Karla
Karla sat daydreaming, the open book nestled against her body. She clutched it tightly, as if the feel of the paper could make her dreams reality. A sigh escaped her and she closed her eyes unaware of the disdainful scrutiny of her friend Andra, with whom she shared the small dwelling.
"Karla, I'm talking to you," Andra tried for the fourth time. "Are you reading Space Fiction again?"
Startled, Karla opened her eyes. "What did you say?"
Andra's voice was mocking. "I said, why do you read that trash? There's a world of literature to be explored."
As always, Karla rose to the bait. "This is not trash. That old argument against the genre is nonsense. It's accepted literature now."
"It's kid's stuff." Andra dismissed it contemptuously. "Ray guns, tin robots; you can't compare it with the Classics or even good contemporary work"
"You don't understand," Karla protested. "It shows us futures to avoid or to strive for. It's the final refuge for ideas - romance - adventure. The authors are not bound by the normal rules, they can create totally different societies. That is far more interesting to me than the inane romantic fiction you read so avidly."
"It's relaxing," Andra said defensively. "Anyway I've read all the great Classics."
Karla grew angry at her friend's intolerance. "Just leave me alone. What I read is my own business."
Andra smiled knowingly. "Is that what you're daydreaming about, your Space Fiction futures?"
A flush spread over Karla's pale skin. "Can't you see it? Her voice softened as her imagination took over. "You could travel on a starship at faster-than-light speeds, meet alien beings, love someone from a different planet." Her eyes sparkled. "He would be tall, handsome and brave."
Her friend laughed. "You really are impossible, Karla. Maybe he'd have green skin and pointed ears and look like some grotesque monster."
But Karla had ceased to listen and Andra watched her angrily. Stupid dreamer! It would serve her right if she was forced to acknowledge how ridiculous her dreams were. As Andra settled back onto her chair and closed her eyes, the idea suddenly came to her. She grinned. Kenn would do it - he was an accomplished actor and had a vicious sense of humour. Yes... This would destroy Karla's fantasies for good.
***
Karla returned home after the glorious time spent at the vidshow. She had become totally immersed in the stories with their glamorous view of alien worlds and peoples, and when she had come out it had been difficult to readjust to the normal bustle of the city.
She leaned against the closed door and sighed. It was a relief to know that Andra was away for a few days, for she needed to be alone with her thoughts and dreams without having to face any mockery. How else could she cope with her mundane existence? Each boring, depressing day was a trial to endure, for she was alone in the city, her family lived a great distance away and she had not seen them in some time. If it were not for her job she would have returned home long ago, but she had to earn, and her present position, although tedious and unrewarding, did - at least- pay well.
Her real ambition was to apply for the Space Program, but afraid she would be rejected as unsuitable, and ridiculed by others for harbouring such hopes, she had never been able to find the courage to try.
Sometimes she envied Andra's attractiveness and confidence, her interesting job and many male friends, so unlike her own quiet life.
The silence was heavy, yet... Karla was uneasy. She listened carefully and with a sudden touch of fear realised that there was another in the room. Her heart beat wildly. "Andra, is that you?" she whispered.
There was no reply. Was she imagining things? No... A slight sound caught her attention. There was definitely someone else here. She tried to control her rising panic as the shadows within the moonlit room seemed to grow and change into menacing forms.
A gloved hand covered her mouth. Terror swept through her and she struggled violently to escape, but he was too strong and held her firmly, pressed tightly against his body.
"Do not be afraid," a soft voice murmured. "I will not harm you."
His tone was reassuring and she relaxed slightly, her eyes focussing on his glowing silver hand. She blinked in surprise. A silver hand!
"Do not fear me," the voice continued. "I have searched long for one such as you. I beg you to listen to me."
She was gently released from the powerful hold. "Who are you?"
He slowly turned her to face him and she gasped at the alien-ness of his appearance. He was more than a head taller than she, with skin of pale red, large golden eyes and long white hair which cascaded onto his shoulders in thick waves. The tight-fitting silver coverall he wore hugged his body to perfection. Karla caught her breath at his masculine beauty and leaned against the wall - a needed support.
"I am named Kenzeel," he replied. "I am on a mission of vital importance."
"I don't understand," Karla replied, totally bemused by this unexpected apparition of perfection.
"I seek a female to be my mate."
"What!" Karla gasped.
"I have read your thoughts, Karla. I know you will consent to come with me."
All Karla's fear drained away in a sudden rush. The unbelievable was happening - her deareswish! She must not spoil everything by behaving in a hysterical manner.
"You are very beautiful," he said.
"I am plain," she replied bitterly.
"No, I am aware of your thoughts and hopes. You believe in the existence of other life-forms. You are very special, Karla."
"I can hardly believe this!"
He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. The touch of his cool mouth caused her to tremble. No one had ever made such a gesture to her before and she was profoundly moved. "M... My door was locked, how...?" She could not finish the question.
He smiled, revealing strong white teeth. "I have a device which allows me to travel here from my ship."
Karla laughed delightedly as she recalled the teleporting method used in the vidshows she had watched. Then it was possible. It was all possible - her dreams had not been foolish fantasies.
