The year was 1955, and the world was in danger. This danger came not in the form of the atom and its radioactive caprices, nor from the pernicious touch of Communism. This danger came from beyond the stars, from the surface of Venus, and it came in sleek, metallic space-ships.
— — —
Rick Sullivan, square-jawed hunk and former GI, strode through the guts of the Pentagon. The darkened hallways through which he walked laid far below the earth's surface in the hopes that the depth would protect the secret projects contained within from potential attackers, but against their current foe, the United States could scarcely imagine how their defenses would hold up.
He shook his head, recalling the fateful day their enemy had made itself known. One month ago, an idyllic Sunday in Springfield, Illinois, had turned into something out of an H.G. Wells novel. The clouds had parted to reveal a shining cylinder of what appeared to be metal...though there was no way something as massive as that could float if it were. The cowering citizenry had run, screaming, but even over the din of their panic, the strange vessel's message could be heard for miles.
"B R I N G U S Y O U R H U N K S."
What they'd meant, no one could figure out, but a few days after the first contact between the alien aggressors and the people of earth, a private line of communication had been established through unknown means, connecting the President and the mysterious visitors. Similar ships had appeared over nearly every major American city in the days that followed. New York. Washington, DC. San Francisco. Chicago. The list went on as the weeks did the same, and soon the entire country was practically swarming with the damned things.
The government had been quiet on the subject, issuing little more than a few token acknowledgments of the strange objects. Didn't do much to quell the public's mounting uneasiness, but it was after one such scripted announcement that Rick had been called to the nation's capital.
Why he'd been called, he couldn't say. Heck, he was just an American everyman. Rough and tumble during World War Two, mellowed a bit when peacetime'd finally come. He'd reached lieutenant back in the war, true, but why they could want him specifically...he had no clue.
Well, he'd be finding out soon enough. He finally found the meeting room and stepped inside, saluting. "Former United States Lieutenant Richard Sullivan." He brought his hand down and made his way to the circular table that dominated the room. "I was told to report here to take part in the meeting. Supposed to be regarding those things that've been popping up all over the damn place."
The parties assembled within glanced up at his entrance, though only a few kept their attention on him. For such a large table, there weren't many people present. A few government officials in suits, one in a general's uniform, and one in a lab coat. One of the officials stepped forward, extending a hand. "George Roebuck, Secretary of Homeland Security."
Rick shook his hand, though his eyes widened at the title. "Homeland Security?" The issue was serious, of course, but he couldn't quite understand where someone as commonplace as he fit into things.
Secretary Roebuck nodded gravely. "That's right, son." Around an inch or two taller than Rick and greying at his sideburns, George seemed to be leading the meeting. He returned to his seat at the head of the table and motioned for Rick to sit at his right hand. "Now that Mister Sullivan's here, I expect it's about time to explain just what's been going on lately." He tapped a button on the table, and a projector hummed to life in the table's center. "And what we intend to do to solve it. Now-"
A picture lit up on a screen displayed to the side of the table. It showed the United States of America pocked with red dots . They seemed to be bigger over major population centers, but that didn't change the fact that they nearly covered the entire map.
"As I'm sure you all know - with the exception of Mister Sullivan, perhaps - we've been targeted by what our scientists believe to be visitors from another planet." Rick nearly snorted with laughter at the absurdity of the claim, but when the scientist rose from his seat to step beside the map, it seemed a lot less amusing. "I'll leave the theory on our 'guests' to our liaison from MIT, Doctor Frances Price. Doctor Price, if you'd be so kind?"
"Of course. Now." He pressed a finger to his glasses, pushing them back up to the bridge of his nose. Turning to the screen - now displaying a grainy photograph of one of the vessels - he spoke. "This remains a theory - insofar as anything lacking definitive evidence must remain a theory - but as far as we can tell, the 'space ships,' for lack of a better term, originate from another planet. Their construction outclasses anything possible on Earth, and the technology necessary to achieve such staggering feats is, in a word, inconceivable in its invention."
