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other party leaders across the Asian continent. Meiyu
passed him a drive with the latest high-security downloads from the
network. It wasn't that he couldn't have downloaded them directly
to his system, but security precautions trumped efficiency. Not
everything was networked, and some sensitive data was spoon-fed to
one system and then passed along via drives by hand. It wasn't an
elegant arrangement. It was damn clumsy, to be honest.
    But those who knew more about these Invaders than he
did had assured him that this would somehow throw off the Enemy's
infiltration. As a leader, sometimes you had to trust those below
you. Even when the sky was falling, no, especially then, you had to
trust someone.
     

Chapter 2
     
Skye, the Abducted
     
    We had our 'brainwashing' session after we were done
listening to the maddening broadcasts from Earth, frantic voices
which talked of cities ripped apart. Compared to the
propaganda-like broadcasts, our brainwashing session was a subtler
form of torment. These things came at us, and they were maybe the
size of a nightstand yet with legs like the tentacles of an
octopus. From each thing's 'head' came purplish stalks, a twin set
which inserted itself into our ears. Asking you to imagine these
disgusting creatures with their antennae-like limbs implanted in
our heads, you might wonder if it's all too absurd to be real. But
the nightmare was real, and we sat helpless to do anything except
view image after image projected into our heads as if a monster
were shoving flash cards before our eyes.
    We concentrated on what had originally seemed to be
gibberish. Now and then the symbols combined into glimpses of
meaning. It was as if they were teaching us some kind of code by
repetitive exposure. In just a matter of months the symbolic
gibberish had even begun to invade our dreams.
    The five of us focused on the language tutorials for
the better part of three hours, until at last the morning routine
ran its course. The hideous arms withdrew from us, and the assault
of symbols eased up on my tattered thoughts. At last I felt just
sweet, sweet blankness. I had my mind to myself.
    I could sense though, that it was about time to go
up. Routines did that to you after long enough, encouraging you to
develop your our own inner clock.
    I grasped the nearest length of rope-like tissue,
made out of what, I could only shudder to guess. Myla, Oliver,
Jobe, and Kane did likewise. Soon we were sprawled on Level 2. This
had been the appalling level, then the awkward level, and finally
the cautiously pleasant and tolerable level - a gradual development
during our captivity the past few months.
    Level 2 was the 'courtship' level. Yes, you heard
right. After our first few days the Enemy had made it clear to us
that this was the Level's purpose. When it all started, Myla and I
were expected to pair off with two of the men. I chose Jobe and
Myla chose Kane. I hated the way this isolated Oliver, but we
didn't have a choice.
    The aliens seemed content to let us go at our own
speed, which meant that although we were required to spend time in
a tight, confined space with our chosen 'partner,' we weren't
forced into any physical act we didn't want to do. What had begun
as an awkward 'blind date' had gradually evolved into something we
looked forward to.
    You might think that five people being trapped in
various communal spaces would eventually adjust to always being
together. But there's a persistent need to have some privacy, and
this was the only time I had anything close to privacy…so yes, the
once-awkward blind dates with Jobe had become something more to
me.
    "Hey," Jobe said, caressing my cheek. "You doing OK?
Who would you like me to do today?"
    Each day he would attempt impersonations for me.
Actors, T.V. personalities, celebrities. It was a good way to wring
some laughter out of me.
    I clasped his hands, looking down at him as he
blushed.
    "Surprise me."
    Full confession here: I had begun to fall for Jobe,
and we