The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter pt. 2

X-S Tech assures that every seat in this chamber provides an excellent view for the demonstration.  Please select a row quickly, continue to the end of that row, and take your seat!  Your compliance is expected.  Thank you.

Attention!  Our biological sensors have detected an inappropriate seating pattern.  Stand and move all the way to the end of your row, and we mean now!  Thank you.  All seats to your left and right provide excellent viewing.  

Please select a row at once.  Act quickly, and proceed all the way to the end of that row.  Remember, the future waits for no one, not even you.

Attention earthlings.  For the success of our demonstration, we insist you remain upright and keep your arms by your side with your feet firmly planted on the floor.  X-S regulations require all life forms be properly seated or the demonstration will be terminated.  Thank you for your submission.

"Did you see how-"

"No more tests, we're about to go live.  We can't have any-"

"Our other transmissions did not cover this kind of distance.  Again, you are putting sales before science."

"Exactly.  Someone's got to be a role model."  The two aliens, same species as Chairman Clench, argued on a television screen in with the audience.  One of the aliens, Dr. Femus, the kind and cautious female, noticed the audience that had formed and nudged Spinlock, the other alien.  "What?" he asked.  Dr. Femus nodded to the audience.

"Ah, people of Earth.  Greetings to each and every one of you.  I am Spinlock, X-S management supervisor, speaking to you live from across the galaxy where we're all set for yet another spectacular demonstration.  Dr. Femus?"

"Hello." She smiled before returning her attention back to Spinlock.  "Look, I don't think we should-"

"We should waste another moment.  I couldn't agree with you more.   Ready when you are, Doctor."

"Thank you." Dr. Femus said sarcastically before hitting a button and then returning her attention to the audience.  "The analysis modules above your head will now lower into place.  Please remain seated in an upright position with your arms at your sides.  When the modules touch your shoulders they will stop automatically.  So, remain seated and do not interrupt their operation."

"I trust you were all impressed with our earlier demonstration, in which a living creature was teleported a short distance in total comfort.  Now the time has come for one of you to experience something much more remarkable: a journey through interstellar space via X-S teleportation. Dr. Femus will now analyze your human physiology to determine which one of you is suitable for our demonstration."

"Data link online, analyzing now." She said while overlooking the operations of the computer in front of her.  "This one might be adequate, but we're going to have to boost the IQ.  There's a lot of-"

" And we've got our lucky traveler to whisk across the galaxy!  In just a moment, the analysis modules will rise.  Please-"

Yelling could be heard in the distance.  "I don't care!  Step aside." Chairman Clench stormed in the room, nearly knocking the door down, muttering to himself.  "Ah, Spinlock."

"Chairman Clench!" he said, rising.  He rushed over to his superior.

"So, is everything on schedule?"  the chairman asked.

Dr. Femus was the first to speak.  "Well to tell you the truth sir-"

"We're ahead of schedule!" Spinlock interrupted again.

"Excellent." Clench said, walking over the Series 1000 Transmitter off to the side of the room.

"We've just selected a volunteer." Spinlock added.

"It's off." Clench responded.

Relieved, Dr. Femus replied, "Oh good."

"Off?" Spinlock questioned.

"I've been seized."

"Something you ate sir?" Spinlock asked.

"Seized with inspiration: a new idea."

"Oh, terrific." Dr. Femus said sarcastically.

"We're live, right?"

"Yes, very." Responded Spinlock.

Clench turned to address his audience.  "Hello everyone, I've recalculated our plan.  You see, if we bring one of you here, well, I just get to meet one of you.  However, if I am teleported to Earth I can meet all of you; shake each hand and personally answer all your questions about the wonders of X-S.  I'll be with you in just a moment.  Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable encounter."  His speech was a little rushed and slightly insincere.

Spinlock responded uneasily.  "Uh, sir, I doubt that the, uh-"

"Now remember Spinlock: doubt is the rust of a feeble mind.  The only way to seize the future is to grasp the present.  Let's Go!" Clench said while stepping into the transmitter tube.

"Grasp the present.  Yes, well, the chairman certainly has a way with words.   What do you say Dr. Femus, shall we grasp?"

"Yeah grasp, right.  But first I have to totally recalibrate the-"

"Come on!  Seize!  Grasp!" yelled the Chairman impatiently.

"Okay, Doctor!" Spinlock added, also growing impatient.

"I am going as fast as I can!" Dr. Femus yelled worriedly.

"Spinlock." Clench added, growing more impatient by the second.

"Yes sir. Dr. Femus!" he said, rushing her.

"WHAT!?" she cried.

"Spinlock!" Clench yelled angrily.

"Must I do everything!" Spinlock said, annoyed, pulling a lever on Dr. Femus' desk.

"Don't!  Don't!  I didn't lock the trajectory!  We're not-"

"I didn't know!" Spinlock yelled as Clench screamed his name.  It started out angry but then turned to pain as the tube lighted up and he disappeared.

