Alien Coffee (6 page)

Jillian grinned back. “I did a bit of
partying too.” She tilted her head in curiosity and asked. “Is that
where you started . . . drinking coffee? I know I experimented with
marijuana when I went to college.”

Nyxulla shook her head, the purple hair
flowing back and forth like silk curtains. “I got hooked on coffee
when I was in boarding school. Put a lot of rich kids together and
they’re bound to test every breakable rule out there.” She sighed
and put her feet up on the table, which erased that part of the
image. She wore silver boots that matched the rest of her outfit,
so Jillian couldn’t see if her feet were like a human’s. “It
bothers me that Buffy is so judgmental of these teens we’re going
to rescue. Their sports ship was probably some sort of guilt gift
given to them by parents who don’t want to be bothered with raising
them.”

It was clear the issue was personal to
Nyxulla. Jillian’s parents had struggled at times, but always
provided food and shelter for their children. More importantly,
they cared. Jillian felt herself fortunate for having a good
childhood. Most of the time she didn’t even mention it to people
because she felt guilty when people talked about neglect and abuse
they experienced as kids. It was extraordinary to her that this
alien was saying similar things. “We’ll rescue them,” Jillian told
her reassuringly, placing a hand on hers. The alien skin was
unbelievably soft and cool to the touch.

“Yes. We’ll definitely rescue them. I know
they’re probably brats.” Nyxulla blushed. “I’ve been a brat most of
my life too. Still am.” She put her feet down and looked at the
image of the compound that reappeared. “Honestly I don’t really
care. I like having fun.”

“I can’t imagine there’s too much fun for an
alien here on Earth . . .” Jillian didn’t know if there was or not.
She could think of all sorts of trouble for anyone to get into.

“There could be, but I would be caught
quickly if I tried,” Nyxulla admitted. “It’s easy to go to your
house because it’s within immediate range of the station. We can’t
go into town though and any further excursions would have to be
approved. Our basic locations are tracked at all times, although
individual rights laws prohibit the government from paying
attention to the details of our lives.”

“Interesting,” Jillian replied. She sipped on
her coffee while listening intently. Buffy had come in quietly, but
didn’t say anything as he sat down.

“Other than that, it
is
boring here
for the most part. The time is worth it because the research is so
fascinating.” She crossed her legs and took Jillian’s hand into her
lap with both of hers. “I’m a spoiled brat, but I graduated at the
top of my class because I’m very good at science and I enjoy it.
The data coming in here is extraordinary and I’m spending most of
my time studying every detail.”

“You’re not a spoiled brat, and I’ve never
suggested it,” Buffy interjected. “I have the utmost respect for
you, but I worry about your drug use and casual disregard for
rules.”

“You’re not my daddy . . . or my mommy, so
don’t waste your time,” Nyxulla responded defensively. “Do you have
the device?”

Buffy didn’t respond immediately. The two
aliens stared at each other for a moment. Nyxulla blinked first.
Jillian thought the BEM had an unfair advantage in the contest with
no eyelids to cover the enormous compound eyes. “I have the
device.” It turned to Jillian. “Stand up and I’ll attach it.”

Jillian did so nervously. She held her arms
up and remained completely still while the alien deftly put a
silver utility belt around the waist of her blouse. The device was
on the left side while small pouches lined the rest of it. What
shocked Jillian was that there was a ray gun hanging down her right
hip. When Buffy stepped back, she tentatively touched it.

“It’s already set to transform its target
into emo bunnies, so all you need to do is pull the trigger. I’m
certain that giving a human advanced weaponry won’t turn out badly
at all,” Buffy told her sarcastically. “However, it’s unlikely
you’ll have to use it and you’re under strict orders not to unless
you feel there is no other choice left to you.”

“Whose orders?” Nyxulla challenged with a
raised eyebrow.

“Mine,” Buffy told her firmly. “Do you want
to explain to Hub Command why we’re letting humans play with ray
guns and turn each other into emo bunnies?” Nyxulla shook her head
immediately. Buffy turned back to Jillian. “Most of the pouches are
empty. There’s a first aid kit with two bandages in it.” He pointed
to a pouch on the front of her belt. Then he pointed to another.
“This has five ration pills. You can take one per day and it will
give you all the nourishment you need in case you get stuck in the
jungle for any reason.”

