"I wish. But now don't you think it's too late to do that? He's gone now?"
"Ah, they were abducted. And we are going to find our friends. Whoever was holding our friends hostage we will find them." His phone rang, it was the doctor calling. "And it begins now," he added before picking the call.
Dr Eric stood at the front of a screen which displayed some genetic testing.
"The blood sample was unlike anything I've seen before," he began. "The DNA consists of 24 pairs of chromosomes with unusual arrangements of nucleotides. It's as if their genome has been... engineered."
"What do you mean by engineered?" Habib asked.
"What I meant was that it wasn't human. Whatever thing that attacked might be from an experiment, mostly created by the government." The doctor said.
"And if they come for only two of them in this hospital, they are also behind the death sleep." Habib uttered. "And if that's right... where would they have taken them to?"
"I think I might know someone who can help, " Susan suggested. "Can I have the blood sample?" She requested.
"Sure," the doctor responded before he went to bring it.
"So where can we meet this someone of yours?" Habib asked her.
"I guess I have to go to a place I have been avoiding for a very long time," she replied.
The sound of the metal door woke up an old man from his sleep. Old enough his hair has turned grey, skin as sloppy as a wet paper. He could barely see clearly. He stretched and yawned before heading to the door.
"Who's disturbing my peace in this ungodly hour," he whined, scratching his buttock. "I hope it's not those unholy government agencies," he muttered, dragging his feet until he reached the door and opened it. The person he saw waiting at the door would be the last person in the world he would think of showing up.
"Haha! It's the ungodly daughter of MARZ. Sui'zan, it's been a long time," he said with enthusiasm before his sight caught the man behind her and his expression dropped. "And who are you supposed to be an ungodly stranger?"
Habib not knowing what to say at first looked Susan in the eyes for a brief moment before clearing his throat and speaking.
"I am Habib. Habib Lukman and Susan's friend," he said with an awkward smile. The man scoffed and let them in.
"It's Sui'zan my dare friend, not the ungodly Earth rephrase she chose to go by now."
The moment they entered inside, the smile that hit Habib's nostril almost made him puke. It was weird and strange and he felt his body system was about to shut down. On the other hand Susan was able to adapt easily to the odour.
"I think I understand now the reason you have been avoiding this place," he whispered, covering his nose. "And was he not worried that I am a human and exposed who you guys are to me at first sight?"
"Folks around here know but they don't believe it either. Imagine I just randomly walk up to you and say "hey there human, I am from MARZ " will you believe, huh? Sometimes seeing is believing," she replied.
"That makes sense."
"Make yourself at home. You're our guest." The old man said.
"Where's everyone? You're the only one at home, Gramp Karcum?"
"The others were out on humm… groceryhunting. They will be back anytime soon," he drew a chair to sit on. "So young one, what brought you here? I know you just don't show up with a friend like it's Christmas or sleepover in a place you have been ignoring like plague," Karcum began.
Susan sighed, walked closer to where the man was sitting and drew the spare chair next to her. She sat down but didn't utter a statement for a moment.
"I have my reason for not living among you people after coming of age. But that's not the reason I am here? Life is at stake!" She exclaimed.
Karcum rubbed his chin like he was thinking, "hmm mmm, that sounds terrifying and... urgent." He said and Habib almost scoffed.
Whatever is at stake also means urgent. He thought.
"The only person that can be of assistance is not around now."
"Amara."
"Yes. But I am sure she will be here anytime with the others from their..."
"Groceryhunting. Understood," she said and nodded. Gramp Karcum stood up and excused himself to continue his sleep, leaving the other two to have some personal time for themselves.
"I need some air," Habib excused himself also while Susan remained seated.
Shortly after the arrival of others. Susan presented the blood sample from the hospital to Amara. Amara was an elderly and wise Martian. She was one of the surviving of their race and she was the mentor and the mother figure for the young ones on their arrival on Earth. She was a priestess and had some magical powers which were rare among Martians.
With just a simple touch on the blood, she was zapped like waves of electricity passed through her. Few seconds series of images flashed through her mind before she was back to her normal self.
Amara collected her thoughts before speaking. "It's Kr'ang." She said, It was some sort of shakery and trembling in a voice. It was as if she was scared about what she just saw.
"What Kong?" Habib asked his voice was like a whisper.
"Kr'ang," she corrected. "They are advanced in knowledge and technology. One of the best in the galaxy. Not only but they are nothing but ruthless, sadistic and sinister species. They are known for their technology built on principles of manipulation and control. The Kr'ang specialized in developing devices that can infiltrate and alter the mind, bending people to their will." The room fell silent, the people exchanging glances.
"Why would they do that?" Habib asked. Amara shifts her glance at him before answering.
"Reason is unknown. Some thought it was their way of life, to feel superior. Some called it punishment on people who became victims of it. But no one has ever known the actual reason."
"How are they managing to do that? Oh wait, is it because of their advancement ?" Susan was curious.
"Through the use of their evil device they call the Reaper. I believe it was the machine that trapped their mind and denied any person under its control a freewill." Amara responded.
"Hmm, reaper. It sounds like harvesting people," Habib murmured.
"They use this devil weapon design to separate one's consciousness from the body. Thus, making the body nothing but an empty vessel... a camouflage." She continued explaining.
"Well, that explains our friends being..."
"Empty!" Susan finished the statements for Habib. Amara nodded.
"But is there a way we can stop it?" Habib inquired but Amara shook her head in negative.
"I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to help those friends of yours. The only thing you should know is that they are gone already." She said in a sincere, sad voice.
"What do you even mean by that! So you're telling me we just forget about them because some stupid alien stole their consciousness, huh?!" Habib erupted like a volcano. Amara remained calm in her sitting. "Don't you have some inert galactic connection with other people that stops this mad alien from doing the shit!" He exclaimed.
"I've seen firsthand the atrocities they have committed. The last race that went head to head with the Kr'ang did not live long to tell the tale. They were slaughtered like they were nothing, destroyed their world and left behind gruesome and decayed. The little that made it out was luck," Amara revealed. Sadness written all over her face.
The revelation makes everyone sad. Does that mean there's nothing they can do? Their friends are gone forever with no trace. Is this how it'd end for both Steven and Gabriel?
"I can see on your face a determination and rebelliousness. If you wish to venture and risk the little you have left, I won't change your mind. But you should know you are putting even more people at risk if you wish to proceed with it." Amara warned.
MEANWHILE...
Steven's body was in a tub which was attached to series of mechanism that was monitoring his condition.
Someone snock inside the room without drawing any attention. The intruder identity was undisclosed as the person advanced towards Steven tub. The person placed their hand on the transparent glass, glancing at the body inside.
Shortly, a machinery robot bug like a spider crawled out beneath the intruder's cloth and made its was into the other machine that was connected to the tub. There was a short waves of shock before the machines returned to normal and the spider was nowhere to be found.
Seeing their aim has been achieved,the intruder escaped through the window before they can be caught. Momentarily, Nemesis entered the room, suspiciously look around, but when nothing seems awkward he walked out as tge door shut behind him.