Sample X

MS Word Word Count: 300

The plane crash was terrible.  There were no survivors.  Search and Rescue did the best they could to retrieve the remains of the victims, but some of them couldn’t be identified.  The unidentifiable remains had been sent to Research Facility Nine for DNA comparison.  They didn’t normally do this kind of work, but they were the closest facility to the crash site.

“There’s a very odd DNA chain in this blood sample,” the lab assistant said. “There’s a double-helix, but it has threads of some other material running through it.  There seems to be no pattern to them at all.”

Dr. Marchand removed his glasses and walked to the microscope.  “Let me see.”

He clucked his tongue as he peered through the eyepieces.  “They look like proteins.  Run a chemical analysis and let’s see what they are.”

The doctor heard a clattering in the back of the lab, and turned to see a young man he didn’t recognize pushing a janitor’s cart.

“Excuse me,” he said.  “But who are you?”

“I’m Geoff,” the man replied.  “I’m the new janitor.”

“What happened to Ralph?” 

“He took early retirement.  The Agency sent me.”

“This is sensitive equipment,” the doctor said.  “Please be careful.”  Then he returned to the microscope.

“Doctor,” the assistant said.  “These proteins are like nothing found on Earth.  I believe this DNA is extra-terrestrial.”

They were so engrossed in the work, neither saw the tentacle that impaled him.  With a wheeze, they fell to the floor.

Geoff’s eyes glowed a bright red as he stood over the two bodies.  He spoke in a gravelly voice into his wristwatch.  “To Command: I’ve retrieved the samples and eliminated the scientists.  The humans are intelligent enough to detect us.  We need to disguise ourselves more carefully to successfully infiltrate this planet.  Message ends.”