"Report!" Commander Morrus still didn't feel really comfortable on the bridge of his new starship. He wasn't sure if that was because it was his first command or, perhaps, there was something else.

"All systems functioning properly, sir," Kreen, his first officer, replied calmly. "We will clear the Taarkan system in fifteen uutah."

Nothing in what he said was out of the ordinary. Kreen reported with all due respect, even though he was 16 oltas older than Morrus. Yet there was something about that man that didn't sit well with the young commander.

"Prepare to go to light speed," Morrus ordered, reclining in his hammock.

The bridge of a Taarkan ship was spacious. It had to be, otherwise the crew wouldn't be able to work comfortably. With their long, sleek bodies, a pair of hands each as well as half a dozen other limbs that could be best described as tentacles, they really needed space.

The helmsman's hammock was just to the right of the commander's. If necessary, Morrus could see or even reach all the controls. Two other hammocks were behind them: one for the first officer and the other for weapon and sensor control. At the very back of the bridge, there were two more hammocks for the auxiliary crew. They were fast asleep now but could be woken up momentarily.

"Sir," Kreen said suddenly. Morrus twisted his hammock to face him.

"What is it?"

"Don't you think we should check the engines first?" His voice was quiet. It sounded like Kreen didn't want the rest of the crew to hear this exchange.

"I thought you told me all the systems were functioning properly?" Morrus replied equally silently but with a cold undertone in his voice. He didn't like to be told what to do on his first mission. Even by Admiral Oranis's special agent. Or, perhaps, especially by him.

"I did, sir," Kreen nodded calmly. "However, even though it's not standard procedure, I'd strongly recommend it. Do I have to remind you that the ship is equipped with the newest type of light engines? They have been field tested, of course, but I think it wouldn't hurt to check them out again?"

Morrus thought about it for a while then nodded his agreement. He certainly didn't like to be lectured but far be it from him to turn his back on sound advice. He realized very well that he simply lacked experience. The whole mission would be in jeopardy if he let his personal pride take over.

"Thank you," he said to Kreen after the diagnostics had been completed.

"I'm at your disposal, sir," the older Taarkan acknowledged.

* * *

"Can you show us that starship of yours?" Jake was trying very hard to hide his excitement but he just couldn't help it. There he was, talking to an alien who had come to Earth on a starship! Apart from Anita, he was likely the first human to do so. And Anita didn't really count, did she? After all, she was only 7 years old!

"I don't think it's a good idea," Taark said reluctantly.

"Why!" Jake almost exclaimed. "We won't touch anything, we will just look around?" He certainly didn't want to start pleading but…

"You're not alone?" Anita said knowingly. Jake suddenly felt angry that he hadn't thought of that but right now all that mattered was a chance to see an alien starship. And he didn't want to miss that chance.

"My people are hiding," Taark explained softly. "We're still not sure how your people might react to us…"

"You're afraid we could hurt you?" Anita sat down next to Taark and hugged him. "Why would anyone want to do that?"

Taark sighed. It was difficult to explain it to these children. They were so innocent.

"Adult people think differently," he began. "They may consider us a threat to them."

"Well, are you?"

"No… we don't want to be. We came here to meet you and see if you're ready to accept us. Not to fight with you."

"Then what's the problem?" In Anita's world everything was simple enough. If Taark said his people weren't a threat, why would anybody think otherwise?

"Will you take us to see the starship?" Jake couldn't help it. All this talk about threat was just a waste of time while somewhere out there was an alien starship waiting to be explored.

"I will," Taark decided finally. "Just promise you won't tell anyone."

Jake was already on his feet, headed for the door. He looked back and nodded impatiently.

"Let's go!" He urged. Anita got up and took Taark in her arms. She hid him under her jacket so that no one would see them sneak out of the house.

* * *

"There's nothing here!" Jake didn't even try to conceal his disappointment. After a rather long walk they arrived to a small meadow in the nearby forest. It wasn't far from their home but neither of them had ever been there before.

"Let me go now," Taark demanded. Anita bent down and put him gently on the ground. He stretched his long body and started sniffing around.

"Stay where you are," he said finally. "I have to announce us first."

The pair of children sat down obediently, watching their alien friend perform a strange ritual. He sniffed some more and then started digging under the closest fern. After a while he emerged from under it with… a pipe in his hand.

"You want to smoke a pipe now?" Jake asked with utter disbelief.

"I'm hungry," Taark shrugged. "Besides, the smoke will alert my people and let them know we're here." He took out a lighter and lit the pipe then breathed the smoke a few times with apparent pleasure. "They still have some nice blends here," he remarked, settling down net to the children.

"You're hungry?" Anita asked, surprised. "Why didn't you say so before? I would have brought you something to eat!"

"Eat?" Taark had to think for a while. Even though he'd spent a couple of days with Anita, who was really very informative, he still had problems understanding some of the more exotic words.

"Ahh… no, we don't… eat," he shook his head finally. "We are different than you. Our scientist were really surprised to have found a separate… digestive system in your bodies. We don't have one. We…" he paused to think how to explain things to the little girl.

"We acquire food with the air we're breathing," someone else finished for him. All three turned around to see a couple of blue cutworms appear from among the fern. "Who are you?" That last question was aimed at the pair of human children. Before Jake managed to say a word, Anita proceeded to introduce them:

"My name is Anita," she said, getting up politely. "And this is Jake. We came to see your starship."