Project E.T. Ch. 5

Vic stepped out of the lobby and into the bright afternoon sun, still contemplating how she was going to handle Terrance. In a way, she didn't want him to know where she lived. She knew how he was. He would stop by unannounced and with the way he acted about the aliens she was worried he would say or do something offensive. This meant, she preferred to have him meet the others outside of the house, so he couldn't learn of her current location and still could see the gang wasn't going to harm her.
She unlocked her car, pursing her lips over her new dilemma.
"Vic!"
The shout turned her head and she gasped when she saw Hnsn walking towards her, grinning.
"Wow! I found you!" He laughed as he stopped in front of her. "For a second there, I thought I'd followed the wrong trail."
"Trail?" She set her bag inside of her car real quick before offering him the back seat. "What on earth?"
"I smelled you out." He tapped his nose with his finger, still grinning. "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out? Work got cut short and I'm bored."
"Um...okay." She shrugged. "I wish I'd brought a change of clothes, but that's fine. I can go in my work uniform. What did you want to do?"
"Pester Mal."
Her brow rose as she stared at him. "Got a thing for him?"
The dmn laughed as he opened the back seat door. "I kind of got a thing for everyone."
"Lovely." She rolled her eyes. "Okay, but I don't know where Mal works."
"I don't either." He rolled down his window. "But I can find him."

Peering into the lobby, Vic wrinkled her nose. "We have to pay to get in, you know."
"I know." Hnsn shrugged. "It looks like they sell swimsuits too. We should buy some."
"I own a swimsuit. We should have gone home and changed."
"I don't own a swimsuit."
"These will be heck of expensive." She pushed him back out. "Come on. We'll go shopping first. There's a store not far from here."
"Awww...okay."
A few minutes later found them wandering the isles, looking for swimming trunks.
"This is so smart." Vic looked at a pair and then kept moving. "Middle of summer. Look for swimsuits."
Hnsn laughed. "They can't be too...whoa! Who the heck pays forty dollars for a pair of shorts?"
"Over here." Vic tugged on his sleeve. "There should be a pair of extra large around here...ah, how about these?"
"Looks good to me."
Vic laughed and put them back. "No. I'm sorry. Those are neon green. That'd be so mean."
"Oh..." Hnsn grinned. "Big meanie."
"I am. Sorry."
He shrugged as he rummaged through the shorts. "These look like they'll fit. Are they a nice color?"
"Yup."
"Okay. Now for you."
"I'm really not sure I want to go swimming, Hansen."
"It won't kill you." Hnsn smiled at her. "Unless you melt."
"I'm not a witch, you dick." She huffed. "Fine. Excuse me while I go find a new suit. I guess, it's about time I bought one anyways."
Hnsn laughed as he followed her.
A little while later they were in line while Hnsn gave her a strange look.
"Are you really going to wear that?" He asked, eyeing what she had picked out. "I mean, I don't have the best eyesight, but that looks tiny."
"It's a bikini."
"What's a bikini?"
"Have you seen a bra and underwear?"
"Yes."
"It looks like that, but it's for swimming."
Hnsn's mouth fell open and then he was grinning. "I like bikinis."
"You really can't see well, can you?" Vic asked as they headed back to the health club.
"Not really."
"What attracts you to people then? How do you pick a date?"
"Well, I'm not human. I don't have weird picky demands." Hnsn shifted in his seat. "I mean, in all honesty, I'm just trying to get laid. It's not as if I'm trying to have a relationship with anyone, so I don't really care what they look like or their personality really."
"I guess, that's true." Vic shrugged. "I'd just have a hard time doing it with someone I wasn't attracted to. I mean, it'd be a huge turn off."
"True." Hnsn leaned over the passenger seat. "Smell comes into play a lot and I like easy going people."
"Has anyone tried to get into a relationship with you?"
"I tend to go for the desperate and horny."
"A lot of guys then."
Hnsn laughed outright. "It's actually been pretty even on both fronts. I get some women, some men. Doesn't really matter. All people can get desperate."
"Yeah and straight guys don't go for you."
"What's straight?"
Vic parked the vehicle. "You know, guys who like girls or girls who like guys. You're bi, right? You like both guys and girls."
"Er...sure." Hnsn got out of the car. "But I'm straight too."
"Hansen. Bi means you like both."
