Fifteen
Abduction
Here I lay on the cold table again not against my will, but rather of my own choosing. Mere moments ago, I just told the Empress of the Vathian’s; I would not be saving Earth from the clutches of the Gandorans. I mean, why she should care about the annihilation of Earth. Doesn’t make sense to me. Something else which doesn’t make sense is the disappearance of my socks and shoes.
The milky membrane like door quickly dissolved. In walked Empress Kellil of Vathia, alone. “You returned to the chamber without assistance. It appears as if you have an understanding of how the nanomachines work.”
She was right. I was beginning to understand the workings of the nanomachines. I just thought about something, and it happened. There wasn’t anything too complicated about that.
I did not respond as I looked up into the ceiling. “Are you not well, Eli Morningstar?” asked a concerned Kellil.
“I’m just fine. Just remove your nanomachines and send me back to Earth,” I said as I put my hands behind my head. “Also where are my socks and shoes?”
“Eli Morningstar, the process cannot be reversed,” said Kellil sharply. Oh great, now I’m stuck with microscopic machines inside of me. Frustrated, I sat up on the side of the table. “As far as your shoes and socks, they’re under the table,” Kellil said.
Getting off the table, I quickly searched for my shoes and socks. They were just as she said. I do not know why I had not seen them the first time. I quickly put them on then said, “I’m ready to go back to Earth.”
“Very well, Eli Morningstar,” said Kellil with a bit of sadness. “Before you go, please help me understand why you refuse to save your home world.”
I held my hand up so that Kellil could see the back of my hand. “You refuse to save your home world because of your hand,” said Kellil confusingly.
“Not my hand, but my skin color,” I said, pointing to my skin. A look of confusion crawled across her flat face. She still wasn’t understanding me. “Why would something as the color of your skin prevent you from saving Earth from the Gandorans?”
“Humans who are African or of African descent are thought to be inferior to all others,” I said angrily. “Because I’m inferior, I cannot handle such an endeavor.”
“Surely, not all humans with a different skin color feel that way,” said Kellil.
If she could walk a quarter of a mile in my shoes, which I finally got back, she would understand what I was saying. She most likely would cave under the pressure of being black before walking the complete quarter of a mile. Then I asked, “Why do you even care if Earth is taken over by the Gandorans?”
She did not respond. I turned to look into shiny black eyes that somehow seem sadden by that question. Had I touched a nerve? Did I find that one thing which hit home?
“Because I am all that’s left of my coterie,” said Kellil quietly. “The Gandorans, specifically one, killed everyone in my coterie.”
I did not know what to say. I saw a different side of Kellil. “Negu is more than just my advisor. He is the General which ultimately led the Vathian Defense Forces to victory. He rescued me before the Gandorans could end my life.”
“Which Gandoran was it?” I asked. “Xantha, the High Prime’s spawn,” said Kellil bitterly. Xantha or Nina Montoya, the mega reality star. She had everyone, men, women, and children, wrapped around her finger. Me personally, I did not care for her and cared even less about her now that I know she’s a murdering alien.
“With her ability to alter her appearance, she masqueraded as my mother, deceiving my father and brother,” said Kellil sadly. “She executed my mother before my eyes.”
I cannot say how she felt. I’ve never had someone killed before my eyes. I took a peek inside her head and saw the sadness. I saw her mother executed.
“I have a termination pact to fulfil on behalf of my coterie,” said Kellil. “I intend to see it fulfilled.” Now the truth was coming out. It was never about saving the people of Earth. It was about revenge, and I'm in the middle. I despised being in the middle of other’s affairs.
“I’m sorry for the loss of your coterie,” I said apologetically, “but I still can’t get involved with your quest for revenge.”
“It’s not about revenge!” screamed Kellil. “It’s about not seeing others suffer the way I have suffered!” Whoa! Another whole side to Kellil. The angry side. I probably wouldn’t like her angry. Who knows what she could do to me?
Sighing heavily, I ran my hands down my face then said, “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. Find some way to remove the nanomachines and inject them in a white guy or Asian guy. According to Hollywood and the world, they’re more suitable for this endeavor.”
“I do not know this ‘Hollywood’, but the Tabiil priestess instructed by Xon my creator has decided,” said Kellil. “She has chosen Eli Morningstar, not a white guy or Asian guy.”
She was still trying to convince me. Why? Once I had my mind made up about something, I did not change it. I would not change it, not even to save Earth. I was taught to stick to your guns. I’m sticking to my guns.
Then Kellil said something shocking. “By doing nothing, you are no better than the humans you claim that hate you.”
I was at a loss for words. I searched for a snappy comeback but didn’t have anything. The milky membrane dissolved. Kellil walked towards the opening. Stopping on the other side of the opening, she turned and said, “You will be returned to Earth shortly.”
Good, I can finally get back home because I had a taste for a pepperoni pizza with black olives, mushrooms, green peppers and an iced cold beer.