Free Against All Odds by Natale Ghent Page B

nothing I’ve seen before,” Squeak launched in. “The building isn’t made of concrete. It looks like some kind of superior polycarbon-fibre composite—but I’ve never heard of it being used in this application.” He held up his notebook. “I’ve been taking notes.”
    Samantha retrieved an identical notebook from her knapsack. “Me too.”
    They blushed and turned away from each other, flipping through the pages of their notebooks. Samantha pointed to an equation carefully penned at the bottom of a page. “I have to agree with your assumption. It’s definitely a type of polycarbon-fibre composite. But it’s never been used in this manner … at least, not on this planet … yet. Though I have read about a similar type of thermo plastic being developed for space travel. But it’s just a rumour at this point. Which would lead one to assume …” Her voice trailed off.
    “Extraterrestrial life forms.” Squeak pointed to a similar equation in his notebook. “Was it the humming that gave it away?”
    “Yes. And the blue light,” Samantha said. “They both have frequencies similar to positronic generation but far too advanced for this world.”
    Squeak adjusted his goggles. “I’ve read of such frequencies.”
    Samantha pushed the hair behind her ears. “Me too. They’re used to facilitate—”
    “—mind control,” Squeak said.
    The two scientists locked eyes.
    Boney threw his hands in the air. “This is all very interesting, but we’re wasting valuable time here!”
    Squeak ignored his friend, his eyes still trained on Samantha’s. “See what I have to deal with?”
    “He’s right,” Samantha said, breaking the spell. “We are wasting time. We should take a closer look at that building. I’d like to take a sample.” She slipped her notebook in her bag and began slinking toward the building.
    Boney made a face at Squeak. “See what I have to deal with?” he repeated mockingly. “Some friend you are.”
    Squeak shrugged, guilty.
    “Come on,” Samantha whispered over her shoulder.
    The boys fell in line, copying Samantha’s movements until the three investigators were positioned behind some weeds at a safe distance from the building.The humming was loud there, throbbing in low waves. Samantha pulled sponge earplugs from her bag and gave a set each to Boney and Squeak. She twisted a pair between her fingers and inserted them in her ears, then suggested they do the same. “For the humming,” she explained, addressing the confused looks on Boney and Squeak’s faces. “If this is some kind of mind-altering frequency, we don’t want it to control our thoughts or actions.”
    “Yes, of course,” Squeak agreed, inserting the sponge plugs into his ears.
    “Of course,” Boney mimicked him, doing the same.
    Samantha pointed to her eyes, then pointed to one of the windows along the length of the building, indicating that she’d like to take a look inside. Boney and Squeak nodded.
    The three investigators spidered along the ground, eyes wary. When they reached the building, they wormed their way up to the window until they were staring through the glass.
    Inside, the building was entirely white, except for a blue glow that emanated from the chute of what appeared to be a giant, space-age stainless steel doughnut maker standing to one side of the room. The machine was big and square, with some kind of strange lettering etched over the surface. A conveyor belt rolledfrom beneath the chute to a point halfway across the room. Lockers made from the same shiny metal lined the walls.
    All at once, the blue light from the machine began to flash and waver. The chute quivered and shook, the blue light flaring as a creature covered in an opaque, sticky ooze was spit from the machine onto the conveyor. It had a tangled mop of red hair and was wearing a Superman T-shirt and jeans.
    “It’s Itchy!” Boney shouted over the humming. “What have they done to him?”
    “It’s not Itchy!” Samantha