The Best Night the Main Character Won't Remember

Location: Research Base (Redacted)

Aliens: Rivan, Planarian

The party is in full swing. Blem has been dancing with himself for the better part of an hour. I’ve had a handful of drinks and more than a handful of the catered snacks. The Planarians of the Research Board, unsurprisingly, are lining the wall, watching us in our reverie. Shar is among them. I can feel him watching me wherever I go and I do my best to make him jealous, as petty as that may sound.

 I decide to join Blem and he flashes a toothy grin. I give him my hand and he twirls me around. My head starts to swim, but it’s fun. I laugh out loud and fall into Blem, who holds me close. We move to the rhythm of the music. This gets a few of the other researchers to scurry onto the dancefloor. I try not to think about what it is we’re celebrating. “Just enjoy yourself,” Shar had said to her on the final day in the lab. Indeed, it was rare that any research team completed their work to such a “satisfactory” level to deserve a party.

 Someday soon, our “creation” would be unleashed into the galaxy. The Planarians had made many mentions of it being a drug that would help countless lifeforms. I didn’t buy that for a second. When we left the lab for it to be “sterilized” (with intense heat and laser fire), I paused for just a single second. The cages all rattled and a dozen eyes shone in the darkness, watching me. I tried to ignore their screams.

 “You okay?” Blem asks, holding me away from him so he can see my face.

 “Yeah, I may have just overdone it,” I say, trying to smile. I feel a tear streaking down my cheek. I retreat to one of the tables and sit down, trying to collect myself. With this project complete, I could request a transfer. Or even file for termination. Go back to Rivan and pretend none of this ever happened.

 I nearly jump when I feel Shar’s cold tentacle rest on my shoulder. I immediately look to the other Planarians, who haven’t seemed to notice. Or maybe they’re intentionally looking away. “What do you want?” I ask harshly. “I think it’s about time I go to bed,” I say.

 “Come with me,” Shar says. He turns away and begins to move for the door. After a moment’s hesitation, I get up and follow him. Foolish, I know. He leads me to a dark room full of vials and skittering things in tanks. He wraps me up in his tentacles and holds me close. Despite myself, I return his embrace. As my cheek meets the slick exterior of his head, I jerk back. I feel an immense fear radiating off of him.

 “What’s wrong?” I ask.

 “They’ve found out,” Shar says quietly. “They’re going to be coming for us soon.” I hear shouts from the hallway. I peek through the door and see Blem being thrown into a wall.

 “What are they doing? Blem didn’t do anything wrong!” I say and he urges me to be quiet.

 “No,” Shar says. “But now that the research is complete, the board can’t risk any of you spreading trade secrets.”

 “They won’t-” I say, wheeling back to look at him.

 “No. Not them, anyway. They’ll have their memories altered. They had too much to drink. Anytime they try to think of the research they’ll find something asinine. They’ll be sent home, or wherever the board sees fit,” Shar says.

 “What about us?” I say. I’m trembling now. The door to the common room is open. The music has stopped and the antiseptic white light of the lab bathes the Planarians as they drag out researcher after researcher.

 “I know it’s not much,” Shar says, his voice low. “But I did- do still love you.” Rage builds up until my fists are clenched so tight they’re going numb.

 “What about us?” I ask again.

 “We’ll have our memories wiped too,” Shar says, wrapping a tendril around my hand. He draws my hand to rest on the side of his face.

 “But that’s not all, is it?” I ask. Tears stream down my cheeks as one of the board slithers his way towards the door.