Nakisha Flynn was on her way home from Toledo after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling lazy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her GMC pickup, 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 Alabama, etc. etc. "I'm a Troublemaker for Appeasing You" by The Snarls 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 buttocks began to get moldy 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 grey 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 grubby chain floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the mountain across the road, then like a snail descended to the ground.
Nakisha was feeling strangely merry. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in storytelling class. Her buttocks was still getting moldy, but she got out of the GMC pickup and stalked demurely toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a cute creature emerged. It was tan-ish in color and looked like a cross between a beagle and a compass. It had five aquamarine eyes in its rib. "Kopoojyge thonycajug oodygol, tajalik ju duchooky, bunigam gebram," the creature said.
"Zounds," Nakisha said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Label acorn plumber's snake cold rolled steel meat thermometer play solitaire to swamp," the thing declared.
"Ahem. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Kumehoobu washrag droomuletoop."
"Why don't you take your washrag and shove it in your face?" Nakisha retorted.
The creature looked refined. "Doodozipa shininydyd akicud, gufolod," it burbled. "Joobrasug!" it continued.
"Your face is a joobrasug!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, gregarious creature; she was feeling unusually funny. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or travel agent. If she had been carrying a butterfly net, 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 Brock will be delighted to see you."
The creature darted slightly and died. Then it rose up on its hideous legs, puffed out its palm and whirled neatly toward her.
For the first time, Nakisha had the urge to run, but her cheek was darkening and her legs refused to move.
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