Zoo

by Phil Price

  “We’re about to go live from the emergency G8 summit in Tokyo, where world leaders have gathered to discuss the recent alien abductions. President Wilson, along with Prime Minister Johnson, have been locked in meetings all day, but we’re getting word that a statement is about to be made. We can cross live now to our correspondent, Lucy Banks.”

  “Thank you, Sophie,” the news anchor said as she stood before a large glass-fronted building. “President Wilson is about to face the media, to hopefully give a definitive update on the recent events in Belbroughton, England. In fact, he’s approaching the microphone as we speak.”

  Hugh took a sip of his whisky as the camera focused on a raised platform outside the White House, where a tall man and a slightly shorter woman walked out of white double doors. President Wilson, with his buzz-cut blonde hair and chiselled looks, smiled as he addressed the crowd of reporters. To his left, Prime Minister Johnson looked across the immaculate lawns, smiling as hundreds of cameras zoomed in on her, the odd flash making her flinch slightly. Her steel-grey hair matched the stylishly cut trouser suit that she wore underneath a black woollen coat.

  “My fellow Americans, and citizens of our great planet, I can now say without absolute certainty, we are not alone.”

  He let the words sink in as cameras continued to flash on the dark Washington afternoon. He placed his weathered hands on the dais, preparing himself for the revelation that was about to come.

  “On October 25th in a small village called Belbroughton in the UK, an advanced alien civilization abducted one hundred and seventy-two citizens, taking them to the far side of the known universe. Having listened to all the statements taken from these brave souls, we now know that they were taken to live out their lives on a planet called Valkash, which was some kind of alien theme park, harbouring creatures and civilizations from across the cosmos.”

  He paused, knowing that most of the planet would be hanging on his every word.

  “They were returned to us a few weeks later, all except four of them, who sadly passed away whilst being held captive on that distant planet. Since they returned, our intelligence agencies from around the world have been gathering data to substantiate their story. However, aside from radar anomalies gathered by our friends in the United Kingdom, there are only a few pieces of genuine footage that captured the spacecraft leaving Earth. I’ll open up the floor to a few questions at this time.”

  “Kelly Miles, CNN. Mr President, how was this able to happen? Why did no one spot this ship approaching Earth?”

  “Well, this is the first documented event of this kind in the history of our planet. From what I have learned from NASA’s Chief Administrator, the ship must have used a cloaking device, which could have made them invisible to our radars and cameras. The alien race that visited us have technology that has our top minds scratching their collective heads. Yes, Karen.”

  “Karen Voliva, Fox News. Mr President, what measures are you putting in place to guarantee the safety of the citizens of Earth in light of these abductions?”

  “Good question, Karen. The G8 have gathered here in Tokyo, with a plan to allocate our collective resources to look towards the stars. It will not be easy, but we need to do this. We will start to monitor movements across the solar system, hopefully detecting any future approaches from extra-terrestrial beings. We are already doing something similar to a degree, tracking asteroids and comets that could potentially strike Earth. We need to up our game, keeping an eye on as much as humanly possible. The safety of our citizens is paramount, whatever corner of our planet they inhabit.”

  “Joanne Barnes, Sky News. Prime Minister, four British Citizens are dead, two of them children. Will anyone be held accountable for their deaths?”

  The woman stepped forward, the President moving to one side to allow the Prime Minister, Katherine Johnson, to take the podium.

  “The short answer, Joanne, is no. The beings that abducted our citizens left the planet shortly after bringing them back home. They could be anywhere in the universe. We simply have no means of holding them to account.”

  “How about our security services? Surely they are answerable?”

  “As the President said, this is an unprecedented event. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Any loss of human life is tragic, regardless of how it occurred. We will learn from this, ensuring that any future visitors are spotted before a repeat of this event can take place.”

  “But people are dead, Prime Minister,” was the response from the throng of reporters.

