“Name’s Dexter Pollard,” the black guy replied. “You can call me Dex. I’m a lieutenant in the marines. The others … well, we all haven’t been properly introduced yet but you wanna start?”

“I’m Captain Warren Miller of the Space Agency. I was heading to our base when … this happened.”

A blonde woman stepped forward. “I’m Lieutenant Debra Knight.”

“Corporal Jake Terrence over here.” He was a younger man, maybe twenty-one. He wore his brown hair shaved to stubble and looked exceptionally thin, as if he’d just gotten out of training. “Armor.”

“Sergeant Gary Brennan.” He stood at just over six feet with clear blue eyes and a black stain on his scalp that must’ve been the beginnings of hair after it was shaved recently. “I’m a marine with Dex. We’re from the same base.”

Dex gestured to the others. “The civilians over there haven’t been very talkative. I woke them up and calmed them down but they’re pretty messed up just now.”

Warren nodded. “Now that we’re all properly introduced, do any of you know what’s going on? Are they going to be okay?”

“We’ve all been in this room,” Dex said. “Abducted by those things. Since you’re Agency, maybe you can tell us what’s going on. As far as they’re concerned.” He looked at the civilians. “I figure we’ll have them hang back. I don’t even know their names. One of them said something about a bad car accident and his wife dying … it’s rough.”

“Yeah, enough about them.” Gary stepped forward. “What’re you got, Agency guy? Because I sure didn’t buy that bullshit your Colonel was selling. You guys had to know about this in advance. There’s no way you didn’t. Not with all that money you got flying around. I want more information and I want the truth!”

Warren smirked. “I’m flattered you think I have all the answers. I don’t have a clue what’s going on right now. I thought I was dead, honestly. When I was on my way to the base, I was stuck in traffic. A shadow fell over me and everyone around me. We started running … people … they …” He paused, rubbing his eyes.