Page 43 of Claimed by the Alien Warrior Triad

The scientist in charge of the site is eager to show his prize to someone new – especially somebody as senior and important as the Secretary of Defense.

“It’s incredible,” he tells me, leading me into the bowels of the scientific institute. “What’s more, I think we’ve only tapped a tiny percentage of this material’s true potential. The licensing and patenting of such an energy source will be quite a morass of technicalities. For example, the substance itself seems to defy our attempts to quantify it in a meaningful way. It’s practically classified by the impossibility of trying to classify it.”

Sensing the chance for more funding, or increased recognition, the scientist winks at me in an over-familiar fashion.

“Of course, that will be your prerogative, Madam Secretary.”

He leads me to the Orb, and I struggle not to show the reverence on my face.

There it is - encased in glass. A glowing, shimmering sphere that’s blacker than black; more like theabsenceof anything, than being anything in particular.

I stare at it for a second – not caring the impression it gives this scientist, or my staff.

I don’t care. I’ve spent twenty years play-acting a roll to get here –right here.

I stare at the Orb, and it’s like greeting an old friend.

The blue-black ball hovers, as if it is instilled with power.

“Does it… Does it float on its own?” I ask.

“Peculiar, is it not? This substance seems to possess an innate energy. Because it’s such a unique substance, from what I understand you’ll be drafting the non-disclosure forms about this project in such a way that completely prevents any mention of the substance. Please, watch, a small demonstration.” The scientist flips a switch.

The Orb suddenlypulseswith anger, as electricity is pulled from it and into a long wire. I watch the readings on the dial going up, higher and higher.

“This could power an entire block of homes!” The scientist breaths. “Imagine, if we’re able torecreatethis substance.”

I look into the Orb.

It’s angry. Violated.

The scientists have beensuckingfrom it for four decades; like vampires.

But it possesses more power than they could ever claim. It is eternal. Its anger is mitigated by the knowledge that it will continue long after these human parasites have turned from walking apes to bleached bones, and then into dust itself.

Don’t ask me how I know this – I justfeltit.

It was like the Orb was speaking to me, through the glass. Like itrecognizedme – knowing I’d seen others like it. Understood its power.

I respected it, and it returned the compliment in kind.

As I stood there, surrounded by oblivious scientists and staffers, Ifeltwhat the Orb was saying to me. It knew what I wanted. It could give it to me…

…but it demanded a sacrifice.

A sacrifice… What kind of sacrifice?

Like, abloodsacrifice?

I stare deep into the orb and the blacknesschanges.Blue streaks of lightning flare out, and the scientist jumps back while I stand transfixed. I step forward, and I seethroughtime and space.

It’s them!

My jaw drops as the Orb shows me the jungle planet. I glance left and right, but if the general or the scientist can see what I am seeing, they make no indication of it. I watch as the Orb shows me Stryker, Brigg and Haleon dragging the head of a huge scorpion beast into the dark cave. Somehow I can tell it’s showing me the past, but it doesn’t feel like I’m watching a movie. It feels like I’m really there. I watch as the aliens drag the head to a huge Orb in their cavern the size of a warhorse and the Orbgobblesup the sacrifice eagerly. Then time in the vision flickers forward and a rift in reality is opened in the middle of the plains for the Aurelians to capture me.

The three Aurelian sacrificed the head of some beast to the Orb to get me.

I know I will never be able to bring one ofthoseinto this scientific institute – even as Secretary of Defense, I couldn’t expect to be allowed to – fuck, I don’t know; sacrifice agoat, or something, to the Orb.

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