CHAPTER 20
Faizah Sadat, the Human Faizah, followed the aural prompting which told her to leave her small metal holding cell and proceed down the hallway. She was naked, and pain was an insistent reminder of the last session the aliens inflicted upon her. As she left her cell she found around twenty other Human Beings in the same circumstance. They milled about aimlessly. She knew some of them from previous holding cells, and when they saw her they gravitated to her, and to her strength. Faizah ignored her own pain and smiled. She thought of Alexander and how Humankind had as a whole gravitated to the example he portrayed. It was her turn now, in no less important a context. This was no test of honor, however. There was no chance at glorious death under the watchful eyes of a hard but honorable foe. This was Alexander’s Scythian ordeal only under the cruelest of taskmasters. There was no hope for return under these beings. She’d seen Humans die on the operating table, terribly awake during vivisections conducted by mechanical surgeons. Anesthesia was an unnecessary luxury for lab animals, and that is exactly how they were treated. Questioning sessions were handled brutally, again by machines. She’d not seen a live being aside from the other Human captives since her final memory of Earth. She’d fallen asleep, as usual, studying on her sofa in her New York apartment. It took her several days to realize that her nightmare was terribly real. She tried to use the example of Alexander to rally her spirits, but in the end it was only her own resolve that allowed her to hold her head up. Of all Humans, Alexander would know the horrible gulf between his experience and theirs. He could appreciate their trials.
The voice told them to proceed down the hallway. It gave no further instructions. The prisoners looked about aimlessly until Faizah moved on. Mechanically they followed her. “There is nothing before us that has not already been done,” she said loudly. “If they have yet to break our spirits, after all their despicable acts, then there is no possibility they shall overcome our world, or our God, or our spirits. They may have control of our bodies, but our spirits and our souls are our own!” The people took heart at Faizah’s words and their steps were firm. Their brows knits, young and old, with tight defiance. They followed her to a large vaulted chamber, again of metal. Within were several other groups of Humans, nearly a hundred in all.
The voice returned, flat, emotionless, but this time it was not mechanical. “You have served your purpose, Humans, but before you die know that you shall not die vain. You shall serve to stem the evil tide of the tyrant Alexander and preserve the Galactic peace.”
Faizah stood defiantly in the dark steel chamber with her companions and listened closely to the words, guessing their meaning. As were her brethren Faizah was exhausted, but the glare in her eyes betrayed no fear. The fear was in the unseen voice, and it was for Alexander. “You would be responsible for so vile an act? I warn you it will not be without repercussion.”
“You speak from ignorance, Human,” said he voice. “We shall, however, give you a moment to prepare yourselves.”
“How very noble of you,” Faizah said sarcastically. “I only wish I could live long enough to see Alexander when he gives you your just deserts. There will be a reckoning, I guarantee it!” Then she turned to her companions. They gathered around her, a huddled mass of fearful Humanity. Her fear melted in a comforting vat of hatred, and she let that violent humor taint her aristocratic voice. “Do not be afraid, friends. They can take away our lives, but they cannot take away our faith in God or our pride in Humankind. We shall be avenged, if that comforts you. Those who author despicable acts always pay. Let us remember Alexander when he faced certain death. Can we be any less courageous? Take pride in your Humanity. Let nothing but spite and hatred for our captors weaken your hearts. Humankind shall overcome their treachery. Let them be assured that Alexander and the legions of our brethren will avenge us. Think only of that! Alexander will avenge us!” A hue and cry rose, “Alexander! Alexander! Alexander!” Suddenly a staccato of laser fire cut off the voices. The darkness of the chamber was lit with flashes of deadly light. The metal room echoed with the grunts of injured Humans and the thud of falling bodies, but there were no screams of fear, no pleading for mercy. After a long horrible moment the room was eerily silent.