"Eye of the Beholder" - Chapter 2

A Dinosaucers™ fanfic by Sabrewing

Umm, the Dinosaucers, every character that appears in this, and so on and so forth are the property of Coca-Cola©, and this is an unofficial fanfic I wrote (meaning I took a lot of poetic license with it) that contains elements of an adult nature between humans and large reptilians, so reader discretion is advised. Oh, and enjoy. :)

The room was silent for one . . . two . . . three whole minutes, the quiet disturbed only by the occasional mutterings of a subdued official. Once again, Allo and the counselmen found themselves waiting patiently as the U.N. considered what he had said. It sounded genuine; Allo hadn't suddenly pulled out his devolver and shot everyone back to the Cretaceous, and they were even now behaving like any well brought-up person would. Surely there was even a remote sense of honesty in that.

The final debates lasted well over a week, with Allo and his companions meeting one-on-one with various world leaders about what they could do to benefit from the other. Meanwhile, on Reptilon, the Dinosorceress made it perfectly clear that there would be no ill will if the Earthlings rejected their offer; after all, they could well be intimidated by the Reptilonians' appearances, and suddenly having a new sentient species thrust into existence like this is always quite a shock, one that might leave social scars. Tact was the key, and it was important that everyone know it.

To everyone's elation, there was nothing for Reptilon to worry about, for on August 27th, 1993, the United Nations formally signed an alliance with the Royal Council of Reptilon, and the two planets were connected via a network of what the Reptilonian scientists called "tele-sauropods." They basically permitted a visitor from one planet to teleport within seconds to the corresponding pod on the other. The researchers had virtually perfected the technology used by the machines, so it was even safer than flight by starship, but it was also rather expensive, so it got off to a very slow start. However, to their excitement, the Secret Scouts received special passes which let them use "TSP's" for free at their leisure.

Such was why they were on Reptilon now. As a special thank-you for all they'd done, the entire Dinosaucer team had invited them to come furing summer vacation for a "holiday getaway" of sorts. They'd instantly accepted. Heading to their closest TSP station, which was filled with travellers from both Earth and Reptilon, they flashed their passes and stepped onto the light blue discs which performed the transport. Less than a minute later, they were all staring into the smiling faces of their dinosaurian friends.

As soon as Reptilon was assured its safety, the Dinosaucers had wasted no time in introducing Earthling pasttimes to their home planet, some of which caught on like wildfire. Various sports, such as baseball and lacrosse, were adapted to make use of the reptilians' extra appendages and differences. However, by far and away, the most successful trend was that of beaches. Reptilonians had a knack of avoiding water before, mostly because of old superstitions of vile mammals living in deep oceans, but this was soon quelled as their media ran stories of the Dinosaucers surfing around the coastline. At first, it became something for rebellious young dinos to do, but after the "Human/Saurian Treaty" was signed, it grew to be mainstream.

So much had happened in her lifetime, Sarah thought quietly as the sun cast its fury on her skin, and she had helped it come to pass. To make things more incredible, here she was -- on another PLANET, no less -- with almost everyone that really mattered to her (the teens' parents had all declined the trip). She smiled to herself as she settled back on her towel over the sand and watched as David, Dimetro and Stego rode a high wave in on their custom surfboards. Stego started wavering around, finally falling off into the raging surf; he never was very good, but he was improving. Meanwhile, Paul, Ryan, Bronto-Thunder, Ichy, Tricero, and Bonehead were all playing a game of volleyball, while Teryx acted as referee. For some reason, dinosaurs took to bathing suits like a fish to water, even if B.T.'s full-body classic-style suit was less than trendy. Of course, the dino-man of the hour was missing . . .

"Getting enough sun, Sarah?" Allo's voice permeated the air.

She took off her sunglasses and looked to her left. There he is now, she thought to herself. And he was looking as sharp and strong as ever. Just be looking at him, Sarah knew that his wife and daughter were lucky to have him. He'd optted ever since his first beach experience on Earth to wear just swim-trunks, and that was just fine with Sarah. If he didn't work out, she'd never know it.

"Yeah, I am. Thanks." She smiled at the allosaur and returned her shades over her eyes.

