Only Prompts - 14. From Space

From Space

"I'm sorry! I didn't cause the fecking accident Peter." I think if I'd been looking at myself I'd have rolled my eyes at my own drama. "Peter, you're hysterical. It's a film! It will be there tomorrow night…No, by the time I get home, if I bloody do, it will have started anyway."

I sat in my car listening to my sweet but highly strung boyfriend rant: You always do this. We are supposed to go out! You promised we'd see this film together!

Time was ticking on but I and a bunch of other people were stuck here waiting for the accident to be cleared away. Peter was dragging his nails over the last of my patience.

"Babe, the helicopter is leaving…hopefully whoever they are will be okay…Hmm doesn't look civilian…nothing, sorry, the rescue copter, it looks military…anyway I'm gonna go home. Scramble an egg, watch TV and sleep. No, we'll talk tomorrow…Yes, I love you…kisses till then."

I reached over to the passenger seat and slipped my phone into the pocket on my backpack. Around me engines started, so I started the Audi's. Slowly we crawled forward. Took me another hour to get home.

When I finally got in I just wanted two things: a hot shower and food.

The shower answered the chicken and the egg question.

After I was clean and felt human I went into the kitchen. Simple toast and scrambled eggs sounded like nirvana to me. I'd heated the frying pan and had just broken four eggs into a bowl when I heard something hit the garbage cans outside.

"Damn raccoons I bet." I pulled the pan off the heat and turned off the burner.

I put on the back porch light and peered out. There was something out there; it was too big to be a raccoon. It didn't seem to be moving.

"Better go and see." I slipped into some old Keds and picked up the flashlight and baseball bat I keep by the patio door. After unlocking it, I pulled it open, only far enough to for me to slip through. The beam of the flashlight lit up the steps and the lawn in front of me. What was in front of me was not garbage cans, it was a body.

"Shit!" I didn't think. Just ran forward and fell to my knees beside him – it.

The body had a human shape, but the skin was not, nor was the pure white hair. The creature wore a jumpsuit type garment. There was some sticky stuff around the head and shoulder so I figured it was injured.

I wondered what I should do. "Call the police or the army?"

"Please don't. Take me inside."

The voice came from inside my own head. I looked down at the alien? Yes, what else? The alien.

"Yeah, okay. Can you walk?" I was surprised at my own calmness.

"Yes, with assistance."

I got to my feet and helped the creature up to his. Well, the voice in my head sounded male.

"I am male."

"Sorry. I can't really tell in the dark and you're dressed in a jumpsuit." I put an arm around the alien's waist and we moved slowly into my kitchen. He slumped into a chair. As I helped him I noticed we'd left a trail of glowing-green drops. His blood I guess.

"You're hurt!"

"I'll be fine. In the pocket down my right leg, a small package."

I looked down his leg and opened a pocket and pulled out the contents. I put them on the table.

"Thank you. I need to remove the jumpsuit. Will you aid me?"

I looked up at him from my crouched position. "Sure, of course."

After getting to my own feet I pulled him upward. He ran a finger over the front of his suit and it opened. I was curious to find out what lay beneath the clothing. He pushed the suit down.

My interested eyes travelled first to where I'd hoped to compare my own junk to his. But I was disappointed for there, was nothing.

He sat and rummaged through the things on the table. "May I have water?"

"Um … yes sure. Just a sec." I moved to the cupboards. "To drink or use for your leg?"

"May I trouble you for both?"

"Yes, sure." I ran the warm water and filled a small bowl. Ice water I retrieved from the fridge.

I placed the bowl and glass on the table and then found him a clean towel and the roll of paper towels.

"You waste much here. Trees killed for disposable towels?"

I sat in a chair opposite him. "Yeah, I suppose we do."

He used the cotton towel instead.

"That towel is made from plants, too."

He smiled. "Yes, but it's not disposed of after one use is it?"

"No … I see what you mean."

As he worked on himself, I looked a bit more. The pure white hair, silvery iridescent skin, and nearly colourless eyes were a bit unnerving. So was the lack of, well anything. No genitals, no belly button, no nipples, no marks of any sort.

"Does it bother you, my body?" He'd caught me checking him out.

"Huh? No, I've just never seen one like it before."

He smiled and bent to clean his wound. "We no longer need the outward sexual organs, which humans currently do."

