Page 4 of Her Alien Matchmaker
Nelly: How’s the little genius?Still consumed with all things science?
Me: You know it.
Nelly: One day, he’ll be the one running the show at our facility.
The notion of Aaron emulating me didn’t seem as good as I had imagined.
Me: Meh.We’ll see.I’m hoping he’ll choose an entirely different path in life, ya know?
Nelly: I hear ya.If you’re not busy for lunch tomorrow, hit me up.The lab is doing an in-service and then getting a longer lunch break.We can go to the cafeteria and see what kind of slop they’re offering to their elite XVU Research Unit staff.
Me: Lol.Sounds risky, but I’m in.
Nelly: Good.I really worry about you sometimes, being cooped up with your research and putting in such long days.You need to get out more and enjoy life.XVU may be our job, but it shouldn’t consume our life, too.
Me: I know, I know.I’ve actually been contemplating doing something different when my contract ends.Maybe my own practice or getting a teaching position.
Nelly: I think those are great ideas.I’m sure Aaron would love more time with you, too.
Me: I’m sure he would.See you tomorrow!??
Aaron thought the world of me, and it felt as if I’d let him down, that I wasn’t doing as much to help mankind as I’d thought.Between Subject Forty-eight and Aaron’s innocent questions, a deep sense of unease rolled around in my belly.What would the younger me, the person I was right after med school, think of what I’m doing now?
Stop thinking about the past and focus on the present.It was a long day.Why second-guess the work…my job?
Following my own advice, I locked the doubts away and began reading to Aaron, who followed along, already grades ahead of other children his age.I whispered, “Everything I do, I do for you, little guy.”
Chapter 3
Iperusedthemorning’slabreport, confirming Subject Forty-eight’s myelin sample had what I needed to finally connect the missing dots with our defense program.XVU soldiers fitted with implants replicating Volderen neurons and genes would be our crowning achievement…mycrowning achievement.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, focusing on a center of calmness.My pinky hovered over theEnterkey.Once medical command received confirmation, the alien would be of no use to the Super Soldier program.
Which means I might as well be signing his death warrant.
Why did it matter?I’d worked on a dozen Volderens, concentrating on the greater good their sacrifices would mean.But Jetarin?Yesterday, his words stirred something shameful and deep within my soul.
Focus.Bring him in for a final backup sample, collect my paycheck, and remember why I signed up for this.I exhaled, imagining my doubts and fears flowing away with my breath.Right.I chose this jobe because of my son.Aaron is in one of the most prestigious schools for gifted children in the state, at no cost to me, thanks to XVU and my work.I won’t allow him to scrape and crawl his way out of poverty like me to get an education, to become someone.
I tappedEnterand linked the report to the alien’s medical record, sealing my decision.The computer let out awhooshas the email reached my superiors.
Pressing the cold intercom button, I directed my next words to the guards at the desk outside the lab.“Bring Subject Forty-eight, please.”
Through the window, the young sergeant from yesterday, Rychek, glanced up from his laptop.His eyes met mine.“I don’t have orders to bring him from his cell today, Ma’am.”
“I cleared it with Major Greist.It’ll be quick.We need one last sample before we finish his cycle.Oh, and bring his damaged lifecord from the research lab.Tell them I need it for an hour or so then I’ll send it back.”The Volderen lifecords, a piece of dull metal they wore like a watch or a bracelet, connected the aliens to their ships; that much we knew, but it also linked to their health.Our scientists had been trying for years to reverse engineer the tech, but so far, no luck.What if we’ve been looking at the wrong things for activation?Instead of using DNA, what if the lifecord was triggered by another method, such as brain wave activity?
Either way, I wanted to examine one with my own eyes, maybe even see if I could simulate an activation by triggering its neurons.
Rychek nodded and sent the younger service member to fetch the subject.He tapped the intercom button once more.“We’re using the collar this time.I don’t want to take any more chances like yesterday.Honestly, I’ll be glad to get rid of that one.There’s something about him that gives me the creeps.”
I prepped my surgical table.No need for other team members today.This would be a quick, minimally invasive procedure.“Really?”
“Yes.He’s too calm for someone who should be in a lot of pain, like yesterday when he woke up.”The sergeant went back to staring at his computer, then typed something on this keyboard.
I frowned, thinking of yesterday’s actions.Is there something I’m missing here?A side effect we haven’t noticed?Before I could finish the train of thought, the soldier used his access card to open the outer door to the lab and pushed the huge alien inside, the soldier’s rifle pointed at the Volderen’s back.A blue collar of glowing metal surrounded the being’s neck; the device was similar to a dog shock collar, bringing anything under a thousand pounds to its knees with the press of a button.
“To the table, you piece of shit.”
