Codename Alpha

Chapter 21

"Listen, we're not here to hurt you." My arms were starting to feel tired from how long I was holding them up. "I know you don't understand us, but just..." I didn't finish my sentence. I did try to carry on Marine's tone of non-hostility, to try and get across that we were friendly, even if there was a language barrier.

"Warum sind sie... Tiere?" the one in the tracksuit asked. "Sie scheinen freundlich genug zu sein. Sie sehen aus, als hätten sie auch genug durchgemacht. Dieser Fuchs hat überall Blutflecken in der Hose. Wenn ich ehrlich bin, scheinen sie nicht einmal in der Lage zu sein, einen Terroranschlag durchzuführen."

"I have an idea," I whispered to Max and Jack. "I'm going to take my gun out and put it on the coffee table. Should help them make certain that we're friendly." I began to speak calmly and slowly, and louder. "I'm going to take my weapon out of it's holster." I cautiously reached one paw down, and into the holster, and pulled out the pistol. I made sure not to point it any of them as I set it on the table, with a slow, deliberate movement. I motioned for Marine to do the same, and then Jack.

"Ich glaube nicht, dass sie hier sind, um uns zu verletzen. Ich meine, sie haben sich doch im Schrank versteckt," the one in the tracksuit said.

"Vor was verstecken? Eine Bundesfahndung?" the pink sweater alien asked..

"Nun, ich würde es nicht an der Regierung vorbei bringen, einen Außerirdischen zu jagen, wenn es das ist, was sie sind," the one holding the broom said. They slowly set the broom down as well.

I nodded in approval. "Looks like we're making some headway," I said, lowering my paws to my sides. Jack and Marine quickly did the same.

"We could probably try and establish a basis for communication, if we had something to write with. You know, like... drawing a stick figure, to help them know what we call ourselves. Stuff like that," Marine said, turning to me. "And if we actually accomplish something like that, it would make establishing an actual basis for translation magnitudes easier."

"Alright, let me, uh, ask, I guess." I thought of something I could do with my paws that would indicate a need for paper and a pencil, or really any writing implement. I knelt down and set my left paw flat on the coffee table, and used one of my fingers as a pencil, mimicking writing.

"Ich denke, es verlangt etwas zum Schreiben," the one with the broom said. "Amelie, mein Notizbuch liegt oben auf dem Tisch, hol es dir."

The one in the tracksuit quickly ran upstairs, and also quickly returned, carrying a notebook and a pen.

"Nice work, Max," Marine said. The tracksuit-wearing alien set the notebook on the coffee table. "Alright, I'll start with the basics... who we are." She knelt down as well and began working with the notebook. I watched as she drew three stick figures, a fox, a lynx, and a wolf, evidently meant to be us. Once done, she held up the notebook, and began pointing at each figure, starting with herself.

"I am Marine," she slowly said, looking at the aliens, waiting for them to catch on. "Marine," she added, pointing at the figure, and then at herself.

The tracksuit alien pointed at Marine, and repeated "Moreplava?" timidly.

"Yes!" she nodded. "Okay, we're getting there. This is, uh, Max," she added, pointing at the figure then at Max.

"Maks?" the alien repeated, then pointing at Max.

"Close enough," he said.

"And Jack," she concluded, doing the same pointing thing.

"Dzhek?" they said, pointing at me. I nodded in agreement. "Ich denke, das sind ihre Namen," they said to the pink sweater and broom alien. "Wir sollten es ihnen sagen. Du gehst zuerst, Papa."

"Okay, gut... mein Name ist Julian," the alien with the broom said. Or, more appropriately, Julian.

The pink sweater alien pointed at themself and said "Alexa," repeatedly, and slowly.