The Dark Somnium - I was Earth’s Ambassador to a Hostile Alien Race, Negotiations have failed

Episode Date: November 25, 2023

This Creepypasta scary story is from the creepypasta website, posted by Traveller, make sure to check out the original story here: "I was Earth’s Ambassador to a Hostile Alien Race, Negotiations have failed" https://www.creepypasta.com/i-was-earths-ambassador-to-a-murderous-alien-race-negotiations-have-failed/Special thanks to  @DusklightRadio  for joining me in this video! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My story began several years ago when I was a rising star in the mechanisms of federal government and planning on a career within the political establishments in D.C. This wasn't to be, however, as I received what I thought at the time was a better offer. Believe it or not, the employment opportunity that led me to my current predicament began in a typically cloak and dagger manner. I was approached by a high-level, but essentially anonymous, black-suited individual, who claimed to work for an off-the-books agency, interested in recruiting me for a special assignment, one that wouldn't just help my country, but also the entire human race.

It sounded so ridiculous that I almost laughed in the man's face, but I noted his expression was deadly serious, and guessed he wouldn't react well to mockery. Besides, I must admit that I was intrigued by the man's mysterious offer. The opportunity I had been presented with sounded too good to be true, and I thought taking on this unusual job role could propel my career to previously unheard-of heights. And so, I accepted their offer and started down the path of no return. If I had known the full truth back then, I'd have told the G-man to go to hell. But I didn't, and now here I am.

Jump forward six months, and I'd completed an intensive training program and attended a series of extraordinary briefings, which had changed everything I thought I knew about our world and the wider universe. I used to believe that we, human beings, were at the top of the food chain, but now I know better. It's hard for me to pinpoint the exact moment when my courage failed me, and I realized I no longer had any control over my situation. I did have my suspicions when they had me undergo high G training, but I wasn't allowed to ask questions. Then I was flown on board a military transport plane to a secret base in the Solomon Islands,

where I received my final briefing on this highly classified mission. Sure, I was nervous when they strapped me into my seat on board an experimental X-37c orbital test vehicle, the best in the US Space Forces inventory. I believe I stood up pretty well during our launch into orbit as I joined the small club of humans who had traveled to space, although the actual numbers are far higher than most people know. I thought about the significance of the event and the importance of my mission, whilst also realizing that few would ever know what we'd embarked upon.

Only a select number at the top echelons of the U.S. government knew of my mission, and the X-37 launch was a highly classified secret. Our rivals in China and Russia would be watching closely, of course, but their governments had been briefed and were in support of our operation. On this issue, if nothing else, all the nations of Earth were on the same side. If the launch into orbit wasn't scary enough, our approach to the alien ship was truly terrifying. We saw the images on screen, that of a huge cigar-shaped spacecraft capable of interstellar travel, which dwarfed our own small craft, and was adorned with high-tech

weaponry beyond our wildest dreams. Our tiny X-37 was puny and pathetic in comparison. From seeming like nothing more than a primitive canoe paddling towards a mighty battleship, I realized then that our alien hosts could easily blast our small ship into oblivion with a mere a push of a button. But why would they destroy an unarmed diplomatic mission, you might ask? Well, the answer is that it's simply in their nature to be cruel and violent, and this will become self-evident as my account continues. I think my nerves finally shattered after we completed the complex docking procedure and

boarded the alien warship, going through the invasive and thorough scanning process before we were permitted entry. I vividly recall sitting in the holding area, a grim and dark cell of cold metal as we waited to discover our fate. My sole companion was one Captain Henderson, a hard and special forces veteran who was as tough as they came. Henderson was tasked with acting as my bodyguard during this dangerous mission. Our alien host didn't allow us to bring weapons on board their ship, but Henderson assured

