Zoo

by Phil Price

  “Where are we?” Caroline said, walking towards the three strangers. She noted with trepidation that the smaller two figures in front of her were armed.

  “As I said, you’re on Valkash. A small planet close to a yellow star.”

  “What are we doing here?” Gemma asked, standing next to Caroline.

  “The Lomogs have just come out of a long protracted war. This war has ravaged us. Valkash is a way to start recouping those losses. We have set up the planet as a giant attraction, where species from all around the cosmos can come and visit, bringing their wealth to our doors. You are to live here, showing the varying visitors what it is like on your own planet.”

  “That’s outrageous,” a man said stepping forward. “You have abducted us from our home. There are fucking laws against that.”

  “On your world yes,” 2104 said. He peered down at the man, noting the steel in his eyes. He didn’t seem intimidated by 2104’s size and appearance, which made the giant wary. He may be trouble, the giant thought, his compatriots agreeing through their neural links. “However, we are not governed by your laws. Your planet is 13,000,000,000 light-years from here. Your species is primitive, almost animal-like compared to us. No one knows that you’re here. And no one is coming to find you. You must get used to your new surroundings.”

  “And if we choose not to?” the man said defiantly.

  2104 stepped forward, a black hand grabbing the man by the throat. He lifted him easily, holding the man aloft until his head bounced off the white ceiling. “Then you will be dealt with.”

  “Leave him alone,” Caroline said. “Can’t you see that we’re all freaked out? You’ve kidnapped us, bringing us here away from our loved ones. How the fuck do you expect us to react?”

  2104 lowered the man to the floor, allowing him to stumble backwards into the villagers. He stood there, massaging his neck, eyes burning into the giant in front of him. “The Lomogs have been good to the Alliance. They helped us when we needed them most. We are in their debt. That’s why we had to do this. I appreciate that you are upset. Believe me, I do. However, nothing can be done about that now. You will be shown to your enclosure. The habitat will match your planet’s, down to the last detail. I suggest that you all make yourselves at home. That will be all for now.” 2104 walked out of the room as cries and shouts erupted from the villagers behind him. A minute later he was walking down the ship’s ramp, his hearts unusually heavy as they throbbed in his chest.

  Gemma walked into her house, closing the door slowly behind her. She slid to the floor, sobs wracking her body. The house was empty, artificial sunlight streaming in through the windows. This is not happening, she thought, her mind travelling to her loved ones. She stood up shakily, walking into the lounge. Oh my God! She thought. The scene in front of her was eerie. It’s just like home, without my family. The furniture was exactly as it was back on Earth; even the television was the same brand as the one that Hugh had picked the previous Christmas. The woman walked over to a picture on the mantelpiece, gently lifting it from the wooden surface. “Oh Christ,” she said. Gemma stood on rubbery legs, looking at a recreated photograph of her family. It had been taken a year before, at a family party. The photo she now held was slightly out of focus, not as crisp as the one that adorned her lounge back on Earth. “How did they do this?” she muttered, her voice hollow in the empty vessel that should have been her home. The picture was placed back in its place, Gemma taking a tour of her new surroundings. Each room of the small cottage was almost an exact replica of her home, 13,000,000,000 light years away. She exclaimed, almost smiled when the taps in the kitchen worked perfectly and the upstairs toilet flushed. It all seemed like a surreal dream, or nightmare in Gemma’s case. She walked into her bedroom, tears rolling down her cheeks at the sight of it. The bed looked identical to her own; even the scatter cushions were the same design. She walked over to the curtains, drawing them deliberately, blocking out the artificial light. Climbing into bed, the last thoughts were of her two boys. I will escape this place. Mummy is coming home soon.

