First Contact

Chapter Three

                        The crew of the Rainbow Explorer not long after exiting there crashed ship became lost in the strange beauty of the newfound planet that they were on. The four astronauts stayed close to their formerly space fairing home built of space age polymers, metals and plastics. For they were still on an unknown world, which could be as hospitable as it was now or just as deadly to them.

                         From what they all could gather; the astronauts were inside of a large valley. On either side of the valley were lush green grassland as well as alien looking orange colored rock. A cool running stream of fresh water ran in-between the valley. From each opposite end of the stream was miles of valley. It had already been established that the two directions in which the stream ran were West and East. The West side of the stream's course was filled with large green mountain tops. While in comparison, the East's horizon was sealed in a thick gray fog. The directions of North and South were sealed in by walls of mountains.

                                The domineering Captain Powers continually reminded her fellow astronauts not to touch anything. "We can observe but do not touch anything at this point." Powers would often advice.

                                T.E. Scope was recording everything that he could with his visual recorder.

                                "Life!" Scope shouted after spotting something scurry away behind a rock that he was recording. Soon, the three other astronauts were standing beside T.E. as he staired in the direction that the creature that he thought he saw scurried away from him.

                                   "It went behind that rock." T.E. said as he pointed the corner of the yellowish rock. where some purple fauna adorned.

                                     "It looked like a lizard of some sort." T.E continued.

                                    None of the astronauts had crossed over to the other side of the running stream at this point when Beastman mentioned," Lizards do like to rest on rocks. The stream is nearby, good place for water as well a place that can attract prey. Lots of green sprouting around for a lizard to nibble on. It seems like a good place for a lizard hangout. Though, where's the lizard? Got any pictures?"

                                   Glenn then asked, "Why don't you play back the recording? Let's see what you saw."

                                      "Or thought you saw." Biff scoffed.

                                    T.E. played back his recorder, a couple of seconds prior to when he stopped it. Then he slowed the recorders play speed until he spotted what appeared to be a tiny blue tail. Noticing that he went too far, T.E. played the recorder back again a few seconds before he caught the image of the blue tail. Now the image of the lizard's tailor what looked like a lizard's tail was paused on the recorder.

                                     "I have the image." T.E. said as he held the recorder up for whomever wanted to see it.

                                   "I'll bite!" Beastman said as he grabbed the recorder from the hand of Scope. Upon having a quick glance, Beastman declared,' Well, it looks like a lizard's tail. A blue one at that. Hah!"

                                    "Let me see it!" Powers demanded, seemingly slighted that Beastman was able to see the image first. Though just as Powers reached her hand out to get the recorder, Beastman held it just out of reach.

                                   "I said give it to me you neanderthal!" Powers shouted at Beastman who was amusing himself at her expense.

                                     Glenn was about to intervene when she saw Beastmans face become tense with pain. This was after Powers had delivered a swift and unexpected kick to his crotch! Beastman let go of the recorder in agony, where the device plummeted to the ground.

                                    T.E shouted out, not in pain but in objection at seeing his recorder break apart upon contact!

                                        "No! You broke the recorder!", T.E. shouted in protest!

                                          Glenn failed to intervene in time and by the looks of things the situation was escalating once again. This time, the argument became a three way with the normally passive T.E. now getting involved.

                                            Beastman, who was still in pain growled, "She did it! That witch! I am gonna..." Though before he could complete his sentence, Beastman was nonchalantly held in check by Scope! "You are the troublemaker! No more monster!"T.E. Scope said as he held Beastman in a full nelson grip where he hooked both of his arms in his own!

                                           This only seemed to infuriate Beastman even further!  

                                            "So, you do have some balls after all Scope!" Beastman yelled out as he tried to break the steel grip of Scope. Beastman could not even though he was twice the athlete as the muck larger Scope who was angry in his own right.

                                            Glenn seeing that Powers was admire ring the treatment of Beastman confronted her," Why aren't you putting a stop to this madness?"

                                             Powers, who seemed to be getting off on humiliating Beastman rebuked," I suppose that you think Beastman has learned his lesson."

                                    "I think that you should start acting like a leader. We just arrived on this planet, not having been here 24 hours yet and things are breaking down like this. Do something!" Glenn admonished the smug Powers.

                                     "Alright Glenn," Powers not wanting to lose favor with her much-admired colleague then admitted, "Perhaps you are right."

                                       "Scopes..." Powers started off, "You can let go of Beastman. It is all right now. Let's just calm down now."

