"Are they Bipeds? Do they have hands?"

McCandles and Jack both looked over at the Russian. He had not stopped pestering them since they came out here. Jack ignored him, "Sergeant Major, three people on watch from now on. At night everybody carries night vision. Also, no more wandering around. I even want the guards to stay within easy yelling distance of the camp. Nobody goes out of sight."

Harry had finally managed to steal the goggles from Red. Since acquiring them he had yet to relinquish control. "Well they've been in the same spot for two hours now. I don't see where they'd be all that hostile. I mean even if they did attack..."

"We don't know much Wu," replied the Sergeant Major. "The fact is we can't judge by their intentions. I mean, to put it bluntly, we are dealing with aliens here. Who knows how they think? We have to deal with capabilities. What can they do?"

"Well they have to be intelligent," responded Wu, "One of them has what looks like a stick. I saw the other drinking out of something. They’re wearing those robes. They’re using tools here guys. I mean that is one of the basics to the working definition of sentient life. At least it will be when I get back and write my paper. The first Xeno-bioligist in history!"

"Let's keep our attention focused on the problems at hand shall we," was Jack's only comment on his companion’s delusions of grandeur. "For now, let's just leave them be. Pull back into camp and wait for the sun... I mean for Alpha Centauri to come up."

"I think we should try and make contact," protested Vitosk.

That would come soon enough. There could be a good number, of whatever those things were, on this planet. If they had made contact with someone in a desolate area like this then it was likely that the more fertile regions were far more populated.

Until this moment Jack had come to the conclusion that there was nothing here. When the orbiter hit the atmosphere it must have made a sonic boom that would have sounded to someone on the ground like a nuke was dropped on their head and that would have been how it sounded to the guy a hundred miles away. Someone in this area might have been shaken off his feet.

Now that his opinion had been proven wrong it left Jack considering what Vitosk had said about the pictures he found in the computer. He had obviously been wrong about the source. Jack had always been fairly certain that the OK corporation could not have mounted a manned mission at an earlier date. This new development solved that mystery at least. The things out on the rise must have been what picked up that probe.

Naturally this did not solve the little question of what it was that they had encountered around the Gas Giant. Did these creatures have space flight? Just judging from the two sitting around the camp fire that seemed unlikely. For lack of a better word Jack could only describe them as “primitive.” If they were the most technologically advanced creatures here then they could not have possibly invented space flight. Of course you could find stone age types even back on Earth. Jack hated thinking about all the possibilities!

Looking at Vitosk, Jack realized the Russian was reading his mind. There was only one last page to browse as well and that being the common denominator to all of this was one person. Jack planned on paying her a visit just as soon as they got back to camp. Dee had a lot of explaining to do before Jack would be satisfied.

After making another notation from the satellite data, Dee found herself looking at the bottom line. There were obvious heat blooms on the surface and the cause was never really in question. The infrared showed the obvious. The heat blooms showed up in all of the most likely places that you would put a city. The high magnifications of the individual blooms were even more shocking. One close up clearly showed a grid of streets and buildings! There were cities on this planet! Uncle Isaac had been right all along.

A ruffling of the tent flap got Dee's attention. She hit the escape button and the screen returned to the main menu. Dee shifted a few papers on her field desk and then invited whomever it was inside. She was a bit relieved to see Jack, "What did you find out there? A couple more of those things?"

Jack unfolded a chair and sat down. He pulled his cap off and hunched over. His body was still hurting. "We don't know just yet. How you feeling? The cuts getting any better?"

Instinctively Dee looked down her shirt and then back to her company, "Uh, yeah they're sore but healing. For Pam to have just been our junior doctor, or whatever, she sure learned well from Mike. So, what do you think it is out there?"

Jack noted the papers on her desk. She still had her glasses on. They were the thin wire rimmed sort that she normally only wore when she was working. That seemed like all of the time of course. "What you been working on now? I mean you don't have an engine to keep tinkering with anymore. I kind of thought you might be taking a break."

Dee almost stood up but stopped and then sat back down. She ruffled through the papers, "Oh, nothing really. Just a lot of the geological data from our probe. Stuff that won't be that important till anybody else gets here. Say, is this an official visit, or are you just killing time?"

"Why? You interested in killing some time," asked Jack?

"Who me? I... I.... well maybe. I don't know Jack. You know how it gets sometimes, but I just don't know."

