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Samuel heard the alarm. It meant that there was a fire. He grabbed his tan galoshes and his yellow fireman’s coat. He pulled on his tan galoshes and his yellow coat. It was hot that day. It felt really hot to be wearing all his gear. Samuel wondered if it was a forest fire. It seemed like the kind of day for a forest fire.

    Sam found his fellow firemen gathered in the garage of the firehouse. Charlie with the mustache was putting on his yellow coat. Another man named Charlie was already in the passenger seat of the fire truck. Samuel climb aboard. He assumed his position hanging onto a rail attached to the cab. The fire truck started its sirens and garage door opened. The police chief waved goodbye and wished them good luck as they left.

    The fire truck sped down a two-way road. The street winded around rural country and through the hills. The land was thick with Redwood trees. A ranger at a park outpost called in the fire. He said he thought a meteor fell. He could see the fire from his outpost station. He was certain the meteor started the fire.

    The sirens blared as the truck approached the rangers’ outpost. Samuel saw the driver slow down only for the park ranger to open his gate. As the fire truck rolled through the gate at the outpost, the park ranger shouted, “It’s only a quarter mile up. Do you see it?” The driver nodded and gave the park ranger a thumb’s up. Samuel watched the ranger’s outpost disappear as the fire truck made its way to its destination.

    When Samuel looked up, he could see the fire ahead of him. It was in a patch of Redwoods. The fire was spreading from that patch. When the fire truck got closer, Samuel could see there was a hole in the center of the patch. It looked like a meteor had created that hole.

    The fire truck came to a stop. Samuel and his men got off the truck. Charlie with the mustache and the other Charlie jumped off and grabbed shovels. Samuel jumped off and grabbed his shovel too. The driver was named Johnson. Johnson radioed in a helicopter to start dropping fire suppressant on the fire. Samuel and the rest of the crew made their way to the fire.

    It was hot in the woods. Samuel already started to sweat. He wiped a little sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“How much further?” Charlie asked. That was Charlie with the mustache. He was following Samuel.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I think we’re almost there,” Samuel said. “It’s getting hotter.” Samuel looked at his boots. Then he looked at the forest floor. It was covered in brown pine needles. This was the dry season. They had to contain the fire as quickly as possible. As they got closer, Samuel could smell burning trees.

    Samuel and his men carried out their duty. Minutes later, a helicopter came by and dropped retardant on the fire. More fire trucks came. The fire was contained before it spread far. No fireman was injured. Samuel surveyed the area. The fire didn’t destroy a large area. The trees were black and a few critters were caught in the flames.

    Samuel approached the center where the fire started. There was a crater. In the crater was a walnut shaped object. The object was silver and looked like one piece. It was large. It was at least the size of a fire truck. Charlie came up behind Samuel and looked over his shoulder.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Is that a meteor?” Charlie asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I don’t know.” Samuel stared at the object. He wanted to touch it. Its surface was almost liquid like and it was alluring. Charlie was entranced as well. He couldn’t take his eyes off the object. Samuel came closer to the object. He reached out touched the object. A ripple effect occurred on the surface followed by a humming sound. “I think this is some sort of coating,” Samuel called over his shoulder to Charlie.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m going to call this in,” Charlie said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Alright I’ll stay with it.” Charlie started walking in the direction of the fire crew. Samuel backed away from the object. He continued to stare it. The coating that Samuel touched vanished. All that was left was the object. Then, seems appeared forming a square on the object. The square opened up with a hiss. Samuel concluded that this was a hatch of some sort. He was afraid. He didn’t want to approach the object.

    A small, delicate arm came out of the hatch. On the wrist of that arm was a metallic bracelet. There were purple pulses passing on the surface of the bracelet. Then a body came out of the hatch. Its head was egg shaped and was on a long neck. In this regard it was bird like, but its body was more humanoid.

    The being took a step towards Samuel. Samuel took a step backwards. The being held up a hand, telling Samuel to wait. Samuel paused. Then the being spoke.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Where am I?” the being asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Raven’s National Park.” Samuel said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Is that the name of this planet?”
    
    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No, this planet is Earth.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Well, I’m an explorer. I’m from a different planet.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Ok.”
    
    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Can I ask you a question?”
    
    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What is it?” Samuel responded.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are you the male or female of your species?”
    
    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Male.”
    
    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Then I would like to mate with you.” Samuel looked the being over. Its head was smooth and its eyes were almost on its sides. Its humanoid body did have female characteristics, but the being had a beak, and the beak looked awkward to Samuel.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m not interested. I’m sorry.” Samuel said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I understand,” The being said. “My name is Kara.” She offered her hand. Samuel observed Kara’s outstretched hand. It was clear to him that Kara was an extraterrestrial. She spoke his language, and she was being friendly. He stared at her offered hand and then shook it. When he did this, Kara exhaled in his face, and Samuel passed out.