Chapter 12: Starman

Dust hung in the air.

Gunner coughed loudly.

He rolled over, feeling rocks and dust beneath his green body.

His jumpsuit wasn't torn to tatters after the explosion, much to his surprise.

He yanked his ankle out from under a brick with a tug.

Standing up on two shaky legs, Gunner rubbed his temple. His head pounded. His snout dripped with blood.

Through the rubble, he tried to dig for his utility belt. The belt housed all types of medical tools and food. He searched for perhaps five minutes, his scaly hands getting covered in filth, careful not to cut himself on shards of glass.

"Dammit. It's gone." He kicked the dirt beneath him as he spoke.

Gunner hadn't seen Julie since before the explosion. He called out for the two of them. Walking through the mess. Walking over dead Barg, tripping over broken limbs and squishing brain particles.

In the parking lot, he found a row of buggies.

Limping, he leaned against one of the vehicles.

A familiar voice struck his ears.

Turning, he aimed his pistol at the figure, who was shrouded in thick dust which polluted the air.

"Hey whoa! You're looking pretty beat up, my friend!" Said the Barg with both his hands raised above his head.

"Astro! Where the hell did you come from?" Gunner lowered his weapon.

"I was actually outside of the building when it all came down. Forced to take orders from Commander Taurus. Or be killed in some horrible way." Astro approached Gunner. Wearing the familiar Barg uniform and on his reptilian head, was a headset with a microphone.

"Where's Taurus anyway?" Astro cocked his head left and right, looking at the destroyed elements.

"I shot him." The lizard-teen paused, taking in a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry, man. That's really rough." Astro looked to the sky, not knowing truly what to say about a son shooting his father.

"He was an evil stain on our society. Look, I need to find Julie Jenkins and David Jenkins." Gunner placed his hands on his hips. "Do you know them?"

From his pocket, Astro revealed a plastic, yellow scanner and pressed a few random keys on the scanner, buttons with all types of numbers and letters. Then, handed Gunner the item. The screen of the scanner showed a single dot upon a digital map, which beeped softly.

"How'd you do that?" Gunner asked, fascinated by Astro's swiftness.

"All the humans who are brought here are implanted with a tracking device. Taurus wanted us to keep tabs on everyone." Astro nodded.

"You're a lifesaver." Gunner nuzzled his friend and ran to one of the buggies, the scanner still in his hand.

He hopped behind the wheel of the buggy, adjusting the seat for his incredible height.

Gunner knew if he could track her, so could other Barg.

He sped off as soon as he found the key to the vehicle, down the same highway Julie had. His hands gripped the wheel.

The wind blew into his face.

The engine roared in his ears.

***

Julie knew getting across to the Canadian border would be a hassle, but the thought of less extraterrestrial activity made her excited. Of course, she could be wrong. Maybe Canada was swarming with aliens, and they'd get captured. Why did Julie think escaping across the border was a grand idea? Hope. Hope that life could somehow be brought back to normalcy.

She had a vehicle, new rounds of ammunition, and was now getting a full night's sleep. She didn't know what lay in her future-but she also knew laying around in this one place wouldn't do them any favors. They had to keep moving. Keep away from the ships. Keep away from destruction and terror.

Lying next to her son, she wrapped an arm around his sleeping body.

He feels calm. Like he did before the earth went to shit. Like he'll wake up and I'll be cooking breakfast and he'll be getting ready for school. I wonder if he's dreaming about his old life.

A pair of headlights beamed out from the windows of the home, the sound of a vehicle parking caused Julie to sit up and immediately go for the shotgun.

"David, wake up. Get under the bed." Julie said in a hushed tone, shaking her son with one hand.

Rubbing his eyes, he obeyed her. He knew panicking and crying would get him captured. He did cry. When the Barg invaded. But now he was used to the horrors of aliens and their evil ways.

Rushing out of the bedroom, she closed the door and was prepared to fire at anyone who dare enter.

Pressing herself up against the front door, she heard footsteps inch closer and closer to the house.

A bit of sweat trickled from the side of her head.

She opened the door and stood in the doorway.

The cool air of night hit her bare arms.

The night sky is starless.

In front of the home lay the cracked, long, empty highway, On the doorstep, a few inches from her stood Gunner.

"Julie. It's me." He spoke tiredly.

Placing her gun down, she ran to the alien and hugged him.

"I thought you died!" Julie sighed deeply.

Never had the Barg been embraced in such a manner before. He didn't return the hug, he merely let it happen.

***

Running water is something some people take for granted, but for me and my son a hot shower and a bar of soap felt like bliss. Not only washing away the dirt and filth of the year but cleansing our minds.

