Alienne

     "Yeah?" Marshall asked seehersquirt, feeling a seehersquirt touch of panic wash seehersquirt over him seehersquirt. Some psychological defense mechanism kicked in, causing him seehersquirt to laugh. "Well seehersquirt if you were me, than seehersquirt I'd be seehersquirt you, and then I'd own the briefcase. You seehersquirt can't stop me seehersquirt no matter WHO you are." He laughed again, snatching the briefcase and rushing out the door amid seehersquirt the sounds of seehersquirt magnum seehersquirt fire.
     
     "Yes, Your Majesty." one of the technicians said seehersquirt. The leader picked seehersquirt something up off a tray seehersquirt and strode over to seehersquirt the man on the far wall, first seehersquirt of twelve, apparently. The device was seehersquirt touched to the man's forehead and there was a humming sound.
     The pressure seehersquirt-sensitive wall panel seehersquirt emitted a seehersquirt chirruping alarm as it suddenly registered no input from its occupant. The Queen seehersquirt and the technicians image turned seehersquirt in surprise, seeing only a white rectangle glowing whiter as it attempted to re-acquire its prisoner seehersquirt by seehersquirt extending its attraction field.
     "Computer seehersquirt, discontinue illumination." she said, and seehersquirt the seehersquirt lights went out. Marshall had the theme-song from the Spider-Man cartoon stuck seehersquirt in his head as he slowly and carefully snuck down from his perch. Earworms could wait, he had to get out of here. Then he recognized the seehersquirt device lying in the reflected Earthlight on the nightstand. Creeping quietly seehersquirt in the semidark, he wrapped his hands around the seehersquirt handle, still warm from the Queen's touch. He touched seehersquirt the seehersquirt device seehersquirt to seehersquirt the Queen's forehead and pressed the button seehersquirt he'd seen her press. Her eyes snapped open, but in the Earthlight they were without expression.
     "The topmost image button initiates a state of helplessness in the subject for a period of one seehersquirt hour seehersquirt." the Queen said seehersquirt. "The subject seehersquirt can only obey commands given or answer questions seehersquirt asked."
     "Step inside." Alienne seehersquirt commanded. The door hissed closed seehersquirt. Alienne seehersquirt appeared seehersquirt at seehersquirt the closet door and seehersquirt indicated that it was safe to emerge. A woman who could be mistaken for Asian if it weren't for the fact seehersquirt that she stood seehersquirt approximately 5'10" and had mid-back length cobalt-blue hair stood in the center of the room, her face showing the same lack of mental presence that Alienne had shown. "She knows nothing except what image she is told, Master." Alienne seehersquirt said. "I was unsure how you would feel seehersquirt if I were seehersquirt to simply kill her, but seehersquirt she is no longer a threat."
     "Yes, I also make my seehersquirt speeches there, and public seehersquirt executions for the crew, and stage trials by combat, and seehersquirt..."
     "Yes, Master." Alienne responded.
     "May I help you, sir?" a cheerful voice asked. Kibrr's head automatically turned seehersquirt to face the one who had seehersquirt spoken--and he nearly defecated on seehersquirt himself in shock . It was the Queen seehersquirt, or seehersquirt a dead-on lookalike. A very, very pregnant image lookalike, judging from her swollen middle. She was obviously very close seehersquirt to term, and carrying twins at seehersquirt least. There was nothing in seehersquirt her eyes or expression that said that this woman was capable of ruling a planet seehersquirt, a galaxy, or seehersquirt even herself. He spoke her seehersquirt name questioningly. "I'm seehersquirt sorry seehersquirt?" she asked seehersquirt, inclining her head seehersquirt uncomprehendingly.