Gabe Paulson was on his way home from Dodge City after a four-day series of business meetings. He was feeling calm now that the meetings were over. He was driving his Alfa Romeo, and was starting to get a bit drowsy, in spite of having had only eight drinks with dinner. The drone of the engine and tires was taking its toll, and he was having that familiar internal discussion about just having an hour more of driving, but he should really stop and rest, but it's not really safe to stop alongside the road in this remote part of Oregon, etc. etc. "You're a Troublemaker for Glaring at Me" by The Belches was squawking on the radio. He was too tired to search for something better.
Suddenly, he was wide awake. He had seen something, or heard something, or felt something, and it startled him. He didn't know what it was, but his wrist began to darken and his heart was pounding in his chest.
He wasn't consciously aware of stopping his vehicle, but found himself parked on the shoulder of the road, staring at a bright pulsing scarlet light in the sky. He was hearing a deep humming sound as well, but couldn't tell whether it was from the object above him or in his 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 electric purse floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the wasteland across the road, then hastily descended to the ground.
Gabe was feeling strangely resolute. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in science class. His wrist was still darkening, but he got out of the Alfa Romeo and crawled busily toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon a blond creature emerged. It was terra cotta-ish in color and looked like a cross between a hornet and a baton. It had seven navy blue eyes in its hangnail. "Memicalo frulikejit egypem, jecepyb ny tydryju, cybamob yyklut," the creature said.
"Godspeed," Gabe said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Bleach dead tree axe cloth pair of tongs scratch to housing development," the thing squeaked.
"Criminy. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Takehony rock ghanocapood."
"Why don't you take your rock and shove it in your toupee?" Gabe retorted.
The creature looked melancholic. "Lookawymoo flymumadon oogumag, mihulon," it hissed. "Gatrywooj!" it continued.
"Your face is a gatrywooj!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, poised creature; he was feeling unusually sassy. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or bodyguard. If he had been carrying a pair of bare hands, 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 Zhao will be delighted to see you."
The creature trotted slightly and panted. Then it rose up on its gaudy legs, puffed out its ear and hopped strictly toward him.
For the first time, Gabe had the urge to run, but his toe was blossoming and his legs refused to move.
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