Why was it that Jack was feeling a void in the pit of his stomach at the moment? Did he really want to spend the rest of the night here with her? Maybe it was something else though. Maybe it was his mixed feelings at the moment. She was being evasive and it was very obvious. How was Jack supposed to handle this? He supposed, like a Marine only minus the beer since they didn't have any at the moment.

"Dee, I'm going to cut through the shit right now since I don't have time to tap dance with you. First I want to know everything you know about this planet that you haven't been telling me. Second..."

Dee almost stood up and was about to fire back. Jack stuck his finger out and she sat right back down, "I don't have time for any theatrics. We have got two whatever's out there watching the camp. They have clothes and tools and if I didn't know any better I'd swear they look just like humans. Now you are going to tell me everything you know. There are lives at stake here."

"Second?" Dee asked timidly.

"Oh yeah," why was this harder to say, "I probably wouldn't mind staying the night at all. Let's handle the First part right now."

Dee reached over and took a print out from her computer. It was not a detailed map of the surface like the charts that were over in the common tent. It did have several areas marked off in pen. "What are these area's you have scribbles over here."

Dee sunk, "I'm not for sure, but they look like cities."

Jack stood up and slammed the paper back down on her desk. "Jesus Christ Dee, you didn't think this would effect our mission here a little? That it might effect our safety just a little? Not just mine, or the others, but you're ass is in the sling too. Why? What's so important about keeping this secret? You didn't think I'd find out soon enough?"

"I told you why Jack," she was almost pleading now. It was a side of her that Jack had not seen before. "I couldn't talk about the probe’s pictures and then when I got the data from the sat... I... I just didn't want you to know that... I figured you would find out anyway and that would be that."

Jack grabbed her by the arms and picked her up. He hated when Vitosk was right and now more than ever. "Tell me Dee. Look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't kill Larry. Cause this is a real good reason for you people not to want us to land here. Right now you look like the only person that had any reason to do it. So you better be real convincing."

Tears were swelling in her eyes. She was almost begging for acceptance, "No! I didn't kill him! I liked Larry! I couldn’t have ever... I..."

Jack let her collapse in her chair. He turned his back towards her. He believed her even if every logical bone in his body said not too. That really only left one suspect now. That was the other OK person still with them, Gary. "What about your ex? Anything you forgot to tell me about him? Like the fact that he's really here because he's a linguist?"

Wiping the tears from her eyes Dee composed herself. Her voice had once again reacquired that sarcastic tone she was famous for, "figured that one out for yourself did you? No, Gary didn't... still doesn't know about the cities. He only knew about the photographs after we left. A long time after. When he was signed on he really did think he was coming along to play head shrink. Matter of fact he keeps putting pressure on me to tell you everything."

That really got Jacks attention. Why would he do that? Well there were the obvious reasons but, if he had felt so strongly about it? Why didn’t he just spill the beans? Only Vitosk finding the photos had managed to break his egg so far. He didn't strike Jack as the kind of stand up guy that Dee was describing. Gary was a complete social chameleon and the kind that Jack had always loathed. Maybe he had been a little too hard on the guy. That was if Dee was to be believed at all.

Jack opened the tent flap. Dee called out behind him, "Jack, what about the second part."

He stopped and looked at her. She was not the kind of woman that most men would find overtly attractive. Not the drop-dead knock out sort. She did have a certain inner self worth about her that Jack found very attractive. Tonight, however, he just did not feel up to the challenge. Not with her anyway and definitely not after all of this. Jack turned and left.

With all of the activity confined in close proximity to the camp, everyone soon found themselves on edge once again. After having been stuck in a tin can for the last two years the wide-open expanses around them had worked like an intoxicant. Wandering off and exploring was just too tempting. Jack did his best to curb that by keeping everyone busy. He decided it was time to draw up a defense of the camp. Their visitors had slipped away just before dawn, two days prior but, Jack was sure they would be back. More than likely it would be with real numbers next time.

The first order of business was making sure everyone knew what they were doing with their weapons. Now, even Dee was armed. She had confused everyone by not putting up a fuss when Jack put his foot down about it. McCandles had went through a shortened course in how to shoot, field strip, and clean the M-16 and Colt 1911A pistol. Everyone got in some practice time and then the work began in earnest.

Pete was now up and about. He drew up a basic defense and everyone got to digging holes. The heavy weapons were broken out as well. The 81-millimeter mortar was placed near the wrecked shuttle behind the tents. Joey and Julia were given the job of handling it should the time come. Everyone felt safer with Julia on the mortar. She had almost shot Harry in the butt, with her pistol, during practice.

