From his monitor on the central ship, Arthur watched the woman stumble through the brutal heat of one of earth's arid regions. "The human female will die without assistance" Arthur told the commander. The commander turned his pig-like head toward the monitor. The commander's voice was like a growl. "We are only here to study. You will do nothing to help the human." Arthur had always hated the hog-like creatures that held him and other humans captive on their home world, but never more then now. Arthur had watched the woman struggle for three days. She was brave, and he felt something for her.
"In the next solar day, I will be taking one of the scout ships and examining other land masses. You will remain here." The commander ordered Arthur. Arthur made the decision that he would help the human female when the commander departed, but he would have to be careful. The commander could kill him on a whim and no one would question it.
When the commander had left, Arthur put the mother ship in automatic orbit and took the other scout ship down to the earth's surface. Arthur landed the ship in a clearing not far from the woman's last location and hiked through the blazing heat until he found her. The woman had collapsed. Arthur picked her up and took her back to the scout ship. He then gave her an IV mixture of fluids, electrolytes,and basic nourishment. After several hours, she awoke.
After looking around for several moments, the woman focused on Arthur. "Where am I?" she asked him weakly. "This is going to be a little hard for you to understand." Arthur began. I found you in the desert, and you are now in my space craft." What is a space craft?" The woman asked. "Before I answer, can I ask your name?" "Elizabeth Morgan" Arthur hesitated, "Elizabeth", do you know anything about the stars and planets?" "I learned a little when I went to teachers college." she answered. Arthur was relieved "Good, the ship that we are in now can travel to the stars and the planets that orbit them." Elizabeth put a hand to her head. "Such a thing is not possible."
Arthur tried again, "Long ago, the creatures that built this space ship,traveled to earth, captured some people and took them to their home world. I am one of the descendents from that original group. The creatures that enslaved us are hideous beasts called "The Kuu." The Kuu have returned to earth, but we humans do not know the reason." "Where is this beast that you speak of now." Elizabeth asked. "The commander has taken another scout ship like this one to explore other land masses. I must return to the main ship as soon as possible. If the commander found out that I helped you he would kill us both."
Elizabeth tried to rise, and Arthur went to help. "I will leave you food, water and a map. You are not far from civilization." While Arthur led Elizabeth to the air lock the ship's communicator came to life. Arthur panicked, "The commander has returned, we must leave this area immediately." A few minutes after leaving the ship, Arthur watched the commander's scout ship descend to the surface. "The Kuu are expert hunters,the commander will find us." "Can you fight it?" Elizabeth asked. Arthur shook his head. "I have no weapons." Elizabeth thought for a moment "My husband's rifle." Arthur could see the commander now, the beast was tracking them. "Where is it?" Arthur asked. "I think I had it when I fainted." Arthur scanned the desert, grabbed Elizabeth's hand and together they ran to the spot where he found her.
They found the rifle laying in the dirt. Arthur picked it up, it was hot and he dropped it. "How does it work?" he asked Elizabeth. Before she could answer an explosion destroyed an outcropping of rocks behind them. "The commander has found us." Arthur shouted. Elizabeth picked up the rifle from the ground and pointed it at the approaching Kuu commander.Elizabeth fired the rifle. The Kuu staggered and tried to raise it's weapon. Elizabeth fired again and the beast fell. The Kuu did not rise again and Arthur went over to the body. It was dead.
Arthur took the Kuu's weapon and returned to Elizabeth. Arthur destroyed the two scout ships with the Kuu's weapon. "Now we must bury the body." Together they dragged the Kuu's heavy body to a small hill and covered it with rocks. "What will happen now?" Elizabeth asked. "Other Kuu will come looking for the commander and me." "You will need someone that can shoot." Elizabeth said with a slight smile. Arthur looked at the beautiful woman that he had fallen in love with and could not argue.
Craig Zimmerman
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