  A few streets away, Caroline walked through her mother’s detached bungalow, tears also falling freely. “This is so fucked up,” she said as the woman stepped out of the front porch onto a gravel driveway. She leant against a red Nissan, her blue eyes scanning the recreated village. A thought occurred to her as she pushed herself from the car, her boots crunching the gravel underfoot. She navigated the tree-lined streets, heading out of the village on a country lane. Half a mile later, she pressed her hands against a solid glass wall. “We’re in a giant fucking Goldfish bowl,” she said, her eyes peering through the barrier. A steel walkway lay on the other side of the wall, with another similar glass structure only a few feet away. Caroline stood there, looking for any signs of life on the other side. Her wait was not a long one as a large animal appeared a few minutes later. “Holy fuck!” she exclaimed as a huge mammal with long red fur peered back at her. It reminded her of a bison, but larger. Much larger. It plodded forward, its six legs silently breaking through the forested undergrowth. It collided with the invisible wall, roaring in defiance. Caroline could not hear the roar. But the huge maw, filled with sharp teeth, was enough to startle her. “I hope you cannot get into our enclosure,” she said, her heartbeat increasing. “Enclosure. Is that what we are in? Some kind of alien zoo?” She zipped up her fleece jacket, walking along the wall, away from the strange beast on the other side. After several minutes, Caroline came to a glass doorway, set in the wall. A small control panel at chest height beeped back at her. A green handprint pulsed on the pad, making the woman curious. She carefully placed her palm on the reader, and the pad turned red immediately.

  “Warning. Access denied, Caroline Dixon. Please step away.”

  “What the fuck,” she exclaimed. “They know everything.”

  “Yes, they do,” a female voice behind her replied softly.

  Caroline spun around, her pulse ramping up. In front of her stood a woman, dressed in flowing skirts and a purple fleece jacket. “God! You gave me quite a fright.”

  “Sorry about that,” the woman replied, walking over to the glass wall. She tapped it twice, the noise muted. “I feel like one of those hamsters at the pet shop.”

  Despite the situation, the younger woman smiled, liking the stranger’s turn of phrase. “I’m Caroline.”

  “Katie. Pleased to meet you,” the older woman replied steadily. Caroline appraised her, liking her friendly, attractive face. She seemed to sport a perpetual smile, her eyes creasing as her cheeks lifted ever so slightly.

  “Are you from the village?”

  “Not quite. I was visiting a friend. I am from the Netherlands. I was over in the UK for a week, in the hope of enjoying a relaxing vacation. It looks like I got more than I bargained for.”

  “Well, you’re not wrong there. Can you really believe this is happening?”

  “Oh yes, why of course?”

  “Really?”

  The older woman settled against a stone wall a few feet away. “I’m sure you’ve read of alien abductions over the years in the news?”

  “Well yes,” Caroline started. “But I never thought they were true. I always thought they were part of a hoax or something.”

  “But of course. We’ve all probably had the same thoughts. We’ve all heard of Dracula, but we discount it as fairy-tales. Yet, if he walked around the corner, we’d both probably think, jeez, it was all true.”

  “I suppose. I never really thought of it like that.” She paused, unsure of what to say next. “So, what do we do?”

  “I don’t think we have much choice, my dear. No one is going to find us here. We have to make the best of things.”

  “You seem quite relaxed about the whole thing?”

  “Believe me I’m not. I would rather be back on Earth, wandering around the English countryside, enjoying tea and cake. However, I am realistic. We are here, and we will stay here until either they decide otherwise, or we escape.”r />
  “Escape?”

  “Why yes. A ship brought us here. What’s to stop it taking us back? We are on the other side of the universe. I have read up on various things over the years. We can barely make it to the Moon. We’re twenty years away from travelling to Mars. We have nothing that can even get us out of our solar system. Believe me, Earth cannot help us. Only we can.”

  Caroline’s shoulders sagged, the enormity of the situation dawning on her. “Mum’s sick. Very sick. I was moving to Belbroughton to live with her. Without me, she’s gonna struggle y’know.” A tear fell from her eye, landing on her hand.

  The older woman could see she was teetering on the edge, walking over and embracing her. “Your mum will be okay. Let the system take over. Someone will be looking out for her. You, Caroline, need to concentrate on yourself, and the rest of us.”

