Picture Prompt Stories

Story #1

    She awoke in a glass box surrounded by only shadowy figures. Quickly she stood trying to find the best place to stand so she could defend herself from whatever had been, very clearly, watching her.
    "What do you want from me?!" She yelled and two beings entered into the light so she could now clearly see them. 'Shit, there is intelligent life besides us in the universe,' she thought to herself when she finally took in the appearance of these alien creatures.
    "It looks so small and frightened. Are you positive we grabbed the right species for the exam?" The taller of the two aliens questioned openly.
    "Well my scans indicate that this is the correct species. I am quite unsure Ree," The other alien responded to the taller being, Ree.
    "Interesting Tak. I have to be honest, I was expecting more, possibly even a frightening creature but this is... Different," Ree said as they walked around the box in losing her. "So, they are a war species then, huh," Ree scratched his head as Tak nodded; "Why are you interested in them, the humans, I mean?"
    Tak got closer to the glass, " They fight for peace. No war species ever fights for peace," Tak looked at the girl curiously.
    "How does that work exactly? We are taught that war species typically fight for resources or land, how do you fight to be peaceful?" Ree questioned.
    Tak looked through the glass at her expectedly, "Do you have any answers for the recently stated questions Human."
    "My name is not Human, I'm Eleanor Slater. We fight for what we believe is right and our ability to be free, ya know? People don't always agree and sometimes, some people believe that they can leader better so disagreement arises and fighting begins," Eleanor said, pausing for a second before questioning, "Does space not have the same issues?"
    "Well Eleanor Slater, amongst all planets, there are disagreements but they do not escalate to the levels displayed on Earth. We do not see the war and fighting in the streets like seen on Earth," Tak spoke confidently before continuing, "How does a species so fragile looking still create so much to damage to themselves and the planet that they inhabit?"
    "The easiest way to explain it is that humans are dangerous because of the things we are capable of creating and doing with enough training," She spoke carefully as she sat on the floor, crossing her legs in the process, " On Earth, we create our traps and our own end."
    "This has been a very insightful conversation. We all have the ability destroy and conquer but most species choose to improve their place of living and not to try and kill everyone or thing in their path. Conflicts arise on any planet but most resolve before the need to become very physically violent. We must admit that Earth is a bewildering but quite beautiful place even after all the torture you put your planet through," Tak concluded writing notes on a tablet-like device. Tak slowly began walking further from the box as Ree began getting closer to box with confusion suddenly taking over Ree's features.
"Why are you not afraid or concerned about being taken by a foreign species? Does it not scare you that you are currently being held by creatures you have never seen? I must admit that you do not look like the most courageous species but you do definitely hold more behind you than what you appear. I hope you do not take offence to these comments and questions but I am genuinely curious about the process going on in your brain," Ree spoke quickly, moving very close to where she was still sitting with her legs crossed inside of the glass box.
"You aren't actually doing anything to me besides asking dumb questions about the complexities of Earth. We aren't a courageous species but a curious to what is happens outside our own planet. I, myself, am very interested in life off of my own planet and the ability for life to be sustained on other planets. I don't really take offence to what you said because honestly I'm not surprised that you think so little of me based on appearances," She spoke as if this was the most obvious thing in the universe. Tak and Ree both exchanged glances before Tak continued writing on the tablet and walked carefully to the exit.
    "I must admit this has been must more educational than originally anticipated. Thank you for your participation and ongoing support. Hmm, very very interesting. Completion of stage one: Questioning. Ree I assume you are prepared for Stage two?" Tak asked Ree, who just nodded before Tak continued, "You see Eleanor, Questioning is not your entire purpose," Tak finished leaving the room as Ree entered the glass cage creeping closer to the unsuspecting girl still sat cross legged in the horrible glass box.