me that he was an expert in hand-to-hand combat, and so would be able to protect me if things went south. I wasn't so confident, however. As we sat in the dark and cell, I couldn't help but notice how Henderson was perspiring heavily as he struggled to contain his fear. He had a good reason to be afraid, as did I. You may have heard of the alien race who I was tasked to negotiate with. Their technology is far more advanced than ours, and they have been capable of interstellar travel for thousands of years, having first visited Earth at least five centuries ago. I'd never seen one in person,

but their physical description was terrifying. A red-scaled reptilian race and sharp teeth and claws which could rip through human flesh without the need for any of their advanced weaponry. What's more, they are a cruel and warlike species who secretly visit our planet for one reason only, to find victims for their torture games and sadistic hunts. Those unfamiliar with their origins simply call them reptilians or lizard people. They don't know the full story, however, since the global governments have hidden the truth from their people for decades. The reptilians are in fact the empire of the astry. A militaristic, interstellar species from the Trapist One Star System, who waged bloody

war upon their neighbors for millennium, before a new galactic order established an uneasy peace to keep the astry and other aggressors in check. But the empire didn't adapt well to this new peaceful order, and so they searched for alternatives to satisfy their violent urges. Seeking out uncontacted Blackwater planets such as ours, where they could continue to kill with relative impunity, away from the vigilant eyes of the gulfs. Electric Confederation. And so, this is where I come in.

You see, our global governments have been complicit in the Astri's atrocities for many decades. With no means of combating their vastly superior technology, we've effectively allowed the Astry to abduct, torture, and murder thousands of our citizens every year. In the United States, we must simply turn a blind eye to these abductions, which inevitably occur in isolated areas, and the people they take are usually those who aren't missed. the homeless, drug addicts, or simply those without family or friends. In other countries, totalitarian regimes take the opportunity to donate victims to the

Astri as a form of tribute, sending them prisoners, political dissidents, and so-called undesirables as they cynically use the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. This has been the state of affairs for too long, as the world leaders have sought to justify their secret collusion with the Astry mass murderers, believing that the sacrifice of thousands is necessary for the greater good, and because they fear the consequences of denying the alien slavers, knowing all too well that the astry could devastate the Earth's surface with their space-based weaponry. But things have changed in recent times, which is why they sent me on this dangerous, yet crucial,

diplomatic mission. For the first time in our history, we have a trump card to use against the Astry, and the powers that be back on Earth decided to play it. And so, I potentially had the future of humanity on my shoulder. That's a lot of pressure. But as I sat in that holding area, I only hoped that the Astry wouldn't renege on their promise to allow us an audience, and instead simply throw the two of us out of the airlock, leaving us to die in the cold vacuum of space.

I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard the hidden speakers burst to life, and a mechanical voice spoke to us in near perfect English. Representatives of planet Earth, the screening process has been completed, and you are permitted to board the Escalory of the Empire. Proceed through the door and make your way down the corridor to the passenger cell. Once you are secure and contained, we shall continue the journey to our final destination. With that, a previously invisible door in the steel wall ahead of us slid open, revealing a dimly lit and uninviting corridor, which led to yet another door at its end.

I experienced a moment of fearful trepidation, finding myself temporarily unable to stand and walk until Captain Henderson silently pulled me up by my feet, and practically frog marched me through the door. He whispered sternly in my ear whilst doing so. They're watching. Don't show the fuckers any weakness, or they'll destroy us. His harsh words forced a cold shiver up my spine, but I knew he was right. My extensive briefings on the astry culture and psychology left little doubt.

