Aliens in Sequoia National Park Read online

  “The right question, Jasmin.” Then much to everyone’s surprise he pointed at her and added: “It’s your discovery, it’s your gig.” At these words the room and the comms fell silent, Jasmin felt every eye turn towards her.

  Blake said: “Go make first contact, and remember,” he held up an open hand: “We come in peace!”

  Around the room they laughed and cheered. Why were they all laughing?. As kids they had all watched the same TV shows, as adults they all lived for the same dream. Now aliens were here, why was that funny? Jasmin looked around. Were they laughing at her? Mocking her? Blake took her hand and pulled her close.

  “Look Jazz, you’ve not been here long, but with your training, your passion. And your sister, she’s as astronaut on the International Space Station, right? - so you got to be the right person.”

  “I found the Visitor,” Jasmin repeated aghast. Did he just mention May, what did May have to do with anything?

  “You are also a fully trained astronaut and a space scientist, but hey every person in this room is a PhD.”

  Another chorus of appreciative chuckles.

  “I made the call,” Jasmin insisted, but her heart sunk, despite everything Blake had chosen her because her sister was famous, HER SISTER was a famous astronaut.

  I hate him. The anger burnt so loud in her head, she almost missed what he said next.

  “That’s right, now pick a team. We have six seats on the chopper, so you get to choose four people.”

  Gasps from around the room. People perked up and tried to catch her eye.

  I don’t need a team, Jasmin thought bitterly. I don’t trust any of these guys.

  Play nice, May whispered, her voice a soothing wave. And Listen.

  Blake was still speaking.

  “Use your head. Think what you need. I just need to make some calls to get you the permissions. The National Guard are already locking down the location. The visitors have landed in a place called Converse Grove, there’s a small lake there they used as a landing pad. It’s secluded too, quite a trek from the main road.”

  He glanced thoughtfully at her leg. Not my leg, Jasmin thought in panic. Say something, cut him off before he does say something about the leg.

  “What’s our objective?” She snapped.

  “Watch and document,” Blake reiterated, for the first time he sounded weary of her defiance.

  “Uh-huh?” Jasmin swallowed the last of her anger, and molded her face into collegiate submissiveness. Blake acknowledged the change with a thankful nod, as he continued.

  “Your mission is purely scientific. Take photographs, grab samples, if you get a chance try some communication protocols. Remember you’re the expert, you get to speak to them first. Got it?”

  “Got it, Blake. I won’t let you down,” Jasmin replied. Despite everything she knew and thought of him, now she was this close she could feel herself warmed by his charm and charisma, plus everyone in the place looked at her enviously.

  She was the one who would make First Contact. She should thank Blake. But then why should she? She had a job to do. She was finding it hard to stand still - what were they waiting for? And she had to choose a team as well. She almost missed how her boss reached out his hand to shake hers.

  “No, you won’t let me down because I’m coming with you.” He smiled at the confused look on her face. “I’ll be coming with you to keep the big dogs out of your hair, but also because I want to meet ET too.”

  Shit, Jasmin thought, simultaneously she grinned like a cheerleader, a necessary if unpalatable response, as she lied:

  “Great Blake, Fantastic.”

  It was the only thing to say, but really she hated him. Why did he have to come to?

  Converse Grove

  Converse Grove

  “Not again,” Jasmin snorted to underline her anger. These were not the National Guard she had met lower down, these were Army. Larger and fitter, they brandished better weapons as they called her to stop. She was deeply regretting her choice of hiking shorts and sports top. The climb had been steep and hot, so she felt their stares not just at her prosthetic leg, but also her sweat-streaked arms, though they always pretended to be more interested in her handgun.

  “It’s loaded, ma’am,” this soldier said. To Jasmin’s eyes, he might be fit, but he had the smooth face of a twelve-year-old. Was he about to give her a safety briefing for her own gun?

