FREEFALLING

10

It struck me as odd that the new aliens' mouths didn't move when they talked, but I supposed that all aliens were advanced species these days. After the alien acted so casual, we were taken aback. For a moment, our weapons' stern hold on the alien's head faltered, but we all regained our sanity back sooner or later.

"W-who are you?" Tom stuttered.

"That is of none of your concern." The modulator voiced.

"What is your business here?" I spoke bravely, lowering my gun as I took a step ahead of the line that separated us from him. The alien himself seemed to have been surprised by my bold move.

"Again, that is none of your concern."

"It is most certainly of our concern. After all, you landed on our planet."

"Jane, stop it." Ben scolded, reaching out for my arm. I spun on him, shooting daggers towards him.

"Are you here for the others?" I turned around again, remaining bold. Quite frankly, I was surprised that he hadn't ripped out a futuristic machine gun and blown us all to high heavens. That had to mean something, did it not?

"To be rid of them, yes." He said.

This alien was an alien of few words.

Without another syllable from his mouth, he turned to go back onto his ship. Everyone else behind me was still as white as a sheet, but before the doors closed, the alien took one last look at us. The doors slid shut and he blasted up into the sky. Everyone's eyes left the bright ship and turned towards me. I slid past them back down under to the parking garage, picking a column in the corner before sliding down to the floor.

I'm not really sure what happened after that, but I do know that soon enough, a shadow disturbed my deep thought.

"Ben?" I murmured, looking up. My eyes widened even more as I saw that it was Hal.

"Hal!" I shrieked. I jumped up from the ground, throwing my arms around him. I could feel him smiling into my hair, but I quickly pulled from the hug as I cupped his face in my hands. "Are you okay?" I asked, running my eyes over his body as I checked for bruises and such. He had taken two fairly large bruises to his wrists from the coils, just as we all had. I ran my fingers over them, nearly wincing at the pain myself.

"I'm fine, I just...you know...passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain."

"You mean Karen kissed you unconscious?" I smirked, trying to hold back a snort.

"Yeah, that too." He nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "What are you doing all alone in the corner of this parking garage?" he asked, anxiously trying to change the subject.

"I just talked to an alien."

"You what?" he asked.

I explained about the entirely new race of aliens and how the 2nd Mass had practically invited them in by blowing up whatever protective mechanism was designed to keep them out.

"Oh." Was his small reply.

As I heard the pattering of feet, I turned and expected to see the rest of the 2nd Mass noticing that Hal was finally awake. Instead, I turned to see a Skitter. At first, I gripped my rifle sternly and raised it to his head. Then, I saw that it was unarmed and lowered my rifle. This must have been the new rebel leader. I felt a tingling in my back and soon enough, I could hear this one's thoughts in my head as well.

We did not expect this to happen.

I furrowed my brow, somewhat confused at this statement.