Gunner is alive. I hope he has some plans. Lots of humans have died. Lots tortured. Maybe we can set a benchmark. A new era for humanity. Or we might run into survivors.

I had made sure to lock the door to the bathroom. I took a pair of pliers with me. It was time to remove the tracking device.

I didn't notice one on David, which is odd. I'm not sure if they trusted him more or saw him as a weaker asset so the aliens didn't bother. I'm glad that was one pain he didn't have to go through.

With the water still running down my face and body, I had the pinchers perfectly around the tracking device. It sat on what is medically known as the helix.

It was lodged into my cartilage quite tightly. I hoped slowly I could remove it. Ease into the pain. No. I had to do it quickly. It wasn't budging. It just stung a bit.

So, I went at it. I tugged harder, blood began to drip down my earlobe and into the drain of the shower.

I take deep, quick breaths. My body was tense.

I moan. I know I must do it quickly. This is gonna leave a scar. The first aid kit sat on the closed toilet seat. But damn, it might not be enough.

I didn't want Gunner to do it. I certainly didn't want David seeing this. I needed to do it. I wanted to be the one to spit in the face of Taurus and any other Barg who wanted to hurt me or my son.

With a swift tug, I yanked at the tracker, and I heard my flesh rip a tiny bit.

Blood poured from the wound as I saw the little metal item fall on the floor.

I yelped only slightly.

I kneel holding my ear with one hand.

The blood seemed endless, but the cut itself wasn't that deep surprisingly.

I clean my wound up and soon, the bleeding stopped, and it had left a tiny hole in my ear.

A dark reminder.

After my shower and dramatic ordeal with the tracker, I sit at the kitchen table with Gunner. He shows me a large, digital scanner. He had used it to find me. It's a digital map of the entirety of the U.SA. Probably has an entire globe as well to be honest.

We both mess with it. Gunner reads me the letters, he fiddles with it some. Then I do the same once I get my bearings a bit on the Barg language.

We can locate a group of humans by way of their own tracking devices. All huddled in one area. According to this GPS-like device, it'll take us a day to get there if we start soon.

My brain races with thoughts. Food. Water. Clothing. This is what we've needed.

I smile. I haven't done that in a long time.

***

Gunner never had tried coffee. That was an earth luxury. The tall lizard licked the hot beverage with his forked tongue. Like a dog retrieving water from its bowl.

David stood silently, hair combed, clothes washed.

He watched the Barg in the doorway leading to the kitchen.

Gunner's pupil dilated as he saw the eighteen-year-old human staring at him. Eyeing every detail. His green skin, the way his head was shaped. Everything was fascinating to David as far as Gunner was concerned.

The alien sat silently, in a chair that didn't support his height. He licked the coffee from the mug. Liking it more.

Dave finally stepped into the kitchen and sat beside Gunner.

"Why you so tall?" The human looked up to the extraterrestrial.

"It's how we're born. Our bones grow and move differently than yours. Gravity on our planet is pretty different as well." Answered Gunner, looking at the mug he held. Admiring the craftsmanship.

"You won't torture me or mom?"

"No. Humans have emotions. Have hopes and dreams. Something my father never cared about."

"Your dad-he hurt me? The big alien." Dave scooted closer to Gunner. Testing out his comfort zone.

"Yeah. He was an evil bastard." Finally, Gunner looked down at the young man.

"Maybe you'll stay?" Dave said. He was about to reach for the aliens' hand but pulled back.

"If your mother wants me to, I will." Gunner licked the coffee a few more times.

"Julie is the best mom. She helps me. With my nightmares." Nodded Dave, now gently pressing his finger into Gunner's hand. Feeling his rubbery, smooth skin.

"We're not too different, ya know." Dave smiled slightly.

Gunner couldn't smile, but certainly, at this moment he would've.

"So, on your planet, do you have movies and music?"

"Movies? No. We have virtual reality. Can take us anywhere. Music? Not much."

From his pocket, Dave set down his phone so the alien could see it.

"Do you want to hear some music?"

"Earth music. Yeah, for sure." Gunner placed the mug down.

At first, the human played some beautiful classical music from an old MP3 player he found in the basement. Beethoven soared through the kitchen. The alien was quite invested in this sound. Never had heard humans make such beautiful sounds. The violins, the trumpets, the cellos. The softness. The grace. All was so new to the space creature.

Next, David let him hear something a bit more upbeat. David Bowie's 'Starman' played through the speaker next.

Gunner and David sat. In silence. Listening to the guitar chords.