On the wall, words are smeared in blood:
SUBMISSION
Papers are scattered on the floor, caked in a sticky, unknown substance.
“What is it?” I wonder aloud.
I pick up a sheet, holding the dry edges up to my flashlight. I read:
His sex drive is insurmountable. Yesterday, we had to separate Turin from the other scientists. The others are demanding mates. His counterpart, Zakar is no better. We fear they might plan an escape. Have we gone too far? We were just obeying orders. I think of our home every day. I wish I never left.
Dr. Grubber
April 17, 2090
I take a step back and drop the paper. I want to head back.
We were lied to. The whole goddamn program was a lie. We weren’t starting a new world. They must have known about the aliens.
Before I can run out the building, a dark, massive figure appears at the other end of the hallway. His skin has a slight blue glimmer to it, just like the corpses we found earlier.
The alien sniffs, grunting and choking on air. His eyes grow red and threatening. Quickly, his biceps swell and solidify.
I choke on fear, paralyzed and disgusted by what I see. He’s a monster, a predator with no care for human life.
“There were experiments,” he growls.
I should scream, but nothing is coming through my vocal cords. I back against the wall. Without appearing as a threat, I kneel and act docile, bowing my head.
“I won’t tell them you came here,” I say. “Just tell me where the other team is.”
His laugh is dark and menacing.
“Please,” I beg. “We didn’t come to hurt you.”
He twists his neck and roars toward the ceiling. Hatred emanates from him, and I’m all out of ideas.
I’m going to be the first to die. I should have known.
Faster than a speeding bullet, he lunges from the darkness. In that moment, everything appears to slow down.
His abdomen ripples and swells. His thighs protrude. But what’s most horrifying is that he’s naked, and his cock is bigger than the galaxy.
I close my eyes and brace for the impact that never comes. The only thing I feel is the harsh wind, followed by his breath against my ear. “Leave this planet as fast as you can.”
Finally, I scream. But it’s too late. The alien beast is gone.
I hear footsteps running in my direction, but they’re much lighter. Fassbender comes into the building, rifle aimed with precision.
He lowers the barrel when he sees me.
“Naomi,” he cries. “What happened? Where is he?”
But as much as I try to understand what just happened, I can’t. He could have raped and killed me, but he chose to let me live.
I look at Fassbender, tears building in my eyes. “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” I say. “One thing I do know is a massive wrong happened here. I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
Four