Chapter 12
Mokvel and the Chieftain share a tense conversation and then later they pay a visit to the other hominin of Earth that the Blues' captured, the Sapien.
Previously: Another subspecies of humanity has been captured by the belligerent Blue aliens. The Sapien simply sits in cell and reflects on what else he could have done.
Mokvel stared out of the window down to a planet turned red by his own people’s hubris. This happened everywhere they went. Whenever he and his Greys made any significant discoveries, the vultures of Zeta would soon come to pick over the remains. Urlak had had the last laugh in the end. He may have died, and part of Mokvel regretted his passing, but all this had happened because they had allowed themselves to be complacent around the humans. If they could only see what we’ve done to their world in the short time since we’ve been here. They'll never stop hunting us when it's their turn.
“It’s typical of a Grey to stare at things they could never hope to own. More concerned with research and with no real thoughts to its application.”
Mokvel half turned and saw the taller Blue Zetan approach. He knew this one, not personally, but he had heard stories of their exploits in the untamed regions of space. The Blue Zetans prided themselves on their warlike culture and any races they subjugated but soon saw themselves taken, moulded and forced to participate in survival games that realistically saw none of them survive. If they survived the games, it was less a reward of freedom and more an excuse to place their newest soldiers on the next battlefield and let loose the dogs of war.
“Do you not see the beauty of this world, of its potential?”
“That potential might still be realised even after all we’ve done. Nature isn’t static, Mokvel. I thought you, of all people, would know that. She’s scarred, yes, but all wounds heal,” said the Chieftain, leaning down towards him.
“Why did you seek me out?”
“I want you to lead the research and development of our newest warriors. While my people are no slouches, your own expertise would be invaluable.”
“And I guess I can’t say no.”
“Unless you wish to be deployed out of the airlock.”
“Fine, since I don’t have any real choice. Let me guess, you wish for my help to better understand the Neanderthal.”
“Not just them, but their cousins, too.”
“Cousins?”
The Chieftain placed a big hand on Mokvel’s back. “The Neanderthal you encountered are just one of many on that world that we have catalogued so far. Each of the Terran variations differs in size and intellect. Did you know that at least some of them took down a mech warrior?”
Even Mokvel had to look up in shock. Those metal monsters are nigh unstoppable, but if this is true, then the Terrans might yet have the last laugh.
“These other Terrans, take me to them.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist.”
Sometime later, Sapien opened his eyes. He found meditation helped him maintain his nerves. In this cell, it took all his self-control to not just angrily pace. He wanted to scream out more than anything. He heard what sounded like footsteps, distant at first until two shadows blotted out his light and plunged him into a partial darkness. A single slot of light covered his face and he could just make out two aliens. One Grey and the other Blue.
They spoke to one another in a language he couldn’t understand, but it wouldn’t be that way for long as once more they spoke in the human tongue.
“So this one can take down a mech warrior? I have to admit, I expected him to be as bulky as the other one.”
“Yes, while visually identical, his people seem leaner, smaller, but what they lack in size, they more than make up for, up here,” said the Blue alien, pointing to the top of their head.
Sapien had finally had enough, and he stood up. “Are you done mocking me!”
“I did not intend to mock you, I was just impressed,” said the Grey alien. “I say we test to see if the mech warrior was a fluke. Is there anything on this ship of similar size, preferably not made of metal?”
“Now that you mention it, there is something we have kept around that is more than capable of being a physical match for this one.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“Now that would be spoiling the fun,” said the Blue alien. “We will subdue him and transfer him to a test location.”
The echo bounced off the walls of the Sapien’s cell and a few minutes later the door to his cell opened. He was soon joined by two Mech warriors and the Grey from above. The Grey was smaller than even he even realised, and while the Blues certainly had that menace to how they carried themselves. Something about the Grey betrayed uncertainty like he wanted no part of this. Still, he made the gestures necessary to get the warriors to restrain the Sapien. This allowed the diminutive Grey to get closer.
“This will take your eyes, but you will get them back. I - won’t let what’s come to pass here be the ruin of your species,” he said in a whisper. He held a long finger to his lips and eyed the Blue Chieftain above, staring down at them with malign intent in those large, deep black oval-shaped eyes of his. “I am your friend, and there are others like you. Play along, and you might just make it out of here alive.”
The Sapien cocked their head in mild confusion while pushed down to one knee. From a pouch on his side, the Grey alien produced a needle containing some unknown fluid. “Like I say, this will sting briefly. You can trust me, I promise.”
The Sapien remained uncertain as he felt cold metal prick the back of his neck. The strange serum worked almost immediately as he was plunged into darkness. Other than the light footsteps of the Grey, he could only hear the heavy thuds of the Mech warriors as they forcibly moved him forward, not giving him much chance to find his feet.
There’s something bigger happening here between the Grey and Blue. If the Grey is truly on my side, then I will need to figure out just why he is willing to help me, but first I need to survive something that may be stronger than these mech warriors!
A sinking feeling filled him as he realised the mountain he had to climb was almost insurmountable, but if he had any hope of surviving this, then climbing was his only option.