Chapter 3: Close Encounters

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A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Got caught up in stuff. Gonna get back to writing!

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The next morning I unraveled the bandages from my arms. I had somewhat healed over night. I had some sore spots here and there, but other then that, I was ok. I was still in some ways human after all. I came into the cafeteria where they were serving breakfast. Everyone was already up eating. Susan had her own section she ate at. We sometimes came in to join her.

The cooks were busy in the kitchens. Warm steam wafted through the air, producing mouth watering smells of food. My stomach growled. I walked over to the stack of plastic red trays in the corner and made my way down the cafeteria line. Behind the glass in different tubs, were mounds of bacon, eggs, toast and pancakes. The donut bin was completely empty. I was surprised that all of the bins weren't empty, considering that B.O.B. would most likely have cleaned out everything before I could get something to eat. Fortunately it seemed that the cooks were prepared for his endless appetite and was able to have enough left for monsters like me who wake up late.

"Good morning, Bat," said Doctor Cockroach in his happy British accent as he passed by me towards the garbage can near the entrance/exit of the cafeteria. B.O.B. and Link sat across from each other at a table. Link, enjoying a pile of fish and waffles. The blue blob eating practically everything that I saw that was available, even the tray. One of the cooks yelled his name and he immediately burped up the plastic red tray.

A typical monster morning.

I grabbed a plate and piled on some scrambled eggs, bacon and some toast, grabbed a carton of milk and walked over to the two monsters. I sat down next to Link. He didnt say hi or notice me. He was busy reading some sort of magazine. I never took him to be a reader. Most likely he was looking at the pictures. I wouldn't be surprised if there were girls in bikinis in the middle of a beach volley ball game or sitting on some type of flashy sports car. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and ate my scrambled eggs. My arms were still sore so I had to be careful. I winced in pain whenever a small stab of pain shot up my arm.

I looked over to Link, deciding to break the awkward silence. "Hey, Link. Whatchya reading?" I asked him. He didn't answer. I tried again. This time he said "Hey, Batty." I asked him for the third time what he was reading. He sighed softly and showed me the cover. It was a beach magazine with girls in bikinis on the front. Figures. I just smiled softly, but I'm sure I looked like I was grimacing.

"Cool," I said. "Looks...interesting," I said through clenched teeth. Man I was so bad at this.

Link went back to "reading." It was quiet again for a while. I racked my brain for something else to talk to him about. My eyes lit up and I turned to the hybrid fish man.

"Hey, you want to watch the second Creature movie?" I asked him. Before he could answer, B.O.B. overheard our conversation and came over. "Creature movie? You guys saw the first one without me?" He asked. I felt the blood drain from my face. Oh no. Link looked up from his magazine and eyed me. I had told him I had "asked the others." Of course I didn't. It was supposed to be just him and me. Just some nice...getting to know one another. That's all...

I didn't realize I hadn't said anything for a full minute. I was smiling nervously. Was my face red? Most likely. How long was I quiet for? They are all staring at me.

"Uhhhhh-" I started. Thankfully, the lights started flashing red and that annoying but familiar beeping sound started going off. My ears went back in irritation. The alien alarm. Great. The speakers crackled before Mongers voice echoed through the base.

"Monsters! You know what time it is!" He shouted. He seemed to enjoy it when aliens attacked. He didn't have to go out, while we were the ones risking our lives all the time. Link's finned ears perked up as he got up and slapped his magazine down on the table.

"Hell yeah! Alien Butt kicking time!" He said excitedly as he punched his fist into his open palm. Doc lifted his head out from the trashcan. "Ooh! I can try my new invention out!" He said. Link rolled his eyes. "Better not be another one of your dumb experiments," he said as he walked out with the mad scientist. B.O.B. followed behind them. "Hey guys wait up!" He said, acting like an overexcited blue puppy that heard it was time for a walk.

