Terror on Arrival: An Apocalyptic Science Fiction Novel

The evolution of a species. On Earth, it can take over a thousand years. The Chauzek weren’t from Earth. They were also were congenital adapters. Their transformation was virtually instantaneous. You could drop them off a cliff, and they wouldn’t even hit the ground. They absorb their environment, and mimic the ingenuous creatures. They would morph into a proverbial hawk while plummeting to certain death—if they could die, and fly away.

The Chauzek were the ultimate weapon, that didn’t know it was a weapon. They just ate... everything. They had no malice, revenge, or rancor. They just did their job. They had no obstacles. Everything that existed became Chauzek fodder. The equivalency was dust particles trying to battle a lint-free cloth.

“Where are they?” Cheauflux asked Jayde.

“The Naval Officers said they are headed directly for Mound Key Archeological State Park,” Alexi chimed in.

“That’s on the other side of the state. How far away, would you speculate?” Cheauflux asked.

“I estimate 2,000 kilometers,” Alexi transmitted.

“We have something the NASA chemists created to knock them out. We have to fill eight fire trucks with the chemical, and head to Everglade City,” Cheauflux told them the plan.

“Will you make it in time?” Jayde interjected.

“This is the first time I am happy the Chauzek do their job adamantly. They can’t help but to clean everything, and I don’t think the Gulf Of Mexico is pristine. Yes, they move in a straight line, but they must clean all the debris, plants, whales, and fish. That gives me adequate time,” Cheauflux said. “My time is adequate, however, lolly-gagging is deleterious. I will call you back after completion. Thank you for executing. You hit a roadblock, but with them still coming towards me, it’s just a speed bump. We just have to add a ‘director’s cut’ to the story,” Cheauflux said.

“I see you’re getting our metaphors down. Just be safe, Cheauflux,” Jayde said.

“Farewell Jayde, and Alexi, do svidaniya.” Cheauflux signed off.

There was no time to waste. Cheauflux went to General Harper.

“Is everything silky Cheauflux?” Harper asked.

“We have run into a complication,” Cheauflux said. “How many fire teams does NASA have?”

“They have to protect billion dollar space craft. NASA has a squadron. What do you need them for?” Harper was concerned.

“The Chauzek escaped from the military. Don’t be alarmed, they’re Florida bound. We just have to empty eight fire trucks of their water, and refill them with the Cheabeyancethe chemists created,” Cheauflux explained.

“That liquid stuff that turns into gas when it hits air?” Harper asked.

“We made a surplus, so the Cheabeyance won’t run out. We have to drive to the Mound Key Archeological State Park, near the coast, and be ready to shower them,” Cheauflux seemed urgent.

Harper picked up on its criticality, and got on the phone with expedience.

“Get me Fire Chief Brickmann,” Harper spoke over the phone. He waited for a minute, and the fire chief answered.

“Brickmann,” the fire chief responded.

“This is General Harper, Chief. We have a mission critical task for your squadron to execute. We have to empty eight of your Fire trucks of water, and fill them with a chemical. No, it’s not caustic. It smells like strawberries, and is as safe as water—stop asking questions, and scramble your team. Fill your gas tanks, you’re driving to the coast of Mound Key State Park. I know it’s on the other side of Florida! That’s why I told you to top off your tanks! Just empty your water tanks, and drive to the research building. I’ll have a crew waiting to fill your water tanks. How fast do I need you? Scramble like it’s a fire drill, and you’re trying to beat your old record. Five minutes will be fine. I’ll meet you here,” Harper hung up the phone.

“We have to capture, and contain them. If the Chauzek become renegades, they will sweep a swath of destruction across Florida. We have to nip them in the bud, immediately,” Cheauflux said.

“This is why I enlisted in the military. We do more things before nine AM, well, you should know the saying,” Harper said.

“What will transpire will almost take all day,” Cheauflux said. “I’ll tell the contractors not to slumber just yet. They have a space launch to complete.”

“It’s amazing you’ve kept them up and alert for this long,” Harper said.

“When this is over, they can tell their friends how they saved the world,” Cheauflux said. “You inform the chemists, and I’ll talk to my contractors.”

General Harper hadn’t been given an order in years. It felt strange, but good. He snapped to attention.

“Yes... Hermaphrodite Creature! We address gender in the military, so addressing you is... odd,” Harper said.

“Just think, your military stories will be unique,” Cheauflux said. “I’m going to inform my contractors to be ready. I know you’re going to be busy, so let’s meet back here in an hour?”

“Already gone Cheauflux,” Harper said, and walked to the laboratory.

Cheauflux moved to the recreation room. The contractors were playing cards, pool, ping-pong, or joy-sticking on a vintage Space Invaders video game cabinet.

“Attention everyone! The Chauzek will arrive very early, tomorrow morning. I’d estimate around three AM. Don’t sleep just yet. We have to prep the ship!” Cheauflux broadcast.

All the contractors got silently excited. They just hit their two minute warning in the fourth quarter. It was time to dig in their cleats to defend the goal.

“I have to get to navigation, to inspect the course they’re going to take,” Mrs. Chablis said. She was the coordinates contractor. Yes, she hauled, built, and shined the hull, but now it was time for her to do her real job.

“I have to get the transport moved from the staging area, closer to the launch pad,” Mr. LeCapitan said. He was the launch coordinator.

They dropped their cards, joy-sticks, pool cues, paddles, and moved to their stations. Cheauflux’s apprehension eased.

You could see the gleam from the sun bouncing off the yellow fire trucks as they advanced to the research building. General Harper was waiting for Fire Chief Brickmann. He had never seen him, but he knew he wasn’t the typical civilian fire chief, old and out of shape. NASA expected nothing less than proficiency. A fat fire chief wouldn’t cut it.

The fire trucks slowed, and parked. The crew chiefs grabbed the hoses, and the firemen guided them to the water tank nozzles. Fire Chief Brickmann stepped off the lead fire truck. He was in full gear. He had wrenches and the standard fire axe draped off his back. He was a young one. It looked as if he just passed probation, but he knew more about fire than any other firefighter.

He walked up to General Harper, and offered his Nomex-gloved hand.

“General Harper,” Brickmann said. “What class fire are we putting out?”

“This fire isn’t hot, Brickmann. You’re going to spray a couple of uncivilized, untamed mutants,” Harper said, while noticing his athletic grip.

“And we’re convoying to the coast of Mound Key?” Brickmann asked.

“Come here, Brickmann.” Harper walked into the building, and went to the projection room; Brickmann followed. Harper dimmed the lights, and shined the projector in Brickmann’s eyes.

Brickmann’s mind had a Chauzek beamed into his mind. It was a devastating, feral creature, not from this planet.

“And we have the only substance on Earth to knock them out. Now, do you see why your team is convoying to Mount Key?” Harper asked.

“Are those things dangerous!?” Brickmann asked.

“About as dangerous to you as an inferno is. You can handle an inferno, right?” Harper asked.

“I’ve never handled one with teeth before!” Brickmann exclaimed.

“Buck up Brickmann. You live for danger!” Harper encouraged him. “You’re the head of the NASA fire squad, you don’t douse camp fires! Show me a pair!”

Brickmann thought about what he said. He was a NASA firefighter for a reason. He didn’t run away from explosions; he ran towardsthem. So did the rest of his crew.

“Since they mothballed the Shuttle project, my crew has been stuck playing tiddlywinks. They’re itching for some action as much as I am, and my pair is in my trousers,” Brickmann said.

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Harper said. “Your team should be prepped, and ready to travel, Brickmann. When you get there, you’re going to have a close encounter of the fourth kind, except it won’t abduct your team, it’ll instruct your team. Ease their shock.”

“I came to work at NASA, because I wanted to see Martians, I just never thought it would happen,” Brickmann said.

