Excerpt: station sm9xv17

With a jerk, Ardley opened his eyes and sat up. Looking around he tried to get a sense of bearing. Tried to put together what was happening to him. He was on what seemed to be some kind of table in a room that appeared to be underground. At least, the walls had the same appearance of the ground he had studied earlier when he was out with his team. His team. Where were they? Were they also being held in rooms like this?
Standing up he crossed over the door and tried to open it but it wouldn’t budge. He walked back across the room and sat back down. A few seconds later the door opened a few inches and closed again. The next thing Ardley knew there was a round orange thing perched on his knee.

Do not be afraid, earthling. You will not be harmed here.

Ardley jumped up off the table and the orange thing fell to the ground.

“This can’t be happening. I’m having some kind of hallucination.” he said.

Not quite. You’re perfectly sane…inhibited, yes, but sane.

“What are you?” he asked looking at the orange thing that still sat in the floor where it fell when he stood up.

There’s not a word for me in your language. And your words don’t really adapt to what we call ourselves.

“How are you talking to me? You don’t have a mouth.”

I can communicate with your mind without having to vocalize.

Curious, Ardley stepped over and leaned close to the orange thing. Without warning it puffed up and flattened itself against his face. Ardley jumped up and waved his hands around trying to pull it off but was unsuccessful.

Calm down earthling.

Ardley could hear the laughter in the creature’s voice.

After a gentle brushing sensation, Ardley was able to see again. Turning his head he saw that the creature was now sitting on his shoulder.

“Do you have a name or something I can call you?” he asked.

We will have that discussion later. Those that I work with sent me to tell you that the next days and weeks will be difficult for you but the results will be worth it.

“I don’t understand. Where am I? Where is my team?

Your team has returned to their station. You are the first. The others may visit us later. we must wait and see how things go with you.

“These others you work with, are they like you?” Ardley asked.

The creature rolled down his body to the ground.

They are not like me. You will not see them but they are watching. They’re going to fix you. Restore you to what you were created to be.

Though he tried to think what the creature could mean, Ardley could not arrive at an answer.

“I don’t understand.”

Not yet earthling. But you will. You will see me later.

The door opened again and the creature disappeared. Reaching up with both hands Ardley wiped his face. I just met an alien creature on an uninhabited planet. Central Command was wrong.