ÿWPCv  F|Ï—7×’X£ñÈžBŠ7Ñ 7chµ '­ñ‘(´‡Hm6Ó·Q Ü£Bo½œµö¹bAé©pD7±[œÀA©DÞíáNl‹ï ΪÍx Ñl°P(Ì=n)¯KU{"sJhÆá«¶™ž –{íÔòPöÎÑ ÖË| D¹]9ˆÃ(]LJ·¿¦®‡ø©,‹Üò?æ7ùo‡ZÞøÆõݨv¾Îp¥Û*³{ž”W=¶-Ï$Ã7ü¼wW²cˆŒ{ÿ§œòÛ9'² ZΉ²Ñv?3ËھЛÒ\Ë{k(àóu‡®+Ð8 6¡ôY-¡¯J{vÄ0´çcí£fª¬±ïƒŸ yxú"mÂäž³:´mlŒªÔÔpž ‡´óúÞ"@o>0yÇzcÝÜ~DRz·AÝhtE÷”FŒF»‹­Çéº9cmßñ‰••Çä;¡X©ªËpX–*{W|ò€Óµ}Ðe‚N†³]ÅŒªûƒÄûõvܱéÁ½ŒnƒÀa*~  x«Ë"rÅèÊüy’ÝñÛ“•þ ”h}þ€Ê:Ý´Ú;øÌš"CAHþÎÇkçóü®xdo{ê³™]!êºSx±Qx6Ûz./Yņ°.øixâùÖCxxUBünX> %–Êœ 0Œf 0”ò† 0r–#É (Ñ Nù ^ û w 4  m! U>8 ô\  `*Times New RomanTT«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôPô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô' Ö% 2 "Raman Jalota"0Raman Jalota .   `ÿÿ:footnote reffootnote referenceÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôhÿÿ:Default ParaDefault Paragraph FontÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ô3|x (JÊw$¡¡Ô€X2bXòôÔÔ€X2bXXX2bÔÓ  Ó˜HP DeskJet 840C/841C/842C/843C0X,,,,0X0!™‚\7  ÆŽX7PagesÿU‹ÿÀÀÀô\  `‹&Times New RomanÝ ƒÊw!ÝÔ€X÷XòôÔÔ€X÷XXX÷ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@¨¨ìàò òInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€Ió óˆÐ ° Ðà@‚‚)ìàò òbyˆÐ xÈ Ðà@˜˜$ìàRaman€JalotaˆÐ @ Ðó óÌà  àÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€looked€at€me€with€his€totally€blue€eyes€...€well€they€weren't€really€eyes.€TheyÐ Ð  Ðwere€square€slits€on€his€face€that€were€of€a€solid€blue€color.€His€eyes€were€totally€blue€...€€no€eyeballs,Ð ˜è Ðno€eyelashes,€nothing€...€€just€blue.€I€couldn't€see€any€eyebrows€and€the€eyes€never€blinked.€He€hadÐ ` ° Ða€machine„like€presence€that€was€somehow€'alive'€...€no€not€just€alive€but€living,€almost€human.€HisÐ ( x Ðface€was€silvery€with€a€blue€tint€and€his€mouth€was€square€and€thin,€just€slightly€larger€than€his€eyes.Ð ð @ ÐHe€did€not€have€a€nose€or€anything€else€on€his€face€that€resembled€a€nose.€He€looked€somewhat€likeÐ ¸   Ða€robot€but€more€fluid.€He€appeared€softer€than€the€metallic€hardness€that€his€bluish€grey€bodyÐ € Ð  Ðprojected.€Ð H ˜  Ðà  àHe€said,€ð ðWhat€do€you€mean€'sit€down'?ððÐ `  Ðà  àð ðI€mean€take€a€seat.ððÐ Ø(  Ðà  àð ðTake€a€seat?€Where?€And€why?ððÐ  ð  Ðà  àð ðWell€I€am€going€to€sit€down€as€we€talk,€you€may€too€if€you€want€to.ðð€I€sat€down€and€watchedÐ h¸  Ðhim.€His€face€softened€as€if€in€understanding,€he€walked€over€to€the€other€sofa,€bent€his€body€over€hisÐ 0€  Ðknees€and€bent€his€body€again€over€his€waist€in€a€clown€like€fashion€and€sat€down€facing€me.€I€heardÐ øH  Ðsirens€as€several€police€cars€went€by.€I€had€barely€recovered€from€my€initial€shock€of€meeting€thisÐ À Ðstranger€and€the€cops€were€already€out!€Can€they€trace€him€to€my€home?€What€will€they€do€if€theyÐ ˆØ Ðfound€him€here?€€€Ð P  Ðà  àð ðOh!€So€this€is€sitting€down€or€taking€a€seat?€We€do€not€use€this€position€on€my€planet.ððÐ h Ðà  àð ðYou€never€sit€down?€Don't€you€get€tired€or€anything?ððÐ à0 Ðà  àð ðThat€must€be€a€unique€phenomenon€for€your€planet.ððÐ ¨ø Ðà  àð ðDoesn't€your€body€need€to€rest?€Or€recover?ððÐ pÀ Ðà  àÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€smiled,€at€least€that's€what€I€would€call€what€his€distorted€face€looked€like,€ð ðOurÐ 8ˆ Ðplanet€is€made€of€the€element€that€you€call€Cobalt€and€we€are€all€Cobalt€based.€You€earth€beings€areÐ P ÐCarbon€based.€You€and€your€planet€use€excessive€energy€to€survive€and€the€accelerated€pace€of€thisÐ È Ðusage€deteriorates€you€and€your€planet.ððÐ à Ðà  àð ðI€don't€understand€it.€What€do€you€mean€by€all€that?ððÐ X¨ ÐÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€looked€at€me€intently€as€if€trying€to€read€my€mind.€I€felt€a€slight€tingle€on€the€right€sideÐ  p Ðof€my€head,€just€over€my€ear.€I€felt€my€thoughts€take€shape€and€change€without€needing€my€voice€asÐ è8 Ðif€someone€or€something€had€entered€my€head€and€read€all€my€thoughts.€A€shiver€went€down€myÐ °  Ðbody.Ð xÈ! Ðà  àð ðWere€you€reading€my€mind,€was€that€telepathy?ðð€Ð @" Ðà  àð ðI€am€having€difficulty€understanding€some€of€your€questions,€some€of€your€thoughts;€andÐ  X# Ðdecided€to€use€my€mind€directly€to€understand€what€you€were€asking€me.€It's€somewhat€like€telepathy,Ð Ð $ Ðit's€simple€thought€investigation.ððÐ ˜!è% Ðà  àI€almost€fell€off€my€chair,€ð ðSo,€what€did€you€investigate€and€can€you€really€explain€what€youÐ `"°& Ðmeant€by€Carbon€based€and€Cobalt€based?ððÐ (#x' Ðà  àð ðYes,€the€earth€beings€are€made€of€the€basic€element€that€you€call€Carbon.€All€living€beingsÐ ð#@( Ðon€your€planet€are€Carbon€based.€The€basic€structure€is€made€up€of€€chains€of€Hydrogen€and€CarbonsÐ ¸$ ) Ðlinked€together.€The€Carbon€based€structures€need€Oxygen€to€survive€and€need€regeneration€at€aÐ €%Ð * Ðrapid€pace€to€stop€the€deterioration€that€may€otherwise€set€in.ððÐ H&˜!+ Ðà  àð ðAnd€how's€that€different€than€Cobalt€based?ððÐ '`", Ðà  àð ðCobalt€based€structures€don't€need€Oxygen€or€other€rapid€means€of€regeneration.€We€don'tÐ Ø'(#- Ðconsume€Hydrocarbons€at€all.€The€regeneration€we€use€is€from€subatomic€particles€and€ourÐ  (ð#. Ðregeneration€needs€are€extremely€infrequent€...€roughly€once€every€400€earth€days.€We€do€not€needÐ h)¸$/ Ðto€destroy€our€planet€just€to€survive.€The€deterioration€of€our€planet€is€so€minute€that€pre„CadmiumÐ 0*€%0 Ðmaps€are€considered€current.ððÐ ø*H&1 Ðà  àð ðPre„Cadmium€maps?€I€guess€I'll€come€back€to€that€later.€Why€don't€you€have€a€nose?ðð€IÐ À+'2 Ðtouched€my€nose€to€clarify€my€question.Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ѐà0  àð ðLike€I€said€before,€we€don't€need€Oxygen€to€breath€like€you.€We€are€very€stable.ððÐP- (4(#(# Ðà  àMy€eyes€were€wide€in€disbelief,€before€I€could€continue,€I€heard€knocks€on€the€front€door.€IÐ .h)5 Ðhad€heard€the€police€sirens€a€few€minutes€ago€and€the€fear€and€suspense€that€had€been€building€up€inÐ ° Ðmy€mind€had€finally€caught€up.€There€was€no€mistaking€who€was€out€there!€I€put€my€finger€on€myÐ xÈ Ðlips€and€motioned€to€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€to€go€to€the€bedroom.€When€he€had€stepped€in€the€bedroom€andÐ @ Ðclosed€the€door,€I€went€to€the€front€door.Ð X Ðà  àð ðYes?ððÐ Ð  Ðà  àð ðSorry€to€bother€you€sir,€but€we€are€checking€the€neighborhood€for€strange€sightings.€HaveÐ ˜è Ðyou€seen€anything€unusual€in€the€past€hour€or€so?ððÐ ` ° Ðà  àð ðUnusual?€Like€what?ððÐ ( x Ðà  àð ðWell€sir,€there€have€been€reports€of€a€strange€plane€landing€or€crashing€around€this€area€andÐ ð @ Ðone€person€saw€someone€walking€into€this€subdivision.€Have€you€noticed€someone€or€somethingÐ ¸   Ðaround€your€home?ððÐ € Ð  Ðà  àð ðWow!€I€haven't€seen€or€heard€anything.€Where€did€it€crash?ððÐ H ˜  Ðà  àI€stepped€out€and€thankfully€the€cop€followed€me€out.€He€pointed€north€,€ð ðThat's€the€generalÐ `  Ðdirection.€About€four€or€five€blocks€up.ððÐ Ø(  Ðà  àð ðI'll€be€damned.ðð€I€shook€my€head€and€stared€in€the€direction€he€had€pointed.€I€let€him€walkÐ  ð  Ðaround€the€front€yard€and€back€before€he€left.Ð h¸  ÐÓ  Ó........Ð 0€  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€came€out€of€the€bedroom,€ð ðYou€look€worried,€and€afraid.ððÐ À Ðà  àð ðThey€were€looking€for€you.€They€would€probably€have€killed€both€of€us€if€they€found€youÐ ˆØ Ðhere.€I€must€find€a€way€for€you€to€hide.ðð€My€head€was€tingling.Ð P  Ðà  àð ðI€can€feel€your€apprehension,€your€fear,€and€I€can€understand€what€you€are€telling€me.ðð€Ð h Ðà  àThe€tingling€in€my€head€stopped.€I€was€glad€he€understood€the€gravity€of€the€situationÐ à0 Ðwithout€making€me€try€to€explain€the€complexity€of€our€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô„political€systems.€An€alien€beingÐ ¨ø Ðwould€not€be€allowed€to€survive€and€even€the€fact€of€his€arrival,€his€very€existence€would€beÐ pÀ Ðdenied€by€every€fabric€of€our€political€machine.Ð 8ˆ Ðà  àÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€whispered,ððI€don't€want€to€endanger€you€anymore.€I'll€see€you€in€sevenÐ P Ðearth€hours.€I€need€to€go€back€and€assure€the€integrity€of€our€craft.ððÐ È Ðà  àI€barely€slept.€Not€only€a€million€questions€were€turning€over€in€my€mind,€I€was€alsoÐ à Ðgetting€scared€of€my€situation.€If€it€was€found€that€I€had€tried€to€hide€the€existence€of€an€alienÐ X¨ Ðbeing,€my€life€would€not€be€worth€the€paper€I€wrote€my€stories€on.€What€did€the€authorities€knowÐ  p Ðof€last€night?€The€sound€of€the€morning€paper€landing€on€the€driveway€woke€me€up.€I€ran€to€getÐ è8 Ðthe€paper€and€scanned€every€column€...€nothing.€I€walked€into€the€house€and€flipped€through€allÐ °  Ðthe€TV€channels€...€not€a€word.€I€half€expected€this€but€was€shaken€by€the€enormous€conspiracy€ofÐ xÈ! Ðthe€silence.€I€didnððt€do€anything€for€a€while€then€realized€that€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€was€going€to€show€upÐ @" Ðany€moment.€I€started€jotting€down€questions.€€Ð  X# ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð Ð $ ÐÓ  Óà  àð ðWhy€did€you€pick€me€as€your€contact?€What€do€I€represent€that€you€chose€me?ððÐ ˜!è% Ðà  àð ðThis€may€surprise€you,€but€we€are€aware€of€your€intellect€and€your€capability€of€gettingÐ `"°& Ðthe€message€to€the€heart€of€your€audience.€This€is€not€the€first€time€we€have€visited€your€planet.Ð (#x' ÐYou€were€chosen€because€of€the€brilliance€reflected€in€your€works.ððÐ ð#@( Ðà  àI€was€shocked,€ð ðMy€works?ððÐ ¸$ ) Ðà  àð ðYes,€not€just€the€stories€and€the€novels,€but€also€the€poetry,€the€paintings,€and€above€allÐ €%Ð * Ðthe€vivid€imagery€that€you€create€in€any€media€you€choose.€You€were€our€obvious€choice.ððÐ H&˜!+ ÐI€felt€myself€blush€at€the€praise,€ð ðHow€could€you€know?ððÐ '`", Ðà  àð ðWe€know.€We€came€to€find€the€right€medium€to€distribute€the€knowledge€of€ourÐ Ø'(#- Ðexistence€and€establish€a€means€of€intellectual€exchange€with€the€earth€beings.€We€consideredÐ  (ð#. Ðseveral€people€and€you€are€the€chosen€one.€Therefore,€I€came€to€talk€to€you.€Your€acceptance€ofÐ h)¸$/ Ðmy€presence€last€night€and€the€way€you€managed€to€converse€with€me€last€night,€confirmed€theÐ 0*€%0 Ðcorrectness€of€our€decision.ððÐ ø*H&1 Ðà  àMy€thoughts€were€tumbling€over€one€another,€ð ðSo,€you€are€willing€to€let€me€understandÐ À+'2 Ðyou,€your€world,€and€allow€me€to€explain€it€to€the€people€of€the€world.ððÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ѐ€à  àð ðYes.ððÐ P- (4 Ðà  àð ðI€suppose,€I€could€publish€my€interviews€with€you€as€fictitious€and€yet€make€them€as€realÐ .h)5 Ðas€I€can.€I€could€divulge€the€secret€once€the€people€were€ready.€Yes€...€I€think€I€can€do€that.ððÐ ° Ðà  àð ðWe€knew€you€would.ððÐ xÈ Ðà  àð ðWhy€the€name€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô?ððÐ @ Ðà  àð ðWell,€you€should€be€able€to€understand€the€name.ððÐ X Ðà  àð ðO.K.,€'Brahma'€I€think€means€the€creator;€what€does€ððRatanðð€mean?ððÐ Ð  Ðà  àð ðJewel.ððÐ ˜è Ðà  àð ðThe€'Jewel€of€the€Creator'€...€I€can€see€some€logic€in€that.ððÐ ` ° Ðà  àð ðAnd€of€course,€you€know€who€the€creator€is?ððÐ ( x Ðà  àI€shook€my€head,€ð ðI€personally€don't€believe€in€the€existence€of€a€supreme€being€whoÐ ð @ Ðcreated€us€all.€Surely€you€don't€in€a€God€or€some€such€being?ððÐ ¸   Ðà  àð ðIn€the€3€million€years€of€our€history€we€never€needed€a€supreme€being€to€validate€ourÐ € Ð  Ðexistence,€you€earth€beings€have€been€in€existence€for€a€short€time€and€need€such€a€concept€toÐ H ˜  Ðsurvive.€Because€you€need€it,€it€was€created€for€you.€And€in€a€parallel€logic€the€nameÐ `  ÐÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€was€created€for€you€...€you€do€understand?ððÐ Ø(  Ðà  àI€nodded€my€head€only€vaguely€grasping€his€logic€and€connection,€ð ðLast€night,€you€toldÐ  ð  Ðme€that€you€didn't€need€to€eat€for€400€days?€How€do€you€get€your€energy?€How€can€you€surviveÐ h¸  Ðthat€long?ððÐ 0€  Ðà  àð ðRemember,€we€don't€use€energy€as€fast€as€you€do.€You€use€up€energy€even€when€you€areÐ øH  Ðattempting€to€accumulate€it.€You€are€not€built€very€efficiently.€We€are€the€most€efficient€beings€inÐ À Ðthe€known€universe.€We€can€withstand€extreme€temperatures€without€loss€of€mobility€or€reductionÐ ˆØ Ðin€any€of€our€normal€functions.€We€can€tolerate€extreme€changes€in€our€environment,€changes€inÐ P  Ðpressure,€atmosphere,€radiation€levels;€without€any€deterioration.€Our€rate€of€deterioration€is€soÐ h Ðslow€that€natural€death€occurs€approximately€eight€thousand€years€after€birth.€We€use€95%€of€ourÐ à0 Ðbrain€everyday€and€use€the€remaining€5%€as€spare€capacity.€Yes,€we€can€even€use€it€to€regenerateÐ ¨ø Ðdamaged€transmissions,€impulses,€memories,€any€number€of€body€or€brain€mechanisms.€That'sÐ pÀ Ðwhy€a€mission€such€as€our€current€one€can€be€accomplished€several€times€in€one's€lifetime.ððÐ 8ˆ Ðà  àð ðYou€said€that€you€don't€need€to€eat,€but€doesn't€that€deprive€you€of€the€pleasure€ofÐ P Ðeating?€And€what€about€sex?€Do€you€derive€any€pleasures€...€what€are€your€pleasures?ððÐ È ÐÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€smiled,€his€face€didn't€appear€as€grotesque€as€it€did€last€night.€He€had€learned€fromÐ à Ðour€last€meeting€and€had€managed€to€change€how€he€appeared€while€communicating€with€me.€I€noÐ X¨ Ðlonger€felt€the€apprehension€that€I€felt€yesterday.€He€had€found€a€way€to€make€me€feel€relaxed€...Ð  p Ðòòwas€it€another€trick?€...€a€subliminal€brain€message€or€a€circuit€blocker?óóÐ è8 Ðà  àð ðHow€do€you€derive€your€pleasures?€The€fact€of€eating€or€sex€is€not€associated€with€aÐ °  Ðpleasure.€The€pleasure€impulse€is€generated€in€your€brain.€Your€brain€tells€you€if€the€apple€isÐ xÈ! Ðsweet,€if€the€whiskey€is€smooth,€if€the€woman€is€soft,€if€the€feeling€of€touch,€taste,€smell,€or€sightÐ @" Ðis€good€or€bad€or€exciting€or€exhilarating€...€whatever€your€brain€tells€you€...€the€image€your€brainÐ  X# Ðcreates€for€you€and€attaches€it€to€a€specific€object,€or€act€or€thought€...€that's€what€you€feel€...€orÐ Ð $ Ðthink€you€feel.Ð ˜!è% Ðà  àð ðThe€sight€of€miles€of€green€grass€or€a€blue€ocean€or€the€feel€of€a€voluptuous€model€canÐ `"°& Ðgenerate€the€same€impulse€in€your€brain€as€brilliant€conversation€or€a€story€or€a€painting.€For€usÐ (#x' ÐÔ_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€it's€the€thought€of€seeing€strange€planets,€communicating€with€different€beings,Ð ð#@( Ðexploring€the€wonders€of€natural€selection€and€mutations,€the€idea€of€perhaps€helping€anotherÐ ¸$ ) Ðspecies,€these€create€feelings€a€thousand€times€more€intense€than€your€earthly€adventures€ever€can.Ð €%Ð * ÐThe€capability€of€using€95%€of€our€brain€also€means€using€it€for€deriving€extremely€intenseÐ H&˜!+ Ðpleasures.€The€pleasure€that€I€feel€in€a€simple€task€may€equate€to€the€most€intense,€explosiveÐ '`", Ðorgasm€that€you€have€ever€had,€multiplied€a€thousand€times.ððÐ Ø'(#- Ðà  àI€stared€at€him€mesmerized.€I€was€not€only€getting€jealous,€I€was€getting€worried€andÐ  (ð#. Ðscared.€€à ` àÐ h)¸$/ ÐÓ  Ó....€Ð 0*€%0 ÐÓ  Óà  àThe€phone€rang€late€the€next€morning.€ð ðI€can€see€you€for€a€short€time€today.€Apparently€aÐ ø*H&1 Ðlarge€number€of€your€military€is€looking€for€us.€I'll€need€to€be€in€disguise€for€your€and€my€safety.ððÐ À+'2 Ðà  àð ðWe€can't€meet€here.€The€cops€have€been€here€several€times,€I€feel€they€have€my€houseÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðunder€surveillance.€Can€we€meet€in€a€public€place,€like€a€hotel?€How€about€meeting€in€theÐ P- (4 ÐÔ_ÔDoubleTreeÔ_Ô€hotel?€I€can€get€a€room€and€give€you€my€room€number.€How€can€I€reach€you?€IsÐ .h)5 Ðthere€a€number€that€I€can€call€you€at?ððÐ ° Ðà  àÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€chuckled,€ð ðThere€isn't€a€specific€number€at€which€you€can€call€me.€OurÐ xÈ Ðcommunication€system€can€connect€into€yours,€but€I€am€required€to€keep€it€secured.€I'll€call€you€inÐ @ Ðthree€earth€hours.ððÐ X Ðà  àHow€could€he€contact€me€over€the€phone€without€a€number€...€or€perhaps€even€without€aÐ Ð  Ðphone€...€I€wondered.€These€creatures€were€monitoring€our€communications.€òòWhat€had€I€gottenÐ ˜è Ðmyself€into?€óóÐ ` ° ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ( x ÐÓ  Óà  àThe€hotel€room€was€on€the€seventh€floor€located€across€from€the€elevators.€I€did€not€haveÐ ð @ Ðto€wait€too€long.€There€was€a€soft€knock€on€the€door.€I€opened€the€door.€A€bell€boy€stoodÐ ¸   Ðoutside.€ð ðYes?ððÐ € Ð  Ðà  àð ðMay€I€come€in?€I€have€made€it€this€far€without€being€detected.ððÐ H ˜  Ðà  àThat€slightly€metallic€sound€was€unmistakable.€I€closed€the€door€behind€him.€ð ðIs€it€reallyÐ `  Ðyou?€You€look€so€....€human.ðð€I€touched€his€face€and€felt€his€shoulders.€He€felt€like€a€living€humanÐ Ø(  Ðbeing.Ð  ð  Ðà  àHe€shut€his€eyes€and€changed€from€a€human€being€into€a€metallic€Ô_ÔCobaltianÔ_Ô€in€front€of€myÐ h¸  Ðeyes.€The€slow€transformation€was€like€a€caterpillar€changing€into€a€butterfly€or€a€snake€crawlingÐ 0€  Ðout€of€his€skin.€I€sat€staring€at€this€metamorphosis€completely€stunned.€Ð øH  Ðà  àð ðBefore€we€start,€what€is€the€name€of€your€world€...€your€planet€...€your€galaxy?ððÐ À Ðà  àð ðOur€naming€convention€would€mean€nothing€to€you,€the€closest€name€in€earth€termsÐ ˆØ Ðwould€be€Cobalt€or€Blue.€You€may€not€understand€the€proximity€of€these€two€words€but€forÐ P  Ðdescribing€our€planet€you€can€use€either€one.€You€could€call€our€planet€Blue€and€us€blue€beings.ððÐ h Ðà  àð ðHow€did€you€disguise€yourself?€How€did€you€turn€yourself€into€a€human€being?ððÐ à0 Ðà  àð ðI€can€turn€myself€into€another€object€by€utilizing€a€sample€of€that€object€...€my€...€ourÐ ¨ø Ðbrains€are€capable€of€complete€physical€change€in€moments.