Chapter 9
The aliens attempt to better understand the human while he seeks to find weakness in their prison.
Young heard them chatter and grumbled knowing he couldn't understand fully what their plans were for him. His testing of the invisible force that kept him inside this cell had not as he intended, resulted in them checking on him. He would have to consider other options. The cell frame could have a solution, but his head still ached and he couldn't see straight never mind think of a plan. He sat against the wall and looked at where the chatter came from. It had been silent for a while until finally, someone appeared outside his cell flanked by two other greys armed with the same weapon that had knocked him out. The grey took great care in putting the tray down and pushing it inside. The strange coloured contents of the plate looked unpalatable and the rotten smell made him scrunch his nose. But as if to remind him he couldn't think on an empty stomach, he heard himself growl. He knelt and noticed they had given him a tiny fork-spoon-shaped tool to eat the slop. He scooped some and tasted it. He chewed a while and swallowed. Whatever this food was, his body did not enjoy it. He jumped to his feet, kicking the tray aside, he ran to where the barrier was and projectile vomited along the edges. Some of it rebounded back onto him. He stepped back, using his arm to wipe his lips clean he afterwards looked back at the spilt mess while his observers chattered, pointed, and sneered with those gangly grey fingers of theirs.
“Not meat!” He launched the remains of what was on the tray at the barrier. He saw the flicker of fear in their eyes as they jointly jumped back. He also saw the barrier rippling, losing cohesion.
Does it fear liquids too?
He began making gestures that looked like he was scooping water. Do they even know what water is?
They all looked confused until another alien showed up. This one was familiar to Young. The alien had somehow survived being punted by him. The man spat on the floor in disgust. The alien urged those present to leave and held up the palm of their hand. A projection emerged showing a stream of water. If not for the barrier, he would have reached for it. The alien spoke in large confusing clicks that made him raise an eyebrow. A few minutes later, the same aliens from before showed up with a bowl of clear liquid. Water? They carefully slid it through the barrier and Young crouched down to scoop the liquid into his mouth. The sudden tang on his tongue made him bat it aside. The alien nodded and sent them away again, annoyed at this strange game, Young gestured from himself to the alien and pulled a finger across his neck. When the aliens returned the bowl was once more slid inside. He stared at his bruised, burned, and bloody face in the transparent bowl. For little men, they had caused a lot of trouble for him. He crouched as he had done previously and scooped the not water into his mouth. To his surprise, his body did not reject it. It left his throat no longer dry and even the pain in his head subsided a little. It changed nothing of what he thought about them. He was still their prisoner and he had no plans to remain that way. He spat at the force field and to his satisfaction it went through and landed on the alien's cheek. They made a mild gesture in wiping it off. They shrugged and walked away.
I’ll kill you all. That’s not a threat but a promise. I’m not staying here. And when I'm done, you'll regret ever thinking you could contain me.