Allo walked over to her, his beach towel swung casually over his shoulder. Even though he'd left all his armor at home, he still preferred to wear his blue-green helmet. It somehow made him look all the better. He reached her side, flapped his towel out straight and set it down to lay on his back. God knows he didn't really need a tan, his scaly skin being a rich brown in color, but there was no way Sarah was going to complain. For being about nine feet tall, sporting a snout and tail, and being from another world, Allo looked good.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own sunglasses, and he put them on with a smirk on his face. Sarah found it so funny that she could barely contain herself, letting out a couple snorting giggles. Allo looked at her, wondering what was wrong, then shrugged it off when the blonde girl calmed down and told him not to mind her. He stretched out his arms and put them casually under his head as he lay back down. Sarah adjusted her top a bit and followed suit. The sun beat down on them steadily, feeling so good; the air had cooled down a bit, so the greenhouse feel was gone, leaving just the warmth of the star of the solar system.

"Game, set, match!"

Apparently, Paul's team had won, because Sarah heard him give the loudest victory yell ever. Ichy and Bonehead did likewise, stomping the ground in excitement. Sarah and Allo got up in alarm, the sunglasses flying off the smooth flesh of his snout. He annoyedly glanced over at the trampling trio, who saw him and stopped, smiling sheepishly.

"Whoops . . . sorry Allo, sorry Sarah!" said Paul, shrugging helplessly.

The two looked at each other, snickering a little, and resumed their sunbathing after Allo recovered his sunglasses. However, Sarah didn't stay down very long.

"Ow!"

Sarah sat up, rubbing her bare shoulders fiercely. The sun was taking its toll on her; sunburn was setting in fast. Allo lifted his shades, concerned.

"What's wrong, Sarah?" To which she replied, "Oh, I just need to reapply my sunscreen. Startin' to wear off."

"Need help?"

The stinging in her skin was forgotten instantly as she whipped her head around in surprise. She pulled her own sunglasses off, looking into the saurian's big browm eyes. He gave her a small, almost amused half-smile and repeated, "Need help?"

Her voice wouldn't work! It was as if it were caught in a steel trap. She merely stammered until she managed, "I-i-if you don't mind, Allo..." Thankfully, the bottle she had brought was rather large, enough for Allo to grip comfortably as he picked it up off the sand. The air breezed by slowly, blowing Sarah's hair across her face and slightly hiding her blushing cheeks. She absently wiped it away as Allo moved behind her, sitting down before her back that was hidden only by the drawstring of her top. He undid the cap on the bottle with a flick of his claw and squeezed a small glop into his palm, lathering it up. Sarah then realized that she had stopped breathing, so focused was she on what Allo was doing behind her. She took in a deep breath on reaction, and Allo stopped altogether. "You okay, Sarah? You sound nervous."

"Oh, heh, no, not really, just taking in this fine air." She faked a chuckle. Allo grunted and brought his hands down on her shoulders, his lathering done. She gasped slightly as the cold of the sunscreen came into contact with her burned skin. He began spreading the fluid over her backside. "Just tell me where you need it on."

An image of him throwing his arms around her in a big bear hug came to her mind, but she shoved it far into the dark recesses. "Just . . . you know, shoulders, back, and my neck to make sure. I can do my face myself." He smothered the gel firmly into her skin, his claws unintentionally caressing her and causing Sarah to feel light-headed. She could physically feel the power in his arms as he worked, but it was masked by a layer of gentleness. He didn't take very long, seeing as his hands were nearly the same width as her whole torso, so it didn't seem nearly long enough before she heard him say, "Chin up, please." She did so, and his index and middle fingers spread the cool gel over his throat region. He spread it carefully, knowing full well how vulnerable any creature was in that area, let alone humans. He looked down at her curiously; she had closed her eyes as her head tilted back, looking almost asleep, peaceful. His fingers on her neck slowed, then stopped.

Meanwhile, David had just come in from surfing to get some water when he saw the unusual spectacle before him: Sarah leaning back in a very relaxed pose against Allo, who had one hand on her shoulder and another on her neck. Oh man, this is rich, he thought, and he gave a mocking wolf-whistle.

