'Sacmis' (formerly 'Alien Abduction')

Chapter 63: Dinner date

Laura was lying on her bed reading one of the novels that Teo had thoughtfully supplied, but she was finding it hard to concentrate. Her mind was really on what she and Amisha had learned from Kate and Gemma a few hours earlier.

The discovery that they, too, could connect in the same way as the aliens had been hard to believe. But a few moments later it was proved beyond doubt, as each of the women held hands in turn: first experiencing the electric tingle as contact was made, then the deeper perception of the inner world of the other person. It was clear that all four of them had been affected. 

“I wonder if it works on more than a one-to-one basis?” said Laura.

“Let’s see shall we?” said Kate, and they joined hands in a circle, the electric sensation running through all of them. At almost exactly the same moment they all gasped out loud and quickly dropped each other’s hands.

“Hey, that’s just too much,” said Laura, “I think I need a bit more practice before I take on all three of you at once.”

“Me too,” said Amisha. “I felt like…overloaded.”

They had spent some time describing how it affected each of them.

“It’s not like mind-reading,” said Gemma, “I couldn’t tell what any of you were actually thinking, but I did get a picture of how you’re feeling, as if I’m hardwired to you at an emotional level.”

“Same for me,” said Kate.

“Do you think it will still work when we’re back on Earth and away from them?” said Amisha.

“Or with other people?” added Gemma.

“Who knows?” said Laura. “But we’ll soon find out.”

Now, as she lay on her bed trying to read, her thoughts turned to their return home - and how that would be. On one level she couldn’t wait, longing for a change of scenery from the ship and the endless star field through which it flew. Beautiful as they were, the stars seldom looked different and she ached to see London again with its mess of streets and endless variety of shops, restaurants and people. Not to mention friends and family. On another level, she wondered how easy it would be to return to ‘normal’ life given everything that had happened in the last two weeks. She had a strong feeling that things could never be quite the same again with the knowledge that she - and the three other women - now possessed. To carry on as usual, when they knew an alien race might arrive to enslave Earth’s women, would not be easy.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a warble from her wrist communicator. The word ‘Teo’ was displayed on the screen. Quickly, she sat up, brushed her hair back out of her eyes, straightened her clothes - then swiped the screen. Teo’s face appeared.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello,” he replied.

“What can I do for you?” she asked, realising as she did so how ridiculously formal that sounded.

“I was wondering,” he said hesitantly, “whether you had plans for this evening?”

Caught off balance, Laura took a moment to reply.

“As it happens I do,” she said, tongue-in-cheek, “I have tickets for the opera and, afterwards, a reservation at my favourite restaurant.”

Teo looked puzzled then suddenly smiled widely as she realised she was teasing him.

“Ah,” he said, “that’s a pity. Because I was hoping you could join me for…for dinner.”

Once again, Laura hesitated.