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  When the drone was safely back Grant asked Sam about what had happened. "What made you think we were being watched?"

  "I'm not sure, but it was like in my dream. I could sense her being right there as close as or closer than you are, and I'm pretty sure she could sense me too. We may not be invited for breakfast after all."

  "This weird link is going to have to be explored, Sam, it could be a good thing or it could put us in jeopardy."

  "It's not like I can control it. It's like a natural connection and since she's a beauty, I'm not complaining so much."

  "Gonna have to get real for a minute Sam. If they do turn on us, and know what you're thinking..." Grant let his voice trail off and Sam caught on to what wasn't being said.

  "You're right, I need to be more diligent about not keeping my mind accessible and open for viewing. I am going to try to communicate with her in my dreams. I think she was trying to in the beginning."

  "Just be careful. Alright, let's get the battery changed out and take a little flight the other direction. If we can find the missile base this morning then we have accomplished almost everything on our ‘to do’ list for the day. Well, except for breakfast and communicating with the good neighbors, now maybe the not so good neighbors."

  "It will all work out, Grant, I have a feeling about this."

  "I sure hope so, Sam, I sure hope so."

  With the drone in the air again and headed in the opposite direction Sam noted almost immediately the terrain was much different. It was like a war zone. The ground was mostly barren and the trees and shrubs looked burnt and lifeless. Quite the contrast from the lush abode of the villagers. After a short flight, about half the distance of the village, Sam spotted their first obstacle. It was a sensor. It was clearly placed there and watching the surrounding area. Sam figured it was watching the sky as well. He flew lower to avoid the sensor, thinking the drone would fly under the detection range of the sensor. He soon discovered he was wrong. A larger more menacing drone advanced rapidly towards their drone.

  Sam and Grant simultaneously said, "Time to go!"

  "Get out of there Sam! At least we know the base is fairly close to us, and the sensor. I'd say about a quarter of a mile farther and we'll find the base, if it doesn't find us first."

  "I'm glad the drone just ran us off and didn't fire at us. It seems strange we haven't seen anyone from the bad neighbors hanging about, shimmering."

  Grant noted the sarcasm and agreed, "It is strange they haven't come to see what they shot down." Let's dock the drone and make our way toward the village."

  Chapter Seven

  With the lab bay doors now cleared and functioning Sam was delighted to finally get out the rover. The rover was part research vehicle, and part badass assault vehicle. Its six large all-terrain tires set it high off the ground. The two passenger cab sat low in the front with a wide sloped windshield. The powerful headlights and armaments were located above. It was powerfully rugged and sleek, yet functional. The passenger bay sat higher than the cab and could accommodate up to eight. It was designed to withstand harsh conditions on hostile worlds. Perfect for a morning romp, according to Sam. He pushed the gas pedal and popped out of the bay doors at a good clip, drove a short distance; put it into a power slide, and slung dirt and debris everywhere. It was ideal for slinging dirt and rocks flying in all directions, Sam was pleased. He loved the rover and drove it like he owned it. He slid to a halt in front of Grant with a huge smile and over the PA gave a hearty, "Howdy! You ready for this?"

  Grant shook his head as he gathered the gear and headed to the rover. He knew this was going to be a bumpy ride, even if the terrain was perfectly flat and smooth. Sam was notorious for driving like a car thief being chased by the cops. It didn't matter if he was going on a long trip or a short one to the market, he owned the road. At least in his mind and with a vehicle as awesome as the rover, he felt invincible.

  Once in and securely buckled up Grant gave Sam the go ahead and their journey began. "Ok Sam it's 9:30 AM and the sun sets at 5:45 PM, giving us just over 8 hours to check out the village, and anything we see on the way there, and get back to the shuttle for the night."

  "All right, let's do this!" Sam slowly brought the rover up to a leisurely speed paying particular attention not to hit any large holes or rocks. From the co-pilot seat Grant gave Sam a sideways glance and Sam returned the glance with a slow head roll, and then stomped on the gas, they were off.

  "Funny, Sam, very funny!"

  "I thought you might appreciate the dainty take off and understand the need to fly! This baby is a beast!"

  "Sam please, just get us there in one piece. Oh and YEE HAW! Can this thing go any faster?"

  They laughed and Sam obliged. Not quite top speed but enough to exhilarate them and get them in the mood to travel.

  "We have about two more miles to go, Sam, better be easing up a bit so we can keep from power sliding into the village and making mess of things. We are trying to make friends with them you know."

  "I know we are, but this thing is so fun."

  "It's also intimidating. Let's roll close to the village and park in the open so we're not invading their space, or look menacing."

  "On a side note, Grant, the bots should be back this evening and you know what that means."

  "Yes I do, it means a lot more work for us. We probably need to cut this short and head back to the shuttle before it gets dark."

  "Here we are, it’s show time."

  "Keep in mind Sam; we are over a foot taller than they are and easily twice their size. Any sudden movements or gestures might be considered a sign of aggression. Better play it safe and be humble."

  "I'm still packing a small firearm in my vest and one in my boot. Better safe than sorry!"

