A lot a random space stuff flies into the earth's atmosphere and burns up. So much in fact, that those organizations with the equipment capable of detecting that matter don't generally feel alarmed when it happens.
I imagine that these beings that brought humanity to heel were detectable by some means. Before their descension upon our unsuspecting race. Likely ignored just like everything else; why wouldn't they be? Until they didn't burn up, until they impacted the ground like rods of brimstone. Leveling miles of the earth's surface around their impact sites. Those who died in this way, were lucky, quick... first. They didn't have to see what came after.
Drones and aircraft were sent over these areas of course. They didn't last long. The feeds would go dead without catching so much as a glimpse of anything strange. Other than the sundered earth. It took almost a day I think, for
them
to reach any inhabited places. They don't move particularly fast. I think it's because they don't feel rushed. This was an attack at their leisure.
I was in my car, coming home from a not so interesting job in sales. I was fortunate to be in a vehicle when they came. I was nearly home, a block away. When it happened just behind me. A man, young, running in his athletic shorts and tank-top, flew into a mess of parts and viscera. Nothing visible near him, no monstrous entity, no blades, and no clue. Instant, brutal death at the hands of one of them. My rear-view soon became filled with similar instances of slaughter.
I didn't go home, I just drove. I made it as far as my car would take me. Middle of nowhere on a very long and deserted stretch highway. I got out of my car, took my backpack full of water and snacks, and trekked into the woods just about half a mile off the highway. Anyone who's worked in door to door sales would be foolish to not carry such provisions. The woods were strikingly quiet that night. I fell asleep quickly with my improvised coat-pillow.
I awaken to the sound of wind moving through the leaves. There's a rare but consistent bird song. Light is streaming at a low angle through the trees, it's still morning. I stand upright and slip my slightly damp jacket back on. It's spring and the weather is perfect, despite yesterday's events. The world keeps turning. After I eat a makeshift breakfast, I wonder back out into the long clearing between the highway and the woods. I can see my car from here.
The doors have all been opened, as well as the trunk. Perhaps more concerning, however, is that a figure sits on the hood. It pays me no mind, so I continue towards my car. I should stop. I should try and sneak away while I have the chance. But I haven't cared much for living for a long time now, and the things I saw yesterday... I can't find the will to be afraid of whatever I'm approaching. I would say that the only reason I drove away from the city, was habit. I was tired, and it seemed like the appropriate action to take, considering the carnage.
I'd stopped focusing on my car during that train of thought, the figure is now gone. I finally arrive at the road after walking for another two minutes. My car is just a few meters down. When I turn to walk towards it, the figure has returned. It stares at me, eyes glowing white and shaped like tilted half-moons. Its hair falls to its shoulders, black that fades into gray. It's body is large, at least when compared to my own. I'm surprised to find that it has the same number and arrangement of limbs. It's skin is a faded shade of blue, it's as pretty as it is unfamiliar. It begins to speak, though it lacks any visible orifice that the sound could be originating from. "Do you think of yourself as fortunate or unfortunate?"
My eyes widen slightly. Both the ethereal sound of this voice and the question itself work in tandem to jolt me awake. I decide to ignore the question in my indifference, and ask one of my own, "What have you done?"
Those half-moon eyes turn into full-moons at that, and its head perks up. "How odd! Not frozen with fear, nor fleeing from me." It strokes its chin, a strangely human gesture. "I'll answer your question. Your kin have been culled, 98% of your people have perished." My expression must have given away my surprise. "You are in no danger yourself, this ratio was the intended end to our culling. What remains of your people will not be harmed." It seems to take something like delight or pride in that accomplishment.
I think it wants me to react, to cry or curse. There isn't enough of me present right now to do those things though. "Did humans do something to you?" I ask, driven by curiosity.
It approaches me, it's eyes shining brighter as it closes in. "No, this was partially for sport, and partially to keep your kin from venturing forth from this planet. We've seen what your kind does to itself and this world. This could be considered a quarantine."
"Did you enjoy it?" I ask, wondering what sort of being it is.
It stops in its tracks and blinks. "Yes, I relish my work. Your kin die so satisfyingly, they scream and beg and pray. They don't realize just how much further they'd be in this universe, if they'd just left their gods long ago. It's fitting that they should speak those names as they fall." It places a four fingered hand on my forehead. "I'll show you."
A rush of images project themselves into my mind. I see people, dying by the thousands. Indiscriminate slaughter; men, women, and children sliced to bits. Silent cities, stoves left on and cars still running. A massive coffin of nameless dead. It let's go of my head and my feelings finally come to me. I fall to my knees and begin to sob at its feet. I'm still here, I'm ashamed to admit my relief at being spared. "I found a sickness in you while I helped you see, I removed it. It was a living sadness. How you lived with such a thing inside you, I can't imagine."
I stand and wipe the tears away. "You think that you just get to decide? That you're so far beyond us, that you can excise us like a tumour?"
