The night it happened; Floyd had just about decided to call it a day.

  Oddball had left a while ago, the fire had burned low, and the TV was off. The quiet hum of the woods outside wrapped around the cabin like a blanket. Floyd rose from his chair to head to bed—then he sensed something.

  Movement, just out of the corner of his left eye.

  He turned instantly. His amygdala lit up like a warning flare.

  Instinct kicked in. He threw himself back into the cushioned chair, heart pounding.

  His first thought: Grizzly bear. A big one.

  But no. The shotgun and rifle were inside. Too far. Too late.

  And this—this wasn’t a bear.

  It was tall. Well over eight feet. Humanoid in shape, standing still at the edge of the porch. Pale-skinned, hairless, unclothed. Its limbs, joints, digits—correctly placed but... wrong. The head was too large. The eyes too steady. It had ears, a nose, a mouth. No visible gender. No sign of movement.

  Floyd's brain scrambled to compute it

  Then, absurdly, he laughed.

  “Ha! Ha ha ha! Nice one, Oddball. You bastard. You really had me going. Hell of an April Fool’s stunt.”

  The thing didn’t move.

  Didn’t blink.

  Just stared.

  Floyd’s laughter trailed off.

  “Oh... oh hell,” he whispered. “This ain’t no prank.”

  Then came the sensation—like someone was running a feather through his brain from the inside out. Every nerve ending tingled. Floyd froze. Not in fear—just total powerlessness.

  And then the strangest thing happened.

  Pleasure. Rolling waves of it. Not sexual. Not even physical, exactly. Just rightness. A warm, euphoric calm. He melted into his chair like he’d just had the best massage of his life.

  The figure began to change.

  It shrank. Humanized. Became… familiar.

  And then, impossibly, Sian Surner stood before him.

  The queen of performers. The woman he’d admired for years. Glamorous, poised, dressed like she was stepping onto a red carpet.

  “Hello, Floyd,” she said in that voice—low, sultry, perfect.

  She walked up the steps, heels clicking lightly. Sat in the chair opposite, legs crossed just so. Hair immaculate. Lipstick flawless.

  Floyd’s jaw dropped. His brain whirled.

  This is it, he thought. I’ve finally gone mad. And if this is madness… I’m good with it.

  “You look happy to see me,” Sian purred.

  He nodded, barely managing, “Yes, I… but—”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I mean you no harm. We mean you no harm.”

  “We?”

  “There are others. They want to meet you.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you can help us. And by doing that, help yourself.”

  Floyd blinked. “Where are they?”

  She pointed upward.

  “They’re up there.”

  “They can’t come down?”

  “It’s easier if you come up.”

  He hesitated. “How?”

  “Just take my hand,” she said, extending her right hand. “Trust me.”

  He looked at it.

  He took it.

  And he felt it. Like an electric current, like champagne in his veins—and something else.

  “Oh boy,” Floyd thought. “I hope I don’t embarrass myself.”

  They walked together, down the steps, across the grass.

  Somewhere in there, reality shifted.

  He didn’t remember flying. Or floating. Or walking into any ship.

  But suddenly—he was there.

  The room was bright, pristine, humming with unseen energy. Smooth surfaces, subtle lights. At the far end stood three beings. Tall. Pale. Identical to the original figure before it became Sian. Expressionless but somehow... aware.

  Floyd flinched involuntarily. The erection vanished. Instincts again.

  The middle one stepped forward.

  “Welcome, Floyd,” it said, voice calm, resonant. “I am Ixum, the commander. To my right is Ixus, second-in-command. To my left, Ixut, our lead engineer.”

  They nodded in perfect sync.

  “If our form is uncomfortable, we can change to something more familiar,” Ixum offered.

  Floyd straightened his back. “No need. I’m sure I look just as strange to you.”

  All three let out a soft laugh, perfectly timed. It was unnerving—but not unkind.

  “An excellent answer,” said Ixum. “We assure you; no harm will come to you here.”

  Floyd exhaled. “Alright… where is here?”

  “You are aboard the Ixarus. We are in orbit above your planet. Would you like to see it?”

  “Would I ever!”

  Ixum led him to a wide observation port.

  And there it was.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Earth. The sapphire in all its glory.

  Spinning silently beneath them, half in darkness. City lights sparkled across the continents. A faint glow curved across the western horizon.

  Floyd stared. Awestruck.

  They circled westward. The Pacific glided below them. Then came Japan. China. Mongolia. Russia. Europe. The North Atlantic. Then home.

  “Magnificent,” Floyd whispered. “I never imagined I’d see this. It’s… breathtaking.”

  “You are very welcome,” Ixum said gently. “Now, we must talk. It’s time to tell you why you’re here.”

