Alien Abduction

This is a novelette of 15853 words. The captain of an alien UFO offers his human abductee a chance to go back in time for three hours to meet a unknown woman in an old picture for whom he has developed an attraction. Brad Anderson had become fascinated with a girl in a picture his grandmother found in the attic from her high school days. Little did he know that he would actually get the chance to go back in time to meet her. The gray uses his craft's advanced capabilities to send Brad back in time to gain further knowledge about the human species. Excerpt: My jaw twitched slightly, knowing I hadn’t concealed my thoughts. I decided to confront him directly. “Apparently you mean I want to go back to the 1950’s don’t you?” “Yes that is what interests us––your fascination for that particular designation you use for a prior sequence on the timeline. We have never encountered a human with such a desire to be transported in reverse on the timeline sequence such as you.” My annoyance was overtaking my apprehension. “Excuse me for being bold here, but I don’t think I’m the first one who’s wanted to go back in time.” “Perhaps, but you are the first we have encountered with such a strong and unusual desire and we found the circumstances quite interesting.” Craton rose and starred at me for a moment. He was about 5 feet 7 inches tall. As he turned to walk toward a large visualization screen, I could see how slender he was. He stopped just in front of the screen, which showed a view of outer space and stars but there was no reference point for me to determine where I was. I could not see earth but I could tell that we did not appear to be moving. Craton studied the view for several moments before turning back to me. “Your desire is quite unusual, however……” “However what?” “However, we are in a position to transport you back to that period.” A half smile came across my face. “Are you telling me you can grant my wish?” “Another earthly term–wish. The term seems so fragile and weak, a term without firm conviction dependant upon unknown forces for accomplishment. We do not engage in wishes. We achieve our purposes with mathematics and logic. I will use our knowledge and capabilities to place you precisely on the point of that timeline that fascinates you….. “Her image vividly occupies your brain sectors, or to put it in your species’ terms, she haunts you. We don’t quite understand why, however. The human brain works in uncertain and unpredictable patterns we have discovered during our examinations. We can only probe so far into its functioning. Perhaps you can enlighten our investigation in some manner.” “You want to know why I want to meet her?” “Precisely. Perhaps you can tell me why this female–I believe she is called Amanda–haunts you.” I was suddenly pleasantly shaken upon hearing the name. “Amanda? Is that her name?” “Yes, that is the correct identification of the female. Amanda Johnson to be more precise in human identification terms.” I liked it and repeated it. “Amanda Johnson. Now she has a name.” “You humans can be fascinating. You do not even know the female’s name identification but yet she appears in all your brain sector patterns. Why?” I looked down for several moments trying to gather my thoughts before I looked back up into those emotionless black eyes. “I don’t know actually.” “You do not know. That does not seem logical, even for your species.” “No it’s not. But I don’t know. And you are right, she haunts me.” “But you were not originated with this element in your brain sectors.” I sighed. “Hardly. I guess you can say it all started about three years ago or however you gauge time in your world.”...........