All of our intelligence pointed to the astry lacking in any empathy or mercy, or at least towards our human race. Certainly, they believed in their own version of social Darwinism, an extreme ideology stating that only the strong would survive in a ruthless universe, and weaker species should be crushed, enslaved, or destroyed. I tried to control my fear as I shakingly stepped forward, following Henderson down the dark, featureless corridor of cold steel, barely stopping myself from jumping when the airlock at the far end slid open to reveal what the ship's AI had disconcertingly described as the

the passenger's cell. Cautiously walking inside, we saw a room not much different from the one we just left, cold, dark, featureless, and hostile, although we noted two cockpit-style chairs which seemed to have been designed for the human body. I was surprised since we'd been told not to expect any level of hospitality from our alien hosts as the astry regarded us as inferior species, and certainly not their equals. I was highly suspicious, however, fearing this could be a trap. Looking to the hard-faced Captain Henderson, I thought about asking him what he thought of

this, but then I remembered that our hosts were almost certainly watching and listening to everything we said and did. So I decided against it. Henderson took his seat without uttering a word, quickly and efficiently strapping himself in for the space journey to come. I followed his lead, watching him closely as I repeated his actions to secure my seatbelt. I didn't know how Henderson knew what to do, and how he stayed so calm and confident under the circumstances.

I supposed it was his training kicking in as he quickly adapted to this alien environment. I wish I had his confidence, but what we were facing scared the shit out of me. The experts at NASA and the Air Force had warned us that we'd be making a journey that would take months or years in our rockets in the span of just a few short hours. We had little knowledge of the Astrid's technology, and most of our assumptions regarding their spacecraft were based on theory alone. The assumption at the time was that Henderson and I would be traveling farther out than any Earth-based life form had done before, and we would be subjected to a G-force which no human

being had previously experienced. They had no idea whether our bodies could survive the journey, and we had to take whatever assurances the Astri had given us regarding our physical safety with a pinch of salt. So you can imagine the fear I experienced when the ship's engines came to life, and we were propelled through space at a tremendous speed. Imagine my surprise and relief when I discovered that our journey was not only survivable, but also relatively comfortable.

No worse than my time aboard the X-37, which had transported us into orbit. The flight towards the edge of our solar system lasted a mere three hours, and I felt my confidence growing as I realized we would make it through this leg of the journey. Maybe the astry were genuine about wanting to enter negotiations, I told myself. Perhaps they were finally granting us the respect we felt we deserved. This is what I thought, but now I know I was lulled into a false sense of security. I remember the moment we arrived at our destination. The ship slowing as a shutter screen on the far wall of our cell opened to reveal a stunning scene.

Before us was Jupiter, the majestic gas giant and largest planet in our solar system. I stared out the porthole in stunned awe, admiring the glorious atmospheric bands and the famous great red spot, an enormous antipsychonic storm which had raged for centuries and was large enough in dimensions to swallow up Earth several times over. I found myself mesmerized by Jupiter's beauty and felt very humbled, knowing that I was one of the first human beings to observe the planet with the naked eye. The alien ship descended through Jupiter's orbit, accelerating toward the gray and rocky moon which I recognized as Europa. As we approached the moon, I spotted a grotesque artificial structure half buried in its rocky surface.

A collection of steel fortifications and powerful space-based weapons, which I understood were connected to a vast network of subterranean tunnels and chambers. My jaw dropped as I surveyed the ugly and austere facility, the Astre's main base in our solar system. The Europa outpost had existed for decades, and Earth's government had known about it for just as long. The Voyager probes had observed and photographed the facility from afar. and many other missions have documented it over the years.

We knew it was the Astri's main staging point for their clandestine raids on Earth, but little else. Going in, I didn't know what to expect, but I was sure our alien hosts were showing us their moon base as a means of intimidation. There were signs of battle all around as we descended, and I noted the twisted debris of destroyed ships and war machines trapped in Jupiter's orbit. Meanwhile, the surface of Europa was riddled with fresh craters, surely the result of orbital bombardment or misdirected missiles. I silently glanced across at Henderson and noted the disappointment in his eyes, a feeling

which I shared. Both of us had hoped the Astri would have suffered greater damage. As I said before, Earth's governments have long been helpless in the face of the Astri incursions, but this has recently changed. A year before I was recruited to this secret diplomatic mission, our spokesmen, our spirit of Spacewatchers observed a fierce battle in Earth's orbit, as an astry hunting ship was engaged and apparently destroyed by a vessel of unknown origin. This event might have remained a mystery had it not been for the unexpected landing of a small

