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Alternate Universe Stories / Re: Sprinkles on a Soup Sandwich
Last post by Ellen Fitz -No sooner had they made it to the more flattened terrain when Hirek heard the energy field. He barely had time to register the sound before he felt his entire body go rigid, caught in some sort of force field. Still capable of moving his head around to look, he watched as Madsen literally tripped into her own force field, her body now suspended a few feet off the ground, the force field itself keeping her from making a face plant.
“Gee, didn’t see this coming.” He tossed the sarcastic comment at Knox. “I’m going to assume they can tell we’re armed and don’t like visitors with our types of accessories.”
Madsen grunted, “Probably a safe assumption. Sobel, have your monitors picked up any activity since we got caught in these fields?”
[ “Negative. Sit tight. They’ll likely figure out what they want to do in a few minutes. Snipers are still on standby.” ]
If it was possible to hear a dramatic eye roll, Hirek assumed he’d just heard one based on Madsen's exasperated sigh in response to their brave leader’s useless response.
“So what’s the plan, lt, when or if they come out to greet us?” Hirek didn’t like being stuck like this, and as liquidy as Knox could get, these were the types of force fields that could stop a droplet of rain from hitting the ground. They were all three well caught until the unseen decided to make a move.
“If they’re immediately hostile, try to survive, maybe steal a body, dead or alive, to take with us on the retreat so we can study them back at base.” Her first response surprised Hirek. He’d expected her to be all soft and friendly friend of all. But her words made sense, and he appreciated them. “If they’re standoffish but not hostile, keep your hands free of your weapons, palms open to their view as much as possible until we can establish a connection. And if they’re immediately friendly, much the same. We can presume they’re cautious and likely paranoid, but it's doubtful they’re the type to borrow sugar from either.”
In the distance, there was a hissing down, drawing Hirek’s attention away from Madsen. The area of dirt in the center of the circle Madsen had earlier pointed out now emitted steam as if a seal was breaking. Seconds later, a cleverly disguised hatch popped up, letting loose another volley of steam. When the slight breeze blew the last of the steam away, Hirek’s eyes widened in surprise at the three figures standing just outside the energy field protecting the hatch.
Well, that was most unexpected…