€This€is€just€a€small€sample€of€ourÐ pÀ Ðcapability.€Though€a€change€of€the€outer€shell€is€extremely€complex,€most€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€master€itÐ 8ˆ Ðearly€in€life.ððÐ P Ðà  àð ðWhat€do€you€want€from€us?€Why€are€you€here?ððÐ È Ðà  àð ðAs€I€told€you€earlier,€I€am€here€to€explore€the€possibility€of€establishing€communicationsÐ à Ðwith€earth€beings€and€helping€earth€beings€progress.ððÐ X¨ Ðà  àI€wanted€to€believe€him,€but€couldn't.€These€omnipotent€beings€could€not€have€decided€toÐ  p Ðestablish€communications€with€earth€for€no€apparent€reason.€òòHow€could€I,€a€normal€humanÐ è8 Ðfathom€this€genius's€motives?€And€what€did€he€mean€by€'utilizing€a€sample'€of€a€human€being€toÐ °  Ðchange€into€one!óóÐ xÈ! Ðà  àI€swallowed€slowly,€trying€to€keep€as€low€an€intensity€in€my€thoughts€as€possible.Ð @" ÐÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€had€a€habit€of€'investigating'€my€thoughts€whenever€the€activity€in€my€brain€becameÐ  X# Ðintense.€He€had€the€means€to€detect€the€presence€of€high€level€of€activity€in€my€mind.€I€wanted€toÐ Ð $ Ðtry€to€develop€a€means€of€preventing€him€from€reading€my€thoughts.Ð ˜!è% Ðà  àð ðAre€you€here€alone?€Did€you€come€to€our€planet€alone?€How€many€people€are€there€withÐ `"°& Ðyou?€Can€I€meet€them?€What€are€they€doing€as€you€talk€to€me?ððÐ (#x' Ðà  àð ðNo,€I€am€not€alone.€If€I€deem€it€proper,€I'll€take€you€to€our€craft€and€you€can€meet€theÐ ð#@( Ðrest€of€the€crew.€They€have€their€assignments€and€are€exploring€€parts€of€this€earth€and€itsÐ ¸$ ) Ðinhabitants.ððÐ €%Ð * Ðà  àð ðAre€they€looking€for€a€specific€metal€or€element€or€energy€source?ððÐ H&˜!+ Ðà  àð ðNo.€We€are€much€too€advanced€and€have€made€quantum€leaps€in€our€technology,Ð '`", Ðwhereas€you€seem€to€be€stuck€at€a€very€low€level€of€development.€We€don't€think€there's€anythingÐ Ø'(#- Ðthat€your€planet€can€offer€us€except€the€adventure€of€exploration.ððÐ  (ð#. Ðà  àð ðWhat€do€you€mean€by€our€technology€being€at€a€low€level?€We€have€progressed€at€anÐ h)¸$/ Ðincredible€...ððÐ 0*€%0 Ðà  àð ðEarth€beings€seem€to€refuse€to€let€go€of€old€technology,€even€when€the€next€step€isÐ ø*H&1 Ðobvious€and€staring€at€you.€For€example€you€are€still€using€the€wheel.€The€wheel€should€have€beenÐ À+'2 Ðobsolete€within€a€few€hundred€years€of€its€discovery€and€use.ððÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðà  àð ðWhat€will€we€use€without€wheels?ððÐ P- (4 Ðà  àð ðYou€need€to€study€and€redefine€what€the€wheel€does€for€you.€Even€your€primitiveÐ .h)5 ÐÔ_Ôcomputer€technology€is€incompatible€with€the€wheel.€Do€you€really€need€a€system€of€mechanicsÐ ° Ðthat€is€so€slow?€Surely€you€can€replace€it€with€micro„circuitry.€Earth€beings€need€to€use€theirÐ xÈ Ðbrains€a€little€more€efficiently.ðð€Ð @ Ðòòà  àI€couldnððt€understand€what€he€was€leading€to€or€even€if€he€was€leading€to€somethingóó.€ð ðIsÐ X Ðthere€something€specific€that€you€want€us€to€know€about€you,€something€that€you€specificallyÐ Ð  Ðwant€to€tell€me€or€should€I€keep€asking€the€millions€of€questions€that€jump€in€my€head?ððÐ ˜è Ðà  àð ðThat's€all€up€to€you.€You€will€have€a€lot€of€data€by€the€time€we€finish.€You€can€thenÐ ` ° Ðdesign€the€best€means€of€presenting€the€data€to€others.ððà p à€Ð ( x Ѐà0  àI€looked€at€my€watch.€It€was€past€midnight€already,€ð ðI€need€to€take€a€break€and€get€someÐ ð @ Ðfood.ððи  (#(# Ðà  àI€called€room€service€and€ordered€apple€pie,€ice„cream€and€coffee.€My€eye€was€caught€byÐ € Ð  Ðthe€lights€of€a€helicopter€flying€past€our€room.€I€moved€near€the€window€and€looked€out.€ThereÐ H ˜  Ðwere€several€of€them.€I€could€make€out€at€least€five€of€them€circling€near€the€hotel.€I€put€my€fingerÐ `  Ðon€my€lips€and€walked€across€the€room€switching€off€the€lights€one€by€one.€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€sensedÐ Ø(  Ðmy€urgency.Ð  ð  Ðà  àð ðYou€must€disguise€yourself€and€get€out€of€here€as€soon€as€possible.€Before€the€roomÐ h¸  Ðservice€gets€here.€Oh€shit!€They€have€a€perfect€excuse€to€get€in€here.ðð€Ð 0€  ÐOne€of€the€copters€hovered€near€the€room€and€focused€its€lights€on€the€window.€There€was€a€loudÐ øH  Ðknock€on€the€door.€ð ðRoom€service,€sir.€Your€food€is€here.ððÐ À Ðà  àð ðLeave€it€out€there,€I'll€get€it€in€a€moment.ððÐ ˆØ Ðà  àI€whispered,€ð ðGet€out€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô.€Get€out€now.ððÐ P  Ðà  àHe€understood€the€urgency.€There€were€loud€knocks€on€the€door.€Ô_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€steppedÐ h Ðtowards€me;€held€my€right€arm€and€bit€me€half€way€between€the€hand€and€the€elbow.€A€littleÐ à0 Ðcircular€piece€of€flesh€was€cut€off€with€surgical€precision.€He€swallowed€the€piece€of€flesh€quickly.Ð ¨ø ÐI€stared€at€my€hand€as€the€pain€built€up.€Small€droplets€of€blood€appeared€where€he€had€bitten€me.Ð pÀ Ðà  àð ðWhat€the€hell€are€you€doing?ððÐ 8ˆ Ðà  àHe€grabbed€my€hand€again,€ð ðI€need€it€for€the€disguise.ððÐ P Ðà  àHe€bent€over€the€previous€cut.€I€felt€like€a€syringe€was€withdrawing€blood€from€my€veins.Ð È ÐA€slow€pain€was€starting€to€build€and€I€felt€a€little€faint.€A€Strange€Thought€Flashed€Into€MyÐ à ÐMind.€òòHe€had€eaten€of€my€flesh€and€was€drinking€€my€blood!óó€Ð X¨ Ðà  àð ðO.K.€I€am€done.ðð€He€moved€away€from€the€door€and€towards€the€window.Ð  p ÐBefore€I€could€see€what€he€was€turning€into,€the€door€came€crashing€down€and€three€cops€movedÐ è8 Ðin.€They€had€guns€in€their€hands€and€were€shouting,€ð ðPut€your€hands€up.€Drop€your€weapons.€PutÐ °  Ðyour€damn€hands€up.ððÐ xÈ! Ðà  àSomeone€turned€on€the€lights.€The€look€on€their€faces€was€horrifying.€Pointing€atÐ @" ÐÔ_ÔBrahmaRatanÔ_Ô€with€his€gun,€one€of€them€screamed,€ð ðI€know€that€face.€I€know€this€man.€My€God!Ð  X# ÐIt's€Jesus€...€it's€Jesus.ððÐ Ð $ ÐÌÓ  Ó€.....Ð `"°& ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ôò òÓ  ÓInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€IIÐ (#x' ÐbyÐ ð#@( ÐRaman€Jalotaó óÐ ¸$ ) ÐÓVfÓÌà  à"Fucking€Jesus€Christ",€he€screamed€as€he€stared€at€Brahmaratan.€Brahmaratan€had€turnedÐ H&˜!+ Ðinto€a€man€with€long€dark€flowing€hair,€a€full€beard,€and€shining€brown€eyes.€He€had€a€long€whiteÐ '`", Ðgarment€made€of€rough€cotton€and€a€brown€shawl€around€his€shoulders.€He€did€look€like€JesusÐ Ø'(#- ÐChrist.€Ð  (ð#. Ðà  à"Put€your€hands€up."€Ð h)¸$/ Ðà  à"Why?"€He€looked€at€me€and€then€the€cop.€My€hands€were€up€ever€since€the€door€hadÐ 0*€%0 Ðbeen€broken€down.€Ð ø*H&1 Ðà  à"Put€them€up€where€I€can€see€them"€he€snarled,€"I€don't€want€to€shoot€you,€you€asshole."Ð À+'2 ÐBrahmaratan€gave€him€a€cold€look€and€stood€up.€Three€shots€rang€out.€He€was€hit€twice€in€theÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðchest€and€once€in€the€head.€He€fell€down€on€his€side.€He€rolled€on€the€ground,€pushed€against€theÐ P- (4 Ðcarpet€with€his€hands€and€stood€up.€There€were€powder€burns€on€the€front€of€his€tunic€but€noÐ .h)5 Ðblood€at€all.€He€looked€at€the€cop€with€distaste,€smiled€at€me€and€rose€up€in€the€air.€He€arched€hisÐ ° Ðbody€towards€the€window,€went€through€it€and€disappeared.€The€cops€started€firing€hysterically€atÐ xÈ Ðthe€flying€figure€of€Jesus.€I€ran€out€of€the€room€and€towards€the€stairs.Ð @ ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð X ÐÓ  Óà  àI€didn't€get€too€far.€The€cops€were€everywhere.€And€the€military€police€too.€They€seemedÐ Ð  Ðto€be€in€charge.€Sergeant€Ross€was€the€first€one€to€interrogate€me,"Who€was€that€man?€How€doÐ ˜è Ðyou€know€him?€When€did€you€first€meet€him?€We€need€to€know€everything€you€know.€StartÐ ` ° Ðtalking."Ð ( x Ðà  à"You€heard€the€cops.€He€looked€like€Jesus€Christ€and€flew€out€of€the€hotel€window."€Ð ð @ Ðà  à"Who€is€he?€Is€he€the€alien€we€heard€reports€of?"Ð ¸   Ðà  à"What€reports?€I€didn't€see€anything€in€the€papers€or€on€the€TV."Ð € Ð  Ðà  à"Smartass.€You€know€how€deep€the€hole€that€you€are€digging€is!€This€is€not€an€ordinaryÐ H ˜  Ðsituation.€We€have€been€ordered€by€Washington€to€take€over€this€investigation.€You€better€startÐ `  Ðfrom€the€very€beginning.€When€did€you€first€meet€this€man,€this€alien?"Ð Ø(  Ðà  àThey€didn't€know€shit.€I€knew€I€could€wriggle€out€of€this,€but€I€wanted€more€informationÐ  ð  Ðfrom€Brahma€or€Jesus€or€whosoever€he€may€turn€up€next€as.€I€wanted€the€'Hugo'€winning€story€...Ð h¸  Ðmaybe€even€'Pulitzer'.€A€tingle€started€on€the€right€side€of€my€head.€This€was€exactly€howÐ 0€  ÐBrahmaratan€had€read€my€thoughts.€I€looked€around.€The€army€base€was€full€of€military€police.Ð øH  ÐNo€familiar€or€friendly€faces€here.€I€was€certain€Brahmaratan€was€reading€my€thoughts.€But€whereÐ À Ðwas€he?€Who€or€what€was€he€this€time?Ð ˆØ Ðà  à"All€I€know€is€that€I€got€a€phone€call€from€someone€who€knew€about€corruption€in€theÐ P  ÐD.A.'s€office.€I€was€willing€to€listen€and€see€if€there€was€a€good€story€in€it.€Something€that€I€€couldÐ h Ðsell€to€the€local€papers.€He€told€me€his€name€was€James€Ryan.€I€arranged€for€us€to€meet€in€theÐ à0 Ðhotel.€We€had€barely€started€to€talk€when€the€cops€barged€in."Ð ¨ø Ðà  à"When€was€the€first€time€you€talked€to€this€man?"Ð pÀ Ðà  à"He€called€me€yesterday€morning."Ð 8ˆ Ðà  à"This€James€Ryan,€is€that€his€real€name?"Ð P Ðà  à"I€have€no€idea.€He€looked€like€an€ordinary€guy€....€dressed€like€Jesus€but€otherwise€quiteÐ È Ðaverage.€I€was€quite€shocked€at€first,€but€he€talked€like€a€normal€guy,€said€he€was€James€Ryan."Ð à Ðà  à"What€did€you€talk€about?"Ð X¨ Ðà  à"We€really€didn't€talk€much.€He€said€he€knew€of€certain€deals€that€the€D.A.€was€making.Ð  p ÐSome€unethical€practices€...€something€about€only€prosecuting€cases€that€he€was€sure€of€winning.Ð è8 ÐApparently,€the€D.A.€wants€to€run€in€the€next€election€for€the€seat€of€the€governor€of€the€state€andÐ °  Ðwill€use€his€100%€success€rate€as€a€campaign€theme.€He€was€telling€me€about€the€cases€that€hadÐ xÈ! Ðbeen€dropped€or€deals€made€for€guilty€pleas€for€lesser€crimes;€crimes€without€prison€sentences;Ð @" Ðwhen€the€cops€broke€in.€I€was€as€surprised€to€see€him€fly€as€everyone€else."Ð  X# Ðà  àSgt.€Ross€was€taking€notes.€What€an€idiot.€Everybody€knew€Dan€Jacobs€was€itching€toÐ Ð $ Ðrun€for€the€governor's€office.€I€could€make€up€anything€to€feed€these€guys.€I€repeated€my€story€toÐ ˜!è% Ðthree€more€military€officers.€I€was€allowed€to€leave€with€stern€warnings€not€to€leave€town.€ForÐ `"°& Ðsome€reason,€I€didn't€feel€afraid.€Perhaps€the€contacts€with€the€alien€had€made€me€stronger.Ð (#x' ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ð#@( ÐÓ  Óà  àFor€three€days,€I€had€no€contact€with€Brahma.€I€wondered,€if€I€would€hear€from€him€again.Ð ¸$ ) ÐWednesday€morning,€I€woke€up€with€a€severe€headache.€My€eyes€were€blood€shot.€I€started€a€potÐ €%Ð * Ðof€coffee€and€gulped€down€four€Tylenols.€I€washed€my€eyes€with€cold€water€and€put€a€wet€towelÐ H&˜!+ Ðon€my€face.€Four€cups€of€coffee€hadn't€helped€at€all.€My€head€was€pulsating.€I€couldn't€think€ofÐ '`", Ðanything€to€do€to€relieve€the€pressure.€I€tried€to€relax€by€breathing€deeply.€Ð Ø'(#- Ðà  à"Turn€on€your€computer.€Turn€on€your€computer.€Turn€on€your€PC."€The€thought€keptÐ  (ð#. Ðflashing€in€my€head€as€the€pulsating€became€unbearable.€I€walked€into€my€study€and€switched€onÐ h)¸$/ Ðthe€PC.€My€headache€disappeared€magically.€The€password€screen€came€up€but€went€on€toÐ 0*€%0 ÐWindows€XP€without€my€typing€in€my€password.€A€blank€white€screen€came€up€and€big€friendlyÐ ø*H&1 Ðblue€letters€appeared,"This€is€Brahmaratan€contacting€you.€Are€you€alright?"Ð À+'2 Ѐà0  àI€typed,"Yes.€My€headache€is€gone.€Was€that€you€who€made€me€turn€on€the€PC?"Ј,Ø'3(#(# Ðà  à"Yes,€I€tried€for€a€long€time€to€get€you€to€understand€me."Ð P- (4 Ðà  à"Is€that€what€gave€me€the€headache?€Perhaps€I€am€not€ready€for€telepathicÐ .h)5 Ðcommunications."Ð ° Ðà  à"You€will€learn.€We€will€teach€you,€when€we€feel€you€are€ready."Ð xÈ Ðà  à"Where€are€you?€Why€did€you€turn€into€Jesus?€What€happened?"Ð @ Ðà  à"I€want€to€know€what€happened€to€you.€The€military€questioned€you,€didn't€they?"Ð X Ðà  à"Well,€they€are€not€very€smart.€I€gave€them€a€story€about€an€informant€from€aÐ Ð  Ðgovernmental€office€and€they€bought€it."Ð ˜è Ðà  à"They€paid€you€for€it?€I€don't€understand."Ð ` ° Ðà  à"No,€they€...€accepted€my€story.€They€are€very€easily€fooled.€What€happened€to€you?"Ð ( x Ðà  à"As€you€know,€we€were€sort€of€cornered.€I€could€have€turned€into€you,€but€that€wouldÐ ð @ Ðhave€been€very€suspicious.€I€wanted€to€turn€into€someone€the€earth€beings€would€trust€andÐ ¸   Ðrespect.€I€was€wrong.€The€character€I€thought€of€was€Jesus.€The€best€example€of€a€human€that€theÐ € Ð  Ðearth€beings€have;€is€the€one€they€can€tolerate€only€in€their€imagination.€They€can't€bear€to€see€himÐ H ˜  Ðin€person.€The€earth€beings€are€completely€and€absolutely€pretentious."Ð `  Ðà  à"But€...€you€turned€into€Jesus€...€he€is€considered€to€be€God€...€the€creator."Ð Ø(  Ðà  à"Isn't€that€appropriate?€The€name€I€chose€and€the€body€I€turned€into."Ð  ð  Ðà  àI€shook€my€head.€We,€who€aspire€to€be€so€religious,€so€Christian;€had€proven€to€an€alienÐ h¸  Ðour€intolerance€for€our€own€God!€Our€psychosis€was€apparent€to€an€alien€but€mercifully€wellÐ 0€  Ðhidden€from€our€own€selves.€€Ð øH  Ðà  à"Can€we€continue€where€we€left€off?€Will€you€be€willing€to€communicate€with€me€thisÐ À Ðway?"Ð ˆØ Ðà  à"Yes,€but€for€limited€periods.€This€communication€uses€energy€that€we€may€want€to€useÐ P  Ðelsewhere.€Turn€on€your€computer€in€about€seven€earth€hours€and€we€can€continue€then."Ð h Ðà  àToasters€started€flying€on€the€screen€as€if€the€system€had€been€idle.Ð à0 ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ¨ø ÐÓ  Óà  àA€Jeep€with€military€insignia€stopped€in€front€of€my€house€and€three€people€came€out.€IÐ pÀ Ðwaited€for€the€knock€and€opened€the€door.€"Mr.€Galt,€we€have€orders€to€bring€you€in€for€furtherÐ 8ˆ Ðquestioning."Ð P Ðà  à"Give€me€a€few€minutes.€I'll€change€and€be€with€you,€shortly."€They€followed€me€and€keptÐ È Ðan€eye€on€me€as€I€got€ready.€There€was€no€escaping€from€them,€but€the€thought€of€escape€had€notÐ à Ðentered€my€mind.Ð X¨ Ðà  àI€was€taken€to€a€room€with€a€large€desk€and€several€chairs.€"Major€Branden€will€be€inÐ  p Ðshortly."€They€closed€the€door€behind€them.€There€was€a€jug€of€water€on€the€desk,€I€pouredÐ è8 Ðmyself€a€drink€and€waited.Ð °  Ðà  àMajor€Joseph€Branden€was€almost€six€feet€tall€with€clear€brown€eyes€and€a€roughÐ xÈ! Ðcomplexion.€His€eyes€seemed€to€look€through€everything.Ð @" Ðà  à"Mr.€Galt,€your€story€doesn't€check€out.€You€of€course€knew€that.€There€is€no€trace€ofÐ  X# Ðanyone€named€James€Ryan€...€not€in€the€D.A.'s€office€...€not€in€the€city€...€not€in€the€state€...Ð Ð $ Ðnowhere."€He€paused€and€stared€at€me.€I€was€about€to€say€something€but€decided€on€playing€hisÐ ˜!è% Ðgame.€I€just€nodded€my€head.à  à"How€do€you€explain€that?"Ð `"°& Ѐ€€à  à"Well,€he€obviously€wanted€to€talk€to€me€about€something€and€seemed€to€have€someÐ (#x' Ðknowledge€of€the€workings€of€the€D.A.'s€office.€I€write€occasionally€for€the€local€paper€"The€DailyÐ ð#@( ÐMirror",€he€seemed€to€be€aware€of€that€and€was€willing€to€give€me€information€..."Ð ¸$ ) Ðà  à"That's€all€lies.€Your€story€about€the€D.A.'s€office€is€a€lie€to€hide€what€you€know."Ð €%Ð * Ðà  à"I€think€you€will€be€surprised€by€the€corruption€in€the€D.A.'s€office.€I€hope€to€obtainÐ H&˜!+ Ðenough€material€through€my€sources€to€do€an€article€exposing€Dan€Jacobs."Ð '`", Ðà  à"We€are€not€interested€in€the€D.A.'s€office.€We€want€to€know€about€the€aliens.€When€didÐ Ø'(#- Ðthis€man,€this€alien€first€contact€you?"Ð  (ð#. Ðà  à"As€I€said€before,€he€contacted€me€on€the€morning€of€September€17th€and€we€arranged€toÐ h)¸$/ Ðmeet€in€the€hotel€in€the€evening."Ð 0*€%0 Ðà  à"We€know€of€the€search€around€your€home€the€previous€night.€The€police€report€mentionsÐ ø*H&1 Ðyou€being€questioned€but€denying€any€knowledge€of€an€alien€craft€or€creatures.€But€you€may€haveÐ À+'2 Ðlied.€You€could€easily€have€hidden€someone.€The€police€never€searched€your€home,€did€they?"Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ðà  à"So,€that's€what€it€was?€I€was€questioned€about€a€plane€crash€and€possibly€someone€fromÐ P- (4 Ðthe€crash.€You€think€there€was€an€alien€that€walked€into€our€town?€That's€amazing."Ð .h)5 Ðà  à"You€could€have€talked€to€this€alien€and€may€have€hidden€him€in€your€home.€A€search€ofÐ ° Ðyour€home€is€being€conducted€right€now.€We€will€wait€and€see€what€turns€up."€Ð xÈ Ðà  àHe€walked€out€of€the€room,€leaving€me€alone.€What€the€hell€were€they€doing?€What€willÐ @ Ðthey€find?€What€were€they€looking€for?€I€had€been€destroying€whatever€notes€I€took€each€day.€AllÐ X Ðmy€notes€were€saved€as€part€of€my€bank€records€with€the€password€'Cobalt'.€Will€they€go€lookingÐ Ð  Ðthat€far€deep?€I€didn't€think€so,€but€...Ð ˜è ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ` ° ÐÌÓ  Óà  àI€didn't€get€home€till€8:30.€I€ran€to€my€PC€and€turned€it€on.€Brahmaratan€had€been€waitingÐ ð @ Ðfor€me.Ð ¸   Ðà  à"What€happened?€Did€you€forget?"Ð € Ð  Ðà  à"I€was€taken€in€for€questioning.€They€searched€my€home.€Luckily€they€found€nothing.€IÐ H ˜  Ðhave€been€careful€and€destroy€most€of€my€material€once€I€transcribe€it€to€my€protected€computerÐ `  Ðfiles.€They€were€not€looking€for€anything€that€devious.€They€were€hoping€to€find€you€hiding€in€myÐ Ø(  Ðhome€somewhere.€Isn't€that€ridiculous?€They€are€pretty€stupid.€I€think€I€...€we€...