capsule deep in the American Midwest. This escape pot contained two humans, who had an extraordinary tale to tell. Through their first-hand accounts, we not only learned the horrifying truth of what the astry did to their abductees, but we also discovered the existence of a potential ally. the Galactic Confederation, whose forces are at war with the rogue Astri hunters. News of the space battle finally forced our leaders into action, and a secret council demanded that the Astri agreed to a meeting to renegotiate the terms of our agreement. But this wasn't the end of the story.

During my training, we received word of a second space battle detected by our long-range telescopes as a small fleet of ships assaulted the Europa base, resulting in an amazing yet terrifying display of fire and fury. We hadn't known the outcome of the battle until now, but it seemed clear that our hosts had won the fight. I experienced a terrible foreboding as our ship made the final approach down to the vast moon base, the mighty vessel being dwarfed by the huge sprawling facility as we docked on a landing bay with a heavy metallic trunk. Once the ship docked, we received further instructions from the disembodied robotic voice. We have arrived at the Empire's Alpha a facility. You should remove your restraints and wait for our representative who will guide you

inside the base. We did as told, Henderson and I sharing a look as we undid our seatbelts and stood up. The far door activated, and I mentally prepared myself to see an Astry warrior in the flesh for the first time. I'd heard the witness descriptions and seen what few photographs and film footage we had of them, but this wasn't adequate preparation. I took a deep breath as the automated door swit open, but was disappointed by what I saw on the other side. We were met by some kind of robotic drone hovering in the air as its scanners and cameras observed us and collected data. I remember the witness accounts of the Confederation War Machines and wondered whether the Astri had adopted the same model. The two of us stood in confusion as the robot spoke.

I am Unit 537, an AI drone in the service of the glorious Austria Empire. I have been tasked by my masters with guiding you through our facility and concluding our negotiations. I was left flabbergasted and found myself unable to speak as I tried to process this unexpected development. In the end, it was Henderson who broke the silence as he launched into an uncharacteristic outburst. What the hell is this? Where are the Astrid delegates? This is not what we agreed? The flying robot turned to face my military companion before answering in the same monotone, mechanical voice. I know nothing of these arrangements you speak of.

Let me assure you that I have been granted the necessary plenipotentiary powers by my masters. I would also advise you not to engage in any further emotional outbursts. My masters may view such tirades as acts of aggression and respond accordingly. Now you must follow me. With that, the drone swung around and entered the facility. I shot Henderson an angry look and whispered, What the hell were you thinking? Are you trying to get us both killed? Henderson simply shook his hair in despair before saying,

No plan survives first contact with the enemy. We need to adapt. I stared at my companion in confusion, wanting to ask him what he meant, but Henderson simply nodded and said, Come on, let's go. He proceeded through the open doorway, and I followed, not yet realizing we were walking straight into a living hell. The interior of the Europa base was slightly less bleak.

and intimidating than the spaceship, but only marginally so. The corridor walls were white and sterile, and my nostrils were filled with what smelt like disinfectant. As soon as I set foot inside, I felt something was terribly wrong, and a sense of impending doom came over me. I was frightened and on the edge, but it was more than that. Within a few seconds, my head was pounding, the pain growing inside my skull until it became unbearable. I felt naked, exposed, like sudden.

Suddenly, my deepest thoughts and secrets were there for the whole universe to see, and it got worse. Suddenly, my aching brain was assaulted by terrible, horrific images. I saw human beings tortured by the vile astry killers. A man ripped to shreds by claws and teeth, a screaming woman strapped to a gurney and operated on without an aesthetic, and many more scenes of violence. The images I saw inside my head were so vivid that I could almost hear the blood-curdling screams and smell the gory viscera. I struggled to stay on my feet and sea straight, turning my head to look upon my companion.