  -------------------------------------------------------

  Meeting the Umbrigol

  Floyd followed the commander into a room that could only be described as a meeting chamber. A long, oval table dominated the centre, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Ixus, Ixut, and the ever-magnetic Sian were already seated—alongside one unfamiliar being.

  “Please sit beside me,” said Sian, gesturing to the chair on her right.

  Floyd obeyed immediately. As he settled in, both chairs rose smoothly about 22 inches, lifting him to eye level with the tall alien beings.

  “Like sitting in a high chair,” Floyd thought, smirking.

  “This is Ixat,” said Ixum, indicating the unknown figure. “Our medical officer.”

  Floyd gave a respectful nod. Ixat raised a hand in acknowledgment.

  Ixum began.

  “I will now give you a brief history of our race. We are the Umbrigol. We once lived on a planet of the same name. Our evolution followed a remarkably similar path to your own—we looked much as you do now.

  “We too had an industrial revolution. We built machines, powered them with fire and oil. As our technology surged, our wisdom faltered. We believed ourselves invincible. The planet was treated not as our home, but as a resource to be exploited. The warnings went unheeded.

  “The climate changed. Seas rose. Storms and seasons went mad. Populations soared, then starved. Pandemics swept through us.

  “When the polar ice caps melted, the planet’s mass redistributed. Its rotation slowed. The altered spin twisted the crust, increasing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. The world we knew began to fall apart.

  “We fought wars—chemical, biological, nuclear. The surface became uninhabitable. Some fled underground. Others, left behind, perished.

  “Our society lost its soul. Breeding was restricted. Sterilization became law. Genetic engineering was weaponized. Eugenics followed. Slowly, we mutated into what you see before you. Echoes of ourselves—but no longer truly human.

  Eventually, we destroyed our world. A barren rock. Its atmosphere gone.

  Those of us who survived fled. We have never returned.”

  Floyd sat in stunned silence. A deep sadness welled up inside him.

  “That’s... horrifying,” he said. “Is this what’s waiting for us too?”

  “Possibly,” Ixum replied. “You walk a similar path. But it’s not too late.”

  There was a pause. Then:

  “If we had arrived seventy of your years ago, it would have been much easier.”

  “What can I do? I’m just one man.”

  “One person can make a difference,” Ixum said. “We will share information with you—technology, knowledge. But it must be kept secret. If corrupted, it could lead to new horrors.”

  “I understand,” Floyd said. “I’ve seen enough to know what some people are capable of.”

  “Good. But first, our medical officer must examine you. We must ensure you’re fit for what’s ahead. Do you consent?”

  Floyd hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

  ----------------------------------------------------------

  The Examination

  Ixat rose. “Please come with me, Floyd.”

  Floyd’s chair descended, and he followed the doctor to a bright, sterile chamber.

  “Please remove your clothes and lie on your back,” the doctor instructed.

  Floyd complied, lying down on a smooth surface. Ixat passed a hand just above Floyd’s skin—never touching, but scanning.

  Now and then, the doctor paused, as if making subtle calibrations.

  “Turn over, please.”

  Floyd complied. After a moment, Ixat spoke.

  “Sit up and put this on.” He handed Floyd a yellow bathrobe.

  “You are healthy enough now.”

  “Now? Was something wrong?”

  “Yes. Several things, in fact,” Ixat replied calmly. “You had an enlarged prostate, early lung damage from pollutants and smoking, cysts on both testicles, joint pain in your back and left knee, and the lingering effects of Dengue Fever. Also… trauma. The memories from Iraq. We have relocated those. They remain, but the flashbacks and nightmares are gone.”

  Floyd blinked. “I... I don’t know what to say. That’s incredible. Thank you.”

  “You are most welcome. One final matter remains. We require a sample of your semen.”

  Floyd winced. “You’re not going to—uh—milk me, are you?”

  The doctor read the thought and gave a small smile. “No, Floyd. It will be the natural way. Sian will assist you.”

  Right on cue, Sian entered the room.

  Floyd turned crimson. She smiled, ever so slightly.

  “Come with me, Floyd,” she said, her voice velvet.

  He did not hesitate.

  Later

  As they lay side by side, Floyd inhaled deeply.

  “That perfume you’re wearing… what is it?”

  “KORS,” she replied. “By Michael Kors. It’s meant for evening wear. Do you like it?”

  “I love it.”

  ------------------------------------------------------------------

  Return from the Stars

  Sian left Floyd alone to get dressed.

  Ixut returned to escort him back to the meeting room, where Commander Ixum was waiting alone.

  “Please, take a seat,” Ixum said, gesturing toward the same chair Floyd had used before.

  As Floyd sat, the chair once again rose smoothly by 22 inches, bringing him eye-to-eye with the commander.

