Chapter 28

Santa Monica Mountains, California, United States

Gen had witnessed on several occasions dragons and people bowing to Emperor, showing their respect to the ruler over all dragons. However, she was shocked when her dragon met Faraday, the talking squirrel and bowed his large head to him.

"It is quite the honor to meet you, Faraday," Emperor said after raising his head.

The squirrel, not to be outdone, dropped into a low bow as well, remaining like that for a long moment. When he lifted his head, he stood straighter. "The honor is all mine. To meet the first dragon ever spawned, the last to hatch and the ruler over your kind is simply incredible."

Gen glanced sideways at her dragon, standing next to her in the open valley in the spot they'd portaled to. The green Santa Monica Mountains enveloped them, like a cocoon of greenery and wildlife. Gen very much liked this wild area which she had no idea was just north of Los Angeles. It was where Faraday had said their search for the meteor would start. He'd decoded enough of the alien message that he knew that the crash site was in this area. However, it was hidden from plain sight and could only be found by following the alien's messages, which would be relayed one at a time as they progressed.

"So, you know of Faraday, then?" Gen asked Emperor. "I mean, I get that you pretty much know everyone and everything through the collective consciousness, but I'm just a bit surprised you knew about him."

"I don't know everyone and everything," Emperor corrected. "I'm aware of many things. But Faraday was a famous scientist before being trapped in squirrel form. But even more impressively, he's made even more incredible scientific discoveries since then."

"I didn't realize you were a fan of science," Gen teased her dragon. "Maybe you can teach me how to use the mobile device that Sophia gave me. It took me about ten minutes to figure out how to make a call on it."

"I can definitely give you a tutorial," Faraday offered and then gave Emperor an apologetic look. "Unless you want to do it. I'm not trying to take over your jobs."

The purple dragon shook his head at once. "Oh, no. Please, if you want the challenge of teaching this one how to use modern technology, be my guest. The other day, Gen was mystified by automatic doors at a store. She initially thanked it for opening, then asked Sophia what spell made it so polite."

The squirrel snickered, wiggling his nose and covering his mouth with his paw. "Well, I can only imagine how strange this world is to you, Gen. We will get you up to speed with time."

"Thanks," Gen muttered, glaring at her dragon. "Does my ignorance of technology amuse you? Is that why you wouldn't tell me how to turn on the light the other day?"

He nodded. "I knew you'd figure it out eventually." Emperor glanced down at Faraday. "She kept tapping on the light bulb and using commands. It took her ten minutes to try the switch on the wall."

Gen rolled her eyes. "And all he did was sit back and watch through my vision, not offering any help."

"Do you really want me to enable you?" Emperor asked.

"I want to be able to see and if you know how to make that happen, please offer up the solution," Gen shot back.

Probably not wanting to get involved in their bickering, Faraday pulled a small device from a bag he had strapped to his back that he'd brought with him. He slipped a small object into his ear and started turning knobs on a small remote.

"As I mentioned before, the first message sent us here," Faraday explained, concentration taking over his face. "Since there was just the one communication, I believe that more will come through as we near the crash site. I don't know how these aliens work, but it goes to reason that they are protecting the fallen meteor."

"So when you say aliens…" Gen began, too overwhelmed at FGA before to question this part of the mission. "Is this a guess or in this time period have we actually met someone from outer space and other planets?"

"That's a hard question to answer," Faraday answered. "You see, I believe that we have made contact with alien races many times, but no proof has ever survived. Those who testify to having met aliens are usually deemed insane and dismissed. Maybe it's hopeful thinking on my part, but I'm only hypothesizing that the communication I'm receiving about the meteor is alien. It doesn't follow the language patterns of any race on Earth and I only picked up on it after I detected the meteor."

"And how do you know that it has diamond-generating materials?" Emperor asked.

"Well, because I was tracking the meteor from space long before it fell to Earth," the squirrel explained. "And back then, I knew it wasn't just a normal rock. I think it came from the alien's planet, but all this is just conjecture and the only way to test my theory is through discovery of facts. So are you ready to start? I'm picking up on a new communication."

"That's good news," Gen said, simply overwhelmed and enlivened by this new mission. Every time she thought this new world of hers couldn't get crazier, she learned something new, like aliens could exist out in the universe. "So that must mean that you decoded the first message correctly and this is the right area, then?"

"Yes, but I was fairly certain that I'd be correct since I'd tracked the trajectory of the meteor to the Santa Monica Mountains," the squirrel answered. "But it's always encouraging to get a confirmation that my postulations are correct."

"And this first message?" Emperor asked. "What did it say?"

"Right," Faraday said, squinting, trying to recall the foreign communication. "The initial clue said: ‘Seek the fallen star's embrace. Where the mountains meet the ocean's face. In the range named for Saint Monica fair. The crater lies hidden, awaiting your dare.'"

"Wow, that is encrypted, but also somewhat direct," Gen reasoned, taking a big breath of the fresh mountain air.

"Yes, but the second message doesn't appear to be as straightforward," Faraday said, consulting the device in his hand. "I'll repeat what the interpreter is giving me now. It says: ‘When the sun sets and the stars align, find the archer's bow—a cosmic sign. Follow its arrow, true and bright, to the fallen star's resting site.'"

Gen looked out over the mountains to the west where the sunlight was waning. "I guess we should be glad we ventured out here later in the day, closer to sunset."

"Yes," Faraday muttered, digging in the bag he'd brought. He pulled out a mobile phone. Gen was surprised that it fit in the sack but more so that the squirrel could carry it all around. He must be as strong as he was smart.

"What else do you have in that bag?" Gen asked, thinking that its size couldn't hold much.

"Well, it actually is special magitech that allows it to hold more than it seems and makes it all lighter than it is," Faraday replied, tapping on the phone. "It's like a TARDIS and bigger on the inside."

"Or like Mary Poppins' carpet bag," Emperor offered.

Gen narrowed her eyes at the two. "Are you intentionally trying to make references I don't understand?"

"We don't have to put a lot of effort into it since your gap in references is so large," the dragon joked.

"Ha-ha," Gen said with no inflection. She watched as Faraday turned slightly, looking up at the sky and then at the screen.

"As I suspected…" The squirrel mused.

"What is?" Gen asked. "What does the communication mean about celestial sky and following the arrow?"

"I believe they, whoever they are, are referring to the Sagittarius constellation, which is right there." He pointed up into the sky. "And if we follow the direction that the arrow he's pointing from his bow, then we are to go that way."

"Now Sagittarius. There's a reference I finally understand. I think I'll like these aliens, or whoever or whatever they are." Gen started off in the direction Faraday had indicated, excited to see what they'd find next and enjoying the adventure of following the clues.