Starhoppers

10 - The Rosetta Stone

The four of us sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. The campfire roared loudly as the alien stared, anticipation in its eyes.

Ezra swore loudly, snapping me from my trance. The alien tilted its head, holding out the translator towards Ezra.

"Maybe... maybe don't translate that one," Ralph stammered, shaking his head.

"Oh my God, Zach..." Ellie whispered, her hand wrapped tightly around my wrist.

My arm shook as I reached out towards the device, the alien shifting its arm to meet me in the middle. I took the translator into my own hands, pausing for a moment before speaking. "Thank you... for your hospitality."

The device continued to emit white noise as it processed my message. "How the hell is that going to work?" Ezra scoffed.

As the man finished his words, the translator emitted a string of pitched tones, imitating the howling and hooting of the aliens. "That... that does sound like the noises they were making, doesn't it?" I murmured, peering back at the others.

"It does..." Ezra scoffed. "But... but how?"

I turned back towards the leader, holding the device towards it. The alien spoke, and the device translated. "I'm sure you have many questions. Raise them at your leisure."

I nodded carefully, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Where did you find this device?"

"Great choice, kid," Ezra patted my back.

The alien nodded as my words were translated. "Albright."

Had you told me I'd lost consciousness at the sound of the name, I would have believed you.

"Albright? As in... Robert Albright?" Ezra stammered.

"Do you know any other Albrights?" Ralph asked.

"Wait," I scoffed, speaking into the translator. "Are you saying that Robert Albright was here? He's been missing for over a decade."

The alien spoke. "We had assumed that was why you came."

"You actually met Albright?" I spoke into the device. "Where is he? Is he still here?"

"Not anymore," it replied.

"What... what happened to him?" I asked cautiously. Ezra shifted anxiously behind me.

"He left us. To explore our world," it said. "He never returned."

"Oh, my God..." Ezra laughed, his chin in his palm as he stared into the fire. "First contact with intelligent life, and we find out what happened to the Grandfather of Starhopping? This can't be happening."

"Second contact," Ralph corrected, chuckling. "The ol' bastard beat us to that one, too."

"How long ago did he leave?" I asked.

"Not long after he first arrived," it replied. "He remained with us for several years as he attempted to repair his vessel."

"Sounds like a long time to me," Ralph scoffed.

"So... Albright learned your language, then? And modified this translator so that you could communicate?" I asked.

"Yes," it said.

"Jesus," Ezra sighed. "He really was a legend, wasn't he?"

"So... do you guys think he's still out there somewhere?" Ralph asked.

"Ask him about my dad," Ellie rested her hand in mine. "Ask if he's alright."

I nodded. "Where is our captain? Her father?"