"Now what's happened?" Spinlock asked, stress clearly evident.

"Another planet in our transmission path. It must have intercepted the signal."

"What?"

"But wait, wait.  I've got something."

"Boost the power and send it to Earth."

"Well what if it's not him?"

"Of course it's him.  Send him to Earth!  Ladies and gentlemen, live and in person: Chairman Clench."

In the center of the audience, a huge Series 1000 Receiver sat.  A large figure appeared inside of the tube.

"Uh, Spinlock?  Since when does Clench have wings?"

" Wings?" the large creature in the tube growled.  "It's an alien!"

"It's my mother-in law!" cried one of the audience members.

"Analyzing now!" Dr. Femus yelled, panicked.

"Well, what is it?"

"Okay let's see. Ornitheus, carnivorous-"

"Carnivorous?  It eats meat?" Spinlock asked, now also panicked.

"Exactly genius!  Those people are in a lot of danger."

A pounding could be heard from inside the tube.

"Now what's happened?" Spinlock asked.

"The teleportation tube is starting to break!"

"But it's unbreakable!" All of the sudden, the tube burst and glass went flying everywhere.  "It broke the tube!"

"We cannot let it get out!"

"Activate the force field!"

"Activating now!" Dr. Femus yelled as beams of light surrounded the alien where the tube had been.

"People of Earth, do not worry.  As long as those beams are on the alien cannot fly out."  Suddenly, the lights went out as the audience is left in complete darkness.  The television screen turned off, but the sound of Spinlock and Femus' voices could still be heard.  Flapping wings could be heard as the beast flew around the room.  "It's out!  The alien flew out!  Get it back in the tube, before it eats someone!"

Dr. Femus responded, aggravated.  "I can't.  We just lost power."

"Well get someone in there and fix it!"

"Hello.  Hey!  Hello!  Is everybody all right down there?"  And unfamiliar voice asked as a flashlight was pointed down at the audience from a platform up above.  "X-S Lab, this is maintenance one.  We've got major damage.  What's going on in here?"

"Just a blackout.  Find the auxiliary power switch." Spinlock directed.

"No problem."

"You can find it at the end of the first bridge to your left." Dr. Femus added.

"Roger, already there.  What in the world?  X-S, did you hear that?"

"Nevermind!  Just find the switch." Said Spinlock impatiently.

"Roger."

"Good job, we got the signal from your night vision camera." Femus said as the television screen turned on again, this time with everything maintenance one could see.

"Now show us the people down n the chamber." Spinlock added.

"Is something wrong?" maintenance one questioned.

"No, we just need to make sure that they're alright." Spinlock said, attempting to sound calm.

"No problem." Maintenance one returned his attention to the audience.  "Uh, folks, there's nothing to be afraid of.  I'll have this puppy up and running in a flash.  Now where's that hatch?"

"Right behind you." Dr. Femus added.

"Roger, I've got it.  Whoa, what in the universe could have done this?" he questioned to himself.

"Maintenance one, come in!  Can you see the problem?" Dr. Femus asked.

The alien appeared on screen, huge teeth visible and claws outstretched.  "I can see the problem.  Oh boy-" maintenance one said just as the alien leaned closer to him, it's breath fogging up the camera.  Then, it pounced, as the blood of the maintenance worker splattered onto the audience below.  The screen went dark as the audience started screaming.

"People of Earth, quiet!  Listen to me, please!  Don't scream!  If you remain perfectly quiet, it probably won't eat you." Spinlock yelled as the audience continued to scream.  "No, no!  I told you to be quiet!

The alien could be felt crawling around the audience.  It stopped behind one unlucky person, breathing down his neck.  The man nearly fainted.

Suddenly, a spark of light appeared and the room lit up.

"Spinlock!  We've got power."  Dr. Femus said, relieved.

"Good, now how do we get it back to the tube?"

"Just leave it to me." She said, confidence now evident.  "Tube speakers activated.  Screaming now." She screamed.  As the sound of her voice echoed in the tube, the alien flew towards the noise.  "It's back in the tube!"

"Boost the power, hurry!  Good work.  More power!"

"The creature is about to explode!"

"Drop the shield!" Spinlock yelled as a thick, metal cylinder dropped down over the alien where the tube used to be.  Just before it came down, the alien exploded, sending its guts flying out all over the audience.

Once the screams of the audience calmed down, Spinlock addressed them again. "Well, you see, there you have it.  A little glitch here and there, but I think you get the idea, the potential of XS technology, and all of that.  We certainly apologize for the inconvenience, but after all-"

"It does take time to seize the future." Dr. Femus said.

"Yes."

"Thank you so much for coming.  Please exit out the open doors and don't forget your belongings."

"Those who haven't been eaten."

"Thank you, Spinlock." She said sarcastically.  "Enjoy the rest of your day."