Any hope I had for support faded as I saw Henderson was fighting his own internal battle against whatever psychological weapon the astry had deployed against us, sweating profusely as his eyes bulged and face burnt red. I reckoned he was using all his mental strength in an attempt to keep the enemy out of his head. Although I doubted he would be successful. This was a new tactic which we hadn't been warned about during our briefings, and frankly, it terrified me. What chance did we have if the astries could destroy our mind as well as our bodies?

The pressure built up inside my skull until I thought my head would explode, and for a horrible moment I believed they would kill us through this vile method. But the assault upon our brains ended as suddenly as it had begun. The pressure lifting and sadistic images disappearing, although I couldn't forget the horrors I'd seen. Our robotic guide acted like nothing had happened, leading us to yet another automatic door at the end of the sickly white corridor as it turned to address us in its deadpan mechanical voice. My masters thought you might wish to visit your fellow Homo sapiens who we accommodate

at this facility. I will now show you our holding pants. I felt a sickness deep in the pit of my stomach after hearing the drones of motionless words, casting a glance towards Henderson in the moments before the next door slid open. The first thing that hit me was the smell, a foul stench of waste that reminded me of a zoo or kennels. And then I heard the whales. Screams of agony and pain, which I was horrified to learn, came from human lips. Our robotic guide led the way as Henderson and I entered a living hell under glaring artificial lights. We were sickened, yet awestruck at the horrific scenes we witnessed. Beyond the doorway was a vast bunker filled with rows of steel cages stacked on top of each other.

all the way up to the ceiling. We saw thousands of small six-by-six cages, each containing a human prisoner. Abductees imprisoned by the Astri for their sadistic purposes. I saw people of all races and creeds, male and female, young and old. Their alien captors treated them all with the same contempt and cruelty. All were naked except for the ugly shock collars secured to their necks, and as I walked closer I saw how all were emaciated and left to live in their own filth. Many bore scars and injuries, surely as a result of the torture they'd endured.

Others looked sick, and more than a few appeared to be on the verge of death. But the most horrifying moment came when many of the prisoners noticed our presence. The word quickly spreading through nervous but excited whispers between the cages. Suddenly, thousands of eyes lit up with something very dangerous indeed, hope. A moment later, the thousand voices were all calling out in a dozen languages, crying and begging as we walked past them, pleading for us to save them. I couldn't take it. The hellish din was too much.

The worst thing is, I realized we were powerless to help these damn souls. Even if the Astry did agree to release their prisoners, we had no means of transporting them back to earth. I doubt any of these poor bastards knew where they were, but they surely guessed what terrible fate awaited them. I felt like dropping down to my knee and rolling into a protective ball as the desperate wails nearly burst my eardrums. But then, all the prisoners emitted a new sound, one of shocked pain, as every one of their number collapsed in agony, screaming as they clutched hold of their throats and squirmed on the floor of their cages. To my horror, I realized that the prisoner's shot callers had all been activated simultaneously as a form of collective punishment. Despite my terror, I screamed out in anger and challenged our guide.

You damn savages! You have no right to treat our people this way! I realized how foolish my words were as soon as I spoke them. The drone swerved around to face me, and I wondered why I'd taken my anger out on an AI, which merely served the cruel astry and probably had no capacity for independent thought. The hovering robot looked over me with its inbuilt cameras, lights flashing on control panels as a processed data, and then the machine spoke. Quiet, I have warned you both about the consequences of emotional outbursts.