"Yes," he said. " I know what you think. You are eminently suitable. You will give me offspring who will combine the best qualities of both our species."
"But why? Where are your females?" she asked.
His silver outfit glowed eerily, but it made him appear all the more desirable. "We have travelled long in space. A plague affected our females making them sterile. If we do not mate outwith our own species we will cease to exist."
"But why can't you return home?" Karla asked.
"It is too far, we could not survive the journey."
Karla considered this and her questioning mind immediately noted a flaw. "The technology for a teleporter is so advanced. Surely beings such as you must have faster-than-light speeds on your ships?"
Kenn was silent. This plain little acquaintance of Andra's was not a fool and it was imperative that he distract her. "Our ship was damaged, we cannot reach those speeds anymore. We will be too old when we reach our world, we must mate with willing alien females who will consent to be the mothers of our children. Help me. I have chosen you." He drew her close, smiling secretly as he congratulated himself on his acting skills. The sincerity in his voice was extremely convincing.
Karla could scarcely breathe. No one had ever wanted her before, not plain, homely little Karla. This handsome alien male desired her, not Andra, her sophisticated friend! She looked up at the one who was the epitome of all her dreams and thought of the wonder of travelling through space with him.
"I knew it was possible that you existed and that you'd be noble and peace-loving. Of course I'll go with you."
Kenn was unable to restrain his mirth any longer. He released her hand and staggered back, doubling over, laughing uncontrollably. Karla stepped towards him but the sound of another female voice caused her to turn, a deep flush staining her face as Andra emerged from an adjoining room.
"A wonderful performance Kenn," Andra shrieked. "So convincing."
"Too bad no one else saw it," he cried, pulling her into a hug.
Andra hung onto him tightly. "Kenzeel! How perfect! And the little fool believed you, she was ready to go with you." Her eyes filled with tears of mirth, as laughter overcame her.
Karla stared at them, horror sweeping her as the realisation of how they had tricked her infiltrated her numbed mind. She fought for control, but on seeing Kenn remove the white wig, hidden lenses and high-heels to reveal the body of a perfectly ordinary male, something in Karla snapped.
"OUT," she screamed. "Get out of my sight."
Weakness hitting her, she slid to the ground unable to stand upright, harsh sobs racking her body as the pain and humiliation filled her every sense.
"She's ill!" Andra exclaimed, her tone now full of worry.
"She'll get over it," Kenn said casually. "Leave her."
"Kenn, I don't like the way she's acting."
"Ignore her, let's go."
Karla did not hear them leave. She lay comatose, too weak to move, her heart broken by the cruel hoax played upon her. She drifted in and out of consciousness, and every time she remembered what had happened, she wished for death to release her.
The sudden blast of a flitter's emergency horn penetrated into her mind. Determinedly, she raised herself and nursed her aching head. Why was she lying on the ground? She glanced at the timepiece, surprise hitting her when she saw how late it was. What had happened to her? Where had the time gone? She concentrated, trying to recall how she had got here, but the evening was a total blank.
She stood up, attempting to overcome nausea and vertigo. It was essential that she get out, away from the confinement of her dwelling, out of the city to some place with clean, fresh air. Her mind made up, it was not long before she was in her personal flitter and heading away from the noise and bustle to the quietness of the countryside.
She opened the window, allowing the cool breeze to enter. She breathed deeply, the sick feeling gone now, and drove with no particular destination planned she grew very tired. She parked in a quiet country lane, rested her head against the seat-rest and stared out at the starlit glade, soaking in its peaceful beauty.
There was a moment of panic as another flitter passed by, but it disappeared into the night and she relaxed again. Everything was all right now, she could get out and look at the sky. There was no one around to bother her. She locked the flitter door and walked over to the grassy area. It was a clear night and the starscape blazed in brilliant glory.
She stared up at the majestic spectacle. "How lovely you shine," she whispered, a tear sliding down her face as memory of the hoax returned, crippling her with pain.
Flashing lights from a late-night airship caught her eye, but she quickly dismissed it from her thoughts. What did she care about the sight of an ordinary airship. She wiped her eyes and accepted the deep hurt within her. She had learned her lesson from the treacherous Andra and would never trust anyone ever again.
"So beautiful," she whispered to the stunning visual display before her. "How I wish I could travel to you."
Karla stayed there until a sudden gust of wind almost knocked her over. A high-pitched whine followed and she covered her ears trying vainly to shut it out, but the sound persisted and she cried out in fear. It ceased abruptly then only a deathly silence remained. A blinding flash assaulted her vision and she hid her eyes from the glare. What had happened? Was it the airship? Had it crashed? She risked a look around for wreckage but nothing was visible, yet... a little voice inside her head nagged at her, there was something terribly wrong here and she began to worry.
She rushed back to the flitter. If the airship had crashed, it was her duty to report it to the authorities. She had almost reached the door of the vehicle when a dark shape loomed up in front of her. She moaned in terror as she saw the incredible height of him, but her wits soon returned at the memory of how she had been fooled before.
