Eyes over Earth

Like a bolt of lightning, Jim’s body doubled-up with the shock of transport, and his human-form left our earthly plane in an instant. Opening one eye, Jim took a moment to recall what happened. With both eyes open he surveyed the surroundings. Cold and shivering he stood up from what looked like a large dinner-plate meters wide. His eyes now adjusted to the low light, Jim stepped off the platform and fell unceremoniously on his face. Unbeknown to him, on the floor of this strange environment lay gelatinous ooze. Wiping it from his face, Jim caught a whiff and dried reached from its stench. After a great effort, he managed to stand and look around. Have I shrunk somehow, and Jess licked me up, he considered? “No, don’t be stupid,” he whispered, gagging again on the foul smell in his nostrils. Remembering he still had a mobile-phone in his top pocket, Jim wiped his hands clean as best he could and took it out to dial his wife. Waking the phone from slumber he noticed there were three bars of reception and promptly tapped her contact details. “Stella, it’s me, Jim.” “What the devil are you calling me for? Has Jess finished her business?” “I don’t know. In fact, I don’t know where I am.” Brow furrowed, Stella made for the back door. What’s that fool gone and done now, she thought, standing on the bottom step. Jess came trotting over wagging her tail. “Where’s Jim, Jess?” Hearing his name, she dropped her head and followed his scent. Heading out front to where the trail ended on damp lawn; fresh dew from a clear night covering unprotected areas. Looking about for her husband, Stella put the phone to her ear and said, “Where the devil are you?” “I don’t know.” Jim walked on carefully, his shoes slipping on the floor. Close to one of the walls he noticed it resembled raw 7 meat; a myriad of veins carrying multi-colored fluids heaven knows where. “I’m scared, Stella.” Jim held the phone tightly against his ear; a life-line he daren’t let go. “Look, I’ve just about had it with your crap. Now, where are you?” She said, not seeing the funny side of his prank she lost patience. While walking further through what resembled ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ Jim came across a transparent membrane stretched between thick exposed bones, in shock, he stared down at the blue marble. “Holy shit!” he said, coming to a rapid conclusion, “I know exactly where I am.” “Where are you then?” Stella asked in frustration. “Remember when I told you about that ship, I saw in Tasmania all those years ago.” “Yeah, sort of,” she said in answer. “Well, that’s where I am.” Looking down he could make out the coast of East Africa passing by under light cloud cover. “Oh, pull the other one. Now, where are you?” Stella asked abruptly. “Really, I’m telling you the truth.” “Look, when you’ve finished playing your little joke, come inside. I’ll be going to work soon.” Stella tapped the mobile and called Jess to follow, making her way inside. “Stella, are you still there?” Jim held the phone out and could see she’d hung-up. “That’s just marvelous,” he groaned. Shaking his head in disbelief at the sight below, Jim turned and whispered to himself, “Fortune favors the brave.” Deciding to continue he walked on, sensing the gentle incline he strode on and marveled at the size of this sickening assault on the senses. Knowing he’d suffer many a sleepless night if ever he made it home, he put one foot in front of the other and ventured on. Rounding a corner, he entered what was clearly a control room. Several gadgets mounted 8 on walls popped and whistled when he came close. Filled with overwhelming desire, he reached up and touched a lever begging to be tweaked. Do not touch that. Jim nearly jumped out of his skin at the demand. “Who… who… who’s there?” He asked looking around. It is I, the Master of this vessel. Again, Jim cringed at the strength of its reply. Looking about, he considered the inhabitant might be invisible, but dismissed this conclusion immediately when the wall not far from him shivered like Jell-O on a platter. An opening appeared and what stepped forth caused him to scream like a little girl. I’ve got to show more courage than this, he decided, backing against a wall, hands out behind him. Jim stopped when he felt something similar to fresh meat in his palms. Yes, gather yourself, Jim. Time is against us and we must act now. The strange looking beast moved over toward a control panel, and with ease made an outline of a man appear on the floor. Thinking his days were numbered, Jim panicked and tried to escape; slipping and skidding as a cat would on a linoleum floor. After exhausting himself he gave up and surrendered to fate. “Okay, I give up.” You cannot, we are just getting started. Now lay on the highlighted area. The beast demanded. It was then Jim noticed its mouth didn’t move when communicating. “What are you?” He asked in a high-pitched voice. Forgive my crass entry. My name is Rogand, and I am from the planet Stommarli. We use telepathy to relay our thoughts. Jim couldn’t help but look over the dark blue creature. The more he scrutinized the beast, the more he believed it resembled a dragon. Yet, its head had a more dog-like quality to it. I never thought of myself as having K9 qualities, Jim. Rogand flipped another lever and the wall above the control panel 9 stretched to reveal a reflection. Moving his stumpy legs, Rogand gazed at himself and huffed indignantly. Dog-like indeed. Now, lay down. Jim started bending when Rogand shot forcefully into his mind. Oh, for goodness sake, take your coverings off. Jim stood still for a moment, embarrassed about removing his clothes in front of a total stranger. Never have I seen such an odd species. I have no covering and you do not see me blushing, do you? Looking at Rogand and seeing he wore nothing, Jim decided to throw caution to the wind and undressed. He was cold the moment he arrived, but now froze as the last piece of clothing fell onto the bile covered floor. Obeying Rogand’s command he lay in the chilly ooze and gagged again at the foul smell. Curious as to the beast’s objective he said, “Just what are you going to do?” I want to blend you with a species I saved. They lay these past thousand years in stasis. “What!” Do not worry, you and they are compatible. The poor humanoid I removed them from was near death when I found him. “Oh thanks, that makes me feel so much better,” he said mockingly. “So, what are these things supposed to do? Do you remember when I dodged that satellite and revealed myself? “Yes, how could I forget? Stella said I was losing my marbles when I told her about your ship.” Well, I scanned your body extensively and my conclusion was you suffer from a common abnormality on your world. “Yeah, so what, you got a cure or something?” As a matter of fact, I have. The symbiotic life-forms will restore every cell in your body, once my process is complete of course. At the prospect of a pain-free-life, Jim lifted his head off the floor and said, “What the devil are you waiting for, let’s get started.”