Where the Strangers Live

by Phipps, Oliver

  "What do we do?" Sophie asked.

  "Keep moving." Troy replied and again took the lead.

  Soon the pathway led to another large doorway. They cautiously moved inside where they found a large circular area that was lit up, but they could only see the large circular area and everything beyond was dark. They slowly moved towards the middle of the circle and gazed around in an effort to find some place to go from this point.

  Sophie pulled on Troy's arm. He turned and realized the seven aliens were now slowly moving through the doorway and towards them. Noticing the threat as well, Eliot moved beside Sophie and Troy.

  "Well, I'm not going down without a fight." Eliot raised his fists.

  "Let's see what happens before we start fighting. I think they could have killed us by now if they'd wanted to." Troy watched the aliens closely as he said this.

  "Yeah, well I don't intend on being turned into one of those monsters out there." Eliot spoke gruffly; refusing to lower his fists.

  Chapter Three:

  Arena

  Surprisingly, the mysterious beings came straight up to Troy, Eliot, and Sophie, and then circled around the three in a rather casual manner. The one that stood directly in front of them had on a uniform slightly different from the others, indicating he must be the higher in rank.

  The other beings wore a dark colored uniform that appeared to be an off colored green. On the sleeves and around different parts of the coverall uniforms were stripes of very dark red and the material resembled leather.

  The one who appeared to be the leader also had a uniform similar to this, but the red was not as dark and there were buttons or emblems on the lower sleeves and shoulders that seemed to indicate rank.

  They stared at the three frightened submariners but said nothing. Finally Sophie spoke.

  "What do we do?" Her voice trembled with fear as the three stood close together in the tense standoff.

  "I don't know." Troy replied.

  Then, unexpectedly, the apparent leader stepped forward and to their amazement he began to speak in English, but with a slight British accent.

  "This facility is the property of the Zonalex Family Weapons Company." He paused a few seconds and continued. "You're trespassing."

  Troy, Sophie and Eliot were stunned by this. After several seconds of astonishment Eliot spoke, but his words lacked confidence.

  "You, speak English?"

  The leader examined Eliot carefully before replying. "I speak every language known on this pathetic little planet; including English. Do you not understand it?"

  Eliot stumbled for an adequate response.

  "Yeah, I understand it. It's just that, well you're uhm."

  Seeming to run out of patience with Eliot the leader replied. "Not from this planet?"

  "Yeah," was all Eliot could say.

  The leader slowly walked around the three as if getting a closer look at them. They in turned moved around to keep him in front of them as he did this. After a brief examination of the three he replied.

  "Actually, we were all fabricated at this facility. But, the materials of our organic and structural components are not from this planet. So in a sense, we were created on this planet, but we're not actually from this planet."

  Still seeming a bit in shock from this entire situation, Eliot blurted out. "You mean you're not real?"

  The leader smiled slightly as he appeared amused by Eliot's irrational response.

  "If we were not real, then just who are you speaking with?"

  "I mean, you’re like, Cyborgs?"

  The leader took a deep breath as if again tiring of Eliot's remarks.

  "I am Carzoc and we are the caretakers of this facility. We're what you would call organic and machine combined, if that's what you call ‘Cyborgs’ then yes. We are the same as the fighters out there in the storage chambers. We sleep in a static state while our masters are not in need of us. You disturbed that sleep yesterday and now you've returned today and have trespassed on our master's property."

  Troy now spoke with a defensive tone. "We didn't mean to trespass on anyone's property. Our submersible became trapped in this place. We had no choice but to get out of it."

  Carzoc appeared unimpressed with his reasoning. "Excuses mean little here. You're here and consequences will be the result."

  Eliot became very agitated. "Consequences, I think you're the trespassers here. You've been spying on us for centuries. You've been studying us and doing terrible experiments on us. That's why you know how to speak English isn't it? I think you're the trespassers here! Not us."

  Carzoc continued to move about as if sizing the three of them up for something. Then he replied, again with no sign of emotion.

  "Studying you?" He smiled slightly and arrogantly. "Our masters are Jovacian. Jovax is a massive planet in a massive universe. There's nothing on this meaningless little world that a Jovacian would want to study. After examining this facility, do you really suppose there is anything on this speck of a planet that a Jovacian or Zonalex family member could learn, or would even want to learn?"

  Carzoc now stood directly in front of the three and continued with a smug tone of voice.

  "This facility is a tiny little facility on a tiny and almost meaningless little planet that is so far away from anything of importance that it's practically of no value whatsoever. Many, many years ago this facility was placed here by the Zonalex family, and for a while it thrived. The only reason it thrived is because there were a few creatures on this planet that held potential for the magnificent intergalactic gaming arenas. I and my fellow caretakers were created and had the honor of assisting the Zonalex family in assembling a variety of gaming creatures for the arenas. We tested these creatures before sending them to fight in those far away competitions."

  He now turned and seeming to recall memories he continued as he glanced out into an open space.