Pam's battle station was in the bay of the shuttle. From there she could give some fire support, for the perimeter, with one of the three-oh-eight hunting rifles. It was also going to serve as the hospital should there be need of one. Jack was praying that would not come to pass.

Gina got the prize. You could not have told her that. The M-60 machine gun was all hers. That meant the ammo that went along with it as well. The five foot one, tiny, frame of hers looked almost comical loaded down with belt after belt of ammunition. She complained but that was not within earshot of McCandles.

Once the excitement of the first contact was beginning to die down, along with the paranoia, things began to return somewhat too normal. Tempers and tensions began to die down as well. Everyone was really too tired to argue at this point. Jack watched his crew's morale go on a constant roller coaster ride. He finally decided that after a week with no more visits from their mysterious nocturnal guests, everyone deserved something that they had not had in a long time, a day off.

It should have occurred to Jack sometime before now but, he was tired as well. They needed to get into some kind of more structured routine. Since it was starting to look like they may be staying here a bit longer than was originally supposed Jack also decided upon dressing the place up just a bit. That started with the American Flag that they had brought along. With the crash, and all of that, they had not even remembered to plant it.

The day started with a ceremony and a salute to the colors. Everyone gathered as the Sergeant Major had instructed. They lined up in a neat military formation with two short ranks. McCandles stood at the head of the formation until Jack stepped up and salutes were exchanged. McCandles, with military precision, removed himself to the back of the formation. They all hummed the star spangle banner as Pete hoisted the flag up the center pole of the common tent. Vitosk declined to participate, or, even show up.

Another piece of essential equipment had also survived the crash. Until today it had hardly been touched. Pete pulled out the football and decided to see just how much he had healed. Sides were chosen. Then, the flag football game only got underway after a slight disagreement between Saiid and Pam. The doctor made it clear, to the computer geek, that neither team would be shirts or skins.

Julia had never thought too highly of football. She declined the offer to participate and decided to play checkers with Vitosk instead. He, of course, did not complain about the game that he found decidedly inferior to that of chess. It was something after all. What he did complain about was Julia's lack of attention. She was constantly harassing Pete and Joey who were out tumbling around in the dirt.

"All right Gary," panted Jack. He was getting older than he liked to admit. His mind just kept making excuses about the weather here. "You have got to press Red. Come on, you can't keep up with that old fart?"

Gary looked over his shoulder and out of the huddle, "for a guy with a pot belly the size of Texas, he's spry as hell."

Getting back to the plan, Jack put his leadership skills to the test. They were down by fourteen points and things weren't getting any better. "Who wants to take the Sergeant Major this time?"

No one answered but, they all stared at Joey. The kid dropped to one knee, "Why me? I always have to go after him."

"He won't hurt you, that's why," replied Pam. "So, who gets to rush the quarterback this time?"

"That's my job," responded Saiid.

"Not anymore," commanded Jack. "You take Gina. Pam, Pete's all yours. Nail him good."

Pam looked over her shoulder. Pete's team had already broken huddle and since they were on offense it was time to go. Pam smiled, "I'll show that Annapolis quarterback how we do things in Detroit. Break!"

Pete pulled the ball off the line of scrimmage and dropped back. He started looking for a clear pass as he listened to Pam count off. Pam!

Pete had to do a double take on that and he lost a whole second in the process. "Concentrate! Don't look at the gorillas. Look at the receiver." It was an old saying he used to use when playing Army who had linebackers with enough body hair and size to qualify as the animal.

"Come on old man! Throw the ball!" yelled Pam. "Times up!"

Gina managed to ditch Saiid real quick. He was uncoordinated for the most part. She took her time looking back though. Pete passed but, not before Pam had finished the count. The ball took off in a pass pretty enough to make Pete wonder why he had never went pro like some had suggested. After all these years, he still had it.

The ground hurt. It was a game of touch but that had not stopped some award winning tackles out here. Pete gritted his teeth for a moment until the pain in his ribs started to die down some. When he opened his eyes Pam was lying on top of him giggling. That stupid grin of hers was shinning from ear to ear! Her hair was starting to curl again, now that it was coming back out. It was flapping around in both of their faces.

She flipped it back, "You're getting slow old man."

