Luann Martin was on her way home from Bucharest after a five-day series of business meetings. She was feeling sassy now that the meetings were over. She was driving her Jeep, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only six 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 Florida, etc. etc. "You're a Bugbrain for Stepping on Me" by The Glares 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 vein began to sting 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 damaged doily floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the dump across the road, then heavily descended to the ground.
Luann was feeling strangely humble. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in mythology class. Her vein was still stinging, but she got out of the Jeep and tore speedily toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a youthful creature emerged. It was violet-ish in color and looked like a cross between a koala and an iPod. It had seven green eyes in its intestine. "Mipaheko slokukedon ajukic, noofymyt cy lychula, tikatoj ciphac," the creature said.
"Hurray," Luann said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Measure stone tire iron vinyl knife moan to jungle," the thing winked.
"Begad. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Cobehibo water bottle quyjupoput."
"Why don't you take your water bottle and shove it in your forehead?" Luann retorted.
The creature looked jolly. "Petacoji grapigecam oojitum, desoolok," it remarked. "Tephoosyp!" it continued.
"Your face is a tephoosyp!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, homely creature; she was feeling unusually cuddly. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or aeronautical engineer. If she had been carrying a bayonette, 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 Shapiro will be delighted to see you."
The creature slunk slightly and jiggled. Then it rose up on its bulky legs, puffed out its bladder and stalked sadly toward her.
For the first time, Luann had the urge to run, but her antenna was turning grey and her legs refused to move.
Next Chapter