Alcantaran 1: Alien Abduction (16 page)

Ron saw that the Bug gave a slight start at the mention of unlocking the rest of the ship.
 
The Bug asked, "So you think the ship might be dangerous if it was fueled?"

"I don't know but I want some safety measures.
 
I know Wurden is spooked in the ship and I guess I caught it from him."

"This will take some deliberation.
 
In the meantime, return to your normal tasks," the big wig Bug said.

The group turned and left with the door swinging shut behind them.
 
Ron dictated a few notes into the computer and then the trio discussed the conversation with the Bug.
 
They didn't talk but used thought transfer.
 
They were becoming pretty proficient now.
 
They didn't settle anything before they fell asleep.

For the next three days, they worked at their normal jobs.
 
Kota
was gone and they assumed he returned to his training status.
 
The trio was getting nervous and wondered if the Bugs would chicken out.
 
They really wanted to see what was in the rest of the ship but were afraid of what fueling it would do.

On the fourth morning Wurden told them that they would be working on the ancient space ship again.
 
Kota
was in the hangar waiting on them when they arrived.
 
Ron had Gus set everything up and they practiced shutting things down three times before they were ready to fuel.
 
Tik and
Kota
had everything ready to fire up the ship's computer and run several tests.
 
It was time and everything was ready.

Wurden delayed the fueling for twenty minutes.
 
He gave no explanation but at the end of the twenty minutes the big wig Bug, his guards and two other Bugs showed up.
 
The big wig and his guards went behind Tik's work counter.
 
One of the Bugs went to the spot where Gus would be standing.
 
Wurden informed Ron that he and the other Bug would be accompanying him to the flight deck.

Gus went to get fuel and as he flew to the top of the cowling, Ron led the two Bugs to the flight deck.
 
Ron grinned as he wondered if yelling 'Boo' real loud would cause the two Bugs to hurt themselves as they rushed back out of the space ship.

They got to the flight deck and Tik signaled that they were all ready.
 
Ron contacted Gus and had him fuel the space ship.
 
They waited several minutes and nothing happened.
 
Five more minutes went by and the Bugs were muttering to each other.
 
Ron could understand them thanks to his translator and he saw they were becoming more agitated.
 
They were ready to pull the plug on this experiment.

Suddenly cabin lights blinked on.
 
The air started blowing from the ventilators and gauges and instruments started moving and lighting up.
 
At last the computer monitor lit up and a female-sounding voice started speaking.
 
The Bugs had no idea what the computer was saying but Ron did.
 
Somehow he knew it was the ancient Alcantaran language.
 
It was asking for the new password, date and time to reboot all systems.
 
Ron didn't say a word.

The other Bug with Wurden suddenly ordered everyone off the space ship.
 
It wouldn't let them touch anything or even get a good look at what was happening.
 
It almost pushed Ron, Tik and
Kota
off the flight deck.
 
It stayed but ordered Wurden to get them off and to get Gus down.
 
Wurden was only too happy to be off the space ship and urged them to greater speed.
 
Tik had that look.
 
She was ready to attack to stay in the cockpit but Ron almost screamed in his mind for her to keep moving.

They reached the floor and Gus was already there.
 
The Bug had his controls and he was standing to one side.
 
Wurden was urging the group toward the door when it suddenly slammed open.
 
There was a large group of Bugs that came rushing in.
 
They headed directly to the space ship.
 
One of the Bugs came over and got
Kota
.
 
They immediately started out the door.
 
Ron, Tik and Gus were furious and also worried that the Bugs had found out about their escape plans.
 
Ron could see that
Kota
was feeling the same way.
 
Wurden took Ron, Tik and Gus back to their cell.

When they got back to the cell, Ron and Tik were pacing back and forth.
 
Gus was too big to pace with them, so he just had to sit on the bunk and brood.
 
They were communicating with thought transfer and the biggest question was 'why'.
 
Finally Ron made a decision.

"Tik," he thought.
 
"You need to renew your research on the Alcantarans and why the Bugs are so afraid of them.
 
See if there are any more translators or such here on the mother ship and where they are located.
 
I'm going to start that pilot training that
Kota
told us about."

Tik broke in on his thought, "That gives us something to do but what about the Big Boy over there?
 
He'll go crazy if we are doing something and he can't do anything."

"You're right.
 
We need to get him a computer and teach him how to use it.
 
Maybe you could set it up to use your link to get into the mother ship's computer.
 
He needs to start educating himself about the different space ships and some of the different species that the Bugs have traded with," Ron responded.

"I'll see what I can find right now."

Ron projected his thoughts to Gus, "Gus, we are going to try to find a computer for you.
 
When we do, we'll teach you how to use it and then we need you to start researching the different types of space ships around here.
 
Also you need to find out things about the different species that the Bugs have traded with.
 
Once we get off the mother ship, we'll need to know a lot of that.
 
We all will have to start becoming familiar with techniques the Bugs use for trading.
 
Somehow I feel this will be critical in our escape."

Gus thought back, "Just give me a computer.
 
I want off this ship and I want to get back to my family on my planet.
 
I'll do whatever it takes -- including wiping out these Bugs one at a time if I have to!"

"I'm with you on that and I know Tik is too.
 
Hopefully, we won't have to start smashing Bugs just yet.
 
Tik is trying to find you a computer right now."

Tik excitedly interrupted, "Hey, I've found a storeroom down about 10 levels and a little more toward the center of the ship.
 
