The humans had made sizable progress on their messenger ship, as I kept a close eye on Project Iris’s fruits. NASA had banded together the world’s space agencies, in a remarkable display of cooperation from primal tribes; these countries were notorious for quarreling with one another and being territorial. The comfort I had around them only grew, the more time I spent with their scientists and the longer I was with Finley. There were so many delightful moments we shared together, with each day bringing something special.
Alcohol-infused karaoke had been quite the romp last week, with Terry butchering a “screamo” song in the most tonedeaf thing I’d ever heard. Hazel attempted to bring me to a theatre, but after Barron raised a myriad of security issues, she’d helped arrange a Shakespeare production here with poor NASA scientists cast into various parts. Hamlet was a fascinating study to me, since its core motivation was revenge; his fury was mired by grief and philosophical struggles.
Hamlet wrestled with himself to decide whether to act on his rage, with the prospect of vengeance driving him mad. The humans have many complex thoughts to express, even through the eyes of a lunatic, if this play is any indication. Plus, it was hilarious to see Kaitlin as Ophelia—she really got into the role.
“Okay, Finley, you’ve really hyped this up.” I set up a phone camera to record today’s main attraction for my social media followers, feeling a pang as I thought about how I’d hardly seen my sister over the past few months here, with the humans. Elbi scarcely poked her head out of her isolated habitat. “What’s the big surprise?”
The farmer clapped his hands together, bouncing on his knees like he wanted to jump off the ground. “You know how the rodeo takes over the whole damn city here, this time of year? We could risk bringing you there, but…I got NASA to bring the rodeo to us!”
“Moo!” Terry brayed, pushing a strange, mechanical contraption that resembled a horned animal. It was elevated on some sort of hinge, and cemented in an inflatable pen. “Can I get a yeehaw, Craun? Step right up!”
“What is this?” I asked the construction worker.
“A mechanical bull! You done got to ride it and then it bucks around. Ya hold on for dear life and try not to get thrown off! Finley’s scrawny arms hold no strength, so I’m sure he’ll be swiftly tossed like a paperweight.”
Finley placed his hands on his hips, taking a menacing step forward. “You’re getting a beer belly, and you wanna trash talk me? You ain’t the rodeo king. Craun, you believe in your man, don’t you?”
“I know nothing about this,” I offered, looking around for help. “But I volunteer Wade to go first.”
The FBI agent pointed a finger at me, winking and making a clicking sound with his tongue. “We can give Craun the Fair time to think of a way to cheat for Finley, right?”
“You don’t know me at all. I only cheat for myself.”
“That’s not what you wanna hear come out of your partner’s mouth,” Finley growled. “Are you unfaithful?”
Terry offered a saccharine grin. “You’re the side dude. I’m Craun’s main squeeze, but he’s a busy, busy alien. I just let you borrow him.”
“You’re not my type, Terry, and everyone knows it. Weren’t you the one shipping us?” I prodded.
“It’s a fantastic alibi!”
Wade shed his jacket, and dropped it over my head. “Well, Craun, you were right to ask your bodyguard. I suppose someone competent and sober has to show how this is actually done. That doesn’t include a lot of people in your immediate vicinity.”
“Excuse me?” Hazel protested.
“You can draw my triumph wonderfully, I’m sure. Project Iris does need some artist renditions of our time together. I’m sure I can tame the beast, yeah? How hard can it be?”
“Wade, quit trying to be a rodeo master. Your ribs just healed.”
“Extraterrestrial security doesn’t accept cowardice, Haze. Let the maestro step in.”
Hazel rolled her eyes, as Barron slung a leg over the bull and grinned at me. I watched, awestruck, as the machine spun and bucked around; the agent’s eyes went very wide as he clung to the rope with a desperate hand. He leaned back with precarious balance while his body was thrashed around, before he slipped off to one side; his hold evaporated. Wade was tossed onto the mechanical ride’s backside, bouncing hip-first off of it. My bodyguard crashed on his spine, and rolled onto all fours. He shot me a thumbs up, and rose to his feet.
“That was only a few seconds!” Hazel hollered.
Wade cursed. “Shut up.”
“What do you think, Craun?” Finley shouted in my face, with over-the-top excitement. “How’s this for primal?”
“It’s fun! I want to see how long you can hold on—and to see you get thrown,” I replied.
The farmer’s hands crept to the brim of his hat, and he tipped it toward me. “Anything for you. Let’s hope your bodyguard’s better at catching bullets for ya than he is at bull riding.”
