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  “Sam please forgive me, I know I was wrong and I should have told you what I saw this morning. I should have told you we aren’t alone.”

  “We have been friends for a long time Grant and you should know I may not like how things are going, but I still have your back, and I know you were just trying to protect me. But from now on, please have enough faith in me to tell me what you know. I can and will handle it better if I know we’re on the same page.”

  “I’m sorry Sam, open and honest from now on.”

  “So how are we going to handle the visitor situation?”

  “Well, I’ve given it a little thought Sam, we need to try and make friends with whatever or whoever is out there.”

  “I say we trap one of them and make them talk.”

  “What would they say to us Sam? They most likely do not speak English, or anything similar.”

  “Then what do you suggest we do to make friends with them? Sing, dance, or offer them a bottle of wine?”

  The sarcasm was apparent and Grant knew Sam had a point. “What do you say we offer them something edible, from Earth? Something we eat would hopefully be tasty for them and show we’re not the enemy.”

  “I agree, we need to make who, or whatever it is, our ally, not our enemy.”

  Chapter Four

  Grant and Sam set about trying to decide what would be the best food to leave for their visitors. Sam thought carrots or some lettuce.

  "They're not rabbits Sam, keep thinking." The best Grant could come up with was bacon and eggs.

  "OMG, Grant! Let's give them heart failure before we even meet them." They laughed and simultaneously said, "Chocolate!"

  Sam said, "Everyone likes chocolate and they should be no exception. For lack of a better term the person I saw was petite and almost teen sized."

  Grant agreed what he saw was small in stature and both agreed they shouldn't underestimate them. So, chocolate was gathered in the form of a bar of chocolate, a chocolate pie, and a chocolate covered banana.

  "Do you think this is over kill? Where are we going to put it?"

  "We'll set out a small table and leave it just a few yards from the hatch where I saw the most footprints this morning."

  "Good call Grant, I'll get the table and meet you outside, better hurry, it will be getting dark soon."

  "I'll be right out with the food, Sam.” They headed their separate directions and gathered what they needed. The days were much shorter than an Earth day, about 10 hours of sunlight and oddly about 6 hours of darkness.

  "Damn these short days," said Grant as he gathered the chocolate for their visitors. I hope they like it or we may possibly start another world’s war."

  The sunset was amazing. It highlighted the rich burgundies, deep oranges, and bright yellows of the trees, played against the dark back drop of the mountains. Grant made it out of the hatch and stopped to take in the moment. Sam was already there admiring the sunset and much to Grant's surprise had brought a table cloth and a vase with some local flowers in it.

  "Really, I never knew you were such a romantic."

  Sam blushed a bit and replied, "In my mind they're children, and the one I saw I thought was a girl. Girls like flowers don't they?"

  "Sam, I love your heart my friend, and yes, girls like flowers."

  "Starting to lose the light Grant, better leave our treats and head in for the night."

  "You know, we might be able to catch them on camera if we place the table over here." Grant motioned Sam about five feet to his left in perfect view of the hatch camera.

  "I'm excited and concerned, Grant. What if the chocolate is poison to them? What if they see this as an act of aggression, or they feel like it's a trap and nothing ever moves, and we don't catch them on camera?"

  "Simmer down, Sam. Time will tell and we can adjust to whatever happens. I say we leave this stuff here and go get some dinner."

  "Uh, Grant. It's only about 4 in the afternoon. I feel like we just had lunch. These short days are wreaking havoc on my systems. Eventually we're going to be sleeping during the day and trying to work at night. Not a good combination on this rock. The gas combination keeps us from getting things done as much as the lack of daylight does."

  "I know, we need to figure out something to enable us to work later in the day and longer hours. I don't like using the bio suits unless it's an emergency. Once the bots get back with their first load of samples and their initial data, we are going to be pretty damn busy. Let's get the lab prepped so we're ready when they do get here."

  The bots were programmed to explore the surrounding area for three days, or until their holds or recorders we full. They would then return to the shuttle to have their findings evaluated and processed. Sam, being the geologist, would sort, classify, and test the rock and mineral samples. Grant being the biologist would sample the plant and animal life as well as the micro life they found. Since the bots were exploring the neighborhood closest to the ship Grant figured they'd be back well before three days were up.

  They readied the equipment and laid out the necessary tools, books, and chemicals they would need to process the samples. Sam marveled at the organization of everything, how it was so neat, and securely stored for the trip into space. If only he could organize his mind in the same way.

  Sam was your typical kid with attention problems and got into lots of trouble at home. His parents never quite understood him and his teachers tried their best to ignore him. He didn't care much either way. He had his own beat and did things how he thought they should be done.

  The world was his playground and boundaries were not his style. He wasn't the tallest or brightest, but held his own with his quick wit and willingness to 'go there' if necessary. He had a really big heart and a soft spot for kids. His mind wandered as he got things ready for the coming days.

  All the necessary equipment was unpacked and the supplies arranged to facilitate a quick and thorough examination of the specimens. Sam thought of home and when he would return. Things would be different when he returned. He would be gone for a minimum of five years or the rest of his life if things went bad. He remembered he still had to make repairs to a forward thruster and repair the camouflage generator. The camo gen, how could he have forgotten, they could generate their own camouflage?

