"Hey man, you feelin' okay? You're lookin' a bit wobbly."
The dark-skinned university student leaned against the nightclub exterior to steady his wobbling legs. Underneath the hologram, Rondarr bared his fangs at the interloper. On Anton's face, it translated into a nice enough smile. "Quite all right. Just a little unbalanced."
Unbalanced was an understatement. To properly blend in among these 'hyoo-muns' he'd been forced to lash his tail against his spine and the lack of his anchoring limb made simple walking a chore. How these hair-bag mammals kept themselves righted was a mystery.
His interrogator glanced over him skeptically. "Okay, bro but if you've been pounding back the sauce, I'd stay outta Lusties tonight."
Oh, but this Luss-tees was precisely where he desired to be. Night had descended over the backwater world, beckoning the youthful members of the settlement to gather in the entertainment complexes and try their luck at attracting mates: imbibing fermented liquids, gyrating their bodies rhythmically; typical mammal prattle. A sizable line had already gathered outside this venue. What an ideal hunting ground to scout potential samples!
Licking his fangs, Rondarr's tongue seized up on a familiar whiff of blood. Impossible! He flattened himself against the wall, head darting for the source. There! Arriving in front of the club on an odd, two-wheeled speeder. She'd coloured her skin and assumed local clothing, but the stench of Tendricite blood was unmistakable. The Koru-Shikai.
The holographic Anton jammed his hands into his pockets. Beneath the cloak of light Rondarr was readying his blaster. By the Seven Stars, to have tracked him so quickly; she truly was a demon!
But after a moment Rondarr found he could relax. The bounty hunter's glare swept over the pounding night club and the line of mammals. She didn't notice him, didn't seem aware of his presence. Wait, was this all just a ridiculous coincidence?
No, he realized, this was a marvelous opportunity. 'Anton' stepped forward, trigger finger ready. It ends tonight, plant-eater.
But he wasn't the only one targeting the Night Wrath. A female in baggy garb trotted up to the hunter and, as the two began speaking familiarly, his holographic mouth dropped in exclamation. That hair! Blue as the seas of Slovar Prime! In his patrols around the settlement he'd documented black, brown and straw-coloured individuals but this girl was something rare! Tiny and heavy-set, perhaps, but worth her weight in datari. What luck - he could take his revenge and his prize all in one fell swoop!
As he slunk forward for a clear shot, the blue-haired human turned his way and locked eyes. She squinted and then waved happily at him!
Rondarr darted into the closest alleyway before she could alert the Koru-Shikai. Too close. Damn that Tendricite for snatching up such a jewel! Loathe as he was to retreat from such a treasure, he couldn't risk exposure. He would have to find another hunting ground for tonight.
"Is something the matter?"
Nikki shook her head. "No, never mind. Just thought I saw someone I knew," but there was no way Anton would freak and run from her like that.
Celeste said nothing; her focus was on puzzling out the two-story brick building with its pink spotlights and throbbing dance music. "What is this place?"
"Lusties Nightclub," Nikki explained. "Your mileage may vary, but Audrey says it's the best party spot in the whole city so I figured you'd like it too."
Celeste continued to stare, her question still standing. "I thought we were continuing our hunt. Why did you bring me here?"
Nikki looked to the concrete sidewalk. Here we go. "Well, I kinda thought you deserved a chance to unwind. We got one of those garduk already, maybe we should celebrate. You know, enjoy some revels?"
Her tongue-lashing was severe. "Nicole, in several cycles your world will be overrun with parasites. We have no time for 'revels'. Besides," she added, shifting awkwardly, "I should not be in such a crowded area. I tend to stand out a bit..."
"Your makeup's fine," Nikki reassured her, and without thinking added, "They're not staring because they think you're an alien; they're staring because they think you're hot!"
Alien eyes drew back. Oh crap!
"Hey, Celeste! Celeste, over here!" The fangirl yell cut off the awkward conversation and Nikki trotted towards the skinny hand waving them forward through the line-up.
"Hey girls," Tiffany chirped. "Glad you could make it!" The cheerleader wore a short and sparkly white cocktail dress with spaghetti straps, while her usual pigtails fell loose over her back in anticipation of the party to come.
