In the neon-lit heart of the city, where the night sky was obscured by the gleaming skyscrapers, a small, inconspicuous bar nestled itself, a haven for those seeking refuge from the bustling world outside. It was here, amidst the clink of glasses and the hum of low conversations, where two aliens, hidden beneath the guise of humans, found their paths intersecting.
Liana, hailing from the planet Elysion, was a vision of celestial beauty. Her species, known as the Elysiarans, resembled the Greek gods of Earth’s mythology — statuesque, with an ethereal grace that belied their incredible strength. For fifty years, she had wandered Earth, finding solace in its diverse cultures and landscapes. Yet, beneath the surface of her seemingly content existence, Liana harboured a longing, a yearning for a connection that Earth’s men, despite their charm, could not fulfil.
Across the bar, a figure caught her attention — someone not of Earthly origin. This was Zorax, a Xentaurian, a being whose plump, androgynous form contrasted starkly with the Elysiarans’ sculpted physiques. The Xentaurians, known for their remarkable symbiosis with their Centipede-like companions, were masters of interstellar travel, their pets serving as living, breathing spaceships. To others in the cosmos, Xentaurians were esteemed as unparalleled lovers, possessing a unique understanding of pleasure transcending mere physicality.
As fate would have it, Zorax was in dire straits. Stranded on Earth for 300 years, his reserves dwindled, his Centipede companion nearing the end of its life. Desperation had driven him to the bar that night, seeking solace in the bottom of a glass.
Their conversation, initially cautious, soon delved into realms of shared loneliness and alienation. Liana, intrigued by Zorax’s plight and drawn to the promise of an experience only a Xentaurian could provide, made a proposition — financial aid in exchange for a night of passion. Zorax, seeing no other option, reluctantly agreed.
The chosen venue for their clandestine encounter was a secluded park shrouded in the veil of night. As they embraced, Liana felt a surge of exhilaration, the brink of fulfilment tantalizingly close. But in a startling twist, Zorax attempted to overpower her. His motives were not lust but survival.
Trained in the art of combat, Liana effortlessly subdued him, demanding an explanation. Zorax, defeated and weary, revealed a harrowing truth. The advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) on Earth was imminent, a development that would inevitably lead to the Planet Federation’s formal recognition of Earth. As a fugitive, this spelled disaster for him. His real plan was grim — to use the body of a space-traveled species, like Liana, to rejuvenate his dying companion and escape the planet.
Liana’s eyes narrowed as she pieced together recent events. The chaos at OpenAI, the debates raging about AI regulations — Zorax had orchestrated it all, using his persuasive powers to delay Earth’s technological advancement, buying himself time.
In a moment of revelation, Liana understood the gravity of their encounter. It was more than a chance meeting; it was a clash of destinies, of two souls adrift in the vastness of space. As the first hints of dawn crept over the city skyline, Liana made her decision. She would not become a pawn in Zorax’s desperate game. But neither would she abandon a fellow traveller in need.