She approached the guard, heart fluttering, trying to act normal.
"I am to collect samples for Planetary Ecology Research Mission." She flashed her card at the guard, her skin tingling with apprehensions now that she is actually going through with it.
"You're new." - A flash of hidden amusement in his voice. She tried to ignore it, but still her voice squeaked a bit when she spoke, fearing that he can see through her. "Just started my tour". He punched in the code and they exited, pressurized air gushing out between their feet as they went out into the Planets' humid but breathable atmosphere. Having turned a bend into flat, floppy grove of bushes she spoke up, trying to be casual "You can wait here, I'll just wander around a bit". He didn't sound surprised "All away parties need to be escorted throughout their sojourn outside the base. No exceptions" he said, making a show of taking a pack of smokes out of his pocket on the side of his thigh. Her face burned so hot she thought it was glowing but she pushed her hand in the pocket of her dress, took out the bundle and pushed it into his thigh pocket, feeling too embarrassed to look him in the eye as he chuckled silently, took out the wad of cash and flicked through it. "I guess there are always 'some' exceptions... 50 minutes". And that was that. She looked up, not believing she actually went through with it and hurried deeper into the wet, misty, jungle of bushes.
* * *
He observed them, ever since they exited the base, hidden between the broad leaves, moisture clinging to his form. He slithered parallel to them, keeping the safe distance from being heard by the burly guard, careful not to provoke the vicious taser discharge. That shit could easily kill him and he definitely didn't want that. So he followed and observed, hoping for a chance. The aliens were talking now and he kept glancing at her. Physically, those humans looked all the same to him, with minute differences, details easily glossed over. But they all also secreted scents and they affected his brain powerfully enough to make him drunk. And hers' were intense. Mellow, clear, subtly powerful. She must have been excited by something. Could it be happening, was he deluding himself? Then he saw her part with the guard and proceed alone, off into the thick growth, dew clinging to her loose outer layer humans put over their bodies for some reason. He felt such a rush that his dark green skin got washed over by a wave of inky black. He slithered on his limbs after her, getting slightly closer, careful not to startle her. She stopped in a sunlit clearing, picking some dead, already pollinated flowers. His eyes were on her as she slowly and silently eased his way through the leaves near the path were she entered. He froze when she looked up and looked at him, and relaxed when she looked the other way. She stopped, packed the flowers, along with their stems and some roots she had dug and stepped a little towards the center of the clearing, her scent growing in strength, intoxicating him. She was standing, turning, opening her mouth but the sounds to him were just rapid clicks and long notes. His whole being shimmering, tingling with anticipation and anxiousness he rolled out of the bushes and into the clearing next to her.
* * *
"First take the samples, you'll forget about them later." She remembered the advice her flat mate made. She has done this before, of course, one in the long line of experimentations that girl subjected herself to. "You only live once, you never know if you like something unless you try it", she always kept saying. "Don't wear panties, they confuse them" she also said, the pierced, tattooed fountain of wisdom that she is.
She listened to her though, on all accounts. Comfortable boots, the bushes are mossy and wet, not too long a dress, no panties... NO stockings! No sleeves if possible, too. They like the skin.