Space was always a bleak, lonely place for me. Even the sight of Earth's blue moon from space could not calm me like it did everyone else.
I sat in one of Earth's finest restaurants, going over the battle plan. It was the best night spot in the city, and the food was excellent. The atrium was brightly lit and many people sat at tables, drinking, eating and generally enjoying themselves.
The waiter took my order and I studied the battlefield plan. It looked good on paper, but I knew that in reality it would be completely different to the way it was drawn.
"What would you like to drink?" asked the waiter. I looked up at his smiling face.
"A white wine. Any will be fine."
"You sure you don't want to try something different? I have some interesting beers back in the kitchen."
"No, white wine will be fine."
"Are you sure? Beer is the most popular beverage in the galaxy. It's very refreshing, you should try it. You're going to be in for a long night."
"I will stick with the wine, thank you."
He walked away and I went back to looking at the plan, trying to find a way out of this. They were going to be better than we were, of that there was no doubt. Their technology gave them a distinct advantage over us. We had only beaten them on Earth once, when we first began fighting them.
They would be expecting it again. The only advantage I had was their apparent arrogance. They thought that they would win simply because they were technologically superior. They would not suspect any other outcome. They had never lost in battle and they might be right in thinking that they never would.
The waiter brought my wine, and my thoughts were interrupted. I poured some out and sipped it. It was just how I liked it, with a crisp and floral flavour.
"Excuse me, sir," said a waitress. She was very attractive. "This is for you. What are your plans for the wine?"
I looked up at her, trying to hide my shock. Was she really here because of me? What was happening?
"What do you mean? I'm going to drink it."
"Oh, no, I'm sorry. I'm from the Federal Service and this wine is a drug. It has been specially made to make you more susceptible to suggestion. It will lift your inhibitions and make you much more open to suggestion. We want to take advantage of that to tell you about some amazing new discovery."
"How did you know I would be here?"
"I'm sorry, I cannot reveal that. I can explain why I'm here though. I want to win the war with the aliens as quickly as possible. I want to do as little damage as possible to our planet."
"I see."
"We want to send a message. We plan to send it tonight. If we could get your cooperation we could use it. We can get the message to you before you end up a vegetable or a corpse. Please, there is no one else I will trust in this."
"You won't trust anyone else? You have high hopes that I am on the same wavelength as you? I have no idea what your game is, but I have no interest in playing it. Your game is not my game, and I will not join you."
"Please sir. If the aliens ever found out that there are those on Earth who want to side with them, it would change the battle irrevocably. I believe in the cause and know that it is the right one. I want to end this destructive war before it goes too far."
"Stop, I can't hear you. The drug is starting to lift its effects."
"The drug must be doing its job. Please, act normal and don't let the waiter see that you have been drugged. He might have time to intervene. We have penetrated your systems and we can see what you are doing. I'm sure you can see now that what I'm saying is true. There is an alien in the kitchen talking to you. Please, sir. Help us. We don't want to destroy your planet, we want to save it."
"So you're a federal agent. Why do you want to stop the war? Are you part of a resistance movement?"
"Yes, that is more or less it. There are many people who are suffering. Millions have died so far in the war and the number keeps growing. We want it to stop so we can start rebuilding. We need to work together instead of killing each other."
"All very noble, but if you had such a strong feeling about it you should have came forward before now. Not when we are well on our way to winning the war. We don't need your help."
"Most people are against the war. They hide their true thoughts though. They fear for their families and for the good standing in their community. They fear for the aliens finding them. It is easier to just stand by and say nothing. But most people are against this slaughter. We represent all of those people."
"You're wrong. I was part of the presidential council. I have been out speaking to the people. I have seen the support for the war. You cannot seriously expect to turn me against my own country."
"You are needed. If we can win over someone like yourself we will win. We need to send a message. A message that says that we do not need to fight."
"And what about the aliens? Do you want to stop them too?"
"They are a different matter. If we could win over their leaders it would do the same thing. They would stop the fighting without the destruction. It would be even better."
"And if they don't stop the fight?"
"Then we will need to fight as best as we can. We will win in the end. You can help us achieve that. Please join us."
I saw the waiter coming back with the wine. The drug had enough time to wear off.
"I'm sorry sir, the restaurant has been closed," said the waiter.
"What? Why have you closed the restaurant?"
"The owner has decided that he no longer wants to remain open until you leave. He has taken all of the staff inside with him and they are waiting to close the restaurant."
"Even though he has been paid?"
"Sorry, sir, the owner's decision is final."
"I didn't see the owner. Where could I find him on such short notice?"
"I'm sorry sir, he has gone home by now."
I did not know what to do. My plan was ruined. I could see the fear in my waitress's eyes. I thought her afraid of me, but suddenly I realized it was the other way around. She was scared that I would get her. That I would report her to the authorities.
"I am sorry," she said. "Please forgive me. I acted out of fear. Please forgive me."
"Let her go," said the alien in the kitchen. "She didn't do anything wrong. She was trying to help you."
She looked at me pleadingly.
