Day Eleven ∞ Monday

TWO CARS ARRIVED AFTER LUNCH and Danny had to leave Mickmi to her own devices. One owner claimed his Cortina was making a cracking noise so Danny jacked up the front end, rocked a wheel and nodded—he knew what the problem was. He removed the wheel and got to work. He was so focused, he didn't hear the white-and-pink bug driving in as Ray's Olds finally backed out of the bodywork bay with its brand new look.

Nathan looked over the door at Aaron who was on his back testing wires leading to the instrument panel of a VW van. "Did you tell her?"

"Tell who?"

"Debs. She's here."

Aaron pulled his head out from under the dashboard, meeting his youngest brother's gaze with a grin. "Nope. Waste of time. Better she finds out for herself." Nathan posed the same question to Jason who replied, "Just that there's a new girl working here."

Nathan returned to the workbench where he'd been working on a master cylinder, but he had no intention of missing out on the next few minutes. This was going to be interesting.

Debbie caught sight of Mickmi at the bench nearest to the office as she turned off the engine. "Hello," she said abruptly, and Mickmi lifted her head to nod in response with her serene expression. Debbie frowned a little, giving Mickmi's oversized overall and half-naked motorbike a once-over before she got out of the car and headed for Nathan. "Guys, guys, guess what!" she said with her chirpy voice, waving something in her hand. "I've got tickets to the Miss Lake Eufaula Beauty Pageant on Friday!"

"Cool," Nathan said as she stuffed one ticket in the breast pocket of his coveralls. She did the same to Jason, "They were giving them out at rehearsal today and I made sure to get extra so y'all can come and support me!" She leaned over Aaron and found his pocket.

"Thanks, Debs!" he said, grinning.

Ray came to her, pulled a ticket from her hand and looked at it. "Is this one mine?"

"Of course!" She looked around the shop. "Where's my Danny?"

Ray jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, biting his lip so he wouldn't grin too broadly. Every pair of eyes except Mickmi's followed Debbie as she skirted the Cortina and found Danny halfway under the front-end working a nut loose.

"Danny, are you trying to hide from me?"

Danny grimaced before pulling out his head from under the car. "Hey, Debbie." He wasn't going to dignify that question with an answer.

"I've got a ticket for you!" she said proudly and offered it to him.

He sat up, wiping his hands, then took the ticket from her. "The Summer Spectacular, huh?" He got up and faced her. "I'm gonna need two."

"What? Why?"

He took a deep breath. "I'll be taking my girlfriend," he said; the word felt strange on his tongue. Despite how close they'd become, he still didn't associate Mickmi with that term.

"But I'm already going to be there so you don't need two tickets."

"Debbie, I didn't mean you..."

She stared at him for a moment, a single furrow appearing between her brows. "Of course it's me, Danny," she said, slipping her arm under his and resting her head on his shoulder. "You don't need anyone else—"

"Debbie, I'm serious. I don't wanna hurt you but I'm really – not – interested in you in that way. Why won't you take my word for it?" He hoped Mickmi could hear what was going on in his head right now, how frustrated he felt. He found himself wondering how he could make it clear enough for Debbie to take off her blinkers and give up on her fantasy.

"Because.... You're Pisces and I'm Virgo. We're supposed to be a perfect match! Why would you be looking for someone else?" She tilted her head as she looked up at him with her innocent face.

"I wasn't looking..." Danny trailed off in exasperation and sighed, slowly shaking his head. It was useless trying to talk to her. He was going to have to show her to make her understand—and he could only think of one thing that would work. I can't believe I'm considering this... He shook his arm free, put the ticket back in her hand without a word and headed for the restroom to wash his hands. All the while, the realization was slowly sinking in that he was actually thinking of doing it—and do it in front of everyone. He returned and paused next to Debbie, giving her a pointed glance.

"Danny, what are you doing...?" Debbie said, following him with her gaze as he headed with determined strides toward Mickmi.

Mickmi looked like she wasn't watching but he was sure she'd been paying attention to everything that had transpired. He stopped a few feet away and watched her as she sat lacing new spokes through the newly chromed back wheel hub. He was shaking his head to himself again, I can't believe it, I can't believe it...

Mickmi paused and looked up at him with a puzzled smile. "Daniel?" she said and wiped her hands with a clean rag.

He stretched his hand toward her with a lopsided smile. "You don't mind, do you?"

She took his hand and immediately he pulled her up to his chest and held her, looking into her laughing eyes. Then he closed the gap and kissed her first gently, then deeply, for what seemed to be a long time. When their lips finally parted, Mickmi was chuckling quietly and she lifted a hand to touch his cheek. Only then did he notice the guys whooping and cheering for them. Even Mr. Myers had stuck his head out through the door to look at them with one eyebrow high up in the air. "Well, I'll be damned!" he muttered with a humored glint in his eyes before disappearing into his office again.

