Corn Fields (private thread)

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    After five minutes or so, the agent called it. "Alright, nothing here. Let's roll." Some part of him wondered vaguely if he'd get in trouble for this, but that part was overridden by sleep deprivation and pure weariness. He took one look out at the corn fields, watching the breeze run across them, and then turned back towards the driveway. No need to say goodbye to that farm boy. Dumb hick had been useless anyhow. Still, he figured it wouldn't hurt to scare him again, just in case.
    "Hey," the agent called, giving Maddox a stern look. "You're off the hook for now, kid. Just watch yourself. If you play with fire... you get burned." He smirked. "I imagine that applies to 'fireworks' too. We'll be sending a helicopter out in a couple days to get an aerial perspective on this situation. If you've got anything to hide, you'd best make yourself scarce before then." Without another word, he and the others filed around the side of the house, got in the van, and pulled out of the driveway.


    As if on cue, Fawn poked her head out of the corn, looking ridiculous in her bright blue sun hat. Her ears were down, kind of like a stressed-out cat's would be, and her eyes were wide. "Is it safe, Maddox?" she whispered loudly, casting a quick glance around.

    "And you'll get burned," Maddox mocked as the agent as he left, rolling his eyes. He was glad they didn't search the fields though- he could go back, put the tarp down, maybe paint a smily face on it for cheery-cheeks Agent Smith. Still, when they rolled away, he jumped up, going from one foot to another in a burst of pent up anxiety.


    "Fawn- oh my god, yeah, 's'good, they left," He ran his hand through his hair, and then laughed- "Ok. Uh- lets grab what you need out of there," He said, looking a bit like a startled deer as he crossed the driveway over towards Fawn, letting out a nervous laugh, "That was a little crazy."

    "Who were those people? And why did I have to hide?" Fawn asked, walking out of the field with her armful of space provisions to meet Maddox halfway. "Um, I think I would like to put these down first, if that is okay. They are beginning to become quite cumbersome."

    "People from the government. Hard to tell how they'd react to me hiding an alien in my corn field." He was still fidgeting, and then he laughed again- "Fawn- this is so cool! I just lied my ass off to some A-hole who thinks I'll believe his name is actually Smith, I mean-" He paused for a second, realization dawning over his face, though he continued talking- "Yeah, sure, lets get that in the house. Get the sun off it. Fawn. I lied to an agent- I'm gonna get into so much trouble." He had a few days before they started over the fly-over, he'd be busted then.

    "The government?" Fawn remembered what she'd seen of the movie the previous night. "But your government will not harm anything that has the capacity to love. If they return, I can just show them a human display of affection and they will leave me alone, and surely they would also be lenient with you." she said confidently, carrying her items into the house. "What displays of affection do humans make? Do you embrace? Touch hands?" She seemed to remember something about hand touching from an old briefing, but she couldn't be sure.

    "Well- both, really, it depends on what kind of feeling you're conveying, but- I mean, Fawn," he had to hold back a laugh at the image of her hugging Agent Smith. Poor guy looked like he needed one.


    "That only worked because they thought he was a dangerous robot, I don't think people are gonna care in mass whether or not you wanna hug someone. They'll just kind of... freak." He looked at her doubtfully, his mind still trying to wrap around how different she was- he'd been tired enough the night before that it wasn't something he noticed too much. Now, with just the oddness of it all... it was something to take in.


    "Anyways, we've got a few days to either do something about your ship," he doubted that, since there was no way to really disguise the giant scar in the field, though he could excuse it, they'd probably search the barn. Their other option was just to run, which... actually made sense. She had to get back to her other half anyways, and he was 19, it wasn't like he didn't need have plans that couldn't include being on the run from the government.

    "Or... we run?" Fawn finished the thought, wide-eyed. "I mean, I do need to get to Alaska..." She grinned. "Which is past Ca-na-da..." Clearing her throat, she set the items from her ship down on the first flat surface she found inside. "So what is a fast means of travel on Earth? You have flight capabilities, right?"