  "Grant, are we stupid or what?"

  "Or what, if you're really asking, but I'll bite. What's on your mind?"

  "We can generate our own camouflage! It was installed just before we left New Liberty. Unfortunately it was damaged in the crash. With everything going on I totally forgot about it, until just a second ago. I was thinking about the forward thruster and a couple of small things still in need repair, and it came to me like a shovel to the face, camo gen!"

  "I vaguely remember the conversation with the tech just as we were about to board the Ebony Belle. How long will it take to get it functional?"

  "Given the short days it will take two days to get it working right."

  "Get with Eliot and see if there might be a shortcut. We need to appear to disappear. It might draw them out if they think we've left."

  "Now you're thinking Grant! They'll think we've left and uncloak, revealing who they really are, got ‘em!"

  "Well, until one of them sees us, our bots, or absentmindedly runs into the shuttle when they're out for a stroll."

  "Good point Grant. We need to get the camo gen working and then relocate the shuttle a mile or two away from here. They won't be able to see it lift off or land."

  "Now you're thinking Sam."

  They were at it for a couple hours and Grant again offered to have dinner. Sam willingly accepted his invitation this time around. Everything was in its place and Sam's mind was running wild with ideas about the camo gen and moving the shuttle. They needed the bots to return from their initial exploration and check out their mappings to see where a good place to relocate might be. Over the meal they discussed Sam's ideas and Grant agreed they needed to move, soon. They formulated thei
r plan for the morning, each knowing what needed to be done. The conversation turned to home and their life so far away in the distance. It was difficult to think about how far they had traveled, how much they had accomplished, and how much still needed to be done. Each new planet would take a minimum of three months to map out the terrain, analyze minerals, determine resource availability, and name and classify the flora and fauna. Classify basically meaning dangerous or not dangerous. Once the bots completed their initial analysis they would sojourn further and further away from the shuttle. During the first few weeks they would retrieve the bots with the rover and bring them back with their samples and data. Once they were too far away to reasonably retrieve with the rover, the shuttle would be moved to pick them up, and they would be re-homed to the new base location. First on Sam's list was to get the camo gen working. He knew it was a simple physical fix, but the wiring was another story. He hoped the specs were uploaded to Eliot before they took off.

  "Sam, you're awful quiet!" Grant's voice penetrated his thoughts quickly and deeply. Sam was startled by its suddenness and jolted back to reality.

  "Jesus, Grant, you could give a guy a heart attack hollering at him."

  "I didn't holler Sam, you were lost in thought. You haven't eaten but a few bites of Sea Bass or the seasoned rice."

  "I know, I was totally lost in thought about what I need to do tomorrow. Gotta have my priorities in order. This being our first mission I hope they don't grade us too harshly."

  Grant chuckled and added, "If they do we'll both be looking for work when we return. I've crashed the shuttle, you were seeing things, and we haven't been under cover from day one. Going to have to get moving on protocol for sure."

  The conversation continued as evening quickly slipped into night. Sam finished his meal and headed to the bridge to see if they had any visitors.

  "Have we any takers Sam?" Not yet, nothing has moved and the monitors are quiet. Looks like we wasted a good pie and some really good chocolate."

  "Hang in there Sam. I say tonight we both get some rest and see what the morning brings. We haven't been attacked, and not one scale of a T-Rex has been spotted."

  "Funny, Grant, very funny! You've got jokes!"

  "I've got 'em all day long buddy."

  After a quick glance at the monitors, Sam headed back to the galley and strangely, craved a piece of chocolate pie. "Let's get some sleep and hit it hard tomorrow."

  "Agreed! Catch you in the AM." They headed to their cabins for a much needed shower and a good night's sleep.

  Sam would most likely opt to pop in a movie and fall fast asleep in the first five minutes. Grant was the reader of the two and looked forward to a good book in the evening.

  The day was an adventure. Grant's mind raced, sorting through everything and what needed to happen. His thoughts drifted to the table of food sitting outside, and whether or not their visitors would venture close enough to get a whiff of the pie or the sweet aroma of the banana. Did they have fruit and vegetables? What was their diet? Did they drink water, or milk, or some other form of beverage? Did they have their own version of alcohol? Maybe they should have left some out for them. He dismissed the idea knowing getting the natives drunk would not be a good idea so early on in their ventures. He began reading and quickly succumbed to the rigors of the day. He was exhausted even though the higher oxygen levels made him feel like a million bucks. His wounds from the crash had healed quickly; he hadn't felt this good in years. However, there was something else in the air draining his energy pretty quickly. Maybe the haze had something to do with it. He'd have to remember to give it consideration tomorrow. Until then he was quietly slipping deeper into sleep, and entering the world of dreams.

  His dreams began almost immediately. He was standing at the hatch, mouth agape at something in front to him. The total disbelief on his face was apparent, and then a smile came across it just as quickly. Sam bounded out of the shuttle then froze in his tracks, eyes as big as they had ever been. They laughed in unison.

