Chapter 12 - Not Human, Not Alone
Six months later.
A cold breeze swept through the bustling streets of Seattle.
Ava sat in a small corner cafe, sipping black coffee. Her hair was dyed dark brown, and she wore wire-rimmed glasses to soften her features.
To the world, she was Elena, a freelance data analyst.
She opened her laptop. Next to it sat the heavy metal briefcase she had carried out of the desert.
She plugged a modified USB cable from the briefcase into her computer. Lines of alien code scrolled across the screen, translating slowly into English.
She was learning their biology, their history, their home.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin.
It was silent now. The blue glow was gone, replaced by the dull, normal sheen of old metal. Without the ship, it was just a piece of metal again.
A waitress walked by, dropping the check on the table.
“Everything okay over here, hon?” the waitress asked.
Ava looked up and offered a warm, perfectly human smile.
“Yes, thank you,” Ava said. “Everything is exactly how it’s supposed to be.”
May you like
She placed a crisp bill on the table, picked up the briefcase, and walked out into the city.
She wasn't human. But for the first time in her life, she knew she wasn't alone. And when the world was finally ready, she would wake her family.
