Read Online Alcantaran 1: Alien Abduction by Terry Compton - Free Book Online Page B

territory to trade in.   Their habit of kidnapping inhabitants of planets soon drove them out of certain sectors of a lot of galaxies.   The Bugs had found the ancient ship just floating in space with no sign of life on board.   They had studied the ship for years but had no clue what had happened to the beings on board the ship.   They had no clue even what they looked like.   They could have gotten a huge sum of credits by selling the ship to some of the more advanced planets but the Bugs were hoping to discover other Alcantaran planets or ships.   They would work on the ancient ship for awhile and then let it sit for months.   Some of the computers and other equipment had been removed for study and were stored in the middle of the mother ship.   There was a whole section of the ship that had never been opened.   The Bugs had tried all kinds of tools and methods but couldn't get it open.   According to the records, the Bugs didn't even know if the ancient ship would still fly.   They decided they would try for the two space ships in the inbound hangar.   They would start studying ways to make sure they had fuel, food and water aboard.   Then they would pick a date and plan on escaping.
    Tik was getting very tired, so the trio quit for the night to get some rest.   Tik and Gus explained that a bell would ring in the morning and they needed to be ready to go eat and go to work.   Both wondered what the Bugs would have Ron do.   They decided to have Ron try the thought transfer and see how far it would reach.
    Tik and Gus lay down and went right to sleep.   Ron lay awake wondering at the events that had already taken place.   He tossed and turned with sleep coming late in the night.   Every noise brought him awake, so by the time the bell went off, he was ready to get up.   He felt tired and wondered what his blood sugar was doing.   He knew that he would need some insulin shortly but maybe the healer unit could do something.   All it needed was for Tik to get it recharged tomorrow.
    The bell went off and Gus showed Ron where the water and waste disposal were.   Ron washed his face and got ready for the day.   Tik was a little better but still looked weak and awful.   Gus was worried and it showed on his face.   The two had only been together a short time but they had bonded through their shared experiences and hatred of the Bugs.   When they were ready, Gus grabbed Tik's tool bag and Ron reached down and picked her up.
    Tik quickly protested, "I'm not a child that needs to be carried.   I can walk!"
    "I know you can but I want you to have all your strength so you can get that healer charged up.   You need it and I suspect I'll need it shortly.   Gus looks like he could use a shot of it too, so just relax and start planning how you're going to get that charged," Ron ordered as he ignored her protest.
    Gus grinned at the exchange and said he agreed.   The door swung open and Ron followed Gus out into the passage.   He was trying to look around and take in every detail as they walked.   When they entered the dining hall, Gus showed him the procedure for food.   Ron took his and Tik's over to the table.
    When he opened his, he muttered, "I can eat almost anything that doesn't bite me first and even then, given an even break, I'll eat what bites me.   This slop is worse than liver and onions with a topping of boiled turnips.   I really want to get even with those Bugs now."
    The other two almost choked as they tried to hold their laughter and not bring notice to their group.   Ron forced himself to eat but he definitely didn't like it.   As soon as they were through, Wurden moved them to the repair hangar.   He wasn't aware that Ron could understand him because he was muttering to himself.
    "I don't know why they saddle me with a new beast.   How am I supposed to know what it can do?   I wonder how sick it is and how long before it dies.   There'll be complaints because my production drops