Operation Earth

by Maria Hammarblad

  I hope he likes it. I mean, who knows what these people eat. Maybe they get a pill or something.

  Peter pointed at the food with his fork.

  “This is excellent.”

  It seemed okay to her too, and the salad was crisp and flavorful, but it wasn’t as good as he made it look.

  “This is the best food I’ve had since... I don’t think I’ve ever had anything this good.”

  He seemed honest, but it wasn’t that good.

  “Really? What do you eat on the ships?

  “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

  *****

  Rachael expected her new friend to disappear after the meal, but he roamed around her living room, seemingly intrigued with everything on her shelves.

  He lifted a snow globe and tilted it a little, raising an eyebrow as the fake snow slid from side to side.

  “Let me...” She took it away from him, shook it, and put it back in his hands. “Now it’s snowing on all the little animals.”

  Peter shook it again, this time “properly.”

  You are cute.

  “You know what? You can have it if you want. No matter where you go, you can look at it and remember Earth and lasagna.”

  His arm brushed against hers when he turned to face her, and the slight touch made her heart skip a beat.

  Were her eyes as intriguing to him as his were to her?

  “Thank you. I wish I had something for you.”

  She shrugged and averted her gaze.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Who knew an alien invasion would be filled with attractive moral hazards? I won’t struggle if you kiss me.

  Touching her was apparently the last thing on his mind. He stared at a painting on the wall.

  “Everything here is so colorful. It looks... happy.”

  Happy and colorful... An idea surfaced in her mind, but she couldn’t determine if it was good or not.

  Oh Peter, if you want new experiences, I have something that ought to rock your world. This might get me into a truckload of trouble.

  She made an effort to sound casual.

  “So, You Guys are really on a health kick, huh?”

  The look in his eyes stated confusion.

  “I mean... Everything that could possibly be unhealthy is gone from the stores.”

  “I guess. It’s supposed to lengthen your life span.”

  “But it wouldn’t kill you or anything, right?”

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  “Probably not if you can eat it, but your systems are used to it.”

  Good point. Don’t be scared, Big Guy.

  “C’mon, I want to show you something.”

  He followed her back into the kitchen, and she fished out an empty orange box reading, Reese’s Dessert Bar Mix, No Bake.

  “It’s... very orange.”

  He sounded hesitant. As much as she struggled to stay serious, her mouth still twitched.

  “I agree. Very orange, and probably the last one on the planet, so I saved it. You should have seen the happy dance I made when I found this in the cupboard.”

  He laughed.

  “Okay, I’m curious. What is it, besides a box?”

  She pulled the pan out of the fridge.

  “This is like the best thing on the planet. I mean, it’s just chocolate and peanut butter, but it’s so tasty.”

  “Tasty? That’s it?”

  Hmm, I guess I can see how this would make a person reluctant. I wouldn’t want to eat drugs even if people told me they were scrumptious.

  “It’s dessert. Just tasty. It’s not a drug or alcohol or anything. On this planet we don’t eat just to stay alive, sometimes we eat for pleasure.”

  Pulling out a knife from a drawer, she cut out a square and nibbled it. “It’s kinda... salty and sweet and chocolaty at the same time. I won’t hold it against you if you want to play by the rules.”

  Peter made a face of mock exasperation and cut himself a thin slice. He shoved it into his mouth and surprise lit up his eyes.

  “That is... amazing.”

  And you are brave, trusting me.

  “I’m glad you like it. Good things are better shared. Bring it.”

  Back in the living room, Peter munched chocolate and peeked in her shelves. He pointed at a pile of brightly-labeled boxes.

  “What’s that?”

  This, she could answer with ease.

  “Those are games. Wanna try one?”

  “Sure. I’ve never...” He frowned and seemed to search for the right phrase. “I’ve never played a game.”

  Would his appearance in her life be a blessing or a curse? Regardless of what might happen after this evening, having dinner with an alien, giving him forbidden chocolate, and teaching him to play games was too fundamentally strange not to change everything.

  She took the box on top of the pile and plopped it into his hands.

  “We’ll give it a try. Bring that and come over here.”

  The box turned out to be Scrabble, and she explained the rules the best she could. It seemed rudimentary, but Peter caught on quickly. He lost the first game, but beat her in the next when he used all his tiles on a long word she hadn’t even heard of.

  “You’re kicking my behind. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but how do you know English?”

  She expected a verbal answer, but he took her hand and moved it against his head. The touch made her heart flutter.

  He’s an alien. Remember he’s not yours to keep.

  When running her fingers through his hair, touching his scalp, she could feel a bump. Tiny, like the head of a pin.

  “That is an implant connected to my brain. With it, I know all the languages spoken on your planet.”

  Sure. Would you mind if I played with your hair a little longer?

  She pulled her hand back, and the full impact of his words hit her. He had a zip drive connected to his head, piercing his brain. The thought made her queasy.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “Only when changing it. That is a pain you do not want to experience. Apart from that, like right now, I can’t even feel it’s there. And...” He looked thoughtful and formed the word Quixotic before continuing, “...it’s helping me beat you at this game, so I think it’s worth it.”

