Zora hadn't had a date in forever. At least that's how it had seemed to her at the time. Kayla, a human born on Space Hub nine who was working as a bartender in the ship's night club, thought it might be Zora's new job as chief of security that was hindering her night life.
"Its the phaser your carrying that's scarring all the men away," Kayla said as she hunched over the bar sink.
"If that's true, then why haven't I had a date in over a year--I just got the job three months ago?" Zora asked over the rush of running water.
"Well, hate to tell you this but you're one of those people who is too good looking. Guys are probably afraid to approach you. As a matter of fact, the only reason I'm not insanely jealous is because I am secure with my own inner beauty," Kayla announced flashing her cocky smile.
There was some truth in what she said, but Zora remained optimistic. That night, she had the distinct feeling that romance was just around the corner. She was right, of course, but I'll warn you her story is a strange one.
It all began the night the captive escaped from space station 9. Rumors about him had been a float in the Galaxy since his capture two weeks ago. He was said to be an immortal being with the capacity to assume the shape of any known life form. According to the rumors, the officers who caught him said that when he assumed any of these forms he had an air about him that was strangely compelling. But, supposedly, every night under cover of darkness he returned to his true monstrous self, a state so hideous as to defy even the most imaginative description. Everyone in the bar was talking about his escape when Zora strolled in for a drink after her shift.
"Did you hear the news, Z?" Kayla asked as Zora seated herself at the bar.
"I heard, but I'm not so sure I believe any of it. I mean, how do they know that it is a he and not a she, if it truly can take on the shape of any life form? And, how did they catch it in this so called monstrous state? Right now I am to busy trying to get my hands on a real-life man to worry about one that may not exist!"
"I don't know, they say he's irresistible when he's not traipsing around as a monster. Maybe this guy's the one for you, with all his powers he certainly wouldn't be intimidated by your little old phaser. I think I'm onto something..."
"Thanks, I'd rather date a Martian," Kayla interrupted.
No sooner were the words out of her mouth when an incredibly handsome Martian walked straight up to the Bar and seated himself next to Zora.
He leaned towards her and in a voice as smooth as silk asked, "Was your father a thief?" Smiling at Kayla's confused expression, he continued, "for surely it was he who stole the stars from the heavens and placed them in your eyes."
Needless to say, Zora fell hopelessly in love.
Their passionate romance continued undaunted for many days. But, increasingly, Zora became troubled by her lover's strange requests. The first night she met him was the only time that they had been in public together. Since that night, he insisted that they meet in private, claiming that only when they were alone could he direct all his attentions to her. He would always come to her quarters late at night and leave before she awoke in the morning. He insisted that her room remained enclosed in darkness, explaining that he was extremely shy. Whenever she suggested that they spend the day together, he would say that he had to work or run errands.
At first, Zora was content with any amount of time that her and her lover could spend together. But as Zora's love intensified she wanted to be with him more and more, and suspicions grew inside of her when he could not fulfill these desires. Her suspicions only increased after Zora confided in Kayla her many troubles.
"Don't you see the connection, Zora? He only comes to you after dark, and he leaves before sunlight. He refuses to do anything with you in public? And when did you meet this so-called Martian? The very same night the captive escaped!! You could be dating a monster, Z! I mean what do you really know about this guy anyway?"
"I know he loves me," Kayla answered, surprised at how unsure she sounded. Until that moment, she had at least been convinced of his love. Now she wasn't convinced of anything. She went back to quarters to think, the noise and lights in the bar were giving her a headache. In her bedroom, she awaited her lover as usual. But that night she did not fall asleep in his arms, but waited until he drifted off to sleep. When he did so, she slowly reached up and turned on the small lamp beside her bed. In the soft light, her lover looked like a small child, or even an angel, curled up peacefully at her side. Inwardly laughing at herself for even considering Kayla's explanation, Zora moved to turn off the light. But before she did so her lover stirred, slowly opening his eyes. In those eyes, Kayla could see the hurt and anger that stemmed from her betrayal.
Without saying a word, he left.
Over a week past, and Zora had seen no sign of her lover. Kayla suggested that she check the station's log and see if he anyone had departed for Mars in the last week. Kayla checked the log and found out that no one had departed for or arrived from Mars in the last six months. She neglected her work spending countless hours searching for any signs that her lover was still at the space station. She not only found nothing to suggest that he was still at the station, she found nothing to prove he was ever there at all. Distraught from another unsuccessful day of searching, wondering if she had just dreamed their nightly trysts, Zora returned to her quarters. She flopped unto her unmade bed and closed her eyes. Then, a voice from the corner of the room told her to keep her eyes closed. Immediately, Zora sat upright and turned toward the voice. Her eyes flashed open, she couldn't help herself. Her lover had returned! She wanted to ask him who he was, if was real, and why he left without a single trace, but she remained silent. He approached her, and without saying a word he placed both of his hands on her heart and from this place a butterfly emerge. It flew about her lover as he ascended higher and higher, his image becoming more and more faint until he finally disappeared.
This time Zora didn't try to track him down. Kayla was still convinced that he was the stange captive that escaped from space station 9. Still others told Zora that the anguish of her loss must have made her dream her lover's brief reappearance. While Zora knew this explanation was the most reasonable, part of her, the part that still marvelled at the first snowfall of winter and the strange glow of the moon at night, knew she had never left her lover's side.