Raven & The Angel

Chapter 14 - The Mission

"Well, I am not from this planet..." The Reef began.
"Well, not dressed like that you're not, no!" laughed Angelina, before realising that she was the only one smiling. "Sorry, carry on. But, really...?"
"As I said Angelina, you may not understand or believe my answers to your questions, but I speak honestly." The Reef stood still, waiting to see if Angelina was going to listen to him or if he had lost this chance to communicate with this human. If the young woman walks away, then he would have to find another to learn from. He again put his head to one side and observed her and the goat.  There was something special about her, about both of them...
"OK. I'm sorry, but I'm sure you can appreciate how that sounds to me as your opening sentence explaining why you're here." Angelina pointed out.
"Yes, I do appreciate how this must sound to you. However, I have no option other than to tell you the truth and to tell you quickly, before others realise I am here" explained The Reef.
Angelina glanced down at Penfold. He was staring at the stranger and chewing on a small section of material that he had managed to rip from her trousers. "Bleat..." he said.
"Really? Are you sure?" Angelina asked her trusty companion. "Bleat".
"Well, it seems you are being serious Mr... The Reef, although I am struggling to believe it." Angelina shot another look at Penfold.
"The goat is correct. Let me explain as simply as I can. I have travelled here from the planet Savon. Our planet is four earth light-years away from here. Our people have a wonderful thirst for knowledge of other civilisations and their technologies. We try to learn from those who have long histories of survival in their own environments. It helps us to evolve and adapt ourselves by avoiding mistakes that other civilisations may have made. We also have enemies on our small world - Rebels who do not want to learn from others, as we have always done as a race. They think our kind's destiny is to shut out all other life forms and their knowledge as they feel it tarnishes our natural path of evolution. As The Leader of our people, it is my responsibility to continue seeking new worlds and new ways to strengthen our chances of survival."

As Angelina listened, she couldn't quite believe that this was anything more than some prank, brilliantly staged by one of her many ex-school taunters. Yet, inside she knew that if that were the case, Penfold would never be a part of such a cruel joke. Penfold studied her face carefully and gently head-butted her leg "Bleat" her murmured. Still confused, Angelina stepped closer to The Reef and tried to look into his dark hood.
"You do not believe me." The Reef stated.
"I don't, but Penfold does. It's just... it all just sounds so far fetched. How do I know that you're not just pulling off the biggest, most humiliating joke ever?" Angelina challenged.
"Would seeing what I travelled here in help?" offered The Reef "It is different to anything you have here on earth. We have found that earth's space transportation is one of the weaker human technologies..." He held out his arm and pointed behind him where the blinding light had come from. As he gestured the air seemed to shimmer and nearby trees looked almost as though they were under water. Two seconds later there was some kind of bullet-shaped vessel hovering just above the ground. Angelina squinted to take in the sleek lines and curves. There was a purple symbol glowing dimly at one end.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Angelina puzzled out loud.
"It was there all along. It has an invisibility shield. It is imperative that we keep ourselves out of sight, other than when we approach a potentially co-operative life-form" The Reef explained.
"Potentially co-operative life form? How did you even know I was potentially co-operative and that I wouldn't just tell you to bugger off?" Angelina scoffed.
"I am afraid I do not understand what this 'bugger off' signifies. But I did know you were more likely to be co-operative because you are a loner-human. Like other races, it is often the loners that are more willing to accept a stranger for who they really are - unlike being able to accept people much closer to them, who they know could purposely hurt them. This is a ritual that our kind has seen many times over but we still do not understand the behaviour.  It is a ritual that you have suffered - I see it in your eyes." The Reef's head was again tilted to the side as he spoke. Angelina looked away.
"What does the symbol mean?" she asked.
"It is the name of the ship - in your language it says Astral Gaze. It means" The Reef began,
"Watching the Stars" Angelina finished his sentence. "OK stranger, you got me. Let me have a look inside."