The flaxen-haired farmer stuck his tongue out at Terry as he passed, while the construction worker made some strange “bawk bawk” noises and flapped his arms with crooked elbows. Finley beamed at me, straddling the bull with confidence. The country human was ready when the ride kicked on, though he immediately lost his hat in the force and the chaos. It seemed like he was more familiar with riding beasts, judging by how his knees applied pressure to the machine.
Finley bobbed around with the cutest look of surprise, his spine flexing with rolling motions as he clung on. The bull whirled around in a flurry of action, while I cheered with excitement for my brave primal. Terry scowled and rooted against his best friend, and the machine accelerated to a dizzying rotation. The centrifugal force appeared to tug the adorable farmer’s body off of the machine, sending him flying…toward where Barron leaned over the corner of the exhibit. The FBI agent was knocked down, as Finley’s flung body clotheslined him.
“Owwww,” Barron groaned, pressing a hand to his nose. “You better fucking help me up this time.”
Finley smiled sweetly, reaching out an arm. “Of course.”
Wade reached up to accept his hand, and the farmer snapped it back toward his body, running it over his hair. The NASA scientists spectating offered a chorus of “OHHHs”, while the FBI agent stared daggers at a jubilant Finley. Hazel gave my beloved primal a high-five, and I nuzzled his silky hair with pride as he ran back to me. He’d put up a respectable showing, and knocked Barron down an extra notch (which was much needed).
The farmer grinned, making upward motions at the spectators so they’d join. “Craun! Craun! Craun! Craun!”
The NASA scientists joined with whistles and rowdy energy, and my name rumbled throughout the building. Not one to back down from what looked like a safeguarded challenge, I approached the bull; I’d seen what needed to be done. My legs were clunkier trying to mount the bull, and I pretended not to hear the instruction to the operator to go easy on me. I steadied my grip around the rope, and before I knew it, uneven force attempted to dislodge me from the machine. It rocked and teetered, tossing my torso in disorienting bouts.
So this is what the rodeo competitors do? This is exhilarating, though I guess this is without real danger. With a real bull, aren’t the humans risking their lives?
I laughed as I experienced enough force to make me bounce, and somehow clung on. It was then that I heard a click of the door to Elbi’s exhibit, and my gaze turned to her; it was hard to make direct eye contact, constantly being spun around. My sister stared at me with disgust, witnessing the raucous activities that I was at the heart of. She couldn’t believe that I’d partake in such a wild game, which replicated wrestling with beasts. She stepped back into her habitat, resealing the door.
My resolve faltered, and I found myself knocked painlessly to the ground. I blinked several times, hurt that she’d finally stepped out of her hidey-hole only to crawl back in as soon as she laid eyes on what Craun had become. Finley ran to check on me, after I laid on the floor for several moments; his green irises glistened with worry. His palms pressed against both of my cheeks, and I forced myself to snap out of it. I wasn’t going to let Elbi ruin the fun the humans had brought for me.
“That was awesome!” I cheered. “Sorry, I just needed a moment. I’m fine. Terry, your turn!”
The construction worker didn’t need to be told twice, taking the excuse to remove his shirt and toss it to the wayside. He tilted his head back and howled at the sky, pumping a fist in the air. That was one primal that was definitely inebriated, and that lack of coordination didn’t do any favors to his balance. Finley and I watched from one side as Terry flopped forward, winding up with both arms around its neck. His feet trod air for a few seconds, before dragging against the floor and spilling him.
“You’re pathetic!” Finley goaded.
Terry rolled his eyes. “I ain’t hardly trying.”
I glanced around in search of one particular person, the NASA scientist who I’d grown most close to. I noticed that Kaitlin wasn’t taking part in the festivities, and I definitely wanted to include everyone in the fun, not just the rowdiest members of our circle. It seemed unlike her not to be excited and cheerful. Her absence had been something I wrote off at first, since she might’ve needed refreshments or ducked off for any reason. My sweeping gaze found her sitting in the kitchen area, and dredged up immediate worries.
Kaitlin was keeping far back from the bull riding, and observed the festivities with a reserved expression. Her hands twitched as she held them on her lap, and I wondered if she was nervous about being included in the fun. Dr. Sharp pulled her palms closer to her stomach when I approached her, a protective glint in her eyes. The slackening of her visage suggested she was dismayed that I sought her out, almost as if she hadn’t wanted me to acknowledge her. Was she not excited about the rodeo at NASA? I’d figured that she was the one who helped Finley plan this!
“Kaitlin!” I exclaimed, and the scientist gave a polite smile. “You’ve got to ride the bull! I want you to have a good time too—I want all of us to!”
