To The World, I Say This...

Story based on News Article

Tustin put down the legal document. The old man wanted his dog back. Why couldn’t he get a new one? Presumably, this Greek invalid had left the country, and the Greek’s dog had left him for the Humane Society. Tustin’s adoption of the dog had been completely legal. Now the old timer wanted to sue.  The judge had moved the inquiry up a week. No matter; all he needed was a week. At least, that’s what he thought. His new dog followed him about the house as he began his morning routine.

“Are you a porridge or cereal kinda guy?” a short, quiet exchange, “Cereal it is then.”

A bowl of various mixed cereals landed on the floor thereafter. A similar bowl landed on the counter and received a splash of milk. Both human and dog ate without a sound. As in the cupboard, the bowls united again, but in the sink to await washing.

“What should we do now?”

If it was a normal day in the life of Tustin, he would have gone to the library to read up on his books, or to the café to meet friends, or to a temporary job. Not that he liked to, but he could have proceeded with washing the dishes or doing other monotonous house chores. It was better than going to court and being sued.

“I think we should commence with the construction of the engine we prepared for yesterday,” an other-worldly voice from the vicinity of the floor. The dog walked towards the basement door.

“Do you think it will work?” Tustin started down the basement stairs, pushing all thoughts of the courtroom from his mind.

“Presumptively,” the dog followed him down the stairs.

Tustin pulled the cover of the large, complex semi-working space shuttle. The dog had disappeared, replaced by a taller, bi-pedal, grey humanoid. Long, slim appendages, face devoid of any facial features.

“We shall begin with this…” the being pulled a handful of wires from the core of the vessel, what Tustin assumed to be the engine.

“Where should I be?” Tustin shifted idly. The alien pointed to the table, upon which he sat and removed his shirt.

“I thought we still had to work on the engine.”

“I finished repairing it last night while you hibernated.”

“I see.”

“Are you sure you want to proceed?” the being hesitated and cocked his head in his previous canine fashion.

“Yes. If it helps you get back to your planet…”

“Affirmative.”

“Then I’ll gladly assist you.”

“These strands will insert themselves into your pulmonary cavity. The energy contained within your life-fluids will fuel the vessel’s launch. I’ve told you this before, but I will reiterate: This process will neutralize you.”

“Yes. I know. I think I’d rather die than watch you die trapped here away from your home.”

“Getting away from the elder being took some time and effort, and I was unable to influence the events of the past years as I would have liked. But I wouldn’t have been able to remove myself from this planet if it hadn’t been for your willingness to assist me. My thanks.”

Tustin nodded resolutely and awaited further instruction if it was to be given. Holding the wires close to Tustin, the foreigner pressed a kind of button on a panel in the vessel. The cables came alive in his hand. They penetrated Tustin’s skin in a matter of seconds, making a sound so strange and fearsome that the man felt his entire body clench in fear. The bionic tendrils snaked around his insides. He felt his stomach turn literally and figuratively, his breath caught in his throat from an insurmountable terror, and his entire being shivered uncontrollably. Eyes shut tightly, body arched, Tustin lost all further thought of other goings-on in the room. He felt the blood drain from his major arteries through the invading wires. The one pervading thought in his mind was that he felt no pain. It was strange: he could feel his death coming, but after the initial infiltration of the wires he had felt no degree of pain, only fear. The primal fear of dying. The fear that left him and was immediately replaced by the strange euphoric half-sleep of a hemorrhaging human body. The coolness started at his fingers and toes and worked its way up his arms and legs, but by the time it reached the blood-sucking tendrils in his chest, Tustin had breathed his last breath. The euphoria turned steadily into a dark, cool sleep; a sleep from which he would never wake.

The wanderer looked through a small window in his space-faring vessel at a planet which he had reluctantly called his home for so long. He had thought that he would have never had left it, but thanks to the one being’s sacrifice, he could return home. The canine that he had pretended to be would stay a part of him for the rest of his too-long life. While memories of this world faded away with time, he would always remember the kindness of an old Greek man and the compassion of a young student.

“Antio.” Goodbye.