Earth Blend (3 page)

Percone: Crysa, my
love, did you forget I can see and feel everything you do?

Eli: Get out...
Now!

Percone: Come now,
Eli... Is this any way to welcome a guest into your....

Percone paused and
looked around Eli's apartment.

Percone: This...
whatever this is? How can you live in this human-made thing? I
would go mad not feeling our Earth beneath me. You really have
become more human than Earthling. And these clothes....

Percone squirmed
beneath his attire.

Percone: They feel
so unnatural.

A vibration began
to build around them. Dishes
clambered
loudly in the cabinets as the building swayed.

Percone smiled as
he looked back at Eli who stood glaring angrily at him with his
fists clenched.

Percone: Do it. Rock the ground so hard and bring this
atrocity
smashing to the
Earth. Make sure to destroy all the filthy humans inside with
it.

Crysa looked panic
stricken. She moved closer to Eli and touched his arm.

Crysa: Eli,
please.

The shaking
stopped. Eli moved away from her.

Eli: Both of you
leave... Now.

Percone: Come,
Crysa. Let us take leave. We are not wanted here.

Percone walked
over to Crysa and took her hand. She looked at him through her
tears before moving quickly to the door. Percone sent a final
thought to Eli before following Crysa out the door.

Percone: Every moment you spend removed from our Earth, the
more like them you
become.

Eli took a few
moments to calm down. If he never had to see or hear Percone again,
it would be a glorious life. He did not let himself think about
Crysa. She had made her choice allowing Percone the connection.

Eli walked over to
the window and rested his forehead against the glass. Although the
morning sunrise looked beautiful, its shining light on the hard
stone and concrete buildings was not as soothing. He ached for the
day when he could practice the
medicine
and healing he had learned in a more rural setting. Eli hated that
Percone was right. He had become far removed from the Earth.
Turning back to face his apartment, he felt
constricted
. He knew what he needed to do. Grabbing
his car keys, he left the apartment.

Morning rush hour
traffic prevented him from releasing his frustrations in the one
luxury he allowed himself, a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. Not a
materialistic
Earthling by nature, he
justified
his purchase because of the
catalytic converter
on the car that made it more
environmentally
friendly. Once he had
cleared the city limits, he began to feel better. Steering his car
across the bridge to New Jersey, he headed for the Pine Barrens,
Forked River Mountain Preserve. It had been too long since he
allowed himself to soak in the five hundred and thirty one acres of
beauty. Once there, he donned his running shorts, sneakers, and
little else. He missed running barefoot but did not want to draw
any undue attention to himself as he made his way to the more
remote parts of the reserve. The roots of the Mother Tree ran
generously through the mountain, making it easy for him to find a
way to reconnect with his people. He placed his hands against one
of the trees and announced his presence. Shortly thereafter, a
familiar figure dropped down from a nearby tree. Eli smiled at his
friend.

Eli: Dragaan, it
is good to see you.

Dragaan: Eli, it
has been too long, my friend.

The two friends
joined hands and
exchanged
images and
thoughts about recent
events
in their
lives.

Dragaan: You have
been very busy with the humanized life you have created. What
brings you here?

Eli: I enjoy my
life and have learned much, but bricks and stone do not compare to
the feel of our Earth.

Eli silently
cringed when he realized he was using Percone's words. He hated to
admit his brother was right.

Dragaan: I do not
believe I could live as you do. I would miss this too much.

Dragaan gestured
to the beautiful landscape surrounding them.

Eli: I do miss
being close to our Mother. However, the field of medicine is
fascinating to me.

Dragaan: But you
are healing humans. Do you feel they are worth it?

Eli: Some, if not
most, are, Dragaan. Contrary to popular belief, we have many allies
in helping keep our Earth safe.

Dragaan: I think
Percone would beg to differ.

Eli: Please tell
me our brother has not poisoned you against humans.

Dragaan smiled at
Eli.

Dragaan: I am well
aware of his prejudices against them, but his argument is not
without merit. Although, even I admit, he occasionally takes his
hatred of them too far.

Eli: There are
many things that our brother takes too far.

Eli stood up. He
did not wish to discuss Percone any longer.

Eli: Come run with
me, Dragaan. I need to reconnect.

Dragaan accepted
Eli's stretched hand and rose to his feet. He smiled and leapt up
into a tree.

Dragaan: Let us
take the scenic route.

Eli smiled and
followed after Dragaan. They raced each other through the trees and
on the ground. Eli called a time out when they reached the river
bank. The two brothers took rest upon the sand.

Dragaan: Out of
practice my friend?

Eli: Only...
slightly.

Eli playfully
pushed Dragaan's shoulder. It was then they heard giggling nearby.
Two young ladies lounged on a blanket just a short distance from
them. The brothers had traveled into a more populated area of the
reserve. The women smiled in their direction and motioned for the
two men to join them. Dragaan looked at Eli, who shook his head
from side to side.

Dragaan: Oh come now, brother. How long has it been since
you've allowed yourself some
human
pleasure?

Eli looked again
in the direction of the young women. He liked his solitary living,
but seeing Crysa earlier reminded him that there were times when
loneliness
could filter through the
barrier he had erected.

Eli: You are a bad
influence on me, Dragaan.

Dragaan released a
hearty laugh before standing up and pulling Eli with him.