"Fuck yeah," Audrey hooted. "You Aussies ready to get crazy?" Again, Celeste drew back at the sight of Audrey's wardrobe, this time little more than a leather corset, fishnets and a frilly skirt like a ballet tutu. All in black and purple, of course. Ever since she'd dyed her hair platinum, Audrey had worn nothing but royal purple, declaring it the new 'in' colour. It baffled Nikki how someone could toss out their entire wardrobe to satisfy a fleeting fashion trend, but at least this phase wasn't as head-scratchingly bizarre as the time Audrey had started dressing like a dainty Catholic school girl and putting on airs of being a 'sweet young thing'.
Celeste continued to gape, but not over clothing. "You all came to celebrate with us?"
Audrey gave a mocking laugh. "Uh, yeah! Someone's gotta show you a kick-ass time. I mean, it's bad enough you're letting Nikki dress you."
Celeste inspected her human disguise. After the skirmish with the garduk, they'd stopped by Nikki's apartment to find her some non-torn clothes and to deposit her hunting trophy. Celeste assured her that the body bag was airtight and vacuum sealed, but Nikki still had panic attacks of her landlord barging in over odor complaints and finding a dead dog in her shower.
"It is comfortable," Celeste said of her replacement turtleneck – black, this time.
"Ugh, must be an Aussie thing. You two coming?"
Celeste thought it over. "I suppose one evening wouldn't be overly detrimental." Her eyes followed the crisscrossing laces over Audrey's bare back. "Yes, we could stay and … partake in the sights." Nikki's pulse stopped. Was she checking out Audrey?
At any rate, Audrey high-fived the bouncer a wad of bills and they were in, escorted to the VIP booths at the back of the club. While Celeste admired the sights, Audrey ordered appetizers.
"Nachos for my girls," she barked. "Sorry, Nikki, but they don't serve tacos here."
"So Celeste," Tiffany coughed, "Do anything fun this afternoon?"
"I exterminated an invasive species in your settlement's suburban residences." That earned her a whoop and a high-five from Audrey.
"Kickass! So, Nikki showed you around outside of the city? Had a gay old time enjoying the open cunt-ry?" She flashed an evil grin at the gamer. "Well good for you. So Nikki, is Celeste into blowjobs or she a muff diver?"
"Audrey," Tiffany scolded.
"What? I'm reading the shooter menu." That was right, Lusties had all sorts of disgusting names for their drinks – sex on the beach, deep throat. "I'm ordering the first round, so what'll it be? I know Nikki wants a coke; can't wait to get her lips around a pussy drink."
Nikki snatched up the menu and stabbed at her choice. "Get me a dirty hooker. That's your specialty, isn't it, Audrey?" She meant it as the blackest insult but the corseted diva only cackled gaily, as though the shots they exchanged were harmless pellets.
"Ooh, someone's feeling extra butch tonight!"
"I'll have what Nicole orders," Celeste added.
Nikki had no stomach for hard liquors but she wasn't about to submit to Audrey's constant ribbing. Down the hatch in one swift gulp! Tiffany was sweet enough to bring her a glass of water, but she never expected to see Celeste gag on her shot and guzzle down the chaser first. Was Earth alcohol really that potent?
Audrey slammed down her three consecutive shots. "Okay, let's get up there!"
Tiffany nodded. "You've gotta show us those Down Unda dance moves!"
"I'll endeavor," Celeste nodded, game for something new. But she paused, noticing Nikki firmly rooted. "Nicole, are you not joining us?"
She shook her head. "I don't dance."
"Oh," the Norai seemed disappointed, but Audrey dragged her off too quickly for it to register. Nikki pulled out her phone and entertained herself flipping through old Candy Crush levels. Dance clubs are dumb, she reminded herself. Just a bunch of horny, boozed-up perverts writhing around to a rhythmic thumping that barely qualified as music. And does anyone actually stop and listen to the lyrics? All the songs were about drugs or binge drinking or gangs shooting up each other. She might as well dance to a song about punching women.
"Whoo, shake it, kangaroo girl!" On the dance floor, Audrey gave Celeste a playful bop with her hip; the Norai grinned and returned the favour and soon their little exchange grew into an all-out grinding.
Nikki diverted her gaze to the nachos, shoving them in her mouth by the fistful. And those moves – it wasn't even real dancing, just a bunch of random swaying and ass-shaking. Everyone called video games cultural garbage, but compared to this cesspool of sweaty, stupid bodies she was surrounding herself with high art!
She could still hear Celeste laughing alongside Audrey. Good for you; enjoy the night out. I'm better off without -
"Nicole?"
