Episode 6: Fireside Chat

There was a bonfire blazing beautifully to replace the setting sun in this stranger than strange land. This was the first time the surviving group had dared the outdoors on a social basis since their arrival outside of survival trips back to their destroyed plane. Some not so much survival trips when it came to laying their deceased allies to rest properly in the ground. That however became priority out of respect and necessity. If there were carrion in this morbid looking terrain the scent of a two-day kill would bring them out of hiding. They had endured enough excitement for a while. Now they needed to relax and gauge their future.

Air Force Pilot Cameron Scott and Sergeant Malcolm Brand had collected wood from the debris field all around them to build their fire. Tonight, they would feast on the prehistoric bird at their disposal. Hopefully it would taste much better than the survival rations supplied by the U.S. Government. Last resort there!

“How’s our Thanksgiving dinner coming?” Colonel Ruby Goddard stepped from the Ganthorian ships long stretch of extended steps leading in and out.

Cameron had been crouched over a fashioned rotisserie making certain his bird wasn’t going to be wasted or burnt. He looks up at his commanding officer who had changed her clothing. Her uniform and wife beater no longer fashionable. Now she wore a black t-shirt and frosted gray jeans. No shoes upon her feet. Only a military issue shoulder holster with a 9mm handgun dangled over her more than healthy chest. Her fiery red hair was pinned back into a leather braid with long pins slipped through as if an Asian art form.

“You clean up nice Colonel. No disrespect.” Cameron notes.

“Would be cleaner if that bath hadn’t come from a wet wipe and a bottled water. We need to figure out a water source before we get too depleted.” She points out as her runway model stride reaches them.

Malcolm stands up from his seat which consisted of what was left of Jack’s makeshift stretcher. He offered it to Ruby along with a prepared plate of Pterodactyl and pork in beans. An unfolded hanky is used to dust off her seat in gallant fashion.

“This isn’t a date, Malcolm. No need to be so charming.”

“Habit, Boss. Raised to be polite. Birds tasty. At least we won’t starve for a day or two.”

Sitting down Ruby takes a plastic fork at her disposal to sample her dinner. After a few moments to savor it she puckers, “Compliments to the chef. Gamey, but not bad.”

Cameron nods, “Maybe I’ll open up a restaurant out here. Call it Cam Goods! He enjoyed a much-needed chuckle from the group.

“Where’s Elle and the others?” Ruby asks.

“Elle’s still sleeping. Jack went exploring in our boat there. The brain boy is locked away and reading the alien handbook. Sophia I’m thinking doesn’t need to eat our bird here. Heck, I don’t think she even pisses anymore.” Malcolm sighs looking around. “At least I don’t see any battery acid marks in the ground.”

“Let’s give her time to adjust. We keep an eye on her and her little friends. I’m not certain I trust them just yet. She’s young and impressionable. I’m not even sure her mom has any control over her as a ghost. She’s just here hovering like most mother’s I know.”

“Still freaks me out, Ms. Ridge. I keep singing the Ghostbuster’s theme under my breath.” Malcolm does his best rendition.

“I knew you were a Ray Parker, Jr. fan.” Cameron jests.

“There you go again you racist bastard.” Malcolm scoffs with a wink toward Ruby to inform her that he was teasing himself. With a troubled groan Ruby finished her meal. Plate set aside she stretched her long legs out by slouching in her seat and let out a manly belch. To honor her Cameron let out one of his own. Malcolm tried but farted instead. Cameron had the final word.

“There Gozer the neighborhood!”

Inside the Ganthorian spaceship Eleanor Franklin was waking from a fevered dream. She had isolated herself away to rest and gather her thoughts on her current situation. Fear crept in slightly before she finally passed out.

As her eyelids fluttered open in the darkness, she reached out with her butane lighter and lit a candle she had in her bags. The glow of the flame eased her senses. Until she looked over at her other hand. The flickering light brought out the many facets of her diamond laced skin pores. As she predicted the rash of evolution moved higher up her arm. It was now over her left shoulder and surrounding her throat. Reaching behind her with her good arm she felt the diamonds moving straight down her spine to her pelvic region. There was no discomfort at all, nor any real weight addition making movement difficult. Merely an adjustment of lifestyle. She could still function as normal, and her diamond fingertips could actually move as if they would any other day. No knuckle cracking but hey, that was a bad habit anyway.

