Through squinted eyes, Adria saw the brownish creature scuttle across behind the rocks. At least, she thought she did. It was so fast, she wasn't sure.
"Check two o'clock. I think I saw..."
The creature moved nearer then disappeared again.
Teelak turned. "I saw it. I thought this excuse for a planet is supposed to be uninhabited."
Adria struggled to sit up. She braced against the rock shielding them from view. "All scans showed zero life signs. Could the sensors have malfunctioned, too?"
"It's possible, but I don't think so. Maybe this thing was hidden by the rocks. Or it's a life form our sensors haven't encountered before." He thought about what that would mean.
"That would be galactic. Think they'll name it after us? A Teeladrian?" Teelak laughed and spun to aim his pistol as he caught another glimpse of movement off to one side. The creature worked its way closer. But not close enough for him to get off a shot at it.
"Or an Adria-teelakis?" The co-pilot smiled back, weak but determined.
A long needle pierced the edge of Teelak's right hand and continued straight through. He dropped his pistol. Before he could recover and make a grab for it, the creature appeared directly above them on their protective rock.
The long tail covered in sharp spines waved threateningly above the alien's fabric-cloaked figure.
Teelak and Adria froze in place.
"It's been a blast, Tee," Adria whispered, sure they were about to die a death filled with painful barbs.
Instead of attacking, the waist-high creature pushed back its hood with a thin bony hand-like limb. It tilted a bald head to one side then whispered, "It's been a blast, Tee."
"What the...?" Tee muttered. He kept his eyes glued to the creature. The slightly elongated face looked grayish in color with no visible hair, but otherwise it appeared human-like rather than animal. A small mouth and amber colored, luminous eyes looked child-like and curious against the odd coloring. An oversized, bulbous nose that would have made Jimmy Durante proud provided a humorous slant and seemed totally out of place. The long, spine-covered tail appeared to be the only threat, the creature's only visible weapon.
"What the...?" the creature repeated. The tail dropped lower, no longer bristling or threatening. The creature zipped off the rock in a blur of motion to stand on the surface, warily watching them.
Teelak took a chance and slowly dropped to his knees to bring himself to eye-level with this odd little alien. He didn't have anything to lose at this point. The position also put him nearer to his pistol lying on the ground.
A slim, bony digit, one of three on the human-looking hand it seemed, reached out and poked Tee's jaw. Then the creature scuttled back a few feet while chattering in chipmunkish sounds.
"Maybe it was just frightened," Adria eased forward to join Teelak when the creature stayed put. "What do we do now?"
"Guess we sit here and stare at each other," Tee answered softly, offering her a cocky grin. He planned to make a grab for his pistol any minute.
The creature immediately raised its tail, spines bristling, while displaying its own set of sharp, uneven, yellowed teeth.
"Whatever you do, don't grin again. You scared it," Adria cautioned.
"Yeah, I sort of got that."
Teelak waited several minutes until the creature's tail relaxed a bit then stretched out his hand ever so slowly to offer it, palm up. "I'm Tee. Do you have a name?"
"I'm Tee. Do you have a name?" The alien repeated, almost perfectly copying the pilot's tones. It reached forward and poked the pilot's fingers then chattered unintelligibly again.
Tee pointed to his co-pilot. "Adria." Then pointing to himself, he said, "Tee."
The creature again repeated the words, but didn't seem to understand the meaning behind them.
A perfect mimic, but no comprehension, Tee decided. Their science officer would love to study this new creature. Teelak hoped he wouldn't have to kill it. It was kind of cute, except for that tail.
The creature looked quickly toward the stars and scuttled away to hide behind a large boulder. It pulled up the cloak and appeared to melt into the rock leaving Tee and Adria to wonder what was happening now.
Chapter Six
The pilot picked up his pistol and helped Adria to her feet. He kept an eye on the spot where the creature disappeared but saw nothing. Not even a twitch of that deadly tail.
They looked up as a rescue vessel circled to land. The distress calls made it through after all.
