Small Mountain is a small town located in the state of Nevada, practically further from Las Vegas.
There, two hundred inhabitants have a quiet and peaceful life. The city has a motel, two restaurants, and even a bar close to the market. Like neighbouring cities, it was established with tungsten mining. There is also a small college for teenagers and a hospital on the old highway. It has few houses and the majority of the population still lives in trailers. Most of the place is desert. There are almost no trees, but imposing cacti. Summer is very hot with temperature variations between day and night. Little rain. In July 1947, an alleged flying saucer was allegedly captured on a ranch in the Roswell region, made an object of study in the laboratories of the secret military installations existing at the site.
Zorack seriously considered that it had been an affront to Spartackus to be right there with breakdowns and in need of repairs. A population of just two hundred people. They had already found patient zero. He silently wondered how long it would take. The ship's communication system was set to the same frequency as the radio did not bring encouraging news.
"We have for the first time a heat above normal averages in recent years. Locals complain about the lack of water in the city and variations in the electricity supply. A drought of historic proportions. Environmentalists and activists from Nevada and Utah are trying to prevent justice from being sent to Las Vegas from aquifer water on the border between the two states. "
-Have you heard?
Except for the miserable heat, the natives didn't notice anything. "Bash smiled a satisfied smile.
The Spartacus 12-person crew was silent. Perhaps fourteen could be mentioned if they intended to include Spike in the crew count, not to mention the patient asleep in the infirmary. An unbelievable army to fight those things. That was the thinking of most people there on the bridge.
-A somewhat optimistic hypothesis ...- Scarllet started to refute.
-Angie! - Spike greeted excitedly. Everyone stopped silent and listened to the captain's reaction.
Zorack spun on his heel and the face had no friendly expression as he looked at Angel with shooting eyes. He completely forgot the surprise of seeing her awake. How had Angel managed to leave the infirmary? The automatic doctor monitored her biochemical functions. His gaze was impatient when at last the alarm lights flashed over the bridge's main consoles. The alarm rang and the captain finally looked at Bash accusingly.
-Right. It's all right! - the boy shook his head. - I will check. Maybe it's just a few adjustments.
Angel looked at the strangest group that could be gathered on the Spartackus bridge with visible astonishment.
-I ... - She fell silent.
-You shouldn't have left the infirmary! -Zorack snapped in a bad mood. He advanced towards the possessed girl, noticing her precarious balance,e, and added: You could have called someone, could have screamed. You could...
You could have put yourself in more danger than you already are! More than a curse!
Angel looked at him dumbly. The angry, low voice echoed in her ears.
-I can help if ... - The science officer tried to approach and stopped with Zorack's silent warning.
He was the oldest man in that group. Joshua shrugged with little regard, still watching the newcomer, trying to hide his surprise and sudden dislike. Zorack noticed the detail. The expression on his face hardened, his eyes darting daggers at the officer. With all the asteroids! He didn't want Joshua around the girl.
-That's very kind of you! - managed to reply sarcastically. - I have everything under control.
-Ah, stop talking. - Spike interrupted everyone, gesturing forcefully, looking at an astonished Angel. - It took a long time to wake up, girl. You won't believe it. You might as well forget about the big star destroyer and space fighters. And food?! We are stranded in an old contraption and ...
-What? - Angel asked confused. It had the impression that the head had only cotton flakes.
-She should be quarantined. - the science officer observed casually. He was serious and evaluative. -Any quarantine protocol requires at least 48 hours to have a safe margin ...
Zorack snarled at the edge of patience.
-48 hours? Have you seen how things will be in 48 hours around here?
-The infirmary should be available to any crew member who may need medical evaluation since we are exposed to the planet's atmosphere. We are tolerant of nitrogen gas and can breathe oxygen, but we do not know the effects that argon and carbon dioxide can ... The effect of adding argon to the blood can result in increased pulmonary artery pressure and reduced cardiac output. The success rates for treating cancerous tissue with cryotherapy are not similar in us as in humans.
Zorack shook his head, very aware of several pairs of eyes staring at him in silence. He knew the detail naturally. Only the girl ...
- She should be left still in isolation. Scarlet raised her chin in defiance.
-The girl looks fine. - Bash chose.
-I can do clinical blood tests ...- Joshua started to speak. Sereide walked slowly towards the young woman with curiosity and then turned to Zorack.
-It would be better if you two were at least on the watch for 24 hours. We are aware of how an Edrian's body reacts to the virus, but about the natives ...- she commented, looking even more curiously at Spike.
-Edriano ?! - Angel repeated dizzily. -What is an edrian?
- Natives from the planet of Édrin. - Joshua explained dryly. - I believe it would be what you usually call aliens. And I'm still going to need a sample of your blood for analysis. You may have lived with these people for years, but ...
Angel noticed the floor missing under her feet when felt Zorack's hand firmly on her arm supporting her.
- Is he implying that I'm not from this planet? Is this crazy story true? - the girl asked, panting hard. The breath was suddenly totally insufficient.
-Damn you, Joshua! the captain shouted. - I warned you. it wasn't ... -, and looking back at the girl sighed: I can explain, Angel. Just breathe slowly and don't scream.
She nodded in a trance looking around. Thirteen people.
One of them had a delicate, fragile appearance and was 90cm to 1.60m tall, with almond-shaped eyes, large and dark, pale skin, almost a shade of green, and each hand made up of just three fingers. He was an Arcturian. Only when looking ahead ...
There was a humanoid biotype, but with very well-defined reptilian characteristics. It had scales, claws, and a lizardlike snout. The eyes with a vertical slit pupil and a yellow or red iris. Angel stared at the reptilian noting the well-defined musculature and bone plate structure, with cold sweat bathing his face.
-I think ... I think I need to sit down for a while. Her voice came out weakly dizzy.
-Hells! Zorack glared at the crew, furious. Someone else hasn't come yet.
-The hybrid missed. - A young woman with short hair explained penalized. - The insect is making repairs to the keel. Is the girl okay?
Zorack shrugged resignedly to his lieutenant and turned to his evaluating guest.
-Breathe deeply and don't pass out. - Warned worried. - When was the last time you ate?
Angel admired the two most impossible images could imagine and swallowed.
Mercy!
What food was there in that place?