Hnsn chuckled lightly. "Yeah. I'll explain that all to you another day then. You should really read those pamphlets."
"Ugh...I know...I just haven't had a chance to."
"Ready?"
"Sure."

Inside of the pool area, it took them awhile to figure out where Mal was stationed. Once they found him sitting by the outdoor pool, Vic decided to lay down some rules.
"We can't chat with him too much. He's working." She told the dmn. "And no pretending to drown yourself or anything like that."
"Why on earth would I do that?" Hnsn feigned hurt, but he was grinning fiercely.
"Yeah...I get the feeling you would. Don't."
"Fine. Fine."
"And we so should have gotten you a size bigger."
Hnsn looked down at his relatively tight shorts. "The tail makes it kind of hard. I had to cut a hole into it."
"With what?"
"My claws."
He held up his hand to show the inch long black talons she always forgot were there.
"Right." She readjusted her towel. "We can say hi, but then we have to leave him alone."
"Fair, I guess."
Hnsn started out into the area, Vic in tow, and, slowly at first, the area began to quiet. By the time, he reached Mal, the place had grown nearly dead silent.
"Hey, Mal." Hnsn greeted, going in for a hug Mal returned uncertainly. "How's work?"
"What are you doing here?" Mal asked as soon as Hnsn pulled away. "Oh, hi, Vic."
"We're pestering you." Hnsn explained. "And then we're swimming."
"Oh." His brows seemed to do a little dance on his forehead as he went through confusion, worry, and a nervous smile. "Well, have fun, I guess."
Hnsn snorted, his throat rumbling and he turned to Vic.
"No fun."
Hnsn let his towel fall to the ground beside Mal's chair before going to the stairs to get in.
"How's work?" Vic asked, smiling at the anjelv.
"Good." Mal replied. "Boring, but that's a good thing."
She giggled and then picked up Hnsn's towel to move it to a different spot. "When do you get off work?"
"In an hour."
"You should join us."
"I guess, I will."
"If you want."
"Go make sure Hnsn doesn't drown himself."
"Is that a concern?"
Mal laughed and she set the towels down on a chair before getting into the pool. Already people were returning to their activities, paying the dmn little attention.
"It's kind of cold." Hnsn laughed when she approached him. "I love your swimsuit by the way."
"Thanks." Vic eyed the long strands of golden hair swirling in the water. "You do know how to swim, right?"
"Most dmn don't swim a lot."
"Why?"
"We sink."
"Okay. Stay in the shallow end."
"Will do!"
"Why would you sink?"
"We're pretty heavy, mostly muscle, which is heavier than fat." Hnsn shook his head, his wet hair trying to cling to his face. "Not a lot of us is really floating material."
Vic laughed. "Nice. Can you swim though?"
"With my wings, sure."
"You have wings too?" She had known this little fact, but hearing the confirmation surprised her. "What do they look like?"
"A bit like bat wings to be honest."
"On your back?"
"They actually sprout from my arms." He told her, showing the side of his hand. "Right there. A fold of skin runs along my arm, then along my side, and all the way down my tail. I have a total of four long fingers that it attaches to."
"That's so cool!" She propped herself up against the edge of the pool. "When did you learn to fly?"
"When I was about forty."
She stared ahead, trying to figure out if it was appropriate to ask for his age.
"I'm a hundred and one by the way." He told her and she looked at him surprised. "Dmn are adults at a hundred, so I haven't been an adult for long."
"Oh, I see." She smiled at him. "So forty is...what?"
"A kid still."
"Huh. I'm twenty-three."
"Wow. You wouldn't even be in school yet if you were a dmn."
"Awesome! A longer childhood!"
Hnsn rumbled his amusement. "Yeah...it was okay."
"So did your mom raise you?"
Hnsn nodded. "Yeah...you know...it's kind of a weird topic..."
"Sorry."
"No, don't apologize." He leaned against the edge beside her. "It's just...humans don't really understand us very well."
"There are single parents in the human world too." She reassured him. "Not everyone believes in marriage, you know."
"It's not...that..." He sighed, almost chuckling, but it came out uneasy. "I'm not bothered by it, but Mal said humans can be."
"What is it?"
Hnsn shifted, looking up at the sky as if searching for answers. "It's...complicated."
"You're starting to sound like Mal."
