Alien wif Rent $RENTALIEN
Contract9r3MFeyLJfcEBVMUQ8aknVNcfNbWuqRj1szRrfympump
A grey alien in a muddy work coverall holds a parking ticket in a wet night car park, his saucer parked behind him beside a parking meter.

Late Again, Several Light-Years

Earth parking enforcement has reached the outer rim.

The Long Commute

He crossed twelve systems for a maintenance shift that ended before he arrived. The saucer now occupies bay 14, mostly because reverse thrust scares the pigeons. In one hand: a parking ticket. In the other: nothing useful. He has rent due, no local references, and exactly enough fuel to circle the block once.

The alien standing in his dusty coverall and muddy boots, holding a parking ticket.

Earthside Rules

  1. Clock In Before Landing

    Arrival time uses local gravity.

  2. Park Between Human Lines

    The saucer is wider than it looks.

  3. Keep Ticket for Appeal

    Administrative paper survives every atmosphere.

  4. Pay Rent Before Fuel

    Eviction travels faster than light.

Current Circumstances

$RENTALIEN

Ticker printed on the surviving payroll slip.

Bay 14

The saucer fits if nobody opens the rear door.

One Citation

Issued three minutes after atmospheric entry.

12 Systems

Length of his unpaid morning commute.

Fuel: One Lap

Enough to circle the block, not leave orbit.

Rent: Due

The landlord accepts cash, not moon rocks.

RENT DUE EARTHSIDE✚ONE TICKET PENDING✚SAUCER IN BAY✚BOOTS STILL MUDDY✚METER ATE CREDITS✚LANDLORD EXPECTS CASH✚NO VALID PERMIT✚

Two Kinds Tired

Cosmic Traveler

He crossed twelve systems without asking anyone for directions.

Parking Offender

He missed one painted line and met municipal power.

Alien wif Rent still owes Tuesday.