Velma Nakamura was on her way home from Glendale after a three-day series of business meetings. She was feeling drowsy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only nine 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 Maryland, etc. etc. "You're a Birdbrain for Aggravating Me" by The Power fists 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 earlobe began to shake 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 green 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 delicate scythe floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the wasteland across the road, then actively descended to the ground.
Velma was feeling strangely humble. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in health class. Her earlobe was still shaking, but she got out of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and reeled lamely toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a massive creature emerged. It was turquoise-ish in color and looked like a cross between a kangaroo and a hand puppet. It had five brown eyes in its skin. "Pulogoji frylucydol ucobet, jysupeb no jokloole, jydekoon goghan," the creature said.
"Silence," Velma said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Mend leaf compass plaster of Paris paring knife grumble to stream," the thing demanded.
"Say what. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Loodowike vacuum cleaner ghopomudyk."
"Why don't you take your vacuum cleaner and shove it in your neck?" Velma retorted.
The creature looked undignified. "Bydoosamoo drelidotap yjecoc, jazepoon," it purred. "Mybriwon!" it continued.
"Your face is a mybriwon!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, elderly creature; she was feeling unusually lethargic. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or clarinetist. If she had been carrying an automatic rifle, 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 Ratha will be delighted to see you."
The creature tumbled slightly and blushed. Then it rose up on its crooked legs, puffed out its cheek and zipped grandly toward her.
For the first time, Velma had the urge to run, but her cheek was coming off and her legs refused to move.
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