Let us proceed to the amphitheater where you may witness the fruits of my master's work. With that, the robot turned and flew forwards, leaving Henderson and I to look upon the defeated prisoners, all wounded and silent as they glared down upon us with disappointment in their eyes. And somehow, those silent, reproachful looks were even worse than their screams and cries for mercy. I thought this was as bad as it could get, but then we exited the prison chamber and entered a whole new circle of hell. We walked out onto an empty stand overlooking an oval-shaped arena with a circular pitch

around a hundred feet in diameter, surrounded by ten feet walls on every side. The surface of the arena was covered by a strange plastic-like substance, although the oval had a primitive and low-tech feel when compared to the rest of the facility. However, I was amazed at the sheer size of the moon base, which could accommodate a small stadium. Racking my brains, I tried to think, and I soon realized how this zone reminded me of a Roman Coliseum, and my heart sank as I considered the terrifying implications of my observation. Suddenly, our attention was drawn to a ring of VIP-style boxes set above the stands as steel shutters slowly ascended to reveal a terrifying scene.

This was the first time I saw them, in the flesh. The Astry, dozens of alien dignitaries from sitting and standing in luxurious boxes behind thick glass, all looking down upon us with a sadistic glee in their cold, reptilian eyes. I scanned from side to side in a panic, realizing that the vile creatures were all around us, although they remained behind their transparent barriers, apparently waiting for something to happen. Henderson shot straight up as his instincts kicked in. He automatically reached for a weapon he did not carry before shooting our robotic guy to look could kill.

What the hell is the meaning of this? He demanded. The drone's cameras observed him with cold indifference, and I guessed all of its observations were being beamed up to the astry dignitaries watching over us. The machine answered my companion's angry question in its usual, a motionless, robotic tone. My masters have arranged some entertainment for your visit. I suggest you stay silent and watch. I was still trying to work out what the machine meant when I observed a hidden door opening

in the circular wall of the arena below us, revealing what looked like a shoot leading down to the plastic-covered ground. I watched on and shocked horror as one, two, and then three bodies slid down the chute, all landing heavily on the ground, with a door slammed shut, trapping them inside the walled arena. At first I thought the three were dead, but it turned out they were only disoriented or possibly drugged. As within a few moments, all had regained some level of composure and were able to

stand up on their shaking legs. I saw they were all young men, half naked and emaciated, a terror present in their eyes as they surveyed their new prison. A moment later, a second compartment opened to reveal a steel rack filled with handheld weapons, including what looked like machetes, axes, and short swords. The scared trio looked at the weapons in confusion, clearly having little idea why they were there and what was expected of them. Unfortunately, I now had a good idea of what was expected of them.

was about to happen. Suddenly, a second door slid open on the far side of the arena, and something horrifying emerged, charging out onto the killing floor with all the fury and hell. The astry that I saw seemed far larger than average, perhaps as tall as eight feet in height. I saw old scars cut across its red scales, and so guessed that the beast was a veteran warrior. Its lizard eyes were those of a cold and calculating predator, methodically scanning the kill zone as it sought out its victims. The warrior was armed with a long, pike-like weapon, but it hardly needed the spear, as its teeth and claws were surely sufficient to tear its victims to shreds.

I looked to the sealed boxes above and noted how the Astry spectators leaned forwards, their eyes widening with excitement as they relish the prospect of the violence to come. And then I glanced down to the three young men in the firing line, all confused, exposed and terrified as they cast their eyes upon the beast. I wanted to shout out a warning to these men, but what good would it do? Henderson and I were powerless to intervene. The Astru Warrior charged forward at an astonishing speed, unleashing an animalistic roar as it closed in on its prey.

Two of the men fled, running back to the wall and desperately trying to find a way out. The third prisoner froze in the middle of the arena, dropping to his knees and pleading for mercy, but of course he got none. I expected the warrior to run through him with its spear, but in the third prisoner. Instead, it unleashed a high kick, deftly using the six-inch claw on its foot to slice deep into the man's throat, slicing his jugular open and spraying blood all over the plastic floor. The two other watched their companion's limp body drop to the ground as he continued to bleed. And the warrior cried out in triumph.

