At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
What if your best friend started acting strangely? Not planning-a-surprise-birthday-party strange. More of a body-taken-over-by-aliens strange. Like, they're trying to act normal, but it doesn't quite ring true. What do you do?
Monitor the person. If the behavior continued, I'd mention that I was a little concerned, and ask if something is wrong. If they seemed dangerous, I probably would do that second part over the phone/email, so they wouldn't harm me.
ReplyDeleteGood plan.
DeleteLike Sherry said, monitor the situation and see if I need to say something down the line, wondering if they were going through something stressful which was causing the unusual behavior.
ReplyDeletebetty
Let's assume it isn't something stressful. They're acting really strange.
DeleteI would keep a close eye on my friend and make sure she is never behind me and I would be watching all she does and see if she speaks to any one else or if anyone else is acting strangely. I would then see if I could speak to someone who may share the same experiences. Can't go to the cops because they would think I am nuts
ReplyDelete::snort:: What a question. heh Spray them with water? Wasn't that what got the aliens to go away in that movie? Hrms.
ReplyDeleteI would be worried of course. Knowing hard-headed me, I'd probably think there was something wrong with them other than their body having been possessed. If there ever is a real alien invasion, I'll probably never believe it's happening.
ReplyDeleteI'd talk to her husband. Hopefully he'd notice. Assuming he does, then we'd have to confront her/it and demand to know what happened to the real best friend, at gun point if necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think it would definitely be a case of safety in numbers. I'd speak to other close friends and associates of the person, and if we were all in agreement, we would stage an anti-alien intervention, preferably with weapons.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Nick on this. :-D
ReplyDeleteIt's not a bad plan.
DeleteHmm... Sounds like a great idea for a story. Definitely get others involved. Ask if they notice anything different. Then...run!
ReplyDeleteI hope it would work as a story.
DeleteI'd start testing him by asking questions my real best friend would know the answers to. Like previous commenters, I'd also contact other people for support and confirmation of my observations. Not sure what my next step would be, if in fact there was something to be concerned about... Psychoanalysis? Exorcism? "Accidentally" leaving him behind somewhere?
ReplyDeleteThat's true. It could be a temporary thing.
DeleteOoo, spooky! Perhaps it's not your friend but your friend's evil twin.......!
ReplyDelete