"Does that really help?" Mike asked taking another sip of his beer.

"It does, makes me focus and sober up. Don't want what happened last time to happen again," She reminded him.

As she said that she rubbed her shoulder making her look at it through her shirts neck hole and couldn't help but remember how she got the jagged looking scar. She had been practicing her Kimpo to sober up enough to where she wouldn't get hurt this time. Because as it turns out when you are used to leaving your body when you sleep and you do it while your drunk isn't the best idea.

That night she would never really forget, sure she could get her scar fixed up with a simple treatment but she wanted to keep it as a reminder. Turns out when she left her body to adventure but then her body decided to take its own little adventure. She got lucky that her dad had noticed her leaving and got to her before the Plukin got in another swipe.

While a Plukin may sound cute they are a nasty preying mantis-like creature about the size of a pop can. Their arms like serrated scalpels but she definitely remembered when it cut her, it was actually the first time she was woken up while out of her body. Though after she got patched up she couldn't help but remember what her teacher had said about the insect.

They were called Plukins on Earth because their actual name was hard to say for any language at the time. But the reason for it was because the species was known for plucking out the insides of its prey. Which the thought of how close she came to that fate made her shiver, and she can't be around anything that even resembles a preying mantis.

"Did it hurt?" She couldn't help but give him a crazy look.

"You've got to be kidding me!" She said rolling her eyes and throwing a pillow at him as he laughed.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm a doctor in training so I know how much it can hurt getting cut open with a normal scalpel without anything to water down the pain!" He said putting up his hands to surrender.

"No offense, but you're a Monitor, not a surgeon!" She gave him a little smirk before dodging his pillow.

"Well, as part of my training I am required to know how to operate and do surgeries if needed," He retorted this time she was the one who surrenders.

"Got me there, good to know you can fiddle around in me if I need it!" This time she caught the pillow and tossed it back.

"Seriously, even getting you slightly buzzed makes what little filter you have just disappear. But it's good to see that school has calmed you down since then," He said before standing up stretching.

"Yeah, guess it has," She said and couldn't help but give a smile as she remembered just how crazy she used to get.

"Love ya, goodnight! Don't let the Plukins bite!" He called out walking to his room.

"Love you too ya pain in the butt!" She called back before going to her room.

They were actually staying in their parents guest house since both of them had moved out and into their colleges. Also since their job required for them to live at the compound while employed, at least for the first six months, they didn't feel like renting for just a single month before they had to move again. Which is why they were glad that despite their old rooms being taken over their parents let them live in the guest house.

But as she laid down on her bed she really did curse the people who released those dam insects from Brast as she could hear them chirping in the woods. She really didn't understand why they thought it would be a good idea to release an alien bug into the ecosystem. To her, it didn't matter if the dang things actually helped or not in her mind they should all be sprayed with pesticides and she gave a little smile at that thought as she drifted off to sleep.

She soon woke up and looked at her clock which read a few minutes before eleven in the morning. As she stretched she couldn't really recall the last time she slept in without Lucid Dreaming, let alone just sleep in due to school. But she was happy to mix it up even for just a day.

"Hey, Rie, no hangover like always?" Mike asked making her cover herself with her cover as he just barged in.

"Get out!" She screamed and she could hear him scramble back out the door, he was always such a scatterbrain the day after drinking but still didn't give him the right to just come in her room whenever he wants!

After hearing her door being slammed shut in his panic she uncovered herself with her cheeks burning bright red. In part, she should have thought of that and at least locked the door before she decided in the middle of the night that sleeping nude was more comfortable. But she quickly shook it off and went to lock the door before heading to her own private shower.

All the bedrooms had their own bathrooms, that was something their dad had insisted on when they had the not just the guest house but the main house built. Which she was really grateful because it meant she never had to share with her brother, not that she didn't love him to pieces, but it also allowed her to avoid awkward moments. Especially ones caused by embarrassment, even if she could only avoid it for a little while.

Turning on the water and setting the controls to the right levels she waited as the shower started up. While she waited for the controls to really set in she looked at herself in the vanity mirror. Her light green eyes shined just like her moms, though the family always said she looked like her dad in the face.

They would always say that she was the female version of him except a lot more beautiful like her mom. But she didn't mind the comparison as they were all very close to each other and not to mention her dad actually did some modeling. He didn't do much of it because he always said the standards that they wanted models to live up was too much for him.

But he did become an agent and as a result when she was born and starting to mature he would always try to get her to do one photo shot. She knew she could be a model if she had wanted even with her scar but it just felt too degrading for her. Something about just putting on whatever they told you and just putting your body pretty much out there just made her shiver.

