On Subject

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

Are you being witty, Professor?

Witty? I think not. No one could attest to the serious nature of my comment better than Subject 23. I assume she’s the reason I’ve been called before the Directive.

It has come to our attention that you continue to monitor it, although it has been released and returned to its habitat.

Beth Ann Moody is not IT. She is a female human, and is referred to as SHE or HER.

You have become quite sentimental where IT is concerned, Professor.

Perhaps I have. I nearly killed HER.

It nearly killed itself.

You’re going to continue along this line, aren’t you? I believe I will take my leave now.

You’re not going anywhere until we get an explanation for this coddling behavior.

Coddling? I haven’t had any contact with her, or supplied so much as a Snickers bar since returning her to her home.

And yet, you are monitoring it.

It is a simple surveillance. I’m concerned about her condition and want to make sure she recovers.

You have never done so with any other subject. What makes this one so special?

I don’t have an answer to that.

Professor—

It’s true. Anything I say will be perceived as insipid sentimentality.

Most likely.

All our specimens have been obtained for the purpose of finding a way to domesticate them—because our race finds them “cute”. Perhaps I became attached, much the way humans become attached to their pets.

Sentimental, indeed.

It was not my idea to attempt domestication. I simply followed orders.

You were ordered to stop before you obtained this specimen.

It’s true; I went against the Directive in a final attempt to make one comfortable in a familiar environment. We had limited success with this with Subject 12, but HE was anti-social and routine-centered when we got HIM, and as soon as we duplicated HIS native environment and re-established his familiar routine, he adjusted to life with us.

Subject 12, human MALE. You can stop goading me with differentiations at any time, Professor. I care not about distinctions. The limited success with Subject 12 has nothing to do with gender, I’d wager.

I don’t believe so. A human malady called “Autism” is more likely the reason Subject 12 is content to follow his mundane routines and to rebel violently when anything in his environment or his daily pattern is altered in any way.

This…revelation…means your limited success isn’t much success at all.

Success? No, I don’t believe it is. I’d say it has been more of an accommodation. Number 12 would be in much the same state on his own planet. In fact, he might be more agitated there, with interaction with other humans. His is a disturbing state of singularity.

It isn’t domesticated?

HE is not.

Domestication of fully grown humans seems most unlikely.

I’ve already told you I won’t be attempting it again.

What recovery has Subject 23 obtained so far?

SHE has failed to regain the weight lost during her attempt to starve herself to death. SHE has resumed HER relationships with HER family and friends, but is now seeing a special doctor to address HER mental health. Truthfully…we nearly broke HER mind. SHE is traumatized.

Do you believe IT will recover completely?

I do not know. And so, I continue surveillance.

You must discontinue.

I respectfully disagree and decline to do so.

You must discontinue.

No. I will not. I will watch until I am satisfied that SHE is recovered.

You have your orders.

You have my answer.

We have other work for you. You cannot do both.

Of course, I can. As you well know.

We have decided there may be another way to encourage domestication.

It has already been decided. There is not.

We have been going about it in the wrong way. We should be starting with humans who have not aged.

What? No.

Infant humans will not have grown to know typical socialization. They will more easily adjust.

NO!

Professor—

I said, no! We cannot abduct infants from their parents.

Don’t be foolish, Professor. We have no need to do such a thing. These creatures discard their infants at an astonishing rate.

What are you saying? We hover around rubbish bins and fire stations and snatch anything left behind? That’s—

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And, of course, it’s exactly the way to go about it.

We can’t—

We can. It has been discarded. It will not be missed. It is alive and ready to be domesticated.

What are you saying?

Subject 24 is being delivered to your station as we speak.

Great Galaxies! Has the Directive gone insane? Are brain scans required? This cannot be done! Have you learned nothing from Subject 23? Humans require interaction with other humans. Even an infant—no, especially an infant. Take it back!

We will not. You will discontinue your observations of Subject 23 and devote your time to the domestication of Subject 24.

It will die.

Had we not obtained it, it would be dead already.

It cannot be domesticated.

It knows nothing of other humans. It will adapt.

It won’t. It is…HUMAN NATURE. Without interaction, it will fail to thrive.

It was unwanted.

It was unwanted by one human. There are others who will want it and care for it. Return it to a safe place where it will be found and taken care of.

You will take care of it.

Directors—I beseech you—take it back. A human infant needs to hear the sound of human voices. We have no voices, and it cannot communicate telepathically. It needs to feel the touch of human hands. Machines do our labor, controlled by our minds. A machine cannot provide a warm and loving touch. If you force me to keep this infant, I guarantee nothing but its imminent death. Please. I am begging. Return the child.

You will find a way.

No! Please! No!

Return to your station. Devise a plan. Forget Subject 23 and concentrate on this one.

Without what I’ve learned from HER already, I wouldn’t know how badly this is doomed to fail. Any chance at all of success may depend on my continuing observations of her.

Should we re-take Subject 23?

NO! Great Galaxies, you’ve all gone mad. Mad!

Professor—

Silence! I will return to my station. I will continue to observe the recovery of Beth Ann Moody. I will attempt to keep the infant alive. But I want this on the record—you may well be called to account for murder if my work fails.

Don’t be dramatic. Don’t be ridiculous. They are merely creatures of a lower form.

Are they? I wonder who is really LOW at this point. Good day, Directors.

As I make my way back to my station, I cannot stop my worries. How will I keep Subject 24 alive?

Subject 23 must NOT be re-captured. But perhaps I can learn more from her...somehow...

To be continued...

~~~~**********~~~~

Author's Note:

The story above was prompted by a Vocal Challenge, and features mentions of a character I previously created. Subject 23 and her experiences often lend themselves to thoughts of future works.

Subject 23, Beth Ann Moody, made her first appearance in my 2015 Novellette:

This was followed by a short-story sequel: