“Hey, there’s a question. How is it you speak English? We have, gosh, hundreds of languages on Earth. A bit convenient that you just happen to speak mine.”
“I can speak whatever language is presented to me, now would you please take my hand?”
“Any language? Really? How is that possible?”
“There is an interpreter in this,” he said, gesturing to his necklace, “and a tiny chip embedded in my ear. It doesn’t just translate what you are saying, it teaches me simultaneously, but I was fairly fluent already. Since Earth is in our quadrant, it is incumbent on those of us in authority to know the many languages, though idioms and jargon in English can be challenging. When you said, wrap my brain around it, I immediately imagined you extracting your brain and using it to literally wrap around an object.”
“That’s funny,” she grinned, sinking her hand into his. It felt warm and soft, and as he closed his six fingers, she felt the slight stirring of her butterflies. “I’ll try to remember that you take everything literally.”
They had walked across to a blank wall, and to her amazement a panel slid open, and she found herself staring at what she assumed was his spaceship, an object that could only be described as a giant, matte black egg.
“Good grief,” she muttered. “Is that what you whizz around in?”
“Zip around, whizz around,” he chuckled, “yes, that is what I whizz around in.”
“Okay, now I’m seriously freaking out again, and this room, is this your version of a garage?” she asked, scanning her surroundings. The ceiling and walls were glossy black, and the floor had the appearance of polished chrome.
“I suppose it is, though hangar might be more appropriate, and you can use the words ‘freak out’ as much as you want, as long as they’re just words, and you remain in control.”
“Sure, no sweat,” she said sarcastically, “but I swear, I’m convinced I’m going to wake up any minute!”
“Ellie, you know this is real.”
“I do, yes, I do, but that doesn’t change how totally unbelievable it all is, and that thing,” she said, pointing at the craft, “has no doors or windows! How can you see where you’re going? It’s just a big, black, eggy-looking blob.”
“When I visit Earth I must be careful. Some of your tribes have weapons that could cause it damage, though I doubt they’d ever be able to land a strike, but aside from that, humans are still terrified of extraterrestrial visitors. My vessel’s shape and cloaking paint make it invisible.”
She stared up at his beautiful face. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and though he didn’t have bulging muscles, when he held her she could feel his strength. She watched his middle finger touch the lower part of his necklace, and a soft humming sent her gaze back to the odd craft. There was now an opening on the side, and a shimmering plank had literally materialized from thin air.
“How the hell did that happen?”
“I’m sorry, Ellie, any explanation I could offer is beyond your knowledge base. It has to do with subatomic particles, and the way they collide.”
“All righty then,” she sighed. “You’re correct. Colliding particles is definitely beyond my knowledge base. Is that opening an actual door?”
“I must offer you the same answer,” he said patiently. “Come, we must go.”
As they approached the odd vessel, the floor became chilly, very chilly, and it had no give. It felt the way it looked, like cold, hard metal.
“I’m sorry, you have no foot coverings,” he apologized, suddenly lifting her up as if she weighed an ounce. “I should have provided them. I have no desire for you to be uncomfortable.”
“It isn’t a problem,” she said, putting her hands around his neck. “You don’t have to carry me.”
“It is important that things are pleasant for you,” he replied as they neared the shimmering plank, and as he started to climb it to enter his ship, he felt her cling to him.
“This is so frickin’ weird,” she mumbled. “How are we not falling through it? It’s not solid.”
“Nothing is truly solid,” he remarked as they reached the top.
Stepping inside, he set her down and touched his necklace again; the walkway vanished, as did the opening.
“Whoa! Okay, you look human, but you’re definitely not,” she declared, feeling her heart beginning to pound. “I really am with a frickin’ alien. How can this be happening?”
“You’re becoming distressed again,” he frowned. “I don’t wish you to be distressed.”
“Yeah, well, shit happens, and this is starting to really sink in.”
“Take a breath, you’re safe, and this is another reason I must return you to your habitat. Your familiar environment will be reassuring, and you’ll have time alone to assess everything that has happened.”
“Assess? I’ll be doing a whole lot more than assessing, and where do I sit in this thing?” she asked, staring around at what appeared to be an empty space but for what looked like some black cartons.
As if by magic, the cartons began changing their shape, transforming into large, comfortable armchairs, upholstered in a golden fabric, along with a shining chrome cabinet between them. Opening it, Valodar withdrew a silver jumpsuit.
“You must wear this,” he said, handing it to her. “It will protect you.”
“Protect me from what? Don’t you need one?”
“No, not for this quick trip, and as you just noted, I’m not human.”
It looked like tin foil, but it was soft, like fabric, and as she stepped into it, pulled it up her body, and slipped her arms into the sleeves, she looked for a way to fasten it.
“Does this thing have a zipper or buttons someplace?” she asked, finding no way to close it up.
While she’d been climbing into the suit, a control panel had appeared in front of one of the armchairs, and Valodar was busy studying what appeared to be a blank screen.
