Nobody Told You to Stay Behind

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. I still remember the sounds of my family drifting off into the unknown, only to be captured - some killed - in the process. Their voices, echoing in their space helmets, muddled by the capacity of the intercom to transmit the message.

"I'm sorry, S

am! I love you until the end of time baby girl."

The last words my mom said right before our home - the Space Explorer 2500 - exploded into oblivion behind her. Her final shriek reaching my earpiece before all communication went silent.

That was the day I was saved (or salvaged) from the wreck of it all.

"Andromeda, are you thinking sadness again? Don't lie to me because I can tell." The alien who adopted Sam as their pet 3 years ago asked inquisitively.

They renamed the gentle human because a galaxy felt more familiar than that simpleton name.

Circinus was a kind creature, in comparison to her alien peers. Circinus is named after a constellation, meaning compass.

Sam realized early on that Circinus was the only one who could point her home. She could only accept this alien home was temporary. Three years in and Sam has taught her alien owner the English language, aspects of human life and different cultures. Sam had to explain why humans all looked so different - from our hair and skin tone to height and body type. It all seemed so strange to these creatures.

Circinus allowed Sam to refer to them as "her" even though these creatures had no specific gender.

These alien life forms that took the remaining survivors of the human race were enormous. 20 foot tall giants, standing on three limbs that could morph into legs, arms or even wings when needed. Three eyes captured every move and detail, making it impossible to not only escape, but to wonder or explore.

"Just missing my family a little more today, that's all." Sam finally responded.

Sam didn't have the energy to correct Circinus' grammar. She rather be thinking sadness than madness.

"Well cheer up, we are going to a party!"

The last thing 15 year old Sam would have thought was that at the age of 18 she would be attending a supervised party with 20 foot tall giants as chaperons.

Sam's captor had a purer heart or spirit or whatever, from what she had seen from. These life forms had peculiar tendencies and a cruel lack of empathy. These beings really had no place within any animal kingdom Sam could remember learning about back in school.

Sam tried to cheer up a bit. At least she was going to socialize with her kind again. It's been about four months since she last spoke with any person.

She still had hope she'd encounter her sister during one of these human mixer dates.

But she knew the real reason why Circinus and her friends had planned this event. They are trying to get us to reproduce.

Andromeda just wanted to be called by her human name. Her parent given full name: Samantha Volenti.

Circinus was ecstatic to showcase her developing specimen. They were lucky to have a young viable mate available to present at this next human mixer. The Council of One were eager to sustain this species presence on our planet. The goal was to grow them to the point when we can have a sufficient workforce to supply us with power during the upcoming lunar eclipse.

The eclipse will last for 6 months, in which hundreds of Nemintights die during this time. Frozen by the cold or starved by hunger. We have been searching for ways to sustain our right to live by searching for an alternative heating source.

Turns out, human waste is an excellent biofuel and their legs work as sufficient engines to run our efficient generators.

We just require a couple thousand more people and the human creation process is quite lengthy.

We are going to give them a chance to procreate freely to increase their likelihood for survival.

Otherwise, we will have to interfere, according the Council of One's recommendations.

_________________________________________________

"Hi, I'm Samantha Volenti. But you can call me Sam."

Like the good little human se was, she interacted with every single person there. Not because she was eager to replicate, but 1) to search for her sister and 2) to simply validate her existence and remember what it was like to feel human again.