The Meeting of an Era

The disk hovers in the air, just above the pointed evergreens that form an early horizon on the opposite side of the river. A hunched figure strolling through the woods crosses the flowing water without hesitation though the center must be at least four feet deep. The dark furred creature shakes off what water it can as it emerges from the water. Below its waist it is utterly soaked, thick fur clumped and heavy and the beast sighs.

Much farther down the winding course of the river and obscured by a ring of trees, a long necked beast half beaches itself in a clearing.

The disk’s landing has flattened the grass at the edge in the very same clearing. The beached being stretches in the sun, unperturbed by the metallic object’s glare as disk settles by the tree line. The ferns in the north part and the hunched hominid enters with a heavy sigh.

The hairy brown manlike things beats on the side of the disk. The metal ripples and sounds like bent gong. The unpleasant tone causes the long necked creature to shake its head like a fast swinging pendulum. When a disgruntled hiss emanates from the metal with the muted ringing, the beast stops the knocking. He steps back and falls onto his back into the grass with a grunt.

The disk warps inward and, with a musical pop, collapses into a grey-green creature with a large head and oval eyes.

“You do realize how rude it is to greet someone with blows. You could have at least said ‘hello’ before you started hitting me,” the ex-disk says, gesturing with a long fingered hand. His dark, featureless eyes narrow to affect a glare at the one lying in the grass.

“What would a mountain man, a ‘Bigfoot,’ know about manners?” the creature lying in the grass asks.

“Hopefully more than a lizard who hides in a lake and even I know better, Caesar,” the beached creature says, lifting its head from its lounging position. “I know you were raised better. Show Clarence some respect.”

Caesar shrugs, but his expression is apologetic enough to appease the grey-skinned being.

“Thank you, Ness. Hold on…Where’s Snow?” Clarence asks.

“My brother found crossing the oceans to be more difficult this time around. No land bridges to walk on and he’s not an apt swimmer,” Caesar says. Ness lets out a plume of water in a snort.

“I had no issue making it and I had to drag myself across land on occasion. I wasn’t even seen by the inferiors. Snow is just too comfortable in his frigid fortress to show up for the meeting of the era, arrogant, self-centered fool that he is.”

Caesar shrugs, rustling the flattened grass with his long fur.

“Can’t argue with that. Shall we start our reports, Clarence?”

“Yes, yes, what is the report on Sol 3?”

Clarence draws a silvery orb from his belt. It flashes green for an instant and when the light fades half the surface has turned into a pock marked microphone. Clarence nods encouragingly to his companions.

“The up and coming species from the last era made it to the top of the food chain, but are leaving it just as fast,” Ness says. She shakes her head in a wide slow motion reminiscent of a disapproving grandfather clock.

“They are useless for scientific purposes, too. The tourists around here haven’t been obeying the interplanetary guidelines at all. The language, culture, and abstractions of the ‘humans’ have all been contaminated,” Caesar says, still on the ground.

“Is that so,” Clarence says, shrinking in size slightly in disappointment.

The two Earth observers nod.

“They speak much like we do. In fact, they use some of the same languages we are familiar with. We think that their religious constructs, particularly the major regional mythologies, were created through misunderstood encounters with interstellar visitors. Modern encounters have been labeled what they are: Alien incursions, ” Ness explains.

“Not surprising considering how everyone from Europa to Andromeda seems to consider Earth the local zoo,” Caesar says. Clarence sighs, his large forehead turning into a mass of wrinkles as he furrows his brow.

“Another evolutionary experiment turns out to be a bust. I was so certain we kept the location under wraps this time.”

“Does this mean we can leave this uncivilized planet,” Caesar says, perking up at the prospect.

“It’s not that uncivilized; That’s the problem!” Ness says and slaps her fins on the shore. “You have no interest in the experiment at all. You just want to get paid and head home, Caesar. I would bet my left fin you are responsible for some of the contamination. I hear rumors of humans sighting you every other week.”

“Like you’re much better you ill tempered aquatic lizard. People travel from afar hoping to get a glimpse of the “Loch Ness Monster.” They even named the place after you!” Caesar shouts. He sits up in the grass, one long hairy arm stretching out to point accusingly at Ness.

“Now, now,” Clarence says in a nervous, breathy tone. “I’m sure no one is to blame—“

“Of course, you’re kind and their neighbors are the worst about this sort of thing. Ever since humans pulled themselves up on two legs, ships and travellers have been popping up full of tourists. They waltz around, make a mess and we have try to clean up after them.” Caesar says. He’s on his feet now towering over Clarence. Ness is nodding along with his speech in this case and Clarence’s grey-green complexion is beginning to turn a shade of deep blue. The alien cowers in front of the irate ape.

“As pleasant as this planet is, there is little scientific use for us observers to stay here. If the committee insists on continued observation I’m sure we can convince Snow to watch the humans.” Ness suggests. She pulls herself across the shore into the grass, allowing her neck to snake over Caesar’s shoulder.

“Yes, of course. I’ll arrange transport for both of you at the earliest convenience,” Clarence says fold in on himself at the pressure of their instance.

There’s bright flash of white light from the tree line.

“Wow.”

Clarence, Ness, and Caesar all turn to see a hiker holding a camera. The hiker stands, staring then blinking her eyes vigorously in disbelief.

“Wow,” She says again. “You’re— You— I—“

“Oh no,” Clarence says.

“Another notable quality of humans,” Caesar starts.

“Their knack for being curious at inopportune times,” Ness finishes.

Clarence hums thoughtfully and tsks.

“No help for it, I suppose.” He reaches out one long fingered hand. At his fingertips, a rod the same color of Clarence’s skin appears. He points it to the hiker. She collapses unceremoniously.

“Oh Clarence, you didn’t kill her did you?” Ness asks.

“No, no, just unconscious. I am no barbarian, after all. I don’t look forward to carrying her back with me, but it is for the best.”

“Sure you don’t have room for me?” Caesar asks. Clarence turns blue once again.

“How dare you, Caesar! Its hardly acceptable for an inferior to hitchhike, but you? You know better.” Ness says agast.

“Worth a shot.” Caesar shrugs sitting back down in the grass.

Ness shakes her head in disgust. She drags herself back toward the water.

“If you have no other need for us, Clarence, I’ll return home. I have a long way to go.” Ness says. Clarence nods, waving her away. She descends from the rocky edge of the river and quickly disappears downstream.

“At least you have a proper home hidden in your lake. I suppose I’ll have to move caves. With that one disappearing, humans will be crawling all over this valley,” Caesar grumbles. “However will I bring all my favorite stones with me.”

Clarence hefts the hiker in one arm and waves a goodbye to Caesar with the other, rolling his eyes at the mountain-dweller’s sarcasm. Caesar falls back flat into the grass as Clarence’s form twists back into the disk he arrived as. The hiker disappears as Clarence’s humanoid shape distorts back into a disk.

The grass rustles as the disk disappears once again into the sky. Caesar groans into the empty clearing.

“I’m never doing fieldwork again.”