He turned to the table and continued. "It is therefore my professional opinion - and that of my colleagues, as well - that they originate from another planet, one with a civilization far more advanced than those currently found on Earth. This is further corroborated by the accounts of the President's communication with the 'mother ship,' for lack of a better term."
He gestured to a stack of paper sitting on the meeting table. "The transcripts document the request of whoever's operating the vessels. Said request was initially relayed in Mandarin before then being made in Swahili, Esperanto, and - finally - English. It was after the President responded to the fourth attempt that all further communication was made in English."
"And what was this request, Doctor Price?" Secretary Roebuck asked, leaning his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers.
Doctor Price looked to the screen, brow furrowed. He sighed. Pressing a button, he shook his head and continued as bold, dark letters were displayed on the screen.
BRING US YOUR HUNKS.
Rick gasped, eyes going wide at the sudden revelation. The initial message! Is that what they could have meant?!
Doctor Price nearly couldn't get the words out, but he forced himself to speak. "They want our hunks. Well-muscled beefcake is the sole purpose of their visit to Earth."
The room was so deathly quiet that a pin dropping would've sounded like a thousand clattering frying pans.
"My God," came Secretary Roebuck's horrified reaction. He rose from his seat, hands planted on the meeting room table. "And there's no error in translation? No chance that they-"
Doctor Price silenced him with one shake of his head. "That was the President's first reaction, too. He tried - valiantly, I might add - to steer them away from their supposed intent, but time and time again, they denied his every attempt at compromise or correction."
He pressed a button, and the picture displayed changed to a grinning bodybuilder being lifted from the ground up into one of the strange ships by a strange beam of light.
"Hunks."
"This-" Rick couldn't help himself. He rose from his seat, slammed his palms flat against the table, and turned to Secretary Roebuck. "This is insane! Nearly every guy I know's a hunks! You're telling me that these-" He thrust a single accusatory finger at the image on the screen. "That these extraterrestrial bastards are gonna try and gobble up all of them?!"
"Not just them," Secretary Roebuck intoned gravely. His eyes met Rick, and even he could see that Secretary Roebuck was struggling to keep his cool. Eventually he leaned forward in his seat, resting heavily on his elbow. "They're trying to gobble up you up, too, son."
Before Rick could even speak - not that he was in much of a position to talk - Secretary Roebuck continued. "Now, we can bullshit each other all we want, but it won't do us a lick of good. Rick, you're a hunk. A bona fide stud." He rose from his seat as well, narrowing his eyes and pointing at Rick. "And that's exactly whey you're here."
There was a pause. A heavy silence hanging in the air. Then, finally, Roebuck's shoulders sagged, he turned from Rick, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "God help me. Doctor Price, tell Rick why he's here." He shook his head. "I just can't do it."
Doctor Price had similar difficulties doing so, but in the end, he spoke. He did not, however, look at Rick once in his explanation.
"We have, as previously explained, a direct line to the 'mother ship,' for lack of a better term. In the process of negotiating a possible counter-offer, the President was suddenly given an ultimatum." Price had to pause for a moment, shutting his eyes and holding his breath. "He was to deliver a specimen for appraisal within forty-eight hours."
"That was forty-four hours ago."
Rick's blood ran cold.
"He's been stalling for as long as he can, but the deadline's approaching, and we can't risk reprisal. These things are over every damn city in America, just about, and there's no telling what they're capable of." Price turned to Rick, finally, and spoke. "We held a lottery, drawing from a pool of suitable hunks, studs, and heart-throbs. Your name came up, Mister Sullivan."
The words crashed down on Rick like a truckload of bowling balls. He staggered once, twice, almost toppling over from shock.
But he finally steadied himself. He stood tall. Proud. And though he was afraid, he fought his fear and kept his head held high. "What," he said, "do I have to do, doctor?"
There was a short-lived sigh of relief from some of the government officials, but it wasn't long before it was swept aside by Doctor Price's hurried explanation. He and Secretary Roebuck stepped forward, taking Rick by the arm and guiding him from the table to a side door. As he was led from the meeting room, he caught a glimpse of the general, saluting him with what looked to be tears in his eyes.