Adria wobbled a bit as they walked toward the shuttle waiting to take them back to The Explorer.
"Adria, Tee," called a voice sounding too much like Tee's own.
The creature slid to a halt as Tee turned, pistol at the ready. Pushing aside the hood, it pointed toward the shuttle.
"Yep, we're leaving," Tee responded, but refused to lower his weapon.
"Yep, we're leaving," mimicked the creature. The alien scurried around to stand between them and the ship. He held his narrow palm up as Tee did earlier when he tried to make friends. The deadly tail lay flat along the planetoid's surface in a non-threatening manner.
"He doesn't want us to leave him," Adria guessed. "Poor thing, I wouldn't want to be alone on this rock either. Wonder how he got here?" She reached out and touched Tee's arm. "Look at him. You won't need that. Maybe our anthropologist will know what he is and where he came from."
"The Captain is going to love this," Tee chuckled and holstered his weapon.
The creature chuckled and repeated, "The Captain is going to love this."
Tee pointed toward the ship and nodded. "I'll get a containment dome for him"
The creature stepped aside then meekly followed them to the ship. Waiting patiently, it accepted being enclosed in a cage-like dome, even tucking the spine-covered tail in carefully when it presented a problem. The creature settled down and grew still except for the occasional flicker of the end of his tail from beneath the cloak.
Chapter Seven
"Sure am glad to see you guys," Tee told Borlan, the shuttle pilot flying the rescue mission. "I was afraid we'd be stuck here."
"Captain wouldn't let that happen. Who's your friend? Or maybe I should say what?"
"Not sure. We're hoping to find out back on The Explorer. It definitely didn't want us to leave him here."
"Can't say I blame it for that. Nothing welcoming on this rock except the thought of leaving." Borlan took his seat and contacted The Explorer to confirm the rescue of the flyer crew.
Teelak spoke briefly with Captain Winslow to report Adria's injury and what happened to the flyer "We also picked up a passenger, Captain. We're bringing it back with us."
Everyone on the shuttle heard the Captain demand, "What the blazes have you found now, Teelak? This is a research vessel, not a zoo. See that it doesn't make a mess like that gerbil-looking thing you brought back off P39S."
"Yes, Captain. I assure you this is not like that at all."
The medic laughed as he examined and treated Adria's head wound. "It looks pretty harmless to me."
The creature remained in the exact same spot wrapped in his cloak and hood as if trying to become invisible. It blended almost perfectly into the colors of the shuttle's interior hull and circuitry.
"Do we need to secure your new friend in the cargo hold?" The shuttle pilot asked as he prepared for take-off.
"I think we should just let him stay where he is. He seems harmless enough. Don't show your teeth to him, though, and stay away from that tail," Tee quietly warned and showed Borlan the wound in his right hand. Tee dropped into the co-pilot's chair for the hopefully uneventful trip back to The Explorer.
* * * * *
Tee let out a deep sigh of relief at seeing the last of that planetoid as they broke out of its gravitational field. He thought it sure would feel good to get back to a sonic shower and a soft bunk. But deep down he enjoyed getting his juices flowing in the crash and when the creature attacked. Too many routine flights
and not enough action to keep him sharp were taking a toll.
"How do you feel Adria? The head any better?"
"Much better since the neural repair. I feel pretty wiped out, though. Going to be bed for me as soon as we've debriefed." She stretched her legs out, leaned her head back against the seat, and closed her eyes to relax. What a day. They lived through a crash landing, an alien attack, and were rescued. Tee definitely got some of the excitement he craved on this one.
Teelak and Borlan were trading insults when he heard a strangled curse behind him. The pilot turned to see the medic and Adria grab for their necks. A needle-like spine protruded from both their jugulars, blood spurting.
The creature stood a few feet from the containment dome, tail spiked above his head. Tee saw him flex his deadly tail and knew it was already too late. Oh, CRAP! He grabbed for his pistol even as he felt a piercing pain in his own neck. He saw the creature zip past as he tumbled from his seat. Borlan fell near him as he lay on the cockpit floor. Then he knew no more.