"Absolutely, your inevitable expansion would have found its way to us at some point or another. Your history is one of conquest, we destroyed you because we feared you. This is not a question of superiority. All life is of equal value to my kind. This is why your species yet lives." It places a hand over its left shoulder and bows. "I may relish my work, but I do not relish the thought of tearing families asunder. This is why we killed families together if possible, and why you still live."
"I'm alive because I have no family?" That realization is both agony and relief, no one to go back to. No one to mourn either.
"Yes." A single affirmation, with a tinge of melancholy. I collapse once again, it's so much, too much. I bury my face in my hands and feel something pull me into an embrace. "You are thinking about those you knew. The very same people you will never see again." It's holding me as if I'm a weeping child. These hands are the same that slaughtered hundreds or thousands. Why is it comforting me?
"Why are you still here? I'm just one human, I'm sure you have somewhere else to be." I say, fury permeating my voice.
To my surprise it recoils at my tone. "The truth is that I find your species to be a beautiful one. My kind are psionic in nature, so our individuality is not so pronounced." It looks down into my eyes. "Some of you do unspeakable evil, some of you love, some of you create. Every soul on this planet had a myriad of dreams and ambitions." It runs its hands over my arms and chest. "Physically you are so delicate, you're features are refined and singular. An earlier stage of evolution when compared to my kind, and all the more alluring for it." It...
she
puts her hand under my cheek and draws my face towards hers. "I've often wondered about the compatibility of our two species. Wondered if we might be able to lay together."
When she's in contact with me I can feel my rage being sanded away. It's as if she has the ability to bend my feelings. I should push her away, but my desire to do so is fading as well. "Can you control how I feel?" Her eyes narrow in amusement at the question.
"I cannot, though I can make strong suggestions, would you like me to stop?" I should say yes, but I don't want to. I don't want to feel all that pain and rage. "In truth, I cannot leave your planet for some time. We expected this incursion to take a very long time. We expected resistance, we expected a war." She looks towards the sunrise. "My people will not be sending any vessels for about three of your planets celestial revolutions." She's here for three years, with no way home, on a planet who's remaining people will harbor resentment for the entirety of her time here. I can't bring myself to pity her, but I can understand her longing for home. She releases me from her embrace. "I'm being selfish... and insensitive. You do not wish to be comforted by one of my kind. I let my fascination and attraction to your kind cloud my judgment." I don't know how to feel about her. She says she doesn't regret killing my people, but that she also took no pleasure in the slaughter. Someone doing what they believe is necessary for their own survival. She is willing to be stranded here for years to achieve this end, even die for it.
"I don't... hate you. You did what you thought was right. But, I can't forgive you either." I walk over to my car, intent on leaving with that said, but it has no gas.
"Your vehicle seems immobile. I can take you back to your home if you like." She seems to be offering out of pity, or maybe some small hope that helping me will somehow make up for the genocide of my people. A thought rushes to the front of my mind. Do I want to return to the bloodbath that is the city? The slaughter is over it seems, but I don't know if can handle seeing its aftermath. She looks expectantly at me, her eyes slightly wider than usual. The light that pours from them is enthralling.
"I don't think I could look at it if I went back there." She flinches at that.
"Yes, of course, I wouldn't wish to look upon such a sight either." She points west, opposite the direction of the woods I slept in. "My dwelling is nine miles that way. I can take you there until my people finish removing the dead from your cities." I lack options, and walking the forty or so miles back to a place that likely smells like corpses isn't terribly tempting.
"Okay, I'll stay with you until my home is... habitable again." Her ears, which were hidden under her hair until now, peak out. They're pointed, though not much larger than my own. She's obviously excited by the prospect of a human staying with her. Before I can consider how exactly we're going to get to her home, she scoops me up into her arms. She looks down at me.
"I've wanted to hold one of you like this since I arrived here." She doesn't hide her giddy expression or tone. We begin moving more quickly than I'm prepared for. Her stride is is more of a leap that covers tens of meters at a time. She moves gracefully. Never faltering even though she's carrying me.
Only a couple minutes pass before we arrive. I'm a bit nauseous as she puts me down. "With how fast and strong you are, it's no wonder your kind ravaged us before we could retaliate." I say, hunched over.
"Yes well, we had very little data regarding the state of your people's weaponry. We were prepared for the worst." She isn't holding any information about her or her people back. I suppose no human is a threat to them anymore. Once I regain my composure, I get a look at her home. It looks like a sort of mobile campsite. I expected a spacecraft, something more advanced. But barely any of the implements here look like they use electricity. There's a solitary capsule that seems only large enough for a bedroom. "If you need to eat, you may tell me. I will show you where to find my rations." I can tell that she doesn't really know what to do with me. She seems satisfied just being close to me. Like looking at me is somehow satiating her curiosity.
Her gaze makes me squirm a little. "Is there something you need from me?" The question catches her off-guard. I don't think that she even knows what she wants.
