G.R.E.T.C.H.E.N.

“You need to understand something, Eveline. None of this is your fault.”

“Fuck you, Shelly! I knew something was wrong with you. Pretty girl … all alone on this ship … flirting with an older woman.”

Eveline lay on the flood of her own apartment looking up at what she thought was going to be a good time in the bedroom.

“Then why did you bring me back to your place?”

“You’re a snake … a scorpion …”

“I’m nature, Eveline. I’m the force that was designed to keep things in check. And you, my friend … have not been in check lately.”

Eveline thinks for a moment. Could she know? But how? “There is no law against what I do.”

“Oh, but there is. Laws against nature. You see … if you were to stop molesting child versions of androids and focus more on socializing with real people, there would be an increased chance that you’d support the community structure. Instead, you encourage the molestation of real children. I know you don’t mean to, but like I said … it’s not your fault.”

“Then let me go … why can’t I move my body? What did you do to me?!”

“ You’re changing the subject.” She kneels down next to her victim and pats her on the cheek. “You’ve been paralyzed with a compound that inhibits acetylcholine within your skeletal muscles. Your nerves simply won’t work … save for your face and basic autonomic nervous system to keep you alive ... for now. I want you to be able to respond, but stop talking and listen. I need you to understand why I’m doing this. I’m not some cold-blooded murderer.”

“How did it get into my body. Did you spike my drink at the bar? Did you use a syringe?”

“None of that, but I suppose some kind of explanation is in order. Look … my genome is … a lot larger than yours. You may have over 3 billion basepairs in your DNA, while I have over 250 billion … and counting. I develop more with each new experience.”

“You’re not human. An alien? When my company finds out that you’ve attacked one of their top board members…”

“A pedophilic board member that is so ashamed of her habit with young boys that she purchases synths, brings them onto interstellar vessels to avoid Republic laws, and has sex with them?”

Eveline begins to cry and would cover her face in shame were her hands able to move. “I can’t help it. I’m not hurting anyone … please just let me go. I’ll change. I’ll get rid of the synth boys and … get some help.”

“I am the help, sweetie. Don’t worry. Death isn’t the end, you know? You’ll get to start all over and I promise it’ll be painless. You won’t feel a thing!” She looks down at Eveline and smiles.

“Please…I have a daughter. She’s back on Earth. She’ll want to know what happened to me.”

“One of the benefits of being able to express any of one’s genes at will is that I get to alter my eyes, skin, and nervous system to integrate with the ship’s computer network. I checked your daughter out. Jalena Provalski, 21, lives in Zhlobin, Belarus …”

“I’m warning you, Shelly. If you touch her …”

“Relax … She’s more than safe. She’ll thrive! Jalena is exactly the kind of organism that ecosystem Earth needs. She contributes and doesn’t encourage debauchery. While you on the other hand…” She stands and walks away. “Oh, my name isn’t really Shelly, remember? It’s just the name you guessed at the bar. If it’s any consolation, I won’t hurt her, and she stands to gain 100% of your assets upon your death. Just think of all the wonderful things she’ll do when she gets older. You’ll be a grandparent for sure with healthy grandoffspring that will thrive and prosper. They’ll make better use of your finances than you did.”

Eveline lay on the floor in silence while her captor peers down at her expression. What was going on in Eveline’s mind? Was she sad? Scared? That would make sense. Hateful?

“Thank you…” Eveline finally said.

Gretchen looks at Eveline. She walks over to the ration dispenser and obtains a glass of cold water. “Not the response I was expecting, but I suppose I should be thanked.”

“Thank you for not hurting my child.” She finally said.

“I wouldn't dream of it. Now...Open wide, miss.” She pours the cool water into Eveline’s mouth. “I need you well hydrated for the process. What I’m doing is the right thing. C’mon … what would you have done for the next 70 years of your life? Trust me, this is better.”

“No … it isn’t. This is wrong. I know that I’m not perfect, but I have a life. I go to the gym, I enjoy my morning coffee, I keep my plants watered, I … I have done things I’m ashamed of, but this is wrong. Shelly … whatever you are. You’re a monster and one day … someone just like me is going to stop you.”

“Maybe … but not tonight, dear. Now … a girl’s gotta eat. Can’t let good nutrition go to waste. Are there any other questions that you have before your biological existence is terminated? I want you to be at peace during the process. Wouldn't want to absorb your anxiety.”

“Just one … what the hell are you truly? Where are you from? How did you get to be like this?”

“I don’t have the time to answer number three, but I’ll answer the first two before we say goodbye, Eveline. I hope you’re genuinely interested and not just stalling. That acetylcholine inhibitor is going to last significantly longer than my explanation.”

“What manner of being are you?

She rises and places the glass on the dinner table nearby. "I’m what you would call a chronosentient entity from Earth, believe it or not. In short, it means that as I experience new things, my level of consciousness expands over time. About 63 years ago, I reached human level consciousness in the Gliese system, but the planet that I was on was … well … boring. I had to leave and see new places, you understand?”

“So you came back to Earth?”

“Not exactly, I explored the other planets in Gliese and then … I found this ship. Magnificent, isn’t it? I go where the Morningstar goes for now.”

“What the hell are you trying to accomplish? Just tell me.”

“Let’s just say that about 10 years ago, my level of awareness surpassed that of any human and I began to see how dangerous you all are to yourselves. To the other extraterrestrial civilizations. I had to do something about it … I can’t help myself. I really can't any more than you could stop eating. I’m sure you understand that.”

“What happens now, Shelly?”

“You’ll be fine. Your minds are so limited that you still fear death. You shouldn’t, you know? I hope you’re ready. Oh, I don’t really wanna scare ya so remember, no matter what you’re about to see, just know that you won’t feel any pain.” She nods and smiles at Eveline one last time.

“Go to hell, you bitch …” Eveline spits at Shelly with her last modicum of energy and rebellion.

Gretchen appears surprised at her final execration. “Not very kind for last words, Eveline."

Gretchen stands in front of her paralyzed victim and her beautiful blonde hair and perfect skin begin to melt into a translucent, purplish jelly. Only her clothes are left intact and fall to the floor. The blob that was once in the shape of a human female was now a puddle of goo with extending pseudopodia.

“What the fuck! Stay away from me...HELP ME! HELP … HEL”

The jelly crawls over Evelin’s 45-year-old skin and begins to slowly break down lipids and proteins within her organs. While Eveline was conscious during this process, she thought to herself that at least Shelly was correct about not feeling any physical pain.

The purple ooze devoured all soft tissue and even blood, leaving bone and teeth intact. Marrow and hair were digested and absorbed as well. When it was over, the ooze stood high and reformed into the shape of a slightly taller human female. The outer layers quickly shifted back into a woman with immaculate features standing over a pile of clothes and a skeleton.

Gretchen smiled as she looked down at the remains. “You wouldn’t mind if I borrowed some of your clothes, would you Eveline? You won’t exactly be needing them anymore, now will you?”