Chapter 8
Contact
Obos had been monitoring Jenny's comings and goings. "The Earth child is leaving her dwelling, Born."
"Good. I have no choice but to make contact with her, Obos," Born said as he tried to pluck up his courage. "Where will I find a translator?"
"It is in panel number three. It is programmed from Soilan to English on setting four," replied the computer. "But English is a very complex language. The translations may not always be precise."
"As long as I can say, give me back my suit, I'll be happy," Born said.
"If the Earth child does not understand a translation, try repeating the phrase with different wording," Obos suggested. "I will monitor the conversation and make adjustments when errors present themselves."
Born took a translating device from the shelf and attached it to himself. He turned on the unit and spoke a Soilan phrase. The translation device picked up Born's voice, and a split second later, reproduced his voice into the appropriate English words.
"How does it sound, Obos?" Born asked the computer.
"The sound is good, and it was a perfect translation. The girl is walking into a secluded area. This is an ideal time to confront her," suggested the computer.
"Ok, I'm going," Born said reluctantly.
Powering up his anti-gravity suit, Born exited the Traveler. He followed Jenny at a distance and breathed deeply, trying to calm his nerves. Obos guided Born through a series of large open fields.
Jenny was walking slowly and cautiously with her senses alert. She had no idea what to expect and kept reminding herself of how frightened the alien was when she had encountered him the previous evening. She had a feeling someone was watching her. She turned around and there he was. All decked out in his gravity displacement suit, complete with multi-colored tassels, steamers, and decorative balls. If Jenny weren't so nervous about the situation, the sight would have been comical. He stood within a clump of bushes and trees, separating the open areas, but he wasn't hard to miss. They both stood still and silent for a few moments, each one of them waiting for the other to make the first move. Jenny did not want to waste her opportunity, so she spoke first.
"Hello, my name is Jennifer Thompson," she tried to project her voice across the fifty feet or so separating them. She gulped and continued. "What is your name?" Jenny spoke slowly and clearly, gesturing with her hands in an attempt to help the alien understand.
Born's translation device detected the sound waves, and translated her words and phrases into Soilan through his earpiece.
"Greetings, my name is Born," he responded. His voice was converted loud and clear into English.
Jenny was surprised. "Oh, you speak English. That's great. Now we can communicate freely," she said, suddenly felling a little more comfortable. "Are you alone?" she looked around suspiciously.
"I am on loan," Born's language converter incorrectly translated.
Jenny knew what he meant, and decided to get right to the point of their meeting. "I think I may have something that belongs to you."
"Yes, my gravity displacement suit. My eye half it back?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" She did not understand Born's question.
"Will you return it to me?" Born repeated the question with different wording.
"I'm sorry to do this, and normally I would return something that didn't belong to me immediately, but I'm in a little bit of a spot, a predicament," Jenny explained. "You see, there is a huge comet on a collision course with my planet, and I was wondering, hoping, you may be able to assist us."
Born realized now what the young Earth human was up to.
"I am aware of the approaching comet. Where is my property?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, I have hidden it," she said, feeling guilty. "But as I mentioned, my planet is in deep trouble and we need help desperately. We don't have the technology to deflect the comet. Are you, or your people able to help us?" Jenny pleaded.
Born looked across at the Earthling child and felt sorry for her, but what could he do?
"I'm sorry. I do not have the qualifications, the experience, or the authority to undertake such a dangerous mission. I don't even know if it is possible."
Jenny decided to change her tactics. The direct approach wasn't working. She knew from experience, small talk opened up the lines of communication, so she may be able to get some important information that she could use to her advantage, and she was very curious about the alien being.
"Where are you from, Born?" she asked.
"I am from a planet called Soilanglobe, it is approximately four light-bulb years from here," Born said.
"Light bulb years?" Jenny asked.
"I'm sorry, this language converter is not always accurate," Born explained.
"You mean, light years?" Jenny asked, and Born nodded. "What did you come to Earth for?"
"Water...Like you, and all life forms we have encountered throughout the galaxy, we require water to survive. My planet has had to deal with a very limited supply of water for over two thousand years. We travel here, and to other planets with an over a bread roll dance of water, and collect the small amount we need."
"Over a bread roll dance?" Jenny again questioned.
"Yes, more than what you need," Born repeated.
Jenny thought intently, then a smile of comprehension lit up her face.
"You mean, overabundance," Jenny corrected.
"Yes, that is what I said," Born stated.
"Umm hmm," Jenny politely agreed.
Jenny, feeling more at ease with the strange creature, continued to feed her voracious curiosity with a barrage of questions. Then, slowly and gradually, they moved closer together. They enjoyed talking to each other, but both had their own reasons for being so polite. Born didn't really feel comfortable revealing so much information about himself, but he felt Jenny had the bargaining advantage, and he hoped by continuing the conversation he could get Jenny to reveal the whereabouts of the gravity displacement suit. He also had in the back of his mind, this species would soon not exist, so revealing some things about himself did not seem too important.
Jenny noticed Born was about her height. He looked quite thin and frail. Very humanoid, in that he had two legs, feet and hands, with a still to be determined number of fingers. His skin was very white and his face did not have contours similar to a human face. He had no protruding nose and his features were quite smooth. His head appeared very large, not at all in proportion with his small face. Jenny noticed the translator attached to his collar.
