When are you going to show me what's under that mask?

The Goddess strolled casually around the small chamber. She at one time considered adding sound dampening, but concluded that the sound of the occasional scream might help keep her minions on their toes. She was circling a waste high table upon which a nude man was chained spread eagle. His body was glistening with sweat and his face had the look of abject terror. As the session progressed his answers were punctuated by bouts of uncontrollable sobbing. The Goddess relished it when her "guest's" were at last totally given over to her will. This one had only lasted an hour. 

"So my good doctor, you were saying that your world has a population of over six billion,"  she purred. When he hesitated the Goddess using the long finger nail of her right hand index finger,  easily penetrated  the skin between the ribs on his right side. He screamed,"Yes madam! "And how do you address me" she said as she twisted her fingernail in the wound. "Yes Goddess"he said through clinched teeth. "Much better" she said as she licked blood from her finger nail. "Now tell me the coordinates for dimensional transfer so that I may visit your charming world" "Please Goddess don't hurt me again, but I can't", His said as his eyes cast about in horror. "Can't" was her one word reply. Her finger touched a button on the remote she grasped in her hand.  A soft hum filled the room and an intense red light shone upon the man's groin area. He writhed in pain and screamed. "My good doctor, my pain ray is on the second lowest setting, should we try it at a higher setting?" she cooed sweetly. " My goddess I don't know the answer, our equipment was destroyed during your attack and the only person who might be able to tell you was the expedition engineer Louise Saunders. " he managed to gasp out. Using the pain ray much more might cause impairment and he would be of no use. Besides he was probably telling the truth. "Guards!" she screamed"return it to it's cage.

At that moment Dr. Bazz released the electro- pneumatic restraints on Louise's bed. "Be careful, even though you are well on your way to recovery, you are not fully healed" warned the Doctor. Louise did not know if she should look at Bazz's head or the Universal Translator on his belt when he spoke. The Doctor continued "We are fitting you with an exoskeletal aid similar to the one Zero wears to further aid the healing process and it will allow you move about normally with out unduly stressing your newly knitted bones. As if on cue three saurian assistants entered the room with the apparatus.  Zero discretely left the room while it was fitted. The "nurses" also brought her fresh clothes. They  soon had her outfitted in a uniform of soft grey fabric similar to one worn by Zero minus the mask, goggles and gloves. The exoskeleton was marvel of engineering. The miniature servos and linear actuators were like nothing she had ever seen on her world. The whole thing was powered by a tiny power supply no bigger than a deck of standard playing cards. The saurians told her that it was a miniature atomic migma pile generator, a smaller version of the one that powered the ship.

Louise found a mirror after the saurians had left and she was able to look at her self for the first time since coming on board. As he moved she could feel the exoskeleton bouying her up, anticipating her movements, she hoped they would let her take it home with her. Her sandy brown close cropped hair looked a bit messy but without combs or brush there little she could do about it. Her youthful boyish face looked a bit pale but she was never the type that was a slave to fashion or cosmetics. Presentable was her final conclusion. That musical chime sounded again and it was followed by Zero's now familiar voice asking for admittance. "Come in " she said into the air. Zero appeared shortly. "We have much to discuss, much to do and little time" he began.

next: The Goddess gets busy!