He twitched a smile. "Well, I'll just tell you because you're pretty nice and I think you'd be okay with it."
"Go for it."
He opened his mouth, but paused, his eyes focused in the distance. Vic turned and immediately pulled her arms off the edge. People were coming out of the indoor pool building to look at him, some ducking back in and others rummaging through bags for cell phones. Hnsn sighed.
"Better than negative attention, I guess." He waved at the people, smiling. "You'd think they'd be fine after seeing Mal all the time."
"Mal looks a little closer to human though." Vic reminded. "I mean, he doesn't stand out as much as you."
"True..." Hnsn looked away from the growing crowd. "It's times like this I wish I could transform. I'd just...make myself look human and no one would be any wiser to it. Well, I'm not that good at it yet, but at least I could hide some things."
Vic patted his arm. "It's okay. I think you're cool."
"Thanks." Hnsn smiled at her.
"Hey!" A couple of girls caught their attention. "Um...can we take our picture with you?"
An hour later found Mal joining them, though he seemed far more self-conscious than the dmn, choosing to wear a shirt as well as his shorts.
"Your hands are green." Vic pointed out when Mal drew closer to them. "How?"
"Water." Mal hid his hands behind his back. "Sorry."
"Silly." She reached around to grab his hands and pull them back in front. "I was making an observation."
"Here's my observation then." Mal held up her hand to look at it. "Why are your fingers all wrinkly?"
"Yeah...crappy human thing. It happens to my toes too."
"My feet turn green as well." Mal pointed and she looked down.
"Look at that. They do!" She laughed. "Okay. Let's go save Hnsn from his fans."
Mal rolled his eyes. "It has been a little annoying. You two brought far more people into this pool than I wanted to have to look over."
"Stop complaining about your job." Vic started towards the corner where Hnsn was currently engaged in conversation.
"Yes, because you never complain about yours."
Once she had freed Hnsn, Vic decided it was time to introduce Hnsn to the hot tub since he was shivering.
"I'm not so sure." Mal said as he followed the two inside. "I mean...it's hot."
"I like the sounds of it already." Hnsn smiled back at the anjelv. "I'm sure you won't wilt, Mal."
Once the three were in the tub, Vic immediately realized Mal had been speaking the truth about his heat sensitivity. Within only moments, his speech grew stuttered and slurred and he finally gave up talking completely.
"It's so nice." Hnsn said, relaxing into the tub. "I feel like I'm being brought back to life. I'm so glad I'm not a first generation."
"What's a first generation?"
"One of the first created dmn." Hnsn elaborated. "Originally, dmn couldn't come to the earthly domain or really any domain. They had a massive allergy to regular water. It would literally cause their skin to burn. A great calamity caused dmn to have to live in the earthly domain, so Dodrake rid the dmn of their allergy to water in order for them to survive. If it wasn't for this, I couldn't go swimming here. In fact, I couldn't be here at all. All the water in the air would cause my lungs to begin burning and I would slowly breathe myself to death."
"That sounds awful."
"Yeah, so I'm glad I wasn't born a first generation."
Silence filled the area as the couple who had been sitting there with them finally got up to leave. Mal got up to sit on the edge with just his feet in the water.
"How you doing, Mal?" She asked, giving him an apologetic smile.
He nodded, but didn't speak.
"Well, whenever you're ready to go..." Vic suggested to Hnsn. "Oh, and Mal, I can drive you home too."
The anjelv nodded silently again, increasing her guilt.

"Hey, Mal." Vic said as they were finally driving home. "How do you get to work normally?"
"I walk." He answered shortly.
"Oh...that's a long walk."
"Mmm..."
Vic hesitated then asked the same of Hnsn.
"I fly."
"Oh...there's no regulations on that?"
"There...is...but..." He shrugged. "Some of the places I end up having to go are too far to walk, so I fly."
"If you get caught..." Mal warned, looking back at the dmn seriously.
"Yeah. Yeah." Hnsn waved his hand dismissively. "So what are you all planning for dinner?"
"Xov wanted to try Mexican, so I'm making burritos."
"Huh..." Hnsn frowned. "A coworker of mine had a burrito the other day. It smelled good."
"Isn't that...difficult for you?" She slowed as they approached the driveway. "Only eating dairy? Don't you want to try other foods?"
