Chapters 1-12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Xethrom
My arrival on this hinterland world has been far less stealthy than I hoped. My insatiable hunger having reached a fever pitch, I gnawed a few chunks off of the more essential navigation system resulting in an unmistakable crash. Rather than a rescue mission or even a gaggle of curious agriculturists, I was immediately accosted by a bloodthirsty Morgathilin intent on murdering me post haste.
The two fingers I consumed told me volumes about him. He was somewhere between 350 and 400 years old, ate an extremely well balanced diet, exercised regularly and might benefit from the company of a woman. Though poorly seasoned my stomach was disturbingly eager to seek out and consume the rest of him but I did not become an ambassador of the highest rank due to my inability to suppress such base impulses.
All the same, I intended to regain all of my lost weight before I got anywhere near the rest of the planet's sentient inhabitants. But I am only halfway to that goal when the entrance to cave I chose to shelter in darkens for a moment. I observe a broad shouldered and pleasant-faced youth for several moments before his eyes adjust and he sees me.
I know he means to scream but a tentacle I had not realised I had grown reaches out with incredible speed and wraps around his mouth before he can make a sound.
“Hello friend, I mean you no harm.” I say soothingly and his eyes glaze over. It appears the last encounter has triggered the release of one of the mind control chemicals Grixellians can sometimes emit under prolonged stress. The effects are both relatively mild and temporary so I try not to feel too guilty as he smiles stupidly at me waiting to agree with whatever I say. My tentacle, no longer necessary, slithers back and tucks itself into my abdomen.
“Hello friend…” he slurs back.
“Did you come here looking for me?” I ask, deliberately keeping my tone light.
“No, friend. Just need a place to hide…”
A criminal perhaps? He doesn't seem to have the look. Deception leaves it's mark on the features of the face. Its obvious if you know where to look and I do.
I deem him safe enough and consciously release the antidote to the mind control chemical.
He shakes his head as if coming back from a dream and smiles at me as if we truly are friends. He is either naturally trusting or his mind lacks the basic barriers to intrusion that most people possess. All the same…
“My name is Xethrom Grix-Cosmos and I come from the place beyond the sky lid.” I state aiming for a satisfying blend of accuracy and vagueness. The Universal Union treatise on interactions with baser worlds was clear on this matter.
“A space traveler, you mean? Lovely! I'm Tim!”
I am aghast. Someone has broken one of the most sacred rules of the UU and inducted this planet's sentients into a knowledge they are in no way prepared to possess!
As a trusted ambassador and concerned union citizen it is imperative that I conduct thorough investigations to find out who that is and why.
My money's on the eight fingered Morgathilin though.
And so ends today's installment. Another will arrive, definitely eventually....