EXTRACT FOR
The Unseen
(Donovan Deleware)

Jenna was walking through the Alvena Metro Park. It's where she went when the emotions were running high and she need to get away from everyone to think and cool off. In the shade of the trees it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining above with nary a cloud marring the tranquil blanket of sky. A cool breeze caused the trees, grass, and flowers to dance, but all Jenna could see was the bleak reality of her existence. For almost half her life she had been called insane, or even worse a liar and it was getting to her. She put up a strong front as if it didn't bother her, but it did. It ate away at her resolve and brought her to such lows that bad thoughts entered her head. It was times like these that she came to the park where she could be alone with her thoughts, to contemplate her existence and if it was worth going on.

Having come here almost religiously for years, Jenna knew every trail forwards and backwards. Walking through the open field adjacent the parking lot, she watched fathers playing catch with their sons. Watched a Frisbee gliding smoothly through the air like a small flying saucer and hoped beyond reason that a little alien would pop out of the top when it reached its destination. She twirled between two young girls - maybe seven or eight years old, running through the sea of green without a care in the world. It brought back memories of a better time, a better life that she longed for.

The Great Serpent was a long, narrow trail that wound through the trees like a never-ending snake. Starting on the left side of the field it took hikers from one side of the part to the other and back again, emerging on the right side of the field after about four miles of weaving through the trees. Jenna couldn't remember the Great Serpent existing prior to three years ago and on some days she wondered if she blazed it herself on her many ventures off the beaten path in search of a place to be alone.

Jenna rounded the third twist in the trail and stopped dead in her tracks. "OH GOD!" she gasped at the grey-skinned 'man' appearing out of nowhere twenty feet ahead of her. "Not another damn alien!" She shook her head and rubbed the palms of her hands against her eyes, but he was still standing there when her vision cleared. 

He was dressed in the uniform of the Okzhu Military consisting of matching grey and black pants, shirt and black boots that were about three shades darker than his skin. Across his right breast were several rows of colored bars, ribbons, and medals as it was customary for those in the military to wear all of their medals and commendations on their uniform.

Commander Aravo quickly pushed buttons on the device he wore on his wrist. It kind of reminded Jenna of the thing Leela wore on Futurama only much sleeker in design. Everything appeared functional. "You can see me?" asked Aravo looking at Jenna. "What do you mean another alien? Have you seen one of my kind before? Answer me child!"

  "Of course I can see you," Jenna replied "I'm not blind. Are you friends with that giant lizard thing?" she asked looking right at the surprised alien.

 "But that's impossible. Humans don't possess the ability to see through our cloaking technology."