Page 52 of Alien Barbarian's Little Human

Power has been out throughout the city for weeks. So what’s keeping this light on? An independent reactor of some sort? More likely a small generator or battery. Whatever it is, it might give me enough power to run some of the medical devices back at the clinic.

I drop down to my hands and knees and peer into the open panel. Now that I’m down on this level, I can see a small trigger stud beside the glowing red light.

Hesitating, I wonder if I’m about to set something off. Then I figure, it’s not like I can make things much worse.

I push the trigger stud, and the hum of machinery reaches my ears. A four foot section of wall rises up into the ceiling, revealing a chamber beyond. Lights come on, revealing a control panel densely packed with analog buttons and switches.

But it’s the cryo pod that draws my immediate attention. It’s nine feet long, probably designed to hold one of the larger alien races. Someone who wanted to wait out the siege in the relative safety of a cryo pod? That would explain the hidden door.

Only, I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve seen private survivalist prepper cryo pods on the Holonet. They’re far more luxurious than this. This is downright Spartan in its aesthetics, but the console throws me. Most cryo pods are so automated there’s only an off and on switch.

My medical training lets me recognize some of the readouts on the console, but others throw me entirely for a loop. I can tell whoever lies inside the cryopod is in good condition, and could be easily revived.

Bracing myself, I wipe the condensation from the viewing glass near the occupant’s face. Inside, I find a red-scaled Vakutan with the body of a Greek God. His ridged facial features are more symmetrical than most Vakutans I’ve seen, and there’s something else odd, as well. I can’t put my finger on it, but this Vakutan seems eerily familiar. Like a long-forgotten dream.

I could revive him, but why? Another mouth to feed? A soldier might be useful, but he doesn’t even have a weapon or equipment. I think the best thing to do is just to leave him where he is.

Stepping back, I stumble over a piece of machinery and grab wildly for something to catch myself on. Grabbing the cryo pod, I catch my balance and get about halfway through a sigh of relief when--

Resuscitation Protocols Initiated.

“Oh no.” I push buttons and flip switches, but the timer continues to count down. “Oh no, stop, come on, stop.”

It won’t stop. I turn and run, barely remembering to grab my supplies. Behind me, I can hear the automated cryo pod’s voice spewing more statistics, but I can’t quite make out what it’s saying, and I don’t care. I just need to get out of here, fast.

As a testament to my new fear, I don’t even hesitate to scamper over the vakutan skeleton in the hover tank. I shove the pack out ahead of me through the access port, and then wriggle out myself. Panting, I look around for the pack so I can snatch it up and run like Hell back to the clinic.

Instead, my gaze falls on a huge, black boot. I freeze, my heart stopping inside my chest.

“What is it, Hurch?”

I lift my gaze to see a small group of Ataxian soldiers. Four green scaled Grolgath and a hulking Odex with half its fur burned off surround me in a half circle. I have no way to flee. The Grolgath who spoke has a bloody patch over one eye and a scar that makes his face into a perpetual sneer.

“I think it’s a human,” the apparent Hurch answers. He has two red flames on his helmet, so that probably means he’s in charge. The others only have one, except the Odex, who wears no helmet.

“A human? How did it survive?” says another of the Grolgath. “Never mind. Are humans edible? It’s been days since we last had meat.”

I scramble back, my mind giving in to panic. The tank bumps up against me and I have no where else to go. If I try to go through the access portal, they’ll easily catch me.

“You want to eat her?” Hurch’s eyes narrow. His gaze runs slowly over me, head to toe. “That would be a real waste. Youknow what they say about human girls. They’ll do anything you want, no matter how crazy.”

He moves over and grabs my arm. I scream, and he slaps me across the face. My head snaps to the side, and I taste coppery blood in my mouth. I can’t resist as he tears my jumpsuit open, revealing my black brassiere beneath.

“Shut up, bitch. I’ll show you what that mouth is for--”

Hurch swings the butt of his rifle and cracks him across the back of the head. The Grolgath releases me, grabbing his wounded skull instead as he falls to his knees.

“No rape,” growls. Hurch. “We’re here to kill the enemy. “

Hurch raises his rifle and turns on the laser sight. A red light appears right over my heart.

At least I won’t starve to death.

CHAPTER 15

MAGOG

The Vakutan have a holiday called the First Breath. It does not fall on a particular stardate, but rather occurs anytime one of their…our…offspring draws their first breath.

---