Danny exhaled sharply. "Whoa!" I really did that, didn't I?

"You did."

He grimaced an amused smile at her and interlaced his fingers with hers, gently squeezing her hand. "Come with me; I want you to meet someone," he said.

He saw the guys grinning broadly and Aaron giving him a thumbs-up. Ray was wagging a knowing finger at him. Debbie was still standing in the same spot, bouncing her heel agitatedly with an arm crossed, staring at the ground a distance away, a loose fist covering her mouth. But there was no doubt that she'd been watching; Danny just hoped he hadn't hurt her feelings too much. He cocked his head as he tried to read her expression behind her hand.

"Debbie, you know I don't mean to hurt you but—this is Mickmi, my girlfriend. Mickmi, this is Mister Myer's daughter Debbie."

Debbie dropped her hand slightly as she said, "Oh – my – God... Did I drive you to do that?" Now they could see she was laughing.

"Yeah, you did," he replied with a wry smile, putting his arm around Mickmi, "but that wasn't against my will."

She laughed again but then her brow contracted and the laugh slowly transformed into quiet sobbing, her eyes filling up. "Why, Danny? You were supposed to love me! Not her," she pointed at Mickmi, "or anyone else. Me!"

Danny shook his head slowly; he was feeling really bad for Debbie. But there was nothing he could do: she had to get it into her head, once and for all. Mickmi looked up at him, concern written all over her face.

"We were supposed to have a June wedding, Danny... Buy our dream house... Have four kids... and a cat...." She sobbed, the tears spilling down her cheeks. She didn't care that everybody saw her crying. "You were supposed to be my happily ever after!"

"I'm sorry, Debbie, I tried to—"

She covered her mouth with her hands, then threw them outwards. "You were supposed to be mine!"

Mickmi could not take it any longer; she impulsively placed her hand on Debbie's shoulder. Debbie caught her breath in the middle of a sob, staring at Mickmi in shock. "What are you doing?" she puffed.

Danny put his hand on Debbie's other shoulder to keep her from stepping back—he knew what Mickmi was trying to do. "I'm really sorry, Debbie. Could you just leave it behind you?" He didn't want Mickmi to expose herself in front of everybody but, at the same time, he couldn't think of a better way to ease Debbie's distress. "That was a dream—just let it go. You'll have it with somebody else, I promise."

Her hands went up to her face again, loosely fisted over her mouth as her expression slowly relaxed, looking from one to the other. "You think so...?"

Mickmi released her and turned sideways to place her palm on Danny's chest for a moment, but she was still watching Debbie with concerned eyes.

"No doubt about it," Danny responded, smiling encouragingly.

Debbie heaved a long sigh and wiped her damp cheeks with her fingers. "I was making a fool of myself, wasn't I...? I'm sorry... But you can't blame a girl for trying?" She looked from one to the other, then shot an annoyed look at her brothers and flicked a hand at them: "What you staring at? Mind your own business!"

The Myers' brothers laughed and turn back to their respective tasks, but they were still keeping an eye on the three.

"You're breaking my heart, Danny...." Debbie gazed at him with her best puppy look—but she knew now it wouldn't change anything. She sighed dramatically, and, after a moment's thought, she kissed her three middle fingers and pressed them against his cheek with a sad smile.

He smiled wryly with a slight shake of his head. "Don't worry, Debbie; you'll be okay." He glanced at Mickmi; he couldn't read her expression, but then she started backing away as if to give them space.

Debbie stopped her. "No, don't... I'm sorry for making a scene...," she said, frowning. She patted Mickmi's arm a bit awkwardly, then whispered, "Be nice to him." 

Mickmi dipped her head in acknowledgment and Debbie stared at her for a while, her brow still furrowed. Then she sniffed and spun on her heel to return to her car.

Danny watched Mickmi as she followed Debbie's car with her gaze. "You're not jealous?" he couldn't help but ask.

She looked back at him in surprise. "Jealous?" An amused smile slowly grew on her face. "Why would I be?... I hear you."

He chuckled a sigh of relief and kissed her head. "Of course you do... Let's get back to work."

∞

The two men at the rear halted in unison and stood back as the one in front held the holding room door open, nodding curtly. Selina nodded once in return and passed him without attempting to speak to him. She had long understood that they were all under orders not to speak with her, the alien. Not that she minded. It meant less distraction when she gently probed their minds. But she had not gleaned anything of import from them while they escorted her. They and everyone she passed on her walks probably were under orders to keep their thoughts away from such things while in her vicinity as well. It did not make her concerned, however. She already knew a lot.

