Bontoglian Space Raider Honstobock Frongotnil was disgusted

‘What is it with humans and rectal probing? It’s all the two prisoners will talk about. Do they think a squad of Raiders is going to travel four and a half billion light years to inspect their digestive orifices? ‘, Honstobock complained.

The Chief Ollfonger folded its anterior appendages and raised a claw to signify it had something important to say. All thirteen Bontoglian spaceship crew members stopped what they were doing and listened.

‘There is a reason the humans are obsessed with rectal probes’, announced the Chief Ollfonger, ‘and it is the same reason a detachment of fourteen Bontoglians is enough to take control of eight billion humans. That reason is something no Bontoglian has ever experienced. A strange intangible entity that lives within the minds of humans. A thing known as fear.’

‘How does it work?’ asked Honstobock.

‘Nobody is really sure but it has thrived on Earth for millenia. It starts with a seed of doubt. Usually spread through a rumour. In this case the notion that extraterrestrials torture and probe humans. That seed of doubt germinates and grows into fully developed fear. The fear then waits for conditions under which it can take control of its host.’

‘Sounds nasty’, noted Honstock.

‘It is’, agreed the Chief Ollfonger.

‘Could it infect Bontoglians?’, asked Honstock.

‘Unlikely, we’ve different biologies.’ 

‘But  there is a chance it could?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ve been in contact with the humans. I could’ve been infected! How would I know?’, asked Honstock.

‘You wouldn’t.’

‘What if humans are afraid of rectal probes because that is what they do to other species?’

‘It’s possible, I never thought of that.’

‘I think we should abort our mission Ollfonger.’

‘I agree. Earth is dangerous. Return the two humans and set course for Andromeda.’