Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor by Myra Nour Page A

troops."
    "You never shared that with me."
    "I guess not.” They were passing one of the nondescript doors marked with a symbol, when Ryja stopped. “Speaking of not sharing...I've been meaning to introduce you to Xartor III and keep forgetting."
    "I do remember you mentioning it. I wondered at the time why you wanted to
    introduce me to a computer."
    He waved a hand for her to enter. The room was very small, with heavily padded walls and just the one door. The only object in it was a large rectangular metal box. It had flashing lights and a few wheels. It didn't look like any other computer she'd seen on the spaceship. “It reminds me of one of those old computers you see in 1950's movies."
    "Pretty much.” Ryja strolled the few steps to it and pointed to a clear glass case that sat in the middle of the thing. “Come look."
    Amber was hesitant but stepped next to him and glanced down. Inside the case rested a large pink slug looking creature. “What is it?"
    "What makes the computer a Xartor III and very expensive."
    She stared at him Was he kidding?
    " Xartor III , what am I thinking?” Ryja pointed at the slug creature as he spoke.
    Obliging, Amber stared back through the case. The slug was undulating its
    disgusting body and electrical sparks shot from its body, one after another, hitting the interior of the metal casing inside. The computer hummed and then a disembodied voice said, “You think that Amber will think you are crazy."
    Amber frowned and looked at Ryja. “Is this some parlor game? Anyone could have guessed that."
    He shrugged. “What is Amber thinking?"
    Reluctantly, she stared back down, watching the sparks fly from the strange slug.
    "She thinks I resemble an ugly slug from planet Earth."
    "Amber.” Ryja frowned, but a smile lurked on his lips. “You've just insulted one of the most unique sapient beings in the galaxy."
    Her mouth fell open. “How was I supposed to know?” Looking down, she sighed and said, “I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
    "Apology accepted,” the voice replied.
    "Can we go,” she whispered. “This makes me very uncomfortable.” She stared at Ryja, unable to keep her eyes from running over his handsome form.
    "She thinks you look spectacular tonight."
    "Hey, get out of my mind.” Amber blushed, realizing she'd given herself away without even protesting.
    As they turned to leave, it got the last word in. “She is grateful you saved her life."
    "Well, that is true."
    Ryja chuckled. “You're welcome."
    "How can you live with Xartor III , knowing it can read your mind anytime it
    wants?"
    He patted the buckle on his belt. “A dampener field. I wear one on every piece of clothes, and turn it off when I want Xartor III to mind read."
    "Like the translation?"
    "Yep. And if he is going to read say an ambassadors mind for me, he will be able to get into my mind as well."
    "I'm not sure I'd like that."
    "It takes some getting used to, but he is an invaluable resource."
    "I guess."
    "Can I get a dampener?” Amber had no idea if Xartor III had been reading her mind all along, but it gave her the creeps to think so.
    "Sure. I'll get you one tomorrow. It will stick onto any piece of clothing."
    They had entered the bedroom, and Amber started undressing absentmindedly. “Why does the slug live inside that computer?"
    "First, the slug is called a Keeri. It is a parasite of sort, and it lives its life in a symbiotic relationship with a computer. This Keeri's name is Stanley."
    "Stanley?"
    "His Keeri name is unpronounceable, and that was the closest I could get to it.” Ryja laughed. “The matching between the two is called Xartor III."
    "I kind of understand, but that still doesn't explain that old looking computer."
    "The first time a Keeri discovered a symbiotic relationship with a computer, it was on a primitive world that barely started using mechanical brains. Once one connected, the others on the planet followed suit. It made for astonishing results. The computer was