€€are€safe€fromÐ  ð  Ðthem."Ð h¸  Ðà  à"What€do€they€know?€How€much€do€they€suspect?"Ð 0€  Ðà  à"They€seem€to€know€that€an€alien€craft€has€landed€here€and€that€an€alien€or€aliens€may€beÐ øH  Ðin€the€area.€They€seem€to€think€that€I€am€one€of€the€contacts€and€of€course€I€was€there€when€youÐ À Ðflew€away.€I€am€hiding€behind€my€old€story€but€they€do€know€the€basic€facts.€How€did€youÐ ˆØ Ðmanage€to€fly?€And€why€didn't€the€bullets€harm€you?"Ð P  Ðà  à"Flying€is€not€difficult.€But€I€didn't€fly€away.€It€was€an€image€they€saw.€They€did€not€seeÐ h Ðme.€An€image€flew€out€of€the€room€and€I€escaped€unseen.€Earth€beings€can€be€manipulated€soÐ à0 Ðeasily.€The€weapons€that€they€used,€they€are€so€primitive.€These€weapons€are€quite€harmless€to€us.Ð ¨ø ÐWhen€will€they€learn€to€give€up€their€weapons€and€use€their€brains."Ð pÀ Ðà  à"Well€Brahma€...€can€I€call€you€Brahma?"Ð 8ˆ Ðà  à"Sure."Ð P Ðà  à"I€want€to€go€back€to€the€history€of€your€planet?€How€did€it€evolve?€What€do€you€know€ofÐ È Ðyour€history€of€three€million€years?€Isn't€that€what€you€said€the€first€time?€Three€million€years€ofÐ à Ðhistory?"Ð X¨ Ðà  à"Our€history€is€basically€divided€into€three€parts.€Our€present€period€is€of€course€theÐ  p Ð'Cobalt'€period.€The€Cobalt€period€has€been€in€existence€for€almost€a€million€years.€The€periodÐ è8 Ðbefore€'Cobalt'€is€known€as€the€'Cadmium'€era.€The€Cadmium€period€extends€from€about€oneÐ °  Ðmillion€years€back€to€two€and€a€half€million€years€back.€Anything€prior€to€the€Cadmium€period€isÐ xÈ! Ðsimply€called€pre„Cadmium.€The€pre„Cadmium€period€lasted€for€nearly€half€a€million€years."Ð @" Ðà  à"What€do€all€these€periods€signify?€I€don't€understand€the€meanings€of€any€of€these."Ð  X# Ðà  à"As€I€told€you.€We€are€Cobalt€based€and€have€evolved€to€our€current€level€of€existence.€AÐ Ð $ Ðmillion€years€ago,€we€had€not€learned€to€use€Cobalt€and€our€existence€depended€on€CadmiumÐ ˜!è% Ðtechnology."à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÐ `"°& Ðà  à"Cadmium?€Like€the€chemical€we€use?"Ð (#x' Ðà  à"Correct.€We€used€our€first€million€years€to€evolve€into€Cadmium€based€life.€OurÐ ð#@( Ðtechnology€evolved€to€the€extent€Cadmium€based€technology€could€evolve€and€the€presence€ofÐ ¸$ ) ÐCadmium€on€our€planets€could€last.€When€Cadmium€was€almost€totally€exhausted,€we€movedÐ €%Ð * Ðonto€Cobalt.€We€have€been€evolving€ever€since€then.Ð H&˜!+ Ðà  à"Our€first€half€a€million€years€were€spent€going€through€Plastic,€Silica,€Ferrous,€and€severalÐ '`", Ðother€evolutionary€forms.€Earth€has€been€in€existence€for€more€than€two€million€years,€yet€it'sÐ Ø'(#- Ðprogression€seems€to€be€painfully€slow.€At€this€rate,€earth€will€not€be€able€to€keep€pace€with€otherÐ  (ð#. Ðlife€forms.€The€earth€beings€have€barely€stepped€into€the€'Silicon'€period€of€their€evolution.€TheyÐ h)¸$/ Ðhave€yet€to€evolve€into€Silica€based€living€beings.€That€transformation€should€occurÐ 0*€%0 Ðsimultaneously€to€avoid€incompatibility€with€their€environment.€The€earth€beings€are€not€evolvingÐ ø*H&1 Ðto€the€same€level€that€their€technology€is€evolving€to.€Such€incompatibility€will€lead€to€extinction."Ð À+'2 ÐMy€head€was€spinning.€Evolution€with€the€elements€of€the€planet€...€this€was€very€strange€andÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðfrightening.€On€the€other€hand€Brahma€looked€like€a€human€with€arms€and€legs€and€a€face.€IÐ P- (4 Ðtyped,€"With€all€these€evolutions,€how€come€you€appear€like€humans?€You€have€arms€and€feet€Ô_ÔandÐ .h)5 Ða€mouth€..."Ð ° Ðà  à"You€are€so€funny,€Galt.€Have€you€been€believing€what€you€have€been€seeing?€Do€youÐ xÈ Ðalways€believe€everything€as€it€appears?€The€form€we€use€is€the€form€we€need€to€use€toÐ @ Ðaccomplish€what€we€are€trying€to€accomplish.€Earth€beings€communicate€most€easily€withÐ X Ðsomeone€who€appears€human„like,€so€we€used€a€human„like€form.€The€human€form€in€reality€isÐ Ð  Ðvery€inefficient.€A€monkey€or€a€gorilla€moves€better€than€a€human,€has€more€strength,€is€part€ofÐ ˜è Ðhis€environment€and€uses€more€of€his€brain€capacity.€A€human€form€is€not€suitable€for€prolongedÐ ` ° Ðuse€whether€standing,€sitting€or€lying€down.€Humans€evolved€to€overcome€their€environment€butÐ ( x Ðevolved€in€a€less€efficient€form.€This€is€what€we€consider€a€mutation€and€an€interesting€subject€forÐ ð @ Ðexploration."Ð ¸   Ðà  à"So,€as€I€understand€it,€your€history€has€revolved€around€changes€from€one€chemicallyÐ € Ð  Ðbased€life€form€to€another."Ð H ˜  Ðà  à"You€could€put€it€that€way.€However€the€change€was€the€change€needed€to€conform€withÐ `  Ðour€environment,€our€planet,€our€technology."Ð Ø(  Ðà  à"You€said€you€evolved€into€Cobalt€based€life€forms€when€Cadmium€was€exhausted.€WhatÐ  ð  Ðis€the€status€of€Cobalt€deposits€on€your€planet?"Ð h¸  Ðà  à"I€have€to€go€now.€I€will€contact€you€in€the€next€thirty€to€forty€hours.€I€am€trying€to€makeÐ 0€  Ðup€my€mind€if€I€should€let€you€initiate€the€next€contact€or€not.€I'll€let€you€know."Ð øH  ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð À ÐÓ  Óà  àTwo€military€jeeps€arrived€early€the€next€morning.€Major€Ô_ÔBrandenÔ_Ô€walked€towards€theÐ ˆØ Ðhome.€There€were€two€more€uniformed€men€with€him.€They€were€carrying€automatic€weapons€asÐ P  Ðusual.€The€major€seemed€sure€of€what€he€wanted€from€me.Ð h Ðà  à"Even€though,€we€didn't€find€anything€in€your€home,€we€are€certain€that€you€have€been€inÐ à0 Ðtouch€with€aliens€and€are€trying€to€cover€up.€We€need€to€know€the€truth."Ð ¨ø Ðà  à"Major,€you€know€that€this€alien€guy€contacted€me€just€once.€I€thought€he€was€a€normalÐ pÀ Ðperson€with€some€confidential€information.€I€had€no€idea€it€was€an€alien€I€was€talking€to€in€thatÐ 8ˆ Ðhotel.€He€never€talked€about€anything€other€than€the€D.A.€Why€would€another€life€form€contactÐ P Ðme?€I€have€no€power€to€help€them.€I€cÔ_Ôan'tÔ_Ô€do€anything€for€them.€I€am€in€enough€trouble€notÐ È Ðknowing€anything€about€this€incident."Ð à Ðà  àThe€major€stared€into€space.€He€seemed€to€be€making€up€his€mind.€Ð X¨ Ðà  à"If€an€alien€was€to€contact€you,€what€will€you€do?"Ð  p Ðà  à"I€suppose,€I€will€inform€the€cops.€I€will€be€too€scared€to€try€to€do€anything€else."Ð è8 Ðà  à"You€are€an€author,€a€journalist;€wouldn't€you€get€the€story€before€divulging€yourÐ °  Ðsources?"Ð xÈ! Ðà  à"But€there€is€no€story€here.€All€I€know€is€what€you€guys€have€told€me.€A€space€shipÐ @" Ðcrashed€and€an€alien€got€away.€I€don't€know€how€he€turned€into€the€man€I€met.€Why€can't€you€justÐ  X# Ðleave€me€alone?€I€don't€know€anything.€A€story€is€not€worth€all€the€harassment€I€have€to€put€upÐ Ð $ Ðwith€...€all€this€suspicion€from€the€cops€and€my€neighbors."Ð ˜!è% Ðà  àThe€major€conferred€with€his€men€and€they€left€taking€one€of€the€jeeps€with€them.€HeÐ `"°& Ðturned€to€me.Ð (#x' Ðà  à"Let's€go€out€in€the€backyard.€I€need€absolute€secrecy€for€this."Ð ð#@( Ðà  àHe€opened€the€backdoor€and€held€it€open€for€me€to€pass€through.€He€looked€around€toÐ ¸$ ) Ðmake€sure€no€one€was€around.€He€had€a€gun€in€his€holster.€Was€he€going€to€kill€me?€Surely,€heÐ €%Ð * Ðwon't€gain€anything€by€killing€me.€Did€he€have€a€silencer€on€that€gun?€I€watched€him€nervously.€€Ð H&˜!+ Ðà  à"I€have€a€message€for€you."€Ð '`", Ðà  àHe€reached€inside€his€shirt€and€pulled€out€a€blue€piece€of€paper.€He€gave€me€the€foldedÐ Ø'(#- Ðsheet€of€blue€paper.€It€read,€"We€think€you€are€ready€to€board€our€craft€and€meet€the€rest€of€theÐ  (ð#. Ðcrew.€We€feel€we€can€trust€you.€You€have€convinced€us€of€your€loyalty.€Follow€the€courier,€heÐ h)¸$/ Ðwill€lead€you€to€us."Ð 0*€%0 Ðà  àI€couldn't€breath.€What€was€happening?€Who€was€this€major?€Was€this€a€trick€to€get€me€toÐ ø*H&1 Ðdivulge€what€I€knew?€I€re„read€the€note.€Ð À+'2 Ðà  à"I€don't€understand€what€this€means.€Who€asked€you€to€give€me€this€note?€What€does€itÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðmean?€Are€you€playing€games€with€me?"Ð P- (4 Ðà  à"Follow€me."€He€walked€towards€the€jeep,€keeping€an€eye€on€me.€I€felt€trapped.€I€couldn'tÐ .h)5 Ðdo€anything€but€follow.€He€opened€the€passenger€door€and€let€me€in.€He€got€in€the€driver's€seat,Ð ° Ðstarted€the€€jeep€and€drove€out€of€the€subdivision.€We€turned€north€on€Tower€Road€and€picked€upÐ xÈ Ðspeed.€We€drove€past€the€airport€and€headed€towards€farm€land.€Ð @ Ðà  àMajor€Ô_ÔBrandenÔ_Ô€stopped€the€jeep€and€turned€towards€me.€His€cold€face€softened€and€heÐ X Ðsmiled.€His€face€turned€grey€and€his€nose€disappeared.€His€eyes€turned€completely€blue.€He€turnedÐ Ð  Ðinto€a€Ô_ÔCobaltianÔ_Ô€for€a€few€seconds,€nodded€his€head€to€assure€me€and€turned€back€into€the€major.Ð ˜è ÐI€heard€a€familiar€metallic€voice,"Welcome."Ð ` ° ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ( x Ðò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€IIIÐ ð @ ÐbyÐ ¸   ÐRaman€Jalotaó óÐ € Ð  ÐÓßÂÓÌà  àHe€swung€the€military€Jeep€off€the€road€and€through€a€field.€The€field€was€overgrown€withÐ `  Ðgrass€and€weeds.€I€could€feel€moisture€in€the€air,€we€must€be€near€a€lake,€I€thought.€We€went€onÐ Ø(  Ðin€silence€for€two€or€three€miles.€Major€Ô_ÔBrandenÔ_Ô€stopped€the€Jeep€and€we€climbed€out.€We€wereÐ  ð  Ðin€the€middle€of€a€group€of€trees€and€next€to€what€seemed€to€be€a€large€swamp€with€submergedÐ h¸  Ðtrees€and€vegetation.€I€could€smell€rotten€fish.€Barr€Lake€was€stretched€out€to€the€north.€I€staredÐ 0€  Ðhard€trying€to€find€a€flying€saucer€or€ship€or€plane€or€something.€I€couldn't€see€anything€unusual.Ð øH  Ðà  à"We€will€board€our€disk€and€link€with€the€Ô_ÔmothershipÔ_Ô.€It€is€well€camouflaged,€no?"Ð À Ðà  à"I€can't€see€anything.€Where€is€it,€Major?"Ð ˆØ Ðà  à"You€can€call€me€Joseph.€I€am€not€really€a€major.€Look€to€the€right,€thirty€feet€ahead.Ð P  ÐConcentrate€and€you€should€be€able€to€make€out€the€shape."Ð h Ðà  àHe€was€right.€I€stared€in€the€direction€he€pointed€and€the€shape€of€an€elongated€disk€wasÐ à0 Ðfaintly€discernible.€The€'disk'€as€Joseph€called€it,€was€about€twenty€feet€long,€seven€feet€high€andÐ ¨ø Ðten€feet€at€it's€widest,€which€wasn't€in€the€center€as€I€assumed€it€should€be.€It€was€about€three€feetÐ pÀ Ðoff€center€to€one€side€of€the€disk.€The€disk€was€highly€polished€and€reflected€the€dark€brown,Ð 8ˆ Ðblack€shapes€of€the€rotting€trees€around€it,€creating€an€impression€of€an€even€larger€swamp.€AÐ P Ðfaint€humming€sound€grew€louder€and€louder€as€we€approached€it.€Joseph€changed€into€aÐ È ÐÔ_ÔCobaltianÔ_Ô,€pointed€to€the€disk€with€his€right€hand,€his€palm€facing€it.€There€was€a€low€click€and€aÐ à Ðhatch€opened€on€its€side.€It€glided€to€the€edge€of€the€disk€and€unfolded€a€ladder.Ð X¨ Ðà  à"Careful"€said€Joseph€as€he€walked€up€the€ladder€and€into€the€pit€of€the€disk.€I€steppedÐ  p Ðcarefully€on€to€the€disk.€I€expected€the€surface€to€be€smooth€and€slippery€but€it€had€as€much€gripÐ è8 Ðas€dry€pavement.€I€slowly€followed€Joseph€to€the€pit.Ð °  Ðà  à"Get€in€and€how€do€you€say€it,€'take€a€seat'."€He€chuckled€and€he€moved€his€hand€towardsÐ xÈ! Ðthe€controls.€The€disk€took€off€with€a€faint€whirring€souÔ_ÔndÔ_Ô€and€started€moving€northeast€at€anÐ @" Ðamazing€speed.€The€disk€had€enough€space€for€at€least€ten€people€and€could€hold€a€large€amountÐ  X# Ðof€cargo.€It€seemed€to€be€full€of€grayish€metallic€containers.€I€looked€up€and€was€taken€aback€byÐ Ð $ Ðthe€height€attained€by€us€in€just€a€few€seconds.Ð ˜!è% Ðà  à"If€you€don't€want€to€see€what€we€are€flying€through,€let€me€know.€I'll€put€a€shield€overÐ `"°& Ðyour€head.€Many€earth€beings€get€dizzy€and€sick€even€though€we€are€Ô_ÔtravellingÔ_Ô€at€a€speed€ofÐ (#x' Ðbarely€10,000€miles€per€hour."Ð ð#@( Ðà  à"I€like€the€view€fine€but€I€am€not€used€to€this€kind€of€speed.€How€come€I€don't€feel€the€pullÐ ¸$ ) Ðof€gravity€or€any€pressure?"Ð €%Ð * Ðà  à"This€disk€is€specially€designed€to€transport€earth€beings€and€is€balanced.€You€shouldn'tÐ H&˜!+ Ðfeel€anything€more€than€a€sense€of€motion€that€your€brain€knows€the€body€must€be€goingÐ '`", Ðthrough."€Ð Ø'(#- ÐWe€were€moving€faster€or€we€were€getting€very€high.€The€horizons€had€shrunk€and€the€globe€ofÐ  (ð#. Ðthe€earth€was€slowly€receding,€I€knew€we€were€leaving€the€earth's€atmosphere.€The€noise€stoppedÐ h)¸$/ Ðand€the€disk€picked€up€even€more€speed.€It€had€become€dark€and€no€planets€were€visible€otherÐ 0*€%0 Ðthan€a€few€meteors€in€the€distance.Ð ø*H&1 Ðà  à"Relax,€we'll€be€there€in€a€few€minutes."€Ð À+'2 Ѐà0  à"Where€are€we€headed?"Ј,Ø'3(#(# Ðà  à"Just€a€safe€distance€from€the€earth.€Away€from€detection€and€any€potential€danger.€WeÐ P- (4 Ðshould€be€able€to€dock€with€the€Ô_ÔmothershipÔ_Ô€shortly."Ð .h)5 ÐÔ_ÔÓ  Ó.....Ð ° ÐÓ  Óà  àA€faintly€lighted€meteor€seemed€to€be€headed€towards€us.€As€it€came€near,€it€grew.€It€wasÐ xÈ Ðthe€mothership.€About€three€city€blocks€long€and€a€little€more€than€a€block€wide.€A€rectangularÐ @ Ðshaped€craft€that€was€about€ten€stories€high.€There€were€no€lights€visible€on€the€outside€of€theÐ X Ðship,€it€was€made€of€a€solid€metallic€substance.€All€external€surfaces€were€well€rounded,€almostÐ Ð  Ðspherical.€A€hatch€opened€in€the€side€of€the€craft€and€our€disk€docked.€Ð ˜è Ðà  àThe€craft€was€well€lit€inside.€There€seemed€to€be€some€activity€going€on.€The€docking€areaÐ ` ° Ðcould€accommodate€three€disks€and€another€disk€was€docked€to€the€left€of€our€disk.€And€then€IÐ ( x Ðsaw€them.€Five€Cobaltians,€all€of€them€barely€three€feet€tall€and€one€of€them€with€three€arms.€TheyÐ ð @ Ðseemed€to€be€of€a€different€color,€more€yellowish€than€blue,€and€they€all€seemed€to€be€glidingÐ ¸   Ðacross€the€floor€effortlessly.€Joseph€extended€his€right€hand€palm€facing€them€and€they€moved€toÐ € Ð  Ðthe€disk,€perhaps€to€unload€the€cargo.€He€must€have€communicated€telepathically.€Ð H ˜  Ðà  à"Come,€I€will€take€you€to€the€central€room€and€you€can€meet€some€of€the€crew.€Brahma€isÐ `  Ðwaiting€there."Ð Ø(  Ðà  àI€followed€Joseph€out€of€the€docking€area,€down€a€corridor€and€into€a€metallic€cage,€thatÐ  ð  Ðmoved€down€into€the€belly€of€the€ship.€Joseph€too€was€not€moving€his€feet.€He€seemed€to€beÐ h¸  Ðgliding€on€the€surface.Ð 0€  Ðà  à"What€are€you€doing?€How€are€you€moving?€What€is€it?"Ð øH  Ðà  à"Oh,€I€am€sorry.€I€feel€I€am€back€home€and€relaxed€too€soon.€We€don't€move€our€feet€inÐ À Ðthe€extremely€uncomfortable€manner€that€earth€beings€do.€We€propel€ourselves,€using€our€energyÐ ˆØ Ðmore€efficiently."Ð P  Ðà  à"What€do€you€mean€propel€yourselves?€I€can't€understand€what€it€is€that€you€are€doing?"Ð h Ðà  à"Look€at€me€carefully."€Joseph€moved€his€feet€slowly,€like€a€normal€man€and€walked€inÐ à0 Ðfront€of€me.€He€then€smoothly€glided€across€the€floor€back€towards€me.€He€looked€like€MichaelÐ ¨ø ÐJackson€moonwalking€except€there€was€no€noticeable€motion€of€any€type.Ð pÀ Ðà  à"We€propel€ourselves€similar€to€your€sport€of€skiing.€This€motion€is€more€energy€efficientÐ 8ˆ Ðthan€moving€so€many€parts€of€the€body€to€walk,€and€healthier€too,€like€skiing€would€be€for€you."Ð P Ѐ€€à  àI€could€just€imagine€Joseph€and€Brahma€coming€down€the€slopes€of€Vail,€Colorado;€rightÐ È Ðbehind€me,€grayish€blue€bodies€and€everything.Ð à ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð X¨ ÐÓ  Óà  àWe€entered€a€large€room€with€a€bluish€glow€from€indirect€lighting.€There€were€a€dozenÐ  p ÐCobaltians€in€it,€some€yellow€in€color€and€others€bluish.€Some€three€feet€tall€and€others€at€leastÐ è8 Ðfive€feet€six€inches€or€taller.€One€of€them€was€six€feet€tall.€Brahma€glided€towards€me,€his€faceÐ °  Ðdefinitely€smiling,"Welcome€to€our€mothership.€I€am€very€glad€to€see€you€and€I€would€like€you€toÐ xÈ! Ðmeet€some€of€the€crew€members."Ð @" Ðà  àHe€introduced€me€around.€Most€of€them€had€American€or€European€names.€Two€or€threeÐ  X# Ðhad€Indian€or€Arabic€names.€And€then€I€met€Shiva.€Shiva€was€the€six€footer€with€a€broad€face€andÐ Ð $ Ðsomewhat€pointed€head.€He€smiled€and€extended€his€hand€towards€me,€his€palm€facing€me.€IÐ ˜!è% Ðrealized€that€must€be€how€they€greeted€each€other€and€I€extended€my€hand€towards€him,€palmÐ `"°& Ðextended.€He€smiled€and€lightly€touched€my€hand.€His€eyes€were€definitely€not€blue,€they€were€aÐ (#x' Ðbrilliant€yellow.Ð ð#@( Ðà  à"Shiva€is€our€group€leader.€Whenever€the€group€can't€agree,€he€makes€the€decision€for€theÐ ¸$ ) Ðgroup.€He€is€the€controller€of€this€mission.€The€fifty„eight€Cobaltians€aboard€the€mothership€areÐ €%Ð * Ðunder€his€command."Ð H&˜!+ Ðà  àI€was€curious€about€his€height€and€the€color€of€his€eyes.€Something€stopped€me€fromÐ '`", Ðasking€him€outright.€This€sixth€sense€of€keeping€silent€may€have€saved€me€from€an€early€death.Ð Ø'(#- ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð  (ð#. ÐÓ  Óà  àJoseph€and€Brahma€accompanied€me€on€my€tour€of€the€mothership.€I€felt€I€wasn't€beingÐ h)¸$/ Ðshown€all€of€the€craft,€but€a€sense€of€danger€had€sunken€in€my€stomach€and€I€couldn't€ignore€it.€IÐ 0*€%0 Ðwas€excited€and€worried€but€I€kept€my€fears€to€myself.€Ð ø*H&1 Ðà  àThe€craft€was€marvelously€designed.€An€absence€of€private€quarters€shocked€me€butÐ À+'2 ÐJoseph€reminded€me,"We€don't€tire€and€don't€need€regeneration€like€earth€beings."€Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ðà  àGoing€down€to€the€heart€of€the€craft,€I€saw€two€yellow€Cobaltians€escorting€a€group€ofÐ P- (4 Ðmonkeys€towards€a€large€theater€that€we€had€just€visited.€It€seemed€more€like€a€group€of€touristsÐ .h)5 Ðwith€guides€rather€than€a€group€of€animals€with€guards.€Joseph€sensed€my€curiosity.Ð ° Ðà  à"Apes€are€an€interesting€species€that€we€are€studying.