  Caroline sniffed, gratefully accepting a tissue from the older woman. “Thank you. I’m glad you came along when you did.”

  “I was out exploring like you. I was wondering whether it might be worth traversing our borders, to see what is out there.”

  “Do you mind if I tag along?”

  “By all means, dear. A travel companion is always a good thing.” They headed off together, walking through the outskirts of the village. Following the glass wall that held them captive.

  Twelve

  “Understood. I will see you back on Biflux.” Torben relaxed in his chair, the communication ended. He looked over at Kyra and smiled. “Oh well. Looks like we’ll be heading back home tomorrow.”

  “I know. Our crazy adventure is at an end. What will you do when you report back?”

  The captain crossed his hands behind his head, his fingers weaving into his dark locks. “I guess I’ll be given another assignment. Ark will be back too. He’s the other pilot I told you about. We’ve worked together a lot over the last year or so. They may team us up once more. And you?”

  Kyra looked out through the cockpit window, watching as throngs of busy workers attended to their duties. “I honestly don’t know. I only took this assignment to put some distance between myself and the war. I’m sure that my people back on Biflux will have something for me to do. Maybe I will take some time off. Go and visit my family.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. Cantis will be beautiful at this time of year.”

  “You’re not wrong there. The snows are due soon. It becomes a magical place when the suns are at their farthest points.”

  “Hmm. I could do with a break myself. May I join you?” The words were out of his mouth before he’d realised what he’d said.

  “Really?” Kyra’s eyes were now locked on his, an almost incredulous expression spreading across her face.

  “Sorry. Did I just jump the gun?”

  “What makes you say that?” Kyra was teetering, her pulse quickening.

  “We’ve only known each other for a short time. I do not want you to think I’m too keen.” Shit!

  “Are you not keen then?” Her eyes seemed to grow darker, almost engulfing the fidgeting captain.

  “Yes. Well, you know?” He was becoming tongue-tied, unable to get his words out.

  “You know?”

  “Look. I really like you. Which is strange as I tend to be a bit of a loner. And you’ve just lost someone close. So yes, I am keen. But I don’t want to rush you, Kyra.”

  She laced her fingers into his, pulling the man’s hand into her lap. “I am ready, Torben. I did not expect to meet anyone so soon after losing my partner. Let’s just see how it goes. I have no expectations of you. But I like being with you. Let’s go and get some mountain air and see what happens.”

  “But what if we do that and we become closer, only to be separated by our upcoming assignments?”

  “Let’s worry about that when the time comes, Torben.” She leant forward, kissing him gently. Rex, who was sat making preparations for the journey, turned around and smiled at the budding romance that was unfolding before him.

  “Okay,” Torben said as they broke the kiss. “Are you ready to show me the sights of Cantis?”

  “Oh, I think I can keep you entertained, Captain,” she said, a mirthful expression spreading across her face.

  A few days later, Shimmer050 gently touched down inside bay 106. Rex set about shutting the ship’s engines down whilst Torben walked down the main ramp into the vast hangar. He looked around as porters and workers set about his ship, heading up the ramp in teams, trollies clattering behind them. “I need a drink,” he said to himself as he exited the hangar, knowing that he was only a few minutes’ walk away from the Sars club. Lomax Spaceport was a hive of activity, with throngs of pilots, travellers, and workers bustling past Torben as he made his way to the familiar canteen. His wrist vibrated slightly, telling him that a message was coming through. A face appeared on the display, making him smile. “Hello, Kyra.”

  “Hello, Torben. Have you made it to the club yet?”

  “I’m almost there. Has your call finished?”

  “Yes. A moment ago. I am to report to command seven days from now. If we leave soon, we can be in Cantis before nightfall.”

  “Sounds good to me. I will order you a beer. How long will you be?”

  “I’m not far behind you. Just had to sort out the deceased member of the crew.”

  Torben suddenly felt guilty. Here he was, looking forward to the next few days when a family who lived close by would be mourning the loss of a loved one. “Okay. I will see you shortly.”