  "Many of the fighting creatures designed and developed here in this facility won magnificent battles for the Zonalex family. It was a grand time here as we created and developed new fighting creatures. This facility vibrated with excitement and productivity. But there were a limited number of creatures available on this little planet. So, after a while the facility was placed in a dormant state and remained inactive."

  He turned and looked at the three as if to check their thoughts on this information. All three stood in amazement of what he told them. After glancing over them briefly, he continued.

  "Then, for a couple hundred years the facility became active again. The water sports had become popular and the Zonalex family returned to create and develop new creatures for the water arenas. But, as before, the number of fierce fighting creatures to be developed from this planet was very limited. So again the facility went dormant. Since then we've waited patiently for the Zonalex family to return. Their return may never come. But we will be here and we will be ready when and if our masters do decide to return."

  He again stood in front of the three as if to emphasize the final statement.

  "You should not flatter yourselves by thinking the Zonalex family placed this facility here to study your kind. The Zonalex family has been designing and building fighting creatures for almost as long as this pathetic little planet has existed."

  He moved over to his fellow caretakers now and appeared to consider his next words. Then he turned to them and continued.

  "I suspect the Zonalex family has forgotten about this tiny little facility. It's likely of no more use too them. It's always been a minor facility on a minor planet, far from the family's home galaxy. But that doesn't matter. We're destined to care for the facility as long as necessary. Our static chambers will keep us in good condition almost indefinitely. This facility is of a construction and materials far superior to anything your race could ever fabricate. The chances are, this facility and us as well, will still be here long after your kind has ceased to exist, or destroys itself."

  Carzoc stood in front of them silently, as if await
ing a reply. Then after several tense seconds of this silence Sophie spoke nervously.

  "We didn't mean to come here. We'll gladly leave now and never bother you or this place again. We promise you that."

  Carzoc watched Sophie quietly as she said this and then moved slightly as he lowered his head and looked at the floor. He replied, again with no emotion.

  "But, you have entered the arena. Now, the rules of the arena require a contest to the death be fought before you may leave."

  He then looked around into the thick darkness, as if searching for someone. After gazing all around into the darkness he slowly raised his hands into the air and shouted out.

  "Are these not the rules of the arena; a contest to the death?"

  As Carzoc raised his hands and shouted this, the area around them lit up and they became astounded to find they were in the middle of a massive complex. Thousands of the alien spectators now began shouting in agreement to Carzoc's statement. The roar of the crowd and sudden surprise nearly overwhelmed the three submariners

  Sophie almost collapsed and fainted, but Troy took hold of her as she stumbled back. He and Eliot were also in complete shock and gazed around in fright as they found themselves in what would be a professional size sports stadium and at the center of tens of thousands of alien spectators.

  "Are they real?" Was all Eliot could ask?

  "I don't think so. But that may not matter." Troy said, in a voice loud enough to be heard over the roar.

  Carzoc and the other caretakers now became quite animated as the huge crowd erupted in chants and cheers. The caretakers smiled with glee as they gazed around the arena. Carzoc continued to wave his hands up in an effort to increase the crowd’s shouts.

  Finally after a long minute of this frightening scene he lowered his hands and moved back in front of them. Another caretaker brought him a slim metallic item and he held it as a microphone. He spoke into it and his voice carried across the massive arena.

  "These trespassers have entered our beloved testing arena. The Jovacian rules have stood in this arena for thousands of years. A contest to the death must be undertaken once the arena has been entered."

  The spectators erupted again after he said this and for another long moment Carzoc gazed around with a smile. Finally the cheers died down and he continued.

  "So today, this arena will once again be filled with the glorious sites and sounds of battle; we've longed for this time and fortune has smiled on us this day."

  As Carzoc spoke these words a dread came over the three submariners. All three were in disbelief at what now transpired in front of their eyes. Everything had spiraled completely out of control and they felt as if an unearthly force had suddenly grabbed them and pulled them into a dangerous and deadly situation.

  Sophie became very nervous as she stared out into the strange scene before her.

  "Ce ne est pas bon. This is not good at all. Oh my God this is not good."

  Carzoc now held the small device down and addressed the three. "Chose your weapons,” as soon as he said this, a table appeared to push up from the floor.

  On the large table, holographic images displayed of around twenty creatures. Many were creatures the three recognized from myths and legends and all appeared to be from the selection they had seen earlier in the large bay area. There were several types of Gargoyles, a Chimera and a number of creatures the three had no knowledge of. They looked at these small moving images in amazement, still feeling shocked by the entire situation.

  "We're not fighting! We're not doing this! You can't make us fight, this is all a mistake!" Eliot sounded angry now as frustration took hold.

  Carzoc smiled, expressing he had already prepared for this statement. "It’s very amusing, the way you speak as if you have another option." He then raised the metallic device and spoke to the crowd again.

  "The trespassers wish for us to choose their weapons for them." After he said this, the crowd roared again with an even greater intensity.

  Then, with no warning, the floor materialized into strange shackles and clamped onto the three frightened submariners feet and ankles. Again panic almost caused them to come apart. They struggled to move their feet but could do nothing to get loose.

