Alien kidnapping, or was it Chapter 9

Alien kidnapping, or was it
Chapter 9

Triot was screaming at the techs as more and more systems went offline. "Get the redundant systems up! If she gets loose, we are all dead!" Several men were running around trying to bring dead systems back up.

"The entire system holds it isolated; containment is steady." Several techs told Triot.

"Make sure we need as much power as we can get. It is far more cunning than you think. I want all destruct protocols in place. If it starts to escape, I want it to be dead!" Triot was shouting above the alarms.

Thantas was looking at all the leads that led to her body. Sam's ministrations had weakened several times, though one of the major ones was now disconnected. Smiling, she felt that well over half of the commands they were feeding her were gone. Searching further, she saw that the bomb that was attached to her was still in play. She thought she might 'speak' to Sam about that. He had, after all, promised to free her.

Thallus and Drivas, I will start your advancement if you are ready. I am afraid that I cannot exclude all the pain, though it will be nothing compared to what they have done to you. Thantas Tol startled for women.

Drivas was startled a moment, then answered. We are ready; if we are to set things right, we will need this.

Thantas knew she had to start as soon as possible. While most of the station was down, they would need to monitor her more closely. I'll jump on you, Thallus; afterward, you must crew the ship while Drivas recovers.

Yes, Thantas, I thank you for the chance to grow. Thallus replied.

Wait to thank me; this is dangerous, even with all the power you already have. When I finish, you will be equal to the other fifth level. You, Drivas, will become stronger after Sam than I will.

Thank you also, Thantas. A chance to do what is proper appeals to me significantly. Drivas told Thantas

As I told Thallus, don't thank me yet. This will be painful as it usually is, though; the pain will be as negligible as I can make it. Thantas advised Drivas.

If this works, then I don't think that will matter. Drivas replied.

Sam was floating back toward the crowd of grays when Queen Triada's thoughts came to him. You have done much to free them and us from the clutches of IP. For that, we all thank you.

Sam stopped a moment, floating well above the ground. You know, you could have just asked me. With all your knowledge of my people, did you think I would refuse? My god, you can feel what and who I am. Did you think that I was that shallow?

Sam felt the Queen slightly withdraw, a tinge of fear in her thoughts. We apologize to you, Sam. It has been a long time since we met someone as trustworthy as you, with the loss of all triads that have become a thing of the distant past.

Sam was nodding as the Queen informed him of these facts. I hope you find me more a friend than an enemy. It would help us work together better in the future.

Sam felt the Queen's thoughts relax. [I and many others would like that, Sam. The fact that you have re-established two triads.

Well, one for sure, though the second seems dependent upon those here now. My actions have not instilled a lot of confidence in me. Many still appear to be more fearful than much else. A worried Sam told the Queen.

You have done far more than you realize, Sam, when you saved all the females. A great many turned more in your favor. I and the few elders should be able to convince them. The Queen replied.

Sam nodded as he landed to talk to the elder. Sam was there for quite a while before he lifted and disappeared into the sky. Sighing as he made orbit, he started to look for signs of Mello's Thymp again. Shaking his head, he opened another wormhole to follow the weak trail.

In the new IP home world, the medical facility did all it could to save the seventh council. Finally, the body stopped responding as the cerebral activity dropped to zero. The IP doctor nodded as he switched off the machine, documenting everything he opened a channel. "Sixth council, the body has stopped its function. All cerebral activity recorded standing by for you."

There was a brief silence, and then an older male's voice responded. "You have performed well, doctor; a courier will arrive shortly. They will acquire the record; no one is to interfere under penalty of death."

The doctor nodded, "it is understood. All has been made ready for your courier."

"Very good; I'd hate to lose as fine of a doctor as you." The voice replied, and then the line went dead.

The sixth council nodded to the male in dark clothing, then blinked when the male seemed to vanish. After waiting a few minutes, the darkly clothed male reappeared, holding a small blinking black box and one finger up. Smiling, the council turned to enter the council chamber.

"All hail brothers of the collective." The older man said as he took his seat. Reaching out, he handed the blinking black box to the first council.

"I take it you have decided? It has been a hundred solar units years since this was necessary. With the appearance of two triads, all seven councils are needed. With this new seventh start, we will be weaker for a time. No more triads can be allowed to reform." The number one council told the sixth.

"Although he was never the best among us, he was still necessary for us to maintain the power we wield. It also appears that the Clive stone out there now might be related to the one we receive the serum from." The older male stated.

There was a collective gasp from all present. "By all that is holy," came the excited voice of the second council. "If that is true, the serum that could come from it would be far more reaching."

The rest of the councils were nodding as they awaited the candidate for the seventh council's position. A few moments later, the same younger version of the older male who had expired in the medical center arrived.

"Ah, good! You are right on time." The first council said as the young male was seized and strapped to a chair in the center of the room. "If you survive this, you will ascend to the seventh council's position."