    "Yeah, planes, but they'd have those watched if they're really intent on getting us. Besides, you're too big to fit on a carry-on, or put in a dog crate, so checking you onto a flight..." he looked at her speculatively. A burka? Maybe? If they didn't look too close at her eyes, but then again, didn't security still have to search that? It would be pretty risky.


    "We might want to stick on land, Canadian border shouldn't cause too much of a problem." He mused, going back to get the map from the living room before setting it on the kitchen table with the rest of Fawns stuff, folding out the USA map again and frowning at it, "Do you think he'll stay in Alaska?"

    "He has had fairly extensive survival training, and he is also somewhat... Antisocial. I doubt he has found a local to stay with. He is likely waiting in his life pod for rescue, as he was taught." Fawn adjusted the sun hat, tucking her ears up into the brim of it for a few moments before one of them freed itself with a little twitch. "Technically, I should do the same, but as my life pod was severely damaged, and I was completely separated from my other half, I believe a breach of protocol would be understood." She thought for a second, tilting her head. "Why not just hijack an airplane? Surely we could borrow one for a few hours."

    "So there's someone on the way to get you guys? Like a distress signal went out or something?" Maddox asked m, going back to his breakfast of pop tarts and now luke-warm coffee. He was still looking at the map as she suggested hijacking a plane, and actually considered it for a few seconds before the insanity of that got through to him and he spluttered a little-


    "No- sure, I can fly one in theory, but Jesus, we'd need like... guns. And then I'd be a terrorist. I'm too young to become a terrorist," he almost seemed like he was talking himself out of it, and shook his head- "we better stick by land travel. I've got a good amount of cash saved up, and a bit more in the bank that'll help out with gas some of the way, and..." it was a long distance, that was for sure. He couldn't believe how quickly he'd already descided that he was going to drive Fawn to Alaska, but he couldn't just let her go in good conscience. It only made sense that he went with her, he'd always thought going to Alaska could be pretty cool anyways.

    "The ship we were on sent out an automatic distress call when it had the malfunction, and I am certain that Seraphim and any others that survived sent out some kind of signal as well. Sadly, I do not believe my ship has the power left to send a signal." Fawn explained. "Driving to his location would not only reunite us, but ensure my own rescue. But... That is a long way, and I have already inconvenienced you much. If you would like to go to the Alaska, I would gladly accompany you, but I cannot in good conscience ask any more of you than I already have."

    "Nahh," Maddox waved a hand at Fawn in a dismissive gesture, "I gotta get out of town anyways, and I've always anted to go to Alaska anyways. And- and, what would you do if a cop pulled you over? I mean, wouldja do like, a crazy alien mind trick?" He stopped for a second, looking at her with a serious expression on his face- "You can't like-" He gestured in a vaguely mystical way "Can you?"

    Fawn was taken aback for a second, but then leaned forward mischievously. Her eyes glowed slightly. "I have many powers, human. Telling you all of them would ruin surprises." she said in a low, conspiratorial tone, grinning for a moment before letting the glow fade from her eyes and laughing. "No mind control, though, as useful as that would be. If we get in trouble, we will probably either need to run or fight. Sounds like a fun adventure to me!" She picked up the spare clothes that she had retrieved from her ship and folded them over before tucking them under her arm. "What preparations should be made before we leave?"

    Maddox let out a nervous laugh, uncertain as to how much she was joking. What if aliens didn't have the concept of jokes and she was just looking at him like that for no reason- he shook his head-


    "That's creepy," He said, the tone of laughter still in his voice- "I swear, I'm gonna wake up in the middle of the night and those big eyes of yours are gonna be glowin' at me and that's just creepy. Anyways!" He finished off the the poptarts and stood up- "We're gonna need...money, first of all, but also food you can eat, extra clothes for the both of us... Places to sleep. I have some friends scattered around, but it's gonna be fun explaining- maybe we can get you a scarf?" He looked at Fawn speculatively, trying to figure out the best way to disguise her. She looked fairly human, but there was just something off about the whole thing. Maybe sunglasses would help.