The surviving men now knew that their only chance was to fight, and so they grasped hold of the primitive weapons from the rack, the first taking a machete and the second arming himself with the sword. He was brave too, running forward to meet the warrior head on and parrying the heavy blow from its spear. The fight didn't last long, however, as the sheer force of the Astri's attacks knocked the man down, forcing the sword from his hand. The human screamed as the alien brought his foot down upon his head, burying its claws deep into a skull. The third and final man wasn't much of a fighter, but he did take his chance, attacking the beast from behind and hacking at it with machete. The Astri's Scaly hide was

thick, but the blade still penetrated, causing the beast to cry out in pain and fury. It was hurt, but not badly hurt, soon turning around to face its attacker. The human took one look into the alien killer's eyes and broke, throwing down his weapon and fleeing across the arena. The warrior didn't miss a beat, lifting its spear and throwing it with immense strength. The projectile flew through the air, striking the man in the back and impaling his body against the arena wall. The dying man twitched as his life drained away, and the alien warrior roared in celebration of its bloody victory. Its fellow Astri were equally happy at the outcome,

banging their claws against the glass and excitement as their sadistic urges were satisfied. I looked to Henderson and saw his fist clenching tight and his face was red with fury. As for me, I just felt sick to my stomach at the atrocity we'd been forced to witness. I shook my head and disgust as I looked upon the hovering machine and spluttered out my emotional words. What was the point of all this? Why bring us all up here just to watch our people get tortured and killed? I thought you wanted to negotiate. The robot paused briefly before delivering its telling response.

Actually, my master has agreed to these negotiations in good faith. Your side has broken the terms of our agreement. I was left astonished and confused by this statement. What the hell do you mean? Your scan came up clear, but your companions raised a red flag. I turned to face Henderson, only to find he would not meet my eye. I noticed how his face had dropped and turned pale white as the sweat dripped from his pores. I was left speechless, but our robotic guide continued to explain the situation.

The trace was subtle, but our sensors detected a viral infection in Captain Henderson's blood. Analysis of the virus confirms that it is genetically modified, specifically designed to be harmless to homo sapiens, but lethal to the astry species. Clearly, the intention of Earth's governments was to infect and destroy the Astrid, repopulation of his base with their crude biological weapon. My jaw dropped in disbelief, and I thought this must be a lie. I turned to Henderson in hope for reassurance, only to see him charge the robot with malicious intent.

The machine reacted instantly, extending a mechanical arm and firing a dart into Henderson's chest. He stumbled backwards, looking upon me with guilt before his eyes rolled up into his skull, and he collapsed heavily onto the stand. I turned in time to see the robot re- aiming its extended arm in my direction. direction as it prepared to fire a second shot. Wait! I screamed, but it was futile. The dart struck me in the center of my chest, causing me pain, but not a fatal injury.

But whatever poison the dart contained coursed through my veins, and suddenly my whole body went numb. Next, I felt myself falling as my legs gave out, and I hit the ground hard. My whole world went black. I awoke slowly, still feeling groggy as I opened my eyes and tried to move, only to find I could not. To my horror, I found myself inside a tight cage hanging over an enclosure of some kind. I could hardly move as the cage was so small, and when I looked down, I saw a thick vegetation of tropical plants and a clearing directly below me. Glancing to my left, I found my companion,

Captain Henderson, awake, and also trapped in a tight cage hanging over the enclosure. I opened my dry lips and forced out my words, shouting angrily as I chastised Henderson for his betrayal. What the hell, man? You let them inject you with a biological weapon? Are you crazy? Henderson lowered his head, once again not meeting my eye. I was only following orders.

Who's orders? What lunatic ordered this attack? What made them think this madness would work? It was always a long shot, but the brass believed it was our best chance. But why? Why wasn't I told? What the hell happened to our negotiations? Henderson sneered dismissively before answering me.