There had to be some kind of revenge he could take. There was no way in hell was she going to get one up on him. Pete knew just what her weak spot was too. He ran his hands up her sides and grabbed her right at the bottom of her rib cage. Pam broke out into serious laughs as Pete's tickling onslaught commenced. She tried to jump off but, he held her back enough until they were both rolling around in the dirt.

An angry voice cut through the air like a knife, "Pete!"

Julia stomped over to them. Not a word was said. Pam backed off freely now. Pete just stayed on the ground. It seemed safer there. Julia’s eyes were flaming and her face was turning red. She looked like she was about to say something but, then turned her back and stomped off towards their tent.

Pam swallowed, "God Pete, I'm sorry." She was feeling very guilty at the moment. After all, as much as Pam hated to admit it, she had enjoyed it. He felt good. "I didn't mean to..."

Slowly pulling himself up Pete did not even bother to wipe himself off. He just looked back to everyone, "I'll be right back."

Jack reached out and rubbed Gina on the head, "score another touch down like that girl and you're going to be on guard duty every night from now on."

Gina punched him playfully in the ribs and then spiked the ball. Jack rolled his eyes, "come on everybody. Half time, so lets get a little water and take a breather."

"Julie," Pete was very humble as he ducked through the tent flap. "You all right babe?"

There was silence. Julia was crying. She kept her back to him and her sobs to herself. She sniffed as she wiped at some tears. "I'm sorry Pete. I should have... I know she didn't mean any harm. I mean she's my best friend for gods sake."

He sat down on the cot behind her. Pete placed his hands gently on her shoulders and then leaned over and kissed her on the neck. His head finally came to rest on her shoulder. "I'm sorry honey. I wasn't thinking, all right? I know about all the bad times you had with Joey's father and all. I should have thought."

"No," Julia shifted her weight and pushed her back up against his chest. His arms fell in around her, "I know you're not like that. It's just.. its so hard Pete. Sometimes, I just feel these things and I can't do anything about it. I mean it's like we're not making any headway at all. I know you said you wanted to marry me but… well… then sometimes I feel like you don't. Even when I know the truth."

Pete turned her head, "Hey, if you feel that way you should have told me. If you want too, we'll do it right now. Not wait until we get back. I guess we can get Jack to do it. He's sort of a captain and everything. So I guess it might make it legal in some kind of sense."

"Oh Pete," Julia turned and buried her head on his shoulder. She was sobbing now. A thought ran through her head, "will it be... you know, like we're really married?"

"Well," said Pete, "I don't think there's any law on Alpha Centauri about having to get a license. Not yet, but just wait till the government figures out how to get the lawyers out here."

She smiled, and then a laugh broke between the tears. She gave him a little slap on the arm. "I love you. When?"

"The sooner the better. You want to go tell everybody?"

She ran her hand up behind his head and then kissed him gently. "Not just yet."

There it was. Harry raised his binoculars. He was currently standing high up on the main fuselage of the shuttle. It was the highest point near the camp and offered the best view of the area. Harry screamed out as he watched, "We got company!"

It was not that Harry had failed to get the camps attention already. He was screaming at the top of his lungs. Harry only remembered the radio after jumping up and down like a Moe Chicken with it’s head cut off, "Company, we got Company! Something's moving out there! I think more than one!"

Vitosk was looking hard at the checkers board even when he really did not expect his competitor to return. He heard the radio going off. It was sitting up against the tent next to him. He grabbed it and listened. He yelled out to Jack and company who were all winding down from the game, "Shut up! Harry's spotted something!"

Jack jumped to his feet, "Battle stations! Come on everybody move. Sergeant Major, where's my.... "

McCandles was holding a pair of binoculars in front of Jack. Reaching out and taking them Jack did not even bother thanking the man. He scanned the area until he spotted the source of the alarm. It was one of those Moe Chickens. Now that he actually had a first hand look at one he almost had to agree with Gina's description. The bright yellow flap of skin on its head did give it some resemblance to a good old fashioned terrestrial yard bird.

The thing stopped at a rise in the dunes. It was honking and looking around. Jack was about to call off the alert when the Moe Chicken took off running again and this time towards them. Now Jack saw why it did. Two more of the creatures appeared on the same dune and they had riders on their backs! These two figures had the long robes just like from the other night. In the daylight Jack could make out some details. They had saddles for their creatures and what looked to be swords hanging at their sides. From what little he could see past the robes they looked even more human now than from the previous night.

"We got visitors Sergeant Major," said Jack while handing the binoculars back. "Our two friends are out there and heading this way."