Hnsn fidgeted and Vic realized Mal was glaring at her.
"I don't mean to be rude." She added.
"It's...just a cultural thing."
"Oh..." She frowned as she pulled up into her usual parking spot. "Who's car is that?"
"That looks like a government vehicle." Mal stated as he got out. "Black. Dark tinted windows...government license plate."
"Huh." Vic closed her door, eyeing the sleek car. "What the heck?"
A yell brought their heads up to the porch before the three rushed up and into the kitchen.
They were met with an enraged Xoviy and, to Vic's surprise, two other reiiT. Xov was shrieking in her native tongue at the two, who appeared to be trying to negotiate with her.
"What is going on?" Hnsn said above the racket. He was met with three identical glares. "Oh...uh..."
"Get out!" Xoviy said, pointing at the door. "I left so I did not have to deal with you!"
"Switching to English to get the sympathy of your housemates?" One of the reiiT hissed, its solid red voiiTo writhing with every word.
"Out!" Xoviy screamed, the sound causing Vic's ears to pop.
"Calm, Xov." The other reiiT, who looked identical to Xoviy, was saying. "Relax. We were merely worried about you."
"Worried?" She huffed, her voiiTo wiggling behind her. "I do not need your concern! Leave!"
"Xov." The calm one repeated. "Please. It is not fair of you to leave us to our concerns. Who is to say we would not have agreed?"
"I would not have agreed!" The other reiiT snapped. "She is clearly acting the fool! Selfish as well!"
"I am not the only Selfish in this room!" Xov shouted back. "You vile little snake, Arxent! All of you leave! Where is Ope? Going through my belongings, I imagine!"
She turned towards the staircase just as two more reiiT exited it. The first thing Vic noticed was the clothes of one of them.
Though she had known the beings could not culturally have human style, she had never seen any of the aliens wear clothing other than human fashion. Even those visiting Xoviy seemed to have chosen to wear human attire, all except one. The robes fitted around its body billowed as it stepped further into the room. Light glinted off of silver jewelry and an ornate headdress, which held up its long red and purple voiiTo. It was then she realized how long the voiiTo of the other reiiT were. Though this well-dressed being had the longest, the others still surpassed Xov's, which were barely halfway down her back. The finely dressed being was also shorter than any of the other reiiT.
Hnsn and Mal abruptly bowed low and Vic's brows shot up at this.
"It is fine." The robed being told them, its yellow eyes flicking over the three and resting on Vic. "Xov...introduce us to your friends."
"You!" Xoviy pointed at the richly one. "This is your fault!"
"I risked being disowned by my own brothers." The being replied. "I also worried over you, I admit, but I have already apologized. Now, introduce us to your friends."
Xov crossed her arms, her entire body tight, but she still ground out, "Hnsn. Maluriel. Victoria."
"Thank you." The being said, still looking at Vic. "Now introduce us."
Xov glared at the ceiling. "These are my brothers."
"My name is Ope." The one beside the richly told them. "The eldest and head of this family. The mage," He motioned to each in turn. "Is Galsaj and you seem to have already...seen Tenma and Arxent."
"A pleasure." Galsaj and Tenma said, but Arxent turned away, his solid red voiiTo wriggling with frustration.
"Whatever." He hissed.
"It's nice to meet you." Vic said and received a scowl from Xoviy for it. "Um...what's...going on?"
"They are trespassing!" Xoviy accused, pointing in particular at Ope. "They are stalking me!"
"Calm down, Xov!" Tenma insisted. "Please!"
"Silence!" She rounded on him. "I will not be told what to do! I am permitted to live my life as I please! And I wish to do it without any of you trying to influence it!"
"I second this." Galsaj put in, folding his arms over his robes. "However, running off without telling us where you were going or what you were planning to do was wrong. You had us worried, terrified even. We did not know if you had been hurt or kidnapped or murdered. Yes, it was wrong of me to use my influence within the system to track you down and, had Ope not insisted otherwise, once I had learned of your location I would have let you be. Regardless, to let us worry was wrong! Had you come to me straightaway and informed me of your decision, I would have helped you. Instead, you run off...like a child."
Xov was now glaring down at the ground, her whole face scrunched with anger, but she didn't retaliate.
"You ask for more freedom and then prove you do not deserve it!"
