Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #15 June 2015 | Page 20

concentrate. He put his e-reader away and stood up.
Djamal and Wu were taking more time than expected
to come back. He called, but no one answered.

er.” Saskia said, disappearing.
The other two arrived with a stretcher for Djamal.
Hiba looked downcast.

He wanted to go searching for them, but thought that
may end in trouble. He could go to meet Bruno and
organize a search party but didn’t want to wake up
Hiba, who seemed exhausted. After concluding that
the alternative was to remain there, conjecturing all
sorts of scenarios, he decided to go looking for the
two on his own. In the cargo bay he saw Djamal on
the ground. Mark quickly checked and saw that he
was breathing. Wu was nowhere around.

“Wu missed his wife.” Mark said. “You weren’t responsible for this.”
“Yes, but... Wu didn’t trust me enough to tell me about
his plans. I would’ve let him go if I knew he was so
desperate. Then he wouldn’t have to hurt Djamal.”
Hiba sighed. “This is all getting way too big for me
to control. I will contact the orbs to try and get a final
answer from them about protecting this place. Without
their help we don’t stand much of a chance.”

He took his communicator, called Bruno and explained the situation.
“I didn’t want to, but I must wake up Hiba, our Nordic
friends are wasting no time. We will be there ASAP.”
Bruno responded.

Mark and Bruno agreed. The men took Djamal to the
infirmary and while Bruno started taking care of him
Hiba sat nearby in a chair and concentrated in silence.
Some minutes went by while they waited.

As soon as Mark put the phone down the air shimmered and Saskia appeared again. “Hello.” She said.

A light orb came hovering through the infirmary wall
and stopped in front of Hiba, waiting for her to talk.

Mark decided he had to gain time until the others
would come. “Who are you and why are you taking
everybody from this station?”

“I need your help urgently to protect this base, otherwise there will soon be no one left here to protect.”

Saskia smiled her sardonic smile. “We aren’t the bogeyman you humans consider us to be. Actually, Wu
decided to give up this lame station from his own free
will. He chose to be reunited with his wife instead of
waste his time here.
“He wouldn’t have to resort to that if you wouldn’t
have taken her to start with.”
“Agreed.” Saskia said. “But desperate times call for
desperate solutions.”
“You could have our help without taking us away
permanently.”
Mark heard steps in the corridor, thankfully Hiba and
Bruno were arriving.
“I better go now. I don’t feel like stressing your lead-

The orb considered that for a couple of seconds.
“There is one thing that can speed up our diplomatic
process, we must make an emotional judgment of you,
Hiba. This is part of our protocol in documenting what
you want as individuals.”
“I’ll do it, but I want real help in protecting this station
if the judgment goes as you expect it.”
“Don’t do that!” Bruno said with a pained look.
“It has to be done.” Hiba said, exuding calm and focus.
“We need another of you to testify.” The orb said.
“I’ll go.” Mark said. “Bruno has the best medical
knowledge and he is too close to Hiba for this to work
smoothly.”

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