I tell him it's no problem and offer him a seat. He thanks me and sits.
Agustin: So what are you guys talking about?
Oliver sits slowly, then looks at me and back at Agustin. He doesn't answer. I don't answer, allowing Oliver to take the lead on something he finds uncomfortable.
Agustin: What's wrong with you, man?
Agustin looks at his friend strangely, then at me, and realization crosses his face.
Agustin: Let me guess. You're talking about the slavers?
Oliver: I'm sorry, mate, I didn't know you would...
Agustin: Relax, it's okay.
Agustin slaps his friend on the arm, then looks at me.
Agustin: You are writing people's stories?
I tell him I am.
He nods his head.
Agustin: Her story should be told. If you want to hear it?
I tell him I do.
Agustin: My story isn't too different from Oliver's. I'm an orphan. I don't even know how my parents died or where they were when it happened. They were both on a work trip to Panama when Invasion Day happened. They were importers and worked with some of my aunt's and uncles—kind of a family business.
I was twelve at the time, and I lived in a boarding school in the city of Georgetown. That's in Guyana. My cousin, her name was Ana, was eleven. She was a beautiful girl. Skinny but filled with life and joy and the most fantastic laugh. We were close, as close as any brother and sister.
After Invasion Day, our parents couldn't be located, and they finally told us they were probably dead. They didn't know what to do with us. They contacted distant relatives, but they were poor and couldn't take us in. The school, to its credit, kept us there for four more years. It was a religious boarding school run by some fierce old nuns. Things went fine, well, as fine as anybody could hope under the circumstances. The Veech didn't visit Guyana, at least not that I heard about. We stayed safe and sound as any kids could hope in those times. That lasted for four years.
The day it happened had been a good day. School had just started for us again and all the students were outside on a large football pitch after a day of classes. It was nearing dusk. I was playing ball with some of the guys, and Ana was with some girls closer to the school, just talking on some benches.
We never heard a sonic boom or anything like that, but we did hear the ship as it roared over the school. It was an ugly ship, the size of a few school buses put together. I remember the colors because it was so bizarre. A mix of browns, greys, and black, all patched together at uneven angles. I didn't know it at the time, but it's relatively common for raiders or slavers ships. They have no pride in their ships, and some of them even keep their hulls as unrecognizable as possible in case they're seen. They didn't care about any of that on Earth, of course; they could steal here without any danger or repercussions.
Anyway, the ship stopped right above the school, then jets of fires shot out of the bottom as it lowered itself down. It happened quickly. Most of us just stood there, transfixed by what we were seeing. We knew the Veech were out there, but we heard the war was almost over, and we were winning.
Some guys ran off the pitch. Others, like me, just watched it. Before anyone knew what was happening, a few aliens in suits jumped off the ship and shot some students who hadn't moved quickly enough. They figured out later that they were stunning shots. It was easy for the aliens. We didn't fight back at all; we were kids after all and were caught by surprise.
At this point, I remembered Ana and started searching for her. The ship had landed just outside of the pitch, between the school and me. I started running in its direction, thinking I had to find her. I watched as the aliens grabbed their victims, threw them on their ship, and took off. Quick and straightforward as that. The whole thing must have only taken three of four minutes.
I kept running, screaming for Ana. I made it to the bench she had been on, but it was empty. I stood there, looking for her, screaming her name. But I knew. I knew at that instant that she was gone. I remember looking up at the alien ship, watching it as its light faded into space. I knew my cousin was on it, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. It was a terrible feeling.
The next day I went to the Head Nun's office and told her I wanted to sign up with the TSC. We'd heard about the new schools from a report on the TV. The old woman nodded her head and picked up the phone, just like that. She understood.
My cousin would be twenty-one now and entering the prime of her life. She should be finishing university or planning on what company to work for. Maybe planning her marriage to some guy I would disapprove of. Instead, she's in a cage, or some alien's harem, maybe being dissected and studied like a lab experiment. She's all alone out there (Stops and looks down.) I hope she's dead.
So, here I am. I know the chance of finding my cousin is non-existent. She could be anywhere out there. Dozens of races are either hostile to us or indifferent to our existence. No, I can't help her, but I can stop more kids from being snatched and taken from their homes. And the Veech too. They started this, and they're still out there. They're going to get what's coming to them. We won't forget.
Do you think the TSC will be able to stop the next major attack on Earth?
Stop them?
He grits his teeth, stands, and looks directly