€They€seem€to€be€quite€intelligent€andÐ xÈ Ðcapable.€The€group€you€see€is€a€part€of€the€experimentation€in€intelligence€evaluation.€This€is€anÐ @ Ðongoing€experiment€and€quite€fascinating€for€some€of€us.€Shiva€is€in€charge€of€the€'Ape€Project'."Ð X Ðà  à"Those€are€apes?€I€thought€apes€were€huge.€They€seem€smaller€...€only€3€to€4€feet€tall."Ð Ð  Ðà  à"Well,€they€are€chimpanzees.€Chimpanzees€are€part€of€the€great€ape€family,€as€are€gorillasÐ ˜è Ðand€orangutans.€Gorillas€are€the€larger€apes."Ð ` ° Ðà  àOne€of€the€chimpanzees€separated€from€the€group€and€held€out€his€right€hand,€palm€facingÐ ( x Ðout,€he€looked€at€Brahma€and€bared€his€teeth€in€a€familiar€manner.€He€spoke,€"Eek€eek€eeek."€IÐ ð @ Ðstared,€fascinated€by€the€chimpanzee.€He€was€completely€covered€with€black€hair.€His€hands,€feet,Ð ¸   Ðears€and€nose€were€somewhat€pink€like€the€other€chimps;€his€distinguishing€feature€though€was€aÐ € Ð  Ðbright€yellow€clump€of€hair€in€the€middle€of€his€head€almost€like€a€toupee.Ð H ˜  Ðà  àBrahma€extended€his€arm€towards€the€chimpanzee€and€repeated€what€sounded€like,€"EekÐ `  Ðeeek€eek€eeek."Ð Ø(  Ðà  àOne€of€the€yellowish€Cobaltians€patted€the€chimp€on€the€shoulder€and€escorted€him€away.Ð  ð  Ðà  à"What's€that?"Ð h¸  Ðà  à"That€was€Hostum.€He€is€a€very€intelligent€chimpanzee.€He€has€great€language€skills€andÐ 0€  Ðhas€taught€us€his€language,€we€are€learning€to€communicate€in€multiple€languages€with€him."Ð øH  Ðà  à"All€I€heard€was€eek€eek.€What€can€you€understand€from€that?"Ð À Ðà  à"One€of€the€tools€of€intelligence€is€communication.€Language€is€a€means€ofÐ ˆØ Ðcommunication€and€speaking€in€sentences€like€earth€beings€do€is€fine€but€confusing€and€lessÐ P  Ðevolved.€The€chimpanzees€use€symbols€in€communications€and€different€sounds€represent€differentÐ h Ðsymbols.€I€barely€know€enough€to€get€by.€Our€linguists€can€communicate€with€them€as€well€as€weÐ à0 Ðcan€with€humans.€The€chimpanzees€have€a€different€vocal€apparatus€and€can€not€generate€theÐ ¨ø Ðsame€sounds€as€humans,€however€they€are€very€sophisticated€in€their€communications."Ð pÀ Ѐà  àIn€the€lowest€level€of€the€ship€were€what€appeared€to€be€living€quarters€for€humans€andÐ 8ˆ Ðanimals.€Some€of€the€cells€were€occupied€by€animals.€There€were€dogs€and€cats€and€goats€andÐ P Ðsnakes.€The€area€for€humans€seemed€to€be€separate€from€the€rest,€next€to€the€chimpanzees.€IÐ È Ðwondered€what€experiments€were€being€conducted€on€these€animals€and€the€humans.€Am€I€part€ofÐ à Ðan€experiment?Ð X¨ Ðà  à€"We€would€like€you€to€occupy€one€of€these.€It's€close€to€your€resting€time€and€we€wouldÐ  p Ðlike€you€to€eat€and€rest.€There€is€food€in€the€food€cabinet.€I€would€suggest€that€you€don't€leaveÐ è8 Ðyour€quarters€unattended.€The€special€relationship€we€have€with€you€is€not€known€to€all€theÐ °  Ðinhabitants€of€the€ship.€I€would€see€you€in€the€morning."€Joseph€slowly€closed€the€door€of€€theÐ xÈ! Ðroom€he€had€escorted€me€to€and€left€with€Brahma.Ð @" Ðà  àI€was€in€a€small€apartment.€There€was€a€sitting€area,€a€bed€and€enough€food€in€a€very€largeÐ  X# Ðplastic€cabinet€that€felt€warm€but€kept€the€food€cold€inside.€To€my€astonishment€there€were€onlyÐ Ð $ Ðfruits,€breads€and€vegetables.€But€it€was€good.€I€relished€the€Guava€and€the€bread;€and€there€wasÐ ˜!è% Ðplenty€of€wine.€Ð `"°& Ðà  àI€lay€in€the€bed€thinking.€What€the€hell€is€going€on?€I€could€understand€them€studying€dogsÐ (#x' Ðand€cats€but€was€disturbed€by€the€group€of€chimpanzees€being€taken€to€the€theater.€They€lookedÐ ð#@( Ðlike€humans€would€have.€Quiet€and€purposeful,€as€if€they€knew€what€they€were€doing.€AndÐ ¸$ ) ÐBrahma€could€communicate€with€a€chimp!€I€couldn't€get€that€image€out€of€my€mind.€Are€theseÐ €%Ð * Ðaliens€training€chimpanzees?€What€could€be€their€motive?€And€what€about€humans?€Have€theyÐ H&˜!+ Ðcaptured€a€group€of€humans€too?€I€hadn't€seen€any,€but€surely€they€must€be€conductingÐ '`", Ðexperiments€on€humans!€What€kind€of€danger€am€I€in?€What€kind€of€danger€the€world€is€in?€I€triedÐ Ø'(#- Ðto€breath€deeply€to€relax.€Soon€it€was€dark.Ð  (ð#. ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð h)¸$/ ÐÓ  Óà  àI€awoke€with€a€choking€thirst.€My€throat€felt€raw.€Did€I€drink€too€much€last€night?€I€foundÐ 0*€%0 Ðwater€in€the€plastic€cabinet€and€drank€deeply.€There€was€orange€juice€in€the€cabinet€also.€I€pouredÐ ø*H&1 Ða€large€glass€and€sat€down€on€the€sofa„like€furniture.€I€did€have€a€slight€ache€all€over€as€if€I€had€aÐ À+'2 Ðhangover.€What€had€really€happened€to€me,€I€wondered.€I€heard€chimps€next€to€my€room€butÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðcouldn't€decide€if€they€were€fighting€or€exchanging€greetings.Ð P- (4 Ðà  àI€was€granted€a€special€session€with€Shiva€the€next€day.€I€had€decided€to€ask€questions€Ô_ÔthatÐ .h)5 Ðmay€get€increasingly€unpleasant,€however€I€could€change€the€direction€of€my€questions€if€I€felt€IÐ ° Ðwas€in€any€danger.Ð xÈ Ðà  à"Did€you€have€a€good€night's€rest,€Mr.€Galt?"Ð @ Ðà  à"I€feel€a€little€different€...€a€dry€throat€and€a€little€ache,€but€I€am€ready€for€another€day.€IÐ X Ðwant€to€know€about€the€basic€make€up€of€your€society.€I€can€see€the€obvious€differences€in€theÐ Ð  Ðcrewmen."Ð ˜è Ðà  à"As€you€could€see,€we€have€some€normal€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€that€are€about€3€feet€tall.€They€allÐ ` ° Ðhave€blue€eyes€and€bluish€grey€skins,€some€of€them€may€have€additional€hands.€They€form€theÐ ( x Ðmajority€of€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô.€You€may€have€also€observed€similar€sized€but€yellowish€colored€andÐ ð @ Ðbrown€eyed€crewmen,€they€are€the€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô,€they€are€a€smaller€but€important€part€of€the€whole.Ð ¸   ÐThey€are€what's€survived€from€the€Cadmium€era."Ð € Ð  Ðà  à"And€how€about€the€taller€people,€like€you€or€Brahma€or€Joseph?€Are€you€part€of€aÐ H ˜  Ðdifferent€race?"€€Ð `  Ðà  à"I€can€see€that€it's€obvious€to€you,€so€I€won't€hide€it€from€you.€We€are€the€critical€decisionÐ Ø(  Ðmakers.€Our€society€manages€well€without€our€input,€but€when€needed,€it's€our€decisions€thatÐ  ð  Ðform€the€direction€of€our€society.€Environmental€and€interspecies€decisions€are€made€exclusivelyÐ h¸  Ðby€us.€We€are€the€Hosts."Ð 0€  Ðà  à"I€can€see€the€structure€of€your€society,€but€I€can't€understand€why€your€eyes€are€not€blueÐ øH  Ðlike€the€others.€Why€are€you€the€only€one€with€the€grayish€blue€structure€and€markings€but€not€theÐ À Ðeyes?"Ð ˆØ Ðà  à"In€my€case,€it's€a€personal€choice€I€made€in€my€youth.€It€has€helped€me€rise€to€my€currentÐ P  Ðlevel€of€power."Ð h Ðà  à"Fascinating.€Another€question€I€have€is€of€your€previous€visits.€How€many€times€haveÐ à0 Ðyou€visited€our€planet?€And€why€the€secrecy?"Ð ¨ø Ðà  à"The€history€of€our€visits€to€your€planet€is€quite€interesting.€Our€trips€were€very€hazardousÐ pÀ Ðat€first.€We€had€to€learn€to€account€for€the€deviations€created€by€your€atmosphere€and€gravity.€WeÐ 8ˆ Ðhad€some€crash€landings€and€lost€lives.€In€the€last€century,€the€earth€beings€have€becomeÐ P Ðextremely€hostile€to€outsiders.€They€are€of€course€quite€violent€among€themselves.€We€haveÐ È Ðnaturally€stayed€as€secretive€as€possible.€But€you€will€help€us€change€that,€by€letting€themÐ à Ðunderstand€us."Ð X¨ Ðà  à"So€the€landings€and€crashes€we€have€heard€of,€are€they€all€true?"Ð  p Ðà  à"Some€of€them€are.€We€are€not€the€only€explorers€in€the€known€universe.€There€are€othersÐ è8 Ðat€the€very€fringes€of€our€conscience."Ð °  Ðà  à"Others?€I€find€that€mind€boggling."Ð xÈ! Ðà  àShiva€nodded€his€head.€I€couldn't€tell€if€he€was€telling€the€truth€or€playing€with€my€mind.Ð @" Ðà  à"What€experimentation€are€you€doing€with€the€chimpanzees?"Ð  X# Ðà  à"Ah,€my€favorite€subject.€Communication.€Chimpanzees,€and€the€other€apes€too,Ð Ð $ Ðcommunicate€in€symbols.€This€fascinates€me.€You€see€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€also€communicate€inÐ ˜!è% Ðsymbols.€The€similarity€in€our€styles€is€amazing.€We€are€trying€to€increase€the€symbol€quotient€ofÐ `"°& Ðthe€chimpanzees,€and€with€each€increase,€their€intelligence€grows€exponentially.€As€the€apes€andÐ (#x' Ðthe€humans€separated€in€their€destinies€several€million€years€ago,€the€apes€had€a€better€chance€ofÐ ð#@( Ðsurvival€than€the€humans.€Before€their€abilities€could€blossom,€the€primitive€man€threatened€theirÐ ¸$ ) Ðexistence,€perhaps€he€himself€was€threatened€by€their€potential€superiority."Ð €%Ð * Ðà  àAre€you€providing€them€that€chance€now?€I€wanted€to€scream,€I€wanted€to€know€but€IÐ H&˜!+ Ðknew€Shiva€will€not€tolerate€that.€He€could€sense€the€danger€of€my€knowledge.€I€started€to€breathÐ '`", Ðrhythmically,€trying€to€keep€my€thoughts€clear€and€balanced.Ð Ø'(#- ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð  (ð#. ÐÓ  Óà  àI€lay€in€the€bed€exhausted;€more€from€the€anxiety€of€what€may€be€happening,€less€from€theÐ h)¸$/ Ðexertion.€The€chimps€next€door€were€talking€again.€I€wondered€what€will€happen€if€I€sneaked€out.Ð 0*€%0 ÐI€touched€the€door.€It€was€open.€I€realized€that€there€were€no€locks€on€my€or€any€of€the€otherÐ ø*H&1 Ðdoors.€The€door€next€to€me€was€also€without€a€lock.€Chimps€left€unlocked€too!Ð À+'2 Ðà  àI€moved€towards€the€theater€on€the€third€floor.€There€was€some€activity€going€on€there.€IÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðpeaked€in.€Shiva€was€standing€in€the€middle€of€the€auditorium€surrounded€by€a€group€of€aboutÐ P- (4 Ðtwelve€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô.€He€was€pointing€at€a€large€hologram€of€a€man,€and€his€hand€was€followingÐ .h)5 Ðparts€of€the€arms€and€legs.€He€was€silent,€but€was€conveying€some€important€physical€knowledgeÐ ° Ðto€the€group.€This€was€telepathy€in€action.€I€stayed€in€the€background€hoping€to€glimpse€someÐ xÈ Ðmeaning,€some€explanation.€I€gave€up€and€moved€out.€Where€to€next?€I€decided€to€explore€whatÐ @ Ðlay€beyond€the€theater,€an€area€Joseph€had€avoided.Ð X Ðà  àI€had€just€passed€the€theater€when€I€heard€a€muffled€scream.€Was€that€a€woman's€scream?Ð Ð  ÐI€moved€towards€the€source.€These€doors€had€locks€on€them€and€these€doors€were€locked!€WhatÐ ˜è Ðwas€going€on€behind€them?€I€listened€but€heard€nothing€more.€A€group€of€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€was€comingÐ ` ° Ðthis€way.€I€hid€behind€some€storage€containers.€Three€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô€were€half€carrying€half€draggingÐ ( x Ða€medium€built€man€on€a€stretcher„like€device,€which€seemed€much€too€small€for€humans.€TheÐ ð @ Ðman's€face€was€pale€as€was€his€exposed€arm€and€chest.€A€strange€thought€went€through€my€mind.Ð ¸   ÐHas€he€been€bled?€Are€they€bleeding€the€humans€for€some€experimentation?€What€could€they€useÐ € Ð  Ðhuman€blood€for?€Is€human€blood€a€nutrient€for€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô?€I€must€find€the€connection€betweenÐ H ˜  Ðhuman€blood€and€Cobalt€if€any.€€€€Ð `  Ѐà  àI€sneaked€back€to€my€quarters€and€fell€asleep,€deeply€disturbed.€Monkeys€were€all€aroundÐ Ø(  Ðme€as€I€walked€across€a€jungle€floor.€Shiva€was€in€his€Jesus€disguise€and€Joseph€was€in€a€peasantÐ  ð  Ðcostume.€An€army€of€Chimpanzees€was€following€them.€They€stopped€in€front€of€a€crystal€clearÐ h¸  Ðpond.€As€if€in€unison€they€glided€across€the€surface€of€the€pond,€stopped€in€the€middle€and€floated€Ð 0€  Ðup€through€the€air€and€started€flying.€I€ducked€down€to€avoid€detection€and€woke€up€with€aÐ øH  Ðterrible€headache.€Ð À Ðà  àThe€chimps€were€very€noisy.€They€sounded€excited€or€afraid.€Their€shrieks€were€hurtingÐ ˆØ Ðmy€head.€I€got€up€and€filled€a€glass€with€water.€There€was€a€scratching€noise€around€the€door.€IÐ P  Ðturned€to€look.€To€my€amazement€a€piece€of€blue€paper€was€being€pushed€under€the€door.€I€stoodÐ h Ðsilently€till€the€intruder€had€walked€away€from€my€door.€Could€it€be€one€of€the€humans€abroad€theÐ à0 Ðcraft?€Perhaps€they€had€found€out€about€me.€Maybe€I€can€find€out€what€was€being€done€toÐ ¨ø Ðhumans.€Maybe€I€could€help€them.€Maybe€they€could€help€me!€I€picked€up€the€folded€paper€andÐ pÀ Ðread€it€.€I€rubbed€my€eyes€in€disbelief.€Scrawled€in€a€child's€handwriting€was,€"Me€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô.€SpeakÐ 8ˆ Ðyou€now.€Danger."€Ð P ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð È ÐÓã!ÓÔ‡X÷XXX÷ÔÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ  Óò òÓ  ÓInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€IVÐ à ÐbyÐ X¨ ÐRaman€Jalotaó óÐ  p ÐÌÓ XÓÓ  ÓWhat€the€Ô_Ôhellð! ðÔ_Ô€My€body€was€petrified€with€fear.€A€chimpanzee€had€sent€me€a€noteÐ °  Ðintroducing€Ô_Ôhimselfð! ðÔ_Ô€I€walked€to€the€bathroom€and€splashed€cold€water€on€my€face.€No€this€wasÐ xÈ! Ðnot€the€same€as€the€monkey€dream.€I€still€had€the€note€in€my€hand.€Ô_Ôð" ðMeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô.€Speak€you€now.Ð @" ÐÔ_ÔDanger.ð" ðÔ_Ô€Since€the€chimps€communicated€in€symbols,€this€note€made€sense.€The€chimp€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_ÔÐ  X# Ðwas€trying€to€tell€me€that€he€wanted€to€talk€to€me€about€some€impending€danger.€How€concise,Ð Ð $ Ðyet€powerful.€I€could€see€what€Shiva€meant€by€communicating€in€symbols.Ð ˜!è% ÐThroughout€the€day,€I€kept€wondering€how€to€communicate€with€the€chimp.€Maybe€heÐ `"°& Ðwould€know€about€the€humans€on€the€craft.€What€was€the€danger€he€wanted€to€warn€me€about?Ð (#x' ÐThe€day€dragged€as€I€listened€to€Joseph€describe€the€galaxy€they€came€from,€a€galaxy€calledÐ ð#@( ÐÔ_ÔPotasiaÔ_Ô.€How€they€didn't€have€a€concept€of€days€and€nights€as€markings€of€time.€They€judged€timeÐ ¸$ ) Ðby€tasks€accomplished.€The€task€at€hand€got€their€full€attention.€And€with€no€need€for€rest,€theÐ €%Ð * Ðpleasures€of€exploration€lasted€for€long€periods€like€this€trip€to€earth.Ð H&˜!+ ÐÓ XÓ€€à  àI€started€complaining€about€dryness€in€my€throat€and€an€overall€body„ache.€Joseph€sent€meÐ '`", Ðback€to€my€quarters€with€an€escort.€A€bowl€of€soup€was€brought€to€me€and€a€brown€eyedÐ Ø'(#- ÐÔ_ÔCadmitianÔ_Ô€kept€his€eye€on€me€as€I€ate€and€lay€down.€I€swallowed€the€orange€pill€he€gave€me.€IÐ  (ð#. Ðstarted€feeling€tired€and€drowsy.€I€soon€fell€asleep.€I€woke€up€to€find€myself€alone.€Ô_Ôð" ðGoodð" ðÔ_Ô€IÐ h)¸$/ Ðthought€and€went€next€door.€The€door€was€unlocked€and€the€quarters€were€unoccupied.€I€felt€likeÐ 0*€%0 Ðan€intruder.€Ð ø*H&1 ÐÓ XÓThe€quarters€were€smaller€than€mine€but€built€well€for€the€smaller€chimps.€There€wereÐ À+'2 Ðthree€small€beds€and€a€low€circular€desk€with€chair„like€furniture€around€it.€Small€computer€likeÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðdevices€with€large€monitors€were€imbedded€in€the€desk.€It€looked€like€a€work€area€usedÐ P- (4 Ðconstantly.€I€didn't€see€any€cables€or€power€sources.€Self„contained€power€sources,€I€assumed.Ð .h)5 ÐThere€were€several€note€pads€on€the€desk,€some€with€crude€drawings€and€some€with€attempts€atÐ ° Ðwriting€the€alphabet€and€words.€Ð xÈ ÐThese€chimps€were€learning€to€write€the€English€language.€My€heart€started€pounding€inÐ @ Ðmy€chest.€I€tore€a€sheet€from€a€pad€and€wrote,€Ô_Ôð" ðIÔ_Ô€am€John.€I€cannot€speak€your€language€and€mustÐ X Ðcommunicate€by€writing.€What€can€you€tell€me€about€what's€going€on€here?€What's€the€danger,€isÐ Ð  Ðit€to€you€or€me€or€both?€Please€write€back€what€you€Ô_Ôknow.ð" ðÔ_ÔÐ ˜è ÐI€read€the€note.€This€may€not€make€sense€to€the€chimps.€I€reconstructed€my€Ô_Ônote,ð" ðMeÔ_ÔÐ ` ° ÐJohn.€Write€only.€No€speak€your€language.€Write€Ô_Ôback.ð" ðÔ_Ô€€Ð ( x ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ð @ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓLater€the€same€day,€the€chimps€knocked€on€the€wall€excitedly,€chatting€with€each€otherÐ ¸   Ðand€trying€to€chat€with€me.€I€couldn't€do€anything€other€than€knocking€back€on€the€wall.€TheyÐ € Ð  Ðknocked€back€as€if€we€were€playing€a€childish€game.€Their€talk€subsided€and€my€door€openedÐ H ˜  Ðslowly.€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€walked€into€my€quarters€and€extended€his€hand,€palm€upward€as€if€asking€me€toÐ `  Ðput€something€in€it.€I€extended€my€hand€and€showed€him€my€palm.€He€shrieked€excitedly€andÐ Ø(  Ðtouched€my€palm€lightly€with€his.€He€put€his€long€arms€around€my€shoulders€and€looked€into€myÐ  ð  Ðeyes.€His€look€was€friendly,€trusting€and€non„threatening.€It€was€like€looking€into€a€human's€eyes.€Ð h¸  ÐHe€shrieked€something€towards€the€door€and€the€other€two€chimps€came€over.€He€pointedÐ 0€  Ðto€them€and€shrieked€again.€They€both€extended€their€hands,€palms€facing€out€and€I€greeted€themÐ øH  Ðin€similar€fashion.€They€conversed€with€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€in€their€language,€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€pointed€towards€theÐ À Ðdoor€during€this€dialog.€One€of€them€went€back€to€their€quarters,€returning€with€a€note„pad€and€aÐ ˆØ ÐÔ_Ôpen.€My€heart€started€to€race.€Hostum€took€the€pad€and€scribbled,€ð" ðRead€you€note.€You€talk.€WeÐ P  Ðknow€you€talk.€I€write.€You€know€I€write.ð" ðÐ h Ðð" ðAre€you€saying,€you€understand€what€I€say€...€my€spoken€words?ð" ð€I€stared€at€himÐ à0 Ðincredulously.Ð ¨ø ÐThey€all€smiled€as€if€in€unison,€their€eyes€lighting€up.€They€had€been€staring€at€me€intently,Ð pÀ ÐI€felt€they€were€reading€my€lips€along€with€listening€to€me.€They€shrieked€among€themselves€andÐ 8ˆ ÐHostum€scribbled,€ð" ðYes,€we€know€you€talk.