  The dream quickly faded to smoke and fire. He was running towards a large rock and the sky was alive with humming as objects hurtling past him crashing into the rocks and the trees nearby. He felt his heart racing, and then there was pain. He felt pain in his dream and saw rivulets of blood running down his arm and one of his legs. His clothing was torn, he was disoriented. He felt himself passing out. Everything began to shimmer as a shadow appeared above him. A beautiful face appeared, it was the face of a woman. It was her, the woman he had dreamt of before. She motioned to others as he slipped into unconsciousness. Where was Sam, what was happening, where was he going? Grant woke up in a sweat, breathing heavily.

  The dream felt so real. He felt as if he was there. He could feel the warmth of the fire and the stinging in his leg. It rattled him, but he lay back down, and prayed he wouldn't drift back into the dream, but the woman.

  Sam had a similar dream but it ended quite differently. The explosions, the fire, and things whizzing past him were all the same, but he didn't pass out. He was helping people carry Grant to a safe place. He began to question who they were and where they came from, but his tired body won out and he slept, dreamless.

  Chapter Five

  Their morning routine went the same as always. Grant was making coffee, planning the day.

  Sam was slugging down the hall in a zombie-like march to consume as much coffee as he thought his tired body would allow. He would gladly stay up all night and sleep all day.

  Grant, the early bird, preferred the morning. "Good night sleep, Sam?" There was a spring in his voice.

  Sam muttered, "Shh... not enough coffee, still can't think, eyes are only half functional."

  Grant laughed and said, "Sam it's a miracle to see you up at this hour of the morning must have had a bad dream.

  "Actually, it was a very weird dream, you were in it."

  Grant looked surprised and asked what it was about.

  "You were all shot up and bleeding and our visitors found you, then they found me, and we carried you to their village for some medical attention. It was all very surreal. There was a shimmer, and there she was, what a beauty."

  "A beauty?" Grant was surprised at the word and shared his dream with Sam, "The beauty saved me, with your help. I passed out in the dream and didn't know where they were taking me. I wondered where you were and like you said, there was a shimmer and then there she was, a beauty."

  "Coffee or not, she's mine big boy, I saw her first."

  "Well I saw her best. She was almost nose to nose with me. I win!"

  "Damn it, Grant, you always win."

  "Story of your life Sam, story of your life. Let's eat some breakfast, down some coffee, and check on the offering we laid out last night."

  Sam had forgotten about the offering and was excited to see if there were any takers during the night.

  They finished their morning routine and headed to the hatch to see if anything had been sampled. Grant opened the hatch, gazed at the table, and his chin dropped. There before him was a table full of roasted meats, tuberous vegetables, and what he believed were deserts. He couldn't believe his eyes. Was he dreaming again? He smiled as big as possible at the sight. The chocolate must have been a complete success to warrant such a display of kindness.

  Sam pushed his way past the stunned Grant and stopped dead in his tracks. He expected to find food on the ground and half eaten pieces of chocolate everywhere. He was dumbfounded it was all gone, and this smorgasbord was neatly in its place. To top it off, there were different flowers in Sam's vase. They slowly turned to one another and burst out laughing with joy and surprise. What a turn of events. From potential killers to the nice neighbors next door.

  Sam headed to the table for a sample of the local grub and Grant called out.

  "Sam stop. We do not know if they liked the chocolate or not. They could have poisoned the food. Take a couple items into the lab and run a few quick tests."

  "Agreed, we can't be too car
eful. They may be the nice neighbors next door or they could be the serial killer neighbors you don't know about until it's too late. I'll run the tests; you get some pictures before we break down this feast." The morning gasses had dissipated quickly this morning and Grant was beginning to feel the heat. "Better hurry, everything could melt or spoil as hot as it's getting."

  Grant took a couple of quick pictures and Sam whisked a couple samples to the lab.

  Meanwhile, Grant surveyed the surroundings and noted a slight shimmer by a tree twenty yards away. He pretended not to see it and let his eyes continue their arc across the landscape, but he knew it was there. He bent down towards the food sitting on the table to catch a whiff of its aroma. Everything was still warm, much to his surprise. It must have been brought by whoever was hiding behind the tree.

  Several minutes later Sam emerged from the shuttle with a huge grin across his face. "No known poisons and it's cooked to perfection."

  "What, you already ate some?"

  "Yep, once I knew it wasn't going to kill me I took a bit or two of everything. Hell, it's still warm and the fragrance is well, out of this world."

  "Funny, Sam, nice one. I had just leant in to catch a whiff and noticed the heat too. So where do we begin?"

  "I'd try the meat looking stuff first, and then the veggies. What an intense flavor. Probably like veggies used to taste on Earth long before everything was modified to be insect, drought, and weed resistant. Now the dessert, it's a bit wonky. I'm not sure if it's one of their fruits or if it's something unclassified. I felt a little silly after the first bite so I stopped. It was like a mini rush, sort of like the first gulp of coffee in the morning, but more intense."

  "Good to know! Meat it is. Oh by the way, we're being watched. Twenty yards ahead to the right of the big tree. See the shimmer?"