    "I have currency!" Fawn said proudly. He seemed uncomfortable, and she was hoping to change the subject. Perhaps humans didn't have jokes, or they had different jokes? "The previous Earth mission operatives stole a few of your human 'dollars' and they sent a small envelope full of them with each life pod, in the crash kit." She considered her statement. Perhaps admitting to theft was a poor choice. "I mean, it was not technically 'stolen', just... Borrowed. I believe the reports said it was borrowed from a recently deceased human. Not stolen." Nailed it. "And, um, yes. A scarf. I will also keep wearing this hat. I have taken a liking to it."

    "Oh my god- you guys didn't just mug them, did you? It was an accident, right?" He was going to pick up some of those tabloid magazines next chance he got, they might be on to something. It was so strange to think that they'd been there before thought, long enough to just...know things. To have studied how things worked- that was just creepy.


    "You can keep the hat, no problem, it's a good look on you. And- um, maybe we should leave really soon? Maybe tonight." He was trying to remember if he had anyone who wouldn't expect him not to be home. He could leave a note on the door? 'Went on emergency road trip, be back whenever'.

    "If I recall correctly, the human in question was attacking one of my kind and their other half stepped in to protect them. They did not intend to use lethal force, but they did not realize that humans have a handful of very fragile points. Prior analysis had shown your kind to be very sturdy and capable of great feats of regeneration and healing, even without advanced medical intervention." Fawn laughed softly. "Some of our colonies got an exaggerated version of the reports and said there were humans who can swallow hot coals and breathe fire. Pretty ridiculous, right? Anyway, we can leave tonight if you wish. In the meantime, due to damage to my current outfit--" she gestured to her tattered space suit. "--I will change into my spare clothing... unless you have human clothing that might fit me? That may make me stand out less."

    "I think my sister might have left some things behind- before she hit her goth phase, which I don't think she's actually left yet. You're welcome to any of that- it'll be in the closet in that room you're in." He said, considering if he should tell her that some people could, in fact, breath fire, though maybe not in the way she thought. He'd messed around with it a few months ago, lost his eyebrows for a while. But then there it was again- colonies.


    "Fawn- you're... uh, people, they're not trying to colonize earth, are they?" He asked, voice breaking a little over the word colonize.

    "Colonize you? Oh, no, definitely not. My kind only does diplomatic or protective colonization. Your kind is too warlike, aggressive, and xenophobic to be a candidate for colonization." Fawn tried to hold back a laugh, letting only a tiny snort escape. "I really should not be telling you this, but humans are not of much interest to most known races, except for biological and cultural study. You are safe." She hoped that wasn't too insulting, but just to be safe, she figured she'd sweep on to the next subject as quickly as possible.
    "Clothes, yes. I will return shortly." With a slight smile, being careful not to show her teeth much in case that was a sign of aggression, she vanished into Maddox's sister's room. As soon as the door was shut, she walked over to the window and whisked the curtains shut as fast as she could without risking tearing them. The sunlight on this planet was insufferable. "So bright... How do they do it?" she murmured to herself as she opened the closet and started looking through everything.

    "Oh, well that's a... relief. I guess." She wasn't really wrong, he descided as he frowned, trying to figure out if he'd been insulted or not. Xenophobic and Warlike was fairly accurate, it was disappointing to think that was what had kept them out of the galactic community. That left the question of biological study- how many abductees were actually crazy? That was a fairly creepy thought. Still, he returned Fawns smile with his own, slightly nervous one. Shaking his head, he went back to the map, sketching out points here and there where they could stop, areas with people he knew, or people that knew the people he knew- Maddox had a fairly extensive couch surfing system, though his traveling with an alien somewhat limited that.


    Then came packing for himself, changing the shorts he wore then out for pants and buttoning up the shirt. Some food from the house, more snack oriented than meal, some extra jackets and blankets a pillow all went into the backseat of the van. Plenty of roadtrips had been done in the hippie-looking vehicle, the same blue as Fawns hat, with flowery curtains on the windows.
    "Fawn?" Maddox said after some time, "I think I've gone insane. In about two days, I'll probably be charged with obstruction of justice- and then fleeing the law. To Alaska. I mean- ask me about a week ago and I'd laugh my ass off."