  He clicked off the device, heading into the Sars club, his shoulders sagging slightly after the conversation. Torben started scanning the room as a voice rang out. “You’re back,” Ark exclaimed.

  “Hey. When did you get back?”

  “A few hours ago. I’ve been here ever since.”

  “Trust you to set about oiling your tubes as soon as you landed. Typical pilot.”

  “Let me get you a drink. Then we can compare adventures.”

  A few minutes later, they sat in a quiet booth in the corner of the club. The whitewashed walls barely lighting the sombre interior. Torben looked over at the opposite table, smiling an acknowledgement at the alien pilots who sat sipping their drinks. “Why did you get two drinks?” Ark asked. “Is someone else joining us?”

  “Yes. One of the crew said she’d grab a drink with me before she heads home.”

  “She! Tell all, my old friend.”

  “Calm down. There is nothing to tell. It’s just a crew member.”

  Before Ark could answer, a female voice made them both look up. “Starting without me?” Kyra stood there, smiling at the two pilots.

  “I was just keeping yours safe until you got here,” Torben replied, blushing slightly.

  “So considerate,” she replied, kissing him on the cheek before sliding next to him on the leather bench.

  “So, this is the crew member that was joining us for a quick drink?” Ark said, his green eyes boring into Torben’s.

  The older man’s shoulders slumped. “Kyra, this is Ark Ramkle. Ark, this is Kyra Zakx.”

  The younger pilot extended his hand, liking the cool firm touch that grasped it. “Pleased to meet you, Kyra. What’s a good-looking woman doing with an old relic like this?”

  “Likewise, Ark. Oh, I’m sure you can fill me in on what this old relic is like,” she said playfully elbowing Torben in the ribs.

  “Okay. The rat is out of the sack. Kyra and I are?” He paused, unsure of what to say next.

  The woman decided to take charge, showing the bumbling captain the way forward. “An item. Torben’s coming home with me to Cantis. We’re going to spend some time together before our next assignments.”

  “You old dog,” Ark said, looking at Torben. How did you manage that? I have been on a ship full of droids and hominids. Even the planet we plundered was devoid of anything worth chasing. The females are odd, to say the least. Smelly too. They stink like the back of a swamp pig.”

  Torben laughed, glad he
’d been reunited with his younger friend. “So, no intergalactic love then?”

  “Nothing. Although, the tender has been looking over a few times since we sat down. So maybe I will be getting lucky later.”

  Kyra rolled her eyes. “Are all pilots like this? What about Torben here?” She made it sound playful and light. However, she was curious about the man who she’d only recently met.

  “Nah. He’s too old for chasing females. He’d rather sculpt some lame piece of rock, or look at a dumb painting. Is this what happens when you get old? If so, I’m going to get my fill while I still can.”

  They all smiled at each other, raising their drinks in unison. “So, tell me about your trip?” Torben said.

  “It went smoothly enough, although we did lose six crew.”

  “Six! How did that happen?”

  Four were killed by one of the hominids. I told you before we left, they are huge. We tried to take him down without a fight, but he had other plans. He literally pulled four of the crew members apart. It wasn’t fun, scooping them up into gurneys off the forest floor. The other two were killed by a large cat. It sprang from the undergrowth. We managed to salvage one body. The other poor bastard is still there, probably in a pile of cat dung.”

  “How awful!” Kyra said, placing her drink down on the table-top. “Have you notified the families?”

  “Yes. Well, my Medical Officer did. The bodies were unloaded just after we’d landed. It is a shame. The six that died were all good men. Brave too. They faced up to the beast without hesitation. It was only when the second one went down that the others tried to flee. But it was too late.”

  “How did you round them up?” Torben asked.

  “I managed to stun it. Due to the terrain, we couldn’t land like others could on some planets. We literally had to round them up. We stunned a few indigenous animals, laying traps for the reptiles and cats. It seemed to work well. How about you? What adventures have you had? Apart from the obvious.”