CHAPTER 11: FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME

"And so, in conclusion," the stern-faced general said, "while we cannot verify every aspect of Ms. Johnson and Mr. Thunderson's story, the corroborating evidence from multiple liberated captives, satellite footage of the alien retreat, and of course..." he gestured vaguely toward Elara's pink exoskeleton, "...the physical evidence before us, suggests that we owe them a significant debt of gratitude."

The debriefing room was packed with military officials, government representatives, and scientists who had been staring at Elara with undisguised fascination for the past four hours. Under normal circumstances, being the center of so much attention would have made her deeply uncomfortable. But after facing down the Kh'ryx Hive-Commander, a room full of humans—even humans with impressive titles and serious expressions—seemed far less intimidating.

Chad, on the other hand, was thriving. He sat beside her in a borrowed military t-shirt that strained against his muscles, recounting their adventure with animated gestures and sound effects, occasionally standing to demonstrate a particularly impressive move he'd used against the Kh'ryx warriors.

"So then I was like, 'Who's your daddy?' and the bug was all like, 'Screeeech!'" He mimicked both his taunt and the alien's response, causing several junior officers to stifle laughs and one scientist to flinch visibly.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Thunderson," the general interrupted. "We have the general idea."

"Just want to make sure the record is accurate, sir," Chad replied with a cheerful salute that made the general's eye twitch.

A woman in a lab coat—Dr. Chen according to her badge—leaned forward. "Ms. Johnson, you mentioned this... 'Seedling' communicates with you directly? And provides access to what you call 'the System'?"

Elara nodded. "Yes. It's integrated with my nervous system. The communication is... it's not exactly like hearing a voice. It's more like having thoughts that aren't quite your own, but still feel natural."

"Fascinating," Dr. Chen murmured, making notes on her tablet. "And this System—can you access it now? Without being on the alien vessel?"

"To a limited extent," Elara explained. "I can't control Kh'ryx technology remotely, but I can access the knowledge the Seedling has about their systems, their biology, their history."

"Which could prove invaluable for Earth's defense," the general noted, his stern expression softening slightly. "If you're willing to work with us, Ms. Johnson."

"Of course I am," Elara said firmly. "I want to help prepare for when they return. Because they will return—the Commander made that very clear."

Chad placed a supportive hand on her arm. "And where she goes, I go. Package deal, folks. Protein Man and Bug Babe, saving the world one alien butt-kicking at a time."

Dr. Chen's eyebrows rose. "Bug... Babe?"

Elara closed her solid black eyes briefly, the Seedling radiating what felt like amusement in her mind. "We're still workshopping the superhero names."

"I see." The general cleared his throat. "Well, I think we've covered the essentials for today. Dr. Chen and her team would like to run some non-invasive tests, with your permission, to better understand your... transformation. And we'll need to set up secure accommodations for you both."

"Accommodations?" Chad repeated. "You mean we can't go home?"

"Mr. Thunderson, Ms. Johnson is now possibly the most important strategic asset on the planet," the general explained with strained patience. "Not to mention that her current appearance might cause... complications... in civilian settings."

Elara felt a pang at the reminder of how dramatically her life had changed. The coffee shop, her classes, their apartment—all the ordinary things that had seemed so mundane just days ago now felt like treasured memories from someone else's life.

"The general's right, Chad," she said quietly. "I can't exactly go back to making lattes looking like this."

"Why not?" Chad demanded. "So you're pink and have cool bug eyes. Big deal. People in our neighborhood have seen weirder stuff on the subway."

His instant defense of her right to normalcy, ridiculous as it might be under the circumstances, warmed Elara's transformed heart. The Seedling sensed her emotional response, the pink of her exoskeleton briefly taking on a warmer, almost rosy hue—a physiological reaction she was still getting used to.

"We can discuss the details of your arrangement later," the general said, rising to indicate the debriefing was over. "For now, Dr. Chen will show you to the temporary quarters we've prepared. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

As the officials filed out, Dr. Chen approached them with a friendly smile that helped ease some of Elara's tension. Unlike many of the others, the scientist seemed to see past the alien exterior to the human within.

