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Positive Reinforcement

By: Dale Parnell

Two days after their ships entered our atmosphere, a signal was broadcast across all known frequencies. We listened as an ethereal voice repeated the same three phrases, and the world’s best linguists were gathered to decrypt the alien language.

“We have it!” Dr. Petrov announced, triumphant.

“Well? What are they saying?” General Sanderson demanded.

“Sit. Roll over. Beg.” Dr. Petrov replied, the assembled world leaders falling silent.

“What does that mean?” Sanderson asked.

“I believe we are being domesticated, sir.”

On cue, the ships rear-most hangers opened, and treat-sized protein cubes rained down over every major city around the globe.

© 2025. Dale Parnell

Dale Parnell lives in Staffordshire, England, with his wife and their imaginary dog, Moriarty. Dale is featured in over sixty publications, and his strangest wish is to one day find one of his own self-published books in a second-hand bookshop.

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