It's not that she didn't think it wasn't a good job or anything it just wasn't for her as she already knew by that point what she wanted to do in life. But thinking about that just reminded her of another reason for not becoming a model, it didn't come with the same freedoms. Granted being apart of the Inter-Universal Exploration section did come with its own set of rules but it was still more freeing than most jobs.

Hearing the shower controls beeping signaling that it was ready she jumped in and let the warm water wash over her. Though she still had to wonder why in today's world would she still be considered a model? While she wasn't denying how good she looked, but so did most of the rest of the human population on Earth.

But she shrugged it off figuring it was what her family always said, she was naturally beautiful like her mom. Which according to some of the College Professors would either aid her in peace talks with new planets or would make them try to abduct her. No one really needed much imagination to picture what all that could have meant.

Finally, after washing up she looked at herself again as she brushed her almost chocolate colored hair. Which as she looked she really could see why they always said she should try modeling, it was her eyes. Or more accurately her almond skin that made them stand out like crazy, which she always wondered why people always looked her in the eye.

"Guess I never really paid attention til now," She said putting down the brush and turned it off, it was the latest model that dried your hair much faster.

She got dressed in some shorts and a funny tee shirt, which was yet another reason she didn't want to be a model. Her style of fashion wasn't exactly model making material. Which she supposed she did that on purpose but she really did like wearing this kind of stuff.

"I'm really am sorry Rie! I-I just didn't expect you..." He shut up when she gave him a hard look.

"I accept your apology, but seriously I may lose my filter when I drink but you seriously coming in my room without knocking? How old are you, sixteen?" She asked making him give a guilty look. "But as long as you didn't see anything I won't kick your ass this time."

"I swear on Skipper's life I didn't see anything!" He shouted reminding her of the family dog, or alien dog to be exact but they looked like regular Earth dogs but they have a lot longer life span.

"Alright, how about I make breakfast then?" She said after staring at him for a good minute making him sweat and as she said that she could see him visibly relax and sigh.

"Uh, s-sure what are you making?" He asked sitting down and she could tell he was still somewhat nervous which made her laugh on the inside.

"Just some sausage patties and eggs," A simple breakfast but it was her favorite.

She started up the stove which was a rare sight nowadays since most people use Fodonics, which was a device no bigger than a twenty-first-century microwave that made whatever food you wanted. It made her give a little laugh thinking about how people back then thought that it just happens in Science-fiction. But because of that invention, actual cooking became a rarity.

Some restaurants still cook their own food but it cost you so much that those restaurants were reserved for high profile people. Then there were families like hers that still pass down cooking skills and recipes and the families that still do this are even rarer than the restaurants. If she remembered correctly they said that less than one percent of humans still cook their own meals.

"Seriously is there nothing you can't do?" He asked as she placed his plate in front of him, it pretty much looked like a Master Chef had made it, at least that's what her family always said.

"It's just eggs and sausage nothing special," She said rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, but look at it! You perfectly put everything on the plate and it looks just like the ads for those restaurants! Not to mention I'm betting its all perfectly done," He said giving her a big smile again and right after started to stuff his face, making her roll her eyes.

"They say I'm the excitable one, put food in front of you and you suddenly become a blur. But at least I like you better when you're around food, makes you less annoying," She gave him a teasing smile.

"What's that's supposed to mean?" He asked after licking his lips as he put his plate down.

"You heard me," She said taking her first bite. "Also I swear if you burp in this room while I'm eating..."

He didn't have to be told twice as he put his plate and fork in the sink before running into the living room. She shook her head as for whatever the reason his burps always smelled and just thinking about it made her scrunch her nose. But she ate her breakfast and had just placed her dishes into the sink when she heard a knock at the door.

"Hey Rie, could you get that? I'm going to get a shower!" She heard him call making her shake her head.

"Coming!" She called out as another knock came making her quickly set the controls on the Automatic Dishwashing Sink, not the most creative name but it's actually what they called it before she started going to the door.

"Congratulations!" Denise said as she twisted a party popper.

"Deni!" She practically squealed as she hugged her friend.

Denise was her best friend ever since she saw the Brastian kill a Plukin with absolute ease. Granted her parents had migrated to Earth before she was born so her parents taught her how to deal with those horrible things. But thinking about Brast made her remember what Denise always told her about the planet.

