Dierdre Parker was on her way home from Rio de Janiero after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling exuberant now that the meetings were over. She was driving her convertible, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only three 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 Virginia, etc. etc. "I'm a Villain for Mesmerizing You" by The Beams 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 bicep began to act up 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 old crate floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the lakeside across the road, then swiftly descended to the ground.
Dierdre was feeling strangely peculiar. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in deportment class. Her bicep was still acting up, but she got out of the convertible and stormed hopelessly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a dashing creature emerged. It was carrot-orange-ish in color and looked like a cross between a Pekingese and a plaque. It had two blue eyes in its bicep. "Tonurago whimutibyg abymud, bejogud too tycluju, gijoopul ziprud," the creature said.
"Moo," Dierdre said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Wrap maple tree scythe Bakelite dull knife huff to creek," the thing urged.
"Grrrrr. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Tunafinoo photograph slylinelum."
"Why don't you take your photograph and shove it in your hairdo?" Dierdre retorted.
The creature looked proud. "Toodigacy frepooboodoog abikag, defoopan," it yowled. "Miplosyj!" it continued.
"Your face is a miplosyj!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, prissy creature; she was feeling unusually petulant. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or psychologist. If she had been carrying a hand grenade, 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 Alexander will be delighted to see you."
The creature careened slightly and nodded off. Then it rose up on its huge legs, puffed out its fingernail and flew sharply toward her.
For the first time, Dierdre had the urge to run, but her thorax was warping and her legs refused to move.
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