"Hey!" Vic cut in, though Mal grabbed her shoulder as if to stop her. "She's an adult! Maybe it was wrong, but you can't talk to her like that!"
Hnsn let out a whimper, his ears flicking back to lie against the side of his head.
The mage was looking at her again, his yellow eyes seeming to glow in the dim light of the dining room.
"You are right." She was shocked when he said these words, given Mal and Hnsn's reaction. "Xoviy, you are an adult and you do have every right to your freedoms. However, could you next time inform us?"
Xov nodded glumly. "Are you leaving?"
"I have work." Arxent huffed as he headed for the door. "Move, Victoria."
Vic stepped aside, aided by Mal, her eyes staring at Arxent in disbelief.
"I am sorry for my brother's rudeness..." Tenma gave her a pinched brow look before following after the other reiiT.
"You will be fine?" Ope asked, facing Xoviy.
"I already was fine." Xov snapped back. "The only reason I am not now is because you are here!"
"Please, do not be like that." Ope's features were distraught as he stared at his sister. "We were merely worried for you."
"Oh, do not lie." She hissed, glaring at him. "I know what your true concern is!"
"Xoviy!" Galsaj snapped, his eyes narrowing.
"Sorry..." She muttered, looking away.
Ope said his farewell, encouraging her to stay in contact, though she made no commitment, before he too left.
Galsaj tilted his head lightly as he stared at Xoviy.
"Could you leave us?" He asked, glancing at the three, who still stood by the doorway. "I could use a moment."
"Yes."
Mal took Vic's hand and led her down the stairs, Hnsn following with his shoulders hunched.
"You really need to start reading!" Mal hissed as soon as they reached the bottom. He let go of her hand and spun to face her. "Do you realize how dangerous it was of you to talk to a mage like that?"
"What's a mage?" She shot back, crossing her arms. "A rich snob with a stick shoved up his ass?"
"No." Hnsn groaned, running a hand over his face. "And reiiT always dress like that. Jewelry and robes...and huge headdresses. They're famous for it among the Superiors."
"Oh..."
"And a mage is perhaps the most powerful thing any being will come across." Mal informed her. "You're lucky he seems friendly enough. Considering even the other Superior races fear mages, I'd suggest you show the same kind of fear and respect."
"But he was acting like an asshole!"
"Don't be an idiot!" Hnsn argued, glaring at her. "It doesn't matter if he's acting like an asshole! He has the authority to and you do not!"
"I would not worry about Galsaj." Xov said, coming down the stairs. "He is the least scary mage in the world."
Mal relaxed a fraction. "You are the fifth child. It explains their worry. What happened to your parents?"
"They were killed in an accident when I was still a baby." Xov replied then held up her hand when she saw Vic's mouth open. "I am not bothered by it. I never knew them, so I do not miss them. My brothers raised me, but they seem to think I am somehow incapable of living my own life. It is a stupid notion. I joined the Project in order to live my own life away from them. I am hoping five years of separation from them will give me a chance to get to know myself and them a chance to realize I am capable of taking care of myself. Now you know."
"Are they going to be stopping by a lot now?" Vic questioned, coming over to rest a hand on Xov's arm.
"Probably." Xov sighed. "But they all work. We will likely see Arxent and Galsaj the most as they both work within the embassy."
"The embassy?"
"Yes. The Interdimensional Embassy in Antalya, Turkey."
"Huh...that's a trip."
"No." Mal told her. "A trip is from Nendeiirasuu to Earth. That's a trip. Coming from Turkey to here? That's short."
"Interdimensional travel is long and taxing." Hnsn explained. "Usually, you only make the trip if you're planning on staying for awhile. At the minimum of maybe a month, but usually a year."
"But...plane tickets and driving..."
"Teleport."
Vic looked at Xov. "What?"
"They teleport. We have portals set up all over the world, in or near basically every major city. It would not take much for Galsaj to travel from Antalya to San Francisco. Then...because he has training to do so...he could cast a personal teleport and be here in a little less than a second. Since he is also a mage, he gets priority and can go before others when using portals."
"Lucky him."
"A bit."
"Jeez...I want to travel from California to Turkey in thirty minutes!"
Hnsn snorted as a smile came to his face. "Don't we all?"  
"And he's going to be visiting a lot?"
