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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: What did the aliens want? Why had they snatched the lunar-based trawler, 49ER, Captain Jacob Silva, and crew from the Asteroid Belt?

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Science Fiction Age, 1998
Fictionwise Release Date: December 2002

48 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [68 KB], eReader (PDB) [28 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [15 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [14 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [67 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [85 KB], hiebook (KML) [65 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [46 KB], iSilo (PDB) [12 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [16 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [43 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [24 KB]
Words: 4285
Reading time: 12-17 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

The Snatch

The asteroid trawler, 49ER, on route from its lunar home base at New San Francisco to a mining site in the asteroid belt, came to an unexpected stop, as if caught by a giant invisible hand, the unique event taking the entire crew completely by surprise. Then, before anyone inside the ship could react in any way, a finger from the invisible hand outlined the bullet-shaped craft with a pencil-thin, faintly luminescent line that quickly increased in intensity to a brilliant neon-blue for a moment or two, just before ship and crew disappeared from the Solar System.

One moment there, next moment gone!

Indigo Glass

It was indeed an odd cell, if one could accurately call it that, Jacob Silva thought, as he paced off the distance across the circle, for the seventh time in his week of confinement. Yes, still twenty feet, give or take an inch or two. Then, after slipping off his right boot and leaving it against the wall as a marker, he ran his hand along the wall surface as he carefully paced off the interior circumference again. One hundred fifty-six feet or so, back to the spot where he'd left his boot. Not a seam, crease, or crevice detectable in the wall either; and it was the same no matter where Jake felt. He'd worked carefully around the wall a dozen times, searching high and low for the hint of a door, a window, any possible exit; and moving his chair about, he'd stood on it and carefully examined every inch of the low-hanging, curved ceiling. Nothing but smooth, unbroken surface, everywhere he felt.

Jake was inside a half-domed room with no detectable method of ingress or egress, containing only himself, a bunklike bed, and a small table and chair, the furniture made from a light-weight, but very strong, plasticlike substance. The wall and ceiling material were a glasslike element, a deep indigo in color, giving off a faint blue luminescence that provided enough light to see clearly and, apparently, enough warmth to keep the temperature quite comfortable.

At different times, a pencil-thin line of luminescence would coalesce and intensify into blinding neon-blue and food would suddenly appear on the table in plastic serving dishes, a variety of exotic cereal-like substances, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and drinks, all quite tasty and apparently nutritious, for Jake felt healthy and strong. From time to time the blue line even provided entertainment and instruction of Earthly origin, what appeared to be videos from the library of the 49ER, played on a screen that suddenly coalesced in the same manner in the air of the cell.

More importantly, at least for Jake's mental well being, another member of the crew--K.D. Tamanaka, the first engineer--had appeared just two days ago for a short visit in his cell in the same sudden inexplicable way. First just her outline in brilliant neon-blue, then K.D. herself appeared.

Apparently the Irazii could bring anything into the doorless half dome in the same unusual manner, including a portable booth that contained a sonic shower and toilet. Magic, Jake thought, shaking his head--some kind of teleportation or telekinesis.

So, he was indeed well fed and comfortable, not suffering too much from the isolation, but still curious and very suspicious. He knew that the indigo glass was more than just a source of illumination and heat; it was like a two way mirror, and he felt the Irazii watched him constantly.

But why?

For what reason had the crew been brought here?

What did the aliens want from him and the other crew members?

Were they all just curiosities to the Irazii, nothing more than zoo animals?