Chapter Eight
The creature dragged the bodies to the back of the ship. They would provide food for the long journey ahead. He chattered happily to himself as he took over the controls. Escaping the antiquated containment dome had been simple. Humans were so easy. He liked Tee and Adria and had hoped to use them to take the larger ship, The Explorer. But after a quick scan of the computer banks by attaching himself to the circuitry, he learned the large number of humans it contained. He decided to make do with this one, at least until he reached Anterries 479. The large volume of humans would have given him too much trouble, but they certainly would have kept him amused, he thought in regret. He could have used a bit of entertainment.
Using his chameleon-like ability he cloaked the rescue shuttle to blend with the backdrop of space and stars to avoid detection by The Explorer. Seemed he had waited forever to be rescued, instead of a mere chalion (three months human time). But he knew he would find a way to return to his planet in time, if only he survived that dustbowl of a planetoid he'd been dropped upon. Still chattering happily while munching on a finger, he set a course for Anterries 479 where he could refuel then head for home.
Exile me, will they? Well, I'll see about that.
He settled back in the captain's chair and snacked on an arm as he plotted his revenge on those who dared to judge him.
The End
Bonus Section
Speculative Flash Fiction...
How can a man escape a beast created and released by his own careless actions?
Releasing the Beast
Smash! The outer layer of windshield cracked and hairline fractures crawled along the glass. Would it withstand another hit? He didn't know, but leapt into the back seat, just in case. A loud howl preceded the next blow and the inner layer splintered and caved in. One more blow and the beast would be in the car. Then what?
Jacob trembled, cowering in the rear seat. Have mercy, what a week! All he'd wanted to do was spend a quiet day on the sofa watching the games before taking the kids around the neighborhood in their Halloween costumes. After that, he planned to see the cute girl he met last week. She promised to wear her Betty Boop costume for him.
Just as he expected, the next blow knocked the entire windshield onto the dash in a shower of safety glass. As the beast clambered onto the hood and shoved through the opening, Jacob did the only thing he could. He threw open the back door and jumped out, evading the talon-shaped claws by scant inches. Running flat out, while not daring to look back, he headed for the busiest section of town. Surely, the beast wouldn't pursue him there.
Then Jacob heard howling grunts and swiftly pounding feet. The beast was fast. Jacob knew it would also be relentless. This furious beast would track him to the ends of the Earth. He couldn't tell if the heat on the back of his neck came from his own exertion or the monster breathing down on him.
Dodging into a coffee shop, Jacob hid in the shadow of a huge coffee urn. The beast ran past the door. A sigh of relief escaped. Jacob ordered a coffee so he could hide there a while longer. His hands shook; he spilled hot liquid over his fingers. When the beast didn't return, he slid into a booth near the back to think about his next move.
The office was out. The beast would find him there. He couldn't go home. He'd actually unleashed the beast there. Then he made it to the car, for all the good that did him.
Suddenly the hum of conversation in the shop went silent, everyone stared toward the door.
"Oh crap," Jacob whined as he considered whether he should dive beneath the table or run for the back door.
The beast stood in the open doorway. The red-rimmed, piercing eyes shot sparks as it stared about, looking for him. Nostrils flared, it scented the air searching for his scent. Sharp, white teeth showed as the quivering, angry creature panted for breath. It lurched forward one step, then another.
Customers and employees shuffled backward and out of the way, watching to see who would be the prey. Each one thankful when the beast passed them by, they slipped out without a hint of remorse.
Jacob ran, but the double chain and padlock on the back door halted his progress. Have these people not heard of fire exit laws? He turned to face the beast, back against the door, uncontrollable tremors wracking his body. His eyes shifted back and forth seeking help from any quarter, but there was none.
The beast slavered over him as he fell to his knees. His heart pounded in terror.
