greatly and tensing up, all she could do was take quicker breaths.
[Why...did you not...pick up your host family's mail?]
"...b-because...of the emphasis...of the rules...I am supposed to follow...your guidelines more closely...s-sir."
[...I see...isn't the front yard...part of the host's...property?] he questioned without a change in intonation.
"...y...y..." she stuttered. Thinking about the statement while her obedient voice echoed in the background seemed to bypass her processing. Feeling caught from not answering, anxiety built up quickly.
[Is the front yard...part of the host's property?] the Captain voiced again more sternly. The evenness and unwavering tone painted an image of the Primusian. An imposing figure that was bipolar and sadistic. Her mind could see the unamused and stern face staring down at her like prey.
"Y-y-yes sir."
[...then...go pick up...the mail]
"...s-s-sir?" Aerialus spoke softly equally confused and apprehensive.
[...why...are...you...questioning...me...slave?] he asked. Despite sounding the same, a wave of intimidating dread washed over her. Fear took control of her mind and immediately tried to correct herself.
"I-I-I'm s-sorry m-master!" the Baklavaian exasperated with an obedient tone. "I-I will go n-now."
[...take the phone...with you...]
"..." she froze in place. Her right arm had pulled the phone away from her ear, but could still hear. Curling her lips inward and biting down, she reluctantly put the speaker back on her ear.
"...y-y-yes sir..."
Feeling that she was being monitored completely, it was like an eye on the wall staring down at her. Feeling unsure of herself and having the shakes, she focused on not wanting to make things worse. Going to the small stand that the family used to put their accessories, her small items were there. Grabbing a house key, she put on her shoes. Listening for anything on the other end, there was nothing. Only a void of sound that seemed unnatural.
Standing up and going to the front door, she unlocked it. Opening it slowly and looking outside, she expected Primusians on the other side to ambush and invade. There was nobody. Blinking and slowly stepping outside, she closed the front door and locked it. Still not hearing anything or even breathing from her superior, it contrasted with the environmental noise.
Like a stalk contrast, the mild wind pushed tree branches to make them creek. Chirping of birds to her left sounded innocent and oblivious to her peril. Traffic in the neighborhood was mild but could hear the faints of cars passing by. Looking toward the mailbox at the end of the front lawn, it stood there emotionless. Feeling envious that the object was free from emotions, she hurriedly went down the steps.
[Captain...Aerialus signal is on the move...appears she is heading outside] Utern announced.
"Is she escaping?" Olton questioned sounding disappointed. "If she sets one foot outside of the property line...I'll personally discipline her.
Given it was near the noon hour, the temperature outside was not at its highest point. However, it was mildly comfortable given the weather. Walking now on the pathway with the house phone to her ear, a part of her felt anxiety was waiting to snatch her. Like it was hovering over her like a stalker. Unable to shake her head from fearing that the captain would comment, she beelined to the mailbox.
Getting in front of it, she stared at the small door. Paranoia was sprinkling wonders of something inside that would explode in her face. Telling herself under her breath that no such thing would happen, suspicion kept filling her mind faster than she could calm herself. Biting her lip and reaching for the door flap, she grasped it and pulled it down. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, there were a bundle of envelopes.
[...there is one...addressed to you...open it] his voice stated clearly.
"..." Aerialus flinched and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she opened her eyes.
"Y-Yes sir."
[...she has stopped on the sidewalk...and is standing there...based on the map, it appears to the household's postal box] the Commander reported.
"..." the Captain narrowed his eyes. Turning to the cockpit area, he let his authority be known.
"How long till we reach the target?"
"Within 5 earth minutes Captain," one of the pilot's replied.
"Tell me Commander...what do you think...what fate she will choose?"
[Can't say for sure Captain...but there is one plausible factor]
"...that damn...neighbor...thing..." he muttered with hints of frustration.
Cycling through pieces of mail, there was one article addressed to her. Blinking surprised for having something of earthling parcel, she carefully put the others back in the metal container. Looking at the envelope and turning it around, there was nothing out of the ordinary from other mail looking pieces. Leaning her head left and holding the phone between her head and shoulder, it freed up her left hand. Gingerly opening up the folded paper, there was a single folded document inside.
"T-There's...a paper i-inside," she commented.
[Read it]
"Y-Yes sir," she nodded to no one. Going through the document, its contents became incredibly heavy and shattering on her mind. The obedient voice had been right all along. All of this had been planned. It was just a matter of whenever the masters were tired of this ploy.
[Have you read...it?] he asked with a stoic tone.
"...y-y-y..." Aerialus tried to speak. Tears were falling down her face while her voice was stuck in her throat. Struggling to stay normal and not breakdown, she was losing. She could feel her willpower leaking out of her and burning on fumes. Stuttering an inhale, her voice became small.
"...y-y-yes..."
[...good...turn left...and look...at the sky...] the coldness of his voice pierced through her.
"..." the Baklavaian felt her body shaking.
