Page 1 of Alien Abduction for Experts
The Intergalactic University Station. Two IG years ago.
Professor Katila wiped her three eyes before turning around. She wasn't someone used to crying, nor was she willing to show her emotion in public. Even though her boyfriends had certainly given her every reason to cry.
"You can't do this," she snapped, using anger to hide her despair. "You can't leave me."
Hex sighed but made no attempt to reach out for her like she'd hoped. "It's over, Kat. You know that. We all do. It's time to move on."
"It's not over. I refuse to let you go."
Hex pointed at the ship behind him. "You can't stop us. You had your chance, and you blew it. Once the waves settle, you're very welcome to visit us."
"But maybe wait a few IG months," Hix muttered, exchanging a look with his torso-brother.
Katila was tempted to stamp her feet, but she was a well-respected professor and there were students and teachers milling all around the spaceport. She couldn't lose her composure in front of them. Maybe that was the reason why Hex and Hix had refused to say goodbye at their apartment and insisted she come to the port instead. She wasn't going to make a scene here. Back home, it would have been an entirely different matter - which was the reason why her boyfriends were about to break up with her.
"If you go, I'll make sure to turn your lives into misery," Katila hissed. With her eyes blazing, she looked nothing like the gentle, benevolent beings Karangi were known to be. But she had always been different. She'd tried to fit in, pretending to be someone she wasn't, but now she was at the end of her tether. How dare they leave her. She was one of the richest females on the station. She was beautiful, intelligent, and excellent in bed. Multiple lovers had confirmed that over the years. So, she had cheated on her boyfriends, big deal. They knew how hot some of her students were, how irresistible. It was part of her research to discover the sexual practices of other species, especially those who might be suitable for future abduction experiments. Hix and Hex may be lovely, but they weren't as sexy as some of the other males she'd slept with.
"Goodbye, Kat," Hix said firmly. "We're going now."
They turned and walked up the ramp of their ship, swaying their hips. She loved the way they walked, so confident and alluring. Hix and Hex shared one torso, but they were two separate beings. If Katila wanted to keep the routine she was used to, she'd now have to find two boyfriends. If they didn't occupy the same body, she'd need more space in her apartment, an extra bed, more food. It would get complicated quickly. There weren't many Gemi’i left, so the chances of getting a new set of Gemi’i mates were slim.
Katila trembled with barely suppressed fury as the ramp ascended into the ship. Hix and Hex hadn't even waved to her one last time. They were on the way to a new life, leaving her in pieces.
She balled her long, thin fingers into fists. She'd find them. For now, she'd focus on her work, but one day, she'd take her revenge. They'd made the biggest mistake of their lives when they decided to leave her.
Slowly, she walked back to her apartment, which was going to look ever so empty now that her boyfriends' belongings had gone. She'd have to get used to being single. Maybe it was a good idea not to search for new partners right away. She'd have so much more time for her studies now that she didn't have to entertain her boyfriends in the evenings. She'd be able to take more students into her bed without having to hide it. Yes, maybe single life wasn't so bad after all.
But she wasn't going to forget about this insult. Hix and Hex had it coming.
Trish
My ears hurt from the alarms blaring at me from all sides. I didn't get why the guys wouldn't turn them off. We all knew we were screwed; we didn't need a siren to remind us.
Our teacher was attacking us. Not something I could have predicted. It was even less likely than my own alien abduction a few weeks ago. Even though I hadn't believed in aliens when I still lived on Earth, it had still been something thatcouldhave happened. There were enough crackpot reports about strange lights in the sky, disappearing cattle and alien experimentation on naked humans. But a university professor firing at my spaceship trying to kill me and my mates? Nope, never imagined that to happen.
I wasn't sure how long the Jade's shields would hold. She wasn't a ship made for battle. I'd asked the guys once and they'd shown me the weapon system they'd installed as a defensive measure against space pirates. Matar was shooting back at the ship attacking us, but they kept returning fire. I assumed they had a ship made for this with proper guns and shields.
"What do you want?" I shouted at Professor Katila. She was still showing on our screen, seemingly completely relaxed. Bitch. I had no doubt that she'd let us die if we didn't do what she wanted.
The Professor smiled at me. Before all this, when I first met her, I would have taken it to be a friendly, indulgent smile. Now, I knew better. It was just a façade. Beneath all her beauty, she was rotten to the core.
"I want you to do something for me," she said sweetly, still sounding a little crazed. No surprise about that. "And you'll have to promise me you'll do it before I agree to cease the attack."
"Do what?" Xil growled.
"That I shall tell you after you agree to our deal."
"Not happening."
"Then I wish you a lovely death."
She turned away from the camera but didn't end the transmission. She was toying with us. She knew she had us exactly where she wanted. We didn't want to die and we stood no chance against our attackers, so our only option was to agree to her demands.
"Why us?" I asked her. "Can't you get someone else to be your lackeys?"
Without turning around, Katila said, "I need this to stay under the radar. No traces, no paperwork. And your males have proven themselves to be capable abductors."
"You're going to make us abduct someone again?" Xil asked. His face was contorted in anger and worry. He knew we didn't really have a choice. I wanted to reach out and hug him, but I was clinging to my chair. They were still shooting at us and the Jade shook and wobbled. Our poor ship.
