[REBOOTING//p l e a s e w a i t . . .]
[RESETTING AUDIO/VIDEO INPUT . . .]
[STATUS: OK]
[MOOD: UNCERTAIN]
I gradually become aware of my surroundings. I'm being carried on the back of something—no, someONE. There are others walking with us, but I can't see them because we seem to be travelling through a dark tunnel. They speak to each other in hushed tones, as if they're afraid I might wake up. Too late for that, but I recognize the patterns of speech.
It's the Natives!!
Where are they taking me?
Where is Major Chang?? Is he okay?
Who...or WHAT...are "they"?
I search through my internal database for a function that will help me see better. Maybe if I know what these natives look like I can decide how to approach talking to them.
[ACTIVATE NIGHT VISION?]
That'll work.
[NIGHT VISION//ACTIVATED]
My surroundings turn into tints and shades of green, but everything is significantly lighter and clearer. The walls of the tunnel are made of a smooth metal material—definitely built by someone. I see now there are four cloaked beings, including the one carrying me on their back. I still can't see their faces though, because they're obscured by the hoods on their cloaks.
However, I'm not the only one being carried...
"Major Chang!" I blurt out, and immediately regret being so impulsive.
The caravan of Titanians halts abruptly, nearly dropping both of us.
"The humanoid device is powered back on," the one carrying me says in the Titanian language without turning to look at me.
"I observed," one of the others replies. "What about the Earth-human?"
That's when I notice Major Chang isn't moving.
"Still incapacitated but breathing." The one towing him on its(?) back confirms.
I sigh internally in relief. So, he's alive at least.
"Good," the first one says. "Recall we are required to deliver them as living to the Grand Facilitator."
The others nod in affirmation.
[[TO BE CONTINUED]]
YOU ARE READING
I Am XIAO: An Inktober Story
Ciencia FicciónFirst published on Instagram under the username @leilacreatesthings as a response to Jake Parker's "Inktober" art challenge during October 2019-January 2020. PREMISE: In the year 2520, on the space capsule "Blue Dragon", the sole passenger, a NASA...