ð" ðÐ P Ðð" ðI€don't€know€what€to€say.€I€am€amazed€at€this.€Who€are€you€and€where€did€you€comeÐ È Ðfrom€and€what's€...ð" ðÐ à ÐHostum€held€up€his€hand€silencing€me.€I€understood.€I€was€talking€too€fast€and€asking€tooÐ X¨ Ðmany€questions.€They€conversed€between€themselves€and€finally€Hostum€wrote,€ð" ðBig€Black€eyes,Ð  p ÐNatasha;€Soft€skin€Monica.€My€friends.€Three€years€ship.ð" ðÐ è8 ÐPainfully,€I€constructed€their€story€as€well€as€I€could.€I€interrupted€Hostum€several€timesÐ °  Ðas€I€read€his€notes€sometimes€shaking€my€head€to€indicate€not€understanding€his€notes,€other€timesÐ xÈ! Ðimpatiently€wanting€answers€to€my€questions€before€letting€Hostum€continue.€The€chimpsÐ @" Ðconversed€among€themselves€almost€like€humans€would,€verifying€their€memories€of€events€beforeÐ  X# ÐHostum€wrote€them€out.€Ð Ð $ ÐHostum's€whole€family€had€been€captured€three€years€ago€and€brought€to€the€mothership.Ð ˜!è% ÐThe€Cobaltians€had€approached€them€in€a€friendly€fashion€and€had€conversed€with€them€in€theirÐ `"°& Ðlanguage.€The€chimps€had€been€amazed€at€a€different€species€talking€their€language€andÐ (#x' Ðunderstanding€their€words.€Their€greetings€were€identical,€and€it€sealed€their€trust.€The€chimpsÐ ð#@( Ðaccepted€the€Cobaltians€as€part€of€their€extended€family.Ð ¸$ ) ÐRoughly€fifty€chimps€from€the€region€of€central€Africa€were€brought€to€the€ship.€TheyÐ €%Ð * Ðwere€examined€medically,€and€some€of€them€disappeared.€Hostum€suspected€that€they€were€usedÐ H&˜!+ Ðfor€something€sinister,€but€couldn't€decide€what.€Seven€chimps€had€disappeared€in€the€first€tenÐ '`", Ðdays,€and€three€had€survived€after€what€seemed€like€they€had€been€drained€of€all€their€energy.Ð Ø'(#- ÐThey€had€been€struck€by€a€strange€sickness€not€known€to€the€chimps€in€their€medical€history.Ð  (ð#. ÐHostum€had€been€picked€as€a€special€messenger€from€the€start€because€of€his€intelligenceÐ h)¸$/ Ðand€communications€ability.€He€had€learned€to€understand€Cobaltian€language€when€they€spoke€toÐ 0*€%0 Ðhim.€They€had€gene€through€a€mutual€language€exchange€and€were€now€teaching€him€to€read€andÐ ø*H&1 Ðwrite€the€English€language.€He€felt€their€motives€were€not€straight€forward.€Monica€and€NatashaÐ À+'2 Ðhad€been€provided€to€him€as€some€sort€of€a€reward€after€the€first€few€months.€He€had€taught€themÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âhis€skills€and€the€three€of€them€were€the€leaders€and€teachers€of€the€rest€of€the€group.€They€hadÐ P- (4 Ðstarted€expanding€their€own€vocabulary€and€computing€skills€and€were€in€the€process€ofÐ ° Ðtransferring€these€new€skills€to€the€rest€of€the€chimp€population.Ð xÈ Ðâ âYes,€they€had€seen€humans€brought€in€many€times.€Some€of€them€had€been€tortured.€TheÐ @ Ðchimps€had€heard€the€screams€of€pain€and€helplessness€of€the€humans.€The€Cobaltians€had€let€theÐ X Ðchimps€have€complete€freedom€of€the€craft€except€for€what€the€chimps€called€'The€sacredÐ Ð  Ðchambers'.€It€was€located€on€the€fifth€floor€towards€the€tail€of€the€craft.€Ð ˜è ÐYes,€the€craft€had€a€tail.€When€Hostum€had€flown€with€Shiva€in€the€disk.€He€had€noticedÐ ` ° Ðthe€tapering€of€the€craft€at€one€end€and€Shiva€had€been€generous€to€him€in€the€beginning,Ð ( x Ðanswering€all€his€questions€quite€openly.€When€Hostum€had€learned€to€understand€the€CobaltiansÐ ð @ Ðand€the€Cadmitians,€the€secrecy€started.€It€must€have€been€obvious€to€them€that€Hostum€wasÐ ¸   Ðsharing€his€knowledge€with€his€species.Ð € Ð  ÐEvery€now€and€then€courier€disks€had€arrived€bringing€in€new€Cobaltians€from€other€ships.Ð H ˜  ÐBut€Shiva€had€remained€in€control.€They€had€also€brought€in€more€chimps€and€taken€away€someÐ `  Ðof€the€chimps€from€the€ship,€however,€none€of€the€new€chimps€had€seen€the€missing€chimps€backÐ Ø(  Ðon€earth.€Hostum€wasn't€able€to€decide€if€they€were€being€taken€to€Cobalt€or€were€being€disposedÐ  ð  Ðof€in€some€way.Ð h¸  ÐHumans€were€being€used€in€something€secretive€too.€And€they€were€not€allowed€to€mingleÐ 0€  Ðin€large€groups€like€the€chimps.€There€were€some€small€groups€of€three€or€four€but€none€largerÐ øH  Ðthan€four.€These€humans€may€not€have€knowledge€of€humans€other€than€in€their€own€smallÐ À Ðgroups.€Hostum€also€thought€that€some€of€the€humans€may€be€disappearing€from€the€ship€everyÐ ˆØ Ðnow€and€then€along€with€the€chimps.Ð P  ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð h ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓI€could€hardly€wait€for€the€chance€to€communicate€with€the€chimps€after€that.€Everyday,Ð à0 Ðwe€would€meet€shortly€after€the€end€of€our€daily€tasks.€The€chimps€were€learning€from€theÐ ¨ø ÐCobaltians€and€teaching€their€fellow€chimps.€I€was€questioning€Brahma€or€Joseph€on€one€or€theÐ pÀ Ðother€aspects€of€the€Cobaltian€life,€making€notes€and€pretending€to€be€enlightened.€At€the€end€ofÐ 8ˆ Ðthe€day,€we€would€meet€in€either€my€quarters€or€theirs.€They€had€wanted€to€use€the€computingÐ P Ðdevices€to€communicate€but€I€cautioned€them€about€the€Cobaltians€possibly€monitoring€theirÐ È Ðsystems.Ð à ÐA€picture€was€slowly€emerging.€The€Cobaltians€had€captured€many€species€but€hadÐ X¨ Ðconcentrated€on€the€humans€and€the€chimps€as€the€main€thrust€of€their€experiments.€The€chimpsÐ  p Ðwere€being€groomed€to€perhaps€gain€superiority€over€humans€as€their€'natural'€destiny.€TheÐ è8 Ðhumans€were€being€used€for€some€unknown€cause.€The€chimps€felt€that€the€use€of€the€chimps€forÐ °  Ðthe€secretive€function€that€had€been€common€in€the€beginning€had€been€abandoned€or€reducedÐ xÈ! Ðdrastically.€Perhaps€the€humans€were€providing€that€function€now.Ð @" ЀThe€chimps€wanted€to€help€me€get€to€the€bottom€of€the€mystery.€Perhaps€our€destiny€wasÐ  X# Ðtied€together€as€one,€and€the€survival€of€one€species€would€assure€the€survival€of€the€other.€ForÐ Ð $ Ðthe€second€time€in€my€life€I€had€encountered€a€superior€species.€Yes,€first€the€Cobaltians€and€thenÐ ˜!è% Ðthe€chimpanzeesð! ðÐ `"°& ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð (#x' ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó€€The€sixth€day,€we€formulated€a€plan€of€action.€Each€day€we€would€venture€out€in€groupsÐ ð#@( Ðof€two€to€find€what€we€could.€The€presence€of€chimps€would€not€be€questioned€in€most€of€theÐ ¸$ ) Ðareas€of€the€ship,€however€I€had€to€be€extra€careful€to€not€jeopardize€all€of€us.€HostumÐ €%Ð * Ðaccompanied€me€the€first€time.€We€went€to€the€seventh€floor€and€walked€towards€the€nose€of€theÐ H&˜!+ Ðship,€rode€the€elevator€down€to€the€third€floor€and€walked€past€the€theater€towards€where€weÐ '`", Ðknew€some€humans€were.€Ð Ø'(#- ÐA€huge€metallic€door€barred€our€way,€but€Hostum€produced€a€small€wire€and€an€electronicÐ  (ð#. Ðdevice.€He€quickly€short„circuited€the€security.€The€door€opened€and€we€walked€in.€The€'HumanÐ h)¸$/ Ðprison'€as€Hostum€named€it,€was€about€six€thousand€square€feet€in€area€and€had€roughly€fourÐ 0*€%0 Ðhundred€cells.€Only€twenty€cells€were€occupied,€mostly€with€adult€males€and€females.€All€exceptÐ ø*H&1 Ðthree€of€them€were€sick€or€dying.€They€were€very€pale€and€weak€or€drugged,€not€able€toÐ À+'2 Ðâ âcomprehend€what€was€going€on,€unable€to€communicate.€Ð ˆ,Ø'3 ÐOnce€in€a€while€a€low€sob€or€scream€would€come€out€of€some€unknown€regions€of€theÐ ° Ðbrains€of€one€of€them,€shocking€us.€The€three€healthy€men€were€Europeans,€one€of€them€knew€aÐ xÈ Ðlittle€broken€English.Ð @ Ðâ âð" ðHelp,€we€need€help.ð" ðÐ X Ðð" ðI€am€John,€this€is€Hostum.€We€will€try€our€best€to€help.€What's€going€on?ð" ð€HostumÐ Ð  Ðnodded€his€head€to€show€his€support€and€understanding.Ð ˜è Ðð" ðYou€talk€to€the€monkey?€Get€me€out€of€this€cell.ð" ðÐ ` ° Ðð" ðHe€is€one€of€us.€Perhaps€he€is€the€only€one€capable€of€helping€you€and€me€survive.€WeÐ ( x Ðcan't€let€you€out€like€this.€If€you€are€missing,€we€will€all€be€in€trouble.€We€will€try€to€come€up€withÐ ð @ Ða€plan€of€escape.€What€is€your€name?ð" ðÐ ¸   Ðð" ðI€must€be€going€loony,€you€say€the€monkey€will€help€us.€I€am€Mersati,€these€two€areÐ € Ð  ÐMehan€and€Pinoy.€What€is€happening€here?ð" ðÐ H ˜  Ðð" ðDo€you€know€that€you€are€on€a€spaceship?ð" ðÐ `  Ðð" ðYes,€I€was€driving€down€to€see€my€mother€in€Parma,€on€the€Swiss€border,€when€a€womanÐ Ø(  Ðflagged€me€down.€She€wanted€a€lift.€I€was€more€than€happy€to€give€her€a€lift.€Somewhere€alongÐ  ð  Ðthe€way,€she€changed€into€a€robot€like€the€other€ones€on€this€ship.€She€somehow€paralyzed€me€andÐ h¸  Ðmade€the€car€drive€off€the€road.€I€was€not€able€to€do€anything€other€than€follow€her€orders.ð" ð€Ð 0€  Ðð" ðDo€you€know€who€that€Cobaltian€...€er€alien€is?ð" ðÐ øH  Ðð" ðNo,€they€look€the€same€to€me.€What€does€Covalteen€mean?ð" ðÐ À Ðð" ðCobaltian.€It's€a€long€story,€but€they€come€from€a€planet€named€Cobalt.€What€have€theyÐ ˆØ Ðbeen€doing€to€the€people€in€here?€How€long€have€you€been€here?€What€have€you€seen?ð" ðÐ P  Ðð" ðThey€seem€to€take€three€or€four€at€a€time.€Most€come€back€in€worse€shape€than€before.Ð h ÐThey€took€our€blood€sample€three€days€back.€There€were€ten€of€us€in€the€flying€saucer€thatÐ à0 Ðbrought€us€here.€They€separated€us€in€groups€of€three€or€four€and€shuffled€everyone€around.ð" ðÐ ¨ø ÐHostum€shrieked€excitedly,€he€wrote€on€the€note„pad,€ð" ðSeparate€before€blood,€or€after.ð" ðÐ pÀ ÐMersati€seemed€to€not€believe€what€he€was€seeing.€I€showed€him€the€note€and€read€it.Ð 8ˆ Ðð" ðThey€separated€us€after€the€blood€test.€What€does€that€mean?ð" ð€à  à€€Ð P Ðð" ðThey€may€be€grouping€you€together€by€blood€types.ð" ðÐ È ÐHostum€tapped€me€on€the€shoulder€and€pointed€to€the€door.€I€agreed€reluctantly.€It€wasÐ à Ðtime€to€go.Ð X¨ Ðð" ðWe€will€be€back€and€see€you€when€we€can.€I€am€going€to€try€and€figure€a€way€out€ofÐ  p Ðhere.ð" ðÐ è8 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð °  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓThe€next€day€was€astounding.€Natasha€wanted€to€eliminate€the€confusion€we€ran€into€withÐ xÈ! Ðour€method€of€communications.€Our€communication€was€sometimes€painfully€slow€because€of€ourÐ @" Ðcomplete€reliance€on€Hostum€to€write.€Monica€and€Natasha€had€not€learned€to€write€yet.€I€hadÐ  X# Ðbegun€to€use€two€simple€words€to€help€our€conversations€along.€'Ee'€sounding€more€like€'ae'€wasÐ Ð $ Ðthe€word€for€me€or€I;€when€the€word€was€drawn€out€it€meant€us.€'Ek'€meant€you€or€them€whenÐ ˜!è% Ðdrawn€out.Ð `"°& ÐNatasha€had€already€established€that€humans€and€chimps€produced€sounds€in€the€sameÐ (#x' Ðmanner,€but€chimps€could€not€produce€the€same€sounds€as€humans€because€their€vocal€chordsÐ ð#@( Ðwere€structured€differently.€She€wanted€to€explore€the€possibility€of€reconstructing€their€vocalÐ ¸$ ) Ðcords€to€speak€in€human€fashion.€Such€brilliant€problem€solving€was€beyond€my€capabilities.Ð €%Ð * ÐMonica€wanted€to€focus€on€the€mystery€of€the€human€groupings.€She€wanted€to€test€theÐ H&˜!+ Ðblood€of€the€different€groups,€the€healthy€ones€as€well€as€the€sick.€It€could€lead€to€an€answer€toÐ '`", Ðwhy€some€were€being€possibly€bled€to€death€and€others€were€allowed€to€live€for€sometime€beforeÐ Ø'(#- Ðthey€too€disappeared.€I€agreed,€I€wanted€to€know€why€they€were€being€bled.€Ð  (ð#. ÐHostum€had€access€to€one€of€the€medical€labs€on€the€fourth€floor.€He€created€hologramsÐ h)¸$/ Ðof€€Monica's€and€my€vocal€chords.€Natasha€managed€to€have€holograms€of€three€other€humansÐ 0*€%0 Ðmade€as€Monica€started€drawing€blood€from€each€group€periodically.€Natasha€and€Hostum€startedÐ ø*H&1 Ðcreating€plans€to€operate€on€one€of€them€to€be€chosen€by€random€drawing.€The€plan€was€simpleÐ À+'2 Ðbut€complex,€without€damaging€the€vocal€chords,€shape€them€if€possible€or€reattach€portionsÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âremoved€from€one€area€to€another.€They€painfully€started€to€measure€and€catalog€the€dimensionsÐ P- (4 Ðof€each€other's€vocal€chords.€It€looked€like€a€highly€involved€surgery€to€me.€I€stayed€as€far€awayÐ ° Ðas€possible.Ð xÈ Ðâ âÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð @ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓMonica€had€done€five€groups€in€seven€days€and€had€found€that€each€group€had€the€sameÐ X Ðblood€type.€She€had€found€two€groups€of€O€positive,€Two€groups€of€A€positive,€and€One€group€ofÐ Ð  ÐA€negative.€The€data€was€incomplete€and€inconclusive€according€to€her.€Ð ˜è ÐOn€the€tenth€day€aboard€the€ship,€Natasha€had€finalized€all€her€plans.€Hostum€had€obtainedÐ ` ° Ðall€the€supplies€he€needed€to€perform€the€surgery.€How€they€would€hide€it€from€the€CobaltiansÐ ( x Ðwas€a€big€unanswered€question.€We€wanted€to€keep€the€fact€of€the€surgery€absolutely€secret.€TheÐ ð @ Ðchimps€felt€they€could€hide€their€post„surgical€weakness€under€one€pretext€or€another.€I€drew€theÐ ¸   Ðname.€Monica€would€undergo€the€surgery.€She€could€fake€a€painful€estrous€cycle€and€NatashaÐ € Ð  Ðcould€help€nurse€her€back.Ð H ˜  ÐHostum€and€I€assisted€Natasha€as€she€expertly€anaesthetized€Monica€and€cut€open€herÐ `  Ðneck€exposing€the€throat€and€the€vocal€chords.€Carefully€she€marked€various€segments€thatÐ Ø(  ÐHostum€had€on€a€chart€and€started€cutting€and€stitching.€Five€hours€later,€we€were€done.€HostumÐ  ð  Ðcleaned€the€lab€and€disposed€of€the€evidence.€I€helped€Natasha€carry€Monica€back€to€theirÐ h¸  Ðquarters.€Monica€lay€covered€with€a€blue€blanket,€peacefully€dreaming.€It€gave€us€less€than€threeÐ 0€  Ðhours€to€sleep€and€wake€up€and€implement€our€plan€of€deception.€I€sat€next€to€Monica's€bed€for€aÐ øH  Ðfew€minutes€using€all€my€mental€powers€to€send€a€message€of€healing.Ð À ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ˆØ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓI€awoke€late,€quickly€ran€next€door.€Monica€was€asleep€but€seemed€in€good€shape.Ð P  ÐNatasha€had€been€up,€she€indicated€all€was€well.€The€day€was€painfully€slow.€Joseph€and€aÐ h ÐCadmitian€took€me€aboard€a€disk€and€we€flew€away€from€the€mothership,€around€it€and€finallyÐ à0 Ðdocked.€Joseph€let€me€handle€the€controls.€They€seemed€so€simple,€more€like€a€boat's€than€a€car's.Ð ¨ø ÐHostum€was€right,€the€spaceship€was€tapered€towards€one€end,€it€did€have€a€tail.Ð pÀ ÐI€was€tired€and€Joseph€let€me€go€back€to€my€quarters€early.€I€went€next€door.€HostumÐ 8ˆ Ðwasn't€around.€I€gestured€with€my€hands,€ð" ðHostum?ð" ðÐ P ÐNatasha€looked€at€me€and€tried€to€communicate€the€best€she€could.€She€pointed€to€MonicaÐ È Ðsitting€quietly€with€a€wet€cloth€around€her€throat.€I€examined€her€neck.€There€was€no€swelling,Ð à Ðand€that€was€good.€Monica€smiled€weakly€and€touched€my€cheek.€Natasha€got€some€cold€water€inÐ X¨ Ða€glass€and€made€her€drink€it,€slowly€and€painfully.€We€knew€she€had€to€let€her€throat€heal€forÐ  p Ðthree€or€more€days.€The€wait€was€torturous.Ð è8 ÐOn€the€third€day,€Monica€went€back€to€her€old€routine.€Mostly€working€with€Hostum€andÐ °  Ðavoiding€contact€with€the€Cobaltians.€That€night€we€gathered€around€her€and€Natasha€examinedÐ xÈ! Ðher€throat.€She€nodded€encouragingly€and€Monica€spoke€slowly.€Mouthing€chimp€words€andÐ @" Ðforcing€her€vocal€chords€to€produce€the€sounds€that€she€was€so€familiar€with.€Natasha€massagedÐ  X# Ðher€throat€several€times€and€I€sat€facing€her,€ð" ðI,€Monica.ð" ðÐ Ð $ ÐI€repeated€several€times,€letting€her€see€my€tongue€and€throat€positions,€the€mouth€openingÐ ˜!è% Ðand€closing,€the€sounds€through€the€nose,€ð" ðAeee€...€Mah€..€Ni€...€Kaa.ð" ð€Slowly€and€repeatedly.€SheÐ `"°& Ðtried€and€shook€her€head.€She€had€tears€in€her€eyes.€She€could€barely€mouth€her€native€words.€IÐ (#x' Ðpatted€her€on€the€shoulder€and€hugged€her.€Natasha€explained€to€her€to€take€it€slow€and€not€toÐ ð#@( Ðexpect€too€much.Ð ¸$ ) ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð €%Ð * ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓMonica€was€soon€back€on€her€evening€tour€of€the€human€cages,€extracting€another€groupÐ H&˜!+ Ðand€testing€it€the€same€night.€A€month€after€her€surgery,€she€had€finished€her€tests.€She€had€failedÐ '`", Ðto€utter€a€single€human€word,€no€matter€how€hard€she€tried.€But€both€Monica€and€Natasha€hadÐ Ø'(#- Ðstarted€writing.€A€huge€improvement€in€our€communication.Ð  (ð#. ÐThe€results€of€the€blood€tests€were€unclear€to€me.€All€except€the€healthy€three€had€bloodÐ h)¸$/ Ðgroups€of€O,€A€or€B.€The€three€European€males€all€had€AB€positive€blood€type.€What€did€itÐ 0*€%0 Ðmean?Ð ø*H&1 ÐÓ XÓà  àHostum€looked€at€the€numbers€for€a€long€time.€He€stared€into€space,€finally€wrote,ð" ðO,€A,Ð À+'2 ÐB€alone,€good€blood.€AB€together,€weak€blood.€Connection€strong€and€weak.€What€connection?ð" ðÐ ˆ,Ø'3 ÐÓ XÓð" ðLet€me€put€it€in€my€words,€you€think€the€AB€blood€maybe€different€than€the€others?ð" ðÐ P- (4 Ðð" ðYes.ð" ðÐ .h)5 Ðð" ðBut€why?ð" ðÐ ° ÐHe€smiled€suddenly,€shrieked€and€hugged€Monica€when€she€nodded€her€head.€He€wrote,Ð xÈ Ðð" ðTest€Cobalt,€AB.ð" ðÐ @ Ðð" ðYou€think€there€maybe€Cobalt€in€AB€blood?ð" ðÐ X Ðð" ðNo,€No€Cobalt€AB.€Cobalt€O,€A,€B.ð" ðÐ Ð  Ðð" ðAnd€what€would€that€mean?ð" ðÐ ˜è Ðð" ðAfraid€write.ð" ðÐ ` ° Ðð" ðYou€are€afraid€to€even€talk€about€what€it€may€mean?ð" ð€I€stared€at€all€of€them€trying€toÐ ( x Ðcomprehend€the€enormity€of€it€all.Ð ð @ ÐMonica€went€through€her€files.€She€spread€her€papers€on€the€desk€and€started€explainingÐ ¸   Ðto€Hostum€what€was€found€in€each€of€the€groups.€Hostum€shrieked€excitedly€and€Monica€agreedÐ € Ð  Ðnodding€her€head.€Ð H ˜  ÐHostum€wrote€slowly€for€my€benefit€patiently€pointing€to€various€notes,€ð" ðCommon€bloodÐ `  ÐO,€A,€B€Cyanocobalamin€...