The aroma of coffee and a fresh donut from the nearby bakery set on a tray next to the water pitcher met her as the door locked behind her. But something else intruded on her attention. What was different about the room? She paused, turning her head towards the one-way glass, mentally observing the man on the other side, reclining with his feet on the counter just before he quickly put them down and straightened himself.

The door on the other side opened and he turned to it.

"Is it ready?" the man who let her back into the room said.

"Yes."

Selina turned her attention away, examining the room. She knew they would not elaborate—no discussion of anything of value ever took place there. Command had figured out that the wall separating her from them was no deterrent to her senses. Not that she had made attempts to hide it.

She continued to the table, sat down and lifted the steaming black coffee to her lips as she cast her eyes along the top of the reinforced walls. Her senses were tingling with the residual activity that had taken place in here while she was on her escorted walk. The two remote-controlled cameras that used to be mounted in either corner of the room had been replaced by insulated metal boxes with two antennas and three lenses strategically protruding at different angles. It only took her a second to understand what it was all about.

The equipment and sensors were now independently powered and housed in shielded boxes in hope of preventing them from shutting down when she consumed all electricity in the vicinity. She smiled as she took another sip. It might just work—or at least work long enough for them to find out where her light self came from. Which meant she would have to be more careful about how and where she exited herself.

But was that what the men meant by "is it ready"?

Before she could contemplate that question the door opened and Sterling stepped in. It was time for the interview session. He sat down at the table opposite her, placing a notepad and pen beside him and waited for her to finish her donut.

"Let's talk, shall we?" he said when she put the empty plate back on the tray. She dipped her head in response and drank some of her coffee. "Let's start with why you've chosen to come here."

"I was sought."

"Why would you simply turn up because you're sought?"

She tilted her head slightly. "Is that not what we are supposed to do?"

"It is. But it's not... always expected... Why did you come to America?"

"We came not."

"This is America. You are here, ergo you came here."

"Our presence is an accident. We came not."

"Semantics... How did you get here?"

Selina looked into her cup, then took a sip. Those answers would forever be a source of sadness for her. "I can only deduce..." She looked up again, meeting Sterling's sharp eyes. "We were on – the vessel for – testing... when great disaster befell Earth. We—"

"Hold on, disaster? The entire planet? Explain."

Her gaze became distant without wavering. "This Earth is known – by some of your peoples – as Gaia, the goddess... Ours is Geya... And Geya reclaimed – our Earth – unto herself... Only we who were... not earthbound... survived." Her focus returned to Sterling who was studying her with furrowed brows.

"That doesn't explain how you got here."

She dipped her head in acknowledgment. "That event created a – door... A time warp... or vortex—you may call it... But Geya drew in our vessel... and – when we awoke, we found us here... In your land."

She fell silent and watched Sterling, hearing his internal reaction. It was not disbelief in her, but in the total destruction of her planet. He drew two circles on the notepad, scribbled some connecting lines and notes. "How do you know that you're the only survivors?"

For the first time, Selina had to draw a deep breath. She closed her eyes to the images burnt into her memory. "It – all – imploded... before our eyes..." It made her mentally weary.

There was silence for a while. Then Sterling said, "That makes you—"

"Homeless, yes."

He leaned back in his chair, studying her contemplatively. "So basically, all you want is asylum here."

"It would be our wish."

"What are you? A scientist?"

"I am not."

"Technician? Chemist? What can you offer in return for asylum?"

"An exchange of minds..."

"That's it?"

She knew where he was going, and she allowed a slight increase of a smile on her usual amiable expression. "Access to the vessel..."

He nodded. "Are you willing to give us access to your vessel? To allow our scientists and technicians to test it, reverse-engineer it?"

"I would be."

Sterling crossed his arms, nodding slowly with his eyes on her. Then he got up and gathered his notepad and pen. "We'll see what can be arranged. There are no promises at this point." He nodded at her, then at the technician in the control room before leaving.

∞

"Five seventy-six... Five seventy-six..." Danny muttered the number the librarian had suggested they look for as he and Mickmi walked along the shelves. "This row: the five hundreds." They entered the aisle, scanning for a match. "We're soon there... Five-eighty, plants... Natural history of micro-organisms, fungi, algae... Of organisms and related... Ecology..." He stopped to read a label above his head. "Genetics and evolution... This is it! Five seventy-six." He looked back for Mickmi; she was flipping through pages of a book at an earlier shelf. "Mickmi!" he whispered loudly.

She put the book back and rejoined him, looking with interest at the shelf he was facing.

"We should be able to find something here," he said, tipping out one book, and then another before selecting one and handed it to her. He picked two more that looked promising and led the way to a reading table.

