Damages

Zas cracked his eyes open a little. Dim light made him squeeze them shut again. That hurts, he thought. Sighing and laying there for a few more minutes he wondered whose house he was in. I have to stop partying so hard. Hope she isn’t some flat faced cow. Reaching his hand out slowly beside him he tried to feel for a body beside him, but all his fingers encountered was something cool, and well not hard to the touch, not soft either. Opening his eyes again slowly he saw brown with green sprouting out of it in all shapes and sizes. Where am I? Then his brain kicked in and he bolted upright. Ezza!

Cringing in pain, but now on his knees, Zas started looking around him. He seemed to be some kind of forest. Hearing a small rustling, he froze and tried using his peripheral vision to look around. Seeing nothing, and not sensing an ominous presence he risked turning around to find a small fur covered creature behind him. The creature froze and stared up at him, it’s bushy tail giving a twitch every once in awhile.

“Hello…um, creature of this planet. My name is-”

The fur covered creature let out a small squeaking noise, and then took of running into the vegetation. How rude. I hope the rest of species on this…whatever it is, isn’t as rude or it could be difficult getting home. First he had to find Ezza, he would be alive. He had to be. First things first, thought Zas as he began to check himself for damage. Not finding any physical damage besides a few bruises, scrapes, and sore muscles he began checking his equipment. His pod was obliterated, but that was to be expected. It’s probably what had kept him free from all but minor damage. Those tech guys were amazing at their craft. His suit seemed fried, but still had some power. He checked it’s systems. Hmm, only his basic functions were working, but this is what they did all that training at the centre for. Letting out a sigh, he decided to go look for Ezza. Looking up he could see a ball of fire in the air illuminating everything. Where is this? Closing his eyes, he calmed himself and began to listen.

Listening carefully he heard humming noises coming from the planet itself, whispers and rustles from its atmosphere moving through its vegetation, a plethora of chatters, squeaks, and growls. There seems to be many species here. Sighing he concentrated again, he could hear what sounded like laughter, and clanging noises, crackling noises, water. Nothing moving near by that sounded like it could be Ezza though. He opened his eyes, and began calculating the trajectory of the crash based on what he had heard and seen around him. Turning he began heading towards where Ezza should have crashed.

Arriving where he thought his friend was, he saw the indent in the ground, no pod, and no Ezza. Either the pod did its job and he’s fine, or he burned up on the way down, Zas thought. His heart felt heavy with that thought, he began searching the site for signs of either. Just about to lose his mind, Zas found a foot print on the edge of the crash site. He noted the direction and began to cautiously follow it. Did he get captured? Why didn’t he just stay put or search me out if he’s okay? His hand itching and wishing the weaponized part of his suit still worked, he tracked his friend through the vegetation.

A light up ahead of him, made Zas slow almost to a crawl as he crouched down and moved closer. Finally at the edge of a clearing he spotted a familiar suit. Looking around as far as he could, he could see nothing else, so he stood and approached Ezza.

Ezza? He said into his friends mind. Ezza obviously spooked, stood and spun around looking for his friend.

“Zas!” Ezza practically hollered aloud. Ezza ran over to Zas and embraced him, letting go he opened his mouth to say something. Zas made a shushing sign with his hand and glanced around.

Ezza you need to be careful. We don’t know where we are, or whose listening.

Ezza looking a little sheepish, scratched his head and smiled. Sorry, I forgot myself, he said. Zas shook his head, brilliant mind and he was still an idiot.

Forget about it, we seem to be alone anyways. What were you doing all the way over here by yourself anyways? Why didn’t you try to find me? Zas asked.

I found a creature from this planet! I tried to talk to it, but it ran so I chased it. It doesn’t seem to be too intelligent. Ezza sounded both excited and discouraged at the same time.

There are plenty of creatures on this planet, of varying intelligence. Did you not search before running off? No of course not. We need to find out where we are, most of the systems on my suit are fried. How about yours? He asked.

With a look of shock on his face, Ezza began checking his suit systems. Basics, he said. Wait! My trace program is barely running. Junker planet, in the Milky Way, Earth. Most intelligent species is called humans. Not very advanced. Ezza looked at Zas, What do we do now?

Zas thought for a few moments. We infiltrate, observe, and try to find a way home. How is your disguise program working? Ezza checked and his was working fine. Agreeing to disguise themselves, they initiated the program. It scanned their bodies and personalities picking out Human attributes based on traits and qualities. Then the built in translator kicked in.

“Remember Ezza, nothing in our native tongue or anything about our world. Try not to look too enthused about things. We need to blend in. Got it?” Zas looked at Ezza as he finished talking for confirmation. The human speech sounded weird in his ears, gone was the high, Tin like pitches he was used to hearing, replaced by lower smooth tones. Ezza opened his mouth and a bark came out. Zas’s eyes widened. Ezza tried again.

I think my translators broken. Ezza said into Zas’s mind. Zas nodded, Okay, then you don’t talk if we make contact. You can talk to me like this for now, until we can fix your translator. Ezza nodded, and both men turned and looked down a nearby path.

It was time to make contact.