Dragaan: Come
along Eli, and do not
embarrass
me.

Dragaan placed a
hand on Eli's shoulder and steered him toward the women. The
foursome enjoyed their time together before dividing up into
couples for some private time. Eli's tanned, tall, and blond good
looks made up for his lack of social skills. The young lady was far
from shy and made her intentions known once they were alone.
Sliding her hands up and around his neck, she pulled Eli's face
down to hers, letting her kiss display her intentions. The doctor
remained
still until he felt his body
relax. As his human parts responded to her
ministrations
, he reached for the woman's hips and
pulled her against him. Eli had forgotten how pleasurable a
female's body could be. The sensations he felt coursing through him
had long been
denied
. He let his female
companion take the lead as they sank to the ground. Eli's body
radiated in pleasure as his bare skin touched the Earth. The
combination of the female's touch and his beloved Planet heightened
the experience. Eli's heated
pheromones
took over as he became the
aggressor.
The
passionate sexual encounter lasted for many hours until both
participants were sated. Eli walked the young lady back to her
friend before saying a brief good-bye. Dragaan had already
departed. Eli sent out this thought to him.

Eli: It was good
seeing you again, brother.

Dragaan: And you
as well. Take care, and visit again soon.

Eli: I shall.

Even though Eli
meant those words, it would be a long time before he saw Dragaan
again.

After his
internship ended in
Pennsylvania,
Eli
traveled around to various
mid-western
hospitals, setting up
residencies
at many
of them. He moved on when his lack of aging seemed to be attracting
attention. His current address landed him back on the east coast in
a small town called Marion, Virginia. He purchased an apartment
complex there and housed himself in a ground floor apartment. He
was able to do some renovating that allowed him to access the roots
to the Mother Tree that ran directly beneath the building. He had
the best of both worlds. Anytime he felt the
loneliness
creep in, he would go down to the secret
room behind his closet and contact some of his brothers and
sisters. His life was comfortable. Little did he know that his life
would be turned upside down by the arrival of a young girl named
Julie.

4. The Visitor's
Story

The Flutara kept
himself hidden. He did not want to get caught by the Quintorons.
The cargo he carried was too valuable. His mission was to transport
himself and the cargo to a planet called Earth. There he would
carry out the rest of his orders.

The moment finally
arrived. A small shift developed in an area to his left. The
sensation he felt was a numbing feeling that covered his entire
body. All known awareness left him as he was transported. The first
sense to return was sight. The green of the forest quickly blended
into the tall trees before him.

The Flutara looked
at the Earth creature with
curiosity
. He
was smaller in stature compared to his own body. The limbs of the
creature appeared thinner and more defined. The creature led him to
one of the trees and placed its hands on the rough, dry surface. He
followed the creature and duplicated the act. The visitor felt
something akin to an electric shock as information filtered into
him. After a moment, he was able to communicate with the creature.
He was able to think in his native tongue and be
understood by the creature, and he thanked him for allowing his
people to come to Earth.
The creature introduced himself as
Percone and gave him the name Flute. The Earthling tried to
dissuade
him from blending with the humans
but Flute knew this was not an option. He had to complete his
mission.

He watched
anxiously as Percone went to fetch the human female who was the
carrier of the species' offspring. As the Earthling approached the
female, Flute noticed her beginning to shake. He watched as Percone
was able to calm her, allowing him to analyze the woman. If his
face could show delight it would have at the moment he touched her.
The female was already with child. The cargo he carried was the
genetic
code of his people which would
allow him to blend the two species together. After instructing
Percone to keep the female calm and distracted, he set about his
mission.

Flute marveled at
how easily the essence of his people took to the unborn fetus. He
was able to see inside the female as the two species combined into
one. Watching for early signs of rejection and seeing none, he
pulled his essence out of the female. The procedure had been
performed
on other planets and species,
however, not all had been successful. He would need to monitor the
child throughout the duration of its gestation.

Percone said he
could summon the woman at any time because they were connected.
Flute did not understand the term. The Earthling had found out the
female's name was Regina. Flute felt a disturbance in the air
around them and watched, at Percone's suggestion, the copulation
that replicated how the humans created offspring. He found the act
fascinating and was able to tap into the emotions of pleasure that
radiated from the two. Afterwards, Percone sent Regina away and
explained the connection the two now shared.

Flute inquired
about a safe place to reside. Percone told him about the caves he
could rest in undisturbed and still monitor the female.

Once on his own,
flute searched through the knowledge provided by the tree and
located a food source that would replenish the energy used in
blending. His body was able to adapt to the available resources on
the planet.

With his energy
restored, his thoughts
traveled
back to
his home planet. He knew it would be many Earth years before he
would be able to return to it. The timing of planet jumping was an
intricate science. Flute was unconcerned; he had work to do and
blends to create. The passage of calculated time varied from planet
to planet. The human gestation period was slightly longer than in
other creatures. Flute worried about the length; the more time
spent in the human host, the more problems that could develop.

Percone kept his
promise and fetched the woman as often as Flute requested. Flute
used his healing ability to heal the minor complications that arose
in the female.

Finally, the
anticipated
event was upon them. Percone's
connection with the female had allowed him to sense her emotions.
He woke Flute when he felt the distressed feelings coming from
Regina. Together they arrived at the woman's home just as the male
of the house was assisting her out to the car. She was moaning in
evident pain.