That One Thing

Daytime commenced on the faraway planet of Thars 74T. On this particular day, a Tharsian named Rugvart was set to be coupled with another. They were in the company of a Tharsian civil official and some family, but all that was missing was the one with whom they would couple. The other Tharsian needed that day was Bolorov, who was instead jetting fretfully towards planet Earth. 

Bolorov always had a renegade streak about them, constantly bucking the laws and rituals of Thars 74T to venture to other planets and galaxies more than they should. Bolorov didn’t understand their logic in isolationist policies. Were other Tharsians not even curious about the expanses surrounding them? Bolorov felt they could benefit so much from more connection to other galactic societies. Plus after all Bolorov’s experience, they knew that settling on Thars 74T for a lifetime was not in the cards, which went against the long-standing traditions of the conservative Tharsian beings. 

In all their travels, our Tharisan found no other place with such life and diversity like that on Earth. And especially today, Bolorov recognized Earth had something Thars 74T did not. They just couldn’t put a finger on what it was. However, veering into its atmosphere faster than usual, Bolorov had to act quickly. They activated the environmental blending so unnecessary attention wasn’t triggered. They learned to do this after some earlier run-ins with the Space Force. They also turned on the landing systems to prepare for impact. It could happen anywhere as high as some of the Earth's mountains reached. 

The craft alighted a few moments later, abruptly but not to the point of catastrophe. They observed some of the scanners for a preliminary outlook. The data noted their situation was several hundred feet above sea level in the northern hemisphere. The local time was dusk, the temperature was approximately fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, and the weather was overcast but dry.

Finding everything else reasonable, they had a few more things to do before leaving the craft. They put on a cloaking device that gave them a human appearance, grabbed the currency generator to have local money if need be, and collected two means of defense or protection: pepper spray, in case unruly earthlings are encountered and a Tharisan blaster, in the off-chance the planet overlords come this way.

Finally emerging from the vehicle, Bolorov surveyed the destination. They landed within a small United States metropolis, in the grassy space of a public park. They inhaled and exhaled the earth's air, the scent of trees and grass soothing the nerves they had moments ago at the helm. Plus anywhere else seemed better than being coupled with Rugvart. 

As they strolled from the park into downtown, they started to notice something different in the air. Earthling couples engaged in public displays of sentiment. Some exchanged gifts or tokens. The various symbols of Valentine’s Day adorned the building doors and windows they passed. Shops touted sales and merch for the occasion. Romantic music played from indistinct locations. Bolorov had to stop and drink in the aura, finding it dreamy, passionate, and amorous. They didn’t expect to find it so quickly but it's what they were looking for, whatever it was! 

Bolorov continued following this unfamiliar, but wonderful, vibe until they came upon an earthling looking out of place. A man slumped on a public bench with his face towards the ground. He wore a loose tie around his neck and left his suit jacket bunched next to him. Bolorov thought this man might have even had a frown.

“Hello, sir,” our Tharisan approached the man. “May I ask what troubles you?”

“This is the worst Valentine’s Day of my life!” He loathed. 

“Valentine’s Day?” Bolorov asked while sitting next to him. They never heard of this day before. “Is that what today is?”

“Yeah.” The man grumbled out loud, oblivious to the innocent ignorance. “It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate relationships, intimacy, and all that crap when, in reality, it's just an obnoxious commercial frenzy that makes you feel bad if you don’t have anyone to share it with!” 

“I’m sorry,” Bolorov tried to sympathize. “May I ask what happened to the person you were going to share with?” 

“My wife,” The man uttered, throwing up his hands as if to plead ignorance and defeat. “We’ve been married four years and I’m afraid she’s trying to leave me.” 

“What makes you say that?” Our Tharsian didn’t fully understand earthling relationships yet, but they could tell that was not good news.

“It’s hard to say...” The man started, “We’ve been arguing a lot more over the last two years. We’re having trouble having kids which I think is a big point of contention between us. We’ve done research and seen doctors but can’t get clear answers. I want so much to be a dad and she knows it. So I think she’s taken the lack of diagnosis really hard, believing that she can’t bear a child. She’s been down on herself a lot ever since, maybe even depressed. Every other odd thing seems to trigger her now when she wasn’t like that before.” 

The merriment faded as Bolorov listened to the man’s life story.

“What was she like before the conflicts escalated?” They were curious. 

“Oh!” Mused the man, a smile creeping across his face as he recalled the memories. “She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen! We met at a blind date event and that was the last one I ever been on! We talked early on and I didn’t give a hoot about anyone else! She’s a researcher. She’s so intelligent but not nerdy and pretty down to earth about it all. I never knew a combo like that existed!“

Bolorov saw the man had such delight in recalling the start of his relationship. That idea playing a part in their mating rituals was peculiar to them; it was very unlike coupling rituals back on Thars 74T. On the other hand, child-bearing was one thing of earthling life they understood. Thars 74T had germination rituals--some of which have been difficult on occasion--but they didn’t compare to Earth life. On other adventures, they’ve noticed how grown earthlings have such joy and affection for their young. Seeing the young reciprocate was even more endearing at times. Bolorov recognized the concerns this man and wife had about lacking the experience.

“...She seemed in a better mood a few weeks ago,” the man continued. “I mentioned the idea of going on a special date tonight and she seemed up for it. I even wanted to use the time to try telling her that I still want her even if she can’t have children! I really want to help her feel better. I made a dinner reservation but she canceled on me earlier! She said she was sick, but for all I know, she could really be off with a new man or starting divorce papers.” He clenched his fists and slumped back down. “I’m sorry to unload on you like this...” 