Running her diamond palm over the flame she felt nothing. She then took the risk of her good hand attempting a burn. It indeed felt hot yet her minor burns healed as fast as they occurred. Rummaging through her massive duffle bag she found a small compact mirror and looked at her face. Her eyes sparkled more than usual. Going from their natural brown to crystalline then back. In the candlelight her crystalline eyes displayed a glare on the walls of her room. Wherever she looked it illuminated as if a flashlight beam. Haunted yet amazed all the same she decided to stand up and stretch. She felt really good. Almost like she could run a mile. Maybe ten!

“Well Beyoncé! I put a ring on it all by myself. Now look at me.”

The chuckle faded fast as she again dug through her bag for a photograph of she and whom she thought was her soulmate, Darius Grover Wright. Former defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts turned high school athletics coach. She could only sigh at her misfortune and his. They were lost to each other forever. Putting the picture away safely she changes her attire, adopting her lovers old Colt’s jersey and a pair of tight white shorts. It was a good memorial in her mind. She then stepped out into the hallway.

Their canine cohort Xander darted past her on his way to see James she presumed. She would be wrong as the dog left the craft to join the fire outside. In her walk she was joined by Jack Ramse who had also changed clothing. He now wore a navy-blue t-shirt with his rank insignia pinned to it.

“Uniforms ruined. Arm’s missing.” The clothe of it when his arm was severed. He attempts to joke about his misfortune when he notices her left arm and throat, physically examining both areas without permission, “You, okay?” She was now! Dreamy fucker! Just his touch over her new flesh made her horny as hell. The memory of Darius Wright would be honored later.

“Never better! Nothing hurts. Whatever happened it sure brings out my eyes.”

“Speaking of eyes.” He lifted her chin to get a better look at those sparkling brown orbs. Not helping her hormones, Jack!

“I know. They seem to switch back and forth indecisively. As long as I don’t go blind, I’m good.” She smiles.

“Brave soldier.” He salutes her. Returning the respect with a wink Elle blushed. Jack completely overlooked her hint of hormonal tension. Cold motherfucker! Together they stepped outside to join the party.

Deeper within the spacecraft Sophia Ridge sat Indian style on the floor. She had found her own domicile away from everyone. It was a move that helped her find peace within herself. Her new microscopic friends singing within her conceived a form of meditation. Something she never knew existed. It did keep her mind off of the whole lost in time situation.

In front of Sophia drifted her mother’s spirit Madigan Ridge. She too had left the building. Her eyes went solid white, and it was as if she was trying to communicate with someone, you could see her stressing features even in her ghostly form. After a running time of ten minutes both women revive and feel a sense of inner peace.

“That was incredible guys. Thank you!” Sophia grinned with a bubbly expression and a playful dance of her shoulders.

Her mother crossing her arms as if shivering broke her vigil, “Someone keeps calling me. I can’t quite make it out though. Is it God?”

Sophia shrugs, “I don’t know. Is God real?” In her mind Sophia hears a unanimous chatter. “Oh, wow! They say Absolutely. Higher power created us all. He is a She they say.”

Maddy frowns, “The voice I hear is not a female. I cannot believe that God is a woman.”

“Only telling you what they say. Mother gave birth to the Heavens.”

“Okay? Then who was it that knocked up mommy?” Maddy scowls. “Do not say immaculate conception.”

“They say mommy created herself. Her children conceived the rest. I can almost envision her. Weird! Blue light around her as she floats on air. Somewhere out there.”

“Go back to sleep.” Maddy hisses rolling her spectral eyes.

“You go back to sleep. You died. Just saying!”

“Your father would wash your mouth out with soap if he heard you talk to me like that.”

“My friends might like the soap. And dad’s hand holding the soap. Can we stop arguing now? I’m sorry mom.”

“Fine! Let’s stop talking about God. This place must certainly be Hell.”

“Actually, I think this is Purgatory. A terrible episode of the TV series “Lost”.” Sophia giggled. “My friends are hungry. Let’s go join the others. I can take a walk and find something to feed my babies.”

“Babies? Good Lord Piper Sophia. I’m too young to be a grandmother.”

“Congrats mom! You now have one million two hundred thousand nine hundred and eighty-six grand babies. Let’s take a family portrait.”

“UGH!!!!” Maddy turns in the air and literally walks through the wall leaving her daughter behind.

Sophia pouts at her mother’s sudden departure, losing her to death then getting her back as a ghost that she could actually talk to, was a blessing. “I know. Show more respect for her. You guys are right. I just can’t help myself sometimes. Let’s go eat. What sounds good? Whoa!!! Seriously?” With another shrug Sophia hops up and walks through the ship. Leaving behind scorched butt cheek marks on the floor where she had been seated. Shades of Rorschach! Those pesky critters did seem to be her therapist.

