Of Goo and Glory, Chapter 2

Baffled, she lets go of the box and concludes, “Well, thank you for helping it thrive. Please tell me how it went along!”

“I will! No worries.”

When Marianda is gone, I hurriedly carry the box into my small office room. Here, I still have some equipment from my old laboratory. I put the red goo-thing in its box on the table. Terrified, I watch it moving. And then, instantly, a robotic voice echoes.

<We are glad we found you.>

Damn! It’s even worse! What is this thing?

<We traveled 5.3 light years to your planet. We needed to find a decorated microbiologist like you to make Earth aware of us.>

Well, yeah, I won some honorable prices for my research, yet my rent is more than humble.

<You already helped us a lot by covering us from the sun and watering the soil. We need moisture and food.>

Oh my goodness! Apparently, they are water-based. But what do they mean by food?

Getting straight to the point, I decide to ask them. “What food?”

<We found that the little worms are a formidable source of energy. They harm the vegetables you grow in the garden. We are sure we may reach a formidable cooperation between you and us.>

Yikes, they are eating nematodes! Oh, dear! Yes, these worms damage my veggies, but just the same, I do know that they are very essential to life on Earth. I need to find a solution to this.

“I see. It is very kind of you to free me of nematodes. I should introduce you to my superiors and tell them that you will fight with us against the evil nematodes.”

The goo seems to like it. <This is exactly what we hoped you would help us with>

“Splendid! Let’s start right away! I will bring you to them!”

Before I leave, I lure my dog into the fenced garden. After that, I joyfully put the box with the alien goo into my car on the co-driver’s seat and squeeze myself behind the steering wheel.

“Let’s go!”

<We are glad you are acting quickly. We are hungry.>

“I bet you are. We need to pass the bush fires of the season to reach my boss.”

<Whatever it takes.>