Grasping at anything to keep herself contained, a trembling left hand grasped the phone as she straightened her head. Feeling her entire body tensing up, she slowly looked upward. Unable to turn her neck, she slowly turned herself. Wiping the water away from her eyes with her right hand, her vision became semi-clear. However, she could see something in the sky and recognized it. It made her feel that her fate was now nailed inside of a coffin.
[We...are here...to take you...home] the Captain voiced with no emotion. Strangely, he did a slow and long inhale.
[...Howwwwever...there is something...you can do...to lessen your...transgressions]
"..." Aerialus couldn't respond from being in a semi-shocked, semi-turmoiled state.
[That pesky neighbor...the one you keep...staring at...has killed two of my...people] he explained. [If you...infiltrate...and manage to find...the other slave...by the time we arrive...I will forgo...your punishment]
"..." she stared and blinked from feeling too many emotions swimming in her mind. Seeing the ship inch closer and closer, her eyes slowly looked at the neighbor's house. Feeling her eyes widen, the front door was still opened ajar; however, there were no blue orbs staring at her.
[What will your fate be slave?] the man voiced in what seemed like dark amusement. [Surrender...or aid your Masters?]
"..." Aerialus responded by breathing heavier and faster. Looking back up at the sky, she began to fidget. Looking back at the neighboring house, her eyes darted back to her host family's home.
[Go there...and I will personally...drag your unconscious body...into an isolation cell] he voiced with condemnation.
"...!?" the Baklavaian let out a terrified yelp.
Dropping the phone to the ground and shaking all over, terror was infecting her quickly. Panicking from mentally processing that two of the three options would lead to her being hurt or worse, she readily choose the remaining one. Looking at the ajar door, she moved forward. Feeling sluggish as if her blood was cold and slowed down circulation, she clenched her teeth hard. Without thinking, she ran as fast as she could to the neighbor's entrance.
[Aerialus has moved...rapidly approaching the neighbor's entrance]
"..." Olton grunted. Standing up and heading towards the cockpit, Utern continued.
[Captain...she entered the home] he stated somewhat surprised.
"Oi," the Captain spoke tapping on the shoulder of one of the pilots. "How long till we get there?"
"About 2 minutes sir."
"Go faster."
"Any faster Captain and the aerospace division will be notified," the Primusian squad leader spoke nearby. "One of our teams was confronted for going over the airspeed limit. Any acts of resistance sir and the locals take it as an act of hostility."
"Damn it," Olton stated out loud. "Utern. I want dictation of her every move."
Rushing into the home from opening the door, she readily closed it. Turning around and putting her back against the door, she felt everything was slowly going numb. Bypassing her obedient self and tuning out the defiant one, her eyes scanned around. Immediately, she felt the air was very still. Almost like being in space despite being on a planet and in someone's home.
Pushing off the door carefully and hunching her shoulders a little, she took a couple of steps forward. Stopping in her tracks, she remembered what she saw from the window in her room. Feeling fear snatch her arms, she shook and slowly looked up at the ceiling. With the drapes closed at the windows and the foreshadowing everywhere, only small amounts of natural light hit the ceiling. As if she triggered something, a heavy footstep was heard from above.
"...!?" Aerialus felt her legs weakened and shake.
Immediately covering her mouth to not make a sound, she looked for a place to hide. To her right was the living room. At the end of the space led to a doorway to what seemed like stairs to the second floor. Hearing the second heavy footstep, it gave the impression of going in the direction of the stairs. Glancing to her left, a hallway intersection was seen. Continuing forward seemed to show a dining room.
Cautiously tip-toeing that way, the third heavy thud came. Reaching the intersection and looking left, the pathway led to rooms. Looking back at the space ahead of her, the wall on her right ended and exposed to what seemed to be a kitchen. Going alongside the wall and peering slowly, the loud footstep was further away. Seeing that the room was a dining room to kitchen combo, it seemed all normal despite the dishwasher running.
The aspect of an appliance being on with the dark environment setting inside the home seemed odd. Almost like it was out of place. Turning her head towards the sliding glass door, she rapidly pulled herself back to be out of sight. Pushing her back against the wall and struggling to keep her breathing controlled, cold sweat developed on her forehead. Between the gaps of the full height blinds, there were numerous silhouettes appearing to stand outside. All seemed to be looking in despite having no definable features.
'W-W-W-What!? W-W-Who!?' Aerialus's mind frantically questioned.
Jumping from fright, the heavy footstep seemed to echo from the living room on her left. Her flight instincts engaged to where she quietly rushed forward into the hallway. Seeing doors coming to her left and right, none of them were open. Not focusing on that, she continued forward. Reaching the end of the hallway, there were two doorways opposite of each other. Their doors were open enough to see what was inside.
[Aerialus is traversing deeper into the home...more than the previous two scouts] Commander Utern observed.
"...access frequency 923-TE...and tell me her bio-readings," Olton demanded with an even tone. Walking back to where he sat, he held a peeved face.