Karla studied him. This one was better - she had to admit - more convincing. The make-up was very effective but how had they faked the rest? He was at least twice as tall as she! His wig was short, cut straight just above his slanted brows, and was shiny and very dark. The skin had a greenish tinge to it, and his ears... She began to laugh uncontrollably. His ears were pointed! How could Andra believe that she would fall for that?
She calmed herself and took note of his clothing, a blue tunic with strange emblems on it, black trousers and footwear. The outfit was very impressive - the most outlandishly alien costume she had ever seen! They had really excelled themselves this time. Fake green blood stained the material of his tunic, a nice added touch.
"So you followed me. Don't think I can be fooled again. You can tell Andra that I'm not that stupid. Her little trick won't work this time. Go away."
He swayed. A very realistic groan emitting from his thin lips as he slumped onto the ground. She stood looking down at him. He was an excellent actor and cleverly disguised. How had they made him so tall?
An idea presented itself. He had to be perched on some kind of stilts; actors used them to depict tall aliens in the vidshows. She would give him a scare, pay them all back, for she was sure that Andra and Kenn were somewhere nearby watching. They must have been in the flitter which had passed her earlier.
She rushed to her own vehicle, set it to manual control and headed for the prone actor, determinedly aiming for the long, thin legs. There was a sickening thud as the flitter impacted with the trickster's body; then a cry of real anguish.
Karla sat stunned as she realised she had hit living flesh! Tears welled up within her. What had she done?
There was silence now. She swiftly left the flitter and slid down by her unmoving victim, horror sweeping through her at the enormity of her vicious action against him. There was more of the green blood seeping through the black of his lower garment and the irony of the situation burned her with its acid sting. She reached out to touch him. He was real and alive and not of her world. He might die, and she was to blame. Her one great dream in life was to meet someone from another planet yet she had not believed in him and had deliberately hurt - perhaps killed him!
His skin was so warm, unlike the coolness of her own. She stroked his beautiful pointed ears, the upswept line of his eyebrows, his smooth skin, the silkiness of his shining hair. He was so very alien, unlike anything ever imagined before.
She sat beside an alien being. Her deepest fantasy to meet and love such a one granted now, but tinged with bitter regret for her own callousness. What was he doing here? Had he been monitoring her civilisation perhaps with a view to contact before his ship had crashed? He had been injured, needing help and she had deliberately run him down! Tears fell from her eyes, blinding her. All was ruined now... She had destroyed the chance for her people to peacefully meet any others from space.
A strange humming noise caught her attention and she lifted her tear-drowned eyes, roughly wiping the moisture away. Bright sparkles coalesced into two solid forms wearing similar costumes to the injured male. Karla blinked and scuttled back in fear as she realised that they would have every right to kill her for hurting their comrade.
The two males rushed to the injured being. Karla stared in awe as they tended him; they were almost as tall as he but were of yet another species. She could not fathom out what they did, but shortly the alien was sitting up talking to them, leaning against their bodies for support. She could almost sense the aura of concern which surrounded the three and marvelled at it.
Then the injured one saw her, his dark eyes growing wide. She shivered in fear, but he forgivingly held out his five-fingered hand towards her and with a cry of gratitude she threw herself against him, sobbing when his fingers gently stroked the fur of her back. A sense of peace filled her mind, and a warmth she had never experienced before brought a calmness and drowsiness which gradually melted into deep slumber.
***
The three men studied the small, blue-furred female biped who lay sleeping on Spock's lap. Her delicate eyebrows fluttered slightly and her small ears twitched as she dreamed. The three short, stubby bare fingers clutched his arm tightly as if never wishing to release him.
"Spock, you have to get to Sickbay at once," McCoy said, "you have serious injuries."
"In a moment, Doctor," Spock replied, "I must remove the memory of our presence from this young person's mind."
"What happened, Spock?" Kirk asked.
The Vulcan stared up at his Captain. "She has been most cruelly treated. Permit me to ease her pain."
Kirk smiled, remembering the times his own pain had been reduced by his friend. He nodded. "Very well, but be quick, we have to beam you aboard."
Spock touched the small face and closed his eyes. He was silent for several long minutes then slowly returned his attention to his friends. "It is done. She will not remember us."
Kirk lifted the light body and placed it in the vehicle. He quickly glanced around the interior, almost bumping his head on the low roof. He straightened the skirt-like garment of the small alien and with a slight smile at her almost-ursine face, quickly returned to his friends.
Within seconds they beamed up to the Enterprise.
***
Karla woke with a start, laughing as she realised where she was. With a final glance at the panorama of stars, she turned the flitter around and headed back to the city. Her happiness soared as she arrived home. Today was going to be the best day of her life. No one was going to spoil it for her, not even Andra.
She would send in her application to the Space Centre. Those hard-earned qualifications should be enough to get her into the test program. If she worked hard, perhaps she would be the first female to fly in space.
Karla was convinced that there were other life-forms out there. Perhaps one day she would meet her tall, handsome fantasy-alien with his dark, shiny hair, slanted brows and elegant pointed ears.
She sighed deeply, pushed the delightful vision to the back of her mind and prepared to take charge of her life.