Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 19

to remain in this laid back station when there is the
endless universe for them to see. We are also taking
people from your planet, here and there, in secret.
There are many agreements with the most powerful
among you. We promised them technology that we
won’t give them because they would only build more
weapons with it. All we need is their consent to take
people away from Earth and we obtained it. We will
take the ones that belong to us.”
“Why are you taking us?” She asked.
“There is a horrible disease killing our women. They
get in a state where they die slowly, they stop eating,
they stop doing everything, as though they are in an
awakened and open-eyed coma. Most of them die in
less than one year. The few surviving can’t have children. But the women from Earth are immune, and so
are their daughters. We are desperately facing extinction, and you are our salvation.”
“I understand and I’m really sorry for this, but even
so what you are doing is wrong. You can’t just take
people away. We are free.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about.” Rafael
answered with a dismissive look. “You won’t survive
without our tutelage.”
Why do I always attract the mad ones? She thought
biting her lower lip and stood before him. “Listen,
please. We can help you to cure your women in
another way. We can even donate reproductive cells
to them. But we aren’t going to be your slaves, and
be forced to live on another planet. I don’t want your
species to die, but I will never accept you controlling
us the way you mean. I will die before losing my
freedom.”
Rafael threw a flower vase on the floor. “You belong
to me!”
“I am free!” She shouted, stepping back as the energy
inside of her rose again. “I have not escaped from one
man ordering me around to fall for another who is
doing exactly the same thing!” She raised both hands
and a strong flash of light left her hands and struck

Rafael in the chest. He disappeared.
Oh my God, I hope I didn’t kill him. She thought
clenching her jaw.
An orb of white light appeared in front of her. “You
didn’t, you just taught him a lesson. We see that you
are, after so many millennia, becoming what you
indeed are, free, among other things.” The words came
from the orb.
“Who are you?” Asked Hiba.
“This orb is not our physical form, but a spacecraft.
We use it for traveling in your physical realm. We are
the ones who made Rafael’s species sign the quarantine contract millennia ago, and we are an even older
species than they. We, among other beings, represent
the Council of the Five who makes decisions for this
galaxy. We will be watching over you to ensure that
the ones among you, who wish to remain free, have
their rights respected. The ones who conform to chains
will have them as well. We respect other people’s
will.”
She nodded, too flabbergasted by everything that was
happening to answer. After some moments she collected her thoughts and, tipping her head to the side,
asked, “What is your interest in us?”
“At the moment, just to ensure that a new species
finds its way in a thriving new reality without being
destroyed by another who is too foolish to see that diversity is important. But we must go now. Good-bye,
human woman.”
“Wait a moment!” She shouted. “What is happening
with me? What is this energy going through me and
these sparks leaving my hands? How did I shoot Rafael like that? Can this happen by accident?”
The light orb flickered its light, as if considering what
to say. “Your species is on the verge of an evolutionary
leap. Many other species like Rafael’s are taking beings from your planet and studying them, in some cases in very tortuous ways. They are interested in your
changing DNA; they want to acquire every possible

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