Logan Simpson was on his way home from Reno after a five-day series of business meetings. He was feeling stubborn now that the meetings were over. He was driving his hoverboard, 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 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 Oklahoma, etc. etc. "You're a Degenerate for Punishing Me" by The Belly laughs 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 front tooth began to enlarge 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 sea green 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 rare iPad floating in the air. It hovered for a while over the path across the road, then like a streak descended to the ground.
Logan was feeling strangely forgetful. He briefly wished he had paid better attention in science class. His front tooth was still enlarging, but he got out of the hoverboard and set out recklessly toward the object.
As he watched, an opening appeared in the side of the ship, and soon an unkempt creature emerged. It was emerald green-ish in color and looked like a cross between a kitten and a bullet. It had two forest green eyes in its tail. "Tumosoope cloopucydec imydud, mooyepyc ta noofrooba, cogimoop hiklab," the creature said.
"My gosh," Logan said. "Care to repeat that in English?"
"Tweak bit of litter pair of tweezers rammed earth foot twitch to mesa," the thing moaned.
"Ssss. You can go back to your native language now. While you're at it, maybe you should go back to your native planet."
"Dotoohopoo houseplant thogitalat."
"Why don't you take your houseplant and shove it in your bladder?" Logan retorted.
The creature looked hirsute. "Gocevaba frymynidoj ajoomad, mycepac," it revealed. "Towryvel!" it continued.
"Your face is a towryvel!"
He didn't know why he was being so mouthy to the strange, difficult creature; he was feeling unusually proud. He tended to deal with the unknown the way he would deal with an annoying salesman or X-ray technician. 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 Simons will be delighted to see you."
The creature slumped slightly and primped. Then it rose up on its gooey legs, puffed out its skull and waded courageously toward him.
For the first time, Logan had the urge to run, but his skin was stinking and his legs refused to move.
Next Chapter