(Better hurry up and get to the good parts.)
A Fateful Decision
Having taken hold of my wrist the alien raises up my arm and holds it out from my side. He examines it closely by poking at the pebbly texture of the suit and rubbing his hand over it. He seems genuinely curious about me and wants to examine my arm closely. I'm trying to cooperate here so as to not scare him off. Well, I am a member of the more advanced species, having travelled over 900 light years to get to this planet, so I'm willing to endure a bit more touch-feely business than he probably would were I to start poking at him. He might even see me as a mythical kind of entity--maybe even a goddess. (If he saw my ship land a few hours ago he might just think that!) I doubt his species has any idea that there might be other beings living on planets orbiting those tiny dots of light he sees in the night sky. I'm sure he never expected to find something like me, whereas I was always hoping we'd discover other intelligent life. I have to take the responsibility to make this a friendly, non-hostile meeting. The outcome of the future relationship between our two species rests entirely in my shoulders. Oh my!
I guess he's still wondering if my skinsuit is my actual skin as he feels along my arm with his hands. He's at my wrist now. My communicator controls are there. Did I put my communicator on standby? Wouldn't want him activating anything by accident.
"Hey, be careful there, my friend," I say with a soft voice. He looks up at me. Then looks back and begins pressing the buttons along the end of my forearm.
Oh shit! I suddenly remember I did not put my suit operating systems on stand-by after examining that plant. I forgot to do this when I first caught a glimpse of the alien. I gently try to pull my arm away. He doesn't let go. I feel his hand tighten around my wrist. Good thing my arm laser is on my other arm. If he were to press the wrong button--
Shit! Shit! And double fuck! The alien does manage to press the activate communicator button with the right sequence of steps to suddenly turn it on. It was on display mode when I distracted and it suddenly activated in display mode now. A bright hologram flickers into view above my arm displaying various and sundry bits of data flashing in the air. Then I hear Sven's voice.
"Marcella, are you alright? Is there someone with you?"
Of all the fucking times for Sven to call me--when my communicator volume and hologram projector are both on active! The bright light and the sound of Sven's voice floating on the air must have scared the shit out of the alien. He backs off, uttering various deep growling sounds as he assumes what appears to be a defensive position.
I forget the hologram display is still on, and I hear Sven repeatedly trying to contact me. The lights and the disembodied voice seem to terrify the alien even more. Shit! This is not going well!
I switch off the hologram display and quickly tell Sven to stop contacting me until he hears next from me. I turn off all of my electronic systems. The alien is backing off, no doubt perplexed about why I was just talking into my forearm. His growls have turned into loud squawks and high-pitched whistling sounds. Is he trying to call others? I feel I am losing control of the situation. Fuck me! How did I let this happen? What a lousy ambassador from Earth I've become!
I keep my arms out in front of me in a low, nonthreatening position, moving them in a way that might help calm a terrified human. I have no idea if this communicates calm to the alien. I wonder what to do next? The alien has backed off and is cowering, fearfully glancing up and looking away. Perhaps he thinks I'm about to attack it. Yet, he hasn't run away. Perhaps it's trying to figure out what to do next.
I stay facing the alien. Turning my back and walking away might provoke an attack. I would be forced to defend myself and I want to keep this situation from escalating into something bad. I know I have my arm laser for protection but do not want to use it unless my life is in mortal danger.
So, do I back off and return to my lander? I could just leave now and report back that the planet has intelligent life and leave it to future anthropologists to make contact with this species. But I realize my leaving now might make later contact with humans more problematic. We'll be remembered as strange "monsters" or "devils" with flashing lights and strange voices coming from out of our bodies. No, it's best that I stay here now and try to assure the alien that I am not something to be feared. I might not convince it is that I am a friend, but I hope I can assure it that I am not a threat.
The alien and I face off for what seems a long few minutes. Which one of us will make the first move? I don't know exactly how or when my next step to remove my skinsuit made any sense. I reasoned that if I show the alien what I really look like it would settle him down. I knew it might make the alien want to inspect me further but better to endure a little more curious poking than risk a ruined opportunity to establish a relationship with this species based on mutual trust.
I put my hand to the zipper in my collar and begin pulling it down.
I'm naked to the waist when I stop. The cool air in the shadows of the tall columns of rock makes me break out in goosebumps. My nipples stiffen. The alien looks at me. Does it understand clothing as different from skin. Well, it wears a loincloth, so presumably it does. But now I must look like I'm shedding my skin with the top of my suit dangling from my waist. I have to go all the way. So, in the interest of interplanetary diplomacy I pull the suit completely down and step out of it. It lies on the ground next to me. I wonder if I had acted too hastily. Without my skinsuit I'm extremely vulnerable and nearly defenseless.
Utterly naked I stand my ground across from the alien. I hold my arms up and out, as in a posture of greeting. The alien looks up at me. He's lost the look of fear and seems curious again. I hope this shows him I pose no threat. I only wish I'd have worn some panties! Never thought I'd be flashing my pussy to a green-skinned primitive when I left Earth on this mission. Oh well, I'll soldier on. Have to do my duty and all that. I only hope this works!
If it doesn't, I may be well and truly fucked!