  “Yes, we are well aware of that. However, this could almost be classed as an act of God. Earthquakes and tsunamis have killed thousands of people across the world. But we can never fully predict when and where they will strike. We were simply not ready for this type of event, but we are now. And we will be ready if it happens again.”

  “Matthew Small, Bloomberg News. Mr President, do we know how this ship managed to travel to Earth from the other side of the universe?”

  The President took to the podium, Prime Minister Johnson stepping to one side. “Having consulted with our top advisors, it is clear that some kind of wormhole technology was used to fold spacetime. I’ve been assured that this would be the only way to travel the 13,000,000,000 light years from their planet to ours. Thank you for your time ladies and gentlemen. We have no time for further questions at this point.”

  Hugh finished his Scotch, heading out of the lounge towards the kitchen at the rear of the property. “You’ll be ready next time,” he said as he popped two pieces of bread in the toaster. “Let’s hope there isn’t a next time.”

  Thirty-Nine

  Kyra stood on their new jetty, looking out at the ocean as the yellow star kissed the far-off horizon. Closer to the moon, the brown dwarf star was almost totally out of sight, just the top edge still visible before it finally set for the night. She pulled the sweater around her neck, taking a sip of graff from a small metal flask. A deep drone filled her ears, a breekin breaking the calm waters out at sea, its huge tail crashing down a few seconds later. Seconds later a relative silence returned to the shore, just a light breeze ruffling the evergreens behind the cabin. Kyra turned, looking up at Biflux above her. A single tear ran down her cheek, thoughts of her parents stirring her emotions as an approaching craft once more disturbed the quiet ocean. She watched as Torben brought the craft gently to the jetty, barely nudging the rubber buffers that ran its length. The glass-domed roof slid back soundlessly as he exited the craft, smiling at his woman. “Hi.”

  “Welcome home, Torby,” she replied warmly.

  “How long have you been stood out here?”

  “Not long. I was watching the sunset.”

  He ambled over, wrapping Kyra into his arms. “Well, you’re the best thing I have seen all day,” he said, before planting a kiss on her lips.

  “Same here. Dinner is nearly ready. Shall we go and prepare?”

  “Sounds good. The Lomogs are not exactly the best hosts when it comes to feeding their guests. Juice and fruit were all they offered me.”

  “Well, a ship’s captain needs more than that to keep his strength up. Come,” she said as she led him from the wooden structure back to their home. They walked into the kitchen, Torben heading straight for the chiller, pulling two bottles of beer from the top shelf. He cracked the seal on both of them, placing them on the countertop as Kyra pulled a large metal dish from the oven. She carried it over to the table by its bone handles, her thick gloves protecting her hands.

  “Smells good,” he said, his mouth starting to moisten.

  “It will taste good too. I added some herbs to the meat from the garden. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”

  Torben pulled two bowls from the rack, placing them next to the steaming dish, handing Kyra a large metal serving spoon. “I’ll set the table up on the stoop,” he said cheerfully, leaving Kyra to serve the dark stew into the wooden bowls. A minute later she placed the bowls in front of him, placing some cutlery on the hess
ian table mat. “Thank you, it looks amazing.”

  “Well, let’s not wait another minute,” she said, raising her bottle.

  He readily accepted, clinking glasses with her before taking a swig. “Good health.”

  “And to you.” After a few mouthfuls, Kyra cleared her throat. “So, how did it go today?”

  Torben nodded his head, chewing his way through the tender dark meat before replying. “Very good. They have issued me with unlimited credits, which will mean that we’ll never have to worry about working again.”

  “Oh my,” Kyra said. “That’s amazing!”

  “I know,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “They were trying to offer me posts in other systems, along with a promotion to Commander. When I said that I wasn’t interested, they changed tack, offering me the credits instead. So, I took it, along with something else thrown into the bargain.”

  “What was that?”