Wrenching his arms and legs, the younger male started to curse and shout obscenities. "What is this? I thought I would be taking his place!?"

The first council leaned down as he whispered in the younger male's ear. "Oh, you will. First, you must be the one we have worked with for the last five centuries." Holding up a black blinking box, the older male smiled.

"Then HE can regain his place."

Handing the box to a tech, the first council member sat to wait with the others. Attaching the box, the tech nodded that all was ready. "We hope that you survive the transfer and aging." All the councils said as an apparatus on the wall started to hum to life. Then, the younger male’s eyes went wide as a current started flowing through the box.

All six males that were seated started to smile with sadistic glee as the screams of the young male filled the room. Ah! They all thought of the delicious sounds of torture. They all missed the old days before the rules when killing a whole planet was a more satisfying victory.

For almost an hour, they laughed like children at the torturous screams, groans, and sobbing of the one strapped in the chair. Finally, the apparatus shut down as several techs re-entered the room to check on the one strapped in.

The techs rushed around the room as they hovered around the now older-looking male. Conducting several tests, they nodded to the waiting council.

"He appears alive; all readings indicate that the transfer was successful. Nothing more can be known 'til he is conscious again." A lead tech said, to which the first council waved the techs out of the room.

An older doctor slowly entered the room a few moments later. Looking at the six other males in the room, he nodded. Bending over the now older-looking male strapped into the chair, the doctor pulled several small machines from his pocket.

In a far stronger voice than his advanced years suggested, the doctor spoke for the first time. "It appears that the transfer was successful."

Shaking his head, the doctor looked at the other six there. "You need to take far better care. Sooner or later, this may not be as feasible as five hundred years ago. All of you have at least two times now."

All six males in the room sighed; it was the same thing each time. They weren't ready to give up as quickly as the doctor was. They intended never to give up and fight as long as possible. A groaning from the male in the chair drew all their attention.

The doctor turned back to the male in the chair as he took out another apparatus. "So, council seven, feel like resuming your duties?"

The man in the chair stared at the older male doctor for a few minutes. Staring harder, he shook his head a few times to seemingly clear it. "Where in the hell am I?" Then he tried to rise, finding that he was strapped down.

"Ah! I see. I guess I killed another host. A shame the last was very strong."

Turning to the other six, a sadistic smile crossed his lips. "I hope you recorded the delicious sounds of the host dying."

The other six smiled evil and malicious. "All was recorded; the machine with the emotions was used this time. It would be best if you got the full effect. I have to say that the death of this one was so satisfying!"

"Ah, good! I will need fear and pain to grow back in strength. Afterward, we must discuss plans to rid the universe of the last of the Clive stones.

This one is far beyond those that we eliminated five centuries ago."

Several of the other six gasped at this news. "You think he knows of our existence?"

"No, though the one we draw the serum from does. She was there when half of our race was eliminated. It seems a justice that one of the ones that destroyed us sustains us." Here, the stripped-down male laughed, as did the others there.

"I still think that you need to take far better care. If you continue to go through them much more, then even our superior science might be unable to restore you." The old doctor told the seven.

"With all the advances these primitives had made, you've been unable to advance it more?" The third council spoke up.

"No, as I said, these primitives are only half as advanced as we were when our planet was destroyed. The Clive stones were the only ones on an equal footing as us. Thankfully, we got them before they got the rest of us." The doctor replied.

The doctor had turned to go when the male strapped down called out. "Do you have any suggestions for the other two Clive stones out there?"

"The other two? I was only aware of this Sam and that pitiful excuse Mellos Thymp that has been a nuisance for the past few solar years." The doctor replied that his interest suddenly peaked.

"Yes, another female is on the triad world’s first gray corner. She was half immune to the gas AFTER she had been in contact with this Sam." The seventh council revealed. This, of course, drew more gasps from all there.

The doctor's mouth was hanging open. "There were rumors five centuries ago that they had developed immunity to the gas. If this is true and this Sam has it, then I'd say that we have an extremely LARGE problem."

The doctor thought for a few more minutes, then shook his head. "If this female was affected then suddenly had a partial immunity to the gas, then it is obvious he has it. It also appears that he has developed the osmosis technique."

"I thought you said that it wasn't possible!? That we were the only race that had that ability." The third council spoke up.

"I had thought that also, though it appears that the Clive stones have it also." The doctor was deep in thought for a few more moments, then snapped his fingers. "The conclave offensive! Many went missing during that failed raid on them." Here, the doctor turned to the first council. "As I remember, you and my mates were lost in that."

The first council growled as he reached out a hand in the direction of the doctor. The doctor's eyes went wide, and he made a backhanding motion. The first council flew backward, crumpling against the wall.