My wounds from yesterday started to hurt from the mention of having to kick more alien butts. Most likely my butt was gonna get kicked. I sighed and got up. The last monster to leave the cafeteria. I didnt eat much of my breakfast. I quickly took a forkful of eggs in my mouth, a swig of milk and a piece of bacon. Hopefully that will suffice before I get back. I'm gonna be so tired.

I opened my wings and flapped them. My body lifted off the ground and I flew after the male monsters. I flew over them and gave them a funny face. "Last one there is a Rotton Egg Monster!" I teased. Link grinned and took the challenge. He bolted after me first. The others sprinted after him, trying to make it to the other side of the huge base. The hallways were long, cold grey, and felt somewhat endless. We were heading to the loading zone. The place where the platform lifted up for aircraft. I always forget what its called.

I soared across the hallway. Flapping my wings every so often. I smirked down at Link, sprinting as fast as his scaly arms could go. He gave me a look. "You're cheating, Bat Brains!" He said. I flew down just above his head. "Aw, you're just afraid of losing to a girl, Fishst-" I started, but was interrupted when Link shot his arm up and grabbed me around the waist.

"Gotcha!" He shouted triumphantly. I felt my cheeks flame up. "Link!" I cried out. He wrapped his arms around me, pulled me close to his chest, spun around and pushed me the opposite direction. I didn't have time to react when I collided into B.O.B. The blue blob quickly stopped and spat me out. I just laid there, dazed; listening to Link's laughter as it echoed down the halls.

Doc stopped and helped me up. "That dreadful, Link. Thinking he's all cool. If you ask me, he's nothing but an arrogant meat head," he muttered, but of course I heard every word. My brain just wanted to repeat the moment over and over again when he grabbed me out of the air. Man I was so lovesick for the hybrid. I didn't realize how dumb I must have looked at that moment. B.O.B. apologized for accidentally running into me, then instantly took off running after Link.

"There's no rush, Bat. Let's just walk," Doc said. I folded my wings behind my back and walked alongside the mad scientist. Doc tried some small talk with me, but it was a bit awkward since it wasn't something he was used to doing. I just smiled politely and nodded my head.

By the time we got there, Link was leaning against the wide doorway with his arms crossed over his wide chest. "Well look it who it is. The Rotton Egg Monsters," he teased. I rolled my eyes. "You cheated, Fish Breath," I said. Link bent down and cupped a hand behind his right finned ear. "What's that? Dont like losing to The Link?" He chuckled. I narrowed my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck bristled.

Doc walked past us. "Oh knock it off you two. The aliens aren't going to kick their butts themselves," he said as he walked past Link and through the wide door. Link smirked at me and stuck his tongue out.

"Rotton Egg Monster," he said before following after Doctor Cockroach. I sighed and followed after them. Butterflyausaurous stood in the middle of the dark platform. She lifted her head in delight when she saw Link walking up to her. She gave him a happy screech. Link grinned and came up to her. "Hey, beautiful! How's my girl?" He asked her, giving her a loving pat on the nose. The three hundred and fifty foot tall insect's eyes lit up and made another high pitch shrill, causing my ears to go back in irritation.

Susan, B.O.B. and Doctor Cockroach were on the other side, talking to Monger. I didn't have to go over there since I could already hear what they were saying. I even knew, besides B.O.B.'s, how fast everyone's heartbeats were going. Even mine, which, yes, was going like a hundred miles an hour. Monger still gestured for me to come and join with the group, even though I tell him every time there's an alien invasion, that I can hear him just fine from where I stood. Of course Monger doesn't understand that and still calls me over. Susan turned her head and looked down at me. She lightly taps her shoulder.

"You can sit up here, Bat," the giantess said. I hesitated before opening my wings and flapping them, flying up roughly forty feet and landing feet first on her shoulder. I felt like a little bird perching itself on a Disney princess. Of course Susan would be a beautiful princess. Wearing a lovely gown and dancing with a prince with scales and fins. I quickly sat down on Susan's shoulder, pushing my thoughts to the back of my mind before I made myself depressed.

