Page 9 of I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

“Sit down, take a load off,” SquidHead invites. “I’m Tad, by the way.”

“Tamzir. But you can call me Seeker. I’m used it.”

Everyone settles at the table. The vacant seat is across from Jaz, between Jen and Tad, who studies me with an expression I can’t scan. “Is that derived from Arabic?” he asks.

“I have no idea how my parents found my name,” I say truthfully.

That’s because there is a consecration ceremony and then the gestational parent embarks upon a period of isolation and deep meditation so that their subconscious mind can provide the answer. What they experience during those moments is private and sacred, and they emerge like an insect from a chrysalis, profoundly changed by the experience. I can’t share any of that information or a single true thing about my lived experience. I suffer a surge of wrenching melancholy.

Ah. It seems it’s possible to be lonely among other beings as well.

“Well, I like it,” Jen says. “It has a lovely ring to it.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you hungry?” Jaz asks. “We already ordered, but—”

“I’m fine. I ate before I came over. I’m here because I wanted to be social.”

Dodging meals with humans will prove difficult. I’m subsisting on protein drinks I’ve sourced after carefully analyzing the ingredients and contents. It’s suboptimal, but I can’t be too selective. My own food ran out a long time ago.

“Some water then?” Jen offers.

I incline my head gratefully. Intensive study of humans via their entertainment programs has taught me the basics of their body language, though I still don’t understand how, when, and why I should move my appendages when I speak. There doesn’t seem to be a standard in this regard. Gestures are personal and instinctive, it seems.

“So where’s everyone staying?” Tad inquires.

“I’m at the Rellows Inn,” Jen says at once. “In the Jupiter room.”

Jaz displays excitement in the form of a controlled twitch movement. “Wow! I tried to reserve there after you invited us to meet you here, but they were already booked up.”

“I got lucky,” Jen admits. “There was a cancellation and I snagged it.”

Tad says, “I borrowed my brother’s camper. Hooked it to the back of my car and brought my lodgings with me. I’m out at the RV park outside town.”

“That’s genius,” Jaz says. “I’m at a standard motel, but I felt fortunate to get a room at all. I had no idea the competition was so fierce! It’s worse than Comic-Con.”

Jen turns to me, seeming intent on including me in their conversation. “What about you, Seeker?”

I refrain from acknowledging that I don’t plan to stick around. In the most literal sense, I am passing through. My emergency beacon ran out of power a while ago, and I haven’t been able to adapt it to communicate with local tech. So far, anyway. I’ll keep trying.

To leave, I may have to repurpose technology from 97-B. Some asset hoarders are trying to assemble ships capable of reaching the lunar surface, but their designs are lackluster, and they seem to explode more than successfully launch. It’s a baffling waste of supplies, but it might be my only hope. According to my research, there will be an attempted launch on the coast in four days. With such a concentration of technology and resources, perhaps I’ll be able to scavenge something I can use.

I am weighing my options, but I cannot tarry indefinitely, simply hoping that my situation will improve.

But they’re all staring, waiting for an answer. “I found a tiny place online, but it’s only for a couple of nights.”

Put kindly, it’s more of a storage facility than a residence. There’s no area for food preparation and the sleeping area is elevated, tucked beneath the roof. Hygiene facilities appear rudimentary. But it doesn’t signify. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.

“It must be grim,” Tad says. “Well, you can crash with me for the rest of the week if you want. If this is like other cons I’ve attended, we’ll only be there to sleep and wash up.”

Jaz asks, “Do you have an extra bed?”

“I do! The dining table turns into a bunk.”

“How fascinating,” I say.

“Oh, it’s a clever design.” Tad shows enthusiasm, judging me interested in mobile lodgings such as the one he’s using.