“Wait, the first aid kit only has two
bandages?” Jillian asked incredulously. “So I’m fine if I get a boo
boo?

“They’ll heal most injuries,” Nyxulla replied
with a grin. “Just press it anywhere and let it do its job. You can
use them on any race. There’s a molecular analyzer in each
one.”

“They’re expensive, so don’t use it for
anything less than a life threatening injury,” Buffy warned. “You
also have a localized tracer that will enable us to track you in
this area, but isn’t strong enough for you to be noticed by anyone
who could get us in trouble. The invisibility device enables you to
see anyone else using one, an extremely important feature. Another
key piece of equipment in one of the pouches on the back of the
belt is a universal interpreter that translates all languages
recorded by the Amalgamation. Here is an earpiece and button
speaker for direct conversation, just put the button on your
collar.”

“Does that include human languages?” Jillian
asked. She placed the small blue button that was the speaker
against her collar and it fastened itself. Then she put the silver
earbud in her left ear. Somehow it stuck in her ear canal without
being uncomfortable. Even better, it didn’t interfere with normal
sounds.

“Including many that died out millennia ago,”
Buffy answered with a nod.

“It’s unlikely that you’ll need to translate
those though,” Nyxulla said wryly.

“We’re nearing the crash site,” Sclurp told
them through their earpieces. It sounded as though he was right
next to Jillian and she jumped at the sound. “I’ll let you know
when we’re in range for the wreckage to be annihilated.”

Nyxulla moved the image back to the wreckage
and started tapping screens that popped up around her. More popped
up around Buffy and the BEM began tapping twice as fast as Nyxulla.
Jillian sat down quietly so as not to disturb them.

She finished the last of her juice and set
the cup down on the table. There was probably a wall compartment or
something she should put it into, but didn’t know how to activate
it. Part of her wanted them to take her into space to see
intergalactic civilizations. The problem was that Raymond didn’t
believe there was other life out there and even if he found out the
reality, he would probably continue to deny it against all
evidence. Jillian loved her husband and didn’t think she could
leave him in any case.

“We’re in range,” Sclurp told them. His voice
was just as clear as if he were in the room. Jillian randomly
wondered if their cell phone service or TV signals ever went
out.

“Scans show no life within the wreckage. I’m
ready,” Nyxulla informed Buffy.

“Initiating destruct sequence,” Buffy said.
They tapped their screens more. Suddenly the image of the wreckage
began disintegrating. That was the best word Jillian could think of
for what happened. She had expected some kind of explosion, but it
ate in on itself instead, transforming into molecules that
evaporated into thin air. The soldiers around the ship looked at it
in shock as did two workers that were on their way back to it.

“The destruction is complete,” Nyxulla stated
out loud. “Please run a check on all the components, Buffy.”

“Doing so now,” the BEM responded, tapping
the screens. Jillian saw ghost-like images on the screens but
nothing was distinguishable to her. She wondered if they were tuned
so that only the individual using them could see the details. “All
components destroyed,” Buffy said momentarily.

Sclurp came through the door from the front.
“The ship is invisible just above the trees between the compound
and wreck site. What’s the plan for rescuing the dummies who
crashed?”

Buffy and Nyxulla looked at each other. “Did
we get that far in our preparation?” Nyxulla asked.

“I don’t believe we did. We assessed the
situation, but that’s all,” Buffy answered, moving the image back
to the compound.

“Yes . . . Oh, Sclurp, look at this.” Nyxulla
focused the image onto the men having sex in the back corner of the
compound. Jillian blushed again at the image while noticing the men
had changed positions.

“Dude! They’re really going at it. Wow.”
Sclurp leaned over for a closer look.

Buffy had to move back a little to let him
see. “You two are disgusting. It doesn’t matter what the humans are
doing, what matters is how to organize the escape. Does anyone have
a suggestion, or am I the only one who plans things around
here?”

Sclurp answered the question while continuing
to stare at the scene along with Nyxulla. “I’ll do the planning
this time.”

“Oh?” Buffy responded in surprise. “What is
your plan?”