She startled at the voice. "Celeste, you're back?" Wait, why was she grimacing and propping herself against the table?
"A fellow dancer collided with my side," Celeste explained. She massaged the tender spot where the garduk had slashed her belly. "I need to sit down." Nikki winced sympathetically, thinking back to the September she had returned to school with a sunburn and the painful slap-across-the-back greetings her classmates had delivered. The alien scooted into the booth, sliding over the cushions until they were side by side. Nikki felt grateful for the company but the moment didn't last long.
"Nicole, this music is causing a migraine. Could we relocate somewhere quieter?"
There was a patio out back for the smokers, and once they shut the door on the thumping bass, Celeste seemed to rest easier breathing in the night air. "My head is still ringing," she winced.
Nikki remembered the bloody head wound from her crash landing and she cursed herself for texting Audrey. You idiot, she doesn't need bright lights and loud noise, just peace and quiet. "We don't have to stay," she offered.
"No, I don't wish to be discourteous. I'm honoured that you would go through such trouble for me." The alien took a deep breath intended to calm her nerves. "A moment's rest is all I require," but just standing quietly made the Norai wince and clutch at her temples.
"Speak to me," she pleaded, bracing through a fresh wave of pain.
"A-about what?"
"Anything. Just … something to distract me from this … ringing. Tell me about yourself."
Nikki doubted her life story would make for a soothing lullaby but if she insisted. "Well, I just turned eighteen. Last year I finished high school and I'm glad that joke's over. Oh, um, here on Earth we have mandatory education. Did you have schools on Tendricide?"
Celeste shook her head. "Our tribes were too small and scattered for formal learning academies. Children were apprenticed in their family trade."
"I hated school," Nikki continued. "You spend all you day in these cramped, boring classrooms being lectured at and doing mindless exercises. Of course, no one actually goes there to learn. It's all about being popular, showing off for your friends and making fun of those who don't fit in. It's –"
"- Suffocating," Celeste continued. "To be trapped in an isolated community, forced into the mold of what is 'proper' and 'acceptable'. And when you show any deviance, any defects, they shun you and your sickness." Her hands were fiddling with that precious projector sphere again. "However much you miss it, it's a relief to be free from that-"
"- that cage," Nikki finished. They smiled, two musicians passing a melody back and forth. "Yeah, it feels good."
"And now?" Celeste asked. "How do you enjoy your freedom?"
Nikki gave a cynical snort. "By jumping into another prison, I guess. I work at this café making fancy drinks for yuppies with too much time and money. I wouldn't call it a trade or anything; it's just a job I work to pay the bills."
"And what do you aspire to do?"
Nikki squirmed like she'd had snow dumped down her shirt. No one had ever asked what she wanted from her life. The future seemed too vast, too dark to quantify and just thinking about life a year down the road made her shiver uncomfortably. "I dunno. I guess if I had enough money I'd just stay in, play video games and blog." Feeling terribly small with that confession, she added. "But I do like drawing."
Celeste perked up. "You are an artist?"
Artist? God that sounded pretentious. "I guess? I mean, it's not like I've actually sold any of my drawings. I just draw for myself and post stuff online." Her hobby seemed to captivate Celeste anyhow.
"When I was young, my most cherished possession was a pair of vid-lenses. Like your eyeglasses," she explained, "only they could record holographic images and films. I scavenged them from the old citadels and spent months searching out the materials to repair them."
She fell back in reminiscing. "I used to wear them everywhere, documenting all my journeys and explorations. I still enjoy partaking in photography. Whenever a bounty brings me to a new world I take time to record images." Nikki smiled, imagining Celeste beating down an alien criminal, then pausing for a selfie.
"I find it comforting to record my memories this way, knowing I might never return; that I could lose everything in an instant." Again, that look of immense sadness she'd spied on the ship this morning. Nikki had to know.
"Celeste … are you dying?" Incredulous eyes drew back in shock. Nikki pressed on. "I mean, you keep talking about being defective and how your home world never wanted you. You're not sick with a disease, are you?"
Celeste howled with laughter, and once she'd dried her eyes she swept in to address the confusion. "Dying? No, you needn't be concerned. I am quite healthy and considered physically ideal by my people; the pride of my family. No, being sleiba is no physical defect."
"Sleiba?" Nikki repeated.