                                         Powers words had broken through to Scopes more logical nature. In turn the irrational Beastman who was just about exhausted from the struggle was half unconscious in Scopes arms.

                                          Scopes simply let go of Beatmen, who crumbled to the ground in a heap.

                                           In shock of what he had done, Scopes staired first at his hands and then at the broken video recorder, which was still on the ground. Wanting to find relief from the anguish that he was feeling Scopes hurried over to see if he could salvage the broken video recorder. To escape from the violence into his more rational mind.

                                      As Scopes fiddled with the broken recorder and Beastman lay in a state of semi-consciousness the two women among them staired at one another.

                                    Powers tried to explain her actions to Glenn," Surly you could see how much Beastman was antagonizing me. Something had to be done about it."

                                     Glenn with her arms folded insisted," If you want me to follow your lead then do better. Violence is not the answer."

                                      "We are in this together dear Glenn. Us against them. I mean those men like Biff Beastman. He was going to try and fondle you when you were unconscious."

                                        Glenn was becoming weary of Powers whose motives seemed spiteful to the core. She was beginning to see her hatred for men play itself out. While at the same time Powers had this delusional relationship with her. Glenn would almost pity her if not the fact that Powers was quite contemplable if not overly ambitious. It was as if Powers was overly compensating for her perceived inadequacies. Though Glenn wondered if there was a genuin person unerneath. At least in Beastmans case, he had some psychological hang ups. What was Powers hiding?

                                       "Greetings travelers!" A voice introduced themselves from not far off. Everyone turned to see the near naked figure of a hooded man with a long purple cape. The man who was carrying a long staff with a ram's head spoke again," My name is Keldor. I too am an explorer from another world. You are the first beings that I have the honor of meeting on this planet."

                                      Both Glenn and Powers were beside themselves as were Beastman and Scope. No one was able to address the stranger as he advanced in their direction.

                                       Keldor observing all four astronauts gave particular attention to Scopes who was holding his broken recorder.

                                     "If I fix your device, will you let me share some of my knowledge with you?" Keldor asked.

                                     To Glenn, the man seemed suspicious. Though she had no reason to be suspicious of him. Maybe it was just her current frame of mind that was making her feel this way.

                                       T.E. Scope held up his fragmented recorder in desperation for Keldor to fix it. Keldor lay his ram headed staff onto the broken recorder. Then after the staff was withdrawn Scopes cried out, "Oh, thank you so much! You fixed it!"

                                      To Glenns as well as everyones amazement, the recorder was now as good as new.

                                       "Why not test the device." Keldor insisted.

                                         As Scope stood up to test the recorder both Powers and Beastmen came over. They all observed the recorder functioning as well as it did before.

                                       "Now that you have seen but a sampling of my abilities, why don't the lot of you come with me. Let me show you more of that which I can do."

                                         On all three of the faces of Beastmen, Powers and Scope was a tempting desire to see what more Keldor had to offer.

                                           Gleen needed to discern what Keldors motives were. So, she asked," Why are so determined to have us come with you? Don't you want to learn about us first? Since you came upon us first."

                                            Keldor unassumingly answered Glenn," You make a great point. I am just very lonely and haven't had a visitor in so many days. So, when I saw your ship crash here this morning, I could not wait to greet you. It is customary for my people to give in abundance. While never asking for anything in return. I hail from a culture of patrons. I just want to bestow all of you the gifts of my people."

                                               "What kinds of gifts?" Glenn askes suspiciously.

                                               Captain Powers interrupts," Please do excuse LT Glenn. It was she who landed our star ship. It was a very traumatic, yet harrowing accomplishment on her part. I will speak for her, since I am the captain of this crew. Captain Evelyn Morgan Powers. These two beside me are first T.E. Scope, the one who's video recorder it was that you fixed. Then there is Biff Beastman."

                                             "It is a pleasure." Keldor slyly spoke." Please, follow come with me."

                                              All three astronauts save LT Glenn followed behind Keldor as he led them Eastward.

                                        Glenn shouted at all three of them, "Come back! We have to travel together! Don't do this!"

                                         It was of no use, as much as Glenn tried, her fellow astronauts soon disappeared behind a sheen of fog. Taken to wherever Keldor had in mind. Glenn wondered if she would ever see them again. Then as the eerie Eastern fog crept in the valley, Glenn decided to head back to the Rainbow Explorer for shelter. In the hope that her colleagues would return.