[Accessing frequence 923-TE...bio-readings are on the monitor...she is-]
"If she has no elevated levels...then we know she conspired with the neighbor," the Captain interrupted stroking his beard. "If she does have elevated levels...well...how typical of Baklavaians to falter at their last moments of guilt."
[...sir...her readings are more than elevated...seems similar to ones seen when an individual is being hunted]
"Then her readings are normal...for someone to break the rules and not feel guilty would be abnormal and a threat to this ship."
"1 minute till touchdown sir."
"Keep me posted Utern. This line will now stay open for the duration of this...recovery of assets."
[...yes sir...]
The right one appeared to be a bedroom. Seemingly large, there was a bed against the backwall followed by a couple of furniture pieces. Unable to see the rest, she flinched hard from hearing a soft haggard breath release. Darting her head back down the hallway, whatever was upstairs seemed to be in the living room now. Its footsteps made her believe that this was not a human. The cold sweat had now developed on her back while the ones on her forehead were dripping down her face.
Shaking her head hard to focus, her hands were fidgeting. Keeping her mouth closed and breathing hard and quick through her nose, she turned to the other door opening. Looking inside, it was a narrow space with a short walk to a staircase. Leading up to the 2nd floor, there was enough illumination to see where she was going. Quickly stepping inside, she closed the door behind her quietly. Seeing that there was a lock mechanism above the handle, she engaged it to feel a sense of security.
"...MMMMAAAAAHHHHH..." a voice from the other side of the door came to life.
"...!?" Aerialus closed her mouth with both of her hands hastily. With an expression of extreme stress and being terrified, she began to back up in small steps. Tripping over her feet, she fell backwards. Able to soften the impact of landing on the floor on her rear, the door handle jiggled.
"...LLLLLOOOOCCC?...WWWWHHHHYYYYYY?" a deep, reverberating being questioned lethargically.
"...!?" the Baklavaian hyperventilated while shaking with horror.
Screaming in her head to move and escape, she let go of her mouth. Using her hands and feet, she moved backwards as fast as possible. Impacting with the bottom step of the stairs with her lower back, it instantly hurt. Letting out a painful exhale of breath, something slammed into the door with much force. It rumbled the frame causing creeks and pops of its wood material. The action caused a pulse wave of terror and adrenaline to pump faster through her system.
Feeling the aching subsiding quickly, she turned around and began crawling up the stairs. Unable to contain her breathing and composure, she let out sounds of struggling and someone filled to the brim with apprehension. Spiraling upwards and turning to the right, she could see the top of the steps. Hearing a loud break followed by something crashing to the floor, a rumbling, low decibel sigh occurred. Letting out a soft whimper, the slave reached to the top of the stairs.
Scrambling herself over the stairs, there was a door a short distance away. Getting up and running towards it, the being below rushed to the stairs. Reaching the door and snatching at the handle, she opened it quickly. Getting inside and closing it, she frantically patted around for a turn lock. Finding a deadbolt latch, she engaged it when a massive grunt was heard on the other side. Immediately backing away, she ran into something.
"...uha...uha...uha-uha-uha-uha-uha," Aerialus breathed short and quickly staring hard at the door.
Feeling herself shake uncontrollably, paranoia whispered in her mind that something was behind her. Too scared to turn around, she moved her eyes to the left corners of her socket. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, the room seemed not a lit as the floor below. Darting her eyes to the right, there was only a wall. Feeling drips of cold sweat go down her back, a monstrous voice came.
"...SSSLLLLAAAVVVV..." the being on the other side of the door spoke.
"...!?" the Baklavaian felt herself have a delayed reaction.
Feeling weak from breathing so fast for an extended period of time, her body began to react to it. Becoming dizzy and unfocused, she swayed to the left losing her balance. Thinking she would hit the floor, something stopped her from falling. Not able to register what it was, it was cool to the touch and calming. Staying leaning against it and just focusing on breathing, her body seemed to calm down enough to reset. After several seconds, her brain registered that everything became very quiet.
"..." Aerialus blinked and slowly looked around with her eyes.
"...W...e...L...c...O...m...E..." a haunting voice spoke above her.
"...!?" she froze with horror.
Something was slithering up her left side. It was both holding her from falling and slowly wrapping itself around her. Feeling herself shake uncontrollably again, a cold and wet appendage snaked itself around her neck. Ending under her chin, it forced her to tilt her head up slowly. By the time she was looking straight up, her eyes widen with terror. The piercing sapphire blue orbs were staring at her. And they were attached to something that filled her with absolute dread.
"...a...E...r...I...a...L...i...U...s..."
"HIIEE-HIEEE-HIIEEE-!?" the female let out hyperventilating scared yelping breaths. Squirming from feeling the tentacles move, one thin end rested perpendicularly to her mouth. Water began to tear out of her eyes as the orbs got closer. Its dull illuminating glow showed only glimpses of what this creature's form was. The partially see through mouth was the last thing she saw.
"...n...E...i...G...h...B...o...R..."