  Trying to look offended wasn’t all that easy, but she made an effort.

  “You have a dictionary in your head. That’s cheating.”

  His eyes glittered.

  “I’ll let you use a wordlist if it makes you feel better.”

  “Naah, I’m good.”

  Her letters formed a great deal of nothing.

  Hopeless. He’ll kick my butt again.

  “Why don’t you hate me?”

  The question threw her off, and made her cheeks flush.

  “I wanted to hate you. All of you I mean, not you personally. You guys strode in here and changed my life. I just don’t have the energy to maintain that level of resentment.”

  He lifted an eyebrow and she elaborated, “I don’t think it’s your fault. I don’t think you made the decision to bring the fleet here to conquer our planet, and whatever your race intends to do with it I don’t think you planned it. You’re far away from home. You personally mean me no harm, and I actually kind of like you.”

  Understatement of the year. Please don’t ask me anything more about that, I don’t think I’d be able to lie.

  Peter nodded, as if she made perfect sense.

  “I have to go soon. Thank you for everything, Rachael.”

  He changed when he put his weapons back on. The relaxed man who liked lasagna and Reese’s desserts disappeared, only to be replaced by a soldier. Then, he smiled and the warmth returned to his eyes.

  “Lock the door behind me. Good night.”

  Please don’t go. Don’t leave me alone with the scary neighbors.

  She couldn’t say that, so she nodded and made sure to rattle the security chain to assure him she put it o
n. She leaned against the door and watched him through the peephole as he walked along the short driveway.

  “Come back soon.”

  A sympathetic “meow” saved her from talking to herself.

  Lifting the cat up in her arms, she murmured, “Bonbon, there you are. Where have you been all night? Hiding from the scary, sexy alien? Good thing no one can hear me but you, right?”

  Her house had always been just the right size, but now it felt big and empty. She lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling with the events of the day replaying over and over in her mind. Even the slightest noise made her jump.

  Was that on my door? No, the resistance movement can’t be here to extract revenge on me already. I didn’t do much. I just had a good time with one of the invaders. Does that make me a traitor against the human race? Maybe.

  She slipped out of bed and brought the sword over. Having it sheathed next to her might not help against an actual intruder, but it made her feel better.

  Chapter Four

  When Rachael left her house the next morning, she kept her gaze away from the building next door.

  Leave me alone. Pretty please leave me alone.

  Her attempt to avoid crazy didn’t work. Both Melissa and Ryan shot out of their front door so quickly they must have waited for her.

  “Rachael, come over for a minute!”

  I don’t think so. I’d rather jump into icy water than set foot in your house again.

  She shook her head.

  “Not right now. I’ve gotta catch the bus.”

  Ryan took a step closer.

  “No. You really should come over now.”

  The edge in his voice was sharper than that on her sword, and it made her skin crawl.

  Or what? You’ll shoot me in cold blood, in the middle of the street if I refuse?

  Sighing, she stepped over to the low hedge that separated their yards. Maintaining a neutral expression took more effort than lifting a truck.

  “I have to go.”

  He also walked up to the hedge and fixed his eyes on her face.

  “What was all the stuff last night about?”

  Planting these bushes was the best decision of my life. I wish they were taller.

  “What stuff?”

  Melissa also stood very close all of a sudden. Her eyes were big and frightened.

  Strange.

  They were two against one, and if anyone should be scared it would be her.

  “We saw him. The alien. He was in your house for a long time. What did you talk about? What did you say?”

  Aw, you’re horrified because you think I tattled. Right now you’re not dangerous. You’re pitiful.

  Fear might change to violence in the wink of an eye. Staying away and keeping the low hedge between them seemed prudent.

  “You’re worried I turned you in. I wouldn’t do that. We are the same kind, you and me, and you’d better remember that.”

  Melissa seemed taken aback, but Ryan took yet another step forward, the legs of his pants catching on spiky twigs. Rachael wanted to fall back and get out of grabbing distance, but forced herself to stand her ground.

  “So, what were you doing?” His voice made it more than clear he didn’t believe her.

  “We played Scrabble. Now, I have to catch the bus. See you guys later.”

  She turned to go, but Ryan’s spiteful voice drifted over.

  “You need to get your head straight. Do you have any idea how many people died in the plane crashes and everything?”

  No, but neither do you.

  She fixed her eyes on a spot on the other side of the road and forced her feet to carry her forward.

  Put one foot in front of the other. Right, left, right, left... Keep your back straight and your head held high.

  She hoped she emanated pride and not fear. She had the upper hand, for the moment, and fleeing would brand her guilty without a formal judge and jury.

  *****

  Peter stood in a small oval room together with June and two Information Gatherers. A holographic map of the planet hovered before him, but he couldn’t keep his attention on it.

