Chapter Three – C is for Conspiracy

That night we found ourselves at another seedy motel. This one was a little busier than the one we stayed at the previous night. There were several scantily clad women in the parking lot, soliciting the cars that were parked there.

From our vantage point in the pick up truck, Sam and I could clearly see a man in a late model Buick getting oral service from one of the girls.

"I like this place," Sam nodded his head happily.

I laughed.

Our room was slightly nicer, a little bigger and it had a television. Sam eagerly turned it on and channel surfed through the half dozen stations that it had.

"Not much of a selection," he frowned and settled in on a news station.

I laid on the bed, lighting the Lumen in my hands. I hadn't had much of a chance to practice over the past few days. For a moment I missed Henri and our training sessions.

Six left to patrol the area. She wanted to make sure things were safe before we settled in for the night. The skunk smell on the truck had left her a little uneasy. She was afraid that it might make it easier for the Mogs to track us.

After she left I took a shower – making sure I locked the door behind me – not that I did anything beside wash myself this time. When I came back out into the room, wearing just a pair of gym shorts, I found that Sam had found a whole new set of channels – of the X-rated variety.

He was glued to the screen with eyes wide and jaw slightly agape. I couldn't help following his lead. The female form was fascinating, and if this movie was indicative of the human species – very flexible. This film focused primarily on one woman while her female companions stimulated her with various objects; including a large fake penis.

I'll admit, my curiosity was peaked.

Since I met Sarah, I wondered what it might be like to be with her intimately. In our brief time together we hadn't done that much physically.

"Do you think girls really do this stuff to each other?" Sam asked, eyes widening as the woman loudly cried out in pleasure while her lovers continued their manipulations of her genitals.

"I doubt it."

I tried to explain to Sam the unlikelihood of the Paradise High School female population engaging in this sort of activity. I'd barely gotten two sentences out – when he shushed me and continued to watch the pornographic film. So I left him alone and returned to my Lumen.

While I liked the ability to make light from my palms (it made me feel a bit like Ironman – without the flying part) I wanted a cool Legacy. Like Six. Turning invisible was pretty fucking awesome if you ask me. Imagine all the shit you could do if you were invisible.

Yeah. Like I said. Pretty fucking awesome.

I knew in a short time more of my powers would appear. But given the circumstances I wanted them now. I wanted to be able to fight. To kick some Mogadorian ass.

Like Six.

I envied her control and abilities. Someday that would be me. Someday I would truly earn my station as Garde; a protector of my race and my planet. Unfortunately, at this moment I only have telekinesis and fucking flashlight hands.

Bernie Kosar kneaded the lumpy pillows beside me, making himself comfortable. I shined the Lumen in his eyes, watching his pupils shrink to the size of a dot. He lowered his head onto his paws and let out a low, 'woof'. Sleep now.

"Goodnight," I told him giving him a quick scratch behind the ears.

From the corner of my eye I could see that the all-female orgy was coming (excuse the pun) to an end.

"Definitely need a shower now," Sam remarked as he got up, keeping his back to me.

"Have fun walking the dog," I tell him.

"Actually, I'll be Jackin' the Beanstalk," he replied extending both hands out in front of him (like he had an enormous penis) thrusting his hips forward. When he shut the bathroom door, I laughed to myself as I heard the lock click into place.

I used my powers to shut off the lamps, leaving the room dark except for the TV screen and the glow of Sam's screen saver.

"Lights," I said aloud as I made my palms glow. I shined them against the darkened wall, like the headlights of a car. Then for some reason I shined them in my own face. The light blinded me and I closed my hands into fists, blinking against the little spots I'm now seeing.

On that note I end my Lumen practice for the night.

I sat up and looked at the television again; it's girl and a guy now. The guy has a camera around his neck – and I immediately think of Sarah.

As the girl undresses herself, the guy pretends to take pictures of her. There is little dialogue, and the few words they do exchange are horribly scripted. Despite the flawed acting - I watch with interest. Not because I have a porn fetish, but because I am curious to understand how intercourse works. I mean, I know how it works (in theory) God, knows I've sat through enough Health classes. But there is a huge difference between a textbook and a live example.

I watch how the man touches his partner. How he holds her breasts while he places his mouth on the pink areola. The female responds favorably to this. I make a mental note in my head.

I continue to watch his actions, mimicking them with my own hands (minus the Lumen) and tongue. I know I must look like a jackass – but no one is around to see me. Sam is still in the shower (I can hear the water running) and Bernie Kosar is sound asleep. The door is locked. The windows closed, curtains drawn.

No one can see what I'm doing.

I return my focus to the video. The girl is now bent over a desk with everything exposed. I tilt my ear toward my shoulder as I concentrate on the man's actions. I can't help wondering if I'll ever get the chance to do this with Sarah Hart. Well, maybe not this exactly – but some form of intercourse. I hope so.

I continue to commit certain actions to memory with the distant chance that someday I'll need them.

Now again, I'm not sure how or why it happened. But I heard the shower turn off, so I got up to turn the light back on (I still don't know why I didn't just use my powers). As I did, Six came through the front door, arms loaded with take-out food. She looked at me, then at the TV then back at me. Before I could explain, she set the food down on the table and backed out of the room. She slipped the DO NOT DISTURB sign over the doorknob.

"Shit," I muttered, clapping my hand over my face. I can see my erection sticking out ninety degrees from my body.

Bernie Kosar jumped down from the bed and stands beside me.

"Did you hear her coming?" I ask him.

He softly barks once. Yes.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

He yips. Funny.

"No," I tell him. "It's not funny! She's going to think I'm some sort of pervert."

One more bark. Funny.

"NO!" I tell him shaking my head. "This is definitely not funny!"

He cocks his head at me, one floppy ear falls across the top of his head (like a bad comb-over). Alike.

"Just because we're from the same planet doesn't make it funny," I tell him. He still seems confused. Then his nose twitches and he jumps up, putting his front paws on the chair.

Eat.

Reluctantly I open up the first bag. Bernie Kosar's tail thumps against my calf. "You don't deserve this," I tell him but I give him half a sandwich anyway. He gulps it down in a single bite. Then he burps loudly.

More.

As I'm opening a bag of potato chips, Sam comes out of the bathroom.

"Whatcha got?" he asks. "I'm starving."

There are three bags of food, packed to the brim with sandwiches and various side dishes. We move our few belongings off the table and sit down to eat. Behind us the volume of the television has suddenly increased to near deafening as the girl screams obscenities as she climaxes.

"You, uh, might want to turn that off before Six sees it," Sam tells me with a mouthful of food.

"It's a little late for that," I reply as I bite into my own sandwich.

"Oh my God." Sam says mid-chew. "She caught you watching porn, didn't she?"

I hang my head.

Sam laughs so hard, bits of food spray out of his mouth and spatter on the table. Beside me Bernie Kosar wags his tail and lets out a single bark.

See. Funny!