  "Do not, I repeat, do not brandish either of them for any reason other than to save our lives, understood?" The serious tone from Grant made Sam truly take notice of why he was the captain and Sam was not.

  "Yes sir! And no sarcasm this time."

  "Thanks. So what direction do we go from here?"

  "To the tree line and then down into the valley about thirty yards. Most likely we will be greeted by one of our neighbors. Hopefully the drone wasn't mistaken as an overt act."

  They entered the tree line and walked about fifteen feet when everything went quiet. It was the same kind of quiet they experienced the first night when Grant shone his light over the landscape. They stooped reflexively and looked around for signs of trouble.

  "Creeps me out to no end Grant. I haven't seen any bugs making noise and why do they all stop at the same time?"

  "No idea, let's stop talking and proceed slowly. We are being watched."

  Sam looked around and didn't see anything, and then he saw it. A slight shimmer five yards ahead to their right, and another to the left about two yards down the path.

  "We come only to talk!"

  The sudden burst of sound startled Sam and he ducked again. "Warn me next time for Christ's sake, I about shit myself."

  "Here they come, better wipe before you stand back up. Sarcasm intended."

  The neighbors were out in force this morning. There were about twenty and they did not appear to be happy about the unannounced intrusion. Several of them uncloaked, revealing themselves to be the same ones who shared their dinner. With a weak smile and a handshake they were greeted and led into the village. The other shimmery ones dispersed and were gone in the blink of an eye. The path wound farther down into the valley and Grant and Sam caught their first close up view of the village. The flower shaped dwellings were scattered throughout the area. The rock walkways up to their entrances were stunning. The stones were a light grey and the water was black, and mirror smooth. The plants and flowers made each one unique and their aroma was intoxicating. They had never seen such beauty in such an unreal setting. No one was out and about in the village with the exception of the guards and them. They were led to the larger dwelling with a greenish tint to it. It stood o
ut from the others with its rustic vibe and choice of plants. Their guides stopped them and motioned for them to stay put. Three of the guards entered the structure leaving Sam and Grant alone with the other three.

  "Grant, this is the place I saw in my dream. She is in there."

  "She who?"

  "The huntress!" Sam raised his eyebrows and Grant raised his as well. Were they about to meet the woman of both of their dreams or become prisoners? After a few moments their guides returned and motioned for them put something in their ears. It was an odorless, jelly-like slime, deep burgundy in color. Sam and Grant exchanged looks and took the sticks with the jelly on them and placed the stuff in their ears. It was warm and slimy, and slid deep into their ears. Sam could feel the slime moving and shook his head trying to dislodge it

  from his ear.

  Grant was having similar difficulties and tried to pull it out with the end of the stick. Their neighbors stood smiling like this sort of thing happened every day. Once the initial shock wore off and they realized there was no retrieving the slime, they calmed down and looked at each other like, what the hell did we just do? The guides motioned for them to enter. The dwelling was far more spacious than they expected. The shape made the size deceiving and the rustic exterior was deceiving as to the dwelling contents. There before them, was who they called, the huntress. She was beautiful, but looked hard and serious. Her piercing black mercury eyes and set jaw made her look like a jungle animal. She was fit, but slight, and her hair was jet black with hints of other subtle dark colors. Her tunic caught Sam's eye after he got past her beauty, and the fear she might pounce at any moment. It was the same one he saw in his dream, only this close it had much more detail. It was made from the hide of something with scales and feathers. It was so dark it almost stole the light from the room.

  "Why are you here?" The voice was much deeper and seemed to come from inside their heads. It startled them not only because it was deeper than expected, but it was in English.

  "How can you speak our language?"

  "The substance you put in your ears contains small organisms. They translate your language to ours and ours to yours."

  Satisfied with her answer for now, Grant replied, “We are a survey team doing scientific research."

  She must not have really wanted an answer to her question as she went directly to her next. "Did you send the small flyer to us?"

  Grant replied, "Yes, it was us."

  "Why?" The huntress was not one for many words.

  "We used the drone, flyer, in order to locate your village so we could pay you a visit. We need your help."

  "Do the diggers and boomers belong to you?"

  "I do not know of diggers and the boomers. I assume they are the missiles that brought down our craft. No, they are not ours. We need your help and I believe you can use ours as well."

  "I will determine who needs our help and who does not." She paced a few steps away in deep thought. She was as beautiful from the back as she was the front. Sam could not take his eyes off of her and his mind drifted to things of an intimate nature. He was getting lost in the depth of her swaying backside when she turned and approached him. Much to his surprise she had a smirk on her face. She got close enough he could smell her. She must have rubbed flowers and other tropical oils on herself because she smelled amazing. Sam sensed she knew he was thinking inappropriate thoughts about her. She was about five feet six inches tall and for Sam, she was the perfect height compared to his five feet eleven inches.

  "You need to keep your thoughts quiet, I can hear them. It was in your dream I learned you can hear my thoughts, too. We will work on our communications another day." She had not said a word.

  Sam was dumbfounded she knew what he was thinking and intrigued she wanted to work on their communications. It was a positive note and he beamed a little.

  "We can speak of help over a meal, come, and join us." They were led out of the dwelling, onto a wide rock path leading to their large gathering hall.

  "Sam, what was she doing when she was staring at you? I was getting worried you had done something to piss her off."

  "I will fill you in later." The entire village was there and it must be their custom to breakfast together. Grant and Sam were invited to sit with the huntress and several others at a long table in the front of the room. They were unsure of their customs and waited for them to lead the way.

  "Family, I see the puzzled looks and hear your troubling thoughts. They are not the enemy or it's like. They have come seeking our counsel and assistance. Let us welcome them and eat without fear." The villagers smiled and cautiously went about their business. Plates and utensils were placed before them and cups were filled with unknown liquids. The huntress, aware of their unease took small pieces of several different items and placed them on their plates. "These may be to your liking judging from what I've learned of your food. You can take more of what you like." Sam took a bite of his first sample. It was something similar to their steak and had a similar aroma. He placed the bite in his mouth, chewed twice and closed his eyes. Grant watched closely and quickly became concerned as Sam was not moving, then Sam spoke.

  In his state of ecstasy Sam slowly said, "This is amazing! What is this called?"

  "It is Chotuk, a medium-sized beast with four legs and no fur. It comes from the lower mountains."

  Grant took a bite and knew why Sam had closed his eyes. If this was going to be his last bite of food ever, it was the best ever, and he prayed for more. Each and every bite was as good as the previous one.

  Grant turned to the huntress and said, "By the way, I'm Grant and this is Sam. What do we call you?"

  "I am Tayana and these are my people. I am their leader and protector." With a slight knowing smile she motioned to the side and soft music began to play.

  The soothing melody instantly made Grant feel much more at ease and willing to talk freely. "How did such a beautiful woman become the leader and protector of an entire village?" Grant knew as soon as the words left his lips they seemed sexist and demeaning. It was not his intention to be insulting, and he feared the worst.

  "My parent couple were the village leaders and my brother was to be next. When the diggers came there was a battle and my parents and brother were killed. I became the village leader at their death. I was much younger, but I understood things others could not. The village is like a large family and they supported me early on. They taught me our history and our culture. They taught me the ways of our people and how to be a protector. As time passed I needed their attention less and they needed mine more. I am who I am with their help and they are who they are with my help."

  Grant was amazed. She did not miss a beat after his assumed insult, and he was truly relieved. "How did you become leader of Sam?"

  "Well, our planet is much larger than this one and there are different occupations and ranks. We work for the Planetary Survey and Acquisition Division, PSAD. I am the captain of the ship and a scientist. Sam is a scientist and mechanic and works with me. If something goes bad then I am responsible. Sam and I are friends before we are scientists."

  "What is a scientist?"

  "We study life and resources on uninhabited planets to see if they are suitable for our planet. Our planet ran out of natural resources and we must explore others and utilize their resources in order to maintain life."

  "Why did you think Antaya had no life?"

  "It wasn't that it had no life, we did not think it had intelligent life." Again, Grant had put his foot in his mouth and awaited repercussions.

  This time he did get a reaction, "You think we are not intelligent? We have harnessed the organisms in your ear to speak for us and we hide in plain sight and cannot be seen.

  Not wanting to appear even ruder, he reluctantly raised his hand to signal for her to stop. With a quizzical look on her face, and much to Grant's surprise, she stopped talking.

  "We did not know you were here. The static haze surrounding this planet kept our sensors
from detecting you. We assumed there was no intelligent life because you didn't show up. We are truly impressed with your knowledge and wholly respect you and your people. I apologize for the way my words came out. There was no harm or insult intended."

  Grant must have looked completely humbled because she looked at him for a moment and then smiled a very forgiving smile. "We are glad you are intelligent and again, we need your assistance to get back to our ship."

  "Has the wine made you unable to walk so quickly?" She said with a comical smile.

  Grant noted the sarcasm and appreciated her sense of humor.

  "There's wine?" Sam was listening off and on, but the word wine caught his attention. “I would love some wine." As he spoke a glass of wine was delivered to him via, for lack of better terminology, a servant. "Ah, Grant, I could get used to this lifestyle."

  "Pipe down and drink your wine." They chuckled and went back to what they were doing. Grant turned back to Tayana, "The craft we have here is a small research shuttle, the Varizone. It detaches from our larger ship, the Ebony Belle, orbiting the planet as we speak."

  She was intrigued they had a larger unmanned ship circling the planet and they were unable to return to it without her help. “How do you plan to get back to your larger ship and how do we help you?"

  Grant was glad Tayana was listening intently, "Do you know where the boomers come from? If our shuttle takes off it will again be shot down by the missiles— boomers— and if it takes further damage we may not be able to leave at all. The static haze blocks our communications with the ship and our planet."

  Tayana replied, "We know where to find the boomers. They come from the diggers. We can take you there to see."

  "It would help us a lot. We need to figure out how to disable the boomers and shut off the haze. We think it is being generated by the diggers."

  "The haze is how they hide from others who may want to dig here too. It seems to work well, does it not?"