€B12€....€cobalamin€....€Cobaltð! ðð" ðÐ Ø(  Ðð" ðSo,€they€have€B12€as€one€of€the€constituents€of€their€blood€and€Cobalt€is€part€of€B12ð! ðÐ  ð  ÐHow's€that€different€than€the€AB€group?ð" ðÐ h¸  Ðð" ðAB€small€B12,€Others€high€B12.ð" ðÐ 0€  Ðð" ðAre€you€saying€that€the€people€with€higher€B12€contents€have€higher€Cobalt€content€inÐ øH  Ðtheir€blood?ð" ðÐ À Ðð" ðYesð" ð€Hostum€nodded.€Monica's€eyes€were€wide€in€terror.€She€had€grasped€what€HostumÐ ˆØ Ðhad€suspected.Ð P  ÐShe€tore€a€piece€of€paper€and€scribbled€on€it.€It€said,€ð" ðCobaltian€drink€blood.€High€B12Ð h Ðblood.ð" ðÐ à0 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....€€€€€Ð ¨ø ÐÓ  Ó€Ó  Ó¹Ó  Óò òInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€VÐ 8ˆ ÐbyÐ P ÐRaman€JalotaÐ È ÐÓ  Óó óÌÓ XÓ"They€are€drinking€human€blood€that's€high€in€B12€and€therefore€high€in€Cobalt?€Is€this€theÐ X¨ Ðnutrient€they€need€for€regeneration?"Ð  p ÐA€small€childish€voice€said,"Yes."Ð è8 ÐWe€were€all€shocked€to€hear€another€human€voice.€This€voice€came€out€of€Monica'sÐ °  Ðmouth.€I€stood€before€her,€"You€spoke€Monica!€You€can€speak,€try;€Aee€€.€.€.€€Mah€.€.€.€Ni€.€.Ð xÈ! Ð.Ca,"Ð @" Ð"I€Monica."€She€clapped€her€hands€as€she€realized€she€was€able€to€speak.€We€heard€"IÐ  X# ÐMonica"€for€most€of€that€evening.à h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÐ Ð $ ÐNatasha€wrote,"Shock€no€Cobaltians€drink€blood.€Shock€Monica€speak."Ð ˜!è% Ð"Yes"€said€Monica.€Her€voice€was€childish€but€crystal€clear.€I€kissed€her€on€the€lips.€SheÐ `"°& Ðwas€the€most€beautiful€thing€in€the€world.€We€spent€hours€together,€I€mouthing€words,€sheÐ (#x' Ðmaking€wonderful€human€sounds.€Ð ð#@( ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ¸$ ) ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓIt€was€clear,€we€will€perform€surgery€on€the€others€one€by€one€and€possibly€shock€theirÐ €%Ð * Ðvocal€chords€electrically€to€induce€speech€once€the€vocal€chords€were€healed.€Natasha€went€overÐ H&˜!+ Ðthe€surgical€techniques€with€Monica€and€Hostum€and€Monica€performed€the€long€surgical€processÐ '`", Ðon€Natasha.€This€time€Monica€stayed€with€Natasha€to€help€her€recover.€Natasha€was€up€the€nextÐ Ø'(#- Ðday,€cooling€her€own€throat,€excited€at€what€lay€ahead.Ð  (ð#. ÐI€had€time€to€reflect€on€the€possible€fate€of€the€humans.€Those€with€Cobalt€rich€blood€wereÐ h)¸$/ Ðslowly€being€bled€to€death€or€possibly€carted€back€to€the€home€planet.€The€humans€that€hadÐ 0*€%0 Ðdisappeared€may€have€been€humans€being€sent€to€Cobalt€as€food.€The€ones€that€had€served€theirÐ ø*H&1 Ðpurpose€were€probably€being€disposed€off€€as€garbage.€Probably€the€ones€with€mixed€bloodÐ À+'2 Ðgroupings,€the€ones€with€low€Cobalt€levels€were€being€killed€because€they€were€useless€to€theÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âCobaltians.€There€was€no€food€value€in€them.€Before€we€could€figure€out€a€way€out€of€theÐ P- (4 Ðspaceship,€I€needed€a€weapon€against€the€Cobaltian.€I€hoped€the€chimps€with€their€superiorÐ ° Ðintelligence€would€help€find€the€answer.Ð xÈ Ðâ âÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð @ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓNatasha€had€barely€recovered€from€the€surgery.€It€was€the€fifth€night€and€we€hadÐ X Ðadministered€another€dosage€of€low€electric€shocks€to€her€vocal€chords.€I€sat€in€their€quarterÐ Ð  Ðmouthing,€"Aee€.€.€.€Naa€.€.€.€Taa€.€.€.€Ssshaa."€We€were€intently€watching€Natasha€in€her€effortsÐ ˜è Ðand€waiting€to€hear€her€talk€when€the€door€opened€and€Shiva€and€two€Cadmitians€entered.Ð ` ° ÐMonica€screamed,"No!€Found."Ð ( x ÐShiva€looked€at€her€in€wonder,€held€her€face€in€his€hands,€forced€her€jaws€apart€and€lookedÐ ð @ Ðdown€her€throat.€He€whispered,"Magnificent€surgery.€Who?"Ð ¸   ÐI€realized€he€was€talking€to€the€chimps,€not€to€me.€I€knew€the€futility€of€any€pretensionÐ € Ð  Ðfrom€Shiva.Ð H ˜  ÐI€volunteered,"Well,€Natasha€did€hers€and€Monica€did€Natasha's."Ð `  Ð"Do€you€talk,€Hostum?"Ð Ø(  ÐHostum€shook€his€head€signifying€no.€Shiva€examined€his€throat€too€and€turned€toÐ  ð  ÐMonica,"Is€Hostum,€next?"Ð h¸  Ð"Yes,€Hostum€next."Ð 0€  Ð"Iððll€help€with€surgery€on€Hostum.€O.K.?"Ð øH  Ð"Why€do€you€want€to€do€that,€Shiva?"Ð À Ð"I€am€very€delighted€with€this€development.€I€had€been€informed€that€the€human€and€theÐ ˆØ Ðchimps€were€meeting€secretly.€I€am€happy€to€find€what€they€have€accomplished.€Sometimes€natureÐ P  Ðneeds€help€from€us.€The€chimps€know€what€is€appropriate.€I€wish€I€had€been€involved€from€theÐ h Ðbeginning.€Such€childish€excuses.€Estrous€cycles.€Come€on,€we€are€your€friends€after€all.€Aren'tÐ à0 Ðwe?"Ð ¨ø Ð"Shiva,€we€had€no€idea€how€you€or€the€others€would€react€to€something€like€this."Ð pÀ Ð"When€did€you€become€friends€with€the€chimps?"€Shiva€asked€me€politely€but€firmly.Ð 8ˆ Ð"They€were€.€.€.€next€door.€I€.€.€.€we€.€.€.€tried€to€communicate.€They€were€so€friendly.€ItÐ P Ðwas€sort€of€natural.€They€are€the€only€other€beings€like€humans€on€the€ship."Ð È ÐHostum's€look€warned€me.€Had€I€said€too€much?à p àÐ à ÐNatasha€scribbled€a€note,"Wait€surgery,€Hostum.€I€surgery€Hostum."Ð X¨ ÐShiva€smiled,"No€trust,€Shiva?€Shiva€friend,€no?"Ð  p ÐShiva€and€the€Cadmitians€slowly€walked€out.€A€chill€settled€in€the€room.€Ð è8 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....€Ð °  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓMonica€awoke€me€the€next€morning,€she€had€a€worried€look€on€her€face.€She€wasÐ xÈ! Ðswinging€her€arms€impatiently,"We€safe?"Ð @" Ð"Not€know.€You€think€we€safe€Monica?"Ð  X# Ð"Shiva€know€surgery.€Shiva€not€know€blood€test,€John€agree?"Ð Ð $ ÐI€realized€what€she€was€worrying€about.€I€had€been€overwhelmed€by€the€remarks€of€ShivaÐ ˜!è% Ðas€he€left.€If€he€suspected€a€tryst€between€me€and€the€chimps€things€would€get€bad.€But€not€half€asÐ `"°& Ðbad€if€he€found€out€we€had€been€testing€the€blood€of€the€humans€in€the€prison.€Shiva€would€easilyÐ (#x' Ðconstruct€that€the€opening€of€communication€between€the€chimps€and€me€would€blow€the€secrecyÐ ð#@( Ðof€the€presence€of€other€humans€on€the€mothership.€Would€Shiva€be€aware€of€the€chimpsÐ ¸$ ) Ðknowledge€of€the€torture€and€experimentation€on€the€humans?€Would€Shiva€suspect€what€we€hadÐ €%Ð * Ðalready€found€out?€Could€he€realize€what€we€had€been€doing€and€the€conclusions€we€had€reached?Ð H&˜!+ ÐWhat€will€happen€when€he€did?€Ð '`", Ð"We€die€when€Shiva€know€blood€test€.€.€.€Shiva€know€we€know€Cobalt€human€blood€.€.€.Ð Ø'(#- Ðwe€die.€Secret.€We€keep€secret,€Monica.€Important€keep€secret."Ð  (ð#. Ð"Yes,€secret€or€die."€She€didn't€sound€encouraging.€She€stood€silently€clenching€andÐ h)¸$/ Ðunclenching€her€wrists.€She€put€her€right€arm€around€me€and€leaned€her€head€on€my€shoulder.€IÐ 0*€%0 Ðhad€confirmed€her€worst€fears.€Actually€she€had€crystallized€my€thoughts€to€the€possibleÐ ø*H&1 Ðdangerous€conclusions.€She€was€two€steps€ahead€of€me€in€her€thoughts€and€action;€and€in€herÐ À+'2 Ðfears.Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ð"Natasha€O.K.?"€I€changed€the€subject.Ð P- (4 Ð"Yes,€Natasha€O.K.€Cadmitian€help€Natasha.€Cadmitian€our€room€Natasha."Ð .h)5 Ð"Cadmitian€nursing€Natasha?"Ð ° Ð"Yes.€Hard€secret€talk."Ð xÈ ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð @ ÐÓ  Ó€à  àThe€group€of€Cobaltians€observing€Natasha€perform€her€surgery€didn't€include€Shiva.Ð X ÐWhere€was€he?€Brahma€was€watching€Natasha€expertly€handling€laser€instruments€and€cutting€andÐ Ð  Ðstitching€Hostum's€vocal€chords,€as€if€she€had€done€it€hundreds€of€times€before.€Ð ˜è ÐÓ XÓBrahma€turned€to€me,"I€am€amazed€that€the€chimps€thought€that€the€next€barrier€to€bringÐ ` ° Ðdown€was€physical.€We€learned€their€language€and€it€never€occurred€to€us€to€go€the€extra€step€andÐ ( x Ðhelp€them€evolve.€But€then€we€can't€know€what€another€species€may€be€thinking,€can€we?"Ð ð @ Ð"I€am€surprised€by€their€superior€intelligence,€of€course,€it€may€never€have€surfaced€if€itÐ ¸   Ðwasn't€for€your€intervention."Ð € Ð  Ð"We€are€just€the€catalysts.€They€deserve€all€the€praise.€They€are€the€best€problem€solvingÐ H ˜  Ðspecies€we€know€of.€They€are€also€so€accepting€of€their€failures€and€are€willing€to€move€on€toÐ `  Ðanother€solution.€Such€patience!"Ð Ø(  Ð"Why€is€Shiva€not€here?€I€thought€he€wanted€to€observe€.€.€."Ð  ð  Ð"I€suspect€it's€his€ego.€Yes€.€.€..€we€have€egos€too.€At€least€some€of€us€do."Ð h¸  ÐSo,€Shiva€had€been€slighted€by€the€brilliance€of€the€chimps.€He€wanted€all€the€glory€ofÐ 0€  Ðbreaking€the€barriers€to€communication€for€himself.€He€was€jealous€of€the€chimps.€What€wouldÐ øH  Ðhappen€when€the€chimps€break€the€next€barrier?€What€was€the€next€barrier?€I€could€feel€theÐ À Ðbeginning€of€future€tensions.€The€Gods€from€the€planet€Cobalt€were€jealous€of€the€chimpanzees!Ð ˆØ ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð P  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓA€week€later€when€Hostum€had€recovered€and€was€beginning€to€speak,€Monica€and€IÐ h Ðvisited€the€human€prison.€The€three€healthy€Europeans€had€disappeared.€Only€ten€cells€wereÐ à0 Ðoccupied.€We€looked€through€all€the€cells.€No€sign€of€them.€The€two€dozen€or€so€remaining€didn'tÐ ¨ø Ðhave€too€long€to€live.€They€would€not€be€here€the€next€time.€Ð pÀ Ð"We€wait,€next€group?"Ð 8ˆ Ð"Yes,€Monica.€Wait€next€group.€Start€new,€fresh€group.€Need€know€everything."Ð P Ð"How?"Ð È Ð"Need€method€talk€or€write€new€group.€How?"Ð à ÐMonica€had€hope,"Hostum€know.€Hostum€good."Ð X¨ Ð"I€hope,€Monica."€Ð  p ÐBack€in€their€room,€Hostum€kept€his€distress€to€himself,"Gone?€All€talk,€gone?"Ð è8 Ð"Yes,€we€not€help.€We€not€able.€Need€see€new€group.€Need€know€everything.€How€talk€orÐ °  Ðwrite,€new€group?€Need€your€help,€Hostum."Ð xÈ! ÐHostum€tore€a€piece€of€paper€and€started€drawing€electrical€circuits€and€wiring€diagrams,Ð @" Ð"Need€€recorder.€Need€put€prison.€Need€get€camera€or€recorder.€I€try€lab."Ð  X# ÐNatasha€broke€in,"I€camera.€Study€rats€dark.€Study€rats€camera."Ð Ð $ Ð"You€studied€rats€on€camera€in€the€dark?"Ð ˜!è% ÐShe€put€her€hands€together€and€placed€her€head€on€them€and€closed€her€eyes.Ð `"°& Ð"At€night?€As€they€slept€.€.€.€or€as€you€slept?€You€put€the€camera€to€study€them€at€night?Ð (#x' ÐWhere€camera?"Ð ð#@( Ð"I€camera,€lab."Ð ¸$ ) ÐHostum€smiled€smugly,"I€put€camera€prison.€I€know€good."Ð €%Ð * ÐWe€sneaked€the€camera€to€the€prison€and€Hostum€installed€it€in€the€air„conditioning€vent.Ð H&˜!+ ÐThe€pictures€would€be€transmitted€to€the€chimp's€lab€and€the€disks€would€be€created€there.Ð '`", ÐSomeone€will€need€to€monitor€them€almost€daily€and€log€the€activities€in€the€prison.€Could€weÐ Ø'(#- Ðcommunicate€with€them?€Did€we€dare?€Ð  (ð#. ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð h)¸$/ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓI€managed€to€find€Hostum€alone€the€next€day,"Hostum,€Cobaltians€drink€blood,€but€say€noÐ 0*€%0 Ðneed€food,€why?"Ð ø*H&1 Ð"Cobaltians€need€food.€Lie€for€secret."Ð À+'2 Ð"What€else€lie?€Cobaltian€say€me,€no€food€400€days.€Lie?"Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ð"Yes."Ð P- (4 Ð"What€else,€we€not€know?€Much€more€need€know."Ð .h)5 Ð"Find€enter€sacred€chamber.€Find€answer."Ð ° Ð"What€you€think,€sacred€chamber?"Ð xÈ Ð"Hard€say.€Think€regeneration€or€ritual€chamber."Ð @ Ð"You€think€Cobaltians€drink€blood€in€chamber?"Ð X Ð"Yes,€very€yes."Ð Ð  ÐHostum€could€be€correct.€The€Cobaltians€were€probably€drinking€human€blood€in€theÐ ˜è Ðsacred€chambers.€Their€need€for€regeneration€and€the€frequency€of€the€regeneration€was€what€wasÐ ` ° Ðbeing€kept€secret.€Perhaps€there€were€some€other€rituals€taking€place€in€that€chamber.€Could€theyÐ ( x Ðhave€religious€rituals?€I€doubted€that,€but€I€had€been€misled€about€their€superiority€and€intentionsÐ ð @ Ðfrom€the€very€beginning.€What€were€their€intentions?€Wasn't€I€a€prisoner,€just€a€few€heartbeatsÐ ¸   Ðaway€from€oblivion?€They€would€surely€execute€me€in€a€minute€if€they€considered€me€a€threat€ofÐ € Ð  Ðany€kind.€What€did€they€want€from€me?€Were€they€trying€to€soften€the€human€race€to€accept€them€Ð H ˜  Ðthrough€me?€Once€the€humans€accepted€them€they€could€gain€control€and€start€harvesting€theirÐ `  Ðfood!€This€was€nothing€but€an€extremely€sophisticated€and€extensive€fishing€trip€for€them!€IÐ Ø(  Ðshuddered€to€think€what€lay€ahead.€And€what€I€could€do€to€stop€the€Cobaltians.Ð  ð  ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð h¸  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓThe€next€ten€days€were€extremely€hectic.€Now€that€we€could€talk,€we€were€being€observedÐ 0€  Ðmore€closely.€More€Cadmitians€and€Cobaltians€were€present€wherever€we€would€go.€They€wereÐ øH  Ðalso€visiting€us€regularly€to€monitor€the€chimp's€progress€in€communication.€We€had€startedÐ À Ðpassing€notes€more€often,€trying€to€get€together€alone€was€getting€harder,€but€we€were€able€to€atÐ ˆØ Ðleast€keep€written€communication€going€at€all€times.Ð P  ÐA€fresh€group€of€sixty€humans€had€been€brought€to€the€prison.€The€first€two€days€theÐ h ÐCobaltians€drew€their€blood.€On€the€third€day€four€of€them€were€put€in€a€cell€at€the€far„end€of€theÐ à0 Ðprison€and€the€rest€were€divided€into€another€twelve€cells.€The€deterioration€began€almostÐ ¨ø Ðimmediately.€One€by€one€the€cells€were€opened€and€the€people€anesthetized.€They€were€carriedÐ pÀ Ðout€on€stretchers€and€returned€after€several€hours.€They€came€back€pale€and€weak€and€exhausted.Ð 8ˆ ÐYes,€indeed€they€were€being€bled€methodically.€Ð P ÐBrahma€came€to€me€on€the€fourth€day€of€the€arrival€of€the€new€group,"I€want€you€to€meetÐ È Ðsomeone€special."Ð à ÐTwo€Cadmitians€stepped€in€with€an€attractive€tall€brunette.€She€had€large,€deep€blue€eyes,Ð X¨ Ðthin€lips€and€short€hair.€Her€body€though€athletic€was€not€too€thin,€just€the€way€I€had€seen€her€inÐ  p Ðmy€dreams.Ð è8 Ð"This€is€Lina,€she€is€one€of€the€few€chosen€to€come€aboard€the€mothership.€She€will€beÐ °  Ðyour€neighbor.€You€can€brief€her€on€what€you€know€about€us€and€the€chimps.€Lina,€meet€JohnÐ xÈ! ÐGalt,€he€can€tell€you€all€about€us."Ð @" ÐI€felt€a€tingle€on€the€right€side€of€my€head€and€quickly€started€to€breath€deeply€to€dispel€theÐ  X# Ðattempts€at€telepathy.€Brahma€left€with€the€Cadmitians.Ð Ð $ Ð"Did€you€just€arrive,€Lina?€Where€are€you€from€and€how€did€you€end€up€here?"Ð ˜!è% Ð"I€just€got€on€board.€I€have€been€doing€research€on€aliens€for€three€years€and€knew€allÐ `"°& Ðabout€your€abduction.€As€I€got€more€and€more€involved€I€was€approached€by€Brahma,€whoÐ (#x' Ðinvited€me€to€visit€the€mothership€and€meet€you.€I€jumped€at€the€chance€to€visit€a€spaceship€andÐ ð#@( Ðfind€more€details.€Have€you€been€here€all€of€the€last€three€months?"Ð ¸$ ) Ð"Yes,€a€little€over€three€months.€So,€Brahma€made€contact€with€you€too.€He€talked€to€meÐ €%Ð * Ðin€Denver€and€I€ended€up€here.€How€long€did€he€tell€you€that,€you€will€be€on€the€mothership?"Ð H&˜!+ Ð"We€never€discussed€it.€I€assumed€I'll€be€able€to€go€back€shortly.€Won't€I?"Ð '`", Ð"We€must€be€alike.€I€too€jumped€at€the€chance€to€visit€the€ship€and€talk€to€the€Cobaltians,Ð Ø'(#- Ðnever€knowing€how€permanent€this€may€turn€out€to€be.€And€I€may€know€too€much€to€be€allowedÐ  (ð#. Ðto€leave."Ð h)¸$/ ÐThere€was€a€knock€on€the€door€and€Monica€skipped€in.€She€gasped€when€she€sawÐ 0*€%0 ÐLina,"Who€she?"Ð ø*H&1 ÐLina€almost€fainted€on€hearing€Monica€speak,"Did€I€hear€her€speak?€What's€going€on?"Ð À+'2 Ð"Lina€this€is€Monica.€Monica,€this€Lina.€We€have€two€more€chimps€on€board€who€knowÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âhow€to€speak.€You€have€to€train€yourself€to€understand€their€method."€Ð P- (4 ÐI€spent€the€next€two€hours€explaining€what€had€happened€between€me€and€the€chimps.Ð ° Ðâ âLina€questioned€me€continuously€to€get€all€the€details.€I€asked€her,"What's€your€blood€type."Ð xÈ ÐÓ XÓ€à  à"What's€that€got€to€do€with€anything?"Ð @ ÐÓ XÓ"Your€life€may€depend€on€it.€I€am€an€AB€positive,€what€are€you?"Ð X Ð"That's€what€I€am.€What€does€it€mean?"Ð Ð  ÐMonica€interrupted,"John,€wait.€Ask€Hostum.€Secret€tell€danger.€Ask€Hostum."Ð ˜è ÐMonica€knocked€on€the€wall€four€times€in€rapid€succession€and€Hostum€walked€into€myÐ ` ° Ðroom.Ð ( x Ð"Who€this€John?"Ð ð @ Ð"Hostum,€Lina.€Lina,€Hostum€is€the€most€intelligent€creature€I€have€met€in€my€life€and€thatÐ ¸   Ðincludes€the€Cobaltians."Ð € Ð  Ð"Hostum,€John€tell€secret€Lina.€Tell€secret€Lina?"Ð H ˜  Ð"We€prisoner€Monica.€We€tell€wrong€secret,€we€die.€Trust€human,€tell€secret."Ð `  Ð"Lina,€these€Cobaltians€have€been€abducting€humans€for€their€blood.€They€use€the€blood€ofÐ Ø(  Ðhumans€that's€type€A,€B€and€O.€For€some€reason€these€people€have€more€B12€in€their€blood€andÐ  ð  ÐCobalt€is€an€essential€part€of€B12.€The€reason€they€have€spared€me€and€you,€is€that€we€are€notÐ h¸  Ðgood€enough€to€be€consumed.€We€may€however€be€good€enough€to€be€used€for€whatever€otherÐ 0€  Ðpurpose€they€have€in€mind€for€us."Ð øH  Ð"What€do€you€plan€to€do,€John?"Ð À Ð"I€am€hoping€that€with€the€help€of€Hostum€and€the€other€chimps€we€can€devise€a€means€ofÐ ˆØ Ðescape."Ð P  Ð"Why€don't€you€just€ask€Brahma€or€that€other€guy€Shiva€...."Ð h ÐHostum€jumped€up,"Lina€know€Shiva?€Know€Shiva€meaning?"Ð à0 ÐLina:"Shiva€...€must€be€a€Hindu€God€or€something."Ð ¨ø ÐÓ XÓ€€à  àHostum:"Shiva,€God€destruction."Ð pÀ ÐÓ XÓWe€all€gasped€in€horror.