"I know this must be overwhelming," she said sympathetically. "But I want you to know that what you did—what you both did—was extraordinary. You've given humanity a fighting chance."

"Just doing what anyone would do," Elara said modestly.

Chad snorted. "Uh, no way. Most people would have been curled up in a puddle of their own tears. But not my girl. She went full Pink Warrior Princess on those bugs. You should have seen her take down their commander. It was like watching those kung fu movies, but with more mandibles."

Dr. Chen smiled at his enthusiasm. "Well, I look forward to working with you both. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your quarters."

The "temporary quarters" turned out to be a surprisingly comfortable suite within the military complex—two bedrooms, a shared living area, and a bathroom that had been hastily modified with what someone thought might accommodate Elara's new physiology. The additions included a shallow pool filled with a nutrient solution that the Seedling informed her would help maintain her exoskeleton's integrity.

"It's not the Ritz," Dr. Chen said apologetically, "but we tried to make it comfortable on short notice. The refrigerator is stocked, and—" she glanced at Chad, "—we included additional protein sources per your, ah, stated requirements during the debriefing."

"Sweet!" Chad immediately headed for the kitchen area, opening the refrigerator to reveal rows of protein shakes, egg whites, and chicken breasts. "Now this is what I call strategic planning!"

Dr. Chen turned to Elara. "There are some clothes in the bedroom that might accommodate your new form. We had to guess at the sizing, considering..."

"Thank you," Elara said sincerely. "For treating us like people, not just assets or specimens."

"You are people," Dr. Chen replied simply. "Very special people who've done something extraordinary, but people nonetheless." She headed for the door. "Get some rest. I'll come by in the morning to discuss the testing schedule, but nothing will happen without your full consent. I promise."

After she left, Elara wandered through the suite, examining their new home with mixed emotions. Everything was happening so fast. Just days ago, her biggest concern had been a biology midterm and whether Chad was going to remember it was his turn to do laundry.

"Hey," Chad called from the kitchen, his mouth full of what appeared to be cold chicken. "They've got a TV. Wanna see if we're famous yet?"

Before she could answer, he had grabbed the remote and turned on the large screen mounted on the wall. It immediately filled with news coverage—amateur footage of the Kh'ryx ships rising from Earth's atmosphere, experts speculating on the aliens' sudden departure, government officials urging calm while providing few concrete details.

And then, to Elara's shock, there they were. Someone had captured video of them emerging from the alien shuttle, surrounded by military vehicles. The footage was shaky and distant, but clear enough to show her transformed appearance and Chad's protective stance beside her.

"...unconfirmed reports that these individuals may have played a role in the aliens' withdrawal," the newscaster was saying. "The military has declined to comment, but sources suggest that the pink figure may be human, possibly altered by alien technology."

"Dude!" Chad exclaimed, pointing at the screen. "We're trending! Look at the ticker at the bottom!"

Sure enough, the news ticker showed hashtags like #PinkAlien, #BugGirl, and #AlienFightGuy gaining traction across social media.

"Oh no," Elara groaned, sinking onto the couch. "This is the last thing we need."

"Are you kidding? This is awesome!" Chad bounced onto the couch beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're heroes, babe! Protein Man and Bug Babe save the day!"

"Please stop trying to make 'Bug Babe' happen," Elara sighed, but couldn't help smiling at his enthusiasm. "Besides, we're supposed to be keeping a low profile. The general didn't seem keen on announcing to the world that I'm part alien now."

"Too late for that," Chad pointed out, gesturing at the screen where supposed "alien experts" were now debating whether she was a human-alien hybrid or an entirely new species. "But hey, look on the bright side."

"Which is?"

"You never have to make another pumpkin spice latte again."

Despite everything, Elara laughed—that strange, crystalline sound that still surprised her. "There is that."

