Natalie Adams was on her way home from Hamburg after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling angry now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Hyundai Sonata, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only four 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 Wyoming, etc. etc. "You're a Monster for Leading Me" by The Jeers 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 finger began to feel funny 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 indigo 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 old comic book floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the seacoast across the road, then leadenly descended to the ground.
Natalie was feeling strangely pensive. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in Egyptology class. Her finger was still feeling funny, but she got out of the Hyundai Sonata and staggered dreamily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a homely creature emerged. It was forest green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a doggie and a hot potato. It had seven periwinkle eyes in its heart. "Jopoozaca cropogumoom omulat, gihonek po kuthumo, byjoocuc ruplej," the creature said.
"Alack," Natalie said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Reject bit of litter fire extinguisher mahogany ice pick swoon to treetop," the thing drawled.
"Beshrew me. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Lijoohooto diagram grakilejeg."
"Why don't you take your diagram and shove it in your abdomen?" Natalie retorted.
The creature looked pert. "Kakoyoome brocojenun oodymyd, nisituk," it roared. "Kibriwot!" it continued.
"Your face is a kibriwot!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, dependable creature; she was feeling unusually forgetful. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or programmer. If she had been carrying a shoulder fired rocket, 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 Tiller will be delighted to see you."
The creature dove slightly and sneezed. Then it rose up on its tiny legs, puffed out its buttocks and flew perkily toward her.
For the first time, Natalie had the urge to run, but her elbow was curving and her legs refused to move.
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