They sat down next to each other in silence and each opened a book. Mickmi spent several seconds flipping through the pages before she stopped. "Daniel...," she said.

He was still running his finger through the table of contents when he looked up at her and saw the intense expression on her face.

"There is a sample list of animals here, and their chromosome counts..."

He pushed his book aside to take hers and ran his gaze down the table. "Yeah," he said, glancing up at her. "Alfalfa... thirty-two... American bison... sixty... American black bear... seventy-four..." He started skipping down the list, continuing, "American marten... thirty-eight... Domestic cat... thirty-eight... European mink... thirty-eight... Lion," he met her gaze, "... thirty-eight... Otter... pig... raccoon... thirty-eight... Tiger..." He met her gaze again.

"It says, all cats have nineteen pairs of chromosomes..."

They stared at each other in silence for a while, then he shook his head slowly. "I've got to admit, Mickmi, I'm beginning to think all this can't be coincidence..." He rose and closed the book with his finger inserted, marking the page. "Come. Let's get a photocopy of this."

Mickmi sat near the exit and pulled something out of her handbag as Danny waited for the librarian to copy the page. When he rejoined her, he saw what she was staring at: the photo of her chromosomes. "What are you thinking?" he asked quietly.

She looked up suddenly as if she hadn't noticed him coming, and rose. "You are correct, Daniel. It is not coincidence."

She went through the door without another word. He glanced at her several times as they crossed the car park to the truck, but said nothing—he didn't want to disturb her train of thought. It wasn't until he was about to start the engine that she put a hand on his arm. "Have you something to cut with?"

"Sure," he replied, meeting her gaze—her brow was still furrowed in thought. "There's a Swiss army knife in the glove compartment."

She opened the compartment and he reached over to locate it exactly where he usually kept it, nearest to the driver's side. He opened up a blade and handed it to her. "Careful: it's sharp. What d'you need it for?" he asked as she turned down the visor to access the mirror.

She didn't answer. She stared at herself in the mirror for a few seconds before lifting her bang away from her forehead; the tattoo was still imprinted neatly at her hairline. Then she clenched her jaw and lifted the knife to her scalp.

"No, wait! What are you doing?" He grabbed her hand with his heart in his throat and made her turn toward him. "You trying to hurt yourself?"

Her expression was intense as she gazed at him with a slight shake of her head. "Nay," she said quietly and offered the knife back to him. "Cut it off."

"What, your hair?" He breathed a sigh of relief—for a moment she'd really scared him. He took the knife from her, shaking his head. "I'm not cutting your hair; I like your hair."

He saw the amused glint in her eye but she remained serious as she pushed a finger above her hairline. "Right here: I want to know what the second mark says," she said without wavering.

Now he remembered: they had never followed up on the second tattoo. "Oh... I'll do it. Better me than you." He shifted closer and she bent her head, spreading her bang to the sides with her hands to expose the double thirty-eight on her forehead. Just above that, a fraction of an inch beyond the hairline, was where he could see the edge of the next one. He carefully shaved her hair off with the knife, slowly exposing the mark that was a little longer than the one on her forehead. When he was finished he leaned back, drawing a long breath.

Mickmi raised her head, meeting his gaze, then looked in the mirror. She bent her head, looking up under her brows—but then dropped her hands and turned back to Danny. "I can not see it properly."

"It's three symbols, your ceremonial script... I'm not sure what it says," he said and reached into the glove compartment again, groping for a pen. He found it eventually, brushed off the grime and got the folded photocopy page. "One symbol is kind of like a fancy 'L'," he said as he wrote on the back of it, pressing against the dashboard. He drew a small half spiral, then a curl around it with a flat base, followed by a parallel line below that, extending into a hanging hook. "And this bottom one is like an upside-down 'two'..." He looked thoughtfully at the drawing—it was a fair representation of the mark on her scalp.

Her gaze was locked with his as she took the paper from him, then she lowered her eyes to it. She remained like that a long time before she slowly looked up again.

"What? What does it say?"

She didn't reply immediately; her face was still and her gaze distant, staring straight through him. Eventually she drew a deep breath and returned to him, meeting his gaze. "Cat," she said. 

— ∞ —

Thank you for staying with me this far! I hope you've enjoyed it! This is officially my last installment for the year (2016), I've actually managed to write 43 chapters since I started (re)writing on last new year's eve. Can you imagine? I can hardly believe it myself... it has actually been exactly one – whole – year! It has been quite a journey so far (43 chapters to cover 11 days!) and we still have a good way left to go (at least 9 more days)!

Here's wishing you all the best for 2017! And don't forget to vote & comment!

©2016/2017 by kemorgan65