Alien Junky (Part 1???)
The Alien pushed me to the room with a laser pointer to my back. A laser pointer. Can you believe that?
They kept pushing me, until a door slid open, with a “Access Granted,” a voice that sounded like the self check out lady at your local Walmart. It took me everything not to laugh, until my eyes laid upon the stockpile of junk in the room. All of this was once earth’s trash, being sent to space as a last resort for our mother earth.
“Holy Macaroni...How’d you guys even get all this stuff?! I know this kinda stuff sells good in Vespaire...But..There’s such thing as too much stuff here guys...What’s up with that?”
“We will be doing the talking, Human astronaut. In return for your rescue, you will tell us EXACTLY what every item that stands before you is called. You will write it down, and if you can, you will price it, and sell it on Vespaire. If you do not comply-”
“Sure.”
“What?-You are going to blindly agree?”
“Sure why not? I’ve got nothing else to lose, I mean really. My entire crew left me in space to save their own skins. I mean..Friendship? Teamwork? Yeah not really feelin’ it. So let’s get to work!!!” I took the journal and the pen and began looking in the pile, sorting through what would be most expensive.
They watched me, in awe, in the same awe that humanity looked at them. My hand was cramping, until I picked up something quite familiar.
“Guys...Where did you get a singular pistachio?” I grinned in wonder, holding up an uncracked pistachio between my thumbs.
“How much is it worth?” The alien asked. I stared at it, now looking at my savior’s features. They weren’t anything we were told. They looked sorta like that i guess, but with scales, and they wore clothes only louis-Vuitton could dream of making. Each sparkled in the light, leaving my mind half blank, in awe of the beautiful beings standing right in front of me. I was snapped back to reality by a small, yet cliché “Ahem,” from one of the guys watching me work.
“Right..This is worth diddle squat. Not worth anything. Now this tire on the left...Or this necklace. I’m not even sure how you found something like this anyways- but anyways, these things, (like the necklace especially) is worth a good fortune on Vespaire..That’s kinda the thieves den isn’t it? I mean, not like I know anything about it...But I’m just askin’. Know what I mean?” I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing at the crew occasionally as I pick out the most expensive items in the pile.
“We thank you, Human....”
“Human Earle. Just call me that. So off to sell this stuff yeah? I got the most expensive stuff for the pawnbroker..the other stuff goes to the mechanic. Just drop me off at Earth. I’ve gotta tell ya guys,” I got up, dusting myself off, offering a hand shake to the tallest one. “I’ve had a lot of fun here. A shame I’m leavin so soon.”
The tallest offered only a devilish grin to return my handshake, bearing his long and black fangs. It sent shivers down my spine. I stepped back, my eyes going wider as he began to speak.
“You see..We are not done with you yet, Human Earle. You are one of us now. You did say, you had nothing to lose, so think of what you have to gain. A crew, riches beyond your comprehension, and much more. All it takes is a simple affirmation.” His hands ran over a mechanic’s coat, fitting a woman it seemed. It was tye-dyed. I was gonna look like I was from the 1980s, die, or look like i time traveled just to die.
“What choice do I have? Seems like im facin the walk of shame, or I work for what seems to be a bunch of petty thieves. I’ll take it.” I grabbed the outfit, my heart thumping in my chest. This new beginning sounded a lot like my end..