Monger stood before me and Susan. He looked so small from where I sat. I wonder if this is how Susan saw the world every day, I wonder how long it took her to get used to it. Link and B came over as well. I glanced over at B who gave me a blank stare before turning away. Even though she was showing no emotion, I got the feeling that she didn't really like me. She had to know I had a crush on her best friend.

"Monsters! Listen up! The alien tracker reported that the alien is in one of the local national forests in this area," he said. He told me later that I couldn't say which National Forest Park or the state since that would be giving away the secret exact location of this place. Him telling me that made my skin crawl. It means that he's been reading my journals. It means he knows. God, can't I have any privacy in this stupid -[CLASSIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT CODE: 618-19] - place?!

Anyway, so the alien tracker tells us the National Park we are supposed to go to. Monger yells some words to us. We climb up on Butterfly, and we fly in the direction of the National park. I decide not to fly since my wings are still covered in blue goo and are starting to harden, and the stuff makes my wings stiff and it's hard to move when I'm like this. If I find a lake or something I can wash the stuff off.

I dunno how long it takes. Feels roughly about an hour or more. The endless desert scenery gradually turning green with trees and foliage. With my impatient teen brain it felt like five hours. Butterfly lands at the front entrance of what looks to be a National Park. We slide down her wing. I thank her. She gives me a half hearted demented chirp. The trees are dwarfed by Butterfly's height as she stands tall and proud. Link looks up at her and smiles. He seems very happy to see her happy. I wondered if she was upset in her last form. I wonder if Link and her talked about it. They are very close friends.

"Hey, B. Wanna go fly above the trees? See if you can see the alien up there?" He asked. Butterfly beamed and gave him a happy roar. She opened her wings and flapped them. The sudden gust of wind knocked me off my feet and caused me to stumble. I heard Link snicker from behind me. If I had known any better, I'd say Butterfly did that on purpose. I grumbled as I got up and dusted the dirt and dead grass off my black pant legs. I should've worn shorts since it was such a hot day today. The sun was beating down on a cloudless blue day. The trees were tall and looked like they have been here for a long time.

The place was deserted, which was the norm for us. I assumed the government still wanted to keep us monsters a secret and keep the public from freaking out. They usually do a fifteen to twenty mile evacuation to keep everyone safe while we do our job. To our right was a small green cabin where I guess you paid to go into the park. On two wooden poles about twenty feet across, was a banner reading Welcome Visitors! Next to the wooden poles were wooden cartoon cutouts of animals. Chippy Chipmunk, Boris Bear Sally Squirrel etc. They looked worn down from the harsh weather. I winced behind my sunglasses as I adjusted them. Susan gestured towards the entrance.

"Allright, let's head inside," Susan said, taking the first big steps to it. Before I walked in, I grabbed a map from the little map holder just outside the green cabin. I needed to find a bathroom or someplace with running water. The light colored fur on the certain areas on my wings were congealed and felt frozen. I wanted to be ready if the alien attacked, I didn't want to be stuck on the ground. Unfolding the map, I checked the spots where there were bathrooms. In the center of the park was a big lake. That'll work. B.O.B. slid past me, looking around.

"Man, this place is huge! How does anyone know where to go or how to get back?" He asked out loud. I showed him my map. "With this map, B.O.B.," I told him. B.O.B.'s one ruby colored eye widened. "Oh!" He took the map from me and held it upside down. "Now where's the snack food shop?" He asked. I smiled and shook my head. I decided to let him figure it out on his own.

I watched as we all instinctively split up. The main path had split up into five smaller paths. It was all part of the hunt. Obviously not good for when you are in a horror movie. When it's dark we stick together. They usually make me lead the way since I can see in the dark better than they can. It has only happened twice. Once it took us till duskfall to find the alien. Doctor Cockroach tried making his own night vision goggles, but they ended up seeing more than just in the dark...

