Lost in Magadan: Extraterrestrials on Earth

Why does he want me to take the gun? Is it a trick, so he can kill me? But why do that? He has the upper hand he can kill me anyway.

Mike reached out and took the pistol. Calidus released his grip on the barrel. Mike dropped the hand with the pistol to his side, telegraphing to the creature that he was no threat.

With an evil twinkle in his pitch-black eye, Calidus said, “Now, shoot Nikita.”

Mike saw the terror and surprise in Nikita’s eyes, she took a step backwards.

“No, why?” Nikita took another step back. It was clear she was surprised by Calidus’ command.

“I have done nothing but serve you. I did everything you asked. Why would you have him kill me?” she demanded in a trembling voice.

“Shoot her.” Calidus’ voice was louder and more terrifying.

Mike looked back at Calidus. “Why do you need me to kill her? She has done nothing wrong. There has got to be another way for me to prove my loyalty.”

“Shoot her, or I will shoot you both,” Calidus demanded, his voice raising.

What if I turn the gun on Calidus instead? I could shoot him, and then Nikita and I could run.

“Please, Calidus Delusor, I want to prove my worth. I will do anything else you wish. I will kill someone else for you. I love her.”

Nikita looked at him.

“The only way to prove your loyalty is to kill her now,” Calidus hissed.

If I don’t kill her, he will kill us both. Maybe this is just a test. Maybe she is in on it. Maybe if I pull the trigger, I will prove my worth and she will be okay.

Mike turned to Nikita and slowly raised the Glock. Nikita was less than five feet from him. The moonlight reflected off her face, showing the fear in her eyes.

She is a spy. She probably practices looking scared in the mirror.

“No. Don’t. Please don’t shoot me,” She screamed.

Mike pointed the Glock directly at her face. He peered down the short barrel, the fixed barrel sights lined up on her tearful eyes.

“Please don’t shoot me. I love you,” she sobbed.

I have no choice. The beast would not hand me a weapon that could kill an Ondagra. This pistol probably only has one shot anyway. I bet the bullet would bounce off his armor.

With that justification, Mike closed his eyes and jerked the trigger. The gunshot was deafening, as the Glock recoiled in his hand. He dropped the weapon and opened his eyes. He saw Nikita reach for her face and fall back in the dirt between two rows of grape vines.

“Why did I have to do that?” Mike cried, as he began to hyperventilate.

“I have to be able to trust you. If you would kill the woman you love, then maybe I can use you,” Calidus said.

“What next? Do I come with you?” Mike asked, between short, and shallow breaths.

“No. You go back to work and pretend this never happened. I will be in contact with you,” the large creature explained.

“But how? I stay on a top-secret military base where all communications are monitored.” Mike glanced over at Nikita’s body.

The large creature stepped toward him and withdrew an ornate dagger from his armor. With his other hand, the creature grabbed Mike’s wrist, and with lightning speed, sliced open his forearm. Blood flowed down Mike’s wrist and fell into the soft soil.

“Hey, what the hell. Why did you cut my arm?” Mike demanded, as he glanced over at Nikita’s motionless body.

The creature, still firmly gripping Mike’s hand, said, “We will have a psychic connection. One that your human security forces will not be able to detect.”

“You need to implant a devise in me for a psychic connection?” Mike asked skeptically.

“No, the psychic connection is completely biological, but it only works when we are within 50 miles of one another.”

“Well, I’m going to be in Utah,” Mike responded flatly.

Calidus pulled a small, hairy device from a compartment on his chest armor.

“Hey, what’s that? Is it alive? Is that hair? They will be able to detect a device in me.”

“You ask too many questions. This implant is biological and contains no metal. The human scanners will never be able to sense that it is inside you. This device will amplify your thoughts, so that I can communicate with you from thousands of miles away. Just say my name, and it will activate; then we can speak.”

“What do want me to take from the humans?” Mike said, as his breathing became more relaxed. But, even in this tense situation, the guilt from killing Nikita was starting to weigh heavily on his mind.