THE NIGHT THE STARS FELL FIRST CONTACT

The Alien ship lit up the sky, its rotating lights spun colours of purple, green, red, blue, and yellow, it was a breath-taking sight. Daryl held Lilly’s hand tightly as they walked in awe up the ramp, followed by Christian and Carina. They gazed around the massive interior of the ship. Brian, Ellen, Kevin, Todd and Lasko followed behind them.

The ship lifted into the air, it was silent, and they felt as if they were floating in the midnight sky. Brian looked out of the oblong-shaped window and saw the earth below; they were in space! He could hardly believe it.

“We will experience some resistance when we get near their ship, but everyone has to stay in their restraints until we resolve the issues.

Kevin chewed his lip nervously. “Meaning they will fight back?”

“Exactly,” Valadon replied. “But you are safe, their weapons cannot penetrate our ships.”

Suddenly a missile hit the ship rocking it from side to side.

“OHH Where did I hear that before.” Kevin grabbed the arm of his seat, but sure enough, the ship had only been knocked by the lizard’s missile.

Standing in front of a huge window that took up the entire front of the ship were Four aliens standing at the control panel that was flashing bright colours buttons and levers, and computers which Brian had never seen before. This was a completely modern technology to him, one that Earth had not even got to yet, and the strangest thing was as he listened the equipment was completely silent, no humming or buzzing, no alarms. Nothing! Suddenly as he gazed out into the massive velvet darkness, he realised they were looking at the lizard’s mother ship. He froze when he saw the massive size of it, it seemed to take over most of the sky as they were drawing nearer. Suddenly a flash was fired turning the black sky into a twilight zone, Brian stepped back, and the Lizard mothership was immobile, just hanging in the air with what looked like a purple haze surrounding it.

“What the hell!” Brian shouted.

“They are now unable to move or fire missiles, we have them trapped in a force field,” Valadon explained to the startled people on board.

“Was that what the solar boom was? So, we are safe? Kevin asked.

“Completely.” This time Valadon smiled. “We have them contained. Now let’s get your people.”

“How in hell’s name are they going to do that?” Brian looked at Kevin.

“Look!” Kevin said pointing towards the huge window. Their ship was now over the lizard’s mothership, he could see their lights underneath as it hovered closely, nets were covering the whole top of the lizard’s vehicle.

Valadon addressed the speaker and his voice echoed, sounding as if he was talking to every planet in the universe.

“Take your ship down! Or we will blast you out of the sky! DO IT NOW!”

The Lizards ship started to descend, and the force field was still holding as they got lower and lower, Brian could see its lights spinning around in the dark and then he could see the earth, and for Brian and Kevin, it was an amazing sight. Suddenly they were on the ground exactly by the place they had boarded.

“You all stay here where you will be safe,” Valadon ordered, Kevin and Brian didn’t argue with that, the last thing they both wanted was a confrontation with seven-foot lizards.

There were so many Alien masters ready to disembark the ship, but this time they had what looked like laser guns, and helmets with visor shields.

They waited on the ramp, four abreast with weapons ready to fire. A noise to the right of Brian and Kevin alerted them as they saw the net completely engulf the Lizards ship, and the force field had gone.

The Ramp opened at the side of the ship and a lizard stepped out. He put up his hand. “I would like to negotiate a deal, Master!” As he stepped further into the light Valadon could see he was the old ruler, and a very old lizard, he seemed to stoop, and his scales were grey and flaky. His green eyes looked dull and his movements sluggish; Valadon had not seen him in many years, they’re meetings had never ended well in the past, so he knew it was not going to be any different now.

“There is one deal only old lizard! We want the humans you have on board, that is the only way out of this! You hand over the humans you have, every one of them, and we will let you go back to your planet…That is the deal.”

“Do you not understand that we are here to better our people; learn from these humans? They are also food for our people. We are a dying race Valadon.”

“You are not a dying race! You have plenty of food supplies to keep you going for many, many years. You trade with us regularly, and you have never been refused! You lie! And the humans you have on board and those you have taken, and no doubt killed for many years, are living breathing creatures just like us who have the right to life. And to live without fear. You have nothing to learn from them, because they have learned compassion as do we, and that is the greatest gift of all”

The old lizard stiffened, tongue snaking out of his mouth to lick at dry scaly lips. “I will not return them!”

Valadon stepped forward onto the ramp, Lasko at his side. “You are not going anywhere old lizard, there is no way out for you, either surrender the captives or face our wrath!”

The old lizard laughed, a horrible guttural sound. “Is that right?”

He tilted his head, slowly blinking his dull green eyes.

“You heard me,” Valadon replied.

“Then it is war! We are no longer afraid of the masters!” he replied arrogantly raising himself rigidly up to his full size.

Valadon’s people raised their weapons, pointing them directly at the old lizard.

The old lizard turned. “FORWARD!” he shouted, and lizards flew from the ship.

They were no match for the Masters, they fell to the ground in masses. The old lizard ran up the ramp, but Valadon was quicker, the old lizard fell to the floor dead. His men stormed the ship, and when they appeared it was with hundreds of terrified humans.

They were running blindly, not even caring which direction they were going until Valadon’s people stopped them.

“YOU ARE ALL SAFE! WE WILL RETURN YOU TO YOUR HOMES. NOW COME INTO THE SHIP”.

They ushered them into double lines guiding them into the ship.

Lilly suddenly appeared on the ramp as people filed in, she smiled. “You will all be fine, it’s over.” And then she walked towards Valadon and held out her hand. For seconds that seemed like minutes, he stood and looked at her, not sure what she wanted, and then he reached out his hand and took hers gently in his. Lilly wiped her puffy eyes with her free hand. “I am so grateful to you all, you have saved us, tears flooded from her eyes, as she marvelled at the people flooding into the spaceship, she felt their relief and terrible fear that they had to endure after weeks of being held prisoner by a wicked Alien race whose sole mission was to destroy them.

Valadon looked down at her, she was so small to him, and he liked the feeling of human contact, an emotion passed over him that sprouted a single teardrop from his eyes. Lasko saw it too. He had never seen the master shed a tear and he felt warm inside, and proud to be part of his race. Lasko bowed his head respectfully. Valadon held her hand for moments then smiled again, his lips only managing to curl up into a beautiful smile. Then they walked into the spaceship together.

Daryl who had been watching grinned at Lilly as she entered with Valadon beside her. He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “For a moment there I thought you were going to ditch me for a younger model.” He laughed. Lilly looked into his eyes.

“It was amazing, I have had my first contact with an alien race! And his hand was so soft, so warm.”

“Steady on now.” Daryl teased.

Lilly looked up at him. “But I wouldn’t want another model just yet! Maybe in fifty years but I need to wear you out first!” they laughed as they sat down holding hands.

As the ship lifted off the ground, the caves and rocks looked like a haunted frightening place, just a pale pallid glow from the ships under lights dull, and empty phasing into the distance as they headed home.

***