“Just close one side over the other. It will stay in place.”
“But it’s not sticky.”
“Trust me,” he said, not taking his eyes off the screen, “then sit down.”
As she folded one side over the other, the fabric instantly bonded to itself, and finding the suit surprisingly warm and comfortable, she settled into one of the chairs.
“Wow, this feels like a huge ball of memory foam,” she remarked, “and forgive me for asking what’s probably a stupid question, but is there some kind of seat belt or something?”
“Seat belt? My goodness. Ancient and dangerous,” he muttered. “The chair will keep you secure should we hit any unexpected friction or space bumps, and you have just reminded me about the world from which you come. I will be worried about you being back in that perilous place.”
“Is it really perilous?” she asked, as she heard a muted humming sound.
“Very. Humans are a violent and aggressive species.”
“Then why are you drawn to me? I’m human.”
“You don’t have it in you to kill, or maim, or do harm, though if sufficiently pressed, it’s possible the desire could rise up.”
“I don’t think so,” she frowned. “I really don’t.”
“Also, I require more.”
“More than what?”
“More than a passive partner,” he said, as the front of the egg transformed into a window, and the egg began to move toward a door that was opening up.
“I’m definitely not passive,” she frowned, “but, whoa! Okay, this is really scary. Is that space? Holy crap. I’m suddenly in freak-out mode again.”
“This is many times safer than those tin cans you have flying around your skies.”
“I believe you, but I’m still freaking out. How many times have I said that since I woke up?”
“Too many,” he said, glancing at her as his vessel slowly moved out of the hangar and into the dark emptiness. “Prepare yourself. You might feel pressure against your chest, but it will only last a short time.”
“
What is—”
Before she could finish, she felt it, a keen weight against her body, and to her shock, the Earth suddenly appeared ahead of her.
“Holy crap,” she gasped. “Holy crap! Holy crap!”
“You have many obstacles in orbit around your planet. Maneuvering past them is the most hazardous part of the journey. Please don’t speak until I tell you. I cannot be distracted. Oh, and don’t be alarmed. You will see what appears to be fire moving past us at high speed.”
“Uh, okay,” she whispered, in stunned awe at the Earth looming in front of her.
It was gigantic, and though the pressure on her chest had lifted, she felt peculiar, and the chair seemed to be literally holding her. Suddenly they were rocketing through a white haze, then a red one, and lines were streaking past them. Fear began raging through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut; she was absolutely sure they were plummeting to their deaths. She’d been holding her breath for what seemed like forever, when he finally spoke.
“Ellie, you can talk now, and open your eyes. I’m sorry you were so frightened. I should have put you back to sleep.”
She had no idea how much time had passed, but she was trembling, and her pulse was racing.
“I d-don’t think I’ve ever been s-so scared.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, and that was fantastic. Next time I’m definitely going to watch.”
“You’re not freaked out?” he grinned.
“Totally! Look, I’m shaking, but it was still fantastic.”
“We’re approaching your city.”
Leaning forward, she saw the millions of lights of London sprawled out below her.
“Wow. This is so different from looking out the window of a plane.”
“That’s because your view is not confined to a twelve-inch porthole.”
“No kidding! How did we get here so fast?”
“We didn’t; that was a slow trip.”
“Slow? What is—never mind,” she said quickly. “I don’t need to know anything else, except, how will I get inside my apartment?”
“This vessel cannot be seen by a human’s naked eye, and not by your antiquated tracking devices either, but the walkway is visible. By its very nature it glows. I must bring you as close as I’m able to the side of your building, but I cannot leave.”
“What do you mean by walkway, and getting close to the building?”
“Your flat is on the second floor. I will hover next to the wall of your bedroom, then create an opening and a bridge you’ll walk across. Once you’re inside, the opening will disappear.”
“You’re serious. I know I live near the heath, but Hampstead isn’t exactly the middle of the countryside.”
“As I said, you must be quick. My vessel will be invisible, but not the walkway.”
“Is there a chance I could fall off, or get harmed by the wall as it comes back together, or… whatever it does?”
“I would not allow you to do anything that might cause you injury. Perhaps I can create a tunnel for you, rather than a flat path so you will feel safer.”
“Thank you, that would be good,” she stammered, though nothing he had said seemed real, “and how do I see you again?”
“You don’t have to worry about that, my lovely Ellie. You will sleep well, then you must decide if you wish to spend one Earth week with me. If you do—”
“I do, I totally do,” she said quickly. “It’s amazing. I want to see more. I want to—”
“Then I will, as you like to say, zip you back with me. Tomorrow you will go through your day, and when you go to bed tomorrow night, you will sleep, and when you wake up, you will be in the receiving room.”
“Receiving room?”
“That’s where you were. Now I’m going to take us down. There aren’t many of your tin can flying machines at this time, so it will only take a minute.”
