The Castians

There were two young women and two men. The women were wearing simple black dresses with spaghetti straps. The guys were wearing stripped white shirts and brown shorts. All of them had weather beaten skin and looked like they were either in their late teens or early twenties.

They stared at the explorers. The explorers stared at them.

After a minute-long staring contest, one of the Castian men stepped forward. "Where are you from?"

"We're from the capital," Andres said.

The tall man tilted his head. "Really?"

"Yes," Miles said, his eyes focused on one of the Castian woman. There was a hint of a smile on her face.

"You're not from the capital," the man said, studying the small group. His eyes focused on David the longest. "I think you're earthlings."

"No," Jed said quickly, a little too quickly.

The woman who had found David bent down and started examining him. "This skin is too soft. The people at the capital have created some creams to protect their skin from earth but all of you can't be this smooth. This boy ate Cramberries. No sensible Castian would have done that, especially a male one."

"Why not?" Jed asked before hitting his mouth. He had just proved them right. Castians probably knew all about the plant.

She smiled and stood up. "All the five of you can't be ignorant about Cramberries. Clearly your earthlings."

"This is so exciting!" the other woman said, placing her palms on the sides of her face. "I've never seen an earthling before. We have to take them to the town."

"We're not going anywhere with you until we're sure your town is safe for us," Seo Jin said.

The woman who found Jed turned to her. "If he isn't treated, he'll be dead within a few hours. Can't you see the greenish tinge in his skin? If that's what you want, we'll let him die. If you want treatment, you'll have to come with us."

"We're not taking them anywhere," the man said. "Until we've checked them thoroughly to make sure they have no weapons. Earthlings can't be trusted with all their technology. When I went to the capital, I heard that they're always trying to send in some kind of machines. Thankfully, the people at the capital have powerful magic that can disable them. For that reason, all weapons will be confiscated before these people can enter our town."

"That's okay," Andres said.

The two Castian men searched all their bags and removed every weapon. Each of them had been given a sharp weapon and all these were taken by the Castians. While the men checked the bags, the two women went into the forest and came back with sacks and some garden tools.

Thirty minutes later, Jed and his mates were following the Castians. The Castian men were quite proactive. Within minutes, they had cut down some branches from the trees and created a stretcher which David was lying on. The men were carrying it.

They did not rest until they arrived at the town. When it came into view, Jed started panicking. Miles and Seo Jin were conversing while he and Andres walked on in silence, lost in their thoughts. Jed wanted to stop and first observe the town from outside but the Castian men carrying David went through the gate immediately. Therefore, he had no choice but to follow so as to ensure nothing happened to David.

The town had a long wall around it and had some ancient flat topped buildings with timber frames, all made of stone and brick. Their footsteps along the cobblestone road as they walked up the main street. Castians looked out of their windows, while those on the streets stopped to stare at the group or follow them murmuring to themselves.

Jed marvelled at the simple beauty of the town as they passed under a weathered archway in the middle of the town. A towering building appeared ahead. Men dressed in green uniform tumbled out of the building and waited outside for the group to arrive.

"Earthlings," the man who had spoken to them said. The men in green quickly surrounded the group. One of them gestured for them to take David in. The girl who found Jed ran off in another direction.

"Where are you taking our friend?" Andres asked.

"He needs treatment," one of the soldiers said, studying Jed's face. He then moved further and stood in front of Seo Jin. He smiled, showing his crooked brown teeth. "So beautiful, so smooth." He said, glancing at his colleagues. "Such a beautiful woman. Earthlings are really sweet."

Seo Jin twisted her face, glaring at him.

"She looks so pretty even when angry," he said.

He lifted his hand and moved it towards her face. Seo Jin slapped it away.

"Don't touch her," Jed said, suddenly feeling protective of Seo Jin.

The man turned and smirked at Jed. "What will you do if I do?"

Jed felt his heart thumping. He didn't know what to say, knowing that his threats were not going to put off the man. They were in his territory. He was willing to defend Seo Jin as much as he could, but didn't want to cause any more trouble.

"That's what I thought," the man said, walking around and inspecting all of them. The girl who had run off returned with an older woman carrying a small basket. They both walked into the building David had been taken to.

"Have you checked them thoroughly?" he asked the man who had brought them.

The man, who was standing near the door, nodded. "All the weapons they had are in the sack."

"Alright, that's good." He turned to the group. "What are you doing in our country?"

No one spoke. Jed glanced at the others who were also silent. He thought hard, connecting his mind to the chip in order to get the answers. Since installation of the chip in his brain, his mind was clearer and thought faster.

"We came to tour the planet," he finally said.

"Why?"

"We humans are curious creatures. Your ancestors came from earth hundreds of years ago. They never returned and those who knew them have always wanted to know what happened. Human scientists have tried to find out more about this planet for years but all the machines sent get destroyed. That's why we decided to come."

"You think we can't kill you?"

We hope not, Jed wanted to say but he stayed silent.