“Well, this should really freak you out,” Harper said. “You know those contractors that built that Star Cruiser in four days? They’ve been under its tutelage, since Thursday.”

“You mean we have a bona fide alien in our midst!?” Brickmann asked, surprised.

“I’m right here, Chauncey Brickmann,” Cheauflux phased through the wall.

“My contractors are primed and ready to execute, General Harper. Are the firemen ready?” Cheauflux asked.

“After Brickmann recovers from the stroke you just gave him, I believe they are ready to travel,” Harper had a grin on his face. “You okay, Brickmann?”

“Th-that’s an alien!” Brickmann pointed.

“When you tell your crew, and they don’t believe you, you’ll realize you better keep it to yourself. People will think you’re the crazy man, yelling at dandelions,” Harper said.

“After we stop the Chauzek, I’ll keep this adventure classified,” Brickmann said. “I understand this story won’t be a girl catcher.”

“I knew you were a man with rationality. Get your team ready,” Harper said.

Brickmann returned to the fire trucks, and his people were waiting. Brickmann got into the truck, and clicked on the CB.

“Time to move out, people! We’re going to Mound Key, non-stop,” Brickmann said over the CB.

The trucks started, and filed off base.

“Is there a fire in Mount Key, Sir?” a firefighter asked.

“Oh, I’d say there’s a fire, but not the kind that burns. I have some stories to tell you on the way,” Brickmann said.

“Are you going to tell us how to save the world, Sir?” the firefighter joked.

“That’s a good start, Kelis,” Brickmann began. They had an interesting conversation along the way to Mound Key.

“So, you showed him what the Chauzek looked like?” Cheauflux asked.

“I briefed him with that projector information you brought,” Harper said.

“And they are going to be all right at my appearance?” Cheauflux asked.

“Brickmann seems like a good guy. He’ll settle their uneasiness,” Harper said.

“They should get there in about four hours,” Cheauflux said. “I have time to check on my contractors.”

“This is my waiting period, until all Hell breaks loose,” Harper said.

“I understand Hell to be a realm of despair. If things go correctly, despair shouldn’t break containment anywhere,” Cheauflux was rational. “Just rest, General, I’m going to need you for action later.”

General Harper couldn’t sleep, that pill had energized him. He didn’t have anyone to play billiards or ping-pong with, and he despised video games. He grabbed the deck of cards, and began to play free cell. It was more challenging than solitaire, it jogged his mind, and calmed him.

Cheauflux perused his contractors. They had the feeling they knew they were saving the world. Many people have no clue how a Digital Virtual Disc player works, they just know it plays movies. They don’t have the realization that every player consists of over 150 moving parts. They just know it plays movies. The contractors were those moving parts. If they faltered, the movie wouldn’t play. They were determined to show a feature film.

“So, you’re telling us, we’re about to deal with The Thing, Sir?” Kelis asked over the Citizens Band.

“It doesn’t assimilate, and mimic you, Kelis. That’s a movie. This thing just morphs in front of you,” Brickmann explained.

“No offense, Sir, but that sounds like a movie,” Kelis transmitted.

General Harper, and Cheauflux were correct. His crew thought of him as the crazy drunkard, accosting dandelions.

“You think my water pressures low while fighting an inferno. I’m not whacked in the head. When you see them, just do your jobs, because if you hesitate, they’ll still do theirs,” Brickmann warned.

“Is there anymore enlightenment you’d want to bestow upon us, Sir?” Kelis asked.

It was time to explain the ludicrous. “There’s one more thing. We’ll have another alien directing us when we get there. Don’t worry, this one is a benign alien. It’s here to help,” Brickmann said, feeling as if he were participating in a land not only of sight and sound, but of mind.

“Are there any Rebel Space Armadas on the edge of the atmosphere, Sir?” Kelis’ words dripped with sarcasm.

“That is all I know people. Just prepare yourselves, Brickmann out.” He put the CB back on the receiver.

