The wind whipped across the desert floor as Zandi, Skolar and Koza ran toward a shiny black SUV. It hadn’t taken long for Zandi to convince the other two that she should be the driver. This stemmed from the simple fact that she was the most human looking and therefore would blend in more, especially at night.
This opportunity was quite thrilling for them all. They knew if this little outing was successful, it would mean more freedom in the future. They had all taken lessons in the past with a simulator but nothing compared to the real thing. Zandi was just relieved there was a primitive navigator system within the government vehicle they were now speeding down a dirt road in.
In the distance, they could see the freeway that would take them into the city. As they stared ahead, they were silent, each deep in thought and curious about walking through a world they weren’t allowed to be a part of.
“So you really were completely honest with him about what we are, Zandi?” Skolar asked from the backseat.
“Completely, Skolar.” Zandi answered as she began realizing what they were actually about to do. Sitting at her workstation on the airship, fantasizing, was different from being so out in the open among beings that could rip them apart out of their own ignorance and fear. She was going to have to calm down and establish some sort of comfort level with this human……let him get to know her somehow.
“So, where are we meeting him? asked Koza
“At the beach” replied Zandi. “That’s why I told you to bring the warming jackets. The temperature out there is going to be completely different than what we’re used to but I thought it would be really interesting to take a walk on an earth beach at night and it might make the human feel more at ease. Oh yes, and his name is Christopher but he prefers to be called Chris.”
“Great, thank you for letting us know Zandi. That’s just so exciting to know what he’s called you fucking pervert” replied Skolar in a tone Zandi had never heard him use before. “I would really appreciate your telling us exactly why you’re so fascinated with the humans. These are primitive beings we are dealing with, do you understand!?!”
“Don’t YOU understand Skolar what I’m trying to figure out about them and…..ME! You should be trying to figure out the same thing! Just because we haven’t been told certain things about ourselves doesn’t mean we should sit back like morons and not question them!”
There was silence again as they drove through the city taking in all the sights and sounds they had only been shown from the comfort of the airship. They would roll down the windows now and then to breathe in new scents they were unfamiliar with yet found comforting.
Finally, they were at the beach pulling into a parking lot where the headlights of the large SUV shone brightly upon a young man standing beside his car smiling. Zandi put on her sunglasses and Koza and Skolar slid down out of view in the backseat. Chris just stood there without any hesitation and suddenly waved to Zandi.
Zandi felt her heart flutter and found herself smiling back with ease. Then, with the same ease, she took the sunglasses off. Chris did not react in the slightest and continued to smile at Zandi while beckoning her outside.
“Go, Zandi” Skolar suddenly said from the backseat. “You really got lucky this time. Don’t pass the opportunity up.”
“Thank you, Skolar” replied Zandi while breathing a sigh of relief. “You do know I love you very much, right?”
“Yes” came the barely audible whisper from the darkness behind her.
Zandi opened the door and stepped out into the brisk California winter air. She suddenly felt nervous and confused as to what to do next. Chris began walking towards her, still beaming his friendly smile and before she knew it he was right in front of her.
“Well, hello new friend!” he said to her with the most comforting voice she had ever heard. She felt her entire being relax as she let him envelope her in a warming hug.
“Hello new friend” she repeated back to him.