I took the middle path since, according to the map, that's where the lake was. I took my time along the path, listening to the rustling sounds of the trees and the hush of the long grass swaying steadily in the breeze. Besides the heat, it was a nice day. Blue birds chirped overhead. In the distance, a woodpecker was using its beak to make a new home in a tree.

My bat ears picked up other sounds no human could hear on their own. I heard a beaver chewing on a twig. A fox trotting along through the trees. A chipmunk burrowing itself in its home in a tree. It was still a little strange to me, but I have come to like it. My sharp senses have been useful for our Alien Missions a couple of times. It made me happy, feeling like I was part of something. Or even useful. We all had our amazing abilities, and each was useful in their own way. Made me feel more like a superhero, and less like an unwanted creature society couldn't fathom.

I reached my destination and arrived to the lake. I stopped just before the path. The wildflowers bloomed at the edge of the short steep hill. The lake was beautiful. The sunlight sparkled across the surface of the lake like shiny pennies. The water was a piercing light blue, with shades of deep royal blues and purples where the trees created shade. Around the lake were rocks, almost like jagged teeth.

I slid down the slope I was standing upon, which was not smart since I got a couple thorns in my shoe and those seeds with barbs on them. I pulled them out of my shoe and pantlegs before stopping at the edge of the lake.

The water gently rippled at the tips of my shoes. The stones were smooth and slick with algae. I bent down next to a huge rock and began washing my wings. Thankfully the blue goo washed away easily and most of it was gone.

While I was washing my wings, I saw something blinking red next to me. I turned my head and looked at the huge fifteen foot rock to the left of me. One small red light was blinking on it. Confused, I rubbed the mud from the rock. I pulled my hand away. It wasn't a rock. Flapping my wings, I flew up and looked at the weird rock at a different angle.

It was a UFO.

I landed back down where I stood. Well, I didn't find the alien, but I found its ship. The UFO looked like it had crashed into the lake and skidded till it hit land. The driver's side was open so the alien wasn't in the craft. Hopefully it wasn't intending on hurting anyone. We've had some encounters where the alien wasn't intending on hurting anyone and just needed help on fixing its craft. Doc is always volunteering to help. We try to keep him from helping since most of the time he ends up accidentally blowing up their ships.

Suddenly, I heard a sound. A twig snapping. My ears stuck straight up as I lifted my head and spun around lightning fast towards the direction of the trees and the path I came from. My eyes widened behind my sunglasses and my heart skipped a beat in horror. I stood there. Rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.

It was a boy.

The kid looked at me. Stared at me. He looked to be around my age. He was pale skinned with very light blonde hair and blue eyes behind thick glasses. He was very skinny. He wore blue jeans, a dark blue shirt with an image of green, red and orange UFOs on the front, and a heavy camera hanging around his neck. The kid's bright blue eyes widened in shock as his mouth opened slightly. No sound came out.

I hesitated, not knowing what to do. I felt like a deer caught in headlights. He most likely already saw my wings, and there was no way of hiding my paper white skin and bat ears. Thankfully my sunglasses hide my yellow cat like alien eyes.

None of us moved, unable to speak or even breathe.

I could hear his heartbeats. They were rapidly drumming inside his lanky chest. He was scared. Terrified of my appearance. The breeze rustled his dandelion fluff hair. I didn't know what to do. My eyes kept flickering down to his camera. Did he take a picture of me with it? Maybe he didn't, if I left was he going to? How long had he been standing there watching me? I thought the people evacuated. Maybe he was the alien. Maybe he was-

Suddenly, I heard my name called. "Bat! We found the alien! Come quick!" yelled Susan. In a panic, I spread open my wings and took off through the trees, leaving the kid at the lake. Blood was rushing through my ears and my heart was pounding. I didn't look back to see if the boy was still watching, or worse, taking pictures of me. I kept zipping through the trees till I was far away from the lake and the boy...

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