Outside by the bonfire there was finally an air of realization. All of them had finished eating and were marveling at the diamond display on Elle’s person. Madigan Ridge had phased through the hull of the ship to join them forcing another shared “BEEJEEZUS!” from both Malcolm and Cameron. They then proceeded to argue over who had the rights to copyright the term “Beejeezus.” Who said it first and who it was that was the copycat. Laughter abounded which made for a formed smile on Maddy’s ethereal lips. She needed that. This was the new norm it seemed. It was better than nothingness! At Elle’s feet sat the German Shepard Xander looking up at her as if studying her actions as much as her new gifts.

“Are you looking for scraps, Pup?” Elle grinned lovingly. “Chicken bones are bad for dogs, but are Pterosaurs?” The bones were far denser.

“Actually! I was looking at your eyes. They’re beautiful.” Came the voice of James Ian Pryce.

Everyone stopped talking until Cameron huffed, “Best pick up line from a dog I ever heard.” Xander darted his eyes from Elle to Cameron then back. Finally, alerting everyone to the emerging Sophia from the gang plank. As long as Sophia kept moving there were no burnt trails to follow her. Regardless, sensing worry Xander decided to move away whether his master wanted him to or not. He rather liked his coat the way it was.

“What’s wrong Kid? Normally you wait for a stick to be thrown before you chase it.” Cameron chuckles.

Sophia opts to walk seductively toward the gathering, hands in her more than lush mane of hair. Since bonding with her new roommates her body was persistently glossy, smelling like lilacs in the springtime, and her hair spun silk. The alluring nature of her daughter’s flaunting forced Maddy to close her eyes and shake her ethereal head. Her daughter chose to palm her burgeoning breasts juggling them about like a porn star, letting the world see her forevermore unshaven snatch. Best Brazilian ever! Her expression was complete and utter shamelessness.

“What smells good? Oh, that would be me.” She released her tits, bouncing up and down in front of Cameron and Malcolm knowing it was hell on their hormones not to look. The kid was a Goddess in her own right. A former teen supermodel at that. Stammering, Malibu Malcolm Brand looks away and begins humming to himself. Sadly, his hum was almost a stripper tune he once heard. He had to walk away as if to take a piss. Possibly jerk off!

Cameron frowns at her behavior standing up to face her, “I didn’t think you ate anymore.”

“Oh, I eat. I just don’t really need to. It’s just my way of remaining normal, I guess. Not as if I need to watch my figure now. My friends will keep me in shape. Notice my muscle tone has even increased? My legs aren’t as spindly as they were yesterday. Who needs Pilates! My ass looks better too.” She turns her back to him and acts as if she was warming herself by the fire. With all eyes on her, she bends over directly into Cameron behind her. Her ass touching his crotch, everyone’s eyes bulge out of shock thinking his penis was toast.

Cameron offers a distasteful glare at her then he too flares his eyes up and quickly steps back. Before anyone could react, they found Cameron patting his pants seam to put out a smoldering rash that was eating away at his slacks. He swiftly unzipped his pants and yanks them off tossing them aside. The entire pair of pants was devoured where she had rubbed up against him, zipper, inseam and all. A moment longer his pubes might have been fried. “Oopsie! Hunger Games!”

Ruby jumped up from her seat and pushed past Elle. Facing Sophia, she planted a finger in her face. “Stop your adolescent bullshit right now. You could have seriously hurt Cameron with that stunt.”

Sophia stands up straight holding a burning piece of splintered wood in her hand. “I owed him that for spanking me. My butt was raw, his junk almost was. Raw spelled backwards is War.” She razzed him then placed the burning ember to her lips at swallowed fire, sliver of wood and all. Ruby cocked a brow at how easily Sophia adapted to what she might normally find gross.

Covering his barely saved boxers Cameron Scott growls with a temper, “NOT COOL, RIDGE!”

Sophia giggles pointing at him with a wagging finger that droops like a lost erection, “When you’re hot, you’re hot. When you’re not, you’re not.” Spoken like a true fire eater.

Behind Sophia Jack Ramse stepped in hovering over her unnoticed until she realized all eyes weren’t so much on her, more over her. Looking over her shoulder then up at his scowl she clammed up. His glare was enough to haunt her sensibilities. As brazen as she was there was just something about Jack that injected fear. Even her soulmates within cowered as if they could. Turning away from him to flare her eyes wide toward the ground she shivered. She didn’t know that was even possible anymore. Obviously mistaken!

