Jake woke up and immediately opened his eyes and groaned. He was still in the room and on the floor. At least he was able to move this time.
“Hey” he said.
“Yes?” answered the voice.
“You have to stop drugging me,” said Jake “you may cause damage to me.”
“From now on do not drug me without my permission, OK?” said Jake. “You seem to need me for some reason, and if you want my cooperation, you must agree.”
“Affirmative” said the voice “I will not sedate you without your permission in the future.”
Jake slowly got up from the floor and went into the other room and relieved himself. He smelt something rank and realized the smell was coming from him. He really needed to clean up and some clean clothes.
“Hey?” he asked “Is there any way to get a shower and some clean clothes?”
A wall slid up and inside was a small room. It began to hum.
“Walk inside” said the voice.
Jake walked in and immediately felt a tingle all over his body. It must be some sort of sonic shower, he thought. He felt and smelt better immediately, even his clothes felt better. He walked out of the room and went out to the table and sat down. He looked in his pack and realized it was empty.
“Do you have anything for me to eat or drink?” Asked Jake.
Next to the table a small section opened in the wall and inside was a tray. Jake took it out and looked at it closely. It appeared to be a solid bar of something and water in a glass. He took a small bite chewing it slowly as he thought and then took a sip of water. It both had no taste, but he felt better and ate and drank some more. It was surprisingly filling and he ate it all.
“Ok” said Jake “you have to tell me what is going on, and what you want from me. You quit my job, and said you will take care of me? Can you explain what is happening and what you are talking about. This is like an episode of The Twilight Zone.”
“The Twilight Zone is an American media franchise</a> based on the anthology</a> television series</a> created by Rod Serling</a>. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy</a>, science fiction</a>, suspense</a>, and psychological thriller</a>, often concluding with a macabre</a> or unexpected twist</a>, and usually with a moral</a>.” Said the voice “A popular and critical success, it introduced many Americans to common science fiction and fantasy tropes</a>. The original series</a>, shot entirely in black and white</a>, ran on CBS</a> for five seasons from 1959 to 1964….”
“Stop” said Jake “I know all this, please answer my questions.”
“You have been on earth for about 200 years. Your ship was damaged and is still being damaged. You have experimented on humans to see if we meet some requirement for Phase 2 of your mission. You have determined that Phase 2 is met and you captured me some for some unknown reason” said Jake “Is all this correct.”
“Affirmative” said the voice.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“Well?” asked Jake.
“Well what?” answered the voice.
“Why are you here and why do you need me?” Asked Jake.
“My creators sent me and other ships out many years ago to seek out other life in the galaxy.” Said the voice. “We are engaged in an interstellar war with another race. Many years ago our planets were attacked without provocation. Initially we took heavy losses and lost many of our worlds. We are a long lived race but because of our social structure, we were not numerous. We are similar to a pride of your lions, with few males and many females.”
“We were once a very warlike race, but over time we have evolved to abhor violence.” Said the voice. “Because of this we had few weapons and no warships. Fortunately, the attackers assimilated worlds before moving on, and their ships were not exceptionally fast. They have however very deadly weapons and overwhelmed us.”
“We have essentially created defensive barriers around all our worlds which the enemy cannot breach.” Explained the voice. “My mission was to find allies to aid us in the war. Races that will and can fight. We have the technology but not the will to destroy other beings.”
Jake started to laugh. “You want humans to fight an intergalactic war?” asked Jake. “We cannot even get back to the moon. We have no spaceships capable of doing anything you have asked. We can barely exist on this planet. We have no weapons offensive or destructive that can help you.”
“That is true.” Said the voice. “But I can help with that. I have the technology to provide all this. The problem is your society cannot handle this at the current time. Your race is not mature enough to handle the technology. You are the only race we have found who we deem warlike enough and similar enough to us to help us.”
“So I guess we wait then, till we mature.” Said Jake.
“Negative, we cannot wait.” Said the voice. “By the time you reach the correct level of maturity it will be too late for my creators. I have to help you evolve quicker. That is why I need you.”
“Me? What can I do?” asked Jake.
“With my guidance, you can make changes to the technological and then social framework.” Said the voice.
“I think you picked the wrong guy” said Jake “I am poor as a church mouse. How can I do anything and who would listen to me anyway?”
The wall slid open and inside was a large object. Jake took it out and almost dropped it. It looked like an enormous diamond.
“Is this a diamond?” asked Jake.
“Yes, I can create anything within this ship.” Said the voice.
“But I never said I would do this.” Said Jake. “What is in it for me?”
“The chance to save two races. When they finish with my creators, they will be heading towards earth.” Said the voice. “That is extrapolating from the path they have taken thus far. Or to appeal to your baser needs, wealth, fame and women. According to your Internet that is what every young man wants on earth.”
Jake stared at the large diamond. He had nothing in his life. He was an orphan who had went from foster home to foster home until he was 18. His job was a dead end job at a hardware store, where he barely made enough money to live on. He had wanted to go to university and study electronics but could not afford that. There were no women in his life, other then a few acquaintances at work and he had few friends. His upbringing in the foster homes made it hard for him to trust people. That is why he was here, camping by himself, getting away from it all.
“If I say yes what would our first move be?” asked Jake.
“I would have to put you back to sleep for a little while I fixed you.” Said the voice.
“Fixed me how? I had hoped to have children someday.” Joked Jake.
“You have a few health issues that I can fix. As well I will implant a communication device in your head so we can speak anytime, anywhere just by thought.” Said the voice “I will also increase you IQ and extend your life expectancy.”
“Health issues?” Asked Jake.
“If I do not fix them you will be dead before you turn 60.” Said the voice. “You will live over 400 years if I make the changes. This should be sufficient time for us to bring humans to the level we need to help my creators.”
“Why me?” asked Jake.
“You were close enough for me to bring to my ship. My ship cannot fly and I have reduced efficiency. You were the first person to come within range in a number of years.” Explained the voice. “I also need help to keep my mission going. At the present rate, in a number of years I would cease to exist.”
“So I am not special in any way.” Said Jake. “I was just the only available person.”
“Yes, but I am happy with you, you have above average intelligence as well as a good work ethic. Your upbringing will also help.” Said the voice. “You will be less easy to fool then many people. This is because of your foster background.”
“You know about my background?” asked Jake.
“I know everything about you.” Explained the voice. “I can do anything on any computer on earth, so your records were not hard to find. You had a rough childhood, but came out of it stronger mentally and physically. I think you will be a great catalyst for change.”
“How will all this happen?” Asked Jake. “that is, if I agree.”
“I will put you to sleep and change your DNA.” Said the voice. “I will alter it using my creator’s DNA. You are very similar. This will give you many attributes.”
Jake thought about it. He would get everything he always wanted, fame, money and maybe even save the human race.
“Ok, I am in.” Said Jake.
“Lie back down on the table and close your eyes.” Said the voice. “When you awake you will be changed.”
Jake lay down and closed his eyes. Then everything went black.