The entire front of the egg had become a giant window. She could see all around her, as well as below and above, and as they traveled the busy London streets, she was astonished they couldn’t be seen. After carefully moving the egg around the electric wires and telephone poles, he brought it to a slow stop next to the wall of the old stone building in which she lived. Except for an almost indiscernible hum, the vessel made no noise.
“I know I keep saying it, but this is just unbelievable,” she mumbled. “I thought alien abductions were done by strange grey men with big eyes.”
“Ah, yes, that was tragic. Those beings are now extinct,” he said sadly. “They were struck by a terrible plague. It was believed humans possessed cells that could save them. The Consortium granted permission for them to visit here and harvest, but only because the situation was dire. There was hope for a time, but no more. Their planet is in quarantine. It is considered uninhabitable.”
“Really? I’ve often wondered about those strange abduction stories. They were such a big thing for a while. People still talk about it. I once thought…”
“Thought what?” he pressed.
“Nothing!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, positive,” she nodded.
“In that case,” he said, reaching for her hand, “I will help you take off the suit.”
The fabric had appeared to meld together, but he easily opened it up, slid it off her shoulders, then down her body. As she stepped out, she shivered. It was chilly, but in spite of his naked torso, he showed no signs of feeling the cold.
“In a moment the opening will appear, then you must move quickly.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night?”
“As long as you haven’t changed your mind, and I will visit you in the dreamscape and be sure you still want to join me.”
“What exactly is this dreamscape place?”
“I’ll explain that when you return,” he said patiently, then placing his hands on either side of her head, he kissed her, and as his lips sent a warm tingle through her mouth, she felt her fluttering butterflies spring to life.
“Tomorrow will be the longest day of my life,” she sighed as they broke apart. “I wish you could stay.”
“Impossible, and remember, tomorrow you must alert everyone that you’ll be away. This is important.”
“I will, Valodar.”
“One last thing. I must exact a promise.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It is. You must tell no one about me, or us, or—”
“Are you kidding? Anyone would immediately think I’d lost my mind.”
“Ellie, what they might think is irrelevant. I cannot be mentioned. Where you’ll be going, what you know…”
“You don’t have to worry. I won’t tell a soul. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I wouldn’t dare.”
“You promise?”
“I promise,” she said solemnly.
“Good,” he smiled, and softly kissing her again, he took her hand and led her to the side of the craft.
“Ready?”
“Ready,” she nodded.
As he touched his finger to his silver necklace, the wall began to sparkle, then the opening appeared, and looking out she saw a shimmering grey tunnel.
“Quickly now,” he urged, “go!”
Her pulse racing, she walked forward, finding a solid pathway under her feet, and ahead of her, a hole in the wall of the building that led into her bedroom. Once inside she paused to let out a breath, relieved that she had made it across the short shimmering bridge, but as she turned around to wave goodbye, she was startled to see the hole through which she’d just walked was gone.
Running to the window, she gazed at where the egg would have been hovering. There was nothing there, and gazing up at the night sky, she stared at the sparking stars.
“Holy crap,” she sighed. “Holy fucking crap!”
Chapter Four
Valodar stepped from his vessel, and moving into the receiving room, he stood under the violet lamp, touched a button on his necklace, and waited as
the light pulsated over him. Even though he hadn’t left his craft when he’d returned Ellie to her habitat, it had been open for the brief few seconds she had made her way down the glittering path into her apartment; he had to decontaminate.
The tragic loss of the greys, and the ensuing quarantine of their planet, Anadus, had been a frightening lesson, leading to greater research of sterilizing units, and the implementation of strict rules regarding their use. The origin of the disease was still unknown, though the greys were explorers, and traveled great distances outside the galaxy. It was assumed the germ had been picked up on one of their many voyages.
“Good, you’re back. Please report to my office immediately.”
Commander Tavlon’s voice was clear in his ear, transmitted through what appeared to be an earring, and Valodar quickly walked out the door and down the wide corridor. He liked and respected his superior, and he smiled as he marched toward Tavlon’s office. If Valodar became an ambassador, he would be the one issuing the orders. It was how the promotion system worked. At any time, power could change. Promotions were based on hard work, diligence, and aptitude. Maintaining one’s position required the same conscientious service, and neither nepotism nor favoritism held a place in the Consortium.
“Valodar, I’m pleased you returned so quickly, and from your positive mood, I assume the Earth female has agreed to return and spend some time with you.”
“She has, Commander.”
“Do you think she will change her mind? They’re prone to.”
“She could, but I don’t believe she will.”
“Have a seat.”
“You appear worried,” Valodar remarked, recalling his commander’s earlier solemn mood.
“I have some news, but before I discuss it, you should know that Raven is here.”
“Raven is here?” Valodar repeated. “When did she arrive?”
“She’d been unable to reach you, so she contacted me asking where you might be. She must have heard about your interest in the human.”
“Her race might be peace-loving, but they are cunning,” Valodar said ruefully, “and she is true to her breed. If that’s why she’s here, I’m sure she will have some scheme ready.”
The Alien's Rules Page 3