He Comes in Peace

True to her word, Skye's mother drove them home without any further interruptions. It could've perhaps been because the extraterrestrial that had been trailing their car by alien means, or it could've been just a bad day for them. But either way, the car ride home was smooth and peaceful and quiet enough for a baby to sleep through.

Skye certainly had no trouble dozing off in the backseat. Within half an hour, her head had drooped onto her shoulder, and her mouth slid open sluggishly as she fell asleep.

Kartayon, however, stayed wide awake and very alert, as if he expected battleships from another planet in space to invade Earth and capture them.

His eyes darted around the car from his scrunched position on the floor, and every once in a while, he would poke his nose around the back of the passenger's seat and peer at Mrs. Cedona, then raise himself slightly to look out the window.

When it was clear to him that it was safe to get some rest, he settled down and curled up again, making sure to press himself against the car door, out of view. He stayed completely still, despite the occasional bumps and potholes on the sides of the roads that the car tires caught. It seemed as though his body was on full alert, without his brain fully managing his hands or feet. He stayed in a rigid position through his entire nap.

-x-

Skye woke up at random intervals; the first time her eyes snapped open, she looked down at where her feet were, and found Kartayon staring directly back at her. She offered a tired smile, (which he returned rather stiffly) and slipped off her shoes, unbuckling her seat belt.

She saw her mother's eyes dart to the rear view mirror, and smiled at her, too.

"Tired, Skye?" her mother said quietly.

"Yeah...But don't ask about me; you're probably twice as tired," Skye replied.

Mrs. Cedona nodded slightly. "We're almost home," she said off-handedly. "Maybe half a mile left? This is something I don't like about going to the lake house: The fact that I have to drive all the way back."

"But it's kind of odd; you never seem to mind when we're on our way to the lake house," her daughter remarked slyly.

Karen smiled. "Of course I don't. When we're going to the lake house, we're heading towards a small vacation where I can just sit back and relax. But when we're going back home, it's back to work and packing school lunches."

Skye thought for a moment. "You know, mom, you should take a longer vacation. I think you're working too much anyway." Mrs. Cedona worked at an office for a stock company, and despite the many times that she assured Skye it was interesting work, Skye still maintained the thought that if she ever wanted to sleep out of boredom and get paid for it, she would follow in her mother's footsteps.

"Oh, shush, honey. I prefer you when you're asleep and drooling. You know, when you were little, you had the cutest little face when you were sleeping. I remember once when you were eating ice cream from a little plastic bowl, and you got so tired that your face-"

"All right, all right, I'll go back to sleep. Not another trip down memory lane, please, mother," Skye grumbled.

"Oh, why not Skye? None of your friends are around."

Oh, irony. Skye thought.

"It doesn't matter, Mom. Now that you mention it, I'm tired." Skye crammed herself horizontally onto the entire backseat, and buckled herself in awkwardly. She cast her eyes around for Kartayon.

His face was a few inches from her, and judging by the rather odd smile on his face, he had been listening intently.

He leaned forward and touched his head against hers.

I would have liked to hear your childhood stories. They seem interesting and comical.

As he withdrew, Skye jumped at the electrifying, tingling sensation that shot through her scalp, and seemed to sink into her head. She raised her hands and scratched furiously.

She then proceeded to yank on his hair and pull him back. She knocked his head against her own and thought in annoyance,

Two things: How the freak did you just do that? And don't ever do that again!

Kartayon looked at her, puzzled.

My apologies, I did not quite hear that. I had not opened my mind to yours quite yet.

Huh?

My mind was closed to you, and being a human, you do not have the proper abilities to force my mind open. No ability at all, whatsoever, in regards of telepathy. Would you be so kind as to repeat your words? Tay thought politely.

Oh, never mind. You just answered one of my questions, and the other thing...Don't do that without asking, okay?

Would it have been possible for me to communicate without your mother noticing? he asked plainly.

True enough. But go back to sleep, okay, porcupine boy?

A ruffled, bothered look appeared on Kartayon's face.

Is this going to become a regular habit with you? he asked irritably.

Skye smiled evilly. That was a good enough answer as she playfully pressed her palm against his face and pushed him back.

With a last, annoyed look, he settled back down.

-x-

The second time Skye woke up, Kartayon was asleep. If you could call it asleep.

Like the description offered in the beginning, of the chapter, it was not like sleeping whatsoever. More like he was paralyzed..

Skye was very tempted to reach out and poke him, as childish as it sounded. She propped herself up onto her elbow. Just as she was about to jab her index finger at his nose, he eyes blinked open.

Kartayon sent her a cynical, pitying look, while shaking his head.

Skye exhaled with the air of a child who had just had her fun ruined by an adult. She laid back down, about to close her eyes again when her mother spoke.

"Skye, sweetie. We're home."