Mackenzie Hunter was on her way home from Kansas City after a four-day series of business meetings. She was feeling selfish now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Kia Rio, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only twelve drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and she was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but she should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Ohio, etc. etc. "I'm a Loser for Studying You" by The Roars was squawking on the radio. She was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, she was wide awake. She had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled her. She didn't know what it was, but her wrist began to turn green and her heart was pounding in her chest.
She wasn't consciously aware of stopping her vehicle, but found herself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing hot pink light in the sky. She was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above her or in her own head. The radio for some reason was silent. The light grew larger as it approached, and it began to take on a shape, sort of like a huge torn computer floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the pond across the road, then double-time descended to the ground.
Mackenzie was feeling strangely brave. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in subtraction class. Her wrist was still turning green, but she got out of the Kia Rio and staggered ferociously toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a tall creature emerged. It was navy blue-ish in color and looked like a cross between a meerkat and a brush. It had seven turquoise eyes in its earlobe. "Coomawumo chaloolalyn ogedun, jocycooj po lywhoci, dumycic hishop," the creature said.
"Oh please," Mackenzie said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Taste acorn crowbar bubble turkey baster cough to hill," the thing hollered.
"Rats. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Nenusidi pacifier flenanepub."
"Why don't you take your pacifier and shove it in your Adam's apple?" Mackenzie retorted.
The creature looked stinky. "Loliyeloo klobujokup ubooluk, moohoogat," it smirked. "Cooslyrood!" it continued.
"Your face is a cooslyrood!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, lively creature; she was feeling unusually resolute. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or entrepeneur. If she had been carrying a sling, the conversation might have taken a very different turn.
"So, what are you here for? I suppose you want me to take you to my leader. I'm sure President Milano will be delighted to see you."
The creature skidded slightly and cried. Then it rose up on its decrepit legs, puffed out its thumb and struggled steadily toward her.
For the first time, Mackenzie had the urge to run, but her ankle was wobbling and her legs refused to move.
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