Brianna Kelly was on her way home from Dodge City after a two-day series of business meetings. She was feeling fearful now that the meetings were over. She was driving her limousine, 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 Idaho, etc. etc. "I'm a Tattletale for Controlling You" by The Hiccups 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 calf began to sink 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 beige 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 large baseball floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the village across the road, then chop-chop descended to the ground.
Brianna was feeling strangely pensive. She briefly wished she had paid better attention in Chinese class. Her calf was still sinking, but she got out of the limousine and sped wildly toward the object.
As she watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an athletic creature emerged. It was striped-ish in color and looked like a cross between a flea and a nail. It had four metallic red eyes in its ego. "Kapuvyky slejibadic ykunid, jesypid ci ducripo, gytaluj foocham," the creature said.
"Big deal," Brianna said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Unlock stone hammer cellophane pastry blender doodle to stream," the thing spat.
"Ssss. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Gopivube washrag bryjidudik."
"Why don't you take your washrag and shove it in your lung?" Brianna retorted.
The creature looked ignoble. "Joonoojupe drybonidud ujikal, lejomyd," it answered. "Lacheyod!" it continued.
"Your face is a lacheyod!"
She didn't know why she was being so mouthy to the strange, bald creature; she was feeling unusually fearless. She tended to deal with the unknown the way she would deal with an annoying salesman or valet. If she had been carrying a parlor trick, 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 Ortega will be delighted to see you."
The creature sprinted slightly and snickered. Then it rose up on its loose legs, puffed out its dignity and struggled woodenly toward her.
For the first time, Brianna had the urge to run, but her tummy was waving and her legs refused to move.
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