  They began to move as the restraints started to roll across the floor about the same speed as if walking. Carzoc and the other caretakers followed them.

  Sophie began to breathe heavily as if hyperventilating. She tried to speak as she almost lost her balance due to the moving clamps. "I can't fight anyone. I, I'm, oh my God......"

  Carzoc smiled at this and Troy noticed the other caretakers also expressing obvious enjoyment due to Sophie's fear. Troy and Eliot struggled to keep their balance as well until finally reaching a corner of the building and then the three were turned around and backed into a portion of the arena that was made specifically for participants in the fighting activities.

  Directly across from them and on the far side of the floor they could see three caretakers assembling in an identical boxed off area.

  In a desperate voice Troy attempted to get the three prepared as there proved to be no option now other than fighting.

  "Listen, we've got to stick together if possible. If there's any way to fight together we need to work as a team." His voice was strained from the fear they all felt.

  Eliot glanced at Troy and nodded. He had panic in his eyes. Sophie glanced over at them as the two men were to the right of her. Troy could see a few tears in her eyes. He realized that he was also on the verge of tears but tried to remain brave for her.

  "Yeah, we’ve got to stick together." Eliot picked up on Troy's efforts now and though his voice wavered he also tried to get some sort of plan together.

  The events were happening at an almost unbelievable pace for the three and they struggled to simply remain conscious as Carzoc and several other caretakers talked amongst themselves about the coming match. Meanwhile the crowd kept up a constant roar in anticipation of the battle.

  After a brief discussion with his fellow caretakers, Carzoc moved over to the three. "Your weapons have been chosen for you. They've been assigned according to your perceived demeanors. This will help you wield them more effectively."

  Immediately after saying this to them, round cylindrical enclosures began to rise up from the floor around the three.

  Feelings of panic erupted again as the unknown became ever more threatening by the second. Sophie continued to breathe laboriously. The transparent enclosure stopped rising when it became level with her neck. She tried to sit down at this time but the binders on her feet moved in a way that caused her pain when she tried to lower herself down. She moaned out from the pain and stood back up. She now began to weep without restraint as the situation become completely overwhelming.

  Several caretakers approached them with long devices that had a handle. Troy immediately thought of a spear gun when he saw them approaching.

  "Inject the female first, she's faltering." Carzoc pointed to Sophie as he said this. The caretaker moved around the back side of Sophie and maneuvered the long device over the enclosure as if he was going to shoot her with it.

  Sophie began to panic as she wept and struggled against the foot and ankle binding devices.

  "Hey, what are you doing?" She tried desperately to turn in order to see what the caretaker was doing, but the ankle restraints held her in place.

  Eliot and Troy also became very excited by this action. "Hey, leave her alone!" Eliot yelled out.

  "Get away from her! What are you doing! Get away from her!" Troy shouted as the caretaker placed the tip of the device to Sophie's back and pulled the trigger.

  "Ouwww," Sophie moaned in pain as the device obviously gave her a hypodermic shot. She leaned forward a little as the substance began to affect her body and mind.

  "What was that? What did you do to her?" As Troy shouted to Carzoc the crowded arena became even more excited. Carzoc also expressed joy with the development of Troy and Eliot becoming aggre
ssive.

  The two men now watched in anger and terror as Sophie began to move about in a strange way. Then she turned to them and they could clearly see her eyes had a red glow.

  "What did you do to her?" Troy shouted in anger.

  "I'll kill you! Let me out of here and I'll kill all of you so help me! Let me out of here!" Eliot also shouted now and struggled to escape the ankle restraints.

  Carzoc laughed now as the constant roar of the arena increased by the second along with the two men's anger.

  "She's been given the arena fire as we call it. This will enable her and you also to interact more effectively in your weapons. The formula will enhance your fighting spirit and suppress pain as well. From what I've seen so far, you'll need all the assistance available to survive the battle." Carzoc then laughed again as two more caretakers moved behind Troy and Eliot with the long hypodermic devices.

  The shots were given to the men in their backs and around the spine. Immediately pain and fire was felt inside their bodies. Troy slumped over from the massive turmoil within. He couldn't move initially. Then, a warm surge of energy came over him. As this occurred, he began to have no fear. He looked up and through a slightly red tinted view he could see Eliot also reacting to the affects of the shot.

  "What is this stuff?" His voice boomed out as if he were some sort of Greek God. Yet he realized it must sound this way to him only, as those around him paid little attention.

  As the caretakers that had administered the shots moved away, several more moved close in an effort to continue the preparations for the arena.

  Strange apparatuses now lowered down from behind and overhead. These devices had a small opening that slipped over their heads. They sat down in the fashion of lids for the transparent enclosures. The caretakers then made a few adjustments and a seal closed around their necks.

  Troy, Sophie and Eliot continued to feel stronger and began to desire battle. Troy struggled with this feeling at first as he knew it must be the effects of the drug administered to him. Yet the drug was too effective and soon he relented to the surge of desire inside him. He willingly yearned for combat.