“We zap everyone into emo bunnies, toss the
teens into a snail, grab some fresh coffee beans and then go to
Jillian’s house for coffee.” Sclurp straightened and smiled. “We
can try the new roaster she got for Christmas and then we can play
Dungeons, Dragons and Aliens. We need an intergalactic cleric for
our current campaign.”

“I like that idea,” Nyxulla concurred
immediately.

“No!” Buffy exclaimed in exasperation. “We’re
under orders to perform the rescue as quietly as possible without
any harm to the humans, although you’re right about needing an
intergalactic cleric.”

“We’re turning them into emo bunnies,” Sclurp
protested. “That’s not harmful, it’s cute.”

“And we can pet them afterward, which will
make them happy,” Nyxulla concurred helpfully.

“Emo bunnies are never happy, dude,” Sclurp
pointed out. Apparently he called everyone dude.

“Good point,” Nyxulla admitted.

“You two are being ridiculous. This is a
serious matter and there’s no telling how long those men are going
to keep the teens alive,” Buffy stated irritably. “We can’t zap
everyone, so that’s not an option. We need to find another way to
rescue them.”

Jillian had an idea and decided to throw it
out. “We have invisibility devices. Why don’t we just cut a hole in
the fence, sneak in and release them. You said there are plenty of
snails nearby, so we can take them a short way into the jungle and
get them into one . . . if you have one of those thingies that
makes snails into spaceships that is.”

They stared at her. After a minute, the
silence became uncomfortable, causing Jillian to shift from foot to
foot nervously. Nyxulla spoke. “That’s a very good plan, Jillian.
And yes, we do have one of those . . . thingies.”

“It is a good plan, dude” Sclurp agreed,
nodding vigorously. “Then we can go for coffee.”

“Would you stop with the coffee?” Buffy
protested in frustration. “The plan
is
good though. We have
cutters that will cut through the chain and re-meld it on our way
back out so they won’t be able to tell how we got in. We can use
them to cut an opening in the back of the building with the
captives too. We’ll have to neutralize the soldiers that patrol the
back though.”

“Their friends will never notice that they’ve
been turned into emo bunnies. It’s the fastest way to handle the
situation,” Sclurp suggested eagerly.

“I’m beginning to think you
want
to
transform them,” Nyxulla observed. “What’s going on?”

Sclurp looked guilty and gazed into one of
the suction cups on his fingers. They stared at him until he
finally confessed. “My parents gave me an emo bunny when I was a
teenager. I liked it very much, but my parents gave it to the
butcher when they discovered I was cutting myself.”

“Aliens cut themselves?” Jillian asked
incredulously.

“That’s extremely rude, Jillian,” Buffy
chastised.

“It’s not nice to call other races ‘aliens’,”
Nyxulla agreed. “To us,
you’re
an alien after all. And yes,
cutting and other physical signs of depression are rampant
throughout the Amalgamation. Belonging to advanced civilizations
doesn’t automatically mean we all dance through fields of flowers
while singing happy songs.” Turning to Sclurp, she consoled him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a bunny. Some people aren’t
strong enough to resist the sadness they can cause.”

Sclurp shook his head. “Oh no. It didn’t make
me sad. I was cutting myself for a couple of years before they gave
him to me. The little bunny made me happy because I finally had a
friend who understood my feelings.” Sclurp’s three shoulders were
slumped in sorrow as he relayed the story. “I tried killing myself
the day after they gave him to the butcher.”

The statement stunned Jillian. Alien
civilization was supposed to be exciting with sleek spaceships and
lightsabers. Not depression, ships made from snails and suicidal
thoughts. She didn’t like this version of things so much, but put a
comforting hand on his nearest shoulder.

“I imagine they sent you in for
reconditioning,” Buffy stated matter-of-factly.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “It took a year, but I
finally learned how to control my emotions in order to function.”
Suddenly he grinned at them with his puckered lips. “Coffee helps a
lot.”

Buffy shook his head in resignation while
Nyxulla grinned and agreed, “Coffee definitely helps. Speaking of
which, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can get a cup.” She
focused the image on the building where the captives were being
held. Then she did something to adjust the image, causing hazy
shapes of individuals inside to appear. “It looks like humans are
with the captives,” Nyxulla observed unhappily. “They may be
torturing them.”