Chain Reaction 3.72: Still a Goth

Alex

     "Well, look who's back from solitary," Seiji teases when Miguel sits down next to me. Miguel had better not taunt me today. My back is killing me, and it was very hard to woohoo the last time Emily visited. I'm unsatisfied, and I'm liable to give him a bloody nose.

     "That w-wasn't solitary. At least like any other solitary I've ever had." He sounds scared. It's a novelty.

     Seiji doesn't feel sorry for him. "Awww, did the widdle baby get huwrt?"

     "Shut the plum up and listen to me."

     I speak up. "What happened, Miguel?"

     "I spent the first week recovering from an operation. They said I wasn't 'eligible' or something like that." His hand shakes, and his voice with it. "Well, apparently they fixed that. It was a nightmare."

     I turn and look at him. "Let me guess: you couldn't move but you knew exactly what was going on."

     "Holy plumbob! Yes!" He goes on to explain his 'dream' in an all-too-familiar way.

     "She--I think it was a she. It had tits anyway. Inserted something from herself into me. I couldn't stop her!" He swallows hard. "Is that how women feel? It sucks. She didn't even look like she enjoyed it. Just --ppft! There we go. Another one down. Check the little box."

     Miguel has an excellent memory. Much higher than average.

     I think I'm going to be sick.

      "Oh, plum," I say, my own memories coming back stronger. "It came from her own body." I cover my mouth with my hand and swallow it back, which just makes me sicker. Tears come to my eyes.

     Miguel keeps going. "And it was not no space ship neither. They thought I was asleep. I rode on a rolling bed thing up an elevator."

     They're underground, or at least they have a base of sorts underground. And after the alien baby exits the host's body, they transfer him to make way for a fresh crop of specimens. I have to get up and find a toilet.

     When I come back, I see a man in Marcos' seat. "Where is Marcos?"

     Miguel smiles and answers, "Alexander, meet Alejandro."

     Alejandro greets me and gives us a piece of gossip. "I heard Marcos is staying in the infirmary. I think he has a case of worms."

     Seiji's voice is sullen. "It's not worms."

     He looks at Seiji and me. "What is wrong with you two? Did I join the chub club?"

     "No quieres saber, mi amigo." It's now when I notice that Miguel has mellowed quite a bit. They really did a number on him.

     "Are any of you good at escaping?" I have to get out of here. I'm huge. I can only guess delivery is imminent, and then they're taking me maker knows where.

     Seiji looks shocked. "I thought you were the pure, innocent Alexander who couldn't possibly commit a crime."

     "Maybe. But I'm not sticking around to find out what happens afterward when they're done with me." I'm old. As far as I know, they could throw me in a trash compactor and make up some story about my death.

     Alejandro gets a look on his face, and he speaks to Miguel in Spanish. In my limited knowledge, I catch the word 'pasó,' which means 'happened.' Miguel does what sounds like explaining the truth, and I think my guess is right because Alejandro pales.

     "¿Y tú también?"

     I speak before Miguel can answer. "Yes."

     "That sounds like my nightmare. But it was just a nightmare. But you all have the same thing happen..." His voice trails off.

     "Well, plum." If I ever get out of here alive, I'm going to bust open this operation.

     But that's saying they'll let me go... And with all I know... My hands shake. I'm never getting out of here. The appeal will mean nada if they can't find me.

     Then one morning not long after that, I wake up screaming, thinking surely my body is going to be split in two. A guard walks in, takes one look at me, and says, "Follow me, sir."

     This is it. I'll never see Emily again. I follow the man. What choice do I have? If I stay here, I could probably die.
     I'm taken to the same room where I had my "routine tests," and there's a strange bassinet waiting for me.

     "Stand here, please."
     "Stand?!" I'm supposed to stand?!
     "Yes, sir. Just try to relax."
     I scream.

      The next thing I know, I'm holding a baby.
      "Daddy!" It says, and I'm so shocked I almost drop it.
      "Male," a surprised voice says behind me.
      He's blue! But... are those my ears? An alien Goth.
      "Yeah, okay. I'm Daddy."

     I have a realization: So that must be what happens to all the men they've been using. They're taken somewhere to raise the babies.
      I snuggle my new son. I don't care that he's half-alien, or all-alien with some of my features. He's my son. He's still a Goth.
      That same bored voice speaks up, "Put the infant in the bassinet and come with me, sir."
      I turn around, still holding my son. "Why? Where are we going?"
      "Just put the infant in the bassinet and follow me."
      "Why do I have to put the baby down?" I don't like the sound of this.
      "Sir, do as I say. I won't tell you again."
      "I'll go if I can take the baby."
      "The baby stays. You go."
      "No!" I start backing away, and the man calls for backup, which arrives scarily fast. "No!" I scream again, and they all rush me at once. One of them jabs a syringe in my butt. "Nooooooo." The world slows, and my arms slacken. Someone catches my son. And then I black out.
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No quieres saber, mi amigo=You don't want to know, my friend.
¿Y tú también?=And you too?