The Norai waved it off with a grin. "A derogatory term among my people. It means 'one who lies with her own sex'."
Had she been sitting, Nikki's chair would have toppled. Had she been drinking, the liquid would have caught and sputtered in her throat. Simply leaning against the patio wall, the only sign of exclamation was a quick jerk of her head, and a clammy feeling like a stone dropping into her stomach.
"Wait, so you ... You like girls?"
"Decisively so," the alien answered with an unabashed grin. "You might imagine how my people, with all their obsession with fertility, took the news poorly."
Nikki only half listened, her thoughts obstructed by the sinking feeling in her stomach - half excitement, half dread. Celeste was a lesbian. Celeste was attracted to girls!
"I um," Dammit, her hands were shaking! "Wow, I've never heard anyone just come out and say that."
"It is who I am," Celeste affirmed, folding her arms behind her head, "and I make no apologies. As you said this morning, if the world will not accept me then I will follow my own path."
"That's good. I'm glad for you." Deep within her mind, a voice hammered for release. I'm like you! I like -
"And what of yourself?"
"Me?" Nikki sputtered. Her cheeks boiled over with red. "Oh, well, I don't really date and that's more of a private thing here and –" Argh! She reset. "So, how's that headache?"
Celeste's smile dimmed for a second, but then she stretched and popped her shoulders. "Better, but I do feel dehydrated. May I?"
She was pointing to the black, carbonated drink Nikki had carried out with her. She handed it over, and the alien sniffed it cautiously. "Is this another alcoholic beverage?"
"No, it's Doctor Pepper, a soft drink."
Celeste nodded. "Good. My species traditionally subsists on a diet of simple roots and vegetables. Our metabolisms are poorly equipped to process alcohols." Celeste tipped her head back and chugged the drink until the ice cubes lay bare at the bottom.
"So alcohols really mess you up, then?"
"Alcohol and caffeine," Celeste clarified, smacking her lips. A sudden thought. "Is there caffeine in Doc-tar-Pep-par?"
Sweat dropped down her neck. "I'd uh, have to check…"
"No matter. I think I would like another."
Twitching nervously, Nikki followed her back into the club. One drink, she reasoned. One drink couldn't be that bad, right?
Glug, glug, glug. Celeste raised her throat to the ceiling, pounding down her latest drink like an industrial pump, and with a satisfied, rip-snorting "AH!" the alien woman slammed her tumbler on the table, reacquainting it with its half-dozen compatriots.
"Serving wench!" she hollered, waggling a wobbly arm for attention. "Another round of this … wha' was th'name? Ah yes, this Mountainous Dew!" There was still some green liquid at the bottom of her glass and she gazed at it in awe. "I have never seen spring water irradiated to such an unnatural shade, but it is quite delicious!"
A male server with a fresh pitcher stopped by with a smile. "Can I fill your cups, ladies?"
The Norai gave a naughty giggle. "You may try!" Then she leaned into Nikki's ear. "Psst! Nicole, I think he wishes to copulate with us!" The server's hand jerked, spilling drink over the table as he went goggle-eyed.
"Celeste, when you whisper you have to be quiet."
"Ohh…" the alien gasped, a revelation. "That is so clever, Nicole!"
Oh boy. She'd heard of happy drunks and mean drunks but Celeste was something else. 'Happy' didn't do justice to this sugar high, she was manic. Little comments were suddenly laugh out loud hilarious; every stray noise made her dart her head like a squirrel and whenever the houselights changed colour, it hypnotized her. Celeste was currently lasered in on Tiffany and Audrey, twisting her head sideways trying to comprehend the shorter diva's clothing.
"So many knots … how does she put that on?" Her gaze went devilish. "I wonder how it comes off."
Nikki yanked the alien back into her seat. "Yeah, let's not." I've created a monster. She'd lost track of Celeste's drink count because she'd been caught up in her own thoughts. I should tell her, her better half argued. I should be able to say it just as bold – "Hey, I'm gay too."
Her more negative voice shushed down that rogue thought. What does it matter? Her sexuality was her own business; nobody needed to know. I mean, it's not like it's gonna change anything. To think that Celeste would … no, just thinking of that was arrogant.
Now the Norai was tugging at her sleeve like a little kid. "Nicole, Nicole - we should go dance!"
"Celeste, I told you I don't dance."
"But it's fun," the drunk alien pouted. She was pulling quite forcefully now, standing up in the booth and trying to drag her out.
