“I did not.”
My eyes narrowed and I took a step back, wondering if I’d need to defend myself against him. If he could understand then maybe he’d seek vengeance.
“Why are you talking to me now?”
“Because, I’ve finally met what I’m looking for,” he uttered in a deep, raspy, otherworldly voice.
A chill ran down my spine. I grasped at the table behind me, thinking that maybe I could toss a beaker at his head if push came to shove. Then, I could make a break for it and scream for help.
“Which is what precisely?”
I expected that if I were ever in this kind of situation, I would be terrified. But as I approached the creature, I was remarkably calm.
“What’s your name,” I asked.
“Vidar.”
“How are we communicating? I can’t imagine you speak English.”
“That is none of your concern.”
“I think it is!”
“Or what?,” he rasped, “You’ll attack me with another scalpel?”
I lowered my head to sheepishly avoid his gaze, my guilt rising to nearly astronomical levels.
“I was only listening to my boss.”
“Is that how humans are then? They listen to cruel orders without question?”
“No! Well, sometimes. I guess I did. But not everyone would. Maybe… I… It’s going to be hard to explain.”
“Don’t explain. Loosen the binds on my arms.”
“I-I can’t do that,” I answered firmly.
If Dr. Trout were right, if this alien had the capacity to break free from his confines and kill me, I didn’t wish to put him to the test, especially not after we’d gut him open and stuck needles into him for the past hour.
“Minerva Hsu. That is your name.”
“Yes.”
“You are more empathetic and intelligent than your coworkers.”
“Thank you. I’m still not going to let you go.”
“Fine. I don’t need you to let me go,” he rasped.
“I’m going to continue working now,” I answered.
“Do not tell Dr. Trout that I can speak.”
“I must report everything that happens in this lab.”
“No. You mustn’t.”
I decided to ignore the alien Vidar’s final comment and while it made me nervous to turn my back to him, I didn’t see how I had any other choice when I had work to do. I picked up a beaker and sprayed acetone into it to get it clean and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I screamed and turned around.
