Free Different by Tony Butler Page A

they stopped and another smaller door slid open and he followed the others through it.
    The three of them stopped and stared in disbelief for above, in front and below them and stretching into the distance as far a he could see were millions, no trillions of stars. It was though the flying saucer had become transparent and they were standing on nothing.
    "That is your home on your right,” the man in green said, pointing with a long slender finger. “The planet you call Earth."
    Adam saw the blue tinged planet that looked no bigger than an orange and was suddenly afraid. What was going to happen to them?
    "Fear not Adam,” The man in red said. “Once we have rectified the damage that your scientists have inflicted upon you, we will take you all back again."
    Suddenly the ship was solid again and the stars were only visible from small oval shaped widows spaced evenly around the spacecraft. The nearest one was about a hundred yards away.
    The men removed their suits and beneath them they were wearing some sort of uniforms consisting of a tunic top and trousers that were made of white material and trimmed in silver. The man who'd been wearing green turned out to be a woman and so did the one who'd been wearing yellow.
    "I am Hiljah, the guardian of the red. I command this ship and am the leader of this expedition,” The man who'd worn the red suit said, speaking aloud for the first time. “Let me introduce my companions. Nikarra, guardian of the green. Fijojo, guardian of the blue and my second in command.” Nikarra and Fijojo nodded and smiled at them. “Linitutlu is the guardian of the yellow and Girrisul, guardian of the white."
    "We have been searching for you children for a long time,” Girrisul said, “Ever since Adam came to us and told us of your plight."
    "But the doctor and his friends are thinking of killing us soon,” Ben said. “Adam heard the doctor talking to Janine and the other men. Adam can do things like that; hear people talking even though they're in another room."
    "As for the doctor killing you, we intend to tell you a way of stopping that. We also know of Adam's gift,” Girrisul said. “Adam comes to us at night sometimes in his dreams. That is how we were able to find you.”
    "You never told us, Adam,” Eve said.
    "That's because I never remember my dreams,” Adam said, “but I knew I had met, Hiljah, Girrisul and the others before."
    "Several times,” Hiljah said. “But now we must examine you before we take you home."
    They followed Hiljah and the others back into the cylinder and when the door opened again, they went into a narrow corridor and then into a room that contained bright overhead lights and shiny tables.
    Girrisul led Eve to one of the tables, she climbed onto it and lay down on her back. Ben did the same on another and then Adam was led to a third. “Please lay down on the platform, Adam,” Hiljah said. “We have to examine you now."
    Adam lay down and the lights glowed brighter and he heard a clicking sound. It felt as though someone was lightly flicking a fingernail against his arms and then it stopped as quickly as it had begun. The lights withdrew and he saw the man in green smiling at him. “We have repaired the genetic damage caused by the scientists and all of the physical damage too."
    Adam stared at his hand in surprise; his little finger that had been lopped off by the doctor was starting to re-grow. “That's awesome,” he said.
    "My toe's growing back,” Eve exclaimed.
    "So is my ear,” Ben said.
    "Now, it is time for us to explain,” the man in red said.
    "I don't understand,” Adam said.
    "Then let me explain and you will,” Hiljah said, and his eyes glowed brilliantly blue.

Chapter 9
    Janine Schroeder unlocked the door of the children's room and had taken a step inside before she noticed the beds were empty, and then she saw the window. She ran over to it and saw the molten metal of the bars and globules of melted glass on the concrete floor and