“Well?” Honora asked impatiently.
“I know one person who might be able to help us. He’s in the
right position, but I’m not sure how much I trust him. His name is Admiral
Steven Falum and he’s always struck me as being pretty honest and
straightforward. He’s in charge of the Exploration and Expansion section of the
Armed Forces.” Hans thought back through all his interactions with the Admiral
and one moment came to mind in particular. “I think he’d be our best bet.”
“E&E? That’s not exactly the most prestigious section in
the Armed Forces.” Duke’s voice was calmer now.
“Maybe not, but they are the ones who are actually trained
in first contact.” Hans hesitated and then decided to share the story. “He
actually came to me when I was recovering from my accident. I had already
decided to retire and he wanted to convince me not to retire, but to switch
over to his department. He said that my unique knowledge from my time with
Special Forces would be indispensable to him.”
“And?” Duke asked.
“It was the way he said it.” Hans said. “It was like he was
hinting at something more. That I may have had special knowledge that he
didn’t. Except at that time, I didn’t know anything special, but I do now and I
think that was what he wanted to know about.”
“And I think you’re stretching, but if you two both agree on
this course of action then I will go along with it, but I will say ‘I told you
so’ if it all goes horribly wrong.” Duke
stretched and stood up. “How much longer till it wakes up?”
Hans checked his watch. “I’d guess another hour or so, how
do you guys want to do this? As you said we can’t go back to that mining town
with an alien in tow and we don’t have enough supplies to stay here and call
someone in.”
“Well, you’re the one that knows this Admiral Falum so you’d
have to be the one to contact him about this.” Honora said and then glanced around the room
and at the tunnel they came in through. “I think, though, we’re forgetting
something very important.”
Hans and Duke both glanced up at the tunnel, around the room
and then their gaze rested upon the alien in his glass case. It was the most
basic of problems that none of them had even thought about until this moment.
They had all come in through a tunnel too small for the alien to fit through
and they could see no other entrance of exit.
“Maybe they’re extremely flexible?” Duke frowned and took
another glance around. “I mean, they had to get in here to build it and lock up
that guy. It’s not like the whole installation could have just appeared out of
the blue. Laws of physics would apply here too.”
“Or we can ask when he wakes up. Maybe there’s a hidden entrance
or some sort of transportation device.” Hans shrugged. “Not much we can do
until he wakes up anyway.”
“How are we going to ask him? We don’t even speak the same
language.” Honora asked.
“Oh, I forgot to mention that they used me as a language
template. Our language is being downloaded into him right now. When he wakes up
he ought to be able to speak as well as any of us.” Hans smirked. “Hopefully he
won’t sound too much like me.”
“I think we’re about to find out really soon.” Duke nodded in the direction of the alien and
they all looked over to see his tentacles twitching behind the glass. It was
the first movement they had seen of Ohaehim since the waking process had
started.
“Yeah, it’s time
alright.” Hans said as he glanced at his watch. “We should probably give him
some space.”
They all backed up to the other side of the room from the
glass case and waited for Ohaehim to wake up. It wasn’t long before his the
thick white membrane that covered his eyes slid aside and he was looking at
them from behind the glass. Slowly, one tentacle reached up and stroked
something on the inside of the case and, with a hiss, the glass dissipated.
Ohaehim stepped out of his case and stretched to his full
nine meter height. His gaze travelled around the room and finally rested on the
three humans standing together on the other side. “Cuu’huye. Hello.”
“Hi, my name is Hans.
My friends are Duke and Honora.” Hans stepped forward to speak for the group,
pointing at each of his friends as he said their name.
“I am Ohaehim of the Shai Halad. I have been brought
up-to-date on the current situation by the computer. It is imperative that I
speak to someone in a position of authority immediately. There is little time
to prepare for the coming of the Afoixox.” As Ohaehim spoke, his tentacles made
patterns in the air.
“We understand, but there’s a small problem.” Hans looked
back at Duke and Honora, unsure of how to explain their situation to the alien.
“Problem?” Ohaehim stood still and waited for an
explanation.
“I’m not sure how to explain this, but you’re the first
alien species our race has ever encountered before. We can’t just take you to
the nearest government representative to explain the situation, people would
panic. Things need to be done in a way that may take more time, but will get
better results.” Hans bit his lip and prayed that he had done a decent enough
job of explaining the situation without upsetting the alien.
“Proper channels must be gone through. The hierarchy must
always be respected, that is as it should be. I will wait here.” Ohaehim turned
his attention to a console that was at eye height for him.
“Did you need anything if you’re staying here? Food, water,
anything?” Honora spoke, her voice quavering slightly.
“I am fine. Things must progress quickly. They are coming.” Ohaehim
turned one eye towards the humans for a moment before focusing both oculars on
the console again. “I will monitor the information available and I will attempt
to learn more about your culture and protocols.”
“Is there a way we can keep in touch with you?” Hans asked.
“That is not necessary. Just return as soon as possible with
someone that in a position of leadership.” Ohaehim didn’t even bother looking
at them this time; his full attention was on manipulating the console in front
of him.
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