“Her cooties could have ate my DC-10.” Nine inches but a braggart.

Finally, Sophia pouts and looks up at Cameron, “I shouldn’t have done that. Forgive me? Sometimes I just like getting even. I told my babies to just sizzle your pants but not hurt you. They listen to me.”

Her mother Maddy drifted close to her right side, “Where did you learn to be this careless? It certainly wasn’t me. Nor your father.”

“I’m me, mom. I make mistakes. I just apologized, and I meant it.”

Retreating silently as Xander walks beside him Jack tilted his peripheral at the pup, “Speak!”

“Can we talk in private Colonel?” Jack narrows his eyes and steps away from the gathering. He then leers at the dog following his lead. Hearing Malcolm Brand grunting in the shadows Jack just knew he was beating off and moved he and Xander further away. In the darkness Jack halted and knelt down to face the canine and his master manipulating him.

“Elle’s eyes worry me. It’s like energy building up in there. Question is where does it come from? The energy. The unified link you all had created, that did something new. It’s like she might be absorbing heat. Waiting to release it. I don’t think she feels it though. Kind of like Cyclops in the X-Men.” No clue! Jack simply took his word for it. Grunting Jack peers back at Elle who was staring at the fire. He also witnessed Sophia walk away in the direction of the Pterodactyl corpse.

“Sophia needs to feed the parasites. I suspect the bone marrow might be their main course. Just a guess.” James offers insight.

“Let her do what she needs to do. As long as she’s no harm to others.”

James agreed, Xander strangely nodding like he might. “What about Elle?”

“Let’s find out.”

Jack stood tall and took a stroll back to the fire to stands beside Eleanor Franklin, placing his palms over the flames while the others stood back mumbling amongst themselves, namely Cameron and Ruby.

“Feels nice.”

“It does.” She admires the tensing flames as Jack crouched to stoke the coals with a metal rod from a plane seat. Eying his incredible physique she nibbled her lower lip. Only picturing Darius Wright faltered her disrobing eyes, Jack was so very close to being naked. Seeing Jack nude on the operating table during his surgery she knew how well-endowed this man was. Thank God, that wasn’t the arm that was severed. Diverting her gaze to the fire itself her eyes began to glow, yet Elle failed to realize their dilation due to her vision not blurring out. The crystalline effect within her fans out around her retina and simmers like the coals below. Sensing her tensed body Jack Ramse peered up at the beautiful woman of color and cautiously winced at the mesmerizing effect it had on her. The glow intensifies until she quivers. It was then that Jack jumped up and back. Malcolm rejoining them saw the sudden reaction and froze three feet from them.

“Out of the way.” He barks forcing Malcolm to step back further. The commotion brought the attention of Ruby and Cameron in the background. Without another second to ponder they watch twin beams of light eject from Elle’s eyes like laser beams that attack the open fire causing a maddening effect on the logs and charred coals. Sparks zipped into the air like fireflies on steroids as the coals were obliterated. Just as quickly her eyes returned to normal.

“Did I just do that?” Elle stammers out of disbelief. Shades of Urkel! James Ian utilizing Xander prowls forward looking up at her with concern yet yipping with a happy reaction.

“That was awesome. Elle’s a cross between Cyclops and Emma Frost of the X-Men. How crazy is that.” Like Jack nobody understood his comic book references. They only knew Elle was a deadly weapon.

Ruby moves to Elle’s side, “Can you control that?”

Elle shrugs with an uncertain pucker, afraid to look at anyone directly for fear of taking their heads off. “I don’t know. Time will tell. I feel normal now but until I’m sure I don’t think I should meet eyes with any of you.”

Xander glares toward Cameron and spot’s his aviation sunglasses dangling from his shirt collar. The dog easily jumps up on Cameron and clamps its teeth carefully around the shades to Cam’s surprise. He then returns with them to Elle, Cam bitching over how much those cost him. Jack claims them from the dog and hands them to Elle.

“Let’s filter out what we can. Hopefully!”

James within Xander’s brain now sitting offers, “I’ll build her a pair of safety glasses that can keep her flare ups in check. Until she learns to control them.”

Cameron still covering his junk, his boxers barely concealing a whopper just had to get his two cents in. “I lose my favorite pants and now my shades. Anybody touches the ball cap I’m out of here.”