Ð 8ˆ ÐÓ XÓ€à  àLina:"He€is€named€after€the€God€of€destruction?€But€that€may€not€mean€anything."Ð P ÐÓ XÓHostum:"Cobaltian€mean€everything.€Shiva€destroyer€name,€Shiva€destroyer€real."Ð È Ð"I€do€believe€him€completely.€Hostum€knows€the€Cobaltians€better€than€anyone€else.€TheÐ à Ðnames€that€the€leaders;€the€"hosts",€have€taken€are€not€just€symbolic,€they€mean€much€more.€IÐ X¨ Ðagree€with€Hostum.€Brahma€the€creator€may€be€our€friend€but€Shiva€has€to€be€the€destroyer."Ð  p ÐWell,€if€you€all€believe€that€they€don't€need€us€AB€types.€What€will€they€gain€by€keeping€usÐ è8 Ðhere€or€killing€us?"Ð °  ÐHostum:"Cobaltian€know,€you€know€blood€secret,€you€die.€Cobaltian€ask€home,€see."Ð xÈ! ÐI:"I€agree€with€Hostum,€you€have€just€come€on€board,€you€may€ask€them€to€let€you€go€in€aÐ @" Ðfew€days€and€see€what€happens."Ð  X# ÐLina:"Why€don't€you€ask€them€John.€What€could€you€lose?"Ð Ð $ ÐI:"I€am€too€afraid€to€find€out€that€I€am€indeed€a€prisoner€here.€I€think€I€am,€but€I€don'tÐ ˜!è% Ðwant€to€confront€that€truth€with€the€Cobaltians€holding€all€the€cards.€I€also€don't€know€how€muchÐ `"°& Ðthey€suspect€I€know.€A€confrontation€could€be€the€end€of€me€and€perhaps€all€the€rest€of€us."Ð (#x' ÐHostum:"No.€Talk€chimp€important€Cobaltian.€No€kill€chimps.€Human€not€critical.Ð ð#@( ÐBrahma.€If€ask,€ask€Brahma.€No€ask€Shiva."Ð ¸$ ) ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð €%Ð * ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓLina€was€given€the€same€access€as€I€had€been€given,€she€was€shown€and€allowed€toÐ H&˜!+ Ðquestion€the€same€people€that€I€had.€Her€impressions€were€somewhat€parallel€except€for€herÐ '`", Ðintuitions.Ð Ø'(#- ÐLina:"I€do€believe€that€Shiva€is€jealous€of€the€chimp's€ability€to€break€the€barriers€toÐ  (ð#. Ðcommunication,€but€I€don't€believe€that€Brahma€and€Shiva€have€contradictory€goals€in€mind."Ð h)¸$/ ÐI:"It's€not€contradictory€goals,€it's€the€means€to€the€goal.€I€am€quite€convinced€they€areÐ 0*€%0 Ðharvesting€humans€as€a€food€source.€I€just€don't€understand€their€involvement€with€the€chimps.€IÐ ø*H&1 Ðcan't€fathom€why€they€would€be€interested€in€establishing€chimps€as€the€surviving€or€ruling€speciesÐ À+'2 Ðâ âon€earth."Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ð"I€don't€know€the€reasons,€but€I€don't€think€they€are€putting€evolution€on€its€correct€pathÐ ° Ðeither.€They€are€not€that€noble.€They€must€have€another€motive.€Would€you€like€to€pose€theÐ xÈ Ðquestion€to€Hostum?"Ð @ Ðâ â"Definitely,€he€has€a€razor€sharp€mind.€He€will€be€able€to€construct€a€possible€scenario."Ð X ЀHostum€pondered€the€question€for€several€minutes.€He€scribbled€numbers€and€formulasÐ Ð  Ðon€pieces€of€papers€and€looked€at€us€with€a€smile,€"Hostum€think€Cobaltians€need€much€blood.Ð ˜è ÐFour€billion€humans€not€enough€for€Cobaltian.€Chimp€blood€same€human.€Cobaltian€come€backÐ ` ° Ðget€chimp€blood€next."Ð ( x ÐLina:"That's€interesting,€Chimps€do€have€similar€blood€and€body€types€and€functions€asÐ ð @ Ðhumans.€They€must€have€established€human€blood€as€a€better€source€of€Cobalt.€You€think€theyÐ ¸   Ðwill€use€up€all€the€humans€and€come€back€for€chimps?"Ð € Ð  ÐHostum:"Possible,€not€know€number€Cobaltian.€Chimps€important€temporary,€moreÐ H ˜  Ðimportant€than€human."Ð `  ÐI:"I€tend€to€agree.€They€are€either€going€to€consume€the€humans€or€store€the€food€forÐ Ø(  Ðconsumption.€They€would€probably€set€up€earth€in€the€format€they€believe€most€suitable€for€theirÐ  ð  Ðpurposes€and€then€come€back€when€they€have€either€run€out€of€food€or€believe€the€earth€may€beÐ h¸  Ðready€for€the€next€harvest.€Do€you€see€it€this€way,€Lina?"Ð 0€  ÐLina:"But€why€would€they€not€want€the€mixed€blood€types?€And€would€they€leave€themÐ øH  Ðalive?"à  à€€€Ð À ÐHostum:"AB€less€Cobalt.€Other€high€Cobalt.€Not€want€AB.€Lina€ask€Brahma,€go€earth?"Ð ˆØ Ð"Yes"Ð P  Ð"Yes,€Brahma€talk€what?"Ð h Ðð ðBrahma€said,€ð ðno.ððððÐ à0 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó....Ð ¨ø Ðò òInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€VIÐ pÀ ÐbyÐ 8ˆ ÐRaman€Jalotaó óÐ P ÐÓ  ÓÌÓ XÓMonica€gasped€and€put€her€hand€on€her€mouth.€I€walked€up€to€her€and€put€my€hand€on€herÐ à Ðhead,€she€wrapped€her€arm€around€me.€Hostum€shook€his€head,"Brahma€talk€no.€Why?"Ð X¨ ÐLina's€face€was€painful€to€look€at.€She€was€trying€to€suppress€her€terror,"Brahma€said,€IÐ  p Ðcouldn't€leave€till€we€have€a€disk€available€for€transportation."Ð è8 ÐI:"Well€that€shouldn't€be€..."Ð °  ÐLina:"He€said,€one€will€not€be€available€for€two€months.€They€are€flying€missions€toÐ xÈ! Ðanother€ship€and€back€for€vital€cargo€exchange."Ð @" ÐHostum:"Food€home."Ð  X# ÐLina:"Of€course€he€won't€tell€me€the€nature€of€the€missions€except€it€was€too€critical€to€beÐ Ð $ Ðdivulged."Ð ˜!è% ÐI:"Don't€worry€Lina.€We€can€look€for€another€way€out.€At€least€you€tested€out€theÐ `"°& Ðpossibility€of€just€asking€them€outright€to€see€if€they€would€let€you€leave.€This€also€confirms€theÐ (#x' Ðunderlying€suspicion€that€has€developed€about€the€Cobaltians."Ð ð#@( ÐMonica:"Leave,€no€good.€Find€answer€Cobaltian.€No€leave€no€answer."Ð ¸$ ) ÐHostum:"I€find€answer.€You€help€Hostum.€Hostum€find€answer€Cobaltian."Ð €%Ð * ÐI:"But€where€do€we€start,€Hostum.€What€can€we€possibly€do€to€find€a€weapon€to€stop€theÐ H&˜!+ ÐCobaltian."Ð '`", ÐHostum:"No€talk€weapon.€Talk€answer.€No€fight,€answer€Cobaltian."Ð Ø'(#- ÐLina:"But€what€can€stop€them?"Ð  (ð#. ÐHostum:"Start€look,€what€not€ship.€What€earth,€not€ship.€Start€list."Ð h)¸$/ ÐMonica€knocked€four€times€on€the€wall€and€Natasha€came€into€my€room.€She€rubbed€herÐ 0*€%0 Ðtired€eyes.Ð ø*H&1 ÐHostum:"Brahma,€talk€no€home€Lina."Ð À+'2 ÐNatasha€shook€her€head€slowly€and€patted€Lina€on€the€back:"Stay€ship.€Stay€friends."Ð ˆ,Ø'3 ÐMonica:"Natasha€help€answer€Cobaltian.€Hostum€list,€what€earth,€not€ship."Ð P- (4 ÐNatasha:€"Why?"Ð .h)5 ÐLina:€"Hostum€thinks€there€may€be€a€reason€why€the€ship's€configuration€is€different€thanÐ ° Ðthe€earth's€...€that€there€may€be€obvious€differences€that€are€necessary€to€maintain€the€viability€ofÐ xÈ Ðthe€ship."Ð @ ÐNatasha€said€matter€of„factly:"No€tree.€No€grass,€€No€green€ship."Ð X ÐHostum:"Yes,€no€green.€What€more?"Ð Ð  ÐMonica:"No€big€water."Ð ˜è ÐI:"those€things€obviously€can't€be€on€the€ship.€They€can't€bring€all€kinds€of€trees€and€lakesÐ ` ° Ðand€ponds€on€the€ship.€Why€should€they.€You€might€as€well€ask€for€the€sun."Ð ( x ÐMonica:€"No€sun,€no€sunlight."Ð ð @ ÐHostum:€"Oxygen€yes€...€sunlight€no,€water€no,€green€no."Ð ¸   ÐNatasha€nodded€her€head:"No€water,€no€sun,€no€green,€no€carbon€dioxide."Ð € Ð  ÐHostum:"Ship€Oxygen,€ship€no€Carbon€dioxide."Ð H ˜  ÐLina:"Are€you€thinking€that€they€have€avoided€plants€and€trees€that€may€give€off€carbonÐ `  Ðdioxide?€How€could€that€possibly€harm€them."Ð Ø(  ÐI:"I€met€Brahma€on€earth,€he€didn't€seem€to€have€any€problem."Ð  ð  ÐHostum:"Earth,€Oxygen,€earth€Nitrogen;€earth€small€carbon€dioxide.€Ship€small,€Trees€bigÐ h¸  Ðcarbon€dioxide.€Yes,€carbon€dioxide,€Cobalt€what€Natasha?"Ð 0€  ÐNatasha€was€writing€chemical€equations€on€a€piece€of€paper.€Hostum€leaned€over€herÐ øH  Ðshoulder€for€a€few€minutes€and€nodded€his€head.Ð À ÐNatasha:"Carbon€dioxide€no€harm€Cobalt€.€Carbon€monoxide€change€Cobalt.€Cobalt€makeÐ ˆØ Ðcompound€carbon€monoxide.€Ship€break€carbon€dioxide,€carbon€monoxide,€maybe€..."Ð P  ÐI€almost€jumped€up€in€anticipation,"Cobalt€forms€some€types€of€compounds€with€carbonÐ h Ðmonoxide?€And€if€the€ship's€atmosphere€would€somehow€break€carbon€dioxide€to€carbonÐ à0 Ðmonoxide€it€could€turn€the€Cobaltians€into€some€sort€of€chemical€compounds,€yes?"Ð ¨ø ÐHostum€and€Natasha€nodded€their€heads€approvingly.Ð pÀ ÐLina:"How€can€we€be€sure€that€this€is€why€they€have€avoided€greenery,€how€would€weÐ 8ˆ Ðknow€something€like€this€would€work?"Ð P ÐHostum:"Look€Natasha€paper."Ð È ÐHe€pushed€the€sheet€of€paper€towards€Lina.€Neither€she€or€I€understood€the€equations.Ð à ÐNatasha:"Lab€make€carbon€dioxide.€See€ship€make€carbon€dioxide,€carbon€monoxide."Ð X¨ ÐI:"That€part€should€be€easy.€Then€we€can€try€it€out€on€a€Cobaltian€and€see€if€it€affects€themÐ  p Ðin€any€way."Ð è8 ÐHostum€raised€his€hand:"No€weapon.€Answer.€Get€disk,€use€carbon€monoxide.€Fly€earth."Ð °  ÐI€wondered€if€Hostum€and€Natasha'a€knowledge€of€chemistry€could€help€get€us€back€toÐ xÈ! Ðearth.€How€ironic€that€the€humans€could€never€have€found€such€a€solution.€But€of€course,€weÐ @" Ðneeded€to€steal€a€disk€before€attempting€to€flee€the€Cobaltians.€I€couldn't€understand€Hostum'sÐ  X# Ðcaution€about€not€thinking€of€a€weapon€against€the€Cobaltians,€just€an€answer.€And€what€aboutÐ Ð $ Ðthe€Cobaltian's€infiltration€of€the€human€race.€What€would€happen€when€we€finally€did€escape?€€Ð ˜!è% Ðà  àÌÓ XÓÓ  Ó€.....Ð (#x' ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓI€slipped€into€sleep€slowly€...€We€had€managed€to€start€a€massive€carbon€monoxide€leak€inÐ ð#@( Ðall€areas€of€the€ship.€The€ship€was€clouded€with€the€gas€and€Cobaltians€that€were€exposed€to€itÐ ¸$ ) Ðwere€melting€into€heaps€of€lifeless€grey€matter.€Some€of€them€with€gas„masks€were€runningÐ €%Ð * Ðaround€brandishing€unfamiliar€weapons.€We€had€just€boarded€one€of€the€disks€and€Hostum€hadÐ H&˜!+ Ðmanaged€to€start€the€engines.€He€starting€undocking€from€the€ship.€I€stared€unmoving€as€a€maskedÐ '`", ÐShiva€came€running€to€the€disk,€raised€a€strange€looking€weapon€and€fired€it€at€us.€The€disk€wasÐ Ø'(#- Ðstruck€by€a€blue€beam€and€was€electrified,€sending€shocks€through€all€of€us.€The€control€panelÐ  (ð#. Ðstarted€to€smoke€and€a€fire€started.€Shiva€removed€his€mask€and€yelled,"You€ingrate€nothings,€thisÐ h)¸$/ Ðcarbon€monoxide€doesn't€affect€me,€you€will€all€be€annihilated."€Flames€shot€up€in€the€pit,€LinaÐ 0*€%0 Ðscreamed€as€Shiva€pointed€the€weapon€at€her,€I€moved€to€shelter€her€with€my€body.Ð ø*H&1 ÐSomeone€had€crept€into€my€bed€and€the€cold€touch€of€another€body€broke€my€dream.€IÐ À+'2 Ðwas€shaking.€Lina€put€her€hand€on€my€forehead.€I€slowly€engulfed€her€in€my€arms.€She€needed€theÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðcomfort€of€another€human€after€her€ordeal€of€the€day,€just€as€I€needed€her€after€my€nightmare.Ð P- (4 Ð"Don't€worry,€things€will€get€better",€€I€whispered.Ð .h)5 Ð"I€don't€want€to€be€stuck€here€and€be€bled€and€die."Ð ° ÐI€ran€my€fingers€through€her€hair€and€kissed€her€moist€face,"We€will€find€a€way.€TheÐ xÈ Ðchimp's€intelligence€and€our€strength€will€get€us€out."Ð @ Ð"I€hope€it€comes€true.€But€I€am€so€afraid."Ð X ÐShe€turned€away€from€€me€and€curled€into€my€body,€using€my€body€as€a€cover.€I€put€myÐ Ð  Ðface€against€her€soft€hair€and€put€my€hands€over€her€breasts.€We€lay€warming€together€for€a€longÐ ˜è Ðtime.€She€started€moving€and€slowly€removed€her€nightshirt€and€panties.€I€was€aroused€andÐ ` ° Ðcupped€her€breasts€in€my€hands,€slowly€squeezing€and€releasing€them.€She€put€her€hands€overÐ ( x Ðmine€slowing€the€rhythm€of€my€caresses.€Lina€turned€towards€me€and€we€started€to€kiss€and€touchÐ ð @ Ðeach€other.€All€the€frustrations€and€powerlessness€of€the€day€could€not€deny€our€desires€forÐ ¸   Ðanother€human's€intimacy.€She€met€my€slow€thrusts€with€her€thrusts,€our€rhythmic€see„saw€loveÐ € Ð  Ðmaking€was€slow€and€deliberate,€we€were€validating€each€other's€existence€through€the€onlyÐ H ˜  Ðmeans€we€knew.€The€climax€released€her€tension€and€her€body€lost€its€stiffness.€We€lay€with€ourÐ `  Ðbodies€intertwined€and€finally€the€dreams€went€away.€€€€€€€€Ð Ø(  ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð  ð  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓMonica€was€worried,"Cobaltian€not€normal."Ð h¸  ÐHostum:"Cobaltian€sacred€chambers€today.€Chamber€change€Cobaltian."Ð 0€  ÐI:"you€think€they€did€one€of€their€rituals€in€the€sacred€chambers€today."Ð øH  ÐLina:"Do€they€change€their€behavior€pattern€every€time€they€go€through€these€rituals."Ð À ÐHostum:"Ten€days,€last€time.€Also€Cobaltian€not€normal."Ð ˆØ ÐLina,"The€Cobaltians€are€doing€these€rituals€every€ten€days,€you€think?"Ð P  ÐI:"I€have€seen€some€behavior€changes€every€so€often€since€I€came€on€board.€They€seem€toÐ h Ðlose€energy€and€become€less€responsive€for€a€day€or€so.€But€they€pick€it€back€up€again,€veryÐ à0 Ðsoon."Ð ¨ø ÐLina:"Whatever€this€ritual€is,€it€must€be€zapping€their€energy€for€awhile.€We€should€keepÐ pÀ Ðtrack€of€these€changes€to€figure€out€exactly€how€long€between€these€periods.€Is€there€a€way€to€getÐ 8ˆ Ðinto€those€chambers?"Ð P ÐHostum:"Try,€no€in."Ð È ÐLina:"What's€so€hard€about€it?"Ð à ÐHostum:"Much€secret.€Much€hard.€No€in."Ð X¨ ÐLina:"why€can't€we€get€past€these€doors,€we€have€managed€to€get€into€the€rest?"Ð  p ÐI:"Let's€find€out€what's€different€about€these€doors€from€the€rest.€Maybe€we€can€get€a€clueÐ è8 Ðfrom€that."Ð °  ÐHostum:"Lock€door€different,€hard.€No€in."Ð xÈ! ÐLina€and€Hostum€spent€part€of€the€night€studying€the€configuration€of€the€lock€on€theÐ @" Ðdoor.€The€electronic€wizardry€of€Hostum€and€the€drive€of€Lina€was€no€match€to€the€secret€of€theÐ  X# Ðlock.Ð Ð $ ÐLina€paced€around€the€room€thinking.€Her€beautiful€face€was€getting€marred€by€a€smallÐ ˜!è% Ðvein€that€was€bulging€over€her€right€eye,"There's€got€to€be€a€way€to€do€this."Ð `"°& ÐI:"And€what€is€that?"Ð (#x' ÐLina:"I€can€feel€it.€I€know€we€can€do€it."Ð ð#@( ÐÓ XÓ€€à  àIn€the€end€the€lock€was€too€hard€for€Hostum.€He€kept€wringing€his€hands,€swinging€themÐ ¸$ ) Ðand€scratching€his€forehead,"No€understand€lock.€No€moving€tumblers.€No€electronic€circuits.€NoÐ €%Ð * Ðunderstand€this€...€this€..."Ð H&˜!+ ÐÓ XÓLina:€"Is€this€a€new€technology?"Ð '`", ÐHostum:€"Yes.€Not€know€such€device."Ð Ø'(#- ÐLina:€"So!€This€could€be€part€of€the€Cobaltian€technology."Ð  (ð#. ÐHostum:€"Natasha,€you€answer?"Ð h)¸$/ ÐNatasha:€"Try€Carbon€monoxide€under€pressure€and€water."Ð 0*€%0 ÐLina:€"And€what€would€that€do?"Ð ø*H&1 ÐNatasha:€"Cobalt€turn€coordination€compound€with€carbon€monoxide.€Water€dissolveÐ À+'2 Ðnickel€leaving€cobalt€compound."Ð ˆ,Ø'3 ÐLina:€"Are€you€suggesting€that€Nickel€will€be€separated€from€Cobalt€and€thereby€somehowÐ P- (4 Ðthe€lock€will€be€rendered€inoperative."Ð .h)5 ÐNatasha's€eyes€twinkled,"Bet€you€a€banana."Ð ° ÐLina€and€Natasha€worked€together.€Hostum€designed€a€device€to€create€vacuum€in€theÐ xÈ Ðplastic€water€bottles€that€we€had.€Monica,€using€her€medical€supplies€had€fabricated€an€injectingÐ @ Ðdevice€to€be€used€to€pump€carbon€monoxide€into€the€bottle.€The€bottle€was€ready€by€the€nextÐ X Ðevening.€We€sneaked€off€to€the€sacred€chambers€and€Natasha€using€two€bottles€forced€pressurizedÐ Ð  Ðwater€and€carbon€monoxide€into€the€lock.€The€outside€of€the€lock€slowly€started€turning€green€asÐ ˜è Ðsome€of€the€liquid€trickled€down.€Hostum€started€furiously€pumping€the€foot€pump€to€forceÐ ` ° Ðgreater€amounts€of€carbon€monoxide.€Suddenly€the€door€swung€open.Ð ( x ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ð @ ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓWe€slowly€moved€inside.€The€sacred€chamber€had€a€twenty€foot€high€ceiling€that€wasÐ ¸   Ðsemi„circular€giving€the€square€room€a€dome€like€feeling.€There€were€recessed€lights€in€the€ceilingÐ € Ð  Ðthat€lit€the€room€faintly.€The€room€was€almost€two€thousand€square€feet€in€diameter€with€rows€ofÐ H ˜  Ðtables€that€had€chairs€lined€to€one€side.€All€of€them€facing€towards€the€other€end.€The€walls€wereÐ `  Ðpadded€with€a€thick€deep€burgundy€fabric€and€the€floor€was€highly€polished.€It€felt€like€we€wereÐ Ø(  Ðstanding€on€glass.€In€the€far€end€of€the€chambers€was€a€raised€platform.€I€started€walking€towardsÐ  ð  Ðit€and€slid€almost€immediately.€Natasha€caught€me€from€hitting€the€floor.€Hostum€motioned€toÐ h¸  ÐLina€and€me€to€remove€our€shoes.Ð 0€  Ð"shhhh..."€Lina€whispered€and€we€quickly€hid€between€the€tables€and€chairs.€The€doorÐ øH  Ðswung€open€and€two€Cobaltians€came€gliding€into€the€room.€The€room€filled€with€bright€light€as€ifÐ À Ðby€a€silent€command€and€they€went€around€the€room€hurriedly.€They€quickly€went€back€to€theÐ ˆØ Ðdoor€and€examined€the€lock.Ð P  ÐLina€was€shivering€next€to€me.€I€put€my€arm€around€her€to€slow€down€her€heartbeat.€TheÐ h Ðtwo€Cobaltians€came€back€in€to€the€chamber€and€went€to€the€far€end,€they€looked€around€theÐ à0 Ðplatform€and€glided€out€of€the€room€apparently€accepting€the€failure€of€the€lock€somehow.Ð ¨ø ÐHostum€motioned€us€to€wait€and€went€out€of€the€chamber€within€a€few€minutes€of€theÐ pÀ ÐCobaltian.€He€quickly€came€back€and€shouted,"Get€out,€now."Ð 8ˆ ÐWe€scrambled€back€towards€our€rooms.€Ð P ÐNatasha€whispered,"Dangerous,€go€sleep."Ð È ÐI€lay€in€the€dark€wondering€what€would€happen€now?€Did€the€Cobaltians€accept€the€openÐ à Ðdoor€as€a€malfunction€or€was€there€going€to€be€an€investigation?€Were€we€doomed€already?€HadÐ X¨ Ðwe€found€the€answer?€Carbon€monoxide.€Beautiful,€sweet€carbon€monoxide€...€an€easy,€painlessÐ  p Ðmeans€of€committing€suicide.€Was€this€our€answer?€€Ð è8 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð °  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓSomeone€was€shaking€my€shoulder.€I€opened€my€eyes€to€see€Lina's€worried€face.€SheÐ xÈ! Ðkissed€me€lightly.€The€memories€of€last€night's€love€making€came€rushing€to€my€mind€and€IÐ @" Ðreached€for€her.Ð  X# Ð"We€must€go€search€the€chamber€now."Ð Ð $ Ð"Now,€Lina.€Why?€It's€too€dangerous?€Forget€about€it.€Come€to€bed."Ð ˜!