“Huh? Oh, those are all humans, N’kal. Well, except for that service dog over there. They’re just dressed up. I told you, they’re all in costume.”
I frowned. “Some of them appear so alien. Like me. Are you certain?”
Timber pointed at a group of Xalanites in the far corner. “Like them? That’s all makeup and prosthetics. None of them have real scales. And I can guarantee you, that woman madepapier mâchéboobs to have those famous extra teats.” She dismissed them with a wave of her hand. “This is all fantasy. Science fiction and fantasy. None of it is real. Well, you are, but you’re the exception. And remember what I told you to say if anyone asks about where you’re from.”
I nodded with all seriousness. “Ohio.”
“Yep. You’re a normal Joe from Ohio, and I’m your girlfriend. That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it.”
She diverted her focus to her new phone as I watched the crowd. We had not heard from Steve at the AARO since the previous day. I wondered if she was concerned.
“Does Agent Steve know where we are?” I asked.
Timber shook her head. “Nope. He has an idea, I’m sure, but I didn’t tell him specifically where we were going. Safer for you that way.”
“You know this agent personally?”
She shrugged as she typed out a message. “He’s an old acquaintance from college. I went to on to join the CPD, and he chose paranormal investigations. The funny thing is, he ended up with a cushy government job from that crap. I never thought he’d do more than maybe some dumb YouTube showabout extraterrestrials. Now he makes more than I do, and he’s probably got better benefits. It’s so surreal.”
“Is he … more than an acquaintance?”
“Huh?”
I pointed at her phone. “You spend a lot of time communicating with him, and you have checked your device several times today in search of a message from him. You seem almost concerned that he has not replied as yet.”
“He’s just my only contact at the AARO right now. You know that.” She stuck the phone in her teat binding garment. “He’s not romantic competition for you if that’s what you’re thinking. He’s an okay guy, but not my type. I prefer a man who can keep up with me. He’s more the type to actually attend one of these conventions for fun. I doubt he’d be caught dead at the gun range or the gym for more than his annual quals and fitness tests. Me? I like to keep my body sharp. Helps me do my job.”
“You desire peak physical fitness?”
“Something like that.”
I nodded. “Good. I, too, value fitness in a mate.”
Timber just rolled her eyes and scanned the crowd. I noted that she did this often, sometimes focusing on certain people whose behavior did not fit with the rest of the humans. Did she think we had been followed? I wanted to ask, but she did not seem in the mood for much conversation. Her demeanor was that of someone who did not wish to be where she was. I got the impression she only answered my questions out of a desire to be polite.
“Thank you, Timber. For allowing me this time among humans. It is very meaningful to me.”
“Yeah, well, you might not get many other chances. Once we get you to the AARO, they might detain you, or they could deport you back to Xalan. I figured you came all this way; you might as well have a little bit of fun while you’re here.”
I opened my mouth to say more, but a series of loud zaps caught my attention, and I dove to cover Timber’s body with my own. She shrieked and tried to push me off, but I didn’t want her to get hurt.
“Stay down, Timber. Someone is firing.”
“N’kal, that’s a toy gun. Get off of me!”
I froze, listening to the reactions of the people around us. Rather than screaming in fear, they laughed. Since no one else seemed alarmed, I cautiously stood back up. A couple of adolescent youths nearby pushed buttons on the weapons they carried, and the zapping noise returned. The only flashes from the barrels of the weapons were from tiny light bulbs; no energy was discharged.
“See?” Timber said, dusting herself off and straightening her skirt. “Toys.”
I grumbled angrily, annoyed.
Timber put her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, N’kal. We’re relatively safe here. Most of these people are harmless, and even if they didn’t have security guards everywhere, I’m on the lookout for anyone who’s not. Just let yourself relax and enjoy the event.” She patted the weapon she kept holstered at her side. “I showed the guards my badge, so they let me keep my weapon. I’ll be the only person in there with a real gun. I’ve got you, okay.”
I wanted to believe her claim that I was safe, but I couldn’t help worrying. We had been fired upon at a place she had thought to be safe, by a human she trusted. She had almost gotten injured in the exchange.
I surprised myself with the realization that my initial goal on Earth—to mate—had been replaced by a deep desire to keep Timber safe and protected at all costs.
Chapter 9
