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  He released a slow sigh, and then Benz jerked with a start and gripped the console trying to catch his breath. A dull white light flash caught his attention and was gone. Benz stared at the same place, concentrating. The action wasn’t repeated. He knew he’d seen something. He damned his luck. His warrior mate, Colm, was still on Bagron. He knew his partner would have seen the same thing, but he knew this separation couldn’t be helped. Colm’s female human mate and their child needed him more. Taking quick strides, Benz raced to his commander. They would soon leave this place.

  “Cobra.” His Castian leader turned to face him. “I was certain I saw a glitch on the planet.” Benz gripped Cobra’s arm and pulled him to his post and studied the controls. Another warrior followed.

  “Our signals indicate all the occupants on the planet were obliterated by the Annihilators,” Rask replied. Benz cast a fast glance at Cobra’s son, then returned his gaze to the panel.

  “What did you see, Benz?” Cobra asked.

  “I’m not certain. It was a flash, quick and only once.” Benz frowned. He was one of Cobra’s younger warriors but seasoned. Fighting the deadly Gorgano and Angano came to an end once the Gorgano were obliterated over sixty years ago. The Angano remained strangely silent allowing the now allied Tonans and Castians to battle this new alien menace. Benz thought it possible Drano, a young Zargonnii might have something to do with the passive state. His human mother’s blood had interacted with an Angano before the child was conceived, giving him the capability of not only flight but of other powerful gifts.

  Cobra placed his hand on Benz’s shoulder. “I know the senseless destruction isn’t easy.”

  “It’s not that, Cobra,” Benz said stepping back. “The bloody Annihilators are killing machines, I get that. The planet is stripped to nothing, the air is turning foul. If there’s nothing left, not a twig or a dead leaf why was there a blip on my monitor? It was only for a second but I know I saw something.”

  Cobra gazed at the warrior rocking back on his heels. “If you’re certain, take a team and go search.”

  Benz grinned. He raced to gather a few warriors. Finally, an adventure.

  * * * *

  Caris woke to snow as she peeked past the partitions. The air was heavy and her lungs pained. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her chest. The blanket she’d tossed over her shoulders was little help. The clothes that were found for her to replace the rags she’d worn did nothing in the way of forming a barrier. She might as well have been naked. She searched her surroundings past the space in the partitions outside but didn’t see the hunters. Concerned, she went looking for Doug. A blizzard was blowing as far as the eye could see.

  “Where are the men? They shouldn’t be out in this.”

  “They left at first light.” Doug pulled her aside. “Caris they’re gone.”

  “What do you mean, gone? You make it sound so final.”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “Where’s Miranda? She should be in bed,” Caris said with alarm.

  “She is also gone.”

  The panic began to build in Caris. “She can’t go out in this. She almost never leaves her bed. Oh my God, did she die while I slept? Are the men burying her? Is that why they’re gone?”

  “She didn’t go outside. She didn’t die while you slept just now, not really. Her program ceased as did the men to transfer more energy to the cave.”

  Caris gazed at him in horror afraid he’d lost his mind. “What program? What the devil are you talking about?”

  “This Life Program. I’m so sorry you weren’t prepared.”

  “Brando,” Caris screamed as he vanished along with his stretcher. Mary was next. Eyes wide in horror, Caris ran to Cooper and hugged his body next to hers. He was so cold and listless. Caris yanked her blanket off to drape around the boy.

  “There isn’t much time. The Life Program…” Doug said and squatted before her to sit on the balls of his feet. To Caris’s horror he seemed to flicker. Flicker? “When Earth died, the Lipions were watching. They wanted to see if humans were a race worth saving. They took you from your planet and brought you here. You were going to die, no one missed you.”

  “We found this cave during the storm,” Caris sputtered.