  “Hi, I’m Blake Allen, SETI, what’s the hold up?” It had been the same every time, while Jasmin had faced wary looks and questions, Blake had no gun to check, he just breezed through with a handshake and a smile. Somehow he had also attracted his own film crew, two brothers one a freelance cameraman, the other a sound man, hanging on Blake’s every word and action. Jasmin noticed how he was not searched. Instead, he stood asking their names and joshing. The four others from SETI followed in his shadow as Blake hogged the limelight.

  “This is Jasmin, she’s sister to May Chang, science officer on the International Space Station.”

  The soldiers looked at her with new regard, but Jasmin was furious.

  That’s right remind me of my failure, she thought. I’m not the astronaut in my family, but I’m the leader here.

  “Our geo map says it’s right here…” She interrupted, as Blake and the soldiers laughed about something.

  “You’re right Jasmin, we didn’t run up that hill just to stand and chat,” Blake said, but at the same time his raised brows said something entirely different. Jasmin felt herself chastised. Why had she been so rude?

  “The team are super keen.” Blake added. Now he is apologizing for me, Jasmin fumed.

  The soldier smiled - indulgently Jasmin thought - and pointed his gun over the rise, where now it was clear to see there were artificial lights shining amidst the dappled woodland light. Jasmin nodded and climbed the last few steps and looked.

  This was it.

  “You know Jazz, we made great time,” Blake was telling her. “I don’t want you to think you held us up.”

  Was he talking about her leg? She glared at him.

  “I mean you raced up this mountain ahead of me, all the way.” Jasmin could not believe she was hearing this.

  “I run marathons you know.” Blake concluded.

  I hate him, thought Jasmin. Or did she? Everyone else seemed to love him. Could she really afford to hate the boss?

  Think of something else. Like the obvious.

  NO ALIENS.

  After all the planning, travelling, running and climbing, they had missed them.

  “Sorry, I was just disappointed we missed them. I felt maybe if we could have gone faster. Maybe if we had started earlier.”

  Blake perked up at this, and was quick to reassure her.

  “Okay, but we’re here now. Okay, so what are we looking at?”

  There was a small lake, and beside it a large clearing with three wide craters. It was a moment before Jasmin realized this was what remained after three vast redwoods had been pried from the forest floor. Aliens had been here and pulled trees from the ground.

  “They took two, no three trees,” Jasmin said.

  “So they really did take Redwoods,” Blake agreed.

  How? Jasmin wondered. And why? They had taken the trees and left behind a blasted landscape. The scale of the devastation only came clear as she saw a man climb down a long chrome ladder to the bottom of the crater, and around the perimeter army men and women patrolled in helmets, weapons ready.

  What were those scientists doing?

  Of course. Samples, Jasmin thought, they are taking samples. I should be doing that.

  “We should take some samples,” Blake said. “Jazz, did you bring the kit?”

  What? Jasmin barely heard him. Was this it? Was this what first contact looked like? A forensic study of a devastated landscape? She dreamt of an elegant meeting with tall wise aliens bringing advanced tech and plentiful wealth, she had imagined bowing and speaking the words she had said so many times
to her pillow:

  “We come in peace…” But who was there for her to extent this greeting? They had come, taken what they wanted and disappeared.

  “The samples kit, you did bring it, didn’t you Jazz?” Blake’s voice had risen.

  “I brought the samples kit,” Markus again, keen to gain approval.

  Wake-up Jasmin, she told herself.

  “Yes, I told him…” Did she really need to say that? Blake looked at her sharply.

  “Well done Markus,” he said pointedly.

  Now he doesn’t like me either, Jasmin thought. Well I hate him, so that’s okay.

  “Ah, you’re SETI, aren’t you?” a female scientist approached them. “I’m Doctor Jones, I’m here with NASA. You’re here to implement First Contact?”

  “Yes, we have the NASA agreed First Contact protocols,” Blake said.

  “If there are any aliens to contact,” Jasmin joked. Blake stared at her, Doctor Jones interrupted.