Pete came running out from the tents. He was missing his shirt but, had at least remembered to grab his weapon that he slung over his bareback. He was also zipping his pants up. Despite the situation at hand, Jack wanted to laugh. "Why do things always catch you with your pants down?"

Running by, heading for his hole in the ground, Red tossed Pete a radio, "cause he always has 'em down Jack."

Ignoring the last comment Pete looked at his defenses. He quickly saw several things wrong with it now that everybody was in place like they should be. They all moved a little too slow for one thing but, there was nothing he could personally do about that. Pete had done as best he could with placing the holes but, the crew of the late ship Hermes was simply too small to defend a perimeter of the size they had laid out. Luckily when Pete finally got around to looking at his threat he let out a sigh of relief. "There's only two of them."

"But what are they?" asked Jack. "Don't you go to the movies? Aliens can shit laser beams and stuff."

Pete slipped his weapon off and lowered it by his side. He pulled the charging back and walked out past the perimeter despite Jack’s protests. The two riders suddenly lost interest in chasing the Moe Chicken which had settled into hunting rats just right outside of camp. The riders slowed their own mounts to a trot until they stopped right in front of Pete.

"Damn it Pete! Would you get back here! They might think you're looking for a fight," Jack called out.

Pete knew better than to act like he was. Looking back over his shoulder for just a second, Pete responded. "Hey, they're wearing swords. I bet they don't even know what guns are."

To prove his point he raised the barrel of his weapon towards them. The two robed figures slid long tubes out of their robes. The ends were wide like a horn. They pointed them right at Pete. Jack ran out and slapped down his executive officers weapon. He yelled to his people, "hold your fire! Don't shoot!"

Jack slowly placed his own weapon on the ground. For the first time Jack could see something besides robes. He was looking at something that was not quite human but close. The ridges of their eyes were a lot lower and more protruding. Their foreheads were sloped and their jaws were massive in size. It was almost as if Jack were looking at an extinct Neanderthal! Their eyes did not seem to display emotion. They remained fixed and now completely on Jack. The horn shaped barrels locked in on Jack as well.

One of the aliens said something. It was unintelligible to Jack although it was clear he was being addressed. The man said something else. Jack just responded, "Howdy?"

The big one in front pulled his hood back and let it fall. Vitosk's eyes opened wide. He looked at Dee in the hole next to him, "My god, he's at least a humanoid."

Dee responded, "What exactly would distinguish a humanoid from a human Doctor? He looks like Homo Neandertalis in every respect but one..."

"The ears," said Saiid. He was in awe. The man thing out there in front of Jack had pointed ears! "They're Vulcans!"

Gina rolled her eyes and then resumed keeping a tight aim on the two visitors. "I don't remember Leonard Nimoy’s jaw being that big."

Saiid began fumbling around in his jacket pockets.

They were getting nowhere fast. So far neither side had backed down in the least and Jack was wondering if they even could. He was starting to feel stupid for having laid his weapon aside. "Gary, get out here and do your job."

A pair of boots could be heard crunching the ground just behind Jack. Gary had wasted no time and Jack was thankful. He made no sudden moves but did say, "Talk to them."

Saiid, now standing right behind Jack, responded, "OK."

He raised his hand and separated the middle fingers, "Live long and prosper dudes."

"Saiid!" Jack was pissed. He looked over his shoulder at his computer engineer. The idiot was wearing his Star Trek ears! Jack was going to chew him a new one assuming they lived. Then a laugh came from the big alien.

Jack looked back at his two visitors. He was stunned. The thing laughed and pointed at Saiid! He then said something to his companion, and more importantly, slid his weapon back in his robe. The little alien followed suit and then went about his business of roping the lone Moe Chicken. The leader alien nodded to Jack and after they captured their prize, they left. They were still laughing and pointing at their own ears as they vanished behind the dunes.

Jack breathed easy once again. His companions soon surrounded him. They were all yakking away at a hundred miles an hour about their first real contact with aliens! It was an emotional moment for all and made the entire trip almost seem worth taking. It had been a moment that no one disputed would go down in the history books. Why did Jack not share in their joy at this moment?

There seemed to be one other solemn face in the crowd. Jack walked over to Vitosk, believing firmly in misery loves company. "What you thinking Yurgani?"

"What I think Jack," said Vitosk still remaining in his deep thought mode, "is that we have met the alien, and he is us."