  “Yes, we walked up the hillside, the scenario was manipulated. When we came here, the Lipions made certain to imitate a few of the storms then gradually reduced them. The storms were an abnormality for them. It was done for you. They were worried about shock; they didn’t realize how fragile you are. There was no malice involved. They cared for you and provided all you needed. They couldn’t send you back to Earth, your planet is dead. The Lipions grew fond of you. I can’t begin to explain the culture shock the Lipions faced with you. My program received word that only days ago this planet was attacked. You have been kept a secret and were ‘saved’ but there is no more energy to keep the program running. They are so sorry, Caris. They thought to save their children the same way when the attack occurred but realized with the planet dead theirs would be a slow death. There wasn’t time to end your program as well.”

  As Caris watched, Tina’s form faded and was gone. Cooper slipped through her fingers with her blanket. She dropped to the ground and grabbed onto Doug’s shirt.

  “Cooper, Tina, all of them were an illusion?”

  “The patients were too ill to transport. Tina couldn’t be saved,” Doug replied. He flickered again. “Tina couldn’t be saved.” He was repeating himself.

  “Doug, I’m scared.”

  “I’m sorry, Caris. Caris, I’m sorry.”

  “Are you real?” she whispered.

  “None of this is real. Or it can’t be anymore. Not real, not anymore.”

  “You sound so different. Your voice is changing.”

  First high pitched then low, he stammered his words. And shook his head as though trying to regain what he was losing.

  “You must listen to me, Caris.”

  “I’m still dreaming. This is a nightmare. I’ll wake soon.”

  “The image you see of me was created when your doctor died. Mortar killed him. If you’d looked closely before the stretcher slipped through your fingers you might have seen him half buried. The only way to get you to follow a safer path was to create me. Even then we almost lost you. You were traumatized and unconscious for days. My creators had never been exposed to a human. They were too afraid to ask another race for help, fearful the Gorgano or Angano would attack if you were discovered. Lipions are, or were, a peaceful species. They were grateful when you began to move and waken. You gave them such happiness.” He flickered again. He balled his fists then began again speaking quickly.

  “The Lipions searched your memories for a reasonable scenario, and when you came around you were placed back into a hospital setting and resumed where your mind left off. The image of Brando falling to his death hurt you too much. Your compassion almost killed you. The outcome was manipulated in your thoughts and instead you became a hero, as you should be and are. You were a joy to all who watched your plight. The Lipions would have cared for you forever but they are gone, all of them. Our programs must shut down to give you what little time you have. There is a ship circling. It is unfamiliar to my creators. Friend or foe you will find out soon enough. If I don’t turn off, you will not have the safety of the cave.”

  “Don’t leave me,” Caris screamed.

  “Your human race is worthy. At least you are. My programmers never encountered a species such as you. You gave them a rare glimpse into your humanity. Your gratitude for little things made an impact in their offspring. Sadly none are left. They couldn’t protect them from the invaders. Hideous killers from the sky. There wasn’t time to save so many. You didn’t ask to be brought here, the unanimous vote was to conceal one: you. They didn’t realize your fate on a desolate planet. Their conclusion was too late. Parents wanted their children with them. No matter the outcome, they felt they should be together. For you to die alone was a
bad solution. I’m so sorry. I must go now. It has been my pleasure to serve you.”

  Doug traced her cheek with his fingertip then shimmered away. Caris watched, horrified, as the beds vanished, the linens, materials. Everything so solid before vanished until she stood alone by the fire. Her entire life melted away. As she shuffled to the blazing heat, it fizzled until the illusion was gone. Caris stood in darkness as tears coursed their way down her cheeks. She wasn’t dreaming a nightmare, she was living one. Life was a lie. For months her life was a lie. She never saved Brando. The others died. Why? How could she not see that?

  What was coming for her? Caris slumped to her knees and placed her hands over her face. She wasn’t on Earth. Where was she? The wind whistled into the cave ruffling her hair. The partitions were gone. Snow stopped falling. It hadn’t been real snow at all. Dark earth surfed in the wind beyond the cave mouth. Swirls of dust began to form. Terrified she spaced her fingers apart. The cave vanished. Alone on her knees, before her was a wasteland.

