T’ZAK
The tiny female is staring up at me with her huge eyes.
She is naked under the sheet and I resist the urge to draw it away to uncover more of her soft, light brown skin. I knew humans had skin of different colors from our history books, but she is the first I’ve seen in the flesh. And her flesh is spectacular.
I clear my throat.
“Can you understand me?” I hope my accent is clear enough for her to comprehend my inflection. Our race learns the main human languages alongside our own as a nod to our history, but we do not often speak English outside the classroom.
She nods and draws the sheet under her chin.
“I am T’zak. I am not here to harm you. I have come from my home planet, Hedian, for an important reason…” I stop because she is shaking her head from side to side.
“No, you don’t! I know how this goes. You abduct me and take me to some wilderness planet, but win me over with your extreme sexiness and I have your alien babies. Nope. Not happening. I’m not up for experiments or being conquered by hordes of alien invaders either.” Her voice is much higher-pitched than mine. It sounds a little like a Nasrolian flute.
I’m amazed she is not screaming. We were taught that our first encounters with humans almost always have them screaming in terror. The males as well as the females. Of course, this one is special. But she does not know that, yet.
I smile. “What makes you think you have a choice?”
“What makes you think you do?” Her voice is slightly shaky. She’s scared, but she is also brave. I know about her family history, so this does not surprise me. Her presence, though, right here in front of me has my carefully scripted responses fleeing from my mind.
“Let me start again, Maria.” I move to the bed and sit down. The mattress sags under my weight.
“You know my name?” Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead. They are the same amber-brown as her wavy hair, which is disheveled from sleep.
“Yes. Let me reiterate why I am here, with you. I realize my appearance and my presence is shocking to you. Your first encounter with an alien civilization must be discombobulating.” I roll my tongue over the letters in that word. English is a softer language than my own and I enjoy the multiple vowel sounds.
“Well, at least I’m still slightly drunk. Although my hangover is kicking in now. So you’re not going to hurt me, abduct me or experiment on me?” She sits up a little more and the sheet drops a couple of inches.
“Correct. I am here, in fact, to request your help.”
“And what if I don’t want to help you?” Her voice is stronger now. That is good. She is less frightened of me. My uncle told me a story of how one of his comrade’s first contact humans had tried to escape out of a window, fallen and broken themselves beyond repair. Maria does not look like she wants to run.
“Listen to what I have to say and then make your decision. My race is descended from yours. During a great famine on your world, my ancestors landed here and offered female humans the opportunity to come to Hedian. Our genetics meant the number of men outnumbered women three to one and our race was in danger of dying out. So our species survived, intermixed with human DNA.” I stop, making sure she’s still listening. I have been warned that humans can go into trances at the sight of aliens in front of them.
She nods. “Go on.”
“I am a general in the Hedian army. My battle skills are unmatched.” I flex my arm and she draws back against her head comforter. “But the ultimate test for any warrior is to come to earth and pass as human. It is a sign of respect for our ancestors and involves skill and stealth, both essential for the true Hedian fighter.”
She makes a strange noise.
“Are you laughing?” I ask. Yet again, I am surprised at the bravery of this strange female.
“A little. You are seven feet tall. That will make you stand out, although we have some giants here on earth. But the giveaway is the purpleness. Not many purple people here on this planet.” She shakes her head. “I think I’m still dreaming, but it feels like I’m awake.”
“You aren’t dreaming, Maria. When my skin is exposed to sunlight it will turn a more human color. The atmosphere will keep it that shade until I return home.”
“Okay. Look, I’m really interested to know that aliens exist. But there are lots of scientists and humans on this planet who are way smarter than me. They’d be happy to help you. So I’d suggest that you go to them.” She holds her small hands out with the palms up and the bedclothes drop further. I recognize the gesture from Dr. Plœsae’s Human Behavior manual but I am too busy watching the progress of the descending sheet.
“No!” My voice is sharp and she snaps her hands back to grab the sheet.
“Well, it’s a no from me too, T’zak. We are at a stalemate.” She raises her shoulders up. This is a shrug.
“That is a chess move. We all learn to play that on Hedian. I am not a good player.” I mimic her shrug.
She laughs. “Neither am I. I’m sorry I can’t help you, T’zak. I’m freaking out inside that I’ve met an actual alien.”
I have to convince her. “In chess, there is checkmate? I am afraid I am in that situation now, here on Earth.”