The Deliquent Alien

By Noel Carroll

A rebellious young alien (Terrin) transmits herself to newly- discovered Earth to prove she is capable of interplanetary exploration. Able to assume any form for which she has DNA, she gathers two samples, one a canine and the other a beautiful young woman. She begins with the canine form, thinking this will allow her to move more easily among Earth's creatures. It appears to work as she wanders freely through the small town of Everglade City, Florida.
Unaware that Earth bodies require rest, Terrin becomes exhausted and falls asleep. But her canine form is that of a female in heat, and she is rudely awakened by a male in the process of taking advantage. She is alarmed but accepting; after all, she has come to Earth to explore and experience. Two months later, she gives birth to three hybrid puppies.
A young man discovers what he assumes are strays and takes them in, naïvely unaware that it will forever change his life. Insecure and confused, Terrin abandons the canine form for that of the beautiful young woman. Like the canine, however, this new form does not come with clothing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Noel Carroll
• Release date: Apr 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370028696

Noel Carroll

About The Authors For years the husband-and-wife team, Noel Carroll*, has published novels and short stories in two genres: thrillers and science fiction. A third genre, humor/satire, permitted them moments of fun and mischief. Although unwilling to abandon fiction, they steadily gravitated toward political commentary, first in opinion editorials and then in a full-length non-fiction work (“If You Can Keep It”). All their novels, short stories and essays have received highly favorable reviews, many being awarded five-stars. They currently make their home in Ponce Inlet, Florida. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEErCnUycaE) *a nom de plume (Noel and Carol also write under the names John Barr and N.C. Munson.)

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THE DELINQUENT ALIEN

by Noel Carroll

Published by Noel Carroll on Smashwords

ISBN 9781370028696

Also available in print under ISBN: 9781980753872

Copyright © 2018 by Noel Carroll

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Cover by KC Creations

PROLOGUE

The Florida Everglades

Let me be!

Terrin was confused. Newly arrived on Earth, the young and rebellious female was poorly equipped to understand. Assaulting her was the male equivalent of the creature whose DNA she had assimilated after running away from her father and the Elders to prove she could explore recently-discovered planets as well as anyone.

Stop! Terrin searched for a word that might resonate with this creature, but here less than two days, she had yet to master the local language. That would require another day, maybe two.

It was a beige colored canine, larger than she, and what it was doing to her hind quarters was … annoying. Unless she was mistaken, the beast was trying to push his way into her body. It was the latest of the abuses she'd suffered while in this borrowed form.

Two days of steadily declining energy had been taxing enough. Not understanding sleep or the need for it, it had gotten the best of her, forced her to seek shelter under a palm tree in a damp but remote area to rest—her people had no such need. Once there, she quickly fell into a comatose state, so deep that she was now having difficulty returning to full consciousness.

I said, stop that!

Terrin had no idea what was happening to her, only that it was so ... weird. And the beast so passionately engaged in her lower half seemed incapable of understanding her objection. If it could communicate at all, it was not in a way that lent itself to easy interpretation.

What are you doing?! Go away!

Terrin shook her canine head, hoping to clear the cobwebs that were interfering with her ability to think. The loss of consciousness had felt so good as she slipped into it, but now it was so ... debilitating. Was this some kind of Earth normal for the body she had assumed?

Should I let this form go and choose another?

Her four-legged body had felt odd to her from the start. Unlike her natural form, it had no ability to levitate, which meant it had to hug the ground as it moved about.

The canine form had seemed such a reasonable choice at the time. There had been many such creatures milling about, and as far as she could tell, they walked freely among Earth's dominant species. When someone did pay attention, it was with a notable fondness, a stroking that the beast appeared to enjoy. Her conclusion had been that it would offer the best hope of moving about without raising alarm.

Unlocking the creature's DNA had presented no problem. In less than a minute, Terrin had been able to rearrange her own DNA to become, in every way except her consciousness, an Earth canine, female like herself.

Why is this beast attacking me? And why am I increasingly reluctant to make it stop?

It was true, she was reluctant. The beast was aggressive, but what it was doing had become oddly pleasing. Perhaps she should let this play itself out, at least until she could learn more. After all, learning about the creatures of Earth was why she had come.