  One of the bald women sat down in an alcove, and he looked away when it cocooned her. What would it feel like to give up one’s own identity and become part of the whole?

  He would never know.

  No man would, but he was still curious.

  The remaining Information Gatherer was a petite woman with enormous, gray eyes. She kept them fixed on him as she spoke.

  “Sensors report there is a large concentration of primitive weaponry in your area, Ground Commander.”

  He nodded and met her gaze, but couldn’t keep his wandering thoughts in check.

  What would she have done if she hadn’t been connected to the ship all her life? What would she have looked like, and who would she have been? She’s cute. Would be cuter with hair, but she has beautiful eyes. Rachael has nice eyes. She took a risk trusting me, for all she knew she might have been overrun by troops. Moot point, look at the map and stop being such an idiot.

  Scolding himself helped for a few minutes. June’s sharp eyes on him did the trick for a few minutes more. What he did with his time, or with whom he spent it shouldn’t matter.

  It shouldn’t, but his commanding officer would not approve.

  The woman in the alcove spoke without opening her eyes.

  “Recommend transferring troops from the Scandinavian Peninsula.”

  “Increasing our presence might also increase their urge to lash out.”

  June wrinkled her nose.

  “It’s not your place to be a philosopher. Just deal with it before you have riots.”

  “Very well.”

  He sighed, unable to shake the impressions from Rachael’s house. The Reese-thing had been delicious beyond anything he could ever have imagined.

  “Maybe we should give them something back. Let them have their coffee and chocolate for now. It can be phased out later.”

  “Their what and the what?”

  She sounded impatient, and he flashed a smile.

  Charming her won’t work, but no harm in trying.

  “Coffee and chocolate are two of the forbidden substances, apparently important to this culture. If we allow them again, they might perceive our presence as less intrusive.”

  “Rubbish. How do you know?”

  He gave a slight shrug.

  “I’ve been doing research.”

  June sighed.

  “Follow me.”

  Few rooms on the ship showed the outside, but there were observation areas. Stepping into a hall where an entire wall held a view of the planet below surprised him, not to mention June walking up to the windows, staring at the blue and green gem.

  “Lots of water on this one. There’s a storm over Mexico. We’re surrounded by miracles every day and barely see them.”

  This is new.

  He knew her as decisive and filled with purpose. Would things have ended differently if he knew she harbored an introspective side?

  For a moment she looked vulnerable, and he placed his hands on her shoulders without thinking. Old habit told him to rub them. She stiffened at the touch, exhaled, and relaxed.

  “I always liked when you did that.”

  “I know.”

  But why the hell am I doing it now?

  “You never told me why you turned down my offer.”

  “June...”

  He drew a deep breath, struggling to clear his head.

  Why did women have to smell so good?

  Why did she have to bring this up now?

  Taking a step away from her, he kept his eyes on the planet below them. It was so beautiful, filled with mystery and promise… just like Rachael.

  June pulled a finger over his chest.

  “We were great together. It didn’t have to stop.”

  Yes it did. Say something polite and get out of here.

  “I enjoyed our time.”

  She l
aughed.

  “I know you did. Some parts of you more than the rest.”

  It was an understatement. He had been under her spell, ready to do anything for her. Almost anything.

  She pressed both palms against him and sought the attention of his eyes.

  Too much touching. If she keeps touching me, I’ll fall back into her trap.

  He grabbed her hands and pushed them away.

  “June, I wasn’t ready then and I’m not ready now. I do not wish to go through the ceremony, not even with you.”

  “But...”

  For a moment she looked vulnerable and his words rang cruel and heartless even in his own ears, but then the composure of the fleet commander reappeared.

  “Get out of here!”

  Yes, please. I’d do something to annoy you within a week, and you’d have me executed. I might die anyway, but hopefully for a better reason.

  He walked out of the room with long strides, wanting to look determined but not fleeing. Was there one woman in his life he hadn’t disappointed yet?

  Rachael. But she didn’t count.

  Or did she?

  He hadn’t intended to go see her again, but maybe he should pay her another visit. Learning more about the indigenous population could be a good thing.

  That’s all there is to it, right?

  *****

  Rachael spent a couple of hours in the office, but there wasn’t much to do, and she had all the time in the world to do it.

  Her thoughts churned.

  What could she do about the neighbors? It was too late to make friends with them. Ignoring them was tempting, but could backfire. Either way, she didn’t want to end up with a hole in her head.

  She gave up on pretending to work and took a bus to the store.

  I’m not looking for him. I’m not.

  It was the first place she saw him, and even if the chance to run into him seemed infinitesimal, she still hoped.

  Stop thinking about him. His curiosity is satisfied, and you’ll never see him again.

  Scolding herself didn’t keep her from buying ingredients for a nice meal for two, rationalizing it with wanting leftovers, so she wouldn’t have to cook every day.

  When the bus pulled in at the corner of her street, she stayed in the seat so long the automatic doors closed again, and she had to bounce up and call out, “Wait, this is my stop!”