"Please, what can I do? What do you want?" he begged.
The beast growled as she reached for him, "You two-timing liar! I want the kids, the house, the bank accounts, and your cheating butt in a sling."
Speculative Flash Fiction...
What is our world coming to? A lady of advanced age enjoying her warm drink suspects she knows, but no one believes her. Has she foreseen this future or is she crazy?
Cappuccino and Christmas Snow
Mina rushed into her favorite coffee shop on the corner. She ordered a mocha cappuccino and looked around for a vacant chair. A small table near the window provided a welcome place to sit, along with a nice view of the Christmas shoppers bustling about the square. She needed this break. Her feet were killing her. Never again would she wear heels the last week of sales during Christmas rush.
Three-thirty in the afternoon, and she was just now taking her lunch break. Who on Earth eats lunch this late? She laughed to herself. Guess I do.
Glancing around to see if anyone noticed, she toed off her heels under the table then breathed a deep sigh of relief. Heaven. Sipping her hot drink while waiting for her sandwich, Mina saw the first snowflakes drift to the ground. Beautiful...a white Christmas will be wonderful.
But something looked wrong—eerily wrong. The buildings were different somehow...as were the cars. Every spot where a snowflake touched, a wisp of smoke rose and a black spot remained. A man in front of the window looked skyward then grabbed his face as huge blisters appeared at the touch of each snowflake.
"Oh, no!" Mina cried in horror and jumped to her feet. An unsuspecting woman with two small children stood near the door helping them into their coats. She was about to take those children out into the dangerous snowfall.
"Don't," Mina shouted as she hurried to stop her. "Please wait. Look, there's something wrong with the snowflakes. They're burning people."
"Are you crazy? What's wrong with the snow?" The woman stared with suspicion at Mina and herded her children closer to the door, farther away from the crazy woman.
The door opened and a group of young people entered, laughing and talking while brushing off the snow.
The woman pushed past, ushering her children out.
They seem fine. The buildings and cars—all look normal—now. Mina watched through the door as people walked down the sidewalk amid the falling flakes. There were no more black spots, and no one developed blisters.
Mina went back to her table where she dropped into her chair. After a large swallow of cappuccino, she shook her head a
nd stared out the window trying to figure out what happened to her.
* * * * *
Remembering that day as if experiencing it once again, Mina leaned heavily on her walker. She nodded to the deformed young man holding the door open for her.
"Happy holidays," he said before he gave her a crooked smile and went on his way.
Mina eased onto a plastic stool at the circular counter and ordered her favorite, a mocha cappuccino. It would be synthesized, without a hint of real coffee or chocolate, but it would have to do. She tried to ignore the news feeds on the monitors embedded in the walls and the ceiling of the coffee bar. Sure is different than sixty-five years ago.
The depressing state of the world no longer concerned her. Mina refused to listen to one more discussion on the necessity of using nuclear arms to control violence. Or the failure of the world economy. Or how all the fossil-fuel reserves were gone.
The continuous calamities caused by earthquakes and the resulting tidal waves ceased to disturb her many years before. A new volcano erupted almost daily while hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes were now commonplace events. Why get upset over things she couldn't change?
What did concern her at this moment was the fact that she could not see out a window while she sipped her drink. Whose idea was it anyway, to have customers face into a circle? At ninety-eight, she should be able to look out a bloody window if she wanted to.
Noticing the time, the elderly lady struggled weakly to her feet. Mina braced on her walker and clump-slid-clumped over to the small rectangle in the recycled aluminum wall to peer out. The week before Christmas and, once again, the square bustled with people—just like every year.
* * * * *
Small, hydrogen-powered vehicles swept by. The buildings appeared odd-shaped and metallic rather than stately and elegant as they had back in her younger days. Glancing at the bottom corner of one of the monitors, Mina saw the clock creeping toward three-thirty. Not long now. Maybe this year I'll find out I'm not really a crazy old woman.
Becca's Paranormal Collection Page 13