"How are you able to communicate with me. You don't speak English do you?"
She was puzzled as to why Born's thin lips moved, but the words reproduced, did not match his lip movements, and the English translation did not sound electronic in any way, it sounded like your average every-day man's voice.
"I am wearing a translator, programmed to your language."
"How do you know about my language?"
"We have collected data on every language used on your planet."
"How?" asked Jenny.
"Obos has a cap able to retrieve any electronically stored data, by utilizing the ship's sensitive scanners."
Jenny's brow furrowed, and she thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean Obos is capable of retrieving any electronically stored data," Jenny corrected.
"Yes, that is what I said."
Jenny just smiled and nodded. She realized the language barrier was not nearly as bad as it could be, and the translated misunderstandings were helping her to feel more comfortable with the outlandish situation.
"Who is Obos?" Jenny asked.
"Not who, but rather, what," corrected Born. "Obos represents the words, on board operating system, or Obos for short. It is a standard issue computer, designed to operate a space vessel and to help in all functions or sit you at ions which may occur," he explained.
"Hmm. Situations. How does the suit that I found, work?"
Born was glad to get back finally to the subject of the grav
ity displacement suit.
"I am not a scientist or an engineer, so I do not understand all of its complexities, but basically, it has the ability to recognize and isolate the constant force of gravity, and reduce, eliminate or collect more of it within its own space. The technology absorbs gravitational energy and transfers it elsewhere. We have had this technology for over three thousand years. We first used it in our spacecraft. It proved useful in breaking away from a planet's gravitational pull, or to safely enter the at most fear, and land on a planet," Born explained.
"Atmosphere," Jenny easily corrected.
Jenny knew from her background, all matter possessed its own gravitational force, and although the force of gravity is the weakest of the four known forces, when accumulated in a large mass, like a planet or a galaxy, it ruled the universe.
"You mentioned, you come to Earth to collect water to supplement your own. How important is Earth water to your planet's survival?" Jenny asked.
"Your planet is not our only option in regards to supplementary water, but it has been our main source for centuries. The next closest water rich planet is another two light years further away," Born explained.
"Hey, you got it right this time," Jenny noted the correction to light-bulb years.
"Yes, Obos is making corrections as we speak."
"I guess that explains all of the UFO sightings throughout history. It was you guys coming and collecting water," Jenny surmised.
"Yes, I'm sure it was. We try to be careful not to be detected, but occasionally we are," Born added.
"I would say the loss of your primary source of water would make things more difficult for you, wouldn't it?"
"Yes it will chomp lick ate things for us," Born admitted.
"Complicate?"
"Yes, make things more difficult," Born repeated.
"So, don't you think your people would be ever so grateful to you, if you saved their main source of water from destruction?" Jenny asked.
"My people have already instructed me, to collect my cargo and get out as soon as possible, and that is what I intend to do," Born countered.
"So, that would make it even more special, if it was something you did on your own. Is your ship capable of moving an object as large as this comet away from its original course?" she asked.
"I don't know. That would be a question for Obos, but I can tell you one thing positively, it would be a very perilous mission."
"Yes, but well worth the risk. A whole planet and its inhabitants could be saved, and your planet retains its best source of water, and you return a hero to your planet." Jenny was planting a thought she hoped would be appealing to the alien, but she didn't know the first thing about alien psychology, it was hard enough trying to figure out how her own race thought.
"I don't have the least bit of interest in becoming a hero. I much prefer staying alive," Born answered.
"What about all of the people on this planet who also wish to stay alive? Don't you think you owe it to them, considering we have helped to keep you and your people alive for centuries, by supplying you with water, free of charge, I may add," Jenny was beginning to flex her muscles.
"I am not without compassion, as you unfairly portray me. I just don't have the authority to risk my company's ship, and the water I have on board is needed back home."
"Can't you get in touch with your planet and explain the situation to them? You said yourself, that our water is very important to you," Jenny pleaded.
"I already have. They told me to collect my cargo and leave as quickly as possible," Born repeated. "And, as far as my gravity displacement suit, I was hoping, as an honest person, you would return the suit to its rightful owner."
"Normally I would return something that doesn't belong to me right away, but, my family and friends and everyone on the planet is going to die if I can't convince you to do this for us." Jenny was getting very emotional now. The stress, frustration, and helplessness of the whole situation was starting to affect her and tears welled up in her eyes.
"You had mentioned your computer would be able to tell us if this was possible. Can't we check with it first? It may say this is a simple procedure that can be done quickly, and you'll be out of here and back home in no time," Jenny's voice quivered with emotion.
A young girl's tears can affect even an alien from another solar system. It is a powerful weapon, capable of swaying circumstances in their favor, and Born was touched by the young Earth human's show of emotions.
"All right, all right," Born conceded, "I will check with Obos, and see what the probability of completing a mission such as this is," he said with a sigh of reluctance. He wondered what he had just gotten himself into.
Jenny jumped. "Oh, thank you, thank you, Born!" She gushed in appreciation. She quickly regained her composure and wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "Can I come and see your ship?"
Born looked at Jenny suspiciously, thinking her poise had returned very quickly. "I suppose you may. I have already told you more than I should have, so a little more information certainly won't make a difference at this point. Come." He motioned with his long willowy hand, and they walked off together, alien and human, side-by-side.