  “Oh we expect them to come back, they only took one tree the first time, then they came back to take the next two. So they could be here anytime…”

  “Wow, that is good news,” Blake cut in.

  “Really?” Jasmin was a little more doubtful.

  “This is Jazz Chang,” Blake said to Doctor Jones. “Her sister is a scientist on the ISS.”

  “I see,” Doctor Jones said. “Well they also left some of their equipment behind. I can show you.”

  “This is such a historic day,” Blake said. “So when are we expecting them, can you show me what you have?”

  Equipment? Jasmin thought. Were the aliens going to come back? She quickly followed Blake, she could see that he already had Doctor Jones mesmerized.

  “Blake, First Contact protocols require two people,” she cut in.

  “Only if you feel up to it Jasmin. I mean Markus could.”

  “You said I could make First Contact,” Jasmin said at once. “All my life has been about… this.”

  “Alrighty then,” he said holding up his hands as if beaten. “I knew you were the right person Jazz.”

  Then why did you just threaten to let Markus take my place?. And Jazz is not my name.

  “Though I not going to send you out there alone,” he nodded to the craters, “this is bigger than we thought.”

  Typical, Jasmin thought. Of course he would not keep his promise.

  “You promised me,” she replied nevertheless.

  “No man is an island, Jazz,” Blake said. “No woman either.”

  “Yes but…”

  “If you weren’t so damn prickly, Jazz,” Blake stopped himself, but even so he glanced at her artificial leg. “You would see that people, and that includes me, are only trying to help.”

  I don’t need help, Jasmin raged inwardly. I get by fine on my own.

  Finally Jasmin did find herself alone. Blake interviewed Doctor Jones for the cameraman and they both speculated about the gilded equipment the aliens had left behind. Three diamond shaped shields of gilt and red metals, placed at three corners of a triangle surrounding yet another redwood. Clearly their next target. Yet it also was clear to Jasmin at least that the instruments were powered down, and probably nothing would happen until the aliens returned. She had grown tired of the endless speculation, and photographs Blake was indulging in. So she had set out with the rest of the team to take samples. Jasmin instinctively moved away from the crowd, taking photographs of footprints, then with a gasp she saw it. A tuft of fur lodged in the splinters of a broken branch. Was that alien?

  She looked around. There was no one to tell. The rest of her team had drifted away, or maybe she had left them, and Blake, well Blake was being Blake. He strolled around introducing himself to anyone who would chat. His camera crew in tow, he pressed the flesh and laughed, making friends.

  Maybe People do like him, Jasmin thought. Maybe they are awed by his fame and money. Whatever the truth, with his own cameras and film footage, Blake was bound to be the star of this event. Can’t anyone except me see how he’s so needy and I hate him. No, that’s not it. I hate this life. I dreamt of a life amongst the stars, not here scrabbling in the dirt.

  Okay, ignore Blake, now concentrate. This is an important discovery. If it’s alien fur there might be DNA.

  She started to record some notes.

  “Contact was made here. Acquiring samples for further study,” Jasmin dictated into her phone, snapping a photo as she struggled to get a good purchase using tweezers.

  Almost there… she thought while gingerly pulling out the sample, but she almost dropped it when she heard alarm sirens go off. A soldier ran past her.

  “What’s happening?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the tree before her.

  “Imminent contact!” he replied. “All non-military personnel are to evacuate beyond the perimeter line.”

  “One minute!” Jasmin snapped, and as she swiftly transferred the alien fluff into a sample tube.

  “Ma’am, you need to evacuate to the secure perimeter,” the soldier repeated, pointing deeper into the woods with his rifle.

  “We’re not going anywhere,” Blake shouted. Jasmin turned to look. The rest of the team had disappeared. Not Blake, he too was arguing with the soldiers. At his back, the cameraman was taking carefully crafted shots.

  Blake pointed to the SETI badge on his ID. “We are here to implement First Contact Protocols. ”

  Jasmin strode to stand at his side.

  “Only we are qualified,” Blake insisted. “and Jazz here, well her sister is on the ISS.”