  Caris coughed. The air was hard to breathe. There was nothing anywhere except dust whipping in small circles, large circles, everywhere. There was no debris anywhere near her. The planet had been raped and there was nothing left to mourn. Her tears ceased to fall but her mouth was agape, her eyes wide. Tiny particles tickled her throat and stung her eyes and skin. Caris became aware her clothes were gone. A cackle of insanity was on her lips. She wouldn’t even die on her own planet. Caris thought living in a cave was vulnerable. She was mistaken.

  What the hell just happened?

  In the distance a shape was moving. Doug said there was a ship overhead. Friend or foe she had no clue. Her body began to tremble. She screamed when an ebony monster appeared. Feet from her she tilted her head back. The creature was massive, at least six foot six. Green tattoos blazed on either cheek. Two white fangs hung over his bottom lip. Talons clicked where fingers should be. Claws for feet imbedded into the dirt.

  The being crouched, closer, his muscles were bunched and contoured. She slung an arm across her breasts, a hand went to her mouth while her fingers trembled. Her thighs were pressed tightly together. Caris had never seen anything like the alien. There were rumors the Tonans weren’t the handsome beings they seemed to be. Was this a Tonan?

  “You’re human.” His words were a surprised whisper and she was shocked she understood him. “What are you called, female?”

  Black bulbs sat where eyes might be. Caris swallowed hard, this was obviously a male creature. His voice was deep. She swallowed hard before answering not wanting to stutter.

  “My name is Caris.”

  “Caris.” He rolled her name across his tongue. “I’m a Castian warrior. An honorable warrior. My name is Benz.”

  Caris wondered if this was one of the monsters who destroyed this planet. She couldn’t stay here. Doug never mentioned if prisoners were taken. She didn’t want to sit naked. She didn’t want to die. Was this being even real? What the hell was real anymore?

  “Whatever you’re going to do, get it over with,” Caris demanded.

  “Yes, I suppose I better,” he replied.

  Caris yelped when the warrior plucked her up as though she were nothing more than a tiny chick and pulled her to his powerful chest. Her ass bumped against muscle until his huge hand grabbed a cheek and pressed her closer. No one had ever done anything so intimate when first meeting her. His strides were long and filled with purpose as he took her to a round black hole that appeared only inches higher than he. The relief of the pounding elements of the planet she had been on was instantaneous. Caris could breathe. Real fresh air, ambrosia to an aching throat. She sucked in gasp after gasp until her lungs cried.

  She was warm, wonderfully warm after being so cold. Something had changed as they passed through the black void. Caris took a good look at the male. The solid black warrior was now tanned flesh. Caris gazed up into chocolate brown eyes. Short dark ebony hair seemed a thick pelt on his head. Yet not a single hair was on his chest. His perfect teeth grinned at her insanely as though he held a treasure. What was once the hideous monster was now the most beautiful male she’d ever seen. More warriors appeared until there was a sea of them. Her heart was racing then seemed to stop as one ebony shielded male approached with long strides. Caris was certain she’d died; or was about to. Her lids fluttered then closed.

  Chapter Two

  Caris sat with her head lowered and her fingers laced. The room she woke in was quiet and bright. She was wearing unfamiliar clothes with a light sheet draped over her bare shoulders. Benz was watching her. Caris coughed and he went to a machine and asked for cold water. A glass materialized inside the machine. Caris sipped the offered water. Her cough subsided with the cool drink. The seconds began to stretch uncomfortably.

  A monitor blipped and Benz went to watch the screen. He sighed. Moments passed before another entered the room. Benz wasn’t surprised to see him. The huge warrior was almost as handsome as Benz and his gentle gaze fixed onto her. She remembered he was the one who approached her before she fainted.

  “I am Cobra, leader of the Castian and Tonan warriors. You are a pleasant surprise. Don’t be afraid. If we had wanted to hurt you we already would have. This will be hard to listen to, Caris,” Cobra said. He pulled a chair close and sat down.