“You know they think you have a collection of phasers in your rec room at home, right?” Lopez, his driver, asked.

“You think I’m wearing a long black cape, with a helmet, and breathing problems too, huh Pablo?” Brickmann asked.

“I don’t think that, Chauncey. Dark Lords make more sense than you,” Lopez said.

“Just drive, Pablo. When we get there, you’ll think you’re in white armor too,” Brickmann said.

They kept driving to Mound Key Archeological State Park. At that point, they were ready for anything.

The chemical contractor began the Cheabeyance fill of the transport. They created an air lock. It was designed, primarily, for the adding the Cheabeyance gas. The cabin was hermetically sealed, to over-saturate the cabin with the gas. The one problem was that Cheabeyance stayed in liquid from, with the absence of adequate air circulating. They overcame that by adding some air tank nozzles strewn across the top of the hull of the ship. It was simple, but effective. There was no life support, but Mrs. Novakova knew they had to craft an apparatus to fill the cabin with air.

The second the oxygen showered the cabin, the Cheabeyance instantly switched states. It was in a liquidus state, initially, but when oxygen was introduced, it became gaseous, instantly.

“How long will it stay foggy like that?” Mrs. Novakova asked Cheauflux.

“Cheabeyance is lighter than your oxygen. Oxygen’s atomic weight is 15.99994, while Cheabayance’s atomic weight is 3.62321. That means it will stay in the air indefinitely,” Cheauflux said.

“It’s like a cowboy riding a horse that doesn’t get tired,” General Harper chimed in.

“Your western analogy is correct, General Harper,” Cheauflux said.

“I pressurize aircraft. I know a little bit about oxygen’s atomic weight. You could have just said Cheabeyance is lighter than oxygen. I would’ve understood,” Mrs. Novakova said.

“I cannot assume anything for this operation. Assumptions can turn this planet into barren rock. Besides, General Harper doesn’t have your chemistry skills. He needed to understand, also.”

She looked at General Harper, and realized if Cheauflux said what she understood, it would just be gobblety-gook to Harper.

“I apologize, Cheauflux. I must choose my response more carefully. I usually work with people who have the same degree as I have. This working situation is... unique,” Mrs. Novakova atoned.

“If you were aware of your environment at all times, you’d be an MI-6 agent,” Cheauflux said.

“I get it Cheauflux. Everyone has use, somewhere. Instead of thwarting enemy combatants, I’m saving the world,” she said.

“You’re a scientist. You’re exactly like another human I know. You need to know a little something about everything,” Cheauflux said.

“The fire team should be arriving at Mound Key by now. I think you better go, and meet them,” Harper said, while tapping his watch face.

“They are six kilometers away. I have an internal time keeping ability. I couldn’t wear a watch anyway, but you’re correct. I should meet them. Could you call Fort Meyers, and get me a platoon for back-up, General?” Cheauflux asked.

“I’m a brigadier general, Cheauflux. I don’t mind throwing my weight. Are you sure a platoon will be enough?” Harper asked.

“We’re going to drug them, not fight them. The platoon will probably just watch. What does NASA say? Have a back-up to the back-up?” Cheauflux rhetorically asked.

“Gotcha Cheauflux, I’m calling now,” Harper said.

“Mind the store until I get back,” Cheauflux told Harper, and disappeared through a wall.

“I’ve thwarted terrorists with dirty bombs, but I still can’t get over that phasing thing,” Harper said.

“You’re a general by profession, but a human by nature. I can’t get over it either,” Mrs. Novakova said.

“Godspeed, Cheauflux, godspeed,” Harper wished Cheauflux well.

“We’re about three miles away,” Lopez said. “I don’t smell any smoke.”

“This is a figurative fire. You won’t smell fire, you’ll smell the other firefighter’s fear,” Brickmann said.

“They’ve braved spacecraft explosions and back drafts. What is going to scare them?” Lopez asked.