Sarah's eyes snapped open, and she looked in shock over at David, who was now howling with laughter. She startled Allo in the process, and his hands instantly came off her body in surprise. She sighed angrily as David hooted, "Oh boy, you shoulda seen your face! It was one for the scrapbook!"

"Go away, you jerk," she pouted, now on the defensive. She felt like she'd been caught (caught doing what?), and a strong blush came to her face again. David naturally saw it, though Allo did not. He pointed at her accusingly. "Oh ho," he sneered, his black hair dripping with water, "did I disturb you in your precious moment?" He nodded as he indicated Allo, who was very confused by the whole affair. "I gotta tell ya, Sarah, you sure can pick 'em. Of course, if you ever wanna play 'stroke the lizard,' I'm avail--"

"GO AWAY!"

David raised his arms apologetically and ran off to get his water bottle. Sarah leaned forward, tears welling in her eyes. The rat, she thought bitterly, he hit it on the mark. Geez, I feel stupid . . .

She sniffed strongly, wiping her face in her arm. A few spots of sunscreen got on her nose, as it hadn't fully dried yet. "Sorry Allo, were you still working?"

"What was that all about?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

Sarah was afraid to answer. They were on a public beach, surrounded not just by strangers, but their friends as well. And to make matters worse, Allo had to go and be married as he did. Was there anyone who actually would approve if she told him right now that she found him to be strikingly handsome in more than a Brad Pitt kind of way? Geez, of all people, what would Allo say? She couldn't say anything . . . not now . . .
. . . and that was when she felt the allosaur's hand on her own. She looked down at it, her eyes welling up with tears again. It wsan't a sort of love grip, she could easily tell, more like friendly concern.

"It's okay, Sarah, you can tell me . . . what's bothering you?" He got up, not taking his hand off of her own, and maneuvered in front of her, sitting down again so she was looking straight at him.

This was too much for her, seeing that which sped up her heart right before her nose, and she turned her head away, starting to tremble with her sobs. His other claw moves to her chin and turned her head back to face him. He was looking right into her eyes . . . into her soul, it seemed, trying to locate what caused her such distress.

"Please, Sarah, I'm here to help. We've known each other well over a year, almost five now. What is troubling you?" He asked so earnestly and caringly that Sarah was dying to tell him. After some attempts, she managed, "In a way, it's you, Allo . . ."

"Oh no, did I hurt you? Did you not want the sunscreen, or---"

"No, that's the problem. I liked it . . . perhaps more than I should."

"More than you should? I don't understand."

"Oh Allo . . . the truth is . . . I like you. A lot. Even though I know you have a, you know, wife ad kid, I can't help but adore the sight of you. And it worries me. It really worries me because I don't want either of us to get hurt . . ."

It surprised Sarah that she had said that much, but she felt a great sense of relief that it was no longer a burden on her shoulders. However, she now feared Allo's potential disapproval.

He didn't say anything as the facts sank into his brain. His expression changed from that of worry to one of -- to her amazement -- interest. "And just what do you see in me that plagues you this way?"

Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "Well, look at yourself. Except for the head and tail, you're every human girl's dream. You have--err, you've got--" She couldn't find the words, so she gestured to Allo's chest. He looked down. "What, muscle?"

"Well . . . yeah, muscle." She was shocked by how casual he was being about all this.

"And you find it shameful to compliment someone?"

"Not ashamed, just embarrassed. Most girls I know don't go up to a guy of another species and tell him he looks ripped."

"I guess I can see where you're coming from. Well, it's nice to know that these haven't gone unappreciated." He did a few flexes for her, and she chuckles, staring at his smooth movements.

"I doubt they ever will, Allo," she said, continuing to stare as he ended his personal Mr. Universe pagaent.

"Would you like to feel them?"

Sarah nearly did a double-take. "I beg your pardon?"

"I doubt you'll really calm down unless you can satisfy your curiousity."

She was dying to say 'yes'. Her brain ordered her mouth to say 'yes'. But, her modesty got in the way. "Well, I don't know if I should . . ."

"What's there to worry about? No one will think any less of you, and if they do, I'll set them straight." He took a step towards Sarah and stood, waiting for the girl to receive her fill.