Wake the hell up, man. The diplomatic mission was just a cover. We can't negotiate with these monsters. They treat us like pray for God's sake. The real mission was always a military one, and both of us are expendable. I was shocked, glorified, and angry upon hearing Henderson's revelation. Although I had to admit that it made sense. But one thing was clear, Henderson's mission had failed, and now we were both in grave danger.

As if on cue, we heard a rustling from the vegetation below as something big tore through, making its way toward the clearing. I knew whatever beast they'd unleash would be bad, but what emerged into the clearing was beyond my worst nightmares. My limited words will never do the monster justice, but the best description I can make is a black spider grown to an enormous size. Its body must have been twice the size of a fully grown man, complete with eight long, thick legs, covered in fur-like hair, and the creature had a set of a dozen dark eyes like a

kale, which scanned the kill zone with a predatory zeal. But as if all this wasn't bad enough, the spider-like beast also had a long, thick tail with what looked like a stinger at its end, sharp, protruding, and dripping with what I guessed was some kind of deadly venom. The monster squealed with excited glee when it saw us hanging in our cages, and I guessed what our captors had in store for us. There was an ominous beeping noise, and a moment later, the bottom of Henderson's cage opened up, causing him to plummet down to the clearing below. I heard a sickening crack as he landed heavily, and I guessed that the military man had broken his ankle. But to his credit, he got up on his feet and faced the monster. The beast scurried forward on its eight legs,

screeching like a banshee as it lashed out with its stinger. Henderson managed to dodge the first to attacks, but the third struck him in the shoulder, causing him to scurried. scream in pain as he fell to the ground. I could only watch on in shocked horror as the wounded Henderson attempted to crawl to safety, but the monster struck him again, using its stinger to impale the helpless man through the back. My companion screamed again, louder this time. He looked up at me with pain and terror in his bloodshot eyes, and a moment later, the beast dragged him back into the thick undergrowth. Henderson still screaming as he faced his terrible fate. I didn't want to imagine what was happening to my companion.

but just then a familiar robotic voice called out to reveal the horrifying truth. My masters want you to know that the predator will not kill Captain Henderson. She will lay her eggs inside of his still living flesh, keeping him alive until they hatch, after which her offspring will feast upon him. The whole process will last several days and will be excruciating for your companion. I shuddered in cold terror, the sickness rising from the pit of my stomach, as I dry-wreached and disgust. I could barely speak through my trembling lips, but somehow managed to utter out a reply.

I suppose you mean to do the same to me. No. My captor replied, My masters will spare you and allow you to return to your home planet. You are being spared to deliver a message to your leaders. Tell them what you saw here and inform them that their treachery has been exposed. There will be repercussions for their deceit in due course. In the meantime, we are doubling the quota and expect delivery of the next batch of tributes

within one of your weeks. Failure to comply will result in severe penalties. Those thinly veiled threats chilled me to my bone as I continue to hear Henderson's muffled screams, and my cage was slowly lifted from the beast's enclosure. As it happened, the astry kept their word and sent me home. I'm almost ashamed to admit my relief at living through the ordeal, and now I'm racked with survivors' guilt, not to mention terrified of what the Astry will do next. Once I got home, I was inevitably debriefed extensively and aggressively by various government suits and military brass, continuously ordered to recount the events of our botched mission. I think they know how badly they messed up and were truly frightened of the inevitable

backlash. I believe some of my interrogators would have liked to pin the blame on me, but I guess others disagreed because I was eventually released. I expect I'm not much longer for this world, however, as several witnesses have fallen victim to unfortunate accidents in recent months. Our leaders are scared because they know the Astry could come for them at any time. They'll do anything to save their own skin and cover up their mistakes, and this includes sacrificing thousands of their own people as tributes to these monstrous killers. And so I have decided to tell my story before it's too late. The threat we all face is more serious than ever,

and our governments are complicit in the Astri's atrocities. I don't know how we can win this war, but we must stand and fight because the price of doing nothing is too much to bear.