The Elders could have warned me about this!

She conveniently brushed aside the fact that the Elders did not want her to come at all, forbade her to come actually. Too young, they said. Too inexperienced. Leave it to your elders, Terrin!

I am ninety-three years old, for all intents and purposes an adult! If I left it to my elders, I would be an old woman before I would be permitted to prove myself!

She had been recognized at an early age as having an advanced intellect, one perfectly suited to report on newly-discovered planets. But her Chief Scientist father and the Elders he reported to, had made it clear that there was much she would have to learn before anyone could consider cutting her loose.

Terrin was brought back to the present by a change in the aggressive beast’s behavior. It was speeding up its attack and panting as if afraid it might not otherwise succeed. Yet she had even less compulsion to protect herself, even as a part of her recognized this as careless, even dangerous. Curious, she thought, even as a smile accompanied the thought. She was on her way to learning something important about Earth; she was sure of it. The excitement taking hold of more and more of her adopted body was proof enough.

How satisfying it will be to show those stagnant anachronisms back on Egriba something new!

Her father had tried to tell her that the introduction of us to the creatures of a newly discovered planet was a delicate process and had to be conducted with skill and care, neither of which she as yet possessed. They said also that she was more immature than her age suggested she should be, and that this had to change if she hoped to put her superior intellect to productive use. Well, she was about to demonstrate that she was not as lacking as they thought. Here less than two of this planet’s days and she was already in the throes of a discovery.

And what a discovery this is!

Her body had more appeal at the moment than it did when she took it on. A little confining still, but apparently capable of exploding into feeling.

I must learn what this creature is up to and take that knowledge back to Egriba!

Oh! Oh my! What is happening?! Something changed, something wonderful. Though confused and just a little frightened, Terrin definitely did not want it to stop.

What a beast! Oh wow, what a beast!

CHAPTER 1

Florida Everglades, Nine weeks later

Winston Carter was bored. The Florida Everglades was beautiful, but there was so little to do. At least that was the case now, having saturated himself with all it offered: fishing, exploring in an airboat, watching creatures who made their homes here and sitting on the porch of his parents' rented cabin in the early evening and absorbing the pungent odors lazily drifting toward him from the vast patches of swamp and marsh. Though he had not thought it possible when the summer began, he was actually looking forward to returning to his last year at Boston University and the friends he had missed during his summer vacation. He was even looking forward to the snow that Boston was never shy in offering.

Maybe another ride in the airboat would jolt him out of his lethargy. The day was warm but the breeze would keep him reasonably cool. A frown and a shake of his head put an end to the idea. He had boated down every body of water within twenty miles! Maybe a hike to town where he could get a cool drink at the Crazy Fox, the only real gathering place in Everglades City. It was a two-mile walk but an easy one, the surroundings like something out of a Mark Twain tale, small but picturesque cabins scattered near and off the road as if each were sensitive to its modest nature and wanted to demonstrate a level of independence.

About five miles off the Tamiami trail, Everglades City was known as a town in the swamp, a gateway for exploring the many islands of the Everglades. Four blocks wide and two miles long and with a population of some 500, it offered something out of an earlier era. The townspeople, at least most of them, protected their privacy but were understanding of strangers, in particular those who rented their airboats and cabins and otherwise contributed to the local economy.

Truth was, it was a good way of life down here: peaceful, great weather and comforting sounds pouring out of the forest both day and night. Maybe he would return after college, when he would need time and space to figure out what he wanted out of life.

Winston had grown up in Boston, which was a pleasant enough area, but having selected a school nearby, he was beginning to feel like a zoo animal, restless but fearing what lay outside his comfortable existence.

He was a bright young man, one to whom good grades came easily. Indeed there were times when he felt they came too easily, that he needed more of a challenge. The restlessness currently attempting to take hold of his system was not new. His friends were fun, as were the girls he dated, but he had begun to feel something was missing, something meaningful.

Letting out a sigh, Winston lifted himself from the old rocker taking up fully half of the modest wooden porch, moved down the cinder driveway then began walking toward town, his pace rapid and determined. The warmth of the sun filtering through an abundance of palm and southern pines made it easy to convince himself that he had made the right choice.

