MARCUS GRISHAM SAVES THE DAY!

By Rodlox
[email protected]

CLASSIFICATION: Crossover.

NOTES: those who talked with me, will know of this...and cease to snicker - I think.

~~

Captain Marcus Grisham sat on his horse patiently as he waited for the visitor. A fgarran tourist - disguised as a vagabond dying of thirst in the desert - had informed Grisham that a certain important individual was on his way here, and would rendezvous at this site.

Just when he was about to turn in for the night, the third night in a row, a rapidly-approaching light became visible in the sky - and coming straight for the Captain.

The ship landed without damaging anything.

Out of the craft came a single yellow alien, and quite fat at that - even if you took into account the bend in his body being from a bracket-shaped spine. Grisham recognized a Worm when he saw one - they were rare, but they did show up from time to time.

They were also highly annoying. Marcus hoped they weren't as bad as the ones who'd always hung around the Philly branch of his organization.

"Greetings and welcome to Earth," Marcus told the rotund Worm. Two round black eyes looked at him dismissively - a feeling he occasionally got from Montoya - as the black dots on the end of the Worm's pair of antennae watched the surroundings absently. The guy was royalty and knew it.

The Emperor didn't seem alarmed by the thundering of hooves approaching here now, and when Grisham turned around in his saddle, he could see Montoya leading a group of young soldiers. "We wondered where you were and what could be the cause of the lights in the sky," the military governor explained himself.

"Oh," Grisham said. Lifting up his hat, he pulled something out. Something long and silver, with a red band near the top. "When you see this, you'll all close your eyes, turn around, and go home," Grisham predicted. One of the soldiers snorted.

FLASH

he soldiers shut there eyes instantly after the flash, and turned their horses around with their eyes still shut, then spurred them into racing home.

You're still here," Grisham noted.

"I - closed my eyes an instant before that light went off," Montoya explained. "Now, what is that thing?"

Marcus sighed. May as well let him in on it...not much he could do anyway. "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Worms, I present Colonel Montoya."

It was a long and quiet ride back to the pueblo, particularly with Grisham's insistence on taking a route that would avoid trade roads and thoroughfares.

When they at last reached the Colonel's residence and office building - "Your world will be destroyed," the Emperor told Grisham flatly. "Let us drink on it."

Colonel Montoya raised an eyebrow, but Captain Grisham just smiled and said, "Right this way, your Majesty," leading him towards Montoya's kitchen.

Once inside, Grisham shooed away any workers before they caught sight of the yellow alien. An aroma hit Grisham's nostrils. _Ahh, mountain-grown. Perfect,_ and poured a fresh cup of the humus-brown fluid for the Emperor Worm, letting the alien's four hands handle it.

Taking a cautious sip, the Emperor's antennae shot skywards and his main eyes swivelled to the sides. Gulping down the rest of the mug, his Majesty then thrust the cup at the Captain. "More, now!"

Grisham accepted the mug, and refilled it, but held it out of the worm's grasps. "Perhaps we could negotiate that 'will be destroyed,' sir?"

The Emperor had all four eyes focused on Grisham - rather, on Grisham's hands. "Yes? Oh fine, no destroying Earth - now give!" and the Captain gave him the mug, and put the coffee pot down where his Majesty would be able to reach it.

Having a feeling that there was something else that needed doing, Grisham looked back at the door, and saw that Montoya was still there. Good. Means I don't have to go chasing him to ground and telling God knows who. "If you'll come with me, Colonel, and led him further into the building, away from the kitchen...

Grisham took off his soldiery hat, and pulled out a pair of eyeglasses tinted very dark indeed - a match for the Emperor's eyes. "Colonel, if you'll just look at this little red light, I can promise that all your questions will be answered."

FLASH

~~~

END

NOTE: if there ever is a sequel, Marta will discover Mikey.

Yes, the "put up your hands and all your flippers" one.