è% Ð"If€we€don't€do€it€now,€we€may€never€get€another€chance.€If€they€re„secure€the€door,€weÐ `"°& Ðwill€not€be€able€to€get€through€without€all€hell€breaking€loose."Ð (#x' ÐI€slowly€got€up,€only€partially€understanding€her€logic€but€accepting€her€conclusionÐ ð#@( Ðwillingly.€"Should€we€get€the€others."Ð ¸$ ) Ð"No.€let's€just€try€on€our€own."Ð €%Ð * ÐWe€moved€towards€the€chambers€cautiously.€There€was€one€Cadmitian€in€the€corridorÐ H&˜!+ Ðleading€to€the€chambers.€We€waited.€The€Cadmitian€seemed€bored€and€restless.€AnotherÐ '`", ÐCadmitian€approached€from€the€other€end€of€the€corridor,€they€stood€together€for€a€short€time€andÐ Ø'(#- Ðmoved€out€of€the€corridor.Ð  (ð#. ÐLina€rushed€towards€the€door€gesturing€for€me€to€hurry.€The€door€had€not€been€changedÐ h)¸$/ Ðfrom€our€last€visit.€We€moved€in€and€went€down€the€chambers€to€the€other€end.€There€was€noÐ 0*€%0 Ðquestion€in€my€mind,€it€was€an€operating€table.€There€were€grooves€in€the€table€that€wereÐ ø*H&1 Ðdesigned€to€drain€blood€off€the€table€to€one€end.€Lina€pointed€with€her€hand€tracing€the€obviousÐ À+'2 Ðtilt€of€the€grooves€to€the€deep€end€where€blood€could€be€conveniently€collected€in€a€container€forÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âimmediate€consumption.€I€tried€to€picture€a€room€full€of€Cobaltians,€cutting€open€humans,Ð P- (4 Ðbleeding€them€and€passing€glasses€full€of€blood€around€the€hall.€I€wet€my€finger€and€ran€it€in€theÐ ° Ðgroove.€It€came€out€clean.€Ð xÈ Ðâ â"They€have€to€maintain€the€quality€of€the€blood.€I€assume€the€highest€standard€of€hygieneÐ @ Ðis€being€followed€here."Ð X ÐLina€looked€at€me€disgusted€with€the€whole€concept,"Let's€go."Ð Ð  ÐI€slowly€turned€around,€taking€a€final€look€at€the€room.€Lina€peeked€around€the€door€andÐ ˜è Ðstepped€out.€I€followed€her€back€to€my€room.€We€lay€in€bed.€Lina's€body€was€shivering.€And€theÐ ` ° Ðdreams€came€back.Ð ( x ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ð @ Ðò òInterviews€with€an€Alien,€Part€VIIÐ ¸   ÐbyÐ € Ð  ÐRaman€Jalotaó óÐ H ˜  ÐÌÓ XÓÓ  ÓThe€nightmare€had€begun.€There€were€Cadmitians€and€Cobaltians€around€my€bed.€One€ofÐ Ø(  Ðthem€pulled€off€the€covers€exposing€our€half€naked€bodies.€Lina€gave€them€a€dirty€look.Ð  ð  Ð"What€the€hell€is€going€on?"€I€shouted€with€apprehension.€I€could€hear€the€chimps€on€theÐ h¸  Ðother€side€of€the€wall.€They€too€were€going€through€the€same€ordeal.€Ð 0€  Ð"Shiva€will€see€you€now.€He€has€asked€that€all€of€you€be€brought€to€him€at€once."Ð øH  Ð"What€for?"€Lina€asked€as€she€was€getting€dressed.Ð À Ð"We€all€know,€what€you€did€to€our€ceremonial€room.€He€wants€to€talk€to€you€about€it."Ð ˆØ ÐLina€looked€at€me.€I€offered€my€arm€to€her€shivering€body€as€we€were€led€out.€The€thirdÐ P  Ðfloor€auditorium€was€full€of€Cobaltians.€Hostum,€Natasha€and€Monica€were€already€seated€facingÐ h ÐShiva€along€with€four€other€tall€Cobaltians.€I€looked€for€Brahma.€He€wasn't€in€the€room.Ð à0 Ð"Come€and€have€a€seat€Ms.€Lina€???€and€Mr.€Galt.€We€are€about€to€get€started."€ShivaÐ ¨ø Ðsmiled€as€he€gestured€towards€the€two€chairs€next€to€the€chimps.€Ð pÀ ÐI€patted€Hostum€and€Natasha€on€the€back.€Monica€held€my€arm€and€I€sat€down€next€toÐ 8ˆ Ðher.€She€was€shivering€with€fear.€Could€she€smell€our€deaths,€I€wondered?€Lina€put€her€hands€inÐ P Ðher€lap€and€stared€at€Shiva.Ð È ÐShiva:€"I€have€formed€this€group€to€establish€what€you€have€done€and€what€should€beÐ à Ðdone€to€you€next.€The€three€other€members€are€James,€Paul€and€Matthew.€They€have€recentlyÐ X¨ Ðbeen€assigned€to€our€ship€and€are€part€of€the€ruling€???€committee."Ð  p ÐHostum:€"Where's€Brahma?"Ð è8 ÐShiva:€"Brahma€is€not€needed€for€this€meeting.€I'll€call€him€only€if€I€feel€his€presence€wouldÐ °  Ðbe€useful€to€this€process."Ð xÈ! ÐI:€"What's€going€on?€I€...€we€don't€understand€this."Ð @" ÐShiva:€"We€have€been€busy€with€communications€and€transportation€issues€with€our€homeÐ  X# Ðplanet€and€have€given€you€free€run€of€the€ship.€You€have€however€been€sabotaging€the€ship.€WeÐ Ð $ Ðknow€of€your€contacts€with€the€other€inhabitants€of€the€ship."Ð ˜!è% ÐLina:€"What€have€you€been€doing€with€all€the€humans?"Ð `"°& ÐShiva€glared€at€her.€James€looked€her€over€and€said,"The€freedom€you€were€given€is€over.Ð (#x' ÐYou€will€not€be€allowed€to€threaten€the€stability€of€the€ship€by€producing€anymore€carbonÐ ð#@( Ðmonoxide€or€other€chemicals€that€you€may€have€been€hoarding.€You€have€no€longer€any€access€toÐ ¸$ ) Ðany€of€the€labs€or€instruments."Ð €%Ð * ÐMonica:€"But€...€I€need€lab.€I€work€on€..."Ð H&˜!+ ÐHostum€gestured€her€to€remain€calm.€I€put€my€arm€around€her.€Ð '`", ÐJames:€"You€are€no€longer€a€guest€on€this€ship.€Consider€yourself€a€prisoner€from€nowÐ Ø'(#- Ðon."Ð  (ð#. ÐHostum:€"No€help€to€you,€if€we€prisoner.€We€friends.€We€mistake.€We€friends.€WeÐ h)¸$/ Ðcurious.€we€look€closed€rooms.€But€we€friends.€We€not€know€what€on€ship.€But€we€friends."Ð 0*€%0 ÐMatthew€and€James€knelt€forward€and€Shiva€closed€his€eyes.€After€a€moment€James€spokeÐ ø*H&1 Ðslowly,"Shiva€would€allow€you€to€remain€on€the€ship€but€without€any€access€to€anything.€TheÐ À+'2 Ðexperimentation€that€you€have€carried€on€could€have€had€fatal€consequences€for€all€of€us.€If€theÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âCobaltians€had€lost€control€of€the€ship€during€some€chaos€that€you€created,€you€would€not€haveÐ P- (4 Ðsurvived€either.€Do€you€have€any€idea€where€in€space€you€are?€Your€conduct€has€beenÐ ° Ðunacceptable€and€we€will€have€to€decide€what€to€do€with€you€next."Ð xÈ Ðâ âÓ XÓI:€"But€we€do€not€accept€your€decision.€We€demand€access€to€all€we€need€or€want,€better€still€...Ð @ Ðwhy€not€put€us€back€on€earth.€We€didn't€agree€to€board€your€ship€to€be€prisoners.€We€came€hereÐ X Ðout€of€curiosity,€out€of€a€need€to€learn€about€you€and€to€establish€a€means€of€communicationsÐ Ð  Ðbetween€our€races.€We€didn't€come€here€to€be€prisoners€or€experimented€on."Ð ˜è ÐLina:€"I€didn't€agree€to€be€here€for€so€long.€I€ask€you€to€take€me€back€to€earth.€I€do€not€consent€toÐ ` ° Ðbeing€imprisoned€here€or€held€here€any€longer.€I€demand€to€speak€to€your€boss,€your€commander.Ð ( x ÐI€reject€your€decision."€Ð ð @ ÐHostum:€"Yes,€let€go.€Back€earth.€We€friends,€not€prisoners.€We€go€back."Ð ¸   ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð € Ð  ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓWe€were€taken€back€to€our€rooms€and€left€with€Cadmitian€guards.€They€were€observing€usÐ H ˜  Ðbut€didn't€seem€to€have€any€weapons.€I€had€not€seen€any€weapons€aboard€the€ship€and€wonderedÐ `  Ðif€there€were€any€weapons€of€any€kind€aboard€the€ship.€Without€weapons,€we€couldn't€do€much.Ð Ø(  ÐMaybe€that€was€the€key.€If€there€were€no€weapons,€no€one€could€use€them.€I€was€intrigued€by€theÐ  ð  Ðnovelty€of€the€approach€used€by€the€Cobaltians.€But€of€course,€it€couldn't€e€true.€They€have€toÐ h¸  Ðdefend€themselves€against€unforeseen€circumstances.€Don't€they?Ð 0€  ÐI€knocked€on€the€wall€and€walked€into€the€chimps€room,€"So,€what€do€we€do€next?"Ð øH  ÐÓ XÓHostum:€"Not€know€what€next?€Not€up€to€us."Ð À ÐMonica:€"Why€not?"Ð ˆØ ÐI:€"But€what€can€we€do€next?"Ð P  ÐHostum:€"Ask€speak€Brahma.€Brahma€our€friend,€no?"Ð h ÐI:€"What€makes€you€think€Brahma€will€go€against€Shiva€and€the€others?"Ð à0 ÐHostum:€"What€else.€Try€Brahma."Ð ¨ø ÐI:€"What€about€weapons?"Ð pÀ ÐHostum:€"No€weapons€ship.€No€see€weapons.€You€see€weapons?"Ð 8ˆ ÐÓ XÓMonica€and€Natasha€nodded€their€heads.€Natasha€sat€next€to€Monica,€their€arms€aroundÐ P Ðeach€other.Ð È ÐÓ XÓNatasha€looked€at€Hostum,€"What€kill€ourself?"Ð à ÐHostum€walked€to€her€and€stared€into€her€eyes,€"Not€easy€Natasha.€How€kill€ourself?"€Ð X¨ ÐI:€"Well,€I€don't€quite€agree€with€committing€suicide€but€was€there€any€cyanide€in€the€lab.€If€thereÐ  p Ðwas,€could€it€be€used€against€them?"Ð è8 ÐMonica:€"No.€No€effect€Cobaltian.€No€action.€Yes,€Potassium€cyanide€in€lab.€But€no€kill€ourself.Ð °  ÐNo€good.€Must€try€some€different.€We€know€Carbon€Monoxide€kill€Cobaltian.€Carbon€MonoxideÐ xÈ! Ðeasy€make,€if€lab€available."Ð @" ÐHostum:€"Must€talk€Brahma.€No€reason€kill.€We€know€not€where€earth.€We€know€not€how€goÐ  X# Ðearth.€We€need€Cobaltian€take€us€earth."Ð Ð $ ÐÓ  Ó.....Ð ˜!è% ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓWhen€Lina€awoke€later€that€afternoon,€she€seemed€some€what€recovered€from€theÐ `"°& Ðmorning€ordeal.€I€told€her€of€our€discussions.Ð (#x' ÐI€sat€on€the€edge€of€the€bed€with€a€blanket€around€her,€"Well,€I€can€see€Natasha's€point.€IfÐ ð#@( Ðit's€hopeless€we€might€as€well€kill€ourselves.€But€I€want€to€fight.€I€don't€intend€to€give€in€so€easily.Ð ¸$ ) ÐI€don't€care€if€we€don't€know€where€we€are.€We€can€find€our€way€around€the€galaxy."Ð €%Ð * Ð"But€only€if€we€are€still€in€our€galaxy.€We€don't€know€where€we€are.€How€many€light€yearsÐ H&˜!+ Ðaway€from€earth€are€we?€And€without€the€Cobaltians€help,€we€could€neither€fly€this€ship€norÐ '`", Ðnavigate€it€to€our€planet.€Even€if€we€somehow€captured€them€or€killed€them€or€held€them€hostage,Ð Ø'(#- Ðwe€could€never€get€out€of€here€without€their€help.€We€need€them€to€stay€alive.€And€we€need€themÐ  (ð#. Ðto€go€back€to€earth."Ð h)¸$/ ÐLina€shook€her€head€disagreeing,€"What€about€Brahma?€What€can€we€gain€through€him?"Ð 0*€%0 Ð"I€have€always€considered€him€to€be€a€friend.€And€right€or€wrong,€I€trust€him€somehow.€IÐ ø*H&1 Ðtrust€him€almost€as€much€as€I€trust€Hostum.€He€is€either€very€honest€and€trustworthy€or€he€is€aÐ À+'2 Ðhell€of€a€manipulator.€And€if€we€can't€trust€him,€who€do€we€have€left?'Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ðâ âÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð P- (4 ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓBrahma€walked€in€to€our€room€that€night€and€motioned€us€to€follow€him€to€the€chimpsÐ ° Ðâ âquarters.Ð xÈ ÐI:€"Brahma,€where€have€you€been?€Why€weren't€you€there€this€morning?€What's€going€on?Ð @ ÐWe€need€your€help€Brahma.€We€need€to€get€out€of€here."Ð X ÐBrahma€looked€at€me€and€said€slowly,€"What€were€you€doing€in€our€surgical€auditorium?Ð Ð  ÐWhy€did€you€device€the€means€to€destroy€us?€Who€came€up€with€Carbon€Monoxide?"€Ð ˜è ÐLina:€"Why€does€it€matter€who€came€up€with€Carbon€Monoxide?€We€know€basicÐ ` ° Ðchemistry€and€some€of€us€are€experts€in€metallic€chemistry."Ð ( x Ð"It€was€you€Monica,€wasn't€it?€You€had€the€lab€and€all€the€research€material.€I€am€reallyÐ ð @ Ðamazed€at€your€logical€but€intuitive€ability€to€find€an€answer€to€the€riddle€of€the€Cobaltians."Ð ¸   ÐHostum:€"It€not€Monica.€It€all€us.€We€find€answer.€We€not€want€destroy,€just€needÐ € Ð  Ðanswer."Ð H ˜  ÐBrahma:€"Answer€to€what?"Ð `  ÐLina:€"Why€are€you€kidnapping€humans€and€bleeding€them?€Why€are€you€drinking€humanÐ Ø(  Ðblood?€Isn't€that€why€you€want€us?€For€the€Cobalt€in€our€blood?"Ð  ð  ÐBrahma€shook€his€head€furiously,€"What€a€stupid€idea!€Why€would€you€think€we€needÐ h¸  Ðhuman€blood?€We€can€synthesize€it€if€we€wanted€blood.€What€have€you€people€been€doing?€DrinkÐ 0€  Ðhuman€blood?€What€for?€We€don't€need€nutrients€like€humans.€We€can€survive€for€years€withÐ øH  Ðsubatomic€particles€for€nutrition."Ð À ÐLina:€"But€there€is€Cobalt€in€human€blood€and€we€felt€that€that€would€be€the€only€reasonÐ ˆØ Ðwhy€you€would€bleed€the€humans.€Why€else?"Ð P  ÐBrahma€shook€his€head,€"I€must€show€you€what€we€do.€I€am€just€amazed€at€how€wrongÐ h Ðyour€brilliant€logic€has€been.€You€have€several€correct€facts,€but€you€have€put€two€and€twoÐ à0 Ðtogether€and€made€eight."Ð ¨ø ÐNatasha:€"Two€cube€eight."Ð pÀ ÐBrahma€smiled,€"It€was€you€Natasha.€You€deduced€the€relationship€of€Cobalt€and€CarbonÐ 8ˆ ÐMonoxide,€Ô_Ôright?"Ð P ÐNatasha:€"Yes."Ð È ÐHe€patted€her€affectionately,€"What€a€brilliant€mind.€Two€cube€eight.€Yes€Natasha,€you€areÐ à Ðright€about€the€two€cube€and€you€are€right€about€the€Carbon€Monoxide,€but€you€are€wrong€aboutÐ X¨ Ðthe€human€blood€and€what's€being€done€to€it.€I'll€try€and€show€you€the€next€regeneration€process."Ð  p ÐI:€"So€you€do€use€it€for€regeneration?€That's€what€we€deduced.€Human€blood€rich€inÐ è8 ÐCobalt€being€used€for€regeneration€by€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô."Ð °  ÐBrahma€smiled,"€You€are€so€right€and€so€wrong.€What€you€are€saying€is€correct.€We€useÐ xÈ! Ðhuman€blood€for€regeneration.€But€what€you€€mean€by€saying€that€is€incorrect.€We€don't€useÐ @" Ðhuman€blood€for€regeneration€of€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô.€We€use€it€in€our€attempt€to€regenerate€humans."Ð  X# ÐÔ_ÔLinaÔ_Ô:€"Regenerate€humans!€You€are€killing€them.€You€are€using€humans€for€your€ownÐ Ð $ Ðpurposes.€And€you€are€probably€planning€to€create€a€giant€lie€to€deceive€us€again."Ð ˜!è% ÐBrahma€nodded€his€head€in€understanding,€"But€why€would€I€do€that?€What€do€I€gain€byÐ `"°& Ðlying€to€you€about€the€use€of€human€blood€or€anything€else€for€that€matter.€Why€do€you€think€thatÐ (#x' Ðyou€are€significant€enough€to€make€a€difference€to€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô?"Ð ð#@( ÐI€walked€up€to€Ô_ÔLinaÔ_Ô€and€held€her€in€my€arms.€She€was€shaking€with€anger€and€the€inabilityÐ ¸$ ) Ðto€do€anything€about€her€anger.€I€whispered,€"You€have€to€believe€him.€We€have€to€believe€him.Ð €%Ð * ÐWithout€Brahma€there€is€nothing.€There€is€no€other€way€out€for€us.€It's€him€or€no€one."Ð H&˜!+ Ð"We€want€to€see€this€regeneration€process,€When€can€you€show€it€to€us€Brahma?"Ð '`", Ð"It's€not€quite€that€easy.€As€you€may€have€already€noticed,€I€am€not€in€command€of€theÐ Ø'(#- Ðship.€Shiva€has€the€control€of€the€ship€and€I€report€to€him.€I"ll€need€to€clear€it€with€the€governingÐ  (ð#. Ðcouncil€before€I€can€arrange€for€you€to€be€present€at€the€next€ceremony.€It€is€the€most€sacred€actÐ h)¸$/ Ðwe€perform€and€you€would€be€seen€as€an€intrusion€by€the€others."Ð 0*€%0 ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ø*H&1 ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓWe€sat€analyzing€what€had€just€happened.€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€and€I€believed€Brahma,€no€matter€howÐ À+'2 Ðfar€fetched€his€story€sounded€at€this€time.€Natasha€distrusted€him.€Monica€and€Ô_ÔLinaÔ_Ô€wereÐ ˆ,Ø'3 Ðconvinced€he€was€fabricating€a€story€to€somehow€keep€us€from€discovering€the€true€nature€of€theÐ P- (4 ÐÔ_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô.Ð .h)5 ÐThe€day€was€about€done€and€the€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô€were€still€guarding€us.€We€didn't€feelÐ ° Ðrestricted,€but€didn't€feel€free€either.€One€of€the€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô€walked€to€me€and€handed€me€a€slip€ofÐ xÈ Ðpaper.€Ð @ ÐI€unrolled€the€paper,€my€heart€pounding€uncontrollably.€"I€would€like€to€meet€with€youÐ X Ðand€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€in€two€hours€and€discuss€our€common€problem."€The€note€was€signed€Ô_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô.Ð Ð  Ð"Who€is€Ô_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô?"€I€asked€the€Ô_ÔCadmitianÔ_Ô€who€had€handed€me€the€note.Ð ˜è Ð"He€is€our€leader."Ð ` ° Ð"What€does€he€want€from€us?"Ð ( x Ð"He€would€come€and€talk€to€you€in€two€hours."Ð ð @ ÐÓ XÓÓ  Ó.....Ð ¸   ÐÓ XÓÓ  ÓThree€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô€showed€up€in€exactly€two€hours.€The€one€in€the€middle€nodded€to€theÐ € Ð  Ðother€two€and€they€withdrew.Ð H ˜  Ð"I€am€Ô_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô.€These€are€my€colleagues.€I€would€like€to€talk€with€you€and€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô€aboutÐ `  Ðour€common€enemy€...€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô."Ð Ø(  ÐWe€walked€to€the€chimps€room€and€Ô_ÔHostumÔ_Ô,€I€and€Ô_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô€sat€around€the€work€table.Ð  ð  ÐÔ_ÔHostumÔ_Ô:€"Who€you?€what€want€us?"Ð h¸  ÐÔ_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô:€"I€am€the€elected€leader€of€the€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô.€I€have€decided€to€talk€to€you,€in€orderÐ 0€  Ðto€achieve€a€common€goal."Ð øH  ÐI:€"All€we€want€to€do€is€get€back€to€earth.€€What€are€your€goals?"Ð À ÐÔ_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô:€"We€want€to€gain€control€of€the€ship€and€we€want€to€use€your€brilliant€minds€inÐ ˆØ Ðgaining€control.€Once€we€accomplish€that,€we€would€drop€you€on€earth€and€plan€for€the€assault€toÐ P  Ðfree€our€planet€from€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô."Ð h ÐÔ_ÔHostumÔ_Ô:€"What€problem€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô?"Ð à0 ÐÔ_ÔAshahiÔ_Ô:€"Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€are€the€new€race€on€our€planet€and€through€their€cunning€and€ourÐ ¨ø Ðpacifism,€they€managed€to€gain€control€of€the€planet€three€hundred€years€ago.€We€feel€it's€time€weÐ pÀ Ðgained€back€what's€rightfully€ours.€All€the€social€and€political€advantages€that€have€been€takenÐ 8ˆ Ðaway€from€us.€We€want€the€Ô_ÔCadmitiansÔ_Ô€to€be€the€rulers€again€and€the€Ô_ÔCobaltiansÔ_Ô€to€be€put€in€theirÐ P Ðplace."€Ð È ÐÓ XÓÓ  Óà @ àà @` àà @¸ àà @ àò òNot€finished€yet€„€have€to€start€working€on€the€concept€again€soon!ó ó2273€wordsÐ à ÐÓÍlÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌÓ XÓÐ  p ÐÓ XÓÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÌÓ XӀ̀€Ð Ð $ ÐÐ ˜!è% ÐÓ XÓÌÌÓ XÓÐ ð#@( ÐÓ XÓÌÌÌÒe°Ò€€Ð '`", Ðà@ÆÆ*ÆàÔ#†X÷XXX÷"#ÔˆÌÌÌÌÌÌà ½ àà  àà m àà Å àà  àà u àà Í àà % à