  Will he stop telling everyone about May? Jasmin fumed.

  “You have not seen them,” the soldier muttered shaking his head, then more politely. “One moment please.” He walked away, Jasmin could see him talking in his radio before he returned to look at her, then at the holstered weapon at her hip.

  “We’re going to do this okay?” Blake told Jasmin. “I don’t care what these guys say we’re going to be First to speak to aliens, you and me Jazz.”

  That’s it, Jasmin thought. He has to be First. If not First landing, then First Contact. And no one is going to remember I was here, she thought. Why do I bother? I hate…

  Yet as Blake spoke, the sunlight disappeared as their craft appeared above them, then span slowly down to hover over the water and pause.

  Here they are, Jasmin thought. I am here. Okay Blake was a pain, but she was here.

  Silence descended. No one moved.

  “I’ve wanted this all my life,” she murmured to Blake, because there was no-one else.

  “Me too, baby.” Blake whispered back. “Oh I can assure you, me too.”

  Did he just call her ‘Baby’? Tell him to back off. You’re not his baby. Tell him.

  Wait. Jasmin realised a camera was zooming in on her face.

  Say nothing. She loved this job. But next time, when they were alone, she would… Wait, Blake was muttering something.

  “…. from Earth to heaven; and as imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown…”

  Shakespeare? Jasmin wondered, but then she forgot everything because reflected in the lens she saw it

  A granite grey craft shaped like a long tall boulder fell through the sky. The scent of hot charcoal drifted on the breeze, it was the smell of the ship’s nose red hot from it’s descent. Now as it hovered above the waters of the lake which evaporated to wreath the ship in a halo of white vapor. A hiss and a metal clang and a door the height of the ship appeared, but remained shut. Then the boulder rotated right, and the door opened, unfolding a gangway out to the forest.

  Then nothing.

  And it was a further fifteen seconds of nothing, before Jasmin said:

  “That’s our cue,” Jasmin spoke as much to herself as to Blake. “Let’s go.”

  She strode out from the tree line making her way around the rim of the nearest crater towards the end of the outstretched gangway. She felt all eyes on her, and over this uneven ground her limp seemed more marked t
han ever before. Or maybe they were looking at Blake, the man was strangely silent, but he was just behind her, she could smell his fear in the pungent aroma of his sweat. But at least he was coming. As she reached the end of the gangplank, she could see inside the asteroid ship. There was a creature that at first looked like an extraordinarily large honey bear, but with the long limbs of an orangutan, and wearing a leather waistcoat, and silver open-toed boots strapped up its legs with silver painted claws shining in the sunlight. When the creature turned towards them, its face had the long snout of a wolf, and it peered out at them through a thick monocle clipped to a device wrapped around its ear and across the right sideof its head. Then the alien monster appeared to sniff the air, and as it did it drew back its top lip to reveal long, curved, yellow fangs.

  Okay, thought Jasmin. Our first alien visitor, this is it.

  Something changed within her. The angerevaporated. Here standing on the end of an alien gangplank looking at two, no three monstrous creatures, she felt calm. She was not afraid. This was her moment. This was her place. She took a breath, then holding up an open hand, she called out:

  “Hello!”

  No response, but they were looking. One of them tilted its head towards her like an animal listening.

  Jasmin took a breath. This was it.

  “We come in Peace.”

  Then something strange happened, a second monster, this one wearing a distinctive gold chain, came alongside his companion with a screen. The image they were looking was a heat map of all the humans surrounding their craft.

  “People need to fall back,” she murmured to Blake.

  This was all the cue he needed, he stepped up and using all his authority:

  “Fall back!” then again to his cameraman. “Fall back.”

  The others from SETI, the scientists, and the military all took a few steps backwards except for a few individuals, Doctor Jones among them. Jones shrunk behind a shrub, near the site but not in sight.

  These movements was recognized by some low growls and chatter amongst the aliens, who looked over at Jasmin and Blake with new interest.