Brast was more of your tropical rainforest type of planet and according to Denise the Plukins there are actually about the size of a medium-sized dog. That was one benefit to Earth not being filled with tropical forest, it not only made the nasty things shrink a bit it also slowed down how fast they reproduce. Which ultimately stopped the dang things from just multiplying and taking over.

As for Brast citizens, they looked like lizards with scale-like skin that to a human felt like tree bark. But as one might expect their race evolved like that as a natural camouflage because if Denise stood in front of a tree without anything on she would be pretty much invisible. She didn't mind her friend's rough skin though and in all fairness, Denise was very cute.

"O-okay, n-no... air!" Denise said making her drop the poor girl.

"Sorry, just really glad to see you," This made Denise roll her eyes.

"You were thinking about how you think I'm cute weren't you?" Denise asked with a knowing smile.

"Of course, you are like my little sister after all!" Which was true since they became friends.

"Riiigghht, but that does remind me Penny said hi and wants to know if you still have the scrapbook?" Denise asked and this made her blush.

Penny was her ex and they still talked to each other but knowing she was in town made her feel a little nostalgic. The reason why they broke up is because of their career paths just didn't do them any favors. They just drifted apart in that part of their relationship.

"Wait she's in town? Why didn't she just come over herself?" She asked.

"It was a short visit, she left yesterday but she heard you were graduating and knew you would be back today. But the scrapbook?" Denise asked, and though for most humans it was hard to tell though for her, she could see her friend raise an eyebrow despite not having any.

"Why give me that look when you helped her make it?" She stuck her tongue out. "But I still have it but I wonder why she didn't call me or anything."

"Don't have a phone right now, her school is going through a thing where they're not permitting personal phones on campus. She said she's just so used to not having one on her that she forgets about it altogether now," Denise answered as she ducked through the doorway.

"Oh, right she said something about that," She mumbled.

"So Rie, go out with anyone recently?" Denise asked sitting down on the couch.

"Nah, I put my focus on my school work," She replied making the Brastian make a tsking sound.

"You and working too hard, but that reminds me sorry I didn't make it to your graduation yesterday," Denise said.

"It's fine, from what I hear you've been doing a great job at playing Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. I also heard that your troupe got a five-star rating on it," She said and once again for most humans and other races it was hard to tell but she could see the blush on Denise's face.

"It's really nothing special, we just worked really hard this time to make sure everything went good," Denise replied.

Yes, her lizard friend who was like the little sister she always wanted was a Broadway Musical star and she was always modest about it. Most of her shows she's been in have always gotten high ratings, but her latest performance got her troupe their first solid five-star ratings all across the board. Though try as she might Denise couldn't hide her proud smile.

"But really Rie, you need someone new in your life! I mean you have an entire month before you have to get to work why not make the most of it?" Denise asked clearly wanting to keep talking about her love life.

"Because I just don't want some fling, I actually want a relationship!" This made Denise shake her head.

"I'm not trying to suggest a fling or anything like that, I'm just saying we should find you, someone, you actually can have a relationship with. That's if you don't think you're up for it still, but come on it's been eight months since you and Penny broke up! Even she has a new..." Denise stopped seeing her give a slightly hurt look. "Rie, you really need to move on from that. I mean I thought you two ended things on good terms?"

"We did, and I thought I did move on but guess a part of me hasn't yet," She took a breath calming herself down. "You know what, you're right. But before we go on the hunt are you still dating that mystery boy that you thought you could hide from me?"

"I-I wasn't hiding it, I-I just didn't want to tell you," Denise said again giving a slight blush.

"Please, you were totally hiding it from me! Now spill the beans, who is he? How long have you been dating? Does he treat you right?" She gave a little suggestive smirk at the last question. "Come on, I want to know everything!"

"Hey, Rie, who was at the door?" Mike asked walking down the stairs and stopped for a second as he saw Denise and it didn't take too long for her to connect the dots.

"Y-You know what, I rather you not go into too much detail," She said as both Mike and Denise both grew red, it really wasn't hard for her to figure it out since they both had that smile plastered on their faces when they saw each other.

"Rie..." Denise started before she held up her hand.

"You two..." Her tone made them both start to sweat as she looked between the two of them with her famous look that told them she was studying them. It always made everyone a little uneasy as she was nearly impossible to read when she was like this, but their worries faded as she broke into a huge smile and plugged their ears for what was coming. "Eeeehhhh!"

Author's Note

Please note that Plukins, even the Earth variety are very dangerous. Also, they are a naturally invasive species that does absolutely nothing for Earth's ecosystem as the Brastians tried to warn them, but did they listen? Nope, hope you all enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!