Kaitlin shook her head, her eyes staring off to the side rather than at me. “Craun. I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“What do you mean? You’re as much of a part of this group as anyone! You’ve been so nice to me, and I love doing things with you. You can go next, and I’ll cheer you on! I did it, and nothing happened. Don’t be afraid!”
“I’m not afraid. I’m unable to partake right now, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It always brings me joy for you to experience more of our culture and make good memories.”
“Please?” I begged, while the primal grew more flustered. “I want you to be a part of this. It doesn’t matter how good you are. Just one time.”
“There are plenty of other people who can give this a shot. I’m telling you, respectfully, that I’m not up to it. I hope you can accept that I won’t be participating, and…I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
“But why?! You’re…my favorite person at NASA. It’s not the same without—”
Finley placed a hand on my shoulder. “Craun. She doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to. Don’t pressure her.”
“Thank you,” Kaitlin exhaled, a relieved look on her face. “Don’t let me ruin your fun, Craun. That’s not my intention. I’m right here cheering you on.”
I allowed the farmer to herd me away, confused about why the NASA scientist wouldn’t indulge in the trivial activity for one go-round. The last thing I wanted was to force her to do something, but I thought I could encourage Kaitlin to have a light-hearted moment: to have a goofy, whimsical seat on a silly machine. She’d done so much for me, and I knew how beneficial it could be to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone. Turning my attention back to the mechanical bull, I noticed that the next contestant had stepped right up: Hazel.
“Next up, we have Hazel Gomez! Alien agnostic,” Wade introduced his longtime FBI partner.
Hazel squeezed her eyes shut. “When I kick your ass at this, will you finally let me live that down?”
“Sure. I love defeating you too much to shy away from a challenge. I went easy just so you stood a chance.”
“Saying something doesn’t make it true.”
The female Bureau employee had a delicate grip on the rope, and Wade didn’t seem too concerned about her prospects of upstaging him. I watched as the ride kicked into high gear, and Hazel’s lithe body swayed; she raised a free arm over her head, balancing out the contortions of her spine. The human held on despite the impossibility, almost as if it was effortless. The bull rotated faster and faster, while her fingers tightened and her knees locked into place. The motion became dizzyingly fast, violent whirring noises emanating from the machine. She was doing far better than any of us!
It was only after a full forty seconds must’ve elapsed that Hazel’s strength finally waned, and she dropped to the ground with exhaustion. Her score had dominated what anyone else had done so far, clearly the victor among our group. Terry ran into the ring and raised one of her hands over her head, while everyone cheered like they understood what that meant. Agent Gomez pranced forward, accepting praise with a smile. She wandered toward Barron, who was reeling from disbelief.
I think we have a winner at the bull riding. Wade’s definitely owed a taste of his own medicine with the gloating.
“How’s it going, Mr. Extraterrestrial Insecurity?” Hazel taunted.
Barron scoffed, though a smirk tugged at his lips. “How long have you been practicing that one?”
“Clearly longer than you’ve been practicing bull riding. You didn’t stand a chance.”
“I just got over being injured, as you were so happy to remind me. It was hardly a fair fight. And alright, you were half-decent at that, Haze. How’d you do it? Really?”
Hazel pressed a lone finger to her lips, smiling. “Bull people real.”
“Okay, no.”
Kaitlin hurried over in our direction, while Hazel was taking her revenge on Barron the Gloater. Had she changed her mind about partaking in the bull riding? I was so happy to see her taking on the challenge—or was she? Dr. Sharp whispered something to a handful of scientists, who quickly forgot about the activities and hurried back to their workstations, despite the late hour. I noticed that the military contacts had already thinned out, and that several nations’ observers were conferring on their cell phones. I turned to my NASA friend in confusion, as she approached me with darting eyes.
“Kaitlin, what happened?” I asked, while Finley and nearby spectators looked at her inquisitively as well. “Is something wrong?”
Dr. Sharp took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring with uncertainty. “An alien spacecraft jumped into the atmosphere and is attempting to contact the United Nations. We believe it’s from the Cosmic Council.”
My heart pounded in my chest, terrified to hear that the Council had contacted the primals before they were ready to initiate diplomacy themselves. I was surprised that they’d speak to the humans at all, but what they had to say might not be kind. They must’ve learned of Elbi and I’s unsanctioned presence on this world, and there was no telling what they would want from a race they viewed as subsapient.
A/N - 32! Almost everyone tries their hand at mechanical bull riding at NASA, with Craun clearly being much more comfortable around primals and adopting some of our rowdier behaviors. However, the fun rodeo showcase is derailed as Kaitlin reveals that the Council has sent a spaceship to Earth…and they’re contacting the UN. What do you think the Council want with humans? Is Craun right that it won’t be kind?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!