Copyright © May 2017 by CiaoSteve
Foreword #1: All characters in this series are over 18
Foreword #2: This is pure fantasy and could contain events which may not happen in real life
Foreword #3: This is part 2 of "Close Encounters". Although there is a little recap at the start of the story, you may want to read the first part to get up to speed with the story to date.
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Mitch Dawson was a reporter, but no ordinary reporter. For one, he worked for the Charlottesville Courier, the local rag in a sleepy backwater where nothing really happened. For two, Mitch was a believer. No, not a fan of a successful Canadian singer/songwriter. Mitch believed we were not alone, that life existed beyond our little planet and that one day he would prove the doubters wrong.
Could today be the day? He had been left a journal written by a mysterious young woman going under the pen name of Kendra Stewart. He'd only read a few pages to date but already he though he knew something of Kendra and the predicament she and her fellow students found themselves in. She had asked for help and help is what Mitch intended to give. If the story was true then this was the opportunity of a lifetime, the opportunity to make history.
Mitch had rushed into the office that morning, eager to find out more about the mysterious Kendra. Hunched over his laptop Mitch had been trawling the net, looking for a clue, any clue. Any term he could think of went into various search engines. The results though were not useful, either no matches or too many matches.
He tried Googling the clothes she wore in the photo and this did give a clue. The uniform was very similar to one belonging to an out of state university. Similar but not identical, but similar enough to dig a bit deeper. Scanning the local online newspapers he did pick up on a story about missing students, 5 cheerleaders who didn't return from a ball game. It dated back some 3 years and was followed by various updates on the initial investigation until a story a few months later reported that the students were believed by friends to have gone travelling. After that the trail went dead.
Mitch rustled up a few e-mails; one to the university where the cheerleaders had studied, another to the local newspaper who ran the original stories and finally one to the local authorities. Each mail more or less the same; what did you know of the girls, is there any new information, do you have any contacts. Mails sent, Mitch poured himself a coffee and returned to the journal to see what other secrets it contained.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(By way of a quick recap, the five cheerleaders found themselves in a modern blue room in the company of two aliens, aliens though who had taken human form by feeding off human emotions. Kendra herself, still dressed in her red and white uniform was bound into a chair at one side of the room staring wide eyed at her four young friends. Van, Sabi, Mei and Lauren were each sat opposite dressed in nothing but their birthday suits but each wired up to a high tech VR style headset just slightly thicker than a pair of wrap around sunglasses.)
I (Kendra) didn't know where to look. This was sick. I was being held captive by a couple of aliens not knowing what they intended, yet at the same time I was once again intrigued. Just like in the changing rooms there was a compulsion to sit and stare, an obsession with the view of the four naked friends and curiosity as to what they would do next. I was brought back to earth by a male voice from the side.
"As I said, it's your choice. Come with us, teach us about sex and your friends can return back to their normal life. They won't know anything about today and other than you seeing them in the nude there will be no damage done."
"No, I can't," I replied "and,
after all
, how do I know they are even under your control?"
"Come my dear, your reaction is understandable. I guess you need a little demonstration to make you a bit more comfortable in your situation. First, let me release you from that chair. Do remember though that there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Create a scene and you'll end up just like your friends."
Gently the binds were released at both my wrists and ankles. Feeling stiff I stood up, and stretched a little. Still dressed in uniform it very much looked like I was warming up for a one woman show. Ironic when you think of what was to come.
"So, you see Kendra, your friends don't know you are there or even that they are sat naked next to each other. With the devices they are wearing I can control their minds in such a way that they will only see what I want them to see, will only have the experiences I want them to have and, at the end, will only remember what I allow them to remember. Go on, why don't you say hello, but don't have any ideas of removing the devices as this would harm your friends."
I wandered over, circling each girl in turn, calling out their names but all to no avail. There was not even a glimmer of response from any of them. Deflated, I wandered back and sat in my chair, waiting for what was to come next.
"So my dear, back to the original question. Who's going to be first?"
I thought for a while and, much as I didn't want to choose anyone, all I could think of was the fact that we wouldn't be here had it not been for Van getting her leg over in the changing rooms.
"I need an answer." His voice was becoming a little harder, more commanding.
I plucked up courage and nervously replied. "Van, let it be Van, she's the one who got us into this situation, so
