The Evaluators

I saw a giant hall, as high as a ten-storied building and wide like the national stadium. The hall was circular in shape, and had sort of ridges running along the sides. On closer look I discovered that the ridges were actually rows and rows of cubicles, and some sort of people were working in every one of them.

The bottom floor was totally empty, save for a sort of giant musical windpipe piano at the very end of the hall. I crept cautiously towards it, trying to blend in the background and not get noticed by one of the critters working in the cubicles. Suddenly the pipe organ moved, then a part of it detached and started lumbering towards me. Already feeling jumpy in the weird place, I gave a shriek of shock. The piece of pipe organ paused for a moment, then started moving again, this time much faster.

I turned around and ran to get out of the place. Heck! If they wanted to do anymore investigation, they could send in the complete 23rd air attack battalion and storm the place. I looked for the opening in the wall, but there was none, it was gone and the whole wall was one single unit.

I looked back and saw the pipe organ getting nearer. It didn't look like a pipe organ anymore, it was some sort of scaly animal, big, and dull gray in color like a reptile. Amazingly it was walking on two legs. It looked funny, like a cross between a chimpanzee and an iguana.

I was contemplating whether to open fire with my plasma rifle when it spoke. "Hello. How did you find us?" To my surprise the voice was not a guttural mechanical drone as I had expected, instead it spoke in the clear ring of an educated person.

"Uh...ummm...I...I just walked in and there you were." My response was a lot less impressive.

"That I can see. I guess you must be surprised to see this place. Well, there's nothing to be afraid of. This is just a laboratory."

"What...err...Who are you?"

"My name is Jbino, and I am pleased to meet you too." Believe it or not, it actually sounded a bit cross.

"Uh...ok." I was beginning to get my bearings. "A lab? How interesting! I am just an explorer, came to see the Andamans. Nice place you have here. I wonder what you research?"

"Out objective here is to ascertain the suitability of human race for upgrading to the next level." It said, straightening up, now it virtually towered over me, and I had to crane my neck to see the top where I imagined the eyes were.

"Really? Are you from India?" I asked.

"India? No, we are from the neighborhood. Yes. But a little further away." It said.

"Well I am a representative of the Indian government, and I am here to check your permission for conducting experiments in this area." I decided to bluff a bit.

"My knowledge indicates that your people of your features exist primarily in the western part of your planet. My knowledge of your social and political systems also suggests that your people usually induct men of their own region in their defensive units. Your statement does not sound true. Please immediately state the true purpose of your visit." It sounded a bit threatening.

"I am telling the truth. I was born in another country."

"We have methods to check." It said and lifted one of its pipe like hands, a nozzle of some kind of gun came out of the hole in his hand, and before I could react I was engulfed in a blue light beam. I felt a my spine stiffen. I was alive and could think clearly, but I couldn't move a muscle.