The Unicorn Challenge: Ideal Parking


This tale is loosely based on the story that started here but is still a separate story.


* Translated from Zinly-Cadamaran

“And you are certain nobody will see us?*” Admiral Cancarla still had his doubts as to where they’d chosen to leave the Velb.

“Nobody sees us flying in the daytime,” Shipman Dapatra answered, “so they shouldn’t see us landing and taking off.”

“But at a crossroads…” Cancarla brought up a local chart onto a holographic display and pointed to an empty field nearby, “why couldn’t we park the craft there?”

“We leave circles in fields,” Dapatra advised, displaying newspaper clippings of reports (with photos) of crop circles, “at least on the road junctions, we just leave holes, which we can hide by using the conicular beacons – or cones, as the natives refer to them – until we return. None of them suspect a thing.”

“And if we were seen?” It became clear to Dapatra that Cancarla hadn’t fully read his brief before the mission.

“That’s when we use our ABD Protocol. The natives oddly refer to it as ‘abduction’, but it’s merely when we bring them aboard, stick probes into them, and make them forget they’ve seen us. Standard practice.”

“Very well, then. I shall return to my sleeping pod until tomorrow.” Cancarla left the Command Suite.

Dapatra looked across at his colleague, Du, sitting at the next console. They both took on their human forms, one male, one female, and stood to leave the ship. “Parking in town was a great idea,” Du smiled, “much more to do than in the countryside. Pub first, then food!”

The Unicorn Challenge from Jenne Gray and C E Ayr. To post up to 250 words based on a provided photograph.

🦄

17 responses to “The Unicorn Challenge: Ideal Parking”

  1. ceayr avatar

    Clever and funny, Tom!
    I like it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, CE!

      Like

  2. The Sicilian Storyteller avatar

    You’re clever, witty and a bit strange, Tom.
    I dig it❣️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      More than a bit strange, Nancy. 😊
      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. jenne49 avatar

    So that’s how it happens!
    Excellent and unexpected ending too, tom.
    You made me smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Jenne. I just went with what I saw! 😊

      Like

  4. Keith's Ramblings avatar

    I saw an odd couple in the pub last night. I wonder! Nice one, Tom.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      You just never know, Keith!
      Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Diane Henders avatar

    Hahaha! All becomes clear now… 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      🤣 It’s obvious, Diane, when you think about it!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Doug Jacquier avatar

    Hilarious. I presume all the locals were standing up at the bar after all that probing. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Possibly, Doug… apart from the ones being probed…

      Like

  7. ladysighs avatar

    I’m with Admiral Cancarla. Return to the sleeping pod.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      It’s a good option, Ladysighs!

      Like

  8. europasicewolf avatar

    That all sounded relatively (relatively being the operative word😅) normal…for you🤣…until we got to the end and the pub got involved!

    Like

  9. clark avatar

    Well, duh!

    Lol
    Excellent fun with words.

    Makes perfect sense to me. But then again I’ve been , at times, considered slightly askew.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Clark. Askew’s good… helps slightly, at times, with understanding!

      Like

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