Four Naked Men in a Room

by Michele deBes

The four men woke at the same time, each naked on his warm plastic slab. The large man at the end was standing in one movement. He backed against the wall surveying the other men suspiciously. They leaned on their elbows, eyeing his bulging muscles and combat stance.

“Relax friend.” said the man closest, as he eased himself up, running a hand through his short brown hair and looking around. He swung his legs over the slab and slowly spread his hands. “I think we’re all in the same situation here.”

The big man grunted, his blue eyes flicking round the white moulded room. “Decontamination unit.” He said in a gruff voice, shifting from one foot to the other as he tried to keep an eye on all three of them at once. “You’re all Jorgean?”

“Yeah, who else, just cool it.” Said the small man on the third slab. “Must have been some sort of viral attack to pull us out without any warning. I went out like a light. What a drag.”

The big man grunted again, stopped rocking and looked at his feet. He looked up again, eyes bright. “Flight drive. We’re underway.” He said.

The second man slipped lightly to the floor and stood evenly on each foot, his eyes on the ceiling as he felt the vague hum in the soles of his feet.

“Yes.” He said.” I think you’re right.”

“Um ... excuse me.” Said the man on the last slab. He rose and took a few steps but stopped when they all turned to him and regarded his soft pale body with its dusting of freckles and orange hair. “Um Hi, I’m Stewart Stewart and um ...I’ve got no idea what you are talking about.” He smiled hopefully from one to the other. They were giving each other sideway glances.

“Is this one of those shows ... you know ... abducted by aliens or something.” Stewart’s smile broadened and he looked around for cameras.

“What’s he doing here.” Hissed the big man.

The second man shrugged as he turned. “I’m Saxon Bard and no, it’s not a show.” He said, a mixture of surprise and interest on his face.

“Just call me Dane.” Said the third man. “Don’t forget these places are bugged.”

They all turned with polite interest to the big man. He glared at one after the other and stopped at Stewart. “I am Sergeant Tanner,” He said straightening his massive shoulders. “and you’re dead, earthman.”

He advanced on Stewart each footstep resounding. Stewart stumbled back in shock and was soon on the far wall.

“No.” said Saxon. “He’s a civilian.”

Stewart watched horrified as Tanner’s fist was pulled back. Suddenly the snarling face changed to a look of total bewilderment and he jerked to a halt, swayed, and slowly collapsed to the floor, making a giant mound of flesh at Stewart’s feet.

Saxon was standing with his hands on his slim hips. “I’d move away from him if I were you, before he comes to.” he said.

Stewart wasted no time stepping over Tanner and putting as much space between them in the cramped quarters.

“Thankyou Saxon.” Said Stewart. “Um what did you do?”

“Just a little pressure applied to the base of the skull.” Said Saxon. There was a pink flush high on his cheeks and his eyes were bright.

“With your big toe!” said Dane, making sure Saxon was between him and the Sergeant. “That was awesome.”

“Well thank you, really.” Said Stewart as he thrust out his hand to Saxon who looked at it for a moment before shaking it.

“Shouldn’t we tie him up or something?” said Stewart, looking around the smooth plastic tank and over their naked bodies. “Oh.”

“I’ll look after him.” Said Saxon.

“I bet you will.” Said Dane. He eyed Saxon up and down, the lean well proportioned body and its relaxed but balanced stance. “Hey, your not ...”

Saxons brown eyes hardened on Dane.

“Not saying anything.” He said quickly.

“Look, what’s going on?” said Stewart. “Who are you guys? And why does ... he want to kill me?”

“It’s better if you don’t know.” Said Dane with a fake smile. “Believe me.”

“He’ll find out soon enough.” Said Saxon and his eyes were sympathetic.

“But they might realise their mistake and put him back.” Said Dane.

“It too late for that. We could be light years away from earth already.”

Stewart made a small sound in the back of his throat, then covered it by coughing.

“Well it’s the rules, I’m not saying anything.” said Dane. He turned away then noticing Tanner was stirring. “Hey guys.”

Saxon strode over to Tanner as the man pushed his head off the floor with shaking arms. He leaned over and said something in a low voice that the others could not hear. With a small satisfied smile, he straightened and walked back. Tanner pushed himself to his feet and sat on a slab with his back to them.

“What did you say?” whispered Stewart.

“I pulled rank, gave him the stand down code.” Said Saxon.

“How much rank?” Asked Dane eyeing Saxon with even wider eyes.

“Are you guys in some sort of army?” said Stewart.

“Yes but I am strictly tech support.” Said Dane. “And that’s all I’m saying.”

Stewart turned to Saxon. “Would you please tell me what’s going on?”

“Man didn’t originate on earth.” Said Saxon.

“What!” Said Stewart.

“This is going to take a long time.” Said Dane perching on the end of a slab.

“Sorry go on.” Said Stewart.

“Humans came to earth as a secret party of religious colonists. They were lost for a long time. Now we’ve found you again. And we are trying to bring you back into touch with the rest of the universe.”