  “The doctor confirms you are now healthy in both body and mind,” Ixum began. “What remains of our race now travels the stars, seeking out civilizations in danger of repeating our mistakes. Your people stand at a turning point. We will provide you with information, equipment, and resources—money too. You will know what to do with them when the time comes. We will guide you, discreetly, but the responsibility will be yours.”

  Floyd nodded slowly. “Commander, I’m at an age now where I can clearly see that what lies ahead is a great deal shorter than what lies behind. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that time should be spent well. If I can help, I will. I’ve never been drawn to money for its own sake. It holds no appeal for me.”

  Ixum inclined his head respectfully. “Thank you, Floyd. That is exactly why you were chosen. I hope you have found your time here enlightening.”

  “I have. It was… different,” Floyd said with a half-smile. “But I do have to ask—have you helped others before us?”

  “Yes,” Ixum replied. “There are many planets. Some needed help. Some did not. Life found its way across the stars. You are not alone.”

  Floyd's brow lifted. “So… we’re not special?”

  “You are unique, as all are—but not alone. You’ve met us. Others have met others.”

  That sat heavily—and yet, comfortingly—with Floyd.

  A moment passed before he spoke again. “A mate of mine—Oddball—saw some lights in the sky a few nights back. That wasn’t you, was it?”

  Ixum shook his head. “No. That was your own government. A secret project. They are attempting to reverse-engineer something.”

  Floyd gave a knowing grin. “So… Roswell?”

  “Yes. That story, and others. The weather balloon narrative was, as you say, a ‘load of bullshit.’”

  Floyd laughed. “Thought so.”

  Ixum leaned forward slightly. “One more thing. Our doctor detected something during your visit. Your friend—Oddball—his prostate is enlarged. It may cause problems if left untreated.”

  Floyd looked surprised. “But you’ve never met him.”

  “We see and feel many things from afar.”

  “Well… alright. I’ll find a way to bring it up casually.”

  “You must,” Ixum said firmly. “But it must come from you. We cannot be involved in everything.”

  Floyd nodded. “Understood. Is that how you found me?”

  “Yes. We sensed what we needed in you. The will. The conscience. The capacity to act.”

  “I’m honoured,” Floyd said. “And I won’t let you down.”

  Just then, the door opened and Sian stepped into the room.

  “Time to go, Floyd,” she said.

  Floyd’s chair descended to the floor. Sian took his hand once again—and in the blink of an eye, he was standing outside his cabin.

  The stars sparkled overhead. The night was silent and still.

  Sian embraced him, kissed him softly.

  “Thank you for a great night, Floyd. I will see you again. That’s a promise.”

  Before he could reply, she vanished.

  Floyd stood there for a moment, blinking.

  He shook his head in disbelief, smiling to himself. “Thanks for a great night, Sian. I’ll never forget it.”

  He went inside, locked the door, and headed to bed.

  For once, his sleep was deep, undisturbed—and entirely dreamless.

  ---------------------------------------------------------

  The Confession

  Floyd finished talking and looked Oddball in the eye.

  There was only one thing he’d left out—the quiet warning from the doctor about Oddball’s prostate. That could wait. Another time, another beer.

  “That’s what happened that night, Oddball. Word for word. Event by event,” Floyd said. “This is my confession, brother.”

  Oddball was silent for a long moment, holding Floyd’s gaze.

  “Bloody hell, Floyd,” he said at last. “That’s one hell of a story.”

  “It’s all true,” Floyd replied quietly. “I’m not bullshitting you.”

  Oddball exhaled slowly, thinking it over. “Well… I’ll agree with one thing. The most dangerous thing alive on this planet is the good old-fashioned Mark 1 Inhumane Being.”

  Floyd laughed. “Nice one, Oddball—Inhumane Being. I like that.”

  “Yeah,” Oddball said. “That’s the truth, isn’t it? Just turn on the news. Death and destruction every day. It's enough to make a grown man weep.”

  Floyd nodded. “Look at it this way, Oddball—you said a few days ago you never figured me for an Einstein. And you were right. I’m just an ordinary Joe. How else do you think I came up with that engine?”

  Oddball went quiet again, working it through in his head. Then he nodded slowly.

  “That’s true. I’ve known you ten years. Never thought you were particularly clever—no offence meant. But yeah. Alright. I believe you.”

  “Thanks, Oddball,” Floyd said. “That means a lot.”

  They shook hands—firmly, silently.

  “What next?” Oddball asked.

  “We keep our heads down and our mouths shut,” Floyd said. “Or that’ll be the end of us.”

  “Agreed,” said Oddball. “Let the world chase its tail.”

  They talked of other things for a while—safe things, simple things.

  When the beers were done, Oddball stood up, stretched, and headed home.

  Floyd watched him go, then turned in for the night.

  He felt lighter—like a great weight had finally slipped off his shoulders.

  He slept like a stone, and for the first time in years, without ghosts.