Alien Versus Nerd Read online

  “Amanda?”

  Apparently, she had no injury and slowly came in my direction.

  “For a second, I thought I had lost you.” Tears welled in her eyes as I tugged her into my arms.

  “You made it,” she said, amused.

  “We made it.”

  “And what will you do now that you saved the world?”

  “I didn’t think about it yet. It looks like we’re on TV now.”

  Amanda raised an eyebrow. “You are a hero now, I think they want to interview you,” She assumed, looking over my shoulder a battalion of reporters gather behind the police line tape.

  Amid service secret agents, firefighters and press, an intriguing figure caught my attention.

  “Who is she?” Amanda asked as she looked at the same direction my eyes were looking at.

  “Long story.”

  The crowd pulled away at thinking that Piper might be part of an alien force sent to bring us down. An infantry squad took up position and surrounded the area, pointing dozens of guns at Piper.

  “Ease, guys. She’s with me.”

  The soldiers fell back. Piper approached.

  “You did well, their future is assured thanks to you,” she said with a grin.

  “I wouldn’t have done it without you.”

  Camila turned to Kevin, surprised. “She looks like a celeb or something.”

  “I can’t deal with goodbyes well at all. It’s too painful, even for a machine.”

  Kevin tilted his head, heartbroken.

  “Why don’t you stay? Besides, there’s so much we can learn from you.”

  “I’d love to stay, but I don’t belong here.” Piper stared at the crowd. “I think you’ve taken the first step, after what happened here, nothing will be the same.”

  “Well, we escaped the total annihilation, we’re gonna be just fine, I guess.” Kevin agreed, looking a bit sad.

  “Hey, this is not a final goodbye.”

  We’re all there gaping at her, startled, and then a tear rolled down on her face.

  “I didn’t know that machines could cry.”

  “Not bad for a household appliance of the future.” She grinned. “Your people need to be careful, others are coming.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be waiting for them.”

  “Well, I think my task here is over.”

  Piper lowered her head and said goodbye to Kevin with a tender hug and looked up at me.

  “I’d better get going. Just a reminder, never keep a girl waiting. Ah, one more thing, don’t blow it this time, okay?”

  “Leave it to me.”

  Piper kissed me on the cheek and slightly moved away from me. It was very difficult to see her leave that way, and the last thing I saw was her childlike eyes staring at me. Then she vanished in the midst of the crowd.

  “You liked her, huh? You’re going to get this story straight later,” Amanda said, moved by my reaction.

  “I’m gonna miss her, but now I have you. Well, there’s just one thing missing.”

  “What?” She asked as if she knew the answer.

  “You know the final scene where the hero gets the girl.”

  “You mean kiss the girl,” she amended, bowing slightly her head close to mine.

  Our mouths met each other.

  Kevin stared at Camila.

  “We’re supposed to be doing the same thing, aren’t we?”

  “What?”

  He finally pulled her into his arms and kissed her unexpectedly.

  After that, something came up.

  “Hey, look,” said a voice of a local resident.

  A group of F-18XTs skimmed over the town. Amanda looked at the scene, amazed, and kissed me again. Taken by the same sense of collective euphoria that now had spread throughout the entire town, scores of locals crowded around, eager, and excited, jumping up and down to celebrate our victory upon the invading forces.