They have computers and there appear to be some relics from the Alcantarans stored there also.
 
I wonder if I could get there tonight to grab some."

"Maybe tonight would be a good time.
 
The Bugs will be wrapped up in the old space ship and might not be watching as close as they have.
 
Will your computer wake you up at a certain time?" Ron quizzed her eagerly.

"Why sure it will.
 
What do you have in mind?" Tik asked.

"Instead of leaving here right after things quiet down, leave about two hours before we leave to go to work.
 
Even if the Bugs are checking, we have an established pattern of sleeping until the bell goes off.
 
If we are already asleep, they won't be expecting us to get up and do something early like that," Ron mused.

Gus' stomach growled and he thought, "I wonder if the Bugs will feed us tonight or if we are going to be stuck here all night."

"I don't know.
 
I could use something to eat too," Ron answered.

They continued to pace and plan for the next twenty minutes until the door suddenly swung open.
 
Wurden gestured for them to come out and then led them to the dining hall.
 
All three looked around to see if they could spot
Kota
but he was nowhere to be seen.
 
They ate their meal and returned to their cell.
 
After the door swung shut, Ron and Tik pulled out their computers and started studying.
 
At their usual time, both of them put up the computers and laid down to sleep.
 
Tik had set the alarm on her computer and it woke them up 3 hours before they normally got up for work.

The three got up and Ron told Tik to put on the loop of them sleeping in case a Bug happened to check their cell.
 
Ron and Gus helped Tik put on her harness and loaded it with the tools she might need.
 
Ron pulled out the invisibility cape and put it on her.
 
Tik took a deep breath and stepped to the door.
 
Gus was right there to keep it from swinging too far.
 
Tik told the computer to open it and she quickly slipped out into the passage-way.

She had memorized the route she needed to take to the storeroom.
 
She hurriedly started down the passage-way.
 
There was nothing moving at this time of day so she broke into a trot.
 
She was trying to see as far down the passage-way as she could.
 
She didn't want to hurry and bump into an unexpected Bug.
 
She reached the stairway she needed and hurried down the stairs.
 
Knowing that her time was limited didn't help her nerves any at all.
 
She reached the proper level and eased the door open a crack.
 
Peering up and down the passage-way, she saw that it was all clear.
 
She quickly checked her computer to see if the storeroom was occupied.
 
The room had no living things in it.
 
Tik rushed to the door and had the computer open it.
 
She slipped in and stopped to listen as she pushed the door shut behind her.
 
There was nothing moving and Tik could hear her own heart beat.
 
She checked the computer, found the location of the computers and grabbed one of them.
 
She hesitated a moment and then grabbed another one.
 
Next she checked the location for the Alcantaran relics and went there.
 
She looked them over and didn't see anything that would be useful to them.
 
She saw a shelf that was above her head level.
 
She was thinking, 'I need to get going.
 
But what if there are things we need right there and I don't make the effort to get them'.
 
She looked around and spotted the post that held the shelves up.
 
She ran to it and climbed it like a squirrel.
 
When she got up on the shelf, she was really glad she had made the effort.
 
There were three of the translators and she grabbed all of them and shoved them into her harness.
 
As she was about to leave, she spotted a small ornately carved box with an ornate chain.
 
She recognized it as a translator that was used by the Dar Es Salaam Traders on her planet.
 
She wound the chain around the box and shoved it in the harness.
 
She felt several pounds heavier and knew she had to leave now.
 
She returned to the post and shinnied down to the floor.
 
She trotted back to the door and quietly opened it a crack.
 
Something or someone was coming down the passage-way.
 
Tik jumped back inside and shut the door.
 
She held her ear to the door and listened.
 
She didn't hear anything so she wondered if it was a Bug gliding on its' disk.
 
She waited and suddenly the door started to open.
 
She caught herself just before she yelped.
 
She backed away from the door just a little and stood there waiting.
 
She bared her teeth and was ready to fight.
 
Suddenly it dawned on her that she was invisible.
 
All she had to do was wait for the Bug to come in and she could slide right out.
 
She held her breath as the Bug glided in.
 
It stopped in the doorway and seemed to be looking around.
 
Tik was getting nervous.
 
She couldn't wait very long; because she had to get back up the stairs and into her cell before the morning bell.
 
At last the Bug moved into the storeroom and Tik quietly moved into the passage-way.
 
The doors closed behind her and she rushed for the stairway.
 
She rushed up the stairs and had to stop to catch her breath when she reached her level.
 
She was out of shape and the extra weight didn't help.
 
She finally started breathing somewhat normally and opened the door.
 
There was movement in the passageway so she timed it just right to get out.
 
She moved to the side of the passage-way and quickly moved to her cell door.
 
When it was clear, she opened the door and slipped in.

Ron was pacing and stopped in mid-step.
 
He quickly came over and pushed the door shut.
 
He and Gus quickly helped Tik out of the cape.
 
Ron folded the cape and put it back in his pouch.
 
Tik gave him his translator back and started pulling the items out of her harness.
 
She laid them on the bed and was quickly transferring them to her tool bag.
 
The 'rise and shine' bell rang and all three about jumped out of their skins.
 
Tik didn't even have time to take her harness off.
 
She just made sure all the items she had stolen were safely hidden in her tool bag.
 
Gus grabbed the bag as was his custom and the three lined up to head to the dining hall.