  “There can’t be much more to the story I already know,” she replied. “Aliens stole me to keep me alive, and everyone else wasn’t real. Not the doctor or patients. Not the woman I thought I made friends with. We laughed together, cried with one another. We held each other. She was solid. They all were. The planet was attacked and destroyed and the program failed. Then Benz found me. I was happy, I guess, for the few months I spent there. I wasn’t hurt. I should have suspected something now that I think about it. Potted meats, canned pears, portable never-ending soup. Soft furs that were ready for use when the men brought them back. So much it seemed happened in so short a time.” She sounded lost even to her own ears.

  “Caris, you were studied for over sixty years,” Cobra said.

  “No that’s impossible,” Caris said, snapping to attention. “We were there only six months at the most.”

  “The aliens made it seem that way,” Benz said.

  “I saw my reflection just a few moments ago. I’m not anywhere near in my late eighties. I look the same.”

  “When you slept you were placed into an induced coma in a special machine, where they watched your dreams and nightmares.” Cobra’s gaze was intense as he spoke. “Your memories, all of them, were dissected and discussed. Your images were shown to their young to teach them of humans. It wasn’t through malicious intent. You see, they thought to save more humans but needed to make sure your species wasn’t a threat to them. By the time they figured it out, it was too late for humans on earth. They were dead or stolen or ill. I think the idea made them sad.

  “All they had was you. They learned through your memories how fast a human ages. So each time you fell asleep they extended your sleep. You aged maybe a hundred days. The last month the aliens were gone you awoke as normal. The energy to generate your world was diminishing rapidly.”

  Caris tried to wrap her head around Cobra’s words. She was tired. If she were ninety, she was feeling it. “I was a zoo being to them. Will I age rapidly now?”

  “I don’t know yet,” Cobra said. “It would be best if we took you to our healing waters. That might help.”

  “They’ve all been dead for decades. Tina and Doug were my friends. They were real. Little Cooper was warm in my arms. I listened to his heartbeat through a stethoscope just yesterday. I tickled him into laughter. I told him stories. I cried on Tina’s shoulder. I pressed against Doug’s chest when the storms were rough.”

  “They, those you mention, started off real but died in transport. The patients were either too sick or the aliens refused to contaminate their world. Think back, Caris. Were you separated at all?” Cobra asked.

  “We all ate together in the cave,” she ins
tead answered.

  “Their food wasn’t real. Only yours was. Before you made it to the cave, Caris, were you separated?”

  “They showered and used the washroom.”

  Cobra sighed. “Did they? Are you certain?”

  “Yes, maybe. I don’t know anymore. I saved Brando, I did. I remember. I only let go of the stretcher for a second, it was pulled from my grasp, it was falling into a hole, but I reached for it. I felt the cold steel under my hands, the relief. I saved him. I had to or it would-have-killed-me.” Her arms were limp as they fell to her sides. Her emotions were reeling.

  “Caris,” Cobra’s tone was gentle. “We have the visual on what transpired. Why you were comatose for days.”

  “Cobra it would be too much,” Benz said. Caris watched his face pale.

  “I want to see what happened.” Caris straightened her shoulders.

  “She has a right to know,” Cobra said.

  Cobra nodded to Benz who appeared unhappy but compliant. He walked to a console where a screen flickered. A strange looking alien appeared. Soft features surrounded deep blue oval eyes. The being was the height of a normal earth man. It wore a long flowing white robe. The alien jabbered a few unfamiliar words until Benz touched a button. The words were translated:

  “New humanoid species. Female. Slightly injured but not diseased. This is First in what we hope will be many scenes to come. This is purely for study purposes. No harm will be done to this gentle-seeming humanoid species.”

  Caris’s fingers went to her mouth when the images of her and the others from the hospital came to life inches in front of their faces. Doug took off after telling them he would find a way out. The doctor ran outside without looking back. The tornado hit, sending debris flying everywhere. Doug was struck back inside with a solid sheet of concrete and killed instantly. The new Doug was the one to return, materializing from thin air. He didn’t save Mary when he took off with her on the stretcher. The exit was blocked and Mary’s heart gave out during alien transport, she died and was replaced.