• I was both tackled and grabbed. I shrieked, an incredible pain jolting up my body as I hit the ground with a grown man holding me down. I struggled, kicking my legs wildly. He didn’t budge, just gave me an aggravated grunt and stood.
    I faced his chest but behind me I could make out whispers and murmurs of people. I wanted to scream but my lungs were being crushed. I heard my own ribs crack as the man moved forward. He dropped me and I could only stare at the ceiling, half crying.
    “You b*****d!” my mother shouted. She sounded so distant. “What-why do this?”
    “Because I’m looking for someone,” a laughing voice replied. I shuttered. My mind flew back to the man who was in my dream. His pale lips, curled into a taunting smile; his dark eyes gazing deep into your very soul and his laugh, his traumatizing laugh. “I’m looking for her.”
    I could only see the ceiling. There was nothing there besides the regular steal beams and the shiny metallic plates. That’s all I wanted to see. I wanted to wake up form that horrible nightmare and still be in the on call room. I wanted to walk out and be needed. But in the darkest part of my brain I knew that wasn’t a dream; I was caught in a corner, er, on the floor, with a big, grinning man looming over me.
    “I hate you,” I sputtered. The man frowned deeply; I smirked and gave a loud cough. “I hate your guts. I hope you fall in a ditch and burn. I hope you trip and land in a pile of glass. I hope a dog with rabies comes out of your closet at night and bites your genitals off. I hope you get kicked in the nuts and become sterile,” I went on, telling him my bad wishes and laughing at a few of them. I looked into his eyes as he became furious with every word that spilled out of my mouth. I saw myself in them, grinning childishly as I told him more and more until he was fed up and grabbed me by the throat, heaving me up.
    “I’m gonna make you wish you were never born, girl,” he hissed, squeezing my throat tightly.
    “Butch,” A smooth voice said. “Put her down gently.”
    My eyes darted from the man called Butch to the man who was talking. His crimson eyes and smile made me uncomfortable. My eyes widened as Butch put me down. As soon as his hands left my throat I turned tail and made a dash for the door, but not in a straight line. Butch was right on my tail. He gave a bounding leap and I dived to the side, just out of his grasp but into a whole group of unknown men. I gave a roundhouse kick and did a few back flips to get out of the way of their grabbing hands. Before I knew it I was being chased by at least fifty guys.
    “This is madness!” Boomer shouted. He glared from me to Butch. He took a running leap and I froze; he cut off my path. But there was more than one way out of this. I darted to the side. “Someone get her!”
    “Thank you track,” I gave a hoot, jumping over a group who dived at my feet. I turned toward a guy who stood alone. He fumbled with his blaster as he noticed my change in direction. I sideswiped him, sending him spinning into the crowd of captured people. I had his gun in my hand and turned around, holding it up and firing. Everyone stopped except Boomer, who took a few more steps closer to me.
    “What are you going to do with that?” Butch asked. I looked down with some thought. There were definitely not enough shots to get everyone with but I could do one thing to make them stop.
    I placed the nozzle in my mouth. Everyone froze again, except for Boomer, who wore a wide smile. One of his hands was behind his back and the other was in front of him.
    “Discovery Jones,” He whispered, stepping forward. I stepped back, glaring at him. “It is you, huh? Well, hello. My name is Boomer, cult leader if you haven’t already figured that out. I’ve done my research on you, dear. It seems that you haven’t gotten married yet. Is there a problem with the men on your ship?”
    I growled, glancing around the port. Everyone’s eyes were on me. I chewed the side of the blaster, fidgeting. Boomer took another step towards me and I took another back.
    “I can understand what kind of a situation you think you’re in, but this isn’t a mission to harm your station,” Boomer said kindly. “This is actually a mission to further the knowledge of science. I assure you, no one will harm your station.”
    “I don’t trust you,” I spat, stepping back.
    “I know you don’t,” Boomer whispered, “and you have great reason not to, but I need you to complete this-”
    “I’m not going anywhere with you, freak!” I screamed. Boomer took that moment to jump at me. I stumbled back as his cold fingers wrapped around my wrist. I gasped as I hit the wall behind me; cornered. It was like my dream. My eyes widened as I slid down the wall into a crouching position. He followed me, smiling widely.
    “Are you a good girl?” he asked.
    “No,” I shook my head.
    “Not a good girl, huh?” he asked with a small laugh. “Does your father know what you do at those parties?”
    “Leave me alone,” I whispered.
    “Have you had a boyfriend?” He asked. “Have you ever been loved? Have you ever had sex?”
    “That none of your business!” I shrieked. My face burned with anger and embarrassment. I wanted to punch him square in the jaw, but his hand held both my hands with sudden inhuman strength. He pulled his other hand from behind him and flashed a small needle in my face. I screamed.
    “Leave my daughter alone!” My father shouted.
    I pressed deeper into the corner, feeling so helpless. I closed my eyes tightly. Hell, if anyone thought I was a coward now, try having this guy be close to your face with the thing you hated.
    “Be a good girl and stay still,” Boomer whispered.
    “NO!” I shouted, kicking out.
    He hissed, narrowing his eyes at me. I stopped almost like I was hypnotized. He gave me a small smile. “Good,” he whispered. He pulled my arm out, kissing my wrist. I gasped, turning away. This was exactly like my dream. The only thing that was missing was the bear.
    He pressed the needle in my skin. I whined loudly, not daring to look at it. It felt like I was being probed. He pulled it out quickly, looking back at the man called Butch.
    “Take her to the room,” he said quickly. Butch nodded and approached me. I glared at him, trying my hardest to jump to my feet but they wouldn’t move. I was lifeless, my mind realized, like a puppet. I screamed again, this time long and fearful. The people in the crowds were rioting, shouting with anger as Butch dragged me away.
    Everything was getting blurry. I was loosing myself. My mind was trying to tell conscious from unconscious. For one second I was watching my family fight for me and the next I was face to face with Boomer, fangs glistening with hunger. He was smiling widely, whispering thing in my ear. Then I was back in the docking area, watching guns and blasters go off. I was back with Boomer. He was cradling the bear in one hand and inching a new syringe toward me.
    Screaming, I gave a sudden hit to Butchs’ back. He growled, grabbing my waist and squeezing, breaking more ribs. I felt like dying; wanted to die. It was better than what was going on. Only the sweet embrace of death himself would save me, but as I slipped into total darkness I couldn’t help but think of one thing.
    “Where was my panda bear?”