  Torben took a swig of beer, telling Kyra about his plan. She listened intently as the yellow star on the horizon finally disappeared from view, blanketing the land and ocean in darkness. Solar powered lanterns powered themselves into life, creating a yellowy hue outside the cabin and garden beyond. “Anyway, they agreed. So, the day after tomorrow, I will take one last journey in Shimmer050.”

  “Do you really think it’s a good idea?” she asked.

  “Yes. We need to redress the balance. Hopefully, this will do it. Then, when I’m home, we can start making plans for our future.”

  “Our future?”

  “Yes,” Torben said, rising from his chair. He walked around the table, kneeling in front of Kyra. “I love you. I think I loved you the first time I saw you, Kyra. I want my life to be entwined with yours. Would you consider becoming my life partner?”

  He pulled a small black box from his pocket, handing it to the woman, whose eyes began misting over. She opened the box, her breath catching as she saw the small ring contained within. She deftly plucked it from its holder, holding it up to the light. It had twin platinum bands, held together by two gemstones, one blue, the other a sparkling magenta. “Oh Torben,” she said, as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

  “So are you, Kyra.”

  She slipped it onto her finger, laughing as the gemstones shimmered in the lantern’s glow. Kyra flung her arms around Torben’s neck, burying her face in his neck. “Yes, I would love to be your life partner,” she said, pulling away before kissing him fiercely. “Thank you, Torby. You have made me the happiest girl in the galaxy.”

  Tears fell onto the man’s cheeks as he kissed her hand. “I just love you. And I want to build a life here with you. And a family.”

  Beers were replenished as the young couple sat chatting on the steps leading down to the grass beyond. Kyra had fetched a warm blanket, draping it over their shoulders as they stared up at Biflux. Torben talked about extending the cabin, using the Lomogs credits to build them more rooms and outbuildings, along with a larger jetty, where more crafts could be moored. She sat listening, her head resting on his shoulder as she visualised their little enclave, surrounded by trees and the calm ocean. The pain and loss from the previous months began to slowly slip away, replaced by hope, love and excitement. She drank the feeling in as she sipped at her cool beer. She looked down at her hand, knowing that the ring on her finger would always be there. A part of her, just like the man who had changed Kyra’s life forever.

  “Hi, Rex,” Torben said warmly as the hominid walked down Shimmer050’s ramp.

  “Skipper,” he replied, accepting the captain’s embrace. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Likewise,” Torben replied. He had left the cabin early, travelling the short distance to command post. The impressive conglomeration of buildings looked out over the ocean, flanked by snow-covered peaks to the rear, giving it a protected feel. Torben stood in a docking bay, peering out as light from the nearby star bathed the moon in a warm glow. “Where is Commander Spelk?”

  “Onboard,” Rex replied. “I’ll bring you some graff. You’ll find him in the cargo hold with his engineers.”

  “Thanks, Rex,” the captain replied, heading purposefully up the ramp. A few minutes later, he walked into the cargo bay at the rear of Shimmer050. Three men were standing talking next to a large metal container, grey in colour with red markings. “Commander,” Torben said, the three men turning towards him.

  “Captain Fraken,” Spelk replied evenly. “This is Morax, my chief engineer, along with Alfret, the Lomogs chief physicist. Your cargo is ready for dispatch. All the equipment and data you’ve requested is inside the container.”

  “Thank you, Commander. Let’s hope it has the desired effect.”

  “I’m sure it will. I totally agree with this mission. I’m sure that it will be of benefit.” He turned back to the two men, Torben taking his leave to make a call to Kyra.

  “Hi,” he said as her holographic face appeared before him.

  “Hello, Torby. Are you ready to go?”

  “Pretty much. Just waiting for the green light.”

  “You will be careful, won’t you?”

  “You can count on that. What time are you heading over to Vasteras?”

  “In about an hour. I will visit the builder first, confirming an appointment as soon as possible. From there, I will spend some time at the outlets, getting a few ideas for the project.”