"I said, NO!" Nikki yanked her sleeve free and watched the domino chain she'd kicked off begin its slow and horrifying breakdown.
Celeste lost her balance and flailed backwards out of the booth, arms sweeping the table clear and shattering glasses over the floor. Skidding over the shards like a goat on ball bearings she ploughed into a passing boy, who stumbled into a friend, and that clueless bystander went flying face-first into the dance floor, saving himself from a fall by grabbing the nearest girl's shoulders.
Audrey's shoulders.
The diva lost it. She screamed like a cornered beast and her fist cracked across the boy's face. "Don't touch me! Nobody touches me!" Her eyes were wide and feral; nothing but animal instinct.
The guy tried apologizing - "What the fuck, I just tripped!" – but Audrey heard none of it. Consumed by that same hollow-eyed look of terror from the restaurant, she brandished her house keys between her knuckles like punching daggers. "Nobody touches me! Nobody touches me! Back off or I swear I'm gonna cut your face! I'm gonna –"
Choking off a sob, she bolted through the crowds, Tiffany in hot pursuit. "Audrey, wait!"
The onlookers very quickly traced the conflict back to the tall girl in the turtleneck, still flat on the floor and rubbing her dizzy head.
"Yo, four-eyes, your friend's seriously drunk! Get her outta here!"
It took Nikki a minute to register the complaint; she was still mesmerized by Audrey's raw outburst. "I'm sorry!" she finally gasped. "So sorry. We're on our way out." She could already see a bouncer wading through the crowd. Time to vamoose before she got carded. "C'mon, Celeste." Taking the Norai's wrist, she was easily guided to the front doors. Nikki scanned for her university friends – they ought to know they were leaving.
Sobbing. In a quiet corner by the washrooms, Audrey had buried herself in Tiffany's shoulder. "He won't go away," she pleaded. "I want him out! I want that fucker out of my head!"
Tiffany hushed her friend and drew her into a hug. "Shh. You're safe now. I've got your back, Audrey." Spotting the bluenette over Audrey's shoulder, Tiffany scowled and shooed them away. Not now, she mouthed.
Nikki tugged Celeste outside before she made any inappropriate comments. "Let's get you home, okay?" She had to remind herself that this wasn't an alcoholic daze, it was a sugar rush. "Keep moving. You're high right now but pretty soon you're gonna –"
Whump.
"Crash..."
The scrape and click of keys in a slot, the twist of a knob and Nikki greeted her apartment butt-first, walking backwards and dragging a groaning, inebriated alien across her front step.
"Too quickly…" Celeste muttered through her fever dream. "Nicole, your planet is rotating too quickly."
"Don't talk," Nikki hushed back. The elevator had been out of service – of course – and she'd just dragged a woman twice her size up the stairwell, listening to those tiny feet clunk against four floors worth of steps like they were lead weights. What's she keep in those shoes anyway, bricks?
"I think there wuz caffeine in tha' ... wet thing y'gave me…"
"The drink?"
"Tha's it," Celeste nodded. "Iss hurting the … bobbly thing on m'shoulders."
"Your head?"
Celeste chuckled. "Yur shmart."
"I'm just sober."
Even with a sugar crash fogging Celeste's brain, her irritation was noted. "I ruined your celebration. I'm sorry…"
"Meh, it was crappy to begin with," Nikki shrugged. "I don't even like Lusties, but I figured you and Audrey could have fun there." They were in her room now and the final hurdle was lifting Celeste onto the bed. She'd play the dutiful host and curl up on the living room floor, naturally. "C'mon, time for bed."
Celeste kept up her half-lucid mumbling even as she was being dragged onto the mattress. "Why don' you dance, Nicole? I wanted t'dance wi' you."
"I don't dance," she repeated. "Dancing is a primitive, obsolete ritual that I have no time for." End of discussion.
The Norai may have been drunk out of her skull, but the scowl on her face told that she could still smell out bullshit. Nikki sighed.
"I'm no good at dancing," she confessed. "If I get up in front of a bunch of people they'll all just laugh at me."
"I wouldn't laugh." The older woman staggered onto her feet, her wobbly hips setting a natural beat. "Dance with me," she offered.
Nikki rolled her eyes – if it'll get you to sleep – and gave a token waggle of her arms and knees. "La-lala-lala. There, I'm dancing and I look stupid. Are you happy?"