CHAPTER 2

Nine weeks and two days into its use, Terrin was becoming increasingly disgusted with her chosen body. Lately it was giving her nothing but trouble, both physical and mental. What was happening was a mystery that, try as she may, she could not solve.

She had been steadily gaining weight and her lower body was more than just swelling; it seemed about to explode. Bad enough, but along with that came what she was convinced were parasites moving around in her gut. She feared they would damage the form she was occupying, forcing her to switch to another. To be safe, she had picked up another creature's DNA, a young female human, its form as odd to her as was the canine's.

Until recently, Terrin had been able to move around at will collecting information on the creatures occupying this interesting planet. She did not want to abandon what made that work: her canine disguise. Answers like when it was proper to switch forms, could be found in her information and control box, but she had left it on Egriba.

I feel so naked without it!

It had been a rewarding trip. At least until now!

Terrin was even getting used to the scary forms that walked or flew about her. They would be easier to take had they looked more like her, bigger head, smaller body and only enough legs to support her when she tired of levitating.

But there was some evolutionary sense to how these Earth creatures were constructed. Having no ability to levitate, it is logical that they have muscular arms and legs. How else could they move about their planet? Then there was their brains. They were encased in a hardened helmet, as if this were necessary to survive the hazards of their environment–they had demonstrated no ability to mentally shield their bodies.

How much better it would be if she had not been in such a hurry to get away from Egriba that she neglected to acquire knowledge of the forms inhabiting her targeted planet. Necessary, of course, since her father had begun to suspect she was up to something.

He will not like it when finally he realizes what that something is.

Yet she gave little thought of what the consequences would be, assuming he was able to track her down–she had arranged for the transporter to reset itself after she left.

She was tired of the Elders’ control over her, tired of their plodding nature. They were simply too timid, always wanting to go slowly, test the waters with robots first–sometimes they let this phase go on for years. They thought themselves so smart, but they were limited when it came down to it. So far they were able to reach but a few planets, and fewer yet that they felt comfortable exploring. Well, she would show them! She would document this place and not spend a millennium doing it!

Her confidence level had dropped a notch as she arrived on Earth and saw how odd-looking alien creatures could be. That included what she believed to be the dominant species, those who stood upright, lived in well-constructed shelters and utilized sophisticated tools. But hesitation was quickly replaced by the thrill of a mission underway and the ambiance of sound, light and animals that stimulated her in ways she still had trouble understanding. The episode with the male canine was the most puzzling.

She had since permitted one two-legged creature to pet her, but even as the touch was mildly seductive, it had been an uncomfortable moment.

Surviving in an unknown environment was, she had to admit, demanding, and not for the first time did she consider that the Elders got at least something right. Surviving did require careful thought, like observing what your adopted form ate and drank before venturing to do so yourself. She wondered whether it was a miscue here that led to the discomfort in her gut.

Maybe it is time to assume a different form, that of the female human whose DNA I collected.

She had learned enough in the last nine weeks to feel confident that she could walk among them without giving herself away. They had a more effective way of communicating than the canines, even as they still relied on sound rather than thought transference.

No matter; easy enough to imitate.

**********

Pain!

It hit her without warning, something inside her body! In addition to the pain, liquids were pouring out of her tail end.

I cannot hold it in; something inside this body is pushing out?

Terrin considered switching to the human form on a crash basis, but the pain was so debilitating that she was unable to concentrate. Her impulse was to run, to find something somewhere that might lead her out of this, but it did not take more than a few steps to realize how impossible that was.

The pain increased, then increased again, quickly becoming too intense to permit much of any movement. She struggled toward a cove of bushes just off the side of the road, barely making it before collapsing onto the soft marshy ground. Once there, she fought to arrange herself in some kind of position she could call comfortable.

Maybe a moment of quiet will end this tormenting pain!

It only got worse. Confusion mixed with fear as something within her body began making its way out of her lower end. She tried to yell, but all that came out was the senseless yelping that she had come to expect as normal for the canine species. In horror, she turned to watch a parasite leave her body, not yet aware of how much it resembled a miniature version of herself. When finally this became apparent to her, another emotion was added to her fear and confusion. This body of hers was propagating, and in a way that was totally foreign to her fellow Egribans. She thought back to her early teaching about a time when something similar to this was the norm. She chided herself for not having paid more attention.