“Witnessing hostile alien contact,” Brickmann said. “They projected these things in my mind. They move relentlessly, they transform right in front of your eyes, and they have these big, shiny teeth. They look like they have no business on Earth, they have no fear, and they’re voracious. I’ve been terrified since I saw them.”

“That’s if they even exist, Chauncey,” Lopez was doubtful.

“When you see Cheauflux, I’ve already accepted your apology,” Brickmann said.

They drove for five minutes, and they saw what they thought was a monster on the coast. It was standing? Well, what they speculated as standing. It had a mesh of a cheetah, and a rhinoceros as skin. It had more than four appendages. It had no head, but its face, if that’s what you would call it, had an expression of contentment.

Lopez parked the fire truck. He sat, dumfounded and confused. Brickmann jumped out the truck, as if he was ready for work.

“You were right Cheauflux, they think I need therapy!” Brickmann called out to it.

“Now your team is fighting with their sanity,” Cheauflux said. “Tell them to exfiltrate their vehicles, because they think I’m the enemy. Let them know I won’t bite, but the Chauzek will.”

Brickmann nodded to Cheauflux, turned to the trucks, and yelled. “You have a task to do, people! Cheauflux is not the enemy! It’s here to help you! Remember, your job is to drop the Chauzek! They don’t greet, they eat! You do not want to be sitting in disbelief in your truck, while the Chauzek are munching on your engine block! Let’s prep like we’re about to douse some flames!”

Everyone was still for a few seconds, and then Kelis braved the exiting of his truck.

When his boots hit the ground, Brickmann began to smile. His team was beginning to believe.

“You were cracking the most jokes, Kelis,” Brickmann accused.

“I’m like Missouri, Chauncey. I guess you did ‘show me’. I’ll never doubt my commander, ever again,” Kelis said in a round-about apology.

The rest of his crew stepped from their trucks, staring at Cheauflux.

“We’re very sorry for thinking you thought Cylons were real, Chauncey, but you have to admit, your explanation was a bit loopy,” Lopez said.

“And you believe in Santeria. As much as I think your religion is loopy, you thought what I was saying was the same thing. Just be one of the select few humans to meet an alien,” Brickmann gestured to Cheauflux.

Lopez slowly walked towards Cheauflux. The rest followed suit.

“I hope my appearance dictates the seriousness of this, people. The Chauzek aren’t fantasy. If you feel their teeth, you’ll think they’re the realest thing on this planet. Get out your hoses, and spray those monsters the second they hit land,” Cheauflux said. “The reason I am here, is because I must oversee your attainment, and to keep your heads in the game, because the Chauzek’s existence is the game.” Cheauflux sounded like General Patton.

The fire team nodded to each other, silently.

Ms. Ramos clapped her hands together to get the team motivated. “Come on people, game time! Let’s show those Chauzek they can’t pee on our floor! I want to see my kids graduate college, and I’m not even married yet! I’m feeling froggy, let’s jump!”

Everyone hopped to task like a well-oiled machine. Some of the firefighters positioned the trucks in a parallel formation, in front of the coastline. All that separated them from the gulf, and getting wet, was the beach. They pulled out their hoses, and positioned themselves for dousing a fire. They were primed, and waiting to surprise the Chauzek.

Cheauflux walked on the sand, in front of them. He saw their excitement.

“I understand your brevity, and you have no idea what they look like! Chauncey Brickmann has seen one, however, Hemingway couldn’t describe what these things look like, so as you say, a picture says a thousand words.” Cheauflux sent a beam of light to each firefighter. It was a projection, and description of the Chauzek. Everyone was intimate with their description.

Kelis began. “We won’t know what they’ll turn into when they hit the shore, but, at last we know it’s a lot of them. Even if we spray a beached killer whale, he’ll just know what strawberries smell like. I don’t care what comes on shore, spray ’em all, and let God sort ’em out!”

It didn’t take long for the Chauzek to arrive. Thank goodness Alexi’s intelligence was accurate, because running after the Chauzek would have been impossible.