Scoffing, the Norai grabbed her sweater and pulled their bodies together. "Dance with me," she clarified.
Oh.
Nikki felt a familiar rush of heat as the alien woman took her wrists and placed them over the curves of her hips. She blushed and tried sliding up to the safer stomach zone but Celeste only pulled her back down before settling her fingers atop Nikki's bare shoulders.
Close, Nikki gulped. Close enough to see the rise and fall of the hunter's breasts, blue lips smiling under half-lidded eyes and humming an off-key alien melody. Celeste was too unsteady for anything fancy so they just bobbed from foot to foot. Okay, maybe some dancing's not that bad...
"You have such wonderful hair," Celeste murmured.
"Head and Shoulders," Nikki croaked out. "I buy it on sale."
The older woman nodded, or maybe she was just idly bobbing her drunken head. "Nicole?"
"Uh huh?"
"How am I attractive?"
Nikki nearly dropped to the floor. Wh-wh-what?
"Outside the club, you told me that I was being observed because I was attractive by your people's standards. I am curious: what traits do humans find desirable?"
"Well uh, I uh –" while her tongue stuttered and spluttered, Nikki's eyes raked over every gorgeous inch of Celeste's body. Where do I begin? "I mean … um, you have nice eyes."
The comment seemed to take Celeste aback. "That's kind of you to say so. Sadly this colour is commonplace among my people."
"Well it isn't here. To us," to me, she thought, "you're one of a kind."
Nikki suddenly realized that their dancing had stopped. They were no longer two people moving to a musical rhythm, but simply two people holding each other. A nervous heat was creeping over her body, making her hyper-aware of every stray sensation on her skin: The warmth against her palms, radiating through the denim that separated her from Celeste's hips. The icy brush of Celeste's fingers on her bare shoulders; the goosebumps down her chest as those hands explored and slipped under the straps of her bra. The shiver down her neck as alien fingertips slid past her ear to run through the blue hair they so admired.
She risked a glance up and Celeste's half-lidded eyes shone on her like a harvest moon – golden, radiant and so much closer than she remembered. Nikki started rambling to distract herself.
"You're amazing, you know that? You're strong; you never let anyone push you around. You don't care if the world looks down on you or if you're all alone. Me?" She gave a mocking laugh. "Well I'm spilling my guts to a half-conscious drunk. How's that for courage?"
Celeste's hypnotic eyes drifted closer; the closer her lips approached the more time seemed to stretch and dilate, the faster her heart jackhammered against her breast.
"I'm gay," she continued, teardrops shuddering down her cheeks. "Do you know how hard it is for me to say that? I like girls. And I like you, Celeste. I really, really like –"
A whisper of sugary breath over her mouth froze Nikki. So close, came the beat of her heart. So-close. So close that stray locks of silver hair tickled her skin. So-close. Their noses brushed with every heated exhale. So-close, and Celeste's soft, blue lips drifted closer still, parting.
Her tongue flicked over Nikki's mouth.
Nikki sputtered. "What're you -?" Her mind reeled for her to fall back; stagger away. Celeste smiled drunkenly at these adorable antics and licked her again; slower this time, tracing her wet tongue over the contours of Nikki's lips until her jaw melted in a frightened gasp.
The caresses continued along her face, tongue sliding up and down Nikki's cheek in long, luxurious strokes that sent an electric tingle down to her toes. She had to grip the older woman tight to keep her body from going limp. "Unh…"
She gasped, her body shivered as the older woman teased higher still to her earlobe - a single flick set her body on fire - and trailed back to her open and inviting mouth, unbearably slow. More, Nikki moaned. Please, just once mo-
Clunk.
Like a sleeper waking from a magnificent dream, Nikki very reluctantly opened her eyes to find Celeste's head dropped on her shoulder, her body limp and heavy as a sandbag.
"C-Celeste?" Nikki tapped the alien's head, gave her body a shake. She tried standing the floppy mannequin upright and gravity sent the alien crashing onto the bed, eyes lidded and throat claimed by a loud and immediate snoring.
"Huhhh-zzzzz, Huhhh-zzzzz…"
Nikki blinked dumbly at the sleeping alien, the heat in her cheeks and her core furious for an outlet.
She took a step back. Then another. The she ran to the door and slammed it behind her, sinking to the floor and gasping in confusion, a single thought rushing forth among the dizzying pulse of her heart.
What the hell was that?