They watched the coverage a while longer, Chad alternating between indignation at the wildly inaccurate theories being proposed ("I did NOT 'submit to alien mind control' to save her! I flexed my way out of trouble!") and delight at seeing himself on national television ("Do my arms look bigger on TV? I think they look bigger on TV.").

Eventually, exhaustion began to overtake them both. The adrenaline that had carried them through their escape from the Kh'ryx ship was finally wearing off, leaving bone-deep weariness in its wake.

"I'm going to try sleeping," Elara said, rising from the couch. "Though I'm not sure how that works with... all this." She gestured at her transformed body.

"The Seedling doesn't know?"

"It says sleep is still necessary, but different. More like a period of integration and processing than unconsciousness." She shrugged, the motion fluid despite her altered physiology. "Guess I'll find out."

Chad stood as well, stretching his impressive arms above his head. "Well, if you need anything—warm milk, bedtime story, someone to check for monsters under the bed—you know where to find me."

Elara looked at him—really looked at him. This man who had followed her onto an alien ship without hesitation. Who had accepted her transformation without a second thought. Who still looked at her with the same affection despite her pink exoskeleton and solid black eyes.

"Why aren't you freaked out by all this?" she asked suddenly. "By me?"

Chad tilted his head, genuinely confused by the question. "Why would I be?"

"Because I'm not human anymore! I'm pink and have bug parts and black eyes and no hair and I can interface with alien technology and—"

"So?" Chad interrupted, stepping closer to take her transformed hands in his. "You're still you. Still the smartest person I know. Still the girl who makes the perfect cup of coffee and laughs at my dumb jokes even when they're not funny. Still the one who color-codes the grocery list and cries at dog food commercials."

"But I'm different now."

"Yeah, and I'm different every time I switch up my workout routine or try a new protein powder." He shrugged as if the comparison made perfect sense. "Change happens. Some people get new haircuts. Some people get pink exoskeletons. As long as you're still you inside, the rest is just details."

Elara felt something warm expanding in her chest—an emotion so strong that her exoskeleton actually glowed faintly in response, a physiological reaction the Seedling explained was part of her new emotional expression system.

"You're glowing," Chad pointed out unnecessarily, a soft smile on his face. "Is that a good thing or a 'about to explode' thing? Because the timing would be really unfortunate if it's the second one."

"It's a good thing," Elara assured him, the glow intensifying. "It's... happiness. Or maybe love. The Seedling says my emotions can trigger bioluminescence now."

"That's handy. No more guessing if I'm in the doghouse." Chad's expression turned more serious. "For what it's worth, I think you're beautiful. Pink bug parts and all."

Elara's glow increased to the point where they could have dimmed the room lights and still seen perfectly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"No need to thank me for telling the truth." He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to. When she didn't, he gently pressed his lips to hers—their first kiss since her transformation.

It was different—her mouth was shaped slightly differently now, the sensations more intense due to her enhanced nervous system—but still unmistakably a kiss. Still them.

When they separated, Chad was grinning. "Tastes like victory. And maybe a hint of... cinnamon?"

"The Seedling says that's normal," Elara replied, somewhat embarrassed. "Something about pheromone production."

"I like it. Very festive. Like kissing a sexy pink Christmas cookie."

Elara shoved him playfully, still glowing. "Go to bed, you ridiculous man."

"Yes, ma'am, Pink Commander, ma'am." He gave an exaggerated salute, then dropped a quick kiss on her forehead before heading to his room. At the doorway, he paused, looking back at her with uncharacteristic seriousness. "For real though... I'm proud of you, Elara. Not everyone could handle what you've been through. You're the strongest person I know, and I don't just mean because of the bug super-strength."

Before she could respond, he disappeared into his room, leaving Elara standing in the center of the living area, still glowing softly with emotion.

Your mate is unusual, the Seedling commented in her mind. But his devotion is genuine.

"I know," Elara replied softly. "I got lucky."

We both did, the Seedling agreed. Now rest. Tomorrow we begin preparing for the Kh'ryx return.

With that sobering thought, Elara retreated to her own room, wondering what strange dreams awaited in her new hybrid existence.