Day 17: Alien Scryers

Ben drummed his finger over the old worn wood of the desk as he watched Darlene. She stood at a table in the center of the room dangling a crystal from a chain in her hand as she leaned over a map. “I don’t know which is more unbelievable. The fact that you’re actually scrying or the fact that what you’re scrying for aliens.” His voice came out in a low grumble, which tumbled the words together.

Darlene looked up from the table and smirked at him. “I’m not sure why you find it ridiculous that I am scrying for aliens. After all, if the world is stranger than you thought before, Ben, who’s to say that space isn’t as well?” The crystal flashed in her hand but returned to its normal milky shade. Darlene swore and returned her attention to the map. “Now stop distracting me.”

Ben harrumphed and continued drumming his fingers over the desk. The sooner she found him, the sooner they could get on with this, and the sooner he could return to normal life. Whatever normal life looked like after this. Ben wasn’t enthused with the part of his brain which reminded him after this was over he wouldn’t forget.

The crystal flashed again, and this time remained glowing. The light spilled down from the tip of the crystal and struck a spot on the map. Darlene raised her head and grinned at Ben. “Found them.”

“After you lost them in the first place,” he muttered. How she’d struck a deal with them and then lost them, he didn’t understand. Ben grabbed his motorcycle helmet and the spare from the table, tossing the second to Darlene. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Aw, you aren’t having fun?” Her voice chased after him in a singing sing cadence. Ben didn’t bother to respond as he thumped his ways down the stairs, up the hall, and out the front door. Straddling his bike, he felt Darlene settle behind him before speeding off.

Darlene still wore the crystal about her neck, and the light darted about him ignoring his existence to project a trail straight ahead. Well, straight until it turned abruptly. The art light angled sharply to the right. Darlene somehow managed to lean into the turn with him and they didn’t fall over.

“A little warning would be appreciated,” he grumbled at Darlene only slightly turning his head. He didn’t trust the light wouldn’t disappear if he if he didn’t keep it in sight. Not that he was certain he had trusted it wouldn’t disappear anyway.

Darlene poked his side. “Just drive.”

The light guided them out of town and into the surrounding woods. Ben didn’t think any of the vehicles they passed on their way out noticed the light. At least none of the drivers gave him odd looks. Well, none that were directed to the beam.

He’s supposed. Riding on a monstrous purple bike with a Dragon’s head affixed to the handlebars was never going to be inconspicuous. He hadn’t been as any more excited about Darlene fixing the dragon to his bike. She’d assured him she’d remove it later, promising the dragon proved his prowess.

Ben realized he hadn’t believed Darlene. Not completely. Ben hadn’t believed her talk about the aliens until he saw the ship sitting in the middle of the field in the woods at the end of what could only grudgingly be called a dirt path.

The thing wasn’t the shiny silver he’d expected. No, the metal was black. Dark and matte. The hull seemed to absorb light more than anything else. Ben had almost driven drive into it before hitting the brakes as a result. The back tire had lifted slightly before they’d settled into the dirt.

Ben whistled low and glanced over his shoulder at Darlene. “It’s really aliens, isn’t it?”

Darlene smirked, pulling off the helmet. She swung off the bike and walked the few feet to the ship. “Of course, it’s aliens. When have I ever lied to you?”

“Any of the times you didn’t tell me you were witch.”

“Omission, not lie.” She raised a finger and jabbed it into the air as if striking some foul beast.

She hadn’t finished lowering her hand when the when a door opened in the ship. Slid. Irised. Ben couldn’t name the movement definitively. Just that one moment the ship had been solid and the next there was a hole with the light pouring out. Light which shadowed creatures emerging from it.

The light may have obscured their form, but it certainly didn’t obscure their smell. Ben choked, leaning over his handlebars as he tried not to vomit from the putrid smell which struck him. How Darlene seemed so unaffected, he couldn’t say.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Krekzuk,” she said, extending her hand. No hand reached back to her, but whatever it was touched her hand briefly before withdrawing. When Darlene pulled her hand back, she rubbed it against her pant leg.

Turning, she glanced back at Ben and motioned for him to join her. He rolled his eyes but hooked his foot around the kickstand put it down before swinging off his bike. He fingered his pack’s strap as he walked toward the aliens. He really wasn’t sure what good the water would do them, but he’d procured it according to Darlene’s specifications. The bottles swished heavily in his pack.

“Is this him?” The alien turned to Ben. Even if he couldn’t see the things face, Ben knew it turned toward him. Hooking his thumb through one strap, he pulled it off and then held out the pack to the creature.

“Yep, that’s him. Slayer of beasts.” Darlene pointed at his bike with the dragon head mounted to it and not to the pack.

“Him?” Ben asked, his eyebrows jerking up as he widened his eyes. He turned toward Darlene.

“Ghinzae Empire thanks you for your wisdom, Seer.” Krekzuk said.

“Him?” Ben repeated still stuck on the thought. The aliens hand wrapped about his elbow and tugged him toward the ship.

Darlene stood in the grass and smiled at him. “Go with it. You’ll be fine and back before you know it. I hope you didn’t skimp on the water. It’s going to be a long trip.”

Ben wanted to scream at her again, but his mind couldn’t latch on to any word as the ship door slid shut between him and Darlene. He’d definitely have words for her when he saw her again. And he would see her again.