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their best. On this planet, she would easily be mistaken for a European tennis player or a lingerie model . . . or both. Her back arched and her ribcage expanded as she stretched to throw her shirt over Tobi ’ s head. The sunlight caught the tiny hairs that led down her spine and into her pants.
    The image was striking. It struck Dexim in a completely different way, though, since Lyntic was his sister. She had only been a year and a half older, but she matured much faster, and those taut muscles and broad shoulders had been used countless times to pin him to the floor and make him gasp for mercy while her powerful thighs squeezed the air from his ribs. Now that she was a fully mature woman, half the human population would certainly pass out from delight should they fall victim to her in such a way. Dexim was relieved when he was finally able to match strength with her and turn the tables, pinning her down and tickling her so hard that tears ran down her cheek . . . which was probably another fantasy of half the human population.
    Lyntic ’ s shirt wrapped around Tobi ’ s head was intended to protect him from inhaling harmful airborne organisms and to shield his eyes and ears from exposure to the environment. It was far short of perfect, but the three of them knew it was the best they had at the moment. Lyntic ’ s quick action was probably going to save Tobi ’ s life. The plan had been to abduct an earthling, extract a blood sample to create a vaccine, and inject that vaccine into Tobi, while still on the ship, allowing his system the recommended eighteen hours to acclimate. Unfortunately, their abductee turned out to be Stewart Faulkner.
    Dexim trusted Lyntic with his life, just as she trusted him. He knew Tobi was in good hands, so he headed to the edge of the cornfield. He peered out from the stalks. Sure enough, there was a house. It was everything they needed, but Dexim didn ’ t have the luxury of taking his time. With Tobi ’ s health in jeopardy, Dexim would have to throw caution aside. He walked out to check the area. Dexim and Lyntic had spent enough time on Earth that he could probably talk his way out of a jam. But avoiding any confrontation at this early stage of the mission would be a good idea.
    Dexim crossed the open lawn and strolled up to the back door of the two-story farmhouse, checking through the windows as he approached. He stepped onto the wooden porch and noticed the windows were open, covered only by screen. The drapes blew gently in the breeze. Through the glass in the door, he saw that the rooms within his view were all empty. His hand tried the knob, and it turned without any resistance. The creaky door opened. He stepped one foot inside. “ Hello, is anybody here? ” he called out. His words were effortless, and his accent was perfect. English was a comfortable second language to him. It had to be. Only those who could completely blend in were chosen to lead missions of this kind. Both he and his sister grew up speaking English and taking excursions to Earth with their family. So, there was nothing foreign about the planet to them. Dexim and his sister didn ’ t learn English from Melkon Boxes, like most visitors to Earth. They learned it organically, from their parents and from countless visits to the planet as children.
    “ Hello, anybody home? ” he called again, hoping there wouldn ’ t be an answer.
    A pair of thirteen-year-old legs jogged down the stairs in the agile way that youth allows. They turned at the bottom of the staircase and revealed a vibrant and cheerful girl of four foot eleven, with a loose braid holding back her dark hair. Her eyes met Dexim. A warm smile rose on her face.
    “ You must be Mr. Healy, ” she said. “ I ’ m Ally. ” She extended a hand.
    After taking a quick moment to process this, his hand met hers with a gentle shake.
    “ Mattie has been walked, ” she said. “ I folded the laundry and washed the dishes and put them away . . . except