"Gal?" Xov shook her head. "Not as much as Arxent. He is going to be the real trouble, I am afraid. Thankfully, my other two brothers live in Xl."
"Hole?"
"Xl."
"Kill?"
Xoviy sighed, crossing her arms. "X. L. Khuh-hull. Dmn are not the only ones who refuse to use vowels. At times, tiyen gresgo does not either. Xl is the city-state of Nendeiirasuu. Largest city. Smallest country. Center of world commerce. Nazed-sszT rules over the city and serves as head councilman to Naxtuula-sszT, Ruler of the reiiT. I am a senxlo. I am from Xl, as are my brothers. Ope is a merchant and Tenma works for him in Xl. My brother Arxent, who works in the embassy, handles imports from your world into ours."
"What would your world want from us?" Vic asked, surprised.
"Coffee." Xov grinned when Vic looked at her. "Artichoke. Mostly food, really, though we did take some things for study. Like cell phones and cars."
"Wait...we invented cars and phones before you?"
"The old magic versus technology war." Maluriel leaned against the wall. "The more magic a culture uses, the less likely it will turn to technology."
"Both dmn and anjelv are low on the technology list." Hnsn added. "Though dmn at least build homes while anjelv prefer to live without. Selestials are the most technologically advanced of all the beings, humans included, though I doubt the Overseers count."
"Yeah, Sere said he could drive."
"And knows about electricity." Hnsn flicked the light switch on. "Hmm...still looks like magic to me."
"It is Selestials than humans than reiiT than dmn and finally anjelv." Xov ticked off her fingers, forced to use her thumb as well as her other hand since she had only three fingers on each. "Selestials at the greatest and anjelv at the least."
"So Selestials use the least amount of magic."
"They have a couple priests of Dodrake who use magic, but most rely on their mental powers. After that, it is all about technology. Humans lost their capability to use magic. Those remaining who could were pushed out by the use of technology, so humans must rely on technology rather than magic. Meanwhile, reiiT prefer magic, but see technologies uses in particular cases as the use of magic is exhausting."
"Dmn don't need technology." Hnsn grinned proudly. "But we don't really rely on magic either. We live simpler lives without all the complexity the other races have."
"Though your life would seem complex when held against mine." Mal informed the dmn. "As we have no need of things, we have no need to complicate our lives. Even our language is testament to this."
"I hate to interrupt this conversation..."
They all turned towards the stairway where Sere stood, much to their surprise.
"But when are you intending to make dinner?"
Vic grinned. "I'll make it now if you help me."
"I guess, I'll wait then." Sere headed back up the stairs while Vic glared after him.
"I guess, I'll make dinner then." Vic grumbled, finally kicking off her shoes. "Anyone want to help?"
She was surprised when she went upstairs with three aliens in tow.

It wasn't until Vic had settled down into her bed she remembered Hnsn had wanted to talk to her about something. Grumpily, she got out of bed and went into the garage, hoping the dmn hadn't already left in search of a partner.
"Hnsn?" She called nervously towards his bedroom, afraid of walking in on him with someone.
The door opened and the dmn exited, though immediately stopped to lean against the wall and smile at her. She opened her mouth to laugh at the goofy grin on his face and the bright boxers he was wearing.
"Cute." She pointed to the boxers and he glanced at them.
"Are they?" He crossed his arms. "What's going on?"
"Oh, I just was seeing if you were busy. I remembered you wanted to tell me something "complicated" at the pool."
Hnsn snorted, a smile coming to his lips, but his eyes were dancing about in their sockets.
"Maybe, later." He told her. "I have company."
"Oh." She stepped back towards the door. "Sorry. I didn't know. I'll leave you to it then."
Hnsn teeth clicked as he smiled. "Yeah. Later then."
"Sure."
Vic went back into the house, glancing at Xoviy who was staring at her.
"Every night?" Vic asked, not sure what Xov expected her to say.
"Every night." The reiiT seemed to think this was normal. "You sleep every night, do you not?"
"That's true..."
"Well then."
Xov returned her gaze to her book and Vic took this as a sign of farewell.
Back in bed, Vic stared up at the dark ceiling as a soft barely noticeable thumping could be heard. Her stomach tightened inside of her as she wondered why she had never noticed it the nights before.
Rolling over, she covered her head with her pillow and tried not to think about it too much.