But then, why should it surprise me that primitives propagate in a primitive way?

Driven by an emotion she did not yet understand, Terrin lifted herself far enough to welcome the new arrival, licking it clean and comforting it by moving it closer to her body. She smiled as it appeared to know where to go.

It apparently is better informed than I.

She smiled even more at the feeling that came over her as it began to feed.

But then the pain returned.

CHAPTER 3

It was the right choice; certainly better than taking the airboat out again.

Winston took his time, content to let what sun managed to break through the heavy copse of trees flow downward over his body, the calm it gave him a welcome break from taxing thoughts. He did not really want to go back to school, at least not yet. It was more that he wanted to do something other than what he was doing at the moment.

A little fickle, are we?

Not more than an hour earlier he had felt differently, which proved he had no idea what he wanted.

Well at the moment, it is this! He lifted his head as if to gain more access to the sun.

He had not realized he’d spoken aloud until he heard a rustle in a nearby cove of bushes, the noise suggestive of something being caught off guard by the sound of his voice, an animal, possibly a large one. He stopped abruptly, and for a moment considered backing away. Spotting a formidable-looking stick, he stooped to pick it up, his eyes fixed on the brush where the sound originated.

That was not my imagination!

He tilted his head, hoping a different angle would give him a better shot at spotting movement or color, something that would tell him what his next move should be.

An animal in trouble?

Maybe, but what kind of animal? He decided to take a chance and get closer, even as he held the stick high in case the mystery animal burst out of the bush toward him. One step, then another, but still no indication of what it was.

Now only a few feet from the bushes, he heard it again, this time offering no doubt. It was a dog. And it was definitely in trouble.

That did not mean, however, that approaching closer was wise. There were dogs around here, and he had yet to meet one that was unfriendly, but … Winston increased his grip on the heavy stick as he inched his way into the animal's view.

It was a female shepherd. And it had just given birth to pups. Three of them.

His heart melted, the fear and uncertainty along with it. The poor thing was a stray—he saw no similarity to any canine he had seen, and he had been here all summer. Its coat was shaggy and soiled, unusual for a budding mother.

Probably its first litter.

Winston wondered where it had come from, and who might even now be looking for it.

Not sure what he should do next, Winston focused on the shepherd’s eyes, the expression in them unusual. There was an intensity in those eyes that said it was more unsure of him than he was of it. Was it fear? Not surprising considering what it had just gone through. From the looks of things, where it was and how messy the birth had been, the poor thing had been caught off guard with no time to seek out a better birthing place.

What is going through that canine mind? Better question: what can I do to assure it that I mean no harm?

Moving slowly, his eyes as soft as he knew how to make them, Winston removed his T-shirt then cautiously approached the pups. At the same time he voiced what he hoped were soothing words. When it was clear the mother was about to rise up, he halted, then lowered himself to his knees, remaining there until he saw her again relax. Still on his knees and continuing the soothing tones, he began moving again, stopping when he was close enough to reach out and place the shirt protectively over the three pups.

He was startled by the reaction he got. Those eyes! The mother gave an almost human impression of confusion, even as the fear began to fade.

This is one intelligent dog!

**********

Enough time had gone by that Terrin allowed herself to believe the delivery process had come to an end. But the relief this offered seemed only to increase her fatigue. And now this human arriving at what was the absolute worst of times!

She considered putting up a shield, but then decided it would reveal too much, and thus end her mission to Earth. Besides, in her weakened condition, she was not sure she could do so effectively.

Instead, she fixed her eyes on his, ready to respond to the unexpected even as she had no idea what that might be.

Complicating matters was the progeny she had delivered. Against all understanding, they were like a magnet to her, rendering her unable to leave without first dispensing with this human. A part of her fought such concern, considering it primitive. She wondered again whether she had made a mistake jumping into a form she knew nothing about.

The human seemed uncertain.

Well, at least we are similar in that respect!

If true, this was promising, even as she would not chance letting down her guard. She continued to watch, waiting for the first sign of hostility, wondering again how she would combat it.