“Party time people! Turn on your hoses!” Brickmann yelled.

The fire team was swift. They began spraying the Cheabeyance all over the Chauzek. The smell of strawberries over-saturated the coastline. The chaos had a fruity smell to it.

The Chauzek looked as if they were hit with tranquilizer darts. They were slowing down, and transforming at the same time. You didn’t need cognizance for something that happens involuntarily. How many times have you blinked in the last twenty minutes? You never thought about blinking, you just blinked. That was the Chauzek’s predicament.

They slowed to a stop. At least the fire team had an abundance of Cheabeyance, for the Chauzek were legion.

That was when the soldiers from Fort Meyers arrived. They brought twenty four ‘deuce and a half’ (M-35 2 ½ ton) cargo trucks for transport. They weren’t there for support, they were there for aftermath.

Brickmann walked up to the General. “We just need to scoop ’em and transport ’em to Cape Canaveral, General,” Brickmann told the General.

“I came here to see if General Harper was drinking too much moonshine. Now I see a slew of these strange creatures being doused with strawberry air freshener, and a freak show leading your squad. I guess I owe him an apology. I brought my ninety six bravos with me because of what he said. The bravos are intelligence analysts, and can keep quiet. Of course we’ll transport these beasts to Cape Canaveral. I need to have a beer with Harper anyway,” General Slaydon said. “Jayde in Belize said there were aliens coming, but I thought she was kidding me.”

Brickmann smiled. “Once they stop moving, load the cargo on your deuces, and we’ll journey back to NASA.”

They kept spraying. The Chauzek slowed to a stop. They all looked like a school of fish that committed beach suicide. It smelled like strawberry death.

“All right Bravos, put those beasts in the deuces! Grab your donkey dicks, and top off the trucks, and my Humvee. We’re transporting them to NASA!” General Slaydon ordered.

The bravos heard the crack of the whip. They scrambled to pick up the Chauzek. They were around sixty pounds of dead weight. The bravos loaded them in the trucks. Other solders filled their gas tanks. The operation was efficient.

“Are those personal tanks filled with Cheabeyance?” Brickmann asked Kelis.

“They’re topped with water, Chauncey,” Kelis said.

Brickmann had been around too many NASA scientists. “Drain those tanks, and fill them with Cheabeyance. Position twenty four firefighters in the back of those deuce and a halfs. If the military hits a bump on the way to NASA, spray those monsters.”

“Got it, Boss, If they yawn, douse them,” Kelis said.

“You know the drill, do it. At least the firefighters will be sitting in a truck, and not hanging like streamers off ours,” Brickmann said.

It took about an hour. All the Chauzek were loaded.

“I’m heading the convoy! The military will be right behind us, and the rest of the fire team will cover the rear! It’ll be like an alien sandwich!” Brickmann yelled.

“Have a safe trip. I have to return to NASA, to make sure my contractors are ready for you. I will meet back up with you when you arrive at NASA,” Cheauflux said, then turned and disappeared into thin air.

“That doesn’t freak you out?” Lopez asked.

“I’ve witnessed a legion of rabid aliens we doused with strawberry air freshener, being led by a rhino-cheetah. Cheauflux disappearing into thin air is the least freakiest thing that has happened to me today,” Brickmann said. “After all that, I should ask you the same question.”

“Now, since you put it that way, Chauncey, I guess it isn’t freaky,” Pablo said.

Everyone filed into their vehicles, and headed to NASA. It took several hours, but they had no discrepancies. The Chauzek slept all the way.

They got back to base looking like an olive drab, yellow-tipped snake.

The Crew Chiefs directed them to the transport ship. General Slaydon got out of his Humvee, and asked one of the chiefs, “Where’s General Harper?”

“I’m right here, you geriatric coot!” Harper announced himself.

Slaydon walked to Harper. “I thought you had swigged a bottle of Everclear before you called me. Now I know those bastards are real!” Slaydon shook Harper’s hand.

