Free Invasive Species Part One by Daniel J. Kirk Page B

prevent injury in the events to occur.”
    “What?” Derek stuttered, “Am…Am I crazy?”
    “Mental health is not something I am prepared to diagnosis Special Agent, however, you seemed the most fit physically for the demands that are required.”
    “Slow down there, Ace. Who are you and where the hell am I?”
    “I am friend of humanity. That is all you need to know. You are on an interstellar craft piloted by the enemy of humanity.”
    “Aliens?”
    “Yes, I understand your culture is hesitant to believe. It is something they have worked hard at in preparation for this day.”
    “You’re an alien.”
    “Yes, in the terms of your understanding”
    “And you’re betraying your people to help man, why?”
    “They are not my people who are invading your home, Special Agent. I come from a planet they took the same as they will take yours. You see, I know what you have been going through, how your mind has not felt like your own. How you’ve been seeing glimpses of your life that you can’t seem to control, but you know are really happening. They are, and you are right. You are not in control of them. They are.”
    The room shook and the last spark of flickering light had been defeated. The room was black.
    “Quick we must get you out of here. Trust my eyes and follow me.”
    “I can’t see you,” Derek said.
    “Take my hand.”
    Derek let out a squeal. Clammy digits nuzzled out of a spongy palm and suctioned onto Derek’s hand.
    “It’s gross for me, too, but your life depends on you trusting me. No, Special Agent, not just your life. But all of humanity’s.”
     
    “Wake up.”
    Derek shook. A moment ago he had been holding Melinda’s hand but he couldn’t remember anything else after that. Now he was holding the disgusting spongy palm of an alien. Now, he could at least make out a silhouette of it as it dragged him through a metal-like tube, dimly lit with an ambient brown and gold. The light was not stagnant, but it did not pulse, it felt more like it was flowing.
    “Use your feet, I can’t drag you all over this craft, Special Agent.”
    “I was there again. Trapped in my head.”
    “Not your head, idiot. They have a body same as yours, they wear it like clothes and walk among those you know.”
    “Then why do I keep feeling like it’s my body they are in control of?”
    “It’s not. It is theirs; your body is here on their craft. How do I say this?” The large headed being stopped dragging and let go of Derek’s hand as it thought.  Then it turned and started crawling through the shaft again, “Keep pace as I speak. We don’t have time, do you understand? Okay then let me try and explain for you as we go.”
    Derek followed feeling a similar loss of control as he did in his terrible visions. But at least he could feel himself making the movements and he knew he could turn around. And the only other comforting thought was that he could choke the bigheaded alien if it didn’t start providing real answers. At least he hoped he could.
    “They are stealing your memories. They have made a connection to your mind so they can reference how to act in a given situation. They want to mimic your personality so that no one suspects you have been switched out. Does that make sense?”
    “And how do I see what they are seeing?”
    “When the connection is made, you experience what they are seeing. If your mind was strong enough, you might be able to dig through their memories and thoughts, but you are just a human. Don’t waste your time trying. Stay in the here and now, Special Agent. Your planet depends upon it.”
    “But what about Melinda, is he going to kill her?”
    “I don’t know the details of their plan and your motivation may be squandered if I tell you she will be fine. But the truth is if you don’t stop them up here, I can guarantee her experience on your planet will not be pleasurable for you.”
    Derek knew the alien was right and followed. Hoping more would be