"I am far stronger than any of you. Last of us or not, I will terminate you. Remember that before you attempt to do that again." The doctor hissed as the first council regained his seat.

All six councils bowed to the doctor, "We will not forget lord doctor."

With a sadistic smile, the doctor nodded and then left the room.

Drivas watched over Thallus as the female crumpled into a heap shortly after Thantas started. Sighing, Drivas could feel the increase that Thallus had made. She was almost as strong as Drivas was right now.

She will be fine, Drivas. She is a lot like you; she draws incredible strength from you. There is a reason for this that I will reveal sometime soon.

Until you are far more substantial, I am afraid both of you are at risk. Thantas told Drivas.

Drivas? A voice seemed to call out in Drivas's head. I am having trouble waking up. I feel so weak from this. I hope that it isn't this bad for you.

I will be fine, Thallus; you must regain your strength before awakening. Rest now; no more thought usage; Rest. Drivas replied to Thallus.

I'm sorry we must hold off on my mind-strengthening Thantas. Drivas said as she again mopped Thallus’s forehead.

You are far more robust than you think, my dear Drivas. At present, you are almost an equal to the other fifth level. Though I have to tell you your thought talk is far more potent than any other but Sam and me. Thantas told Drivas.

Drivas could only stare ahead in shock; she was equally strong. When in the hell had she gotten that strong?

When both of us are stronger, we can help release you. I would very much like to finally meet you. Drivas said with sincerity.

I also would like to meet both of you. It would take far too long to strengthen both of you for that. Sam has released part of what is holding me from my body. I am afraid he is the only one strong enough to remove me. Thantas replied to Drivas.

It is a shame you have done so much for both of us; we can do practically nothing for you here. Thanks, I feel closer to you than anyone except Thallus. Drivas revealed to Thantas.

I may hold you to that one day soon. Thantas said to a shocked Drivas. Sleep, Drivas; the rest will help you to recover faster when I start on you.

Drivas's eyes remained wide at these words from the female voice with which she felt a great kinship. Then, just as suddenly, she felt the fog of sleep as it overtook her.

Sam was in the wormhole for maybe another thirty minutes when he was suddenly spit out. Tumbling to a stop, he looked around for what had interrupted his trip.

Was this what you’re doing, Queen Triada? Sam asked what was happening nearby, though he was still too far away to tell.

No, Sam, we no longer trust you to do this anymore. It appears that you are in what the IP calls the first sector. The Queen advised Sam.

The first sector? I thought that was what you were in. Sam stated, needing clarification.

No, we are in the last or seventh sector, as the IP has labeled them. To explain the seven sectors our galaxy has been divided into by them. There are seven council members, a collective of the IP that oversees operations in each industry. Queen Triada explained.

Sam paused a moment when he heard the Queen's words. Wait, you said a collective? Where have I heard that before? Sam thought as the Queen awaited Sam's further thoughts. I got it! It was before those disguised as the grays attacked. I felt strong beliefs stronger than yours but weak still to me.

May I see Sam? the Queen asked. Yes, I see. This was an old mind with power added. Did it attempt to harm you?

It tried, though I pushed it out and back. It said: ‘So you are far stronger than we initially thought. It has been a very long time since we brought the full power of the collective to bear. It will be good to have them in use again. Unfortunately, you destroyed the weakest. We will... NO! What are you doing? STOP! A!’ After that, I felt the mind... uh, stop? Sam told the Queen.

From all you said, it was the council for this sector. What you felt was the mind receding so it could heal. The two triads weakened him so that you could defeat him. The sad thing is that the council will return within a seven-star period. For now, we will be able to strengthen more. The Queen's thought replied.

So these councils are the controlling force behind the IP, Sam questioned.

I'm afraid so; the fact that you trounced the weakest holds excellent promise. The Queen replied. The world you see not far from you is the furthest out of the first-sector corner worlds. Please repair the triad there as you did here.

Sam could see a vast, orange-colored world a great distance away. He could also see what appeared to be a significant contingent of IP ships around the planet. Rubbing his chin, he thought he might have to go in differently this time. True, he didn't owe the IP assholes anything. He still wanted to kill as few as possible.

Landing on a nearby moon, Sam sat to think about it. The fact that Queen Triada was known so far and wide might also give him more leverage. Finally making up his mind, Sam took off as fast as he could, practically disappearing. A mere minute later, he suddenly appeared outside the largest city on the planet.

Walking out, he concentrated on making his appearance change. Looking down, he changed a few things to appear more like those natives here.

Moving on, he was nearing the city when an IP patrol stopped him.

"Slave? What are you doing walking here? You should be at the mines or fields." Sam nodded as he took off, running back to the forest. At that moment, several heavily armed IP troops entered the woods near where he had. Sam shook his head. Well, he thought so much for the element of surprise as he took out the first two who passed him. He thought it would be a long day as he took another three that suddenly appeared.



To be continued