The human began to remove its upper covering, the action not unlike other humans she had observed. But when it began moving toward her, it became more than she could take. She started to rise, stopping midway upon seeing the human’s reaction to this. He fell to his knees then sat still, his moving mouth and softly spoken sounds his only action. She allowed herself to relax once again.

This creature apparently meant her no harm. Indeed, it was amusing to see him begin to move forward again, this time on his knees. Her concern rose slightly when he placed his shirt over the pups, but he was gentle and not threatening. It was enough to persuade her to wait it out, encouraged in this decision by an increasingly overpowering fatigue.

**********

Winston was pleased at the accepting look in the mother’s eyes, but he had doubts about how long it would last. Would she stay put long enough for him to run back to the cabin and get the old pickup his parents had left with him—they were even now on their way back to Boston; the last few days of the cottage were all his!

Still on his knees, Winston stared for a moment before deciding that the mother was not likely to move on. From the looks of her, she was inexperienced in bearing pups and not likely to know how to handle this sudden change in her life. That she was nursing was encouraging, as was the fact that the newborn pups were in no condition to follow her if she left. He leaned forward and cautiously stretched out a hand, hoping that she would see in this that he was in no position to do her harm. She appeared to understand, even as she tensed a little.

Winston kept up a pattern of soft murmuring until he arrived at the point where he could gently scratch her muzzle. He was pleased when she did not react, other than to stretch her head toward the outstretched hand as if aching for human comfort.

In time, aware that he could erase all progress by overdoing it, Winston recovered his hand, then rose to his feet and slowly backed away. The dog tensed as he stood up, but then relaxed as he increased the distance between them. Indeed, there was an expression on her canine face that could have been disappointment.

It’s okay, girl, I’ll be back. With both hands extended palms down, he tried to signal the poor thing to stay put, hoping the motion would be understood. Shepherds were a smart breed, but he had no idea where this one came from and what kind of training, if any, it had received.

As he walked down the road in as calm a manner as he could manage considering the sense of urgency he felt, Winston turned back frequently to give the same stay put sign. It pleased him to see that she did not seem inclined to move, but could he count on that? When sure she could no longer see him, he broke into a run. He needed to get to that pickup, and fast!

**********

Terrin was encouraged by the human’s behavior. His mutterings were primitive and even condescending, but that only proved her disguise was working. On Earth long enough to pick up almost all human sounds and inflections, she understood everything the male human had said, even as his attempt to touch her brought on a moment of discomfort.

He said he would be back. She assumed by that that he was offering assistance, and that, at the moment, she badly needed. There was an emotional tug on her that made abandoning her hybrid progeny impossible, even as the thought of having them accompany her on her mission was equally so. Further complicating matters, she was not sure what exactly they were. Were they Earth canine, or part that and part Egriban?

Terrin sighed deeply. What have I allowed to happen?

She hesitated, remembering the emotion that had come over her during the encounter with male canine, an emotion that she had never felt before. And now this sense of devotion to what was never unintended, the hybrids.

What does it all mean?

Terrin tried to examine her feelings, annoyed that they could not be controlled by her mind. It raised an alarm bell, one that threatened the confidence she had so painstakingly nurtured during her time on Earth. Perhaps she should have listened to the Elders a little more.

The hybrids had apparently tired of nursing and were now settling down around her, their helplessness obvious and even seductive. It triggered more of those confusing thoughts, a desire to protect and nurture. She tried to convince herself that she could control this as needed, but it was a tough sell, one that fell apart as the pups produced sounds that were unlike anything she had yet heard from Earth canines. Not yelps—their mouths were closed—but unintelligible mind-to-mind utterances.

Panic began to invade her system. These little creatures, whatever they were, were sure to disturb, or maybe even end, her mission should anyone come close enough to receive their transmissions.

Using mind-to-mind communication, Terrin tried to urge them toward the sleep they so obviously needed. It seemed to work as, one by one, they fell into welcome silence.

It was just in time.

**********

As he neared the spot where he'd last seen the animal, Winston took his foot off the accelerator and let the pickup coast. Assuming the pups and mother were still there, he did not want to frighten them away. He relaxed when he saw them in essentially the same position as when he left. Among other things, it told him that the mother was reluctant to move at all, and that, he decided,