  “Well, have fun, my love.”

  “You can also count on that. I love you.”

  “I love you too. I will be back soon.”

  “Safe travels, Captain.”

  “You too, Officer Zakx.”

  An hour later Shimmer050 broke orbit, heading out past the host planet, with Rex handling the controls. “Okay, we don’t need to worry too much about heading out to the safe zones. Just take us out far enough so we don’t mess with planetary orbits.”

  “Okay, Captain,” Rex replied. “Where are we heading first?”

  “There is a binary star system close by. We will head there first, taking some images of planetary systems. Coordinates have already been uploaded. After that, there is a red dwarf, also close by. We will check out some more exoplanets. I think that will be a good head-start for them.”

  “Okay, Captain. As you wish. We can make the first jump in about two hours.”

  “Fine. I will take over for a bit. I will miss this ship. It really is something.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Do you know what post you will be taking next?” Torben asked.

  “Yes. Commander Spelk has asked me to be part of a new project, codenamed Ezekial.”

  “I’ve heard about that. The multiverse theory.”

  “Yes. The Lomogs are convinced that they exist. Imagine that. Countless realities, within reach.”

  “It certainly is an interesting theory. Just take care, Rex. We have no idea what may lie beyond our own universe.”

  “True. But the chance to take part was too good to pass up.”

  “Well, when you return, come and find me. We will both be very interested in your findings.”

  “I will, Captain. Make sure you have plenty of beer.”

  “For you, Rex. Anything.”

  Forty

  One day later

  “Imaging underway,” Rex said, as he stared out at the planet orbiting the red dwarf star. It was nondescript, with mountains and oceans, but no signs of observable life. On the horizon, a dim star cast its glow across the solar system, two more distant glowing orbs of light increasing in luminosity somewhat, bathing the ship in a yellow glow. Shimmer050 hung in the planet’s orbit, two-hundred miles from the surface, its numerous hull cameras collecting data as storms rippled across the planet.

  “Okay, Rex. I’m going to check on the ship. Once you have all the data, upload it all to the cargo bay.”

  “Okay, Captain. Do you want some graff?”

  “You stay here, my friend. I will bring you some.”

  “I coul
d get used to this kind of service,” the diminutive hominid said, winking at Torben mischievously.

  Hours later, the ship came through the singularity, settling into the vacuum of space around it. Rex repeated the same procedure, taking images and collecting data of the large exoplanet nearby. Unlike the other planet, this one had vivid oceans, dotted with landmasses, cloud formations hugging the orangey surface. On the horizon a similar red dwarf to the one they’d just visited lit the surrounding solar system, a small moon clearly visible from their vantage point, trapped in the planet’s orbit. “Lifeforms detected, Captain.”

  “Are they advanced?”

  “Negative. Mainly single-cell organisms.”

  “Still. It’s good data to capture. Upload to the cargo bay when we’re finished.”

  “Will do. Do you want to visit the other systems? They are thirty light-years from our position.”

  “I don’t think we’ll need to. We have enough data for them. They should be happy with it.”

  “Okay, Captain.”

  Twenty-four hours later, Shimmer050 dropped through another planet’s atmosphere, its cloaking device making the large ship invisible. It quickly plunged through the cloud layer, levelling out a few hundred feet above the surface. Snow was falling, the landscape blanketed in white as the craft touched down in a deserted area, nearby a small settlement. “Okay, Rex. We need to do this quickly. Contact the cargo bay, telling them that time is of the essence. We need to be on our way home in ten minutes.”

  “Okay, Captain,” Rex said, his green fingers activating the ship’s communications

  “Cargo crew, unload the bay when we touch down.”

  “Affirmative,” was the brief reply.

  Torben and Rex sat in their chairs, looking out at the familiar sight, the captain flinching as a pair of headlights drove past the entrance to the field. “Come on. We need to be making a move.”