Clive elbowed me hard.  Reluctantly I got up, went to the stage, and took the microphone.  I searched hard in my head for the right thing to say.  Millions of eyes were watching me.  I had never spoken in public before, not even for my high school events, and I felt like I was about to swoon.  I cleared my throat.

“Thank you,”I said perfunctorily, “for accepting me.”  I was about to return to my seat when I heard Clive in my head telling me to repeat him:  “I am honored to carry on my duty as a Brumba.  I promise to fulfill my duty to serve this nation.”

The audience stood and applauded.  As I returned to my seat Clive gave me a nod.  The MC said something in Makumban, which the translator skipped translation.  Attendees roared in laughter.  Clive told me, “The MC said that humans are ugly but you are exceptionally handsome because you’ve breathed Makumban air for over two weeks.”

Whatever, asshole, I cussed in my mind.

Clive went up the stage and began to speak in Makumban.  No translation this time either, which made me feel insulted.

I promised myself to relinquish my duty later.  Then again, I might as well keep the job to expose myself to high-ranking government officials for my advantage; it might open an opportunity for me to return to Earth.

(from THE SPACE HERMITS)

I looked out the window toward the distant cityscape.  Dorm-shaped buildings and trees were seen through the pink fog.  Several, bubble-like vehicles were flying toward the city.

“The flying thing is called rumpom,” said Clive through telepathy.  His voice was so clear that I thought he was in the room.  “By the way, what do you think of the Director of Research Center?  Isn’t he generous?  Stopping by to see a humble one like you?”

“That tells how important I am to him.”

“You should feel honored.”

“Whatever.”

Seconds later, Clive came in the room, ordering, “Follow me.  I will show you your temporary quarters.”

I followed him out to the hall.  While walking across the hall toward a corridor, he said, “This is the Research Center for Extraterrestrials.”

I was rattled by a fresh anger that they tested on me without my knowledge for several days.  I fought my impulse to grab his neck and shake.

“Just be grateful for our hospitality.”

When we reached a door he said again, “This is your quarters.  Take a look.”

I took a swift glance around the scantly furnished small quarters.  So much for an Assistant Chief of Security Department of Makumba.  I scoffed.  “What did you do to  my…?”  I was going to ask him what they did to my friends then I realized I was supposed to not remember anything.  Not my friends, nor my past.

(–from THE SPACE HERMITS)

 

“You will become the Assistant Chief of Security Department of Makumba.,” said Clive.  “We’ll give you a welcome ceremony tomorrow.”

“I cannot do that.  I’m only 16…”  Whoops!  I’m supposed to not remember anything.  “I know nothing about this planet!”

“Oh yes, you can.  I will show you.  I am the Chief of Security Department.  Relax in the other room and wait for the next instruction.”  He left the room.

He ignored that I remembered how old I am!  Why?

…I thought about the ridiculous job offer from Clive.  On second thought, it was better than hostility.  Perhaps I might be able to use the high post for my plan to go back to Earth.  Home!  Earth!  I remembered a lot more as the moment passed.  After all, the memory-erasing machine didn’t work on me, or so I thought.

(–from THE SPACE HERMITS)

Someone was attaching the cords to me when I began to regain consciousness.  “Idiot, idiot!”  The voice sounded as if from a far distance.  “I warned you not to remove the cords, didn’t I?”

My heart started beating steadily.  Had he come a little later, I might had a heart attack!

“Next time,” said Clive, “I won’t be able to save you because I won’t be near you.  Got that?”   He glared at me before leaving the room.

“Condescending son of a bitch!”  I said.

The door flung open and Clive poked his head in the room.  “Watch it, fool! I read minds.”

That sounded like a trouble for my ultimate goal.            –From The SPACE HERMITS

“By tomorrow you will lose your memory completely.  Then you will be on the next step of the treatment.”  He left the room.

At the moment, my hope that I would return to Earth someday began to crumble.  I must remember who I am!  I tugged at the cord at my temple.  I felt fine.  I pulled another off and waited.  Still nothing happened.  I took a deep breath before pulling the last cord from my head.  I felt fine.  I sat up in the glass case.

The walls began to wobble, a little at first then more intensely.  I felt nauseous and weak, my heart racing.  I thought I was having a heart attack.  Then I blacked out.

–from the book, THE SPACE HERMITS.

 

…”We are ,” Clive said with a grin, “programing you and your friends to forget who you are and be our loyal servants.  We need your ability of seeing our invisible enemy from the planet, Rakutan.”

“Heck!  I don’t think I can see any invisible thing.”

“Yes, you all do.  We tested on you and your friends for that.”

I reached over the rim of the glass case, grabbed him by his coat front and pulled him close to my face.  “You crazy puppet of Makumban!  Let me out of here now!”

He jerked back and straightened himself.  “Don’t act like that for your life.”

“So, when do I get to leave this stupid coffin?”

–from the book, THE SPACE HERMITS