“No!” Bolorov protested, “I don’t mind at all!” Now they understood a little better why this earth man seemed out of sorts on a day like today. “I hope having a listening ear at least helped. I’m truly sorry about your predicament tonight and with your wife.”

Bolorov started to recognize something else new. They had a high opinion of the man who still wanted his wife despite the pregnancy issues. They saw this man had a commitment to his wife he intended to keep. The coupling ritual of Thars 74T worked the same way, but the deep affection earthlings had for one another is what made their “rituals” different. More still, this commitment and affection seemed to be what drove all other parts of this Valentine’s Day (in good times at least). That’s what was unknown to our Tharsian. Commitment and affection, boiled down to just one thing they didn’t know how to describe. They wanted to try exploring that thing further when the man’s cell phone rang. A beautiful woman’s photo popped up on the screen. Bolorov suspected the man’s wife was calling. 

“Hello,” he answered, bracing for the worst. “You’re what?!” The man shot up straight, his eyes widened, and his glumness quickly changed. “You’re... p-pregnant?!” He drew out, hardly believing the words himself. 

“My wife is pregnant!” The man turned to Bolorov, the joy making him tremble. “She was really sick because she’s pregnant!” They thought they saw a few tears in his eyes.

“That’s so wonderful!” They returned the man’s smile and emotion.”Congratulations!”  

“I’ll be right home, honey!” The man said into the phone. Before ending the call, he said three words Bolorov found unfamiliar. To borrow a colloquialism, they would say it was Greek to them. The two said hurried goodbyes and the man dashed home.  

Bolorov returned to the festive night, relieved that the man’s dilemma was resolved. However, they couldn’t help but imagine that same man having a young child in his arms in a few months. The pride and affection he was going to feel! They wondered if they’d meet the man--or even his family--again. 

Affection, Bolorov then thought, and those three words. That thing they couldn’t describe. They wanted to know that. It’s not a thing on Thars 74T and making it one would be difficult. The Tharsian society would shun an idea that’s not their own. Could they possibly introduce Rugvart to this concept and they learn it together? Not likely if Rugvart is stalwart to Tharsian ways...what were they to do?

Our Tharsian paused their deliberations at a florist cart. Admiring the vibrant rouge blooms, they produced a few dollars from the currency generator to purchase a single-stem rose. While smelling it, Bolorov was further distracted by a mother-daughter earthling pair on the curb nearby. The mother seemed preoccupied with her cell phone conversation while holding her daughter’s hand. In contrast, the daughter seemed a little bored, waiting for either her parent’s attention or their destination. Bolorov had the idea to share their flower with the little earthling girl, who accepted with a smile on her face. They smiled back, warmed by the exchange.

The smiles and cheers abruptly transitioned to panic as the sky turned unusually dark. Wind gusts from overhead picked up, upsetting bystanders and loose material. Looking upward, they spotted the gargantuan Tharsian overlord spacecraft hovering over the metropolitan airspace. A booming vocalization sounded from the vehicle, inarticulate to earthlings as it was speaking in the Tharsian language. 

“Bolorov Wexanthra 0 Theta 51! You are in violation of galactic laws 579-3.21 among other Tharsian offenses! Surrender yourself peaceably for transport to High Council!”

Our Tharsian was stunned at first. The cloaking device was supposed to mask his alien signature from detection along with providing a human appearance. So how did they find them? They inspected the cloaking device for any anomalies and found a planted program bug that tracked their whereabouts. 

Then they were frightened. Not so much for the consequences of their actions against Thars 74T but for the chaos that was about to ensue. While they recognized earthlings were resilient beings, Tharsian warfare was too much for humanity. No Space Force or NASA tactics would get the upper hand on their alien kind. More quick thinking had to be implemented before an intergalactic conflict broke out. 

Bolorov started by aiming their blaster towards the overlord spacecraft, hoping to gain some advantage by hitting an alleged weak spot in the nose of the exterior system.

“Bolorov Wexanthra 0 Theta 51!” The overlord voice boomed again, “Violence against the Overlords will not be tolerated! Prepare for offensive measures!” 

Plasma blasters sparked to life and bystanders were fearful now. A couple of bolts were unleashed up the block, frying structures they contacted or zapping spots onto the pavement. Amid the escalating mayhem, the mother-daughter pair got separated, with the daughter frozen in fear where she stood as a plasma bolt careened right for her. Bolorov dove to move the girl, narrowly missing contact with the streak. They ushered the girl to the other side of the street where her mother ended up and gratefully received her daughter. Our Tharsian turned back and shot at the overlord ship again, finally hitting the weak spot and malfunctioning the plasma blasters. 

“If the Overlords be in agreement,” Bolorov addressed the leaders. “Please exile me to this planet for my crimes! My only request is to consider this planet under the galactic codes Tau 3.B-19. Earth will not be targeted with violence again if its inhabitants have not provoked first!”

“This is an accepted contingency but it will not be your final sentence,” The spacecraft voice responded. “We must confer with the planetary council regarding their ruling.”

Bolorov and other bystanders watched the craft ascend from Earth’s atmosphere. Calling out that statute felt like a long shot, but it seemed to work...for the time being anyway. The human crowd cheered and expressed thanks, declaring they were saved. The mother-daughter pair crossed the street again to more properly thank their hero with a hug. 

“Is this what that feels like?” Our Tharsian wondered introspectively as they were embraced. “Is this affection and respect? I certainly want to commit myself to keeping planet Earth and its inhabitants safe, if they’ll have me. They are so interesting and now I should have plenty of time to learn more about them and maybe even that one thing!”