“Only you guys aren’t too happy about it.” Said Dane. “And you’ve had a long time to learn how to fight dirty.”

“I ... I’m an accountant. I don’t know anything about ...” said Stewart, swaying on his feet. He made his way over to a slab and sat down. “Here I am voting green and earth is involved in an intergalactic war.”

“It’s not that bad.” said Saxon.

“I’ve just had a man try to kill me cause I’m from earth. I call that bad.”

He’s probably seen a lot of action. Maybe lost some friends.”

There was a grunt from Tanner and it was obvious he was listening closely to the conversation.

“Ok let’s try to piece this together for you.” Said Saxon. “Where were you when you were knocked out?”

“DCG Building. 27th floor.” Said Stewart. “New York, Earth.” He added sourly.

“I was there too.” Saxon said and his eyes flicked to Dane who nodded.

“Me too.” Grunted Tanner.

“Then how come you guys don’t know each other?” asked Stewart.

“There were over two hundred Ops ported in that night. My guess is that someone earthside found out and attacked us with something airborne. We would have been pulled out immediately for decontamination. You were ported too.”

“Last time I work back late.” Said Stewart.

“Our meds are a lot better than yours.” Said Dane. “It’s our policy to retrieve civilians. Your lucky.”

Stewart shook his head, his pale eyes round. “So I’m a prisoner in a space ship from another galaxy. You call that lucky. I’ve lost everything. I’m totally fucked!”

“You won’t miss that earth crap.” Said Dane.

Stewart was on his feet. “I had family, I had friends, accountants have lives too you know.” He said then sat back down again with a slump. “Who am I kidding?” he said softly.

Saxon moved closer to Stewart.

“I know this is a lot to take in all at once. You’re bound to be confused but I have some authority. I’ll make sure you’re OK.”

Stewart raised his eyes and saw the determination there behind the pleasant smile.

“How are you going to do that?” said Dane. “The guys an illegal alien. They’ll send him to the mines. What do you reckon Tanner?”

There was a grunt from Tanners broad back. “Leave me outa this.”

Saxon straightened, his body becoming one tense line, his eyes narrowing.

Dane threw up his hands. “I’m cool. I know when to shut up.” He said.

A tone sounded and a female voice rang through the room.

“Decontamination complete. Please put on the clothes you’ll find in the lockers.”

A panel slid back on the side of each slab. The men put on the pale blue trousers and shirts in silence.

Another tone sounded and they all looked up.

“Stewart Reed, please exit the unit.”

Stewart blanched and looked at Saxon.

“Don’t worry I’ll look out for you.” Said Saxon as he grasped Stewart’s hand. He shook it as he moved them to the door that slid open.

Stewart turned to Saxon. “Thankyou again. I guess this is ...”

Saxon gripped his hand hard then pushed on his arm, propelling them both through the hatch, that shut behind them.

Stewart fell backwards through a group of soldiers and hit the floor hard. He saw a blur of feet and fists above him and then all the soldiers were lying on the floor with him.

Saxon extended his hand down to Stewart who took it gratefully.

“Feel like helping me take over a starship?” said Saxon.

“Your ...?” Stewart regarded him closely.

“Yes. I’m from Earth. Fancy going back there now?”

“You can fly this thing said Stewart.

“No. But there’ll be some earthling coming out of decontamination who will.”

“You mean. The virus ... the ...”

“Yes. All part of the plan. There’s a team of us. Here, help me cuff these guys.”

He knelt and removed the green bands dangling from the belt of a prone soldier and showed Stewart how to secure them.

A chime sounded.

“Sax? You there?” it was a female voice again but definitely not virtual this time.

“Yes Deb. Area secure.” Said Saxon.

“Hold.”

“Holding.”

He smiled at Stewart.

“Gotta love that girl.”

A dull thud was sounding from the door and they moved close to listen. A thin wining voice could be heard.

“Come on guys don’t leave me in here with Mr personality.” It was Dane.

“He knew something about you.” Said Stewart.

Saxon smiled. “We’ve stolen some of their arts. He thought I was a Chen Master.”

“Are you.”

“I wish.”

“So ... you’re like a Chen pupil?”

“Something like that.”

“I’m sorry about the mine joke. Come on guys.” Wailed Dane.

“Will Tanner hurt him?” said Stewart.

“No.”

“So you know the stand down codes. That’s so cool. Good old earth ingenuity.”

“I told him that I was a Chen Master and if he hurt my friends I’d crush his skull and hunt down his family.

“Oh, No wonder he kept a low profile after that.” Said Stewart.

A tone sounded.

“Sax, we’ve isolated the bridge, we need you up here now.”

“I’m on my way.” He said and headed up the corridor.

“Isn’t this dangerous? I mean, I can’t fight.” Said Stewart running a few steps to catch up.

“Your safe with me.”

“What if they have Chen masters?”

“They’re rare and expensive.”

“Except on Earth.” Said Stewart.

“You’re catching on quick.” Said Saxon. “We’ll have you up to speed in no time.”