"I see. So how do you … do you …?"

"Reproduce?" He rummaged on the table a little more. "The simple explanation is we grow life from cells. No more rutting."

I sat back, feeling rather dirty. "Rutting can be fun."

He grinned at me. "Wound healed." He pulled the jumpsuit back on and ran a hand over it to close it up. My guest sat once more. "You are hungry?"

"Um, yes. I was starting to make some dinner when I heard you. Would you like some?"

"No, thank you. But please continue. You must take nourishment."

We chatted while I fixed dinner for myself. I sat down to eat. "Where do you come from?"

"Oh, very far from here. You wouldn't know the name. You haven't mapped that part of the universe yet."

"Okay, so why are you here? I'm guessing that accident out on the highway had something to do with you?"

"Yes, I crashed but managed to get away. I appreciate what you've done for me."

He seemed to be avoiding the big question. "You haven't told me why you're here."

"You are expecting me to say, I am a scout because we are plotting to take over your planet? Or I am here to steal you away to perform experiments?"

I smiled. "Not really. I'm just curious why you'd come here?"

"The truth is I was testing the hyperdrive on a new vessel. Worked a little too well, but the distance calculations were quite off. A bug of some sort in the system."

I ate the last of my toast. "So an error brought you here. How will you get home?"

"The main ship is in orbit. I took a small shuttle to come down here. There is something I want to get and then I'll simply call them to pick me up."

"What do you need?"

He rooted through another jumpsuit pocket, and removed a small phone-shaped gadget. After a few swipes he showed me a picture.

I shook my head and smiled at him. "Stores are closed, but that is from, like, twenty years ago."

"Yes, I was hoping to find one. Do you think it's possible?"

"It's a Furby. I can ask, but what about something from now?"

"Oh, something similar? It's for my daughter. She loves to watch the signals from Earth, though we know they are old. But something from now? Yes, it's a good idea."

His communication device made a sound. He typed something, and then looked at me. "My crew; wondering if I'd found the thing I was looking for. I told them I'd need more time but will be in touch. Do you mind if I remain here?"

"No, I don’t mind at all. Look, I'm sorry. My name is Tom." I reached out my right hand.

He grasped it and shook it. "I've seen this on the signals I've seen. It is a good way of greeting I think. I am Zendo."

"Good to meet you. I could use a beer."

"Oh! Labatts or Budweiser!"

I laughed. "The signals again?"

"Yes! I've always wanted to taste it, your beer. We do make similar drinks. Sadly I have none to share."

"Well, I'll get us a couple and we can go and watch some signals, if you want."

Zendo got to his feet and smiled broadly. "I do want! Very much, Tom. Thank you."

Then next morning I gave Zendo some jeans and a shirt, sunglasses and a baseball cap. We went shopping for a gift for his daughter. He chose a Hatchimal, saying his daughter would love it!

We shared a final beer on my back porch in the afternoon.

"Tom, you have been very kind. I appreciate it all, but it's time for me to go. Can't keep the crew waiting." He placed the now empty bottle of beer on the small table which sat between us. "Once we get this drive system fixed, do you think you'd like me to return? To visit? Perhaps you'd like to come and see our planet?"

I swallowed. "Would that be possible?"

Zendo smiled. "Of, course. Why not. We can look after you."

"I'd love that." I got up from my chair to shake Zendo's hand. "It's been good to meet you."

"I feel the same way. Now, I quote those immortal words." My new friend pressed some buttons on his phone-thing. "Beam me up, Scotty!"

"Wow, really? Can you do that?"

"Oh hell no! No one can do that!" He laughed and pointed up. "But it would be nice."

A small craft arrived silently and a door opened.

"I'll see you again soon, my new friend, Tom!"

I nodded. "I'll look forward to it, Zendo."

He climbed into the little pod.

"Wait!" I picked up the plastic bag containing the new toy and his jumpsuit. "Don't forget these!"

He looked relieved, but tugged his shirt. "Your clothes!"

"Keep 'em. You can wear them next time."

"Yes." Zendo nodded. "Great idea. Farewell Tom and thank you."

I waved. Saying goodbye was hard. Ridiculous, but the truth.

The pod's door closed and the little craft rose quietly.

My phone buzzed as I retook my seat. I answered it. "Hey, baby…yes…give me an hour and I'll pick you up…okay, yes, I love you too."

the end