“When aren’t you going to second guess me, Slaydon?” Harper asked.

“When you stop pranking your troops, Harper,” Slaydon said.

They perused their troops. They saw them working with the contractors well. The contractors knew their jobs, and the soldiers followed their lead. They loaded the Chauzek into the craft’s air lock. They were pushed into the entrance of the ship. Novakova hit a button, and all heard a vacuum seal. The airlock moved back to its original position, minus the Chauzek. The craft was equipped with a conveyor belt. It moved the Chauzek to the front of the transport. They repeated the cycle, until every Chauzek was loaded.

Once they were full, LeCapitan moved the ship to the launch pad.

Everyone went to Mission Control. The head launcher had the countdown down to three minutes.

“Operation Clean Sweep launches in T-minus two minutes, thirty two seconds. Is flight control capcom green?” she asked.

“Capcom green,” the flight controller said.

“Cheabeyance support green?” she asked.

“Support green, Ma’am.” life support said.

“Navigation and trajectory green?” she continued her checklist.

“Navigation is a go,” the navigator said.

“So, this is a launch sequence?” Slaydon whispered the question into Harper’s ear.

Harper leaned to Slaydon. “Watch the Discovery Channel’s archives to see the moon launch, and you’ll see a legitimate launch.”

“T-minus thirty seconds,” the head launcher said. “All support green.”

Slaydon looked like a kid waiting for Christmas. It was old hat to Harper.

Three... two... one, we are executing lift-off!” The head launcher pushed a button.

The engines exploded with a shock. The vapored smoke billowed out the bottom of the ship. Although Control was over three hundred yards away, it trembled like a school girl’s first day of Kindergarten.

The ship, slowly, began its journey. It released from the launch pad, and defied gravity.

“So, this is what you see on every launch?” Slaydon asked Harper.

“As long as an O-ring doesn’t blow, I think we’re golden,” Harper said.

The transport pushed past the clouds, and it broke orbit. The last desperation of Earth’s grip on it was gone.

“We officially have a transport on its way to Mars, people,” the head launcher said.

The cheer was immediate. The hugs ensued, instantly. Everyone was happy with their hard work.

“Is the threat gone?” Cheauflux appeared from nowhere.

“Sorry Cheauflux, we’re all out of Chauzek, but I’m sure Mars is getting a shipment,” Harper smiled at Cheauflux.

“I must return to Belize, to tell Jayde and Alexi the mission has been completed. They can go back to their normal programming.” Cheauflux turned, and phased through the wall.

“Yes Slaydon. I didn’t believe it either. Aliens have a sense of humor.” Harper turned to join the festivities.

Evolution is slow on Earth. Darwin had to prove the theory of evolution on the Galapagos Islands. Some people still don’t believe in evolution. They can look directly at the bone structure of Cro-Magnon man, and still not believe. Science isn’t a sometimes thing. Facts don’t waiver with opinion. Now, we realize evolution is universal.

Nature is never finished. It’s the universe’s most finicky artist. It seems like it got sharks right, so it didn’t have to change those for millions of years, but some things are works in progress.

The Chauzek were indestructible on every planet they inhabited, but they were dumb, and you could put them to sleep. They actually had predators; Cheasu, and humans. A smarter animal could best a moron any day.

One Chauzek was granted the gift of evolution. When it saw its cohorts were being dropped the second they made it to land, it had the wherewithal to divert. It stayed under water. The gathering was over after a few hours. As the trucks left, it surfaced.

As dangerous as the Chauzek were, they weren’t as nearly as dangerous as the Chauzek that could think.

It transformed into a larger creature. It didn’t switch into a Komodo dragon sized creature, It was in Florida. Alligators were the indigenous animal of the Everglades. It turned into a behemoth gator type creature.

This